Little Rock District Top 5 Priority Projects

During inspection prior to performing a maintenance dewater, the Little Rock District discovered that the existing center post supporting 50′ Stop Logs had catastrophically failed. After verifying similar failures at other locations along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), SWL determined that the stop log slots at all affected locks would be converted to support 110′ Stop Logs.

The District utilized design resources including enterprise resources from LRL, LRP, INDC, and AE design firms to complete designs, and solicited and awarded a Construction MATOC with $200M of capacity to a pool of technically qualified construction firms. The navigation closure window for construction phases is 15 June – 30 September annually.

To date, six locks have been awarded for construction, four are in design, one is completed, and the final location will begin design in Q4 FY26.

The Three Rivers project is located on the MKARNS between the White and Arkansas Rivers, just upstream of the Montgomery Point Lock & Dam in southeast Arkansas. Modifications to the Mississippi River have steepened the stream slope and accelerated water velocity, causing the Mississippi to migrate into the White River, which then overflows into the Arkansas River.

The project includes four construction components: restoration of a historic relief channel between the White and Arkansas Rivers with a hydraulic weir (crest elevation 145 ft.); a 2.4-mile containment structure built to an elevation of 157 ft.; modification of the Owens Lake containment structure; and improvement of the LaGrue Culverts. Approximately 20 acres of agricultural land will be converted to bottomland hardwood forest to meet mitigation requirements.

Bull Shoals Dam Powerplant is an 8-unit hydroelectric plant with a combined installed power capacity of 340 MW. This project will increase power capacity to 362 MW. The plant began commercial power generation in 1952, with final installation of all generating units completed in 1963.

The Major Equipment Replacement project is scoped to replace and rehabilitate major components including turbines, generators, transformers, and other ancillary equipment that have reached the end of their service life. Design funds were approved in May 2018, with additional approvals in July 2022 and January 2025.

The Turbine Replacement and Generator Rewinds will uprate Units 1–4 from 48.4 MVA to 54 MVA, and current turbine runners will be replaced with aerating runners to improve dissolved oxygen downstream of the dam.

Norfork Dam Powerplant is a 2-unit hydroelectric plant with a combined installed power capacity of 80 MW. This project will increase power capacity to 93 MW. The plant began commercial power generation in 1944 and is one of USACE’s oldest hydroelectric facilities.

The Major Rehabilitation project replaces and rehabilitates major components including turbines, generators, transformers, and ancillary equipment. Design funds were approved in July 2016; the first construction funding package was approved November 2018, with additional approvals in January 2022 and July 2024.

The Turbine Replacement and Generator Rewind contract ($52.6M currently), awarded September 2022, will uprate both units from 40 MW to 46.5 MW and replace existing turbine runners with aerating runners to improve dissolved oxygen downstream of the dam.

Beaver Dam Powerplant is a 2-unit hydroelectric plant with a combined power capacity of 112 MW. This project restores full generating power capacity after Unit 2 experienced a stator fault in August 2016. The plant began commercial power generation in May 1965.

The generator rewind contract was awarded to Andritz Hydro on September 30, 2021, for $11.6M. The project encountered numerous unforeseen challenges including HAZMAT abatement, Unit 2 rotational issues, and the need to stiffen both units’ stator frames. The resulting contract amount is currently $18.3M, with an additional modification ($1.4M) negotiated and awaiting award.

Additional funding to complete the project was approved by SWPA and SPRA in October 2025. SWL is awaiting final execution of sub-agreement modification 431-M002-S321-M002 for an additional $2,500,000.