Our Story

There are 25,000 miles of inland river system used for transportation in the United States. Just like trucks are transporting goods on the highways and trains are transporting goods on the rail system, towboats pushing barges are transporting goods on this “highway of water.” Products can leave the Tulsa Port of Catoosa on the waterway and be shipped anywhere in the world!

Arkansas River Floods

The Arkansas River flooding was devastating for people in the states of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System

The navigation system was named after John L. McClellan and Robert S. Kerr

445-River Miles

The MKARNS is a 445-river mile system running from Catoosa, OK to the Mississippi River.

Locks and Dams

This is Newt Graham Lock & Dam 18 near Inola, OK. Read more

Tulsa Port of Catoosa

The Port Authority told voters if they gave the money to purchase the land and build the Port then, they would never ask for taxpayer money again – and they never have!

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System was built by and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

River Port and Industrial Park

The companies located at the Port are in manufacturing and many of them have a direct connection to the oil and gas industry.

650 Tons of Newsprint

The first barge entered the Tulsa Port of Catoosa on January 21, 1971. It was carrying 650 tons of newsprint.

Nixon Dedication

President Richard Nixon came to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa to dedicate the waterway on June 5, 1971.