Isn't it time..

[heironymouspasparagus]

I didn't include the whole quote above to keep things compact, but you seem to be making a much broader argument against even the Keystone dam, and/or dams in general, and by extension an argument against any improvements to the natural landscape that would make it more usable, easier, and/or more enjoyable by people.  This broader argument won't be won, and there is too much history against it.  To varying degrees, humans have been adapting the environment since the beginning of civilization.

Not against Keystone per se.  I have lived in Brookside in the 50's when it was being made - before it was built, actually - and experienced the annual floods to Peoria and beyond.  Keystone has done a very good job of fixing that issue.  I would advocate that we continue to look at the net value of these things - and one point is the ongoing maintenance.  Keystone has silted in dramatically since it was built (we would go out to the overlook and watch construction in the early 60's), and right now could use some dredging.  As could ALL of our big lakes.  No thought appears to have been given to conditions 50 years in the future - at that time - I think the design goal was about 50 years, so they are pretty much all end of life and should be scheduled for replacement.

The big lakes in northeast Oklahoma are fantastic!  And while they don't really provide that much electrical power relative to their potential, they are amazing recreational venues.  They has also raised the overall humidity of northeast Oklahoma, both directly and indirectly....we now water grass yards all the time, where they just went brown when I was a kid... we have lots of water to waste now.

Arkansas River could be turned into a river version of the Tallgrass Prairie.  Something that is near natural, and appreciated for what it is rather than terra-formed to something it isn't.  As for the old oil wells in the river bed to the south...well, that is just a historical artifact of our past.  "Museum" pieces...

[heironymouspasparagus]

It was very rare to hear of drownings on this river before the LWDs. They mostly occurred when the river flooded and kids tried to float on rafts and logs and stuff. 14 documented by TW since 83' but that doesn't include the upstream and downstream deaths or the bodies that mysteriously showed up with pre-existing wounds. I believe SS had nearly two dozen.

I am doomed to be out of synch, controversial and misunderstood by my peers. Yoga may in fact be the answer.

I heard of drownings when I was a kid in the 50's from time to time.  Also, people would occasionally get caught in the quicksand....most got out.