Kiamichi River Water Management Project Field Studies and Surveys
This webpage will provide details about the studies and surveys being conducted for the Kiamichi River Water Management Project (KRWMP). By sharing information on what’s taking place and the reasons behind it, this page aims to help community members better understand the work being performed and how it supports responsible water management in the region.
September 2025 Areial Imagery and LiDAR
NV5 Geospatial, a contractor performing field work on behalf of The City of Oklahoma City, will be collecting information on the Kiamichi River using remote sensing collected from a small, low-flying plane along the length of the river from Tuskahoma to Antlers. The information to be collected includes aerial photography and LiDAR or Light Detection and Ranging. This information will be used to create accurate 3-dimensional models of the river, including the riverbanks and bottom, vegetation, and other features in the river channel, including areas that support freshwater mussels.
The information gathered through the LiDAR mapping will help in building models of the river and identifying specific locations for additional study. LiDAR is safe. The light pulses from LiDAR are not visible or harmful to humans or wildlife and LiDAR surveys are very commonly done for many purposes, often unnoticed. LiDAR is an efficient and accurate way to capture data for a topographic survey without ground-based surveys.
What is LiDAR?
LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, is an efficient and accurate aerial survey to capture data for a topographic survey without ground-based surveys.
Why is Oklahoma City conducting a LiDAR survey?
Oklahoma City is studying the Kiamichi River as part of a broader effort to understand conditions in the area as part of the Kiamichi River Water Management Project (KRWMP), which includes environmental studies and the planning and carefully coordinated construction of a new water pipeline that will run from the Kiamichi River near Moyers, Oklahoma to Oklahoma City via the existing Atoka Pipeline system. LiDAR collects information that allows for the creation of topographic and river bottom maps along with other bottom features and vegetation characteristics.
This aerial survey is one of several baseline environmental studies being conducted to support a better understanding of the river and potential management options. It will be used in part as a process for managing future flows in the river and potential effects on freshwater mussels.
What should I expect when the LiDAR is taking place?
A small, low-flying plane will fly the length of the river from Tuskahoma to Antlers. Local residents and members of the community may see these flights, which will include several passes over the same general area to collect the information. All flights will take place over the course of several days, and the piloted airplane will be flying at an FAA-approved altitude of 1,500 feet (about 4 football fields distance) above the ground.
LiDAR is safe. The light pulses from LiDAR are not visible or harmful to humans or wildlife, and LiDAR surveys are very commonly done for many purposes, often unnoticed. LiDAR is an unobtrusive, efficient, and accurate way to capture data for a topographic survey without ground-based surveys.
A ground crew will be present during flights at few pre-arranged survey points along the Kiamichi River to obtain coordinates.
What do the results of the LiDAR survey look like?
The information to be collected includes aerial photography and LiDAR or Light Detection and Ranging. This information will be used to create accurate 3-dimensional models of the river, including the riverbanks and bottom, vegetation, and other features in the river channel, including areas that support freshwater mussels. The information gathered through the LiDAR mapping will help in building models of the river and identifying specific locations for additional study.
Is this part of the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation’s (SEOPC) proposed pumped-storage hydroelectric power project?
No. Any work related to the KRWMP is in no way connected to the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation’s proposed hydroelectric project, an out-of-state private development that is opposed by the City. The City of Oklahoma City joined with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations as well as the State of Oklahoma to oppose the SEOPC project and the past Tomlin Energy project.
Learn more about additional KRWMP ongoing studies and surveys:
Wetlands and streams surveys are part of the KRWMP and include identifying and determining the boundaries of streams and wetlands and characterizing the soils and plants of these areas for special consideration as the City seeks federal and state regulatory approvals (permits). We are doing this to avoid and/or minimize any damage to these aquatic resources during the temporary process of constructing the water pipeline.
The construction of the City’s proposed pipeline requires approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa Regulatory Office) and a state Water Quality Certification prior to construction. We are seeking to avoid streams and wetlands and when this cannot be avoided, we will be minimizing the impacted area and returning it to its original contour, stabilizing and seeding the area. Tunnels may be used under highways and larger streams when feasible, to avoid other disturbances.
The City’s contractors are also completing surveys for historical, cultural, and archeological resources along the pipeline for similar reasons – to avoid and minimize potential effects on these resources. The City is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa Regulatory Office), State Historic Preservation Office, the State Archeologist, and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office of interested Tribes to complete and review these studies to protect these resources per state and federal environmental requirements.
Similar work is being completed to address species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. We are in close coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate the species that may be present and ways to avoid and minimize potential effects on these species. Special studies will be completed for federally listed freshwater mussels in the Kiamichi River.
Geotechnical studies that are a part of the KRWMP will include drilling small diameter holes into the ground using a drilling rig to better understand the subsurface soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at points along the proposed pipeline route to better plan for safe construction and placement of the water pipeline. These geotechnical borings provide insights into soil characteristics, underground conditions, and groundwater levels, which are crucial for informed decision-making and project success. After drilling, the hole is backfilled and the small area around the bore hole is smoothed out and left in a condition that is compliant with Oklahoma Water Resources Board standards.