Newt Graham Lock and Dam
Newt Graham Lock & Dam is the final lock and dam of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) before reaching the western terminus, Tulsa Port of Catoosa on the Verdigris River. The lock and dam is 24.8 miles (39.9 km) downstream of the port.
Experience the hidden wonders of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Newt Graham Lock and Dam 18 project was primarily constructed for the improvement of the Arkansas River and its tributaries for commercial barge traffic; however, it also offers recreation and resource opportunities.
The lock and dam are named for a major Tulsa supporter of the Arkansas River Navigation Project. In order to facilitate water transportation to the Port of Catoosa, it was necessary to have a way to raise barges from the level of the Mississippi 420 feet below to the elevation of the Verdigris River.
Newt Graham is the farthest upstream structure on the navigation project and is located approximately 7 miles south of Inola, Oklahoma. The Lock 18 pool offers 24.8 miles of navigable waters between the lock and the Port of Catoosa. In an average year, 13-million tons of cargo is transported on the McClellan-Kerr by barge. This ranges from sand and rock to fertilizer, wheat, raw steel, refined petroleum products, and sophisticated petrochemical processing equipment.
Fishing and Hunting
The waters around Newt Graham Lock & Dam have a plentiful supply of fish. People who wish to fish must have current Oklahoma fishing licenses. The most common species are largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, channel catfish, flathead, and sunfish.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages two boat landings on the Lock 18 Pool: Bluff Landing and Highway 33 Landing. Camping is allowed only at Bluff Landing, where camping and day-use fees are collected. Camping is prohibited at Highway 33 Landing, which is limited to boat launching and day use. Boat launching is free at this landing. There are 25 campsites with electrical hookups and 7 without. Campsites are open year-round.
Hunting in the area around the Lock 18 Pool is governed by the same Federal and state laws and regulations as elsewhere in Oklahoma. License requirements are also the same. Popular species for hunters here are whitetail deer, dove, quail, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, and several species of migratory waterfowl.
Nearby Cities and Towns
The Newt Graham Lock & Dam is approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of Inola, Oklahoma.
- Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is 5 miles (8.0 km) due west.
- Wagoner, Oklahoma is 25 miles (40 km) southeast.
- Pryor, Oklahoma is 25 miles (40 km) northeast.
Construction started in 1967 and was completed in 1970. The estimated cost of the project was $43.4 million.