Tiny catfish has big cost for Oklahoma bridge project
By Sheila Stogsdill
The Oklahoman
April 17, 2015
COMMERCE — The spawning cycle of a rare miniature catfish is delaying the
construction of a $5.2 million bridge in Ottawa County.
Crews had worked for more than a year demolishing the Stepps Ford Bridge —
a 114-year-old wooden deck, single lane bridge near Commerce — when
problems associated with the endangered tiny Madtom catfish were
discovered, Ottawa County Commissioner John Clarke said.
“The catfish inhabits the waterway and no work can be done in the river
channel during the catfish's spawning time,” Clarke said.
The spawning season is May through July, he said.
The project is about one-third complete, he said.
“Most of the dirt work and piers and beams on the east side of the new bridge
are completed,” Clarke said. “Crew have demolished the east side of the old
bridge.”
The bridge is being built with a combination of state and federal funds. Clarke
said the delay will add $278,000 in construction costs.
“The question is who is going to pay for it,” Clarke said.
Clarke said the spawning cycle was not in the original plans prepared by the
state Transportation Department.
Mark Zishka, a department construction engineer, said “the error was verbally
noted” at a pre-work meeting in February 2014 attended by Clarke and
County Commissioner Gary Wyrick.
“We don't know why the spawning season was left out of the notes,” Zishka
said.
Zishka said it hasn't been decided on what agency will bear the financial
burden of the additional costs.
Clarke was in Oklahoma City on Wednesday seeking funds.
![[Linked Image]](http://schehrer2.homestead.com/files/conner1.jpg)
The muddy Neosho River passes slowly under Stepp's Ford Bridge. This bridge is
several miles west of Commerce, Oklahoma and is one of the oldest bridges in
Ottawa County.
![[Linked Image]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5675212821_5ed0cbaae7_z.jpg)
Madtom Catfish
By Sheila Stogsdill
The Oklahoman
April 17, 2015
COMMERCE — The spawning cycle of a rare miniature catfish is delaying the
construction of a $5.2 million bridge in Ottawa County.
Crews had worked for more than a year demolishing the Stepps Ford Bridge —
a 114-year-old wooden deck, single lane bridge near Commerce — when
problems associated with the endangered tiny Madtom catfish were
discovered, Ottawa County Commissioner John Clarke said.
“The catfish inhabits the waterway and no work can be done in the river
channel during the catfish's spawning time,” Clarke said.
The spawning season is May through July, he said.
The project is about one-third complete, he said.
“Most of the dirt work and piers and beams on the east side of the new bridge
are completed,” Clarke said. “Crew have demolished the east side of the old
bridge.”
The bridge is being built with a combination of state and federal funds. Clarke
said the delay will add $278,000 in construction costs.
“The question is who is going to pay for it,” Clarke said.
Clarke said the spawning cycle was not in the original plans prepared by the
state Transportation Department.
Mark Zishka, a department construction engineer, said “the error was verbally
noted” at a pre-work meeting in February 2014 attended by Clarke and
County Commissioner Gary Wyrick.
“We don't know why the spawning season was left out of the notes,” Zishka
said.
Zishka said it hasn't been decided on what agency will bear the financial
burden of the additional costs.
Clarke was in Oklahoma City on Wednesday seeking funds.
The muddy Neosho River passes slowly under Stepp's Ford Bridge. This bridge is
several miles west of Commerce, Oklahoma and is one of the oldest bridges in
Ottawa County.
Madtom Catfish