-- US Army Corps of Engineers - Vicksburg District -- (original) (raw)

The DeGray multi-purpose flood control and power reservoir was included in Senate Document Numbered 117, 81st Congress, 1st session, as a feature of the comprehensive plan of improvement for the Ouachita River and Tributaries, in Arkansas and Louisiana. This project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1950. The inclusion of municipal and industrial water supply as one of the project purposes was authorized by the “Water Supply Act of 1958”, approved 3 July 1958, as amended by the “Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1961”, approved 20 July 1961. The DeGray Project consists of a multipurpose reservoir with project purposes of flood control, power, water supply, recreation, and navigation. A downstream re-regulating dam is included for the re-regulation of flows for continuous water supply and pump-back storage for power. Initial construction of the project began 29 June 1962, and placed in commercial operation March 1972.

DeGray Power Plant has two generators producing a combined 78 megawatts of power used for times of peak demand on the system. The power generated at DeGray Power Plant is clean, cheap and reliable supplying the need of about 30,000 homes.

The public is welcome to tour DeGray Power Plant or staff personnel are available with presentations for schools, civic groups and other functions.