Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Data Interpretations

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BT Contact Blue Thumb Blue Thumb Volunteer Data Interpretations BT Data Interpretations For volunteers who want to know more, Blue Thumb holds data interpretation sessions to help volunteers understand the results of their monitoring efforts. BT Monitoring Sites When volunteers anlayze the data they have collected, interpret it, and then write about it, their knowledge of water quality deepens and so does their BT Outreach appreciation of their streams. We have posted here the data interpretations written by our Blue Thumb volunteers. If there is a stream that you care about that isn't listed here, consider BT Urban Outreach becoming a Blue Thumb volunteer so you can keep an eye on a stream near you! BT Volunteer Monitoring Stream Name

Bandy Creek Blackboy Creek Black Fork of Poteau River Bluff Creek Caston Creek: CR 149 Coal Creek: Hwy 11 Coffee Creek Crow Creek Deep Fork River Deer Creek: Hwy 4 Delaware Creek Fourche Maline: Black Loop Fourche Maline: Centerpoint Road Fred Creek: Evanston Harlow Creek: Edison Honey Creek Little Deep Creek Little Mountain Trib of Mountain Creek Little Sandy Creek Mooser Creek: Pepsi Mooser Creek: South Haven Mustang Creek

http://www.ok.gov/conservation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/index.html[9/27/2011 2:31:32 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Data Interpretations

Nickel Creek Panther Creek Polecat Creek Posey Creek: Sandusky Post Oak Creek Rock Creek: Hwy 33 Soldier Creek Spunky Creek: Hwy 412 Sugar Creek: CR 1320 Tahlequah Creek Taloka Creek: N4430 Walnut Creek West Cache Creek Wewoka Creek Wolf Creek: McMahon Woods Creek

Last Modified on 09/01/2011

http://www.ok.gov/conservation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/index.html[9/27/2011 2:31:32 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bandy Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Bandy Creek: Pleasant Hill Road

BT Outreach Center of E line of NE Section 16-5N-19E BT Urban Outreach Latimer County, Oklahoma BT Volunteer Latitude N 34° 54’ 30.3’’ Monitoring Longitude W 95° 17’ 46.7’’ WBID#: OK 220100-04-0080G May 11, 2009 Written by: Allen Davis Statistics based off of surveys taken between 2000 and 2009.

Throughout this paper, I will be comparing Bandy Creek to nine other creeks monitored by Blue Thumb volunteers and known high quality reference conditions in the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion. Bandy Creek’s Relative Location

Bandy Creek is located just south of Wilburton in southeastern Oklahoma. Wilburton is approximately fifteen miles south of Quinton, fifteen miles west of Red Oak, thirty miles east of McAlester, and about thirty miles north of Clayton. Wilburton is a small community, having a population of just fewer than three thousand people. Wilburton gets its drinking water supply from Lloyd Church Lake located about three and a half miles upstream from the monitoring site. The waste from Wilburton gets dumped back into Bandy Creek after it has been treated, also upstream from the site. Downstream from the site, the creek runs into Fourche Maline Creek, eventually draining into Wister Lake.

Bandy Creek Habitat Overview

The habitat at Bandy Creek appears to be deteriorating. The overall score for the habitat was a 94 in 2002 and has dropped to an 86 in 2007. This means that we are doing something to the water system, which is harming it. Most of the land that surrounds the creek is pasture land that is used for cattle grazing. The banks of the stream at the site are stable and are covered with a mixture of grasses, forbs, shrubs, vines, saplings and large trees. This vegetation plays an important role in the stability of the creek by keeping the banks from contributing sediment and providing food sources and shade. This vegetation also provides a place for wildlife along the banks. The creek is good for fishing with a variety of deep and shallow parts in the creek providing different kinds of habitat for different species. Bandy Creek

http://www.ok.gov/...vation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:34 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bandy Creek

does not meander in this area. The bottom of the creek has some soft sediment and there are point bars and islands developing. This shows that there is some erosion upstream from the site. Overall the creek got a habitat rating of 86 compared to a 103 in the high quality reference conditions. So, the creek is not the best, but based on what you have read you can infer that it has an average habitat.

Bandy Creek’s Fish

In June of 2007, sixteen different species of fish were collected, compared to the 25 that were collected from Arkansas Valley Ecoregion high quality sites. The total number of fish that were collected was 231 at Bandy Creek and 347 for the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion reference conditions. The following shows the type of fish, the number that were caught and kept, and the number that were released back into the stream. Central stoneroller: kept 2 Common carp: released 2 (photo) Redfin shiner: kept 1 Suckermouth minnow: released 5 Yellow bullhead catfish: kept 1, released 2 Channel catfish: kept 1 Mosquitofish: kept 1, released 6 Brook silverside: kept 1 Green sunfish: kept 1 Warmouth sunfish: kept 1, released 2 Orangespotted sunfish: kept 5, released 144 Bluegill sunfish: kept 1, released 44 Longear sunfish: kept 1, released 2 Redear sunfish: kept 1 Largemouth bass: kept 1, released 4 White crappie: kept 1 Hybrid sunfish: kept 1

There are a total of nine different species of sunfish in Bandy Creek, which is excellent. Normally five different species of sunfish in a given creek make it a good creek. The average Arkansas Valley Ecoregion high quality stream has six different species of sunfish. Although this creek may have a high number of different species of sunfish, the number of benthic (bottom dwelling fish) is extremely low, as well as the number of intolerant (sensitive to the environment) fish species. A fish collection from 2002 received an overall grade of 73% (a C.) That score had dropped down to a 55% (a D) by 2007. These scores represent grading on a curve against the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion high quality reference streams which got a 100% (an A.)

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic Macroinvertebrates are the things that live on the bottom of the stream, are large enough to see with the naked eye and have no backbone. We call them bottom dwelling bugs and creatures. They are important to have because they let you know what kind of condition your water system is in. If you have a low number of creatures living in the water or all of them are very tolerant, then that means that there is something going wrong with the health of the stream. In the winters of 2000-2007, we made bug collections in Bandy Creek to look at stream health. The results showed that over that seven year period, we were able to collect between 10 and 16 different species of bugs with one or two sensitive species each collection. The average was 13 different species collected per year. The average for Arkansas Valley Ecoregion was

http://www.ok.gov/...vation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:34 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bandy Creek

17 species with eight sensitive species. When you compare that to Bandy Creek, it shows that Bandy Creek receives a grade of C. Bugs were also collected in the summers between 2000 and 2007 with similar results. The best collections are only 43% as good as the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion reference conditions and received a grade of C. The reason that this is important to us is that the fewer intolerant species there are, the better the indication that the stream is not healthy. These bugs are important because they are basic components of the “animal food chain” and things that affect them will ultimately affect us.

Chemistry Testing

Chemical testing is looking at the creek’s chemical balance. The reason that this is important is that if the creek has a chemical imbalance, it can mean that the creek is not safe for fish or animals or even for humans. It can also give us hints about why there may be problems.

One of the first tests is the Oxygen Saturation test. This test shows the oxygen levels in the water and is then compared to other creeks around the area. This creek is compared to nine other creeks.The oxygen saturation levels are usually in the 40%-60% range. The median value is 55%. These numbers are very low, and the lower that the numbers are the more likely you are to be having fish dying from low oxygen levels. This can be caused from low water flow, or even from algae. This particular creek is among the lowest on the chart. Most other creeks in the area average around 85%-100% oxygen levels in the water. The normal level of oxygen saturation should be above 80%.

Next is testing for pH levels in the water. pH ranges from 0-14. The lower the number, the more acidic it is. The higher the number the more alkaline it is. A pH of 7 is neutral. In Oklahoma the normal pH value is between 6 and 9. Bandy Creek averaged around a 7.0- 7.5 which is normal and not at all bad.

Third, Soluble Nitrogen and Orthophosphate Phosphorus measure nutrients in the water. Nutrients can come from fertilizer, manure that comes from animals, or human waste. The problem with nutrients is that the more of it that you have in the water, the more algae that you will have. And the problem with algae is that it can cause very low oxygen saturation in the water. The soluble nitrogen in Bandy Creek is in the caution zone with a median value of 1.075 mg/L. With levels in the caution zone, we should be worried about algae and its potential effects on the water. While the orthophosphate phosphorus was often high enough to qualify as poor, the median value was 0.035 mg/L, still normal. Compared to other volunteer monitored creeks in the ecoregion, Bandy Creek is one of the worst.

Next is Chloride testing. The testing for chloride in Bandy Creek showed that the levels were very low. Compared with the nine other sites it is in the same range.

Bacteria Testing

Bacteria testing is the testing of whether or not certain bodies of water are safe for humans to swim in. The test mainly consists of testing for E. coli levels in the water. E. coli are a type of bacteria that actually help you by living in your stomach and aiding in digesting food properly. The problem with E. coli in the water is that there are different types of E. coli, and certain ones can make you sick. They are also indicators that other pathogens may be in the water.Bacteria are tested in the months of May through September since people are most likely to be in the water in the summer. The tests at Bandy Creek show that E. coli levels in the water have been below 400 colony forming units per 100 ml of water since June 2007. This means that it is safe to swim in or be around Bandy Creek.

http://www.ok.gov/...vation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:34 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bandy Creek

Conclusion

Data shows that Bandy Creek has been having problems and is not a healthy creek. The creek has had a sewage plant dumping effluent into it for years causing high nutrients. The effluent and animal manure runoff has been affecting the algae population. This in turn affects the oxygen levels in the water, which ultimately affects the fish population and bug population of the water. The fish population of Bandy Creek is low and the number of intolerant species of fish is near zero. The number of bugs is also low, as well as the number of sensitive bugs. The chemistry of the water indicates high levels of nutrients and low amounts of oxygen saturation. The E. coli levels are low. From everything that you have just read, you should have figured that this is a creek that has to have some big improvements made in order to become the “model creek”. There have been some improvements; like the sewage treatment plant being upgraded and people trying not to pollute as much. Bandy Creek can be a nice, healthy creek, but it needs the people to think of it as a creek and not as a sewage ditch.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...vation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:34 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Blackboy Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Blackboy Creek: Limestone Crossing (aka: Bigheart Creek) BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach NW NW NE Section 36 – 20N – 11E BT Volunteer Monitoring Osage County, Oklahoma Latitude N36° 10’ 21.4”

Longitude W96° 04’ 57.3”

WBID# OK 120420-01-0140T

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – November 20, 2007

Written by: Marie K. Martin

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

The watershed of Blackboy Creek is approximately 1600 acres, roughly 40% of which is steep hillside, 30% flat to gently sloping ridges and, 30% is low hills and bottomland. The creek is a first order, intermittent stream located in southeast Osage County, just northwest of downtown Tulsa. The monitoring location, at an elevation of 720 ft., is a mile from the headwaters, which are 950 ft. in elevation.

The creek and its watershed are in the Northern Cross Timbers ecoregion. Land use is typical of the ecoregion; primarily horse and cattle grazing, lots of wildlife and rural residential. Within the past five years 10 coal bed methane wells and a more urban type residential subdivision have been developed in the watershed. Additional rural residential subdivisions are planned for the area.

Stream Condition and Habitat Overview

http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Blackboy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:36 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Blackboy Creek

Most hillsides in the watershed are heavily wooded. Pasture/bottom land is well vegetated with both native and non-native grass species. Riparian vegetation along the creek plays a very important role in the health of an aquatic system. This area is thick with cottonwood, sycamore, black walnut, pecan, birch and other native tree and shrub species creating a good canopy cover. The canopy cover shades and helps maintain cooler water temperatures. Trees contribute woody & organic debris that creates riffles and pools and provides a food source and habitat for aquatic invertebrates. There has not been channel alteration, however the creek tends to flow in a somewhat straight manner along the bottom of a hill, making just a few 90° turns. The monitoring site is a pool at one of these turns.

The stream substrate is generally flat rock, sandstone and limestone, cobble and gravel with minimal sand. Moderate sedimentation can be found in some areas as a result of previously mentioned drilling and residential development activities. Instream cover and bank vegetation stability are moderate due to an extreme 3 year drought. There is little pool variability; pool substrate is mostly flat rock.

Due to the continuing drought, there was no flow, hence no rocky runs or riffles. These stream features provide important habitat and oxygenated water for stream organisms.

The Habitat Assessment points totaled 90, an excellent score for the ecoregion; the average of high quality sites in the Cross Timbers is 84.

Fish

Fish were collected from pools on June 13, 2006. The total number of species collected was 6, compared to 19 for the Cross Timbers high quality sites. Three of these were the green sunfish and the black and yellow bullhead catfish. There were no sensitive benthic species and no intolerant species collected, compared to 4 and 2 respectively collected from Cross Timbers reference conditions. The metric score for Blackboy creek was 6, only 27% of the ecoregion reference, earning an Index of Biotic Integrity score of E. According to Karr’s Index of Biotic Integrity, attributes of E are “Few species and individuals present; tolerant species dominant; diseased fish frequent”.

Prior to the fish collection, there had been only intermittent flow in the creek since January 2005 and there was no flow at the time of collection. Flow, runs and riffles are critical to sensitive species. Low water levels allow for easy predation of fish by birds, raccoons and other wildlife. Many of the fish remaining in the pools were catfish which also serve to reduce the numbers of other fish. The fish collection results are an indication of how serious the drought has been.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrates live on the stream bottom and on debris found in the stream. They are a link in the aquatic food chain as both consumers of nutrients and food for fish. Many are intolerant of pollution or poor quality water and as such are good indicators of stream condition. In general, the greater the diversity of the benthic macroinvertebrate population, the healthier the stream. EPT richness (the number of mayflies, caddisflies & stoneflies found) is important since these are some of the most sensitive to pollution, poor quality water and poor habitat.

Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected January 9, 2004 and January 11, 2005. No summer collections have been possible due to low/no flow drought conditions.

Taxa Richness scored 88% and 94% for 2004 and 2005 respectively when compared to the Cross Timbers high quality winter riffle average. EPT Taxa Richness scored 140% and 160%. Both Mayflies and Stoneflies were found but no caddisflies. Overall total scores were 30 and 28 compared to 26 for the Cross Timbers reference conditions.

Bacterial Testing

Samples for bacterial testing were collected June – August, 2003, May – August, 2004, June, July & September, 2005, August, 2006 and May – August, 2007. E. Coli results have ranged from a low of 8 CFU/100mL in August 2004 to a high of 2400 CFU/100mL in June 2003. This can most likely be explained by the use of the watershed, the riparian area and the creek itself by both wildlife and livestock.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between May 29, 2003 and May 24, 2007 except May, June, July and September, 2006 when there was neither flow nor water in pools from which to sample. Water is tested for Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, chloride and nutrients.

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Saturation can indicate when there is too little or too much oxygen available to support aquatic life. Chemical data show DO saturation to be low for the ecoregion. Since the concentration of DO is affected by both temperature and flow among other factors, lack of flow over an extended period of time can explain low DO saturation levels.

pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution. pH is a critical chemical factor for aquatic life. Macro invertebrates and fish are sensitive to solution pH with an optimal range for life of 6.5 – 8.2. Data show the pH of Blackboy Creek ranges from 6.30 – 7.75 with a median value of 7.0.

Nitrogen

An estimate of soluble Nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of Ammonia-Nitrogen and Nitrate/Nitrite-Nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble Nitrogen are very low, with many results below detection limits. A one time high of 0.7 mg/L on 11/17/2005 could have been the result of animal waste in the creek.

Phosphorus

Like Nitrogen, Phosphorus is a nutrient required by living organisms for life. In excess amounts growth of aquatic plants and algae can clog the stream. When the vegetation dies and begins to decompose, DO levels can drop to very low levels. Ortho-phosphate data for Blackboy Creek show low levels, with a high result of 0.027 mg/L for each of 3 sampling events (5/29/2003, 11/17/2005 and 10/26/2006).

Chloride

Typically, in Northeastern Oklahoma, chloride is naturally present in water at less than 20 ppm. Chloride pollution can occur as a result of petroleum production and from street de-icing activities. Some sensitive aquatic species can be affected at levels of 100 – 200 ppm but most species won’t be affected until concentrations are greater than 300 – 400 ppm. Monitoring data show chloride consistently at 5 – 10 ppm.

Overall, with the exception of lower than optimum DO saturation, the chemistry of the stream is excellent.

Synopsis

Chemical data collected show there is no pollution from sources such as fertilizer runoff, septic tank overflow, street de-icing, etc. Animal waste is likely the sole source of nutrients and E. Coli in the stream.

Drought appears to be the most significant detriment to a healthy fish population, resulting in low/no flow and consequently low dissolved oxygen levels. Habitat is good and would be much

better if there was consistent rain to feed the stream.

At the present time, Blackboy Creek is healthy with good physical habitat, water chemistry, and macroinvertebrate collections. Fish have been affected by recent drought conditions. Future water quality status is uncertain due to the presence of a salt water line, related to the coal bed methane wells, which intersects the creek. The integrity of the line is questionable since it has broken in two different spots, one spill contaminating a nearby pond.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Black Fork of Poteau River: Hodgen (CRD1513)

BT Outreach NE NE NE

BT Urban Outreach Section 13-4N-25E

BT Volunteer LeFlore County Monitoring Latitude N 34° 49’ 28.3”

Longitude W 94° 37’ 32.3”

WBID#: OK220100-02-0040D

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 4 December 2007

Written by: Mitch Arteberry, Tahtim McAuliffe, Nicole Norris

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

The headwaters of the Black Fork of the Poteau River are in Scott and Polk Counties Arkansas in the Ouachita National Forest. It flows east into LeFlore County, Oklahoma before flowing into the Poteau River north of Hodgen. The landuse in the watershed above the site (almost 1,000 square miles) is mostly National Forest. The Black Fork is a 4th order stream in the Ouachita Mountains Level 3 ecoregion.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

The monitoring site on the Black Fork is south (upstream) of Hodgen at a low water crossing that has been fenced off on the east side. There is usually a riffle at the crossing, but during the drought there has been no flow and the river is pooled above the crossing. The habitat was assessed by the 8th Grade class from Hodgen School on 9/30/2005 and again during a full fish collection on 8/23/2006.

The channel upstream from the riffle is straight and very wide. There is deep water with lots of

http://www.ok.gov/...Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Black_Fork_of_Poteau_River.html[9/27/2011 2:31:37 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Black Fork of Poteau River

rocks and woody debris in the water providing structure for fish and benthic macroinvertebrates. The stream is stable with good vegetation on the banks and an excellent riparian area, though the water is not particularly shaded because it is so wide. The total score for the habitat assessment is 113 and compares favorably with a score of 118 for the average high quality reference stream in the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Fish were collected on August 23, 2006 by both electro shocking and seining. There were 20 species of fish; five intolerant species, nine different sunfish and three sensitive benthic species. The intolerant fish collected include the bigeye shiner, spotted sucker, slender madtom, smallmouth bass and greenside darter. The collection had a very small number of insectivorous minnows which are usually the dominant minnows in North American streams. When compared with reference conditions, the Black Fork of the Poteau River is showing a slightly decreased species richness and receives a high B score.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Macroinvertebrates have only been collected once because with the drought there has been no flow. The one collection we have is better than the average high quality reference conditions with 26 different species and a very even distribution. (There is not one dominant species.)

Bacteria Testing

Bacteria testing took place during the summer of 2007 and all of the results were insignificant. There is not a bacteria problem.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected since 2005.

Dissolved oxygen saturation shows when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little or too much are indicators of problems. The median oxygen saturation in Black Fork was 90%, well within the normal range of 80% - 150%.

pH pH ranges between 7.0 and 6.5, which is excellent.

Nitrogen

An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble nitrogen are very low with a median reading of 0.68 mg/L N.

Phosphorus The level of phosphorus is extremely low with a median level of 0.01 mg/L P.

Chloride Chloride is consistently low at 10 mg/L.

The water chemistry in Black Fork is excellent. There are very low levels of nutrients and the pH, oxygen saturation and chloride are all normal.

Synopsis

The Black Fork of the Poteau River at Hodgen has excellent physical habitat. The fish collection was not quite as good as the average high quality stream for the Ouachita Mountain ecoregion, but the macroinvertebrate collection was better than reference conditions. The water chemistry is excellent. The Black Fork is a healthy stream.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Black_Fork_of_Poteau_River.html[9/27/2011 2:31:37 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bluff Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Bluff Creek

BT Outreach Bluff Creek: NW 150th Data Report BT Urban Outreach SE SW SW BT Volunteer Section 2-13N-4W Monitoring Oklahoma County Lat N 35° 37’ 25.7” Long W 97° 35’ 58.2” WBID OK 620910-04-0140G

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review - December 13, 2006

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

The headwaters of Bluff Creek start on the north side of Lake Overholser and flow through an open area to the west of the mid-sized Wiley Post Airport. Bluff Creek dips south prior to turning due north approximately one-quarter mile west of Lake Hefner. It runs for about three miles through a dense upscale residential community, then turns northeast for about three- quarters of a mile through open country turning north again to run along the east side of Martin Park Nature Center. Bluff Creek continues north through open country until a quarter of a mile before the monitoring site where a housing development has been built on the east side of the creek about a hundred feet from the creek bank. There is another housing development being built approximately a quarter mile to the west on the south side of 150th Street. Bluff Creek continues north of 150th Street through ranchland turning abruptly west within sight of the 150th Street Bridge. Bluff Creek flows into Deer Creek about 3 miles north of the monitoring site.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

The habitat assessment at Bluff Creek scores better than the average of high quality reference streams in the Central Great Plains ecoregion in terms of flow, variable water depths, the stability of the banks, canopy cover overhead and grassy cover along the banks. However, there is some room for improvement which will aid the biological diversity of the stream. For example, although the banks show a high degree of stability there is not a lot of vegetation. Additionally there are limited places in the stream for fish to nest or find cover such as rocks and submerged branches and there is an unstable bottom with deposition of sediment.

http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bluff_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:38 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bluff Creek

Biological Conditions

Fish Using the average of high quality reference streams in this ecoregion as the benchmark, Bluff Creek ranks slightly below the average with decreased fish species richness, especially the intolerant species. Although there is a range of fish species represented in 2004, including six species of sunfish, the majority (82%) fall toward the tolerant end of the scale. Only one intolerant species was found, the suckermouth minnow, and four species with intermediate tolerance were found (central stoneroller, sand shiner, brook silverside, and logperch.) The presence of only one darter, the logperch, indicates increasing siltation. A full 56% of the most recent sample, collected 9/17/2004, are fish which feed on insects ranging from the most to the least tolerant with a few predator species also in residence.

When compared with a fish collection at the same site from 9/21/1998, the summer 2004 collection receives the same metric score, rating Bluff Creek 83% as good as the average high quality collection in this ecoregion. In 2004 the total number of species increased, the number of sensitive benthic species increased, the number of sunfish species increased, the number of species required to make up 75% of the sample increased and the total number of fish collected increased. However, the number of tolerant individuals also increased and the proportion of insectivorous cyprinid individuals decreased. Insectivorous cyprinids are the dominant minnows in North American streams are replaced by either omnivorous or herbivorous minnows as the quality of the food base deteriorates. These last two numbers may indicate that the density of aquatic invertebrates is decreasing and the quality of the food base is deteriorating.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs) Benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected from Bluff Creek in both summers and winters since 1998. Over the years the summer collections have shown decreasing quality with an average of the last five years of 43% of the “reference” sites. The winter collections from Bluff Creek are consistently better than reference conditions. Although there is a fairly high degree of diversity with insects of the more tolerant species, Bluff Creek lacks those intolerant species which need to be present for it to be considered a high quality stream.

Bluff Creek is missing the most sensitive species possibly due to the conformation of the creek bed or chemical runoff. Since the winter collections are better than the summer collections, it could be that people in the urban areas in the watershed are using chemicals during the growing season that are running into Bluff Creek.

Chemical Condition DO. The oxygen saturation level generally follows the summer/winter undulation with few dips into the caution range. The percent oxygen saturation was below 80% nine times of 36 times the water was tested since August, 2001. The lowest value was 70% on 1/5/2003 and again on 11/6/2005.

pH. Ranging between 7.00 and 8.00, all of the data are well within normal values.

Nitrate. Since 2001, nitrate nitrogen was 0.8 mg/L on 8/4/2002. Otherwise, it has been unremarkable.

Ammonia. Only since May of 2005 has an ammonia nitrogen reading been detectable at all, and then at very low levels.

Phosphorus Although there is quite a range of readings, a closer examination of data reveals a pattern which generally follows the spring/summer/fall/winter growing season. This pattern becomes even more apparent when paired with the nitrate readings leading one to speculate that fertilizer and pesticides may be registering in the testing. For example, on 8/4/2002 the orthophosphate phosphorus was 0.15 mg/L and the nitrate nitrogen was 0.8 http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bluff_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:38 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Bluff Creek

mg/L. Orthophosphate phosphorus readings were 0.1 mg/L or above twelve times of the 36 times the water was tested and all of those are clustered in the late spring and summer months.

Chloride. The chloride readings range between 50 mg/L and 160 mg/L. The highest readings are in the winter months indicating that salt from the roads treated during winter storms may be the cause of elevated readings. However, no pattern can be easily detected in the chloride levels.

Synopsis Bluff Creek runs north out of Oklahoma City and the watershed drains some very affluent neighborhoods. It is a picturesque stream with large, overhanging trees and reddish, slowly moving water which runs through several densely populated areas as well as large fields of open country. Although Bluff Creek does not completely measure up to the reference streams in this ecoregion and there are some specific matters which could be addressed, overall, the stream falls well within satisfactory parameters. The physical habitat of Bluff Creek is better than the average high quality stream in the Central Great Plains ecoregion, though there is sediment deposition on the bottom of the creek. The fish collections indicate a stream that is pretty healthy, but is losing some of the most intolerant species. Benthic macroinvertebrate collections from the summer season show a loss of most intolerant forms, though winter collections are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion. Water chemistry is about what would be expected from an urban area. It appears that during the growing season Bluff Creek may be getting some additional nutrients, and perhaps also pesticides, from urban lawns. These chemicals might explain the loss of sensitive bugs during the summer season. Protecting the existing riparian area and plantings on the banks of the stream and control of the runoff by local residents might improve the final score in the future.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Bluff_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:38 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Caston Creek: CR 149

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BT Urban Outreach Caston Creek: CR 149 SW SW NW BT Volunteer Section 26-6n-24E Monitoring LeFlore County N 94° 45’ 58.62” (34.96628) W 94° 45’ 6.78” (-94.75188) WBID#: OK220100-01-0180C Written by Courtney Brown

Caston Creek is located in the Southeastern part of Oklahoma in LeFlore County. The site is at the low water bridge on Harmon Road in Wister, Oklahoma. It is in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion. This site is surrounded by farms, housing, cattle, and a road. The land that drains into Caston Creek at the monitoring site is about 25 square miles.Caston Creek is very wide and deep. From a fish’s perspective there are lots of places to hide in the water. The water in this creek is fairly muddy, but it has a very relaxing flow. There are lots of trees on the banks that shade the edges of the water. The creek is surrounded by fields full of cattle and a house on a hill. The habitat at Caston Creek is not quite as good as the high quality reference sites for the ecoregion.

A fish collection was performed at Caston Creek and found a total of 73 fish of all different types and sizes (17 different species.) There were six kinds of sunfish which included Bluegill sunfish, Longear sunfish, Redear sunfish, Spotted bass, White crappie, and a sunfish hybrid. There were two kinds of darter/benthic fish which include Orangethroat darter and a Log perch. There are several long-lived fish which are a Longnose gar and Redhorse sucker. There are two intolerant species; Bigeye shiner and Redhorse sucker. The fish collection at Caston Creek is 73% as good as the average high quality stream in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion which gives it a C on the grade scale. The C means that the intolerant and sensitive species of fish are rare or absent.

A summer bug collection was also performed at Caston Creek in 2007. When compared with the high quality reference streams, it is missing one sensitive taxon. The biggest difference is that 16% of the sample in Caston is sensitive while 60% of the bugs in the reference streams were sensitive. In addition 54% of the sample was made up of one taxon of http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Caston_Creek:_CR_149.html[9/27/2011 2:31:39 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Caston Creek: CR 149

caddisfly so the sample was not as diverse as the reference streams. The bug collection from Caston Creek is 71% as good as the average of the best creeks in the Arkansas Valley. It was graded a B.

Caston Creek has been tested chemically once a month since October 25, 2006. It is tested for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, pH, nitrate, ammonia, orthophosphate, and chloride. The oxygen saturation is normally high but can drop to a level that is dangerous and caution must be taken if it drops to a low level. The reason the oxygen can drop to the dangerous level is because the water is very slow moving and pooled. The pH level normally stays at an average of 7.5. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus have been very low every time the creek has been tested (usually below the detection levels of the tests.) The median chloride value is 10 mg/L Cl (also very low.)

At Caston Creek during the summer of 2007-2008 the water was tested six times for bacteria. E. coli has to be below four-hundred colony forming units per 100 mL water to safely go swimming. On July 14, 2008 the E. coli was tested and it was 1400 CFUs/100 mL.

The monitoring site on Caston Creek is located on Harmon Road in Wister, Oklahoma. Many other creeks and rivers run into Caston Creek. The habitat is not as good as the average of high quality creeks in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion, but it is not horrible. Many fish live in this water source. There are also many different bug species. Many sensitive fish and some sensitive bugs are missing from the collections from this creek. At this creek the oxygen level is normal but can drop into a caution level. This creek’s nutrient level is low and the pH and chloride are average. Bacteria, particularly E. coli, is occasionally high enough that you should not swim in the creek. It is possible that the proximity of cattle to the creek is the reason. Caston Creek, based on the average, is a pretty healthy creek.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Caston_Creek:_CR_149.html[9/27/2011 2:31:39 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Coal Creek: Hwy 11

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BT Urban Outreach Coal Creek: Hwy 11 SE NE SW Section 22-20N-13E BT Volunteer Tulsa County Monitoring N 36° 11’ 44” W 95° 54’ 53” WBID#: OK 121300-01-0090M

Coal Creek is located in Tulsa, OK which is in the northeast quarter of the state. The stream runs north from the fair grounds into Bird Creek which empties into the Verdigris River. The stream runs through urban Tulsa, so there really isn’t much agriculture going on. Coal Creek is located in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion.

Coal Creek always has a lot of “floatable” trash. It looks terrible, but does not seem to interfere with the life in the stream. As of August 20, 2007, the time when Coal Creek’s complete habitat assessment was last done, the stream had a good canopy shading and streamside cover. So, in other words, there were trees providing shade along the bank and vegetation that began on the bank and traveled into the stream. Coal Creek has good pool variability. It doesn’t have a constant depth, but varies from shallow to deep. To better protect and shelter its underwater inhabitants there should be more rocks, boulders, and logs to offer them shelter. The flow and rocky runs and riffles are moderate. The flow is not very fast, fast enough to cause the rocky runs and riffles which help promote oxygen in the water. The bank is stable, with the help of the vegetation that grows along the stream. There does appear to be sediment slowly filling the creek. There are new point bars and the bottom of the stream is very soft. The habitat in Coal Creek is better than the average high quality stream in this ecoregion.

The first time that fish were collected at Coal Creek was Nov.12, 1996. There were a total of 8 species of fish found. There were no Darter/benthic species or intolerant species found. There were 4 species of Sunfish found and 1 long-lived species of fish found. The second time that fish were collected was on August 23, 2002. There were a total of 11 species found. There was 1 species of Darter/benthic species found, one more than the first fish collection. There were 5 species of Sunfish found and in the state of Oklahoma if there are at least 5 species of Sunfish found the stream is considered to be fairly healthy. There were 2 species of long-lived fish found, one more than the first time as well, but still no intolerant species were http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Coal_Creek:_Hwy_11.html[9/27/2011 2:31:40 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Coal Creek: Hwy 11

found. The third time that fish were collected at Coal Creek was on August 20, 2007. This time there was a total of 17 species of fish found. There was still 1 species of Darter/benthic fish found, 7 species of Sunfish found, and still 2 species of long-lived fish were found. Again there were no intolerant fish found. This tells us that there is something in the stream causing the intolerant species to die out, but as the data shows the fish population and species diversity has increased over the past 11 years.

Bugs were first collected at Coal Creek in the winter of 1997 and were last collected in the winter of 2007, so bugs have been continually collected for 10 years. Coal Creek has one A, five C’s and two B’s for the score on bug conditions in the winter months. For two years the sensitive bugs were not found at all. The sensitive bugs are still there, but just not a healthy amount. Bugs were first collected in the summer of 1997 and were last collected in the summer of 2007. Coal Creek averages a C for bug conditions in the summer months. There is also two year time where the sensitive bugs are nonexistent. There is not a healthy amount of sensitive and intolerant species of bugs.

The chemistry of Coal Creek has been tested monthly since September 2001. The median oxygen saturation is right at the caution zone at 80%, and the soluble nitrogen is normal at 0.63 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus is excellent at 0.01 mg/L P and chloride is normal at 30 mg/L Cl. The pH level is average at 7.5. So, overall the chemistry is not bad.

Coal Creek has been tested for E.coli 17 times from September 2003 to September 2007. The E.coli count was above 400 Colony Forming Units/100 mL water six times: the summer of 2004, August 2005, July 2007, and September 2007. Being close to the fair grounds could be part of the cause as the runoff from the agricultural barns eventually enters Coal Creek through the storm drains.

Coal Creek’s habitat is excellent and seems to sustain the fish and bugs that live there. There have been no intolerant species of fish in the stream in 11 years, so there is something in the stream that makes it impossible for these very sensitive species of fish to dwell in Coal Creek. The bug species are the same way, only the small numbers of sensitive bugs fluctuate, there are some, just not very many. This could be due to the oxygen saturation or possibly the water has somehow become polluted causing the sensitive species to die out. There are also a lot of bacteria in Coal Creek in the summer months.

Written By: Shelbey Hill

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Coal_Creek:_Hwy_11.html[9/27/2011 2:31:40 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Coffee Creek

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BT Urban Outreach NE NW SW

BT Volunteer Section 29-14N-1W Monitoring Oklahoma County

Latitude North 35.65996°

Longitude West 97.33218°

WBID#: OK520710-01-0090C

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – December 2007

Written by Melinda West

The Coffee Creek watershed comprises approximately forty square miles in north central Oklahoma County. The stream originates in north Edmond in the region of Broadway and Coffee Creek Road. Flow is west to east on the west side of Interstate 35 then it turns to the southeast around Air Depot Road. It continues in a southeastern direction until it curves south to cross State Highway 66 just inside the Arcadia city limits. It turns back east and empties into the Deep Fork River less than one mile east of the Highway 66 bridge. Within the watershed are a golf course, several housing additions, forested and pasture lands, and the City of Edmond’s water treatment plant.

The monitoring site is located at the point where Coffee Creek passes under the State Highway 66 bridge on the west side of Arcadia, Oklahoma. The creek makes an “S” curve under the bridge. Monthly chemical monitoring takes place on the south side of the bridge where the stream turns from south to east. A large amount of concrete “chunks” characterize the area, possibly belonging to an older railroad bridge. Fast water flow in this area has resulted in bank erosion primarily on the south side. The creek “sits” well below the level of the surrounding land and road. A lot of rocky debris in the creek bed creates riffles. The stream bed varies from relatively shallow and smooth clay and sand to deeper pools and very uneven rocky areas.

The State of Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s habitat assessment adheres to a modified version of the EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols and is designed to assess habitat quality in relation to its ability to support biological communities in the stream. This assessment is based on parameters grouped into three categories. These categories include micro scale habitat, macro scale habitat, and riparian/bank structure. Micro scale habitat includes substrate makeup, stable cover, canopy, depth, and velocity. Macro scale assesses the channel morphology, sediment deposits, and other parameters. The third category looks at the riparian zone quality, width, and general makeup (trees, shrubs, vines, and grasses) as well as bank features. This section also includes bank erosion and streamside vegetative cover. These various features are scored on different scales. There are twenty possible points for “instream cover, pool bottom substrate, pool variability, canopy cover shading, presence of rocky runs or riffles, and flow.” “Channel alteration and channel sinuosity” have 15 possible points each. “Bank stability, bank vegetation stability and streamside cover” each have a possible 10 points. The total habitat score can reach 180 points with the score increasing as habitat quality increases. No stream will score the highest value in every parameter. Streams in different ecoregions are very different. Each stream should be compared to known high quality streams in the same ecoregion and vicinity.

http://www.ok.gov/conservation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Coffee_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:42 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Coffee Creek

Habitat assessment was conducted on a reach 400 meters upstream of the monthly monitoring site along a relatively straight west to east section of the stream north of the bridge. The habitat assessment score for the August 11, 2006 sample date was 87.9. The corresponding average score for high quality streams in the Cross Timbers ecoregion was 84.0.

Coffee Creek had a high score for pool variability, flow and streamside cover. Pool variability refers to the depths of the pools. Healthy diverse communities of aquatic organisms require both deep and shallow pools. Flow is representative of stream size. Habitat quality should rise as streams increase in size and discharge. Streamside cover is important in the transfer of food and energy into the stream. A mixture of grasses, forbs, shrubs, vines, saplings, and large trees make this transfer more efficient than would a single vegetative type.

Coffee Creek had several habitat parameters with moderate or mid level scores, such as: instream cover, percent of rocky runs and riffles, channel alteration, bank erosion, and bank stabilized with vegetation. Instream cover is the component of habitat that organisms hide behind, within or under. It consists of such items as submerged logs, cobbles and boulders, root wads and beds of aquatic plants. At least 50% of a stream’s area should be occupied by a mixture of stable cover types for this category to be optimal. The percent of rocky runs and riffles was also in the mid score range. These provide highly oxygenated, turbulent water flowing over high quality cover and substrate. Aquatic organisms in these areas are some of the first to vanish when oxygen levels decrease. Channel alteration also had a mid level score. Unstable stream beds support fewer types of animals. Few or no signs of stream alteration are considered optimal. Due to the number of “objects” in the stream and flow rate, Coffee Creek’s channel is often altered and bank erosion is a problem. Banks stabilized with vegetation benefit the aquatic community more than those stabilized with other materials such as rock or concrete. Stream bank vegetation provides a food source for aquatic animals.

Pool bottom substrate, canopy cover shading and channel sinuosity all had low scores. The pool bottom substrate does not provide the habitat necessary for bottom spawning fish and smaller vertebrates and invertebrates to successfully live and reproduce. Light in a stream is, of course, necessary for plant growth. Canopy cover moderates this light so the stream doesn’t heat up too much. Aquatic organisms are more stressed by warm water, lower oxygen stability and higher metabolic rates that accompany warmer waters. The habitat assessment area is very straight, only curving at the area where it passes under the bridge. Channel sinuosity measures how far a channel deviates from a straight line. More sinuous channels tend to have more undercut banks, root wads, submerged logs, etc. thus providing more habitat.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Fish were collected by seine at the same time and from the same 400 meter section as the habitat assessment. The condition of the fish community is based on indices of species richness, community quality, trophic structure and by comparison to the average score for high quality streams in the same ecoregion.

The total number of fish species collected for Coffee Creek was 10 while the number for the average Cross Timbers high quality stream was nearly double at 19. The total number of species decreases with decreasing water or habitat quality. There were no sensitive benthic species such as darters, madtoms, and sculpins collected. These species decrease with increasing siltation and increasing benthic oxygen demand. These species are good indicators of conditions which make the microenvironment of the stream inhospitable. Only three species of sunfish were collected (bluegill, longear and unidentified young of the year). These decrease in number with decreasing pool quality and decreasing cover. They also require a fairly stable substrate for spawning. Their long term success is tied to conditions that affect the amount of sediment that enters and exits a stream. The number of sunfish species for the high quality Cross Timbers streams was 7. Only one intolerant species of fish was collected (suckermouth minnow.) Two were collected in Cross Timbers high quality streams. The proportion of tolerant species was 96% (70% for Cross Timbers high quality streams.) This characteristic separates moderate from low quality streams. These are opportunistic, tolerant fish that dominate communities that have lost their competitors through loss of habitat or water quality. Only 4% of the fish collected were insectivorous cyprinids (7% in the Cross Timbers high quality streams.) These fish increase as quality and quantity of the invertebrate food base increases.

The “overall score” for the fish community at the Coffee Creek site was a “D” while that of the Cross Timbers high quality streams was an “A” which indicates that top carnivores and many expected species were absent or rare while omnivores and tolerant species are dominant.

Macroinvertebrates

Collection of macroinvertebrates took place in the summers of 2005 and 2006 (July 1 – September 15) and winter 2007 (January 1 – March 15). These time periods represent seasons of relative community stqability providing an opportunity for

meaningful site comparisons. Samples were taken from areas of rocky riffles at the monthly monitoring site.

Six metrics were used to assess the macroinvertebrate community. Taxa richness refers to the total number of different species. This number rises with increasing water and/or habitat quality. The winter 2006 sample had a score of 6 for this category as did the Cross Timbers high quality streams. The summer 2005 sample and both of the summer 2006 samples scored only 2 while the Cross Timbers high quality streams scored 6. The EPT Index is the number of different taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies). Generally these insects are more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. As stream quality deteriorates members of this group are the first to disappear. The percent EPT is a measure of how many individuals in the sample are members of this group. This score helps to separate high quality streams from those of moderately high quality. The EPT taxa richness score for all samples at Coffee Creek were zero whereas the Cross Timbers high quality streams scored 6. Percent dominant taxon is the percentage of the collection composed of the most common taxon. As more species are excluded by increasing pollution, the remaining species increase in number. This helps separate the high quality streams from those of moderate quality. For winter 2006 the score for the percent contribution of dominants was 4 (2 for Cross Timbers high quality streams.) The summer 2005 and 2006 score was zero, whereas the summer 2006 replicate sample was 2 (Cross Timbers high quality streams scored 2.) The Shannon- Weaver Species Diversity Index measures the evenness of the species distribution. It increases as more and more taxa are found in the collection and as individual taxa become less dominant. The Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index was 4 for the winter 2006 sample and 2 for all other sampling periods. The Cross Timbers high quality streams scored 2.

The overall grades for Coffee Creek during the winter 2006 and summer 2006 “replicate” were “A” and “B” respectively. Attributes of an “A” condition are “comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion; balanced trophic and community structure for stream size.” Attributes of a “B” are “community structure less than expected, species richness is less than expected due to loss of some intolerant forms, percent contribution of tolerant forms is increased.” The summer 2006 and summer 2006 collections scored a “C.” This condition has fewer species due to the loss of most intolerant forms.

Bacterial Testing

Fecal coliforms are a group of organisms common to the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. Their presence is an indicator of pollution and potentially dangerous bacterial contamination. Bacterial testing for E. coli and total fecal coliforms, using Coliscan Easygel, was conducted July through September 2006 and May through September 2007 at the monthly monitoring site. According to Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards for secondary body contact recreation (i.e. ingestion not anticipated) the geometric mean of 10 coliform samples taken between May 1 and September 30 should not exceed 2000 colonies/100 ml or 25% or fewer of the individual samples shall not exceed 2000 colonies/100 ml. E. coli colonies should not exceed 630/100 ml. The values obtained for Coffee Creek are really too variable to draw any real conclusions. This variability could be due to the lack of experience that the sampler had with this technique. The source of this bacterial contamination could possibly be the sewage treatment plant, runoff from areas where cattle graze, birds roosting under the highway bridge or leaking septic systems upstream.

Bacterial Counts

Date E. coli CFU*/100 ml Fecal Coliform CFU/100 ml 12 July 2006 1300 24600 15 August 2006 300 TNTC** 14 September 2006 100 TNTC 12 May 2007 5300 13800 9 June 2007 700 3800 15 July 2007 380 TNTC 11 August 2007 300 2700 15 September 2007 240 1740

*CFU = colony forming unit **TNTC – too numerous to count

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between June 3, 2006 and June 9, 2007. Eight chemical parameters were measured along with air and water temperature.

Dissolved oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen available for aquatic life. At any given time the amount of oxygen in a stream depends on water temperature, partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere at water contact,

the concentration of dissolved organic substances and physical aeration of the water. Both too little and too much oxygen can indicate problems. Dissolved oxygen (DO) for Coffee Creek ranged from 6 – 13 mg/L (milligrams/liter.) The corresponding percent oxygen saturation was 71 – 150% with a median value of 96% saturation. Normal is 80 – 130%. All of the values fell within the normal range with four exceptions; three slightly below 80% and one above 130%.

pH measures the hydrogen ions present in the water. It indicates how acidic or alkaline the water is. pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. The normal pH range for streams in Oklahoma is 6.5 to 9. Coffee Creek ranges from 7.3 to 8.0 with a median value of 7.75.

An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amount of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen found in the water. The median value of soluble nitrogen for Coffee Creek is 3.74 mg/L N. The normal range for this parameter is 0 to 0.8 mg/L N, “caution” is 0.8 – 1.5 mg/L N, and “poor” is anything >1.5 mg/L N. The amount of these three sources of nitrogen varies a great deal at Coffee Creek. This could be due to the water treatment plant or to runoff from manure on pasturelands. Of the forty streams monitored by Blue Thumb in the Cross Timbers ecoregion, only one other (Okmulgee: Deep Fork Confluence) has as high and as wide a range of soluble nitrogen.

Phosphorus is measured as orthophosphate phosphorus in mg/L P. This, too, has a wide range at the Coffee Creek site (0.113 – 4.167 mg/L P.) Most creeks monitored in the Cross Timbers ecoregion have levels less than 2 mg/L P. Again, only Okmulgee: Deep Fork Confluence has as high a value as Coffee Creek and there was a known point source of pollution on Okmulgee Creek that has since been rerouted to the Deep Fork River. Anything above 0.1 mg/L will cause algal growth. The median value at Coffee Creek is 1.9 mg/L P.

Chloride is measured in mg/L. Coffee Creek ranges from 35 – 160mg/L Cl with a median value of 120 mg/L Cl. Chloride is a “natural” pollutant in much of Oklahoma due to the geology. The chloride content of the Deep Fork (into which Coffee Creek flows) approaches the maximum allowable under Safe Drinking Water standards. Possible sources, other than naturally occurring chloride, include septic waste, waste water treatment plant effluent, industrial and animal waste, fertilizer runoff, road salting/de-icing runoff, and oilfield operations.

“A water quality standard defines the water quality goals of a water body, or portion thereof, by designating the use or uses to be made of the water and by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses” (Code of Federal Regulations.) Water Quality Standards (WQS) are established to serve as goals for the water quality management plans. The Clean Water Act requires each state to develop and prepare WQS and at least once every three years it must review and evaluate existing standards and determine if they are appropriate or if modifications are needed. Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards are written by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board with input from many agencies (Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Department of Mines, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Secretary of the Environment.) The most recent EPA approved WQS for the state are found at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/wqalibrary/ok/index.html.

Oklahoma’s WQS are composed of three basic elements.

Beneficial uses: a classification of the waters of the State according to their best uses in the interest of the public. Beneficial uses include: Public and Private Water Supply, Emergency Water Supply, Fish and Wildlife Propagation, Agriculture, Hydroelectric Power, Municipal and Industrial Process and Cooling Water, Primary Body Contact Recreation, Secondary Body Contact Recreation, Navigation, and Aesthetics.

Criteria to protect those uses: numerical or narrative guides on the physical, chemical, or biological aspects, which will assure achievement of the designated use.

Antidegradation Policy: a statement of the State’s position on the use of waters, which are protected at levels considered above that required for beneficial use maintenance.

Two additional components involve special requirements set forth within the Standards document.

Compliance Schedules: establish a reasonable time for new criteria to be implemented into permits.

Variances: allow for deviations from certain criteria for various reasons.

The WQS are very long and written with a large amount of “jargon.” From my understanding these are the standards for the parameters that Blue Thumb measures. For a habitat limited aquatic community (Coffee Creek was not habitat limited at the location and time of our assessment), dissolved oxygen should be at least 3.0 mg/L (4.0 mg/L from April 1 – June 15.) pH should be between 6.5 and 9.0. Chronic ammonia toxicity value varies with pH and temperature of the water. For temperatures and pH values reported the ammonia screening values range from 4.73 to 1.02 mg/L. Chloride should not exceed 250 mg/L. I could find no numerical values for nitrogen. The phosphorus water quality standard applies to waters designated as a Scenic River, which Coffee Creek is not.

The chemical parameters measured vary greatly at the Highway 66 Coffee Creek site. In an effort to understand this variation this stream was checked at a site upstream of the Edmond water treatment plant and one just downstream of the plant one day after sampling at the usual site.

Upstream and Downstream Results

Coffee Creek Coffee Creek Coffee Creek

Site Hwy 66 Blvd (upstream) Danforth (downstream)

6 April 2006 7 April 2006 7 April 2006

pH 7.9 7.8 7.8 Nitrate 3 mg/L N BDL 1.8 mg/L N Nitrite 1 mg/L N BDL 0.6 mg/L N Ammonia 0.5 mg/L (dilution required) BDL 2.5 mg/L Orthophosphate 2.3 mg/L P 0.04 mg/L P 2 mg/L P Chloride 140 mg/L Cl 120 mg/L Cl 120 mg/L Cl

mg/L = milligrams per liter BDL = below detection limit

The plant is operated under an Oklahoma Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ.) The plant’s current permit runs until February 1, 2009. During 2007, ODEQ conducted four plant inspections. The plant has a record of 100% compliance with all regulatory parameters for wastewater treatment. The process of wastewater treatment involves removal of carbonaceous organic material, oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, removal of nitrate and removal of phosphorus. The treated water is then filtered to remove remaining solids, chlorinated to kill any potentially harmful microorganisms, and de-chlorinated to eliminate excess chlorine that could be harmful to living organisms. The effluent is then discharged into Coffee Creek. According to the water resources superintendent, Fred Rice, the plant has never been out of compliance with its permit. The table below gives a summary of the permit with regard to parameters monitored by Blue Thumb.

The plant is not required to monitor phosphorus levels in the effluent. This is one parameter that usually has a high value at the monitoring site at Highway 66.

Edmond NPDES Permit

Effluent Characteristics Discharge Limitations Monitoring Requirements Concentration (Mg/L) 30 day Average 7 day Average Spring (April-May) Ammonia (NH3-N) 4.1 9.9 (daily max.) 1/week Fecal Coliform (May) 200 (geometric mean) 400 (daily max) 1/week Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Instantaneous Minimum 5 1/week

Summer (June - October)

Ammonia (NH3-N) 3 5 1/week Fecal Coliform 200 (geometric mean) 400 (daily max.) 1/week Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Instantaneous Minimum 4 1/week

Winter (November-March) Ammonia (NH3-N) 4.1 9.9 (daily max.) 1/week Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Instantaneous Minimum 5 1/week

Other year round requirements No discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts No discharge of any visible sheen of oil or globules of oil or grease pH shall not be less than 6.5 nor more than 9.0 at any time, samples 4X/week

Overall, Coffee Creek at Highway 66 is a moderately healthy stream. The habitat assessment score of 87.9 indicates that the stream has the potential of being “healthy.” Biological assessment of fish and macroinvertebrates indicate that the stream is beginning to have trouble. Life is there, but could be better if it was more diverse and had pollution sensitive organisms. The chemical data is “troubling.” Without the wide fluctuations and high values of P, N and Cl this stream could be very healthy. The question is, “What is the source of these chemicals?” It is not clear to me that the wastewater plant is this source. It very well could be, but I don’t think we have the data to support that. The one set of data from extra sampling sites done in spring 2006 is just not enough. After having sampled the creek for over a year now, I can confirm that the parameters are too variable to rely on just one set. Because Coffee Creek flows through many types of land use it is possible there are other sources of pollution (leaking septic systems, over fertilization of lawns and fields, manure from agricultural use, etc.). The fact that ODEQ is sent a copy of the monthly sampling results and has never inquired about them (to my knowledge) leads me to believe the values are within Oklahoma’s water quality standards. Perhaps the problem lies with the standards. To adequately address this situation a series of sampling sites above and below the plant would need to be sampled for at least a year. Land usage of the surrounding areas would need to be noted. I think this would be a good project for a high school or college biology, chemistry or ecology class.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Crow Creek

BT Outreach Crow Creek: Zink Park BT Urban Outreach Blue Thumb Data Report BT Volunteer NW NE NW Monitoring Section 19-19N-13E Tulsa County Latitude N 36° 7’ 5” Longitude W 95° 58’ 13” WBID OK 120420-01-0090G

December 7, 2006 Data Review By: Graham Brannin, Steve Schaal

Watershed and Monitoring Site Characteristics

Crow Creek is a small stream located primarily in a fully developed mixed residential and commercial neighborhood of Tulsa in northeast Oklahoma. Crow Creek flows generally from northeast to southwest through mostly affluent neighborhoods in an older section of the city. The watershed drains the city from near Wilson Middle School and Lanier Elementary School. Monte Casino and Cascia Hall Schools, St. John Hospital, Utica Square, and Philbrook Art Museum are all in this watershed. Crow Creek drains into the Arkansas River at about 33rd Street. Crow Creek is considered a second order stream and is in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion.

The monitoring site is located within Zink Park near the intersection of East 31st Street and Trenton Avenue. Residential houses with large, well-manicured yards surround the park on all sides. The site is well shaded by large trees and there is a small riparian zone with some smaller brush along part of the monitoring site. Several sections of the stream are channelized with a mix of stone walls and riprap. The walls are falling down in some areas. The west side of the site has a small floodplain with some grass and large rocks. There are two large sanitary sewer lines running along and in the creek. Sections of these lines in the sample area were replaced about six years ago. Upstream of the monitoring location is the Philbrook Art Museum with its many gardens.

http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Crow_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:43 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Crow Creek

Stream Health based on Habitat Assessment

A habitat assessment is designed to assess physical habitat available to support the biological community. The data is compared with a “reference stream” (an average of high quality streams) chosen from the same ecoregion. Crow Creek is a low flow stream that is not very curvy (moderate to low sinuosity). The average depth of the stream within the 400-meter sampling reach is 0.29 meters, with the deepest parts being around 1.5 meters. Over half of the stream is pooled, 14% is run and 15% is riffle. There is excellent shade over the water helping keep it cool.

Habitat assessments were performed in 1996 and 2000. Both of the assessment scores are slightly higher than the reference average. The habitat is ranked as very good. The score would be better had several stream sections not been channelized. Comparing the two assessments shows mixed results when trying to determine the trend of habitat quality. Three parameter ratings went down (pool variability, channel alteration, instream cover) and three went up (pool bottom substrate, rocky runs/riffles, streamside cover).

The channel alteration score was good during the 1996 assessment and moderate during the 2000 assessment. One possible reason for this change is the presence of newly formed point bars. Point bars are new, unstable streambeds that support fewer types of animals than more stable streambeds. They indicate sediment deposition.

Observations indicate sedimentation is a consistent phenomenon. This may be due to erosion from infill development. The aesthetic value of Crow Creek is harmed by frequent channel alterations. Any stream management decision should consider the potential impact to aesthetics and the aquatic community.

Finally, Crow Creek has an unusually consistent flow. The stream has not been dry or even extremely low for the last 10 years. This is purely observation and does not imply a good or bad connotation.

Stream Health Based on Biological Conditions

Fish Collection Data

Fish populations are used to assess stream health. Data from each collection are compared to identify trends in fish populations. Crow Creek data is compared to an average of high quality reference streams in the Central Irregular Plain ecoregion to assess relative stream health.

Fish collections were conducted in 1995, 1996 and 2000. A number of the different tools of measuring stream health based on fish population indicate Crow Creek is in very poor health. The parameters measured include number of fish, number of species, Shannon’s diversity, sensitive benthic species and intolerant species. Some specific numbers include about three species found in Crow Creek versus 22 in reference conditions. No sensitive benthic species were collected in Crow Creek versus six species for the reference stream.

The trend of quality regarding the fish community is a flat line remaining in the very poor range. One puzzling observation is 230 fish were collected in 1995 compared to only five and nine fish collected in 1996 and 2000, respectively. The 1995 collection, conducted on September 12th, still did not indicate a healthy stream but at least the total number was okay. Blue Thumb volunteers conducted chlorpyrifos (Dursban) pesticide screening during the fish collection years. Most screenings indicated very low or below detection levels. However, there were positive readings after the fish collection in 1995 and before the collections in 1996 & 2000 (0.51 – 0.88 ppb). Although these tests are for screening purposes, they do indicate a possibly toxic environment. Oklahoma Water Quality Standards indicate acute toxicity for

http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Crow_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:43 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Crow Creek

chlorpyrifos at 0.083 ppb. There is not conclusive data but, perhaps, occasionally high pesticide levels have impacted subsequent fish collections. The recent ban on the general public’s access to chlorpyrifos could have a positive impact on the aquatic life in Crow Creek.

Observations indicate that the green sunfish, which is highly tolerant to pollution, appears to be the only species that can consistently survive in Crow Creek. Several other species, including the large mouth bass, should be enjoyed at Crow Creek.

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Data

The benthic macroinvertebrate population and diversity provide clues to help assess stream health. Data from each collection are compared to identify trends. Crow Creek data from rocky riffles was compared to the rocky riffle average reference conditions in the Central Irregular Plains to assess relative stream health. The data is grouped by sample season (winter or summer) for proper comparison.

The macroinvertebrates from Crow Creek were gathered and analyzed in both the winter and summer for at least six years. A comparison to reference indicates a consistently poor macroinvertebrate population.

In the summer collections, Crow Creek had only one of the EPT taxa that made up 4% of the total collection while reference conditions had seven EPT taxa that comprised 50% of the collection. These numbers indicate that Crow Creek has lost most pollutant intolerant forms. (The “EPT Index” is the number of different taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, the mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies respectively. With few exceptions, these insects are more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. As a stream deteriorates in quality, members of this group will be the first to disappear.)

However, a few trends show a slight improvement. The last year analyzed, 2005, show the best results for both winter and summer. The data from these macroinvertebrate collections are encouraging. An analysis of the 2006 samples may continue a positive trend.

As noted in the Fish Collection section above, positive results for the pesticide Chlorpyrifos in the years 1995 – 2000 could have had an impact on the macroinvertebrate sampling. The banning of its use could have positive impact with macroinvertebrates in Crow Creek.

It is hard not to note the long filamentous algae and that when one picks up a stone from the bottom of Crow Creek it usually feels slimy. This streamside observation seems consistent with the poor macroinvertebrate population.

Biological Conditions Summary

Both the fish and macroinvertebrate data indicate a stream not attaining the diversity and numbers that it should. Crow Creek has very good physical habitat, but is not sustaining a healthy biological community. This is clearly seen when the creek is compared to reference conditions.

The fish data does not indicate any credible reason for optimism. However, the macroinvertebrate data does hint at improvement. It will be informative to note any improvement in fish populations if, as hoped, the macroinvertebrate population and diversity both improve. Perhaps, as the macroinvertebrate community improves, the fish community will follow.

Stream Health based on Bacteria Data http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Crow_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:43 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Crow Creek

Eschericia coli data has been gathered for warm weather months (May – September) since 2001. The data is not consistently high or low. This data indicate no significant sanitary sewer discharges near the collection site.

Stream Health Based on Chemical Testing Data

Chemical testing data provides a snapshot of stream health. There is a vast amount of chemical data for the monitoring location that goes back to July 1995. The monthly data has very few gaps. Although the data does indicate frequently elevated and occasionally high nutrient levels, the results do not indicate a toxic environment for aquatic life.

Perhaps the most critical parameter measured to indicate an inhabitable environment is Dissolved Oxygen (DO). The DO measured in Crow Creek was usually in the healthy range. In the last five years the oxygen saturation was below 50% three times: 35% on 12/3/2002, 26% on 12/28/2005, and 48% on 6/29/2006. There is a hint at a decline in DO recently but this is not conclusive and no cause is known.

Nitrate nitrogen has been 1.0 mg/L or more about 40% of the time. Values greater than or equal to 2 mg/L nitrogen were measured as follows: 2.2 mg/L N on 1/29/2004, 2 mg/L N on 6/24/2004, 2 mg/L N on 10/27/2005, 2 mg/L N on 3/30/2006, and 2 mg/L N on 6/29/2006.

Orthophosphate phosphorus has been above 0.1 mg/L P about 30% of the time. The highest value in the last five years was 0.33 mg/L P on 9/19/2002.

Stream Evaluation Synopsis

Crow Creek is a relatively short stream in a small, commercially and residentially developed watershed in the middle of a large city. The sample location has a remarkably good habitat and should support a healthy biological community. Water chemistry data indicates the stream maintains frequent moderate to high nutrient levels but the DO and other critical parameters are acceptable for sustaining a healthy biological community.

Nevertheless, Crow Creek has a very poor biological community. Both fish and macroinvertebrates indicate an unhealthy stream. At this time, it is not known why the stream does not support the type of aquatic community seen in reference streams. Some possible causes could be physical barriers to fish migration from the Arkansas River, insufficient stream flow regimes and unidentified toxics in the water. More in-depth analysis by qualified professionals is required to make any further conclusions or to modify management plans.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...rvation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Crow_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:43 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Deep Fork River

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BT Monitoring Sites Deep Fork River: Hwy 56

BT Outreach NW SW SE BT Urban Outreach Section 10-13N-12E BT Volunteer Monitoring Okmulgee County

Latitude N 35° 36’ 47.6”

Longitude W 96° 01’ 25.7”

WBID#: OK 520700-02-0010R

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – October 2007

Written by: Roger Wyrick & Tony Cheatwood

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

The Deep Fork River headwaters originate in central Oklahoma City and it flows generally east into Lake Eufaula where it joins with the North Canadian River to flow further south, eventually ending in the Gulf of Mexico. The Deep Fork River passes through Lake Arcadia and several small Lincoln County communities, including Wellston, south of Chandler and north of Sparks, and continuing east through rural Creek County where you will find several Deep Fork Wildlife Management Areas. From Creek County it travels along the northeast edge of Okfuskee County, again through Deep Fork Wildlife Management Areas. The river passes into Okmulgee County just west of Nuyaka into the Okmulgee Wildlife Management Area. The Highway 56 monitoring site is here. Below the site, the Deep Fork River passes south of Okmulgee, crosses Highway 75 north of Schulter, still passing through the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge, continuing on to Lake Eufaula.

The Deep Fork River watershed above the site consists of several thousand square miles of land in both the Northern Cross Timbers and the Central Irregular Plains ecoregions of Oklahoma. The monitoring site is located where Highway 56 crosses the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee County.

http://www.ok.gov/...n/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Deep_Fork_River.html[9/27/2011 2:31:45 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Deep Fork River

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

Monitoring sites are assessed and compared to reference streams of known high quality within the same ecoregion and the Deep Fork River is among the higher ranking streams with a score of 87.8. The site has steep banks and is covered in vegetation that includes trees, grasses and woody shrubs that help with the control of erosion. There are a few rocky riffles and runs at the monitoring site where the water samples are taken. Within the 400 meter reach of the habitat assessment and fish collection the in-stream cover, channel alteration, bank stability and streamside cover were all good. These indicate the aquatic, as well as the terrestrial, inhabitants are provided good cover and a good food source. The substrate in the bottom of the pools appeared to be rather sandy and somewhat unstable and the pool variability between deep and shallow pools was weighted to deep pools. Canopy cover to help shade the pools is somewhat lacking because of the width of the water. The channel in this part of the Deep Fork River is quite straight with no major bends and the river is mostly pooled with few rocky runs and riffles. The amount of flow was low due to the lack of rainfall during the year.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Fish were collected from the Deep Fork River on August 11, 2006 and the collection was 82% of the average high quality reference site for the ecoregion. The water was well over 2 meters deep for much of the 400 meter reach so seining was quite difficult and this collection did not account for all of the species present in the river.

Of the 346 total fish seined 18 species were identified with intolerant, intermediate and tolerant species. Having the intolerant species in the mix says a lot about the stream and its health. The fish that were collected include: gizzard shad; red, ghost, and golden shiners; flathead and channel catfish; sucker-mouth and bullhead minnows; smallmouth buffalo; freckled madtom; mosquitofish; orangespotted, bluegill, longear and redear sunfish; white crappie; slenderhead darter and freshwater drum. The presence of the darter and the madtom help indicate the quality of the benthic (below the surface) habitat since both of these species are intolerant of increased silt and low oxygen. To find these fish means that the river is healthy.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

The number of taxa found in the river during the winter and summer collection dates of 2004 through 2006 were above average except for the drought period of late 2005 and early 2006 when the flow was low and the temperatures extreme. The percentage of the sensitive Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, (EPT) was well above what was found in the average high quality stream for most of the collection periods. The EPT is determined by the amount and diversity of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies respectively. With condition scores of A’s and B’s for the stream it fell well within limits (sometimes above) as compared to the Cross Timbers reference sites. The benthic macroinvertebrates in the Deep Fork River were comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion.

Bacteria Testing

The few tests that we were able to conduct on the river for E. coli resulted in more than 300 colonies in 5 ml of water so they were reported as Too Numerous To Count (TNTC). Since

bacteria are usually reported as colony forming units in 100 ml of water (CFUs/100 ml), we know that the samples from the Deep Fork River contained more than 6000 CFUs/100 ml.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between 12/11/2003 and 04/27/2007.

DO Dissolved oxygen saturation shows when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little or too much are indicators of problems. Chemical data show the median oxygen level is 91% of saturation for the test period; well within the normal range. Of course during times of low flow and extreme temperatures the DO levels would be down somewhat but the overall result is good.

pH pH results were normal in the 7 – 8 range consistently.

Nitrogen An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble nitrogen were always within the normal range with the median result below the detection levels of the tests.

Phosphorus Phosphorus is another nutrient found in streams and rivers that can cause excessive algal growth. The Deep Fork River site had a normal amount of phosphorus with a median of 0.05 mg/L P.

Chloride SALT! Chloride is not something you want to find in abundance in fresh water body but sometimes the levels can reach extreme levels during winter months when the roads are salted for ice. It can also be abnormal during oil drilling explorations when saltwater is allowed to spill out onto the landscape and runoff gets to the water body. The Deep Fork site had a few times that the amount of chloride exceeded the benchmark and that was mostly during the winter months when cities upstream spread salt and sand for the ice problems on the roads. Most of the time the chloride levels were tolerable.

Synopsis

The health of a river is determined by the physical habitat, the water chemistry and the biological community that lives in it. The habitat of the Deep Fork River at Highway 56 is better than the average habitat of known high quality streams in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The field screening chemistry indicates very low levels of nutrients and an occasional spike of chloride associated with salting icy streets and roads upstream. The amount of oxygen in the water is excellent. The biological community in the river is excellent. The fish collection was not quite as good as expected, but the challenges of the deep water and using only seining meant that there were species seen that were not collected. The benthic macroinvertebrate

collections are as good or better than the average high quality site in the ecoregion. The Deep Fork River at Highway 56 is a healthy river.

The volunteers that work to monitor the Deep Fork River at Highway 56 also work for the Okmulgee & Dripping Springs State Parks and are concerned about the quality of water in the watershed, both in the river and at the lakes that are under our care. We found that the river is actually in a much better condition than we first thought it would be when we took over the monitoring of this site. We attempt to monitor on a regular basis but the river is somewhat unpredictable in the spring and summer during high rainfall times. Thorough continued efforts by the volunteers and Oklahoma Conservation Commission Blue Thumb offices the river should prove to be a viable asset to the state of Oklahoma for years to come. If we continue to keep the public informed as to the state of the river and what they can do to help with situations that arise from neglect or environmental spills, then hopefully future generations can enjoy our water for years to come.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Deer Creek: Hwy 4

BT Outreach SW SW NW Section 9-13N-5W BT Urban Outreach Canadian County BT Volunteer N 35° 37’ 5.9” Monitoring W 97° 44’ 42” WBID#: OK 620910-04-0120T

Deer Creek is monitored on Highway 4 just south of the community of Piedmont in Canadian County, which is located in central Oklahoma in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. The stream drains an area that is about 16 square miles. Deer Creek runs west to east and drains into Cottonwood Creek, which drains into the Cimarron River north of Guthrie. The stream flows along a much wooded area in a rural town. There are few houses that dot the landscape around it. There is agricultural land use around the stream, such as the raising of crops and cattle.

The habitat in Deer Creek consists of good canopy cover, or shade, and good streamside cover, or the grasses and shrubs that grow along the bank. The stream has pretty good instream cover, places for fish and bugs to hide, such as rocks and boulders. There are rocky runs and ruffles, which is where the water runs over the rocks causing the water to become highly oxygenated. The bank of the stream has a fairly good root system from the plants that grow there to keep it from eroding, and the bank has a large variety of vegetation. The stream depth does not vary, but stays pretty constant. It has a low flow, or it is quite lazy and doesn’t flow very much or very fast most of the time. The stream also doesn’t change its course, or twist and turn, but stays fairly straight. The habitat in Deer Creek is better than the average high quality stream in this ecoregion.

There was a total of 11 species of fish found in Deer Creek on August 23, 2006. There were no sensitive benthic species, or fish that live on the bottom of the stream. There were 5 species of Sunfish found, 1 long-lived species, but no intolerant species. The fact there were no intolerant species found means that something is there that has caused them to die out, because of their sensitivity these fish will be the first to die out if there is a drastic change in the stream, such as pollutants. Deer Creek scored a D+ for its fish conditions.

Benthic macroinvertebrates, or bugs, have been collected at Deer Creek from the winter of 2003 to the winter of 2006. The stream has scored a B+, A, A, and a B in its bug conditions. The number of sensitive species of bugs are present and are very close to the reference average. Bugs have been collected in the summer months from 2003 to 2006. Deer http://www.ok.gov/...Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Deer_Creek:_Hwy_4.html[9/27/2011 2:31:46 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Deer Creek: Hwy 4

Creek has scored an A, B, and a B for its bug conditions in the summer. The sensitive bugs are also present and thriving in the summer months. We compare from summer to summer and from winter to winter because different amounts and species of bugs show up in different seasons.

The chemistry of Deer Creek has been monitored monthly since October 2002. The oxygen saturation is normal at 90%. The soluble nitrogen is normal at 0.46 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus is in the caution zone at 0.06 mg/L P. The chloride is normal at 80 mg/L Cl, and the pH is normal at 8. Deer Creek has been tested twice for E.coli, first in July 2006 and second in September 2006. The colony count reached above 400 colony forming units per 100 mL of water one out of the two times, and that was in July 2006. If the E.coli count reaches above 400 it is unsafe to swim in.

Deer Creek has proven to be a fairly good habitat for the variety of bugs and fish that call it home. The shade along its banks keeps the water cool, and comfortable for the fish. This is a good habitat and can measure up nicely to other high quality streams. There could be a wider variety of fish, that coupled with the lack of intolerant species brings a little concern, maybe something to look into. The bug population is thriving, with many sensitive species living in Deer Creek. The only concern with the chemistry is the amount of orthophosphate phosphorus. The E. coli count exceeded 400 cfu /100 mL once. Deer Creek has very few problems with its thriving bug community, good habitat, and good chemistry levels. The only real concern is the absence of intolerant species of fish, which could be caused by pesticides washing into the stream, or the high levels orthophosphate phosphorus. Other than that, this stream is pretty healthy overall and can measure up quite well with other high quality streams in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. Written by: Shelbey Hill

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Deer_Creek:_Hwy_4.html[9/27/2011 2:31:46 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Delaware Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Delaware Creek: Hwy 97

BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach NE SE NE

BT Volunteer Section 33-21N-11E Monitoring Osage County

Latitude N 36° 15’ 19.6”

Longitude W 96° 7’ 18”

WBID# OK 121300-01-0150M

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 3-Dec-2007

Written by: Jill Sutton

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

South of Zink Ranch and north of Shell Lake in Osage County is where one can find the Delaware Creek watershed. This watershed is an area of land which encompasses approximately 12 square miles in the Osage Hills. The black oaks and hickories share this watershed with ranches, farms and other rural dwellers. From the headwaters northeast of Shell Lake, Delaware Creek heads north/northeast towards highway 97. It continues east from highway 97 crossing into Tulsa County just north of Turley before merging with Bird Creek. Where Delaware Creek crosses highway 97 is the monitoring site for this creek. The monitoring site is flanked by banks as high as 20 feet of mostly thin bedded sandstones of 1-3 inch thickness with numerous soft sediment deformation beds and cross-bedding zones. Most of the depositional cycles end with 6-12 inch massive sandstone layers. Here is where the samples, measurements and assessments of monthly samples giving information and understanding of the health of the stream ecosystem are collected.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Delaware_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:47 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Delaware Creek

The physical condition of the stream at the monitoring site is noted each month as well as an in-depth assessment performed every five years on 400 meters of the creek. This stream has been allowed to meander resulting in undercut banks, root wads, submerged logs and other cover required to support life in this stream community. The creek bank shows minimal signs of erosion affording the diverse flora along the bank a stable place to grow. This in turn provides a fine source of food and shade to the aquatic community. Delaware Creek benefits from a fairly even mix of pool depths providing aquatic organisms a healthy and diverse habitat. However, the evidence of the recent drought is apparent with the decrease in flow, and the decrease in rocky runs and riffles. The pool bottoms show signs of increased deposition which is less favorable habitat for the small bugs that are necessary to sustain the fish. The habitat has been assessed on Delaware Creek three times, 1996, 2001 and 2006. All three times the physical habitat was better then the average high quality stream in the Cross Timbers ecoregion.

Physical evaluations are a cheap way to monitor stream health. Still another inexpensive tool to use is biological monitoring (fish and bug collections). There have been three fish collections since the summer of 1996. The fish were collected, and either identified and released or kept for identification by a professional taxonomist. Statistics were computed and compared with an average of high quality streams in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. Delaware Creek received an overall score of B+ for the summer collection of 2006, meaning it is almost comparable to pristine conditions. There were 21 species of fish collected compared to 19 in the reference stream conditions. There were three darters collected (orangethroat darter, redfin darter and logperch.) The presence of these sensitive benthic species is a good indictor of past and present conditions at this site. Sunfish dominated the fish collection with nine different species, reflecting desirable habitat. The number of intolerant species collected was low, whereas a high quality stream will have several members of the fish community that are intolerant to environmental stress. The proportion of tolerant fish (mosquito fish, channel catfish, etc.) and the proportion of insectivorous cyprinid fish (blackstripe topminnow, brook silverside, etc.) were low for both Delaware Creek and the reference conditions.

Biological Conditions

Bugs (benthic macroinvertebrates) have been collected in both the winter and summer periods sinc 1997. There were no collections performed from the summer of 1998 till the winter of 2004 due to no flow, with the exception being the winter of 2000. The samples were preserved and the bugs were picked and sent to a professional taxonomist for identification. Data was compiled, computed and compared to the high quality stream scores. Delaware Creek has received and overall score of A for the winter collections since 1997. For the summer period the scores have been B’s except for the summer of 2005 which received a C. This stream rates well in the indices that measure the evenness of the bug population, the total bug population’s sensitivity to pollution, and the total number of different types of bugs within the population. Although the bug community is diverse, this stream typically has large numbers of one dominant species. This can be an indication of increasing pollution killing more and more species. This site has always been able to produce mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies. Since these insects are sensitive to pollution, their presence is always a good sign. During the summers of 2005/2006 the total number and different types of these insects were low, but the other collections revealed adequate to excellent results. The benthic macroinvertebrate collections from Delaware Creek are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion.

Bacteria testing was performed during the summer months of May through September to determine the total number of coliforms and the total number of fecal coliforms or E. coli. A desirable stream should have less than 400 E.coli CFU/100 mL. Delaware Creek has had high levels of fecal coliform totals in the past, but has not exceeded 400 since a reading of 2401 on 16-September-2004.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between 7/24/01 and 05/28/07. Six different assays were performed on the water sample. Oxygen is a very important dissolved chemical and is needed by all plants and animals. Oxygen is not very soluble in water so decreasing amounts of dissolved oxygen could have a dramatic impact on the stream life. Delaware Creek has adequate to good dissolved oxygen values, with the low levels attributed to low flow. The median amount of dissolved oxygen is 72% saturation. The pH is another important test since many pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals have pH-dependent toxicity. Delaware Creek has had a pH range of 7.23-8.00 which is well within optimal levels. Macronutrients - nitrogen and phosphorous- can be major pollutants because of their growth-stimulating properties. Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and orthophosphate were measured, and this stream has always tested low or below detectable levels. Chloride is present naturally in all streams, but can be used as a water pollution indicator. Chloride levels at Delaware Creek were consistently low and measured between 10mg/L and 50mg/L.

Synopsis

The Delaware Creek is not an isolated body of water. It is a reflection of the watershed in which it occurs. Overall Delaware Creek is a healthy stream and healthy implies life. When comparing this creek to other streams in the area, Delaware Creek shows good recovery of fish and bugs and excellent chemical testing results.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Fourche Maline: Black Loop

BT Outreach SW/SW/SE BT Urban Outreach Section 8-5N-20E BT Volunteer Latimer County, Oklahoma Monitoring 34.9184° -95.2174° WBID#: OK 220100-40-0020P

This site on Fourche Maline Creek, which means wicked fork, is located in southeastern Oklahoma in the town of Panola, which is in Latimer County. The creek is monitored on the Black Loop Road from a low water dam. It drains an area of 60 square miles. The Fourche Maline flows south from the San Bois Mountains. Although the name San Bois Mountains means hills with no trees, there is an abundance of young pine trees. The creek then flows through Robbers Cave State Park, and into Wilburton where it turns east and empties into Wister Lake. There are a variety of uses for the land around the creek: housing, agricultural land uses, and some oil field activity.

The Fourche Maline Creek habitat has been assessed twice; first on August 29, 2000 and again on June 7, 2007. The canopy cover shading around the creek was high, which means there are good shade trees on the banks of the creek. There is also a lot of instream cover, places where fish and bugs can hide. The pool bottom substrate describes places where the creek bottom is easily disturbed and is quite stable at this site. The banks are stable and there is an excellent mix of streamside cover with a variety of vegetation on the banks of the creek, such as grasses, shrubs, vines, and so forth. There is a variety of pool depths throughout the creek. There are rocky runs and riffles which offer the stream highly oxygenated, swift water. Fourche Maline has a low flow which means the water does not move very quickly and upstream, in Robbers Cave State Park, the creek has been known to dry up in the summer. There is very little channel alteration which means the stream doesn’t change very much. Fourche Maline has low channel sinuosity; the creek does not curve, but stays fairly straight. This creek has an excellent habitat.

Fish have been collected from Fourche Maline twice with the last collection on June 7, 2007. There were a total of 22 species of fish found. While there were six species of darter/benthic fish found, the average high quality stream in this ecoregion has eight species. These are the fish that live on the bottom of the streams. There were six species of sunfish found; in the http://www.ok.gov/...ivisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fourche_Maline:_Black_Loop.html[9/27/2011 2:31:48 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Fourche Maline: Black Loop

state of Oklahoma if there are five species found the stream is automatically thought to be healthy. There was one species of long-lived fish found. These are the fish that have a longer life span than most fish. There were two intolerant species of fish found, which means they are very sensitive to pollutants and will be the first to die out if pollution is present. The Fourche Maline received a grade of 91% which is a B. The winter bug collections from 2000 to 2007 seem to indicate the conditions in the Fourche Maline are improving over time. The last collection in the winter of 2007 was graded A while the collections from 2000 and 2002 were graded C. Even now the stream is still missing some of the most sensitive taxa.

The summer bug collections do not score as well with grades of C. They are also missing the most sensitive taxa and do not have much diversity.

The chemistry of Fourche Maline has been monitored monthly since August of 2001. There is only one major problem area in the chemistry, the oxygen saturation. The median value is 70% which is in the caution area. This is probably due to the deeply pooled nature of the creek near the monitoring site. The pH stays at about a 7 which is perfect. The soluble nitrogen is low at 0.05 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus is low at 0.01 mg/L P and the chloride is perfect at 10 to 15 mg/L Cl.

The Fourche Maline Creek was tested one time in 2006 and three times in 2007 for E. coli. The measurement has to be fewer than 400 colony forming units per 100 mL of creek water before it is safe to swim. It was under 400 CFUs in July and September 07, but was 1540 CFUs in June 07.

The habitat of Fourche Maline at Black Loop is as good as, or better than, the average high quality stream in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion. Fish collections show that the stream is missing a few of the more sensitive species. The winter collections of bugs appear to be getting better and are now almost as good as the average of a high quality stream, but the summer collections are missing a few of the more sensitive species of bugs. The stream has a low oxygen level, but all of the other chemistry levels are normal and excellent. The bacteria level is normal except for one time in June of 2007. When looking at all of the data, the Fourche Maline at Black Loop is pretty healthy overall. The stream is losing only a few species of fish and bugs, which could be due to the variation of oxygen levels, but overall the stream is healthy and thriving.

Written By: Shelbey Hill

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ivisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fourche_Maline:_Black_Loop.html[9/27/2011 2:31:48 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Fourche Maline: Centerpoint Road

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BT Urban Outreach SE/NW/SE Section 5-5N-19E BT Volunteer 34.0334° Monitoring -95.321° Latimer County, Oklahoma WBID#: OK 220100-04-0020T

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – December 4, 2007 Written by: Mitch Arteberry, Tahtim Ayliffe, Rick Manley, Nicole Norris

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

The name Fourche Maline Creek means “Wicked Fork” Creek. It flows from west to east in southeastern Oklahoma. The headwaters are north of Robbers Cave State Park in the northeast corner of Latimer County. The creek undulates through Latimer and LeFlore Counties to discharge into Wister Lake, which supplies water for over 40,000 people in LeFlore County. The Fourche Maline Creek is a third order stream in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion.

The sampling site is at a low-water crossing on the east side of Centerpoint Road north of Wilburton in Latimer County. Riffles used to be present at the site, but there are no riffles at the present time. The watershed is agricultural, predominantly cattle in pasture land, though oil and gas wells are present.

Data presented here has been compared to the Arkansas Valley Reference, an average of high quality streams within the Arkansas Valley ecoregion.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

Fourche Maline Creek is very deep at this site. The habitat was assessed by boat on August 24, 2007, starting at the low water crossing and moving downstream a distance of 400 meters. The stream reach assessed has one bend but is mostly straight with an absence of rocky runs and rifles resulting in slow moving, low-flow conditions. Although the canopy cover of bottom land hardwoods is good, the riparian area is narrow with grazing right to the edge of the creek in places. A cow path winds on the north side through thick grass with a steep stream bank

http://www.ok.gov/...s/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fourche_Maline:_Centerpoint_Road.html[9/27/2011 2:31:49 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Fourche Maline: Centerpoint Road

providing a natural barrier to erosion caused by animal access to the stream. Riprap surrounds a high pressure gas line that crosses the creek. Woody debris and instream cover are present in large quantities throughout assessment area. A reasonable amount of instream structure such as submerged logs, root wads and rocks provides cover for aquatic organisms. Due to drought conditions over the last four years, streamside insect collecting has not been possible as the grasses were not reaching the water.

Biological Conditions

Fish

A possible limiting factor influencing the richness of fish population in species diversity is the ongoing drought. Because of the water depth fish were collected only by electro shocking. The fish collection of 2006 resulted in a total of 91 individuals from 12 species. A further breakdown shows that 29% were bluegill sunfish and 28% were gizzard shad. The remaining species included: redear sunfish (11%), sunfish hybrids (10%), largemouth bass, warmouth sunfish, brook silverside, and spotted sucker. When compared to reference conditions found in known high quality sites in this ecoregion, this Centerpoint collection receives a low score of C. This is due, in part, to the pooled habitat and the absence of runs and riffles and the fish species that require those other habitats.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Macroinvertebrates have been collected since 2000, but with the absence of rocky riffles most of the samples have been from woody debris and streamside vegetation. The drought has further limited bug collections. The reduced water level precluded streamside sampling as the waterline was below the vegetation line. Insects were collected instead on woody debris and instream vegetation.

The quality of the winter bug collections from Fourche Maline Creek seems to be less than the summer collections. The winter collections from both woody debris and streamside vegetation indicate the loss of most intolerant forms of bugs and a reduction in the most sensitive species (mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies.) The summer vegetation samples show that species richness is less than expected, while the summer woody debris samples are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion.

Bacteria Testing

Bacteria has been tested four times in the summer months of 2006 and 2007. Each test resulted in an insignificant number of E. coli and fecal coliform colonies.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between 08/20/01 and 06/21/2007.

DO Over the past six years of chemical monitoring, the median oxygen saturation is only 60%. The optimal range is 80% to 130%. The low percent oxygen saturation indicates possible occasional problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Because of low flows, most of the recent samples have been taken from pooled water instead of flowing water. This sampling could be affecting the result.

pH pH was within the normal range, always between 6.5 and 7.1.

Nitrogen An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen

and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. The median value for soluble nitrogen was 0.68 mg/L, a normal value.

Phosphorus Phosphorus is another nutrient found in streams and rivers that can cause excessive algal growth. The median value from this site is below the detection levels of the test.

Chloride The median value for chloride was 15 mg/L, also very low.

Besides the unfavorable DO saturation, possibly due to the low flow, the rest of the chemical monitoring indicated normal water chemistry.

Synopsis

The health of a stream is determined by the physical habitat, the water chemistry and the biological community that lives in it. The habitat in Fourche Maline at Centerpoint is mostly deep pools with lots of structure providing cover for aquatic animals. While not extremely varied, the site has a healthy, suitable habitat. Flow is limited by upstream dams. Water chemistry indicates Fourche Maline is healthy and within normal parameters with the exception of the amount of dissolved oxygen which has been measured from pools because of the low flow during this time. During the summer months, the invertebrate collection is comparable to the best conditions. The fish collection is also well within acceptable limits with the absence of benthic species (bottom dwellers) explained by the absence of rocky riffles. Fourche Maline Creek at Centerpoint is a healthy stream.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Fred Creek: Evanston

BT Outreach NE NW SE Section 8-18N-13E BT Urban Outreach Tulsa County BT Volunteer Lat N 36 3’ 8” Monitoring Long W 95 56’ 48” WBID#: OK 120420-01-0060G

The headwaters of Fred Creek begin at South 71st Street and Yale Avenue in Tulsa. The creek runs southwest through residential neighborhoods to the monitoring site at Evanston and continues through the Oral Roberts University Campus, through a light commercial area, then empties into the Arkansas River. The monitoring site is at the bridge where Evanston crosses the creek in a pooled area just east of the bridge itself. As this area has built up, portions of Fred Creek have been channelized.

The habitat at the creek has been assessed three times: 1993, 1996 and 1999 and is scheduled to be assessed again in the summer of 2007. The habitat has been better than the habitat in the average of high quality “reference” streams in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion. Instream cover for fish is great, there is good canopy shade and the banks have good vegetative cover and are very stable. The creek has very low flow and the channel is very straight. There is a mixture of deep and shallow pools. Even though the habitat is better than reference conditions, according to the previous accumulated data the condition has been declining in the past several years. The habitat score has dropped 19 points from 110.3 in 1993 to 91.2 in 1999. It is still better than the reference average of 86.8.

There have been three collections of fish; 1993, 1996, and 1999. Another collection is scheduled for the summer of 2007. All three fish collections have been very poor. In comparison to reference averages, the number of species collected is extremely low as is the total number of fish collected. The fish that were collected were tolerant species. There were no intolerant species found. In fact, on 7/23/1999 only 14 fish were collected from the entire 400 m reach of stream and they were all the same tolerant species, the green sunfish. In comparison, you would expect a creek in this ecoregion to have 22 species of fish, three intolerant species, and six sunfish species alone.

Macroinvertebrate collections took place in the rocky riffles of Fred Creek. There were 11 summer collections beginning in 1993, and 5 winter collections since 2001. For the last five years, Fred Creek has about half the number of total species expected under reference conditions. Most significant was the absence of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera (EPT) species. With few exceptions, these insects are more sensitive to pollution than any http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fred_Creek:_Evanston.html[9/27/2011 2:31:50 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Fred Creek: Evanston

other groups. As a stream deteriorates in quality, members of this group are the first to disappear. The diversity was also low, especially in the summer collections. The summer collections are about 30% as good as reference conditions; winter collections are about 40% of reference conditions.

Water chemistry shows that Fred Creek has had a continuing problem with low dissolved oxygen, especially during the hottest summer months. There was a period from July 2002 through January 2003 when it was below 5 mg/L oxygen the entire time and the oxygen saturation dropped to 14% on 11/21/2002. Also during the summer months the orthophosphate phosphorus is often near or above 0.1 mg/L phosphorus. Perhaps the nutrients being applied to neighborhood lawns are making their way into Fred Creek and causing algal blooms with the consequence that the oxygen levels are low in the morning before the sun has been up long.

Fred Creek drains an urban watershed with many impervious surfaces. As development has increased, portions of the creek have been channelized. The reach of stream monitored still has very good habitat for fish and benthic macroinvertebrates. Water chemistry shows problems with excess nutrients and the amount of oxygen in the water. The fish and macroinvertebrate collections show few species and individuals present; about 30% of what would be expected in high quality streams in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion. Fred Creek at Evanston is not a healthy stream.

Fred Creek: Evanston NE NW SE Section 8-18N-13E Tulsa County N 36° 3’ 8” W 95° 56’ 48” WBID#: OK 120420-01-0060G

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review of data collected between October 1994 and August 2007.

Fred Creek is located in the southern part of Tulsa County, which is located in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion. The creek is an urban stream that has a watershed, or drainage area, of about four square miles that runs southwest from the intersection of 71st Street and Yale Avenue in Tulsa. The creek goes around the campus of Oral Roberts University (ORU), around Wal-Mart, near many housing sectors of the area, and under many streets. It runs throughout the city and empties into the Arkansas River. The monitoring site of the creek is on South Evanston Avenue.

From October of 1994 to August of 2007 there has been a trend of habitat loss in the creek. Much of the creek has been straightened and channelized. Where it is still natural, there is a lot of in-stream cover, places where fish and insects can hide beneath, behind, or within. The water depth of the pools varies highly, though there are not many riffles. The creek is quite shady and there are many different types of plants growing along the banks to help with the vegetation going into the creek. While the banks are stable, in many places they have been “stabilized” by the city. Because of all of the hard surfaces in the drainage area, Fred Creek floods during rain events and has very low flow the rest of the time. In the natural places, Fred Creek has habitat almost as good as the average high quality streams in the ecoregion.

From October of 1996 to August of 2007 fish were collected three times. If this creek were healthy there should have been about 550 individuals from 22 different species caught, but in http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fred_Creek:_Evanston.html[9/27/2011 2:31:50 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Fred Creek: Evanston

all the times of fishing there have been less than 100 individuals (26, 14, and 95) from at most three of four different types caught; the Bluegill sunfish, Green sunfish, Largemouth bass and the Central stoneroller. All these fish are very tolerant to pollution and there were no sensitive species caught. This creek has the lowest ranking of E (from A to E), which means that there are few species and individuals present. The tolerant species are dominant and diseased fish are frequent.

From the winter of 1998 to 2007 bugs were collected from the riffles in the creek. In most of the collections the sensitive bug species in this creek were absent. From the summer of 1997 to 2007 bugs were also collected. While there were more sensitive bug species found than in the winter collections, there were between zero and two species found when you would expect to find seven in a healthy stream. The majority of the bug conditions ranked C, meaning that there were fewer species due the loss of most sensitive species. The median oxygen saturation in Fred Creek was 71%, with highs occasionally over 100% and occasional lows of 25%. This is clearly less than optimal. The pH level of the creek is normal at 8. The soluble nitrogen level of the creek has a median value of 0.09 mg/L N, with occasional highs of 1.2 mg/L N. The orthophosphate of the creek has a median of 0.05 mg/L P and rarely reaches over 0.16 mg/L P. The median of the chloride level in the creek is 40 mg/L Cl. Bacteria tests show that the levels of E. coli are often high. This means that the creek is not suitable for swimming.

Fred Creek is located in southern Tulsa County. It has drainage of about 4 square miles and empties into the Arkansas River. Over the years it has had a trend in the loss of habitat. As an urban stream, its course doesn’t vary much and it rarely diverts from a straight line. While the remaining natural habitat is good, the fish collections in this creek are very poor. The fish condition is ranked at an E, which means that there are few species and individuals present. The tolerant species in this creek are dominant and diseased fish in this creek are frequent. In the winter and summer when bugs were collected there were many of the sensitive species missing. The majority of the bug conditions were ranked at a C; this means that there were fewer species due to the loss of the sensitive species. The chemistry of the creek is fair; nutrients are slightly higher than normal the dissolved oxygen is low. The fecal coliform, E. coli, in this creek is very high. This means that the creek is not suitable for swimming.

By Helen Talaese

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Fred_Creek:_Evanston.html[9/27/2011 2:31:50 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Harlow Creek: Edison

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BT Urban Outreach NE NW NW

BT Volunteer Section 4-19N-12E Monitoring Tulsa County

Latitude N 36° 9’ 39.7”

Longitude W 96° 2’ 36.4”

WBID#: OK 120420-01-0170

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 31 October 2007

Written by: Amy Tucker and David Shannon

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Harlow Creek in west Tulsa is located in the Cross Timbers ecoregion along the border between Osage and Tulsa Counties. Harlow creek runs two and a half miles before meeting with Blackboy Creek (aka Big Heart Creek) and then flowing into the Arkansas River. The drainage basin of Harlow Creek is approximately five to six square miles of primarily residential population. The monitoring site is located east of a church (approximately one half mile west of North 33rd West Avenue) on West Edison.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

The physical habitat of Harlow Creek was assessed for 400 meters on 08 June 2006. Excellent shading by trees along the streamside maintains optimal temperature and subsequently dissolved oxygen content. There is a diversity of grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs, vines, saplings and large trees along the banks. This mixture of vegetation transfers energy and food to the stream more effectively than any single type of vegetation. The banks http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Harlow_Creek:_Edison.html[9/27/2011 2:31:52 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Harlow Creek: Edison

along Harlow Creek are stable and do not contribute sediment to the stream. Harlow Creek provides moderate structure for shelter such as submerged logs, root wads, boulders, small woody debris, and a mixture of aquatic plants. The creek also displays moderate pool bottom substrate. Pool bottoms are depositional areas of the stream and are easily damaged by settling materials. The flow is very low and the pools are shallow. This may be due to recent drought. In addition, there are not many rocky runs and riffles. In addition, Harlow creek primarily flows as a straight line. The physical habitat of Harlow Creek is better than the average high quality stream in the Cross Timbers ecoregion.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Fish were collected at Harlow Creek on 8 June 2006. The total number of fish was forty-three percent of the average Cross Timbers ecoregion high quality reference conditions; fish species include Central stonerollers (19), Black bullhead catfish (3), Blackstripe topminnow (1), Mosquitofish (99), Green sunfish (2), Bluegill sunfish (60), Longear sunfish (31) and Largemouth bass (1). There were no benthic species (darters, madtoms, and sculpins) which are indicators of siltation and oxygen demand. The number of sunfish, four in Harlow Creek, may indicate the amount of sediment that enters and leaves the stream. An absence of intolerant species indicates Harlow Creek is at best a moderate quality stream. Ninety-one percent of the sample was made up of tolerant individuals. There are opportunistic fish that dominate communities that have lost their competitors through loss of habitat or water quality. The absence of insectivorous cyprinids, the dominant minnows in North American streams, indicates the quality and quantity of the macroinvertebrate food base is low. The overall quality of the fish collection was forty-five percent of the Cross Timbers ecoregion reference conditions indicating that top carnivores and many expected species are absent or rare; omnivores and tolerant species dominant. This score indicates the quality of the fish community; the habitat is better than reference conditions; any deficiencies are due to degraded water quality.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected from Harlow Creek since the winter of 2004. The winter collections are equal to or better than collections from the average high quality reference conditions in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The summer collections have very few taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis flies) and are dominated by Diptera (midges). As more and more species are excluded, the remaining species can increase in numbers due to the unused resources left by the excluded animals. While the winter collections are comparable to the best situation expected, the summer collections show a reduced community structure and species richness with the loss of most intolerant forms. This dichotomy between winter and summer collections could be due to the very low flow of water in Harlow Creek over the past few summers during the drought.

Bacteria Testing

From September 2003 through August 2007, thirteen samples were taken for E. Coli. Four samples had E. Coli results greater than 400 CFU/100mL. The highest result was 1733 CFU/100mL on 25 August 2005. Most of the time there is not an issue with coliform bacteria.

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Harlow_Creek:_Edison.html[9/27/2011 2:31:52 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Harlow Creek: Edison

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between 25 September 2003 and 31 May 2007.

DO The median percent of oxygen saturation was 83%, on the low edge of normal. Twice the amount of oxygen dropped below 50%: 34% on 25 September 2003 and 40% on 25 August 2005.

pH The median pH for Harlow Creek was 7.5, well within the normal range.

Nitrogen An estimate of soluble nitrogen was made by adding nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen. Most of the time the nitrogen was below the detection levels of the tests. The median value is 0.355mg/L N and is within the normal range.

Phosphorus The median value for orthophosphate phosphorus is 0.01 mg/L P and is very low.

Chloride The median chloride value is 55mg/L.

Synopsis

To determine if a creek is healthy we look at the physical habitat, biological community and water chemistry. The habitat at Harlow Creek is excellent: a stable stream with a good riparian area and cover for fish and macroinvertebrates under the water surface. The habitat on 8 June 2006 was better than the average high quality reference conditions for the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The fish collection on the same day was 45% as good as the reference conditions. While there were four species of sunfish, there were no benthic species (sensitive to oxygen), intolerant species, or insectivorous cyprinids (sensitive to the macroinvertebrate food base.) Winter benthic macroinvertebrate collections are excellent. Summer macroinvertebrate collections show a reduced community structure and species richness with the loss of most intolerant forms. Water chemistry shows all parameters were within normal values except the amount of oxygen, which was often below 80% of saturation and occasionally below 50% of saturation. When taken together, the water chemistry and biological community data seem to indicate that the problem in Harlow Creek may be the very low flow conditions during the summer months in the recent years of drought. Low flow can mean low amounts of oxygen. Low amounts of oxygen can explain the reduced quality of the summer bug collections. The missing fish are dependent on either oxygen or the bug population or both.

It appears Harlow Creek is not polluted and has excellent habitat. The biological community is somewhat limited by the amount of oxygen in the water during the very low summer flow conditions of the drought. Perhaps when we get rain again the biological community will recover.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Harlow_Creek:_Edison.html[9/27/2011 2:31:52 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Honey Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Honey Creek

BT Outreach Site #1 Site #2

BT Urban Outreach NE SE SW Section 23-24N-24E SE NW SE Section 24-24N-24E Delaware County Delaware County BT Volunteer Lat N 36.65222° Lat N 36.54431° Monitoring Long W 94.71053° Long W 94.68820° WBID OK 121600-03-0445J WBID OK121600-03-0445N

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review - Session #1, December 6, 2006

This document is a review of five years of data collection.

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Sites

Honey Creek is in the Ozark Highlands and Central Irregular Plains Ecoregions in the Grand Lake watershed. Honey Creek begins in Arkansas, flows northwest into Missouri, and then continues west into Oklahoma and Grand Lake. The Honey Creek watershed is approximately 50 square miles. Approximately sixty percent of the watershed is located in Oklahoma. The land use in the watershed is predominately agriculture, mostly improved pasture for livestock. There is also poultry in the area. Approximately seventy percent of the stream miles run through pastureland. The stream does pass through the city of Southwest City, MO.

Both sites are located on Honey Creek about a mile apart. Site #1 is down stream from site #2 and about two miles upstream from the Honey Creek arm of Grand Lake. Previous studies, 1995 and 2000, have indicated high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and pathogens in the stream likely coming from a point source and from non-point source animal and human waste. The 2000 study suggested that the septic systems used in the area may not be adequate for the region’s highly permeable soils.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

The sites were compared to reference streams in the area that were known to be high quality. As compared, both sites have a good habitat rating and appear to be in good shape. The banks are fairly stable with good vegetation and tree coverage. The habitat is fairly healthy. Most of the channel is not altered. The water is clear and the bottom is rocky. The stream is a low flow stream and is not very curvy. Most is ankle deep, with the deepest parts being around 2 meters. On site 1, out of the sampling length of 400 meters, 75% of the stream is run, and http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Honey_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:53 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Honey Creek

the balance is divided equally between pool and riffle. Site 2 is composed of 18% run, 62% pool, and 20% riffle.

Biological Conditions

Based on fish counts (diversity and quantity) both streams rate equal to the reference streams and are equal to an average high quality Ozark Highland stream. The condition gets an A rating on a scale of A to E for biological sampling. Fish were collected in August 2002 on Site #1 and in August 2004 on Site #2. Both sites contained 8 different intolerant species.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Both locations were sampled for macroinvertebrates in the summer and winter index periods. While there were differences between the locations, there were consistencies in the data.

Site 1 scored an A over the five year average for both the summer and winter counts, equal to the Ozark Highland reference. The winter score, while an A average, was six percentage points lower than the reference. Site 2 scored an A for the summer average and a B for the winter average, which was twenty-five percentage points lower than the reference. Both locations received their lowest scores in the winter 2001 and winter 2003 counts. Whatever conditions caused the reduction in macroinvertebrate score at site 2 had somewhat diminished downstream at site 1.

The counts indicate that the stream has a good macroinvertebrate community. There is high diversity within the community. There are good numbers of sensitive types and also a good balance between sensitive and tolerant taxa.

Chemical Testing

DO. Dissolved oxygen % saturation was mainly in the acceptable range (80-130%) at both sites. Site 2 did have low readings (30% range) two months in a row in the summer of 2003 and a total of seven readings below the 80% threshold (20% of the all samples).

pH pH readings ranged from 7.5 to 8.5 at both sites. A range of pH 6.5 to pH 8.2 is optimal for most organisms.

Nitrogen. The two sites vary on nitrate levels. Site 1 averaged 0.8 mg/l with a high of 1.75 mg/L. Site 1 exceeded the 0.8 mg/L target 50% of the time. At site 2, no samples tested under 1.0 mg/L. The high reading was 3.7 mg/L. The average of all samples was 1.9 mg/L. Total nitrogen levels should be below 0.8 mg/L for a quality stream.

Phosphorus. Orthophosphate levels averaged 0.136 mg/L. at site 1, well above the 0.1 mg/L target. Site 1 exceeded the target 64% of the time. Site 2 averaged 0.09 mg/L, but exceeded the target 53% of the time. While 0.1 mg/L would be typical of a quality Ozark Highland stream, the US EPA recommends levels of no more than 0.05 mg/L for streams discharging into reservoirs.

Chloride. An Ozark Highland stream would be expected to have a chloride content of 50 mg/L of less. Site 1 averaged 62 mg/L. Site 2 averaged 66 mg/L. These levels are of no concern.

Synopsis

Honey Creek is a beautiful, clean, free flowing stream that currently equals the habitat and biology of an Ozark Highland stream. However, the low winter macroinvertebrate counts and low summer dissolved oxygen readings along with the high nitrogen and phosphorus scores

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Honey_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:53 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Honey Creek

are a concern for the maintenance of this quality rating in the future.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Honey_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:53 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Deep Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Little Deep Creek: Weatherford

BT Outreach NE SE NE, Section 17-12N-14W, Custer County

BT Urban Outreach N 35° 31' 06.7"

BT Volunteer W 98° 42' 00.3" Monitoring WBID#: OK520620-06-0040C

Blue Thumb Monitoring Report 2004-2007

Monitoring Team

Little Deep Creek is monitored by a team of volunteers from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. Faculty monitors include Steven O'Neal, Peter Grant, and Les Ramos. Students have included Amy Aldrich, Stephanie Altenhofel, Kristi Cooper, and Justin Griffith. Monitoring began in summer 2004.

Monitoring Site Description

Little Deep Creek is a second order stream in the Central Great Plains ecoregion that drains approximately eight square miles of watershed above the monitoring site. The monitoring site is located south of Interstate 40 and southwest of the City of Weatherford Waste Water Treatment Plant. The manager of the plant has kindly maintained a rough access trail down to the site. The monitoring site on Little Deep Creek is approximately 100 m upstream from the plant effluent. It is noteworthy that regular monitoring of the effluent is performed by plant staff. The monitoring site is downstream from an old landfill that we suspect was active during the early and middle 1900s. As a result, most of the trash that is observed in the stream includes older bottles, cans, and broken porcelain and china.

Habitat Assessment

Little Deep Creek runs along the base of a bluff and is fairly straight in this area. It has a good variety of deep and shallow pools connected by a few rocky runs and riffles. The banks are fairly stable with good vegetative cover, though the pool bottoms are soft indicating sediment http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Little_Deep_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:54 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Deep Creek

deposition from upstream erosion.

In August 2006, Little Deep Creek received a habitat assessment score of 84.8 which is above the habitat average of 77.6 in the high quality streams in this ecoregion. Pool variability, canopy cover, and streamside cover were rated as good. Instream cover, the presence of rocky runs and riffles, and bank stability were considered to be moderate. Stream characteristics that were rated poor included pool bottom substrate, flow, channel alteration, channel sinuosity, and bank vegetation stability. Channel alteration and channel sinuosity received the lowest scores of the assessment.

Collections

Macroinvertebrate Collections

Since summer 2004, macroinvertebrates have been collected from a rocky riffle in Little Deep Creek twice yearly, summer and winter. When compared with the average high quality streams in this ecoregion, the winter collections have had as many different taxa, but there have been fewer of the sensitive mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (EPT taxa). The summer collections are also missing many of the EPT taxa. Every collection is lacking in the diversity of sensitive species even though the population of sensitive bugs is very comparable to the high quality streams. The average of the winter collections is a little more tolerant to pollution. Overall population diversity is better than the high quality streams. Some of these scores may be reflecting the drought conditions found during these years.

Fish Collections

Fish were collected from Little Deep Creek on August 17, 2006. This is the only collection since monitoring was initiated. There were a total of 948 fish collected representing 12 different species (0 darter/benthic species, 4 sunfish species, 1 long-lived species, and 1 intolerant species). The Shannon's Diversity Index was 1.77. The proportion of tolerant was 0.59, omnivores 0.35, insectivorous cyprinids 0.41, and piscivores 0.01. Red Shiner was the most common species (32%), followed by Sand Shiner (29%), Longear Sunfish (13%), and Suckermouth Minnow (11%). The fish collection at this site is 83% of the average of the high quality streams due entirely to the absence of sensitive benthic species. Little Deep Creek received a score of “B.”

Water Chemistry

Water samples were collected from Little Deep Creek 34 times from June 2004 to April 2007. The mean value of Dissolved Oxygen during this period was 9.7 mg/L with a low of 6 mg/L in July 2006 and a high of 16 mg/L in January 2006. The % oxygen saturation was within the normal range with two exceptions, 135% saturation in June 2006 after a high flow event and 74% saturation in July 2006 during low flow. In respect to pH, values were relatively consistent and stable during this period between 7.7 to 8.0. Since monitoring began in the summer of 2004, nitrate nitrogen measurements have been consistently high. Of the 34 measurements during this period, 16 of the nitrate nitrogen measurements were ≥ 3.0 mg/L. Nitrate nitrogen ranged from a low of 0.5 mg/L in July 2004 to a high of 5.2 mg/L in December 2004. The mean nitrate nitrogen for this period was 2.9 mg/L. Except for measurements of 0.2 mg/L on five occasions during 2006, nitrite nitrogen has been below detectable limits. Of the 34 measurements during this period, ammonia was found to be between 0.0 and 0.2 mg/L in 29 of the samples. On one occasion (June 2005), ammonia was detected at 0.4 mg/L. An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen. Obviously, the amount of soluble nitrogen is quite high. During this

http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Little_Deep_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:54 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Deep Creek

period, orthophosphate phosphorus ranged from a low of 0.007 mg/L (January 2005, April 2006, March 2007) to a high of 0.12 mg/L (November 2004). The mean orthophosphate phosphorus level for thisperiod was 0.040 mg/L. We note that increases in orthophosphate phosphorus usually follow periods of increased rainfall. Chloride levels ranged from 15 mg/L (June 30, 2006) to 45 mg/L (July 17, 2004). The mean chloride level during this monitoring period was 27 mg/L.

With the exception of high values of nitrate nitrogen, the water chemistry is within normal expected values.

Microbiological Testing

Coliform testing was performed July 2006, August 2006, September 2006, and June 2007. Except for 16,500 CFU/100 mL in September 2006, fecal coliform levels were too numerous to count. E. coli counts were 100, 600, 800, and 160 CFU/100 mL for July 2006, August 2006, September 2006, and June 2007, respectively.

Summary

The habitat quality of Little Deep Creek from 2004 to 2007 was relatively good, although there is some sedimentation in the pools and flow is very low during the drought. The channel sinuosity is low because the creek is straight along the bluff. Analysis of macroinvertebrate collections resulted in average condition grades of "B", reflecting few species of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies when compared with high quality streams in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. However, based on counts and the degree of diversity identified in macroinvertebrate and fish collections, it appears that the habitat and water quality of Little Deep Creek is sufficient to support a range of species. Nitrate nitrogen levels have been consistently high in Little Deep Creek samples, which may be largely attributed to the close proximity of farm land and grazing pastures, as well as the moderate to poor bank stability and bank vegetation stability. These same factors are also likely to be the basis for the high fecal coliform counts recorded in 2006 and 2007.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Urban Outreach Little Mountain Tributary of Mountain Creek BT Volunteer NE SE NE Section 2-6N-24E Monitoring LeFlore County N 35° 01.485 W 94° 44.141 WBID#: OK220100-01-0190M

Little Mountain Creek is located in southeastern Oklahoma in LeFlore County. The site is on N 4660 Road in Wister. It is within the Arkansas River Valley ecoregion. The creek drains land from the top Cavanal Hill by the radio towers west of Poteau and flows into Mountain Creek in Kennedy. From there the creek flows into Caston Creek west of Wister. The drainage area is approximately 15 square miles. The testing site is located directly below one of the town dumps. Pastures with cattle and horses also surround the creek. There is a lot of housing in the headwaters of the watershed near Cavanal.

The habitat was assessed on August 2, 2007. Little Mountain Creek is fairly straight and doesn’t wind or curve much. This creek does not have a lot of water because it is so small. The bottom of the creek is a combination of sediment such as sand and various sizes of rocks. The creek has stretches of riffles where the water passes over the rocks. Within the creek there are many places for organisms to hide such as logs, plants, clumps of roots, and rocks. Channel alteration is taking place within the creek, which means that somewhere along the banks erosion is taking place. While the banks of the creek are not covered with a lot of vegetation, they are very stable and there are trees and shrubs beside the creek that provide good shade. This helps to keep the water cool. The habitat at Little Mountain Creek is comparable to high quality reference streams in this ecoregion.

A fish collection was done at Little Mountain Creek on August 2, 2007. A total of 602 fish were collected from 14 different species. There were five kinds of sunfish: Green, Bluegill, Longear, and Redear sunfish, and Largemouth bass. There were four darter/benthic species, which included Orangethroat and Redfin darter, Logperch, and Slender madtom. There were three intolerant species found, which included Slender madtom, Blackstripe topminnow, and Redfin darter. The fish collection from Little Mountain Creek was 82% as good as the average

http://www.ok.gov/...uality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Little_Mountain_Tributary_of_Mountain_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:55 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Mountain Tributary of Mountain Creek

of high quality streams for the ecoregion. This means that the creek is missing some of the more sensitive species of fish.

The first bug collection was done February 23, 2007. A total of 126 organisms were collected. There were 15 different species of bugs found. Six of the fifteen species found were the more sensitive species. The winter bug collection was 64% as good as the average for the ecoregion. The second bug collection was done August 2, 2007. A total of 125 organisms were collected. Four species of more sensitive bugs were found. The summer bug collection was 57% as good as the average for the ecoregion. Both collections were missing some of the sensitive bug species and there were not many individuals of the sensitive bugs that were there. The diversity of species was limited.

The water chemistry in Little Mountain Creek has been tested monthly since November 25, 2006 for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, pH, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, orthophosphate, and chloride. The nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, orthophosphates, and chloride were all below detection levels for the tests which is excellent. The median pH value is 7.5. The oxygen saturation was at normal levels, but can vary.

The creek was tested for bacteria seven times in the summers of 2007 and 2008. E. coli levels were exceeded for safe swimming on August 23, 2007 and July 14, 2008.

Little Mountain Creek is located in Wister, Oklahoma. This is a small creek with a low flow. It has some erosion along the banks. Within the creek are plenty of logs and rocks for the organisms to hide behind. The fish collection taken from the creek was 82% as good as the average for the ecoregion, revealing that the creek is missing some species of intolerant fish. Bug collections were taken from the creek in both winter and summer. The average in the winter was slightly better than the summer, but the creek was lacking some of the sensitive bugs at both times. The creek’s water chemistry has been tested and everything was found within normal levels. The water was tested for bacteria. E. coli exceeded safe swimming levels twice. Little Mountain Creek, on the whole, is a fairly healthy creek.

Written By: Claire Mitchell

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Little Sandy Creek: Chamber Loop

BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach SW SE SE Section 28-4N-6E

BT Volunteer Pontotoc County Monitoring Latitude N 34° 46’ 58.7”

Longitude W 96° 40’ 20.9”

WBID#: OK520600-03-0020W

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 5 November 2007

Written by: Ambrie Walker

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Little Sandy Creek is located in southeast Oklahoma in the City of Ada. The creek flows northeast from the headwaters in downtown Ada. The monitoring site is on the Chickasaw Nation Headquarters campus at the Chamber Loop Street bridge. From here Little Sandy Creek flows northeast out of the city about 3 miles then gently curves northwest to flow into Canadian Sandy Creek which empties into the Canadian River about 5.5 miles north of Ada. Little Sandy Creek is in the Cross Timbers ecoregion.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

The physical habitat of Little Sandy Creek at Chamber Loop Street was assessed on August 20, 2006 for 400 meters starting from the bridge and going downstream. The first third of this section had been scraped of trees and a dam recently constructed to slow the flow for a construction project. The remaining part of the section was more natural and tree lined creating a shady canopy over the creek to help cool the water. These trees also help protect the banks from eroding, reducing the sediment load into the creek. Little Sandy in general is a very shallow creek but there were a couple of moderately deep pools. Instream and http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Little_Sandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:56 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Sandy Creek

streamside cover such as grasses, woody debris and rocks were present in moderation to supply habitat and be a food source for fish and aquatic insects. There is very little flow and the bottom of the creek is quite sandy making it an unstable habitat for fish to spawn. Since this habitat assessment, the rest of the 400 meter section has drastically been transformed; all the trees have been removed, banks covered with cement rock and the creek in general has been straightened. All of these factors will hamper the development and overall health of the stream.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Fish were collected on August 20, 2006 for the entire 400 meter section. Only 2 species of fish (mosquito fish and black bullhead catfish) were collected. This is really poor when compared to an average of 19 species from high quality streams in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. Both of these species are tolerant to pollutants and sediment. This fish collection gets the lowest score of an E due to lack of diversity and no sunfish nor sensitive species.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) live on the stream bottom and on debris found in the creek. They are a link in the aquatic food chain as both consumers of nutrients and food for fish. Several are intolerant of pollution or poor water quality and, as such, are good indicators of stream condition.

Bugs were collected from rocky riffles at Little Sandy Creek in the winter from 2004 to 2007 and one summer collection in 2004. (Lack of flow has prevented summer collections.) When compared to the high quality streams in the Cross Timbers ecoregion, Little Sandy Creek consistently has half as many different species. All of the winter collections contained only species that were tolerant to pollution. The summer collection contained one individual caddisfly, a Hydroptila of moderate sensitivity, whereas the high quality streams averaged 5 sensitive species. Little Sandy at Chamber Loop receives a low C score due to the lack of diversity, no sensitive bug population and few bug taxa represented.

Bacteria Testing

Bacteria testing is performed to assess the amount of E. Coli and Fecal Coliform that is in the water. Little Sandy was tested for bacteria during the summer of 2007 and had high amounts of bacteria (> 6,000 CFU/100 ml E. Coli). People that get into the water should use caution. These types of bacteria are indicators for pathogens that could be harmful to humans.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between January 2004 and October 2007.

http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Little_Sandy_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:31:56 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Little Sandy Creek

pH is on a scale of 1 – 14 and measures the concentration of hydrogen ions. Low numbers are acidic, neutral is 7 and high numbers are basic. Little Sandy Creek is in the normal range.

Nitrogen Nitrogen is a nutrient and can be an indicator for fertilizer being overused and running off into the streams. An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia- nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble nitrogen are in the cautionary levels for Little Sandy Creek.

Phosphorus Little Sandy Creek is in a cautionary state for phosphorous levels. Phosphorous can also be an indicator of fertilizer runoff. The level at Little Sandy Creek averages 0.64 mg/L P. (The limit for Oklahoma’s scenic rivers is 0.037 mg/L P.) Further investigation is needed.

Chloride Chloride is the measure of the amount of salts in a creek. Little Sandy Creek is in a normal range.

Synopsis

Little Sandy Creek begins in the City of Ada and flows north eventually ending in the Canadian River. The sampling site at the Chickasaw Nation Headquarters campus has been altered greatly due to the bank stabilization technique where the trees and grasses that filter the water was removed and replaced with large cement rocks. These rocks are effective to hold the bank in place but the natural filters for the water have disappeared. This loss of natural habitat will impact the already poor fish and bug population here at Chamber Loop Street. The chemical nutrient levels are in the cautionary range and may indicate runoff from someplace. Further investigation is needed. This level of nutrients is what is supporting a large amount of algal growth here. Little Sandy Creek is a struggling creek in desperate need of some tender loving care to give it a chance to try and heal itself.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Mooser Creek: Pepsi

BT Outreach NE SW NE Section 35-19N-12E BT Urban Outreach Tulsa County BT Volunteer Lat N 36º 05’ 8.1” Monitoring Long W 95º 59’ 56.8” WBID#: OK 120420-010070B

Mooser Creek is in the city of Tulsa and flows east from the Turner Turnpike to the Arkansas River. The north side of the creek is highly populated with commercial properties, industrial businesses and a few residential homes. The south side of the creek is mostly undeveloped and is a natural habitat. The site on Mooser Creek is behind the Pepsi bottling plant at the end of Lawton Avenue under an abandoned bridge. There is always water, though at times it is pooled or very low flow. There is a quite a diversity of wildlife due to natural habitat to the south of the creek. Mooser Creek is in both the Central Irregular Plains and Cross Timbers ecoregions, but most of the watershed is in the Cross Timbers ecoregion.

Habitat assessments were conducted on November 7, 1997, and on August 6, 2003, to help assess the creek’s health from a biological point of view. Mooser Creek has good pool variability with both deep and shallow pools, canopy cover shading from trees hanging over the water to help keep it cooler, and streamside cover. There is little channel alteration with very little sediment in the streambed. It has a moderate amount of instream cover needed by the fish and macroinvertebrates, the pool bottom substrate is stable, there are rocky runs and riffles, and banks are quite stable. Mooser Creek has low flow, is not very sinuous, and bank vegetation is limited. Some of this is because there are beautiful rock bluffs on the south side of the creek. The habitat in Mooser Creek is better than the average Cross Timbers high quality reference site.

Fish were collected from a 400 meter reach of Mooser Creek on August 6, 2003, the same day as the habitat assessment. There were 247 individuals of 11 species of fish including 5 different species of sunfish: green sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, spotted bass and largemouth bass. Most of the species collected are tolerant, though the spotted bass and central stoneroller have an intermediate tolerance value. The collection is missing darters and other sensitive benthic species and insectivorous cyprinids (the dominant minnows in North American streams that disappear as the quality of the food base deteriorates.) The fish collection at Mooser Creek is only 55% of the collection expected from average high quality Cross Timbers reference conditions.

Benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected in winter and summer index periods http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mooser_Creek:_Pepsi.html[9/27/2011 2:31:58 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mooser Creek: Pepsi

since the summer of 2000. There was no flow during the summers of 2001 and 2002 so there were no collections. The summer 2004 collection did not pass quality assurance requirements: it has been re-picked but the results are not yet back. When compared with the average high quality reference conditions for the ecoregion, both summer and winter collections show reduced numbers of taxa, especially the Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) which are more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. Mooser Creek gets a rating of B for both summer and winter macroinvertebrate collections.

Water chemistry has been tested monthly since the summer of 2001. Mooser Creek has chronic problems with low levels of dissolved oxygen (the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life) which has been less than 50% saturation 18% of the time and less than 80% saturation 61% of the time. There are very low levels of nutrients in the water. The soluble nitrogen has never been significant. The orthophosphate phosphorus has been above 0.1 mg/L three times: 0.107 mg/L on 3/28/2003, 0.12 mg/L on 10/28/2004 and 0.13 mg/L on 6/28/2005. The chloride spikes during the winter when there is ice and snow on the roads.

Mooser Creek is an urban stream with commercial and industrial landuses on the north side of the creek and a natural habitat on the south side of the creek. The habitat in the creek is excellent, better than reference conditions for the ecoregion. The biological collections show a stream in trouble. The fish collection is only 55% of what would be expected for the habitat and the lack of insectivorous cyprinids may indicate a deteriorating foodbase, though chemical testing indicates a chronic problem with enough oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Benthic macroinvertebrate collections indicate a loss of the most sensitive groups, also indicating deteriorating water quality. It may be that we are documenting the effects of very low flow due to drought conditions in the watershed.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mooser_Creek:_Pepsi.html[9/27/2011 2:31:58 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mooser Creek: South Haven

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BT Monitoring Sites Mooser Creek: South Haven

BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach SE NE SW Section 33-19N-12E BT Volunteer Tulsa County Monitoring Latitude N 36° 4’ 50” Longitude W 96° 2’ 15” WBID OK 120420-01-007P

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review - December 7, 2006

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Mooser Creek: South Haven is a stream that is located primarily in the southwest portion of Tulsa in northeast Oklahoma. It flows from west to east through an urban area of the city of Tulsa and joins the Arkansas River. The land use in the upper reaches of the watershed is primarily industrial and commercial. The lower reaches are low to moderate income residential. Mooser Creek is in the Cross Timbers ecoregion in the Arkansas River watershed. The monitoring site is located at a bridge where South Haven crosses the creek in an older, established, low income residential area. The stream is narrow and susceptible to very low flows during the winter and summer months.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

This stream was compared to reference streams in the ecoregion that were known to be high quality. The habitat of Mooser Creek above the bridge was better than reference conditions. Except for the lower reach where the stream banks are mowed to water’s edge, the banks are fairly stable with thick vegetation and tree coverage. The habitat is fairly healthy. Most of the channel is not altered by humans. The water is clear and the bottom is rocky. It is a low flow stream and has low sinuosity. The lower portion of the stream flows through South Haven public housing project. Most of the creek is ankle deep, with the deepest parts being around 0.5 meter (knee deep.) Out of the sampling length of 400 meters, over 70% of the stream was pooled, 8% was run and 21% was riffle.

Biological Conditions http://www.ok.gov/...ivisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mooser_Creek:_South_Haven.html[9/27/2011 2:31:59 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mooser Creek: South Haven

Fish

The fish community is poor. In both fish collections, conducted in 1998 and 2003, only 3 species of fish were found (19 species is the average in the high quality reference conditions.) In addition, the numbers of fish were low. The 2003 collection had 36 individuals compared with 594 individuals in reference conditions. Pollution tolerant fish species were dominant (red shiner and green sunfish) with one species found of intermediate tolerance (central stoneroller). Metric calculations indicate that the 2003 collection from Mooser Creek is 36% of the quality of an average high quality Cross Timbers ecoregion stream. The condition gets an E rating on a scale of A to E for biological sampling.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Macroinvertebrate collections were attempted in the winter and summer index periods, but the flow at this site is very low and only one summer collection was procured in 2003. Metric calculations indicate that this collection was 27% as good as reference conditions. It was missing the Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) that are more sensitive than any other groups.

Winter collections were made every year except 2003. They were better than the summer collection with limited numbers of the sensitive EPT taxa. Metric calculations show that the average winter collection at Mooser Creek is 54% of reference conditions.

Bacteria Testing

Water from Mooser Creek was tested for Bacteria during the months of May through September. The scores on Escherichia coli were very high. Of the 22 data points gathered, 6 were greater than or equal to 2400 colonies per 100 mL. Six additional data points were less than 2400 but greater than 1000 colonies per 100 mL. The source of the bacteria is unknown.

Chemical Testing

Chemical data were collected monthly between 7/1/2001 and 11/19/2005.

DO. Dissolved oxygen saturation shows when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little or too much are indicators of problems. Chemical data show that the level of dissolved oxygen at Mooser Creek was in the ideal range only 7% of the time, was at a critically low level 36% of the time, and below ideal 75% of the time. These levels of oxygen may have been caused by the low flow levels in the creek.

Ph. Ph was consistently in a normal range.

Nitrogen. An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia- nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble nitrogen were very low except on 7/11/2003 when it was 0.9 mg/L and in August, September and October 1995 when the levels were near 1.0 mg/L N.

Phosphorus. Orthophosphate - Phosphorus has been very low with average concentrations below 0.05 mg/L P except for the summer of 2003. On 7/11/2003 the result was 1.667 mg/L P.

Chloride. Chloride levels at Mooser Creek are normal with spikes during ice and snow events.

Except for pathogens, chemical results for the parameters analyzed do not represent a threat

http://www.ok.gov/...ivisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mooser_Creek:_South_Haven.html[9/27/2011 2:31:59 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mooser Creek: South Haven

to the stream.

Synopsis

Mooser Creek at South Haven is a typical urban stream with a fairly healthy habitat and a moderately healthy macroinvertebrate community. However, it is showing signs of degradation. Each of the two fish collections had small numbers of individuals and small numbers of taxa that are predominantly tolerant to poor water quality. There appears to be a problem with E. coli. This site is in the upper reaches of the watershed and limited amounts of flow may be affecting the biological community.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ivisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mooser_Creek:_South_Haven.html[9/27/2011 2:31:59 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mustang Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Mustang Creek

BT Outreach SE NE SE BT Urban Outreach Section 11-11N-5W BT Volunteer Canadian County Monitoring Lat N 35° 26’ 20.9” Long W 97° 41’ 19.1” WBID #: OK520520-00-0240G

Mustang Creek is a second order stream that flows west to east in the south part of Yukon and the north part of Mustang. It drains into the North Canadian River. The watershed drains approximately 26 square miles above the monitoring site which is at Morgan Road on the north side of the city of Mustang. Land use in the watershed is rapidly changing from agricultural use to residential communities. Housing is encroaching on the creek upstream and an established golf course occupies the southwest side. Immediately downstream of the monitoring site, on the east side of Morgan Road, a large residential area has been built to within one hundred feet of the creek.

Habitat The habitat in Mustang Creek compares very well with reference conditions within the Central Great Plains ecoregion. The canopy cover from the trees and streamside vegetation on the creek bank is good and helps shade the water. Rocky runs and riffles are present but not common. The creek habitat is mainly pools of varying depths with very low flow to no flowing water. There is a lack of in-stream cover like root wads, rocks, woody debris and vegetation in the creek water for use by the fish and macroinvertebrate communities. The banks of Mustang Creek are poorly covered with vegetation yet the banks are moderately stable. There is an erosion problem in the watershed and this sediment, some of it from the construction sites, has collected on the bottom of the creek. A loose shifting pool bottom will not provide substrate for burrowing organisms and will not allow bottom-spawning fish to successfully spawn. It will not provide habitat to the smaller vertebrates and invertebrates that are necessary to support many of the pool dwelling fish.

Biological Community – Fish Fish were collected from Mustang Creek on June 20, 2005. Thirteen species of fish inhabit the creek; 93% of the individuals collected are tolerant of pollution levels. The suckermouth minnow is the only intolerant species and the sand shiner is the only intermediate species of fish collected. When compared with reference conditions, Mustang Creek is missing sensitive http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mustang_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:00 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mustang Creek

benthic species and has few insect eating minnows reflecting nutrient and sediment problems. Noted were five species of sunfish which generally is a significant indicator of good stream health. The fish collection at Mustang Creek is 75% as good as the average high quality reference conditions for the Central Great Plains ecoregion.

Biological Community – Benthic Macroinvertebrates Mustang Creek has had excellent bug collections from rocky riffles every winter since 2002, consistently scoring equal to reference conditions. In the summer of 2003 the collection was made from vegetation in low flow conditions and scored higher than reference conditions. But riffle kicks in the summers of 2004 and 2005 produced no members of the most sensitive Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa, dropping the metric score to 69% of reference conditions. Considered together, the macroinvertebrate collections in Mustang Creek are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion and represent balanced trophic and community structure for the stream size.

Water Chemistry Water chemistry was tested monthly on Mustang Creek between September 15, 2001 and December 18, 2004. After a break, it was monitored again at the beginning and end of August 2005.

DO. The average amount of dissolved oxygen falls on the low side of normal. The percent oxygen saturation dropped below 50% in October 2003, November 2003, May 2004 (when the oxygen dropped to 3 mg/L – a critical level for fish), and Sept. 2004.

pH. Ph was consistently between 7.5 – 8 except for February 2002 when it was 9.0.

Nitrogen. Soluble nitrogen was always present, though at very low levels.

Phosphorus. Orthophosphate phosphorus was always present in moderate quantities. Values greater than 0.1 mg/L P, a critical level, occur on July 30, 2002, September 28, 2002 and then most months since October 2003. The highest value is 0.46 mg/L P on July 24, 2004.

Chloride. Chloride has remained steady with values usually between 30 and 40 mg/L.

Summary Mustang Creek is in a rapidly developing watershed. The canopy cover shade and streamside vegetation are very good. Sediment from erosion and construction projects is on the pool bottoms. A loose shifting pool bottom will not provide substrate for burrowing organisms and will not allow bottom-spawning fish to successfully spawn. The fish collection confirms this with an absence of sensitive benthic species of fish. The proportion of insectivorous cyprinids was also low. These are the dominant minnows in North American streams but the proportion decreases as the quality and quantity of the invertebrate food base decreases. While the benthic macroinvertebrate collections over the last five years are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion, the last three collections from summer 2004, winter 2005 and summer 2005 have dropped in quality with the loss of some of the EPT taxa. Low levels of dissolved oxygen could be caused by low flow during the drought conditions or b algal growth spurred by the increasing nutrients in the water. Though it is showing the effects of urban development, Mustang Creek is still fairly healthy. Community education to homeowners and construction companies about the quality of Mustang Creek could help stop its degradation.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mustang_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:00 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Mustang Creek

http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Mustang_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:00 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Nickel Creek

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http://www.ok.gov/...vation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Nickel_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:01 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Panther Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Panther Creek: Hwy 49

BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach NE NW NE Section 21-3N-14W BT Volunteer Comanche County Monitoring N 34° 43’ 28.9” W 98° 40’ 24.4” WBID#: OK311310-02-0150G

December 13, 2006

Panther Creek is centrally located within the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge, a few minutes north of Lawton, off Highway 49 which crosses over the creek. Our sample site begins on the north side of the bridge in the public use area and extends 400 meters north into the Special Use Area. It is downstream of Apache Lake in the Special Use Area of the refuge and upstream of Burford Lake on the public use side of the refuge. The creek flows from north to south, terminating in West Cache Creek, and has a watershed of about six square miles. There are only wildlife and bison populations in the watershed and the landuse is all natural rangeland. Panther Creek is in the Central Great Plains Level 3 ecoregion.

Panther Creek is a straight creek that enjoys good canopy cover and abundant bank vegetation which ensures bank stability. Canopy cover is provided mostly by Post Oak, Willow, and Cottonwood trees. The balance of the vegetation along the creek consists of numerous forbs and grasses. The creek-bottom substrate consists of loose sand, cobbles and gravel which are good habitat for the fish and bugs living in the creek. In a few places the substrate is granite bedrock. The creek is affected by a drought that has spanned approximately six years. Many of the creek’s runs and rocky riffles are absent due to this ongoing drought and many times water can be found only in remaining deep pools. During much of the year, the creek has experienced low flow due to the drought. One significant alteration of the creek has been the construction of two beaver dams which are located on the north side of the bridge off highway 49.

The main limiting factor influencing the richness of fish populations and species diversity is the ongoing drought. The fish collection of 2005 resulted in a total of 107 fish collected from six species. 84% of the fish caught were bluegill sunfish and mosquitofish. The remaining species included green sunfish, longear sunfish, warmouth sunfish and largemouth bass. No sensitive benthic species were collected. The entire population of fish collected were tolerant species.

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Panther_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:02 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Panther Creek

When compared to reference conditions in this ecoregion, this Panther Creek collection receives a low score for the fish collection, but the drought conditions have eliminated all but the deep pool habitats.

The drought has limited how many times we have been able to collect aquatic invertebrates. All of our collections have been from streamside vegetation because of the lack of riffles. When we have been able to collect, the EPT taxa richness and abundance have indicated excellent water quality and a healthy habitat. (The Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are generally more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. As a stream deteriorates in quality, members of this group will be the first to disappear.) Panther Creek’s macroinvertebrates scored very well when compared against the reference conditions in this ecoregion indicating they are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion.

Over the past three years of chemical monitoring Panther Creek has revealed the following: the majority of the time the dissolved oxygen (DO) percent saturation was within normal healthy ranges except a few times when there was very low flow to no flow. September 29, 2005 the oxygen level was critical at 2 mg/L (24% saturation). There was very little deviation of pH (7.0 – 7.5). The soluble nitrogen levels were below 0.2 mg/L N except February 23, 2006 when it was 0.6 mg/L N. Orthophosphate phosphorus has ranged from below detection to 0.06 mg/L P on March 30, 2004. Chloride results ranged from 5 mg/L Cl to 15 mg/L Cl - all within the excellent acceptable range.

Overall, Panther Creek has a healthy suitable habitat. Its flow is limited by the drought and this in turn is the major limiting factor in fish and aquatic invertebrate populations. When there is enough water, the invertebrate collections are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion. Chemically Panther Creek is healthy and well within the desired parameters. Panther Creek is a healthy stream suffering under drought conditions.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Panther_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:02 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Polecat Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Polecat Creek: 33rd West Avenue

BT Outreach Polecat Creek: 33rd West Avenue BT Urban Outreach SW NW NW BT Volunteer Section 27-18N-12E Monitoring Tulsa County Lattitude N 36° 00’ 54.5” Longitude W 96° 01’ 45” WBID#: OK120420-02-0050G

Site description

Polecat Creek is located in the Cross Timbers ecoregion in northeast Oklahoma. As a 5th order stream, it is among the largest streams monitored by Oklahoma’s Blue Thumb Program. Its watershed covers over 200 square miles. Its headwater starts between the towns of Drumright and Oilton in Creek County. From there it trends east and goes through Heyburn Reservoir, Sapulpa and eventually drains into the Arkansas River. Land use in the watershed is agricultural, urban, and industrial with some of Oklahoma’s oldest oil fields along its banks. The effluent from several communities drains into Polecat Creek. Blue Thumb volunteers monitor the stream monthly at 33rd West Avenue south of 101st Street in Tulsa County.

Polecat Creek is deeply incised at the monitoring site under the bridge at 33rd West Avenue. To get down into the site, one must walk down a steep, rock-covered hill through thick brush and small trees. The stream itself is rocky and often has scattered trash items in it. There is a topsoil mining company on the north bank of the stream. The lack of ground cover in the mining area seems to cause heavy erosion on the north side of the stream bank. There is also a commercial dump just to the southwest of the site.

Habitat assessment

Two habitat assessments have been conducted, one in 1996 and the other in 2001. The results of a 2006 assessment are pending. Overall, the habitat assessment shows that the stream habitat is in moderate condition when compared with the average of high quality reference streams in the ecoregion. Because of its size, Polecat Creek always has water, even during the recent drought. There is good high quality cover for organisms to hide behind, though some of it is trash that has been dumped from the bridge. Average water depth is 0.67

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Polecat_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:03 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Polecat Creek

meters; the maximum depth is 2.5 m. About 80% of the stream is pooled. There is not much canopy cover to shade the water. Soil mining activities on the north bank of the stream have reduced the amount of streamside vegetation and contributed to some sedimentation. Polecat Creek is fairly straight in this reach.

Aquatic life collections

There have been two fish collections in the past ten years. The state of health is measured by comparing Polecat Creek with reference conditions for the Cross Timbers ecoregion, which is the average of high quality streams in the ecoregion. The total metric score for reference conditions for fish is 22. The fish collection made 10/15/1996 had 21 species of fish which included seven species of sunfish (green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and white crappie.) There were two intolerant species, the suckermouth minnow and the slim minnow. The biggest difference between this collection and reference conditions is the absence of sensitive benthic species like darters. The 1996 fish collection receives a total metric score of 18 which is 82% as good as reference conditions. This scores a “B” on the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), indicating decreased species richness, mostly the intolerant species.

The fish collection made 6/27/2001 had 20 species of fish which also included seven species of sunfish (bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and white crappie.) There was only one intolerant species, the suckermouth minnow, though there was one species of darter (slenderhead darter.) The total metric score in 2001 is 16; 73% as good as reference conditions. This collection scores a “C” on the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), indicating that intolerant and sensitive species are rare or absent.

Macroinvertebrates have been collected every winter in January/February and every summer in July/August. Summer collections in the last five years have an average number of 11 taxa compared with 20 taxa in reference conditions. This indicates reduced water and/or habitat quality. There were three Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa in Polecat Creek compared with 7 taxa in reference conditions. The EPT taxa are the mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies that are more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. A single taxon, Trichoptera Cheumatopsyche, made up 53% of the individuals collected in the samples. Species diversity is limited. As more and more species are excluded by increasing pollution, the remaining species can increase in numbers due to the unused resources left by the excluded animals. The summer riffle metric score at Polecat Creek is 44% of reference conditions for the Cross Timbers ecoregion, earning an IBI score of “C”.

Winter macroinvertebrate collections in the last five years have an average number of 13 taxa compared with 16 taxa in reference conditions. Once again the EPT taxa were limited and the dominant taxon was 46% of the sample. The winter metric score at Polecat Creek is 69% of reference conditions, earning an IBI score of “B”.

Bacteria

Eschericia coli has been measured during the summer months of May through September. For streams where people wade and play the E. coli level should be below 400 CFU/100 ml. The highest values each year were measured in May and June. All of the results above 400 CFU/100 ml are listed below:

5/26/1999 690 CFU/100 ml 6/24/1999 >2400 CFU/100 ml 6/29/2000 >2400 CFU/100 ml 7/27/2000 460 CFU/100 ml

5/31/2001 2000 CFU/100 ml 6/28/2001 1700 CFU/100 ml 6/26/2003 >2400 CFU/100 ml 6/24/2004 950 CFU/100 ml 8/25/2005 825 CFU/100 ml

Chemical Quality

The chemical data show that Polecat Creek usually has a healthy amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. The percent oxygen saturation dropped to 29% on 12/29/2001, the only time it was below 50% saturation. There have been eight times since 7/28/2001 when the percent oxygen saturation was between 50% and 80%.

pH has stayed between 7.5 and 8.0, which is healthy.

An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen found in the water. A healthy stream should have less than 0.8 mg/L N. Polecat Creek exceeded this level:

on 7/27/2002 with 1.16 mg/L N, on 12/31/2004 with 0.88 mg/L N, on 11/4/2005 with 1.0 mg/L N, on 11/26/2005 with 2.0 mg/L N, and on 12/24/2005 with 1.0 mg/L N.

These are not dangerous amounts, but will support algae growth. Orthophosphate. phosphorus is another nutrient found occasionally in Polecat Creek. A healthy stream should have less than 0.1 mg/L P. Levels found have exceeded this level:

on 12/1/2001 with 0.1 mg/L P, on 12/28/2002 with 0.107 mg/L P, on11/31/2002 with 0.120 mg/L P, on12/28/2002 with 0.5 mg/L P, on1/26/2003 with 0.167 mg/L P, on 6/28/2003 with 1.433 mg/L P, on 11/29/2003 with 0.137 mg/L P, on 6/26/2004 with 0.163 mg/L P, on 10/30/2004 with 0.2 mg/L P, on 8/27/2005 with 0.190 mg/L P, on 9/24/2005 with 0.240 mg/L P, on 11/14/2005 with 0.173 mg/L P, on 11/26/2005 with 0.170 mg/L P, on 12/24/2005 with 0.1 mg/L P, on 2/8/2006 with 0.133 mg/L P, and on 4/11/2006 with 0.107 mg/L P.

Chloride presence is less than 200 mg/L, which is a safe level.

Synopsis

Monitoring Polecat Creek monthly provides information about the health of a large and important watershed. The habitat is quite good, especially considering the soil mining and dump on the banks at the site. Biological collections indicate a loss of some of the most sensitive species of fish and macroinvertebrates. Overall, the creek remains fairly healthy. It faced challenges in the past from effluent released by Sapulpa’s water treatment plant.

Fortunately, the plant has been modernized in recent years and the effluent released has been kept to a minimum. Through continued monitoring, problems can be addressed before they become serious. Under the watchful eyes of volunteers, the life supported by Polecat Creek and its watershed will continue to be protected.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Posey Creek: Sandusky

BT Outreach NW SW SE BT Urban Outreach Section 9-17N-13E BT Volunteer Tulsa County Monitoring N 35° 57’ 45” W 95° 55’ 46” WBID#: OK 120420-01-0030G Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review using data collected between October 1994 and August 2007.

Posey Creek is located in Tulsa County just south of Tulsa, between Glenpool and Bixby. The creek runs through oil and gas fields and has a drainage area of about 12 square miles. It is a tributary to the Arkansas River. It has been known as a reference creek (a high quality creek), though the land is now being developed for houses. The site location is the bridge on South Sandusky Avenue. The trend of the creek’s habitat seems to indicate that Posey Creek is beginning to show the affects of what is around it. As of 2007 the canopy shading is very good. The creek has an excellent variety of water depths, both deep and shallow. There is also a high level of grasses and shrubs along the banks, though beyond the immediate banks the vegetation is low. There is a reasonable amount of places where fishes and insects can hide beneath, behind, or within. While there are a few point bars developing, indicating dirt being moved down stream, the bottom of the stream is fairly stable. The flow is low and the stream doesn’t have many curves; it doesn’t divert much from its straight line around the location area.

Since 1998 fish were collected four times. In those four times the number of fish species remained high. Only about twenty-two species needed to be caught to compare to high quality streams in the area, but each summer collection at Posey Creek found over twenty-two species. Out of abundant fish there were about nine species of sunfish, two species of darter fish, three species of long-lived fish, and three intolerant species. The majority of the conditions were graded a B; this means that there is decreased species richness, in this case the sensitive bottom dwelling species. Winter collections of benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) between 1994 and 2007 are generally as good, or better, than the average high quality stream in the ecoregion. However, the number of sensitive species is gradually declining. The majority of the bug conditions for winter were ranked A; this means that the creek is comparable to the best situation expected

http://www.ok.gov/...ncy_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Posey_Creek:_Sandusky.html[9/27/2011 2:32:04 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Posey Creek: Sandusky

within the ecoregion. It has a balanced trophic and community structure for stream size. While summer collections still have three or four species of sensitive bugs, you would expect to find seven species. The number of sensitive species in the summer is also gradually declining. The majority of the bug conditions for the summer were ranked C; this means that there are fewer species due to the loss of most of the sensitive species.

The median oxygen saturation for Posey Creek is 73%. This is a bit low, but can be explained by very low flow. This portion of the creek does not have many riffles but is mainly pooled. The pH level of the creek has a good median of 7.5. The soluble nitrogen level is 0.68 mg/L N. The orthophosphate median is .03 mg/L P. The chloride median is 35 mg/L Cl. All of these results are well within the normal range.

Bacteria testing during the summer indicates that E. coli test results vary somewhat; it can sometimes go above 400 colony forming units per 100 mL water (the level safe for human contact), but has only done so twice.

Posey Creek is located between Glenpool and Bixby, just south of Tulsa. It has a drainage area of about 12 square miles and empties into the Arkansas River. The habitat varies and is beginning to show the affects of what is happening to it from the development around it. The number of fish species in this creek is relatively high, only missing some sensitive bottom dwelling fish species. The majority of the fish conditions were ranked B. Winter bug collections are ranked A, though they are beginning to show a gradual decline in the number of sensitive bug species caught. This means that the creek was comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion. The summer bug collections are not as good. The majority ranked C, which means that there were fewer species due to the loss of most sensitive species. Bacteria testing indicates that E. coli is occasionally high enough that you wouldn’t want to swim in the creek. Posey Creek is still quite healthy, but appears to be changing over time due to continued development in the area.

By Helen Talaese

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Post Oak Creek: Indiahoma Road

BT Outreach SW SE SW BT Urban Outreach Section 25-3N-15W BT Volunteer Comanche County Monitoring N 34° 41’ 48.4” W 98° 44’ 0.7” WBID#: OK311310-02-0070T

December 13, 2006

Post Oak Creek is located in the southwest corner of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, a few minutes north of Lawton, approximately two miles east of the Indiahoma gate. The site location is where the road crosses the creek. Post Oak Creek is a very straight running creek which originates at Post Oak Lake. The primary run-off in the watershed is from Mount Lincoln, Elk Mountain, and some smaller mountains to the west. This area equates to about three square miles. It is located entirely within the public use area of the refuge. Post Oak Creek empties into West Cache Creek south of Cache, Oklahoma, and is in the Central Great Plains Level 3 ecoregion.

Post Oak Creek has excellent canopy cover that is provided by Post Oak, Willow, and Cottonwood trees. The balance of the vegetation consists of numerous forbs and grasses. Post Oak’s creek-bottom substrate is mostly sand and gravel with cobbles and is excellent habitat for fish and aquatic invertebrates. In some areas the substrate is bedrock. The creek is affected by a drought that has spanned approximately six years. The drought limits the flow, which in turn means there are few runs and rocky riffles. The average depth of the creek is 0.2 meters and the width (bank to bank) averages eleven meters. The bank stability is good and the streamside cover is excellent. There have been no recent channel alterations by humans.

The fish population of Post Oak Creek consists of five species, of which three species are sunfish. They are: Central stoneroller, Mosquitofish, Bluegill sunfish, Longear sunfish, and Largemouth bass. Twenty-six fish were caught in our August 26, 2004 collection. The most abundant species was the Mosquitofish. All of the fish collected with the exception of the Central stoneroller (intermediate tolerance) were tolerant. This is a poor collection in comparison with reference conditions for the ecoregion. However, drought has created periods of no flow and sections of the creek have been left dry. Only scattered deep pools have sustained fish populations.

http://www.ok.gov/...ion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Post_Oak_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:05 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Post Oak Creek

Benthic macroinvertebrates have been collected twice from Post Oak Creek. The summer 2003 streamside vegetation sample produced 17 taxa though only 3 were from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies) (EPT). The winter 2005 collection was made from a rocky riffle and produced 9 taxa, of which three were EPT taxa. Even with reduced EPT taxa richness Post Oak Creek’s metric score indicates it is comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion with balanced trophic and community structure for the stream size.

Over the past three years chemical monitoring of Post Oak Creek has revealed that most of the time the dissolved oxygen (DO) percent saturation was within normal healthy ranges except a few times when there was very low flow to no flow. During the summer of 2005 the DO dropped to 3 mg/L (38% saturation). pH has ranged from 6.0 to 7.5 which is an excellent level. An estimate of soluble nitrogen was made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen found in the water. The soluble nitrogen levels were very low except one reading of 3.0 mg/L N on 11/25/2003. Orthophosphate phosphorus was low except for a reading of 0.286 mg/L P on 7/27/2005. Our Chloride results fell in a range from the detection limit to 45mg/L. They were usually 20 mg/L or less. In January and February 2006 when there had been ice, the chloride level reached 120 mg/L.

Overall, Post Oak Creek has a healthy, suitable habitat. The flow has been limited by the drought and this in turn is the major limiting factor in the fish population. When there is enough water to make collections, the invertebrate collections are comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion. Chemically Post Oak Creek is healthy and well within the desired parameters. Post Oak Creek is a healthy stream suffering under drought conditions.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Rock Creek: Hwy 33

BT Outreach NE NE SE BT Urban Outreach 33-18N-11E BT Volunteer Creek County Monitoring N35° 59’ 35.7” (35.99325°) W 96° 08’ 11.9” (-96.136689°) WBID #: OK120420-02-0060G

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Rock Creek is located along State Highway 33 on the west side of Sapulpa, in northeast Oklahoma. It is situated in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. Its watershed area (drainage area) covers about 50 square miles and includes oil field use, housing, pasture land, and natural timbers and recreational use. Rock Creek drains southeast into Polecat Creek and eventually flows into the Arkansas River.

Physical Conditions

At the monitoring site for Rock Creek there is a lot of canopy cover shading over the creek and streamside vegetation along the creek. The water is smooth flowing, as there are few rocky runs or riffles. The site also has low channel sinuosity, meaning it is fairly straight. Instream cover, pool bottom substrate, pool variability, channel alteration, and bank stability were all at the medium range. Most of the 400 m of habitat assessed was in the middle of a golf course.

Biological Conditions Fish

Fish were collected in July of 2007. At that time 172 fish were collected from sixteen different species. The number of species, compared with other Cross Timbers sites, was above average. Out of the sixteen species there were eight types of sunfish and three types of long- lived fish; intolerant or sensitive species of fish, however, were absent. When compared with other Cross Timbers sites, Rock Creek averages a 64%, which gives the creek a grade of C.

http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Rock_Creek:_Hwy_33.html[9/27/2011 2:32:07 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Rock Creek: Hwy 33

Macroinvertebrates

Macroinvertebrates have been collected twice, once in September of 2006, and again in February of 2007. In the summer testing of 2006, 124 organisms were collected. The creek only averaged 40% during the summer compared to reference sites which earned it a grade of C. A grade of C means that there are fewer species due to the loss of most intolerant forms. During the winter testing in 2007, however, the creek averaged an 85%, earning the creek an A. During this collection, there were 119 organisms collected. In both collections there was an absence of sensitive species.

Chemical Testing

Rock Creek has been tested since 2005 for the following: oxygen saturation, soluble nitrogen, orthophosphate phosphorus, pH, and chloride. Data shows that all of the tests were in the normal range.

Synopsis

Biological collections from Rock Creek are lacking intolerant/sensitive species. The fish collection and summer macroinvertebrate (bug) collection received a grade of C when compared with the average high quality stream in this ecoregion. The winter bug collection got a grade of A. The water chemistry is all in the normal range. The habitat is as good as the reference conditions for the ecoregion. There is something going on that is causing the fish and bugs to be limited to the more tolerant species. By: Megan Muncy

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...gency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Rock_Creek:_Hwy_33.html[9/27/2011 2:32:07 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Soldier Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Soldier Creek: Hwy 66

BT Outreach

BT Urban Outreach NE NW NW

BT Volunteer Section 28-14N-1W Monitoring Oklahoma County

N 33.56681°; W 97.31393°

WBID# OK 520710-01-0060D

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 6 March 2008

Written by: Elsie Harner

Soldier Creek is located on beautiful Route 66 east of Arcadia in the Cross Timbers ecoregion in the heart of Oklahoma County. To get to the site from I-35 and Hwy 66 in Edmond, go east past Arcadia one mile to the bridge that crosses Soldier Creek where you will see an old farm house on the south side of Hwy 66.

You hear the sounds of running water as you go down the 30 foot bank to a rock ledge where the span of the water varies from 25 ft. wide to 2-3 ft. wide under the south side of the bridge. Stand awhile, observe the water to see the minnows darting around and looking at insects on top of water. Look below the waterfall to see scattered watering holes next to large rocks and boulders with the crayfish darting back and forth; you may even see the remains of a crayfish a raccoon left on the bank. You may see dog tracks and deer tracks indicating that they come to drink the clear cool flowing water. From spring to fall look around on the rocky bank and enjoy the wild flowers that bloom, some beautiful all year round. Enjoy the bright color of leaves floating down stream along with some wild native pecans and walnuts. You feel the air, sometimes hot and sometimes cold; there are been times there is very little wind. You are surrounded by gentle sounds you don't hear otherwise; the rustle of tree leaves falling, cicadas buzzing, bees flitting from flower to flower, birds minding their own business in the undergrowth. Look up and see if the red-tailed hawk is circling and checking you out. Look at

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Soldier_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:08 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Soldier Creek

the underside of the bridge to see the swallow nests and hear the babies if you’re lucky. To the south you may hear a cow moo at the old farm house.

Now down to business. What kind of weather is it today? Check the air temperature. What is the wind speed and which direction is it coming from? Is the stream elevated or low? Is it rising or falling? Now, lets lay the thermometer in the water at least 2 minutes or more (just don't forget before you leave) and read the temperature in the water. There is always a fair amount of algae in and around the many rocks in the water. Look around the site and mark your data sheet with all of the observations that apply and add your comments. Take some pictures. This is most helpful and fun to refer back to. Check your water clarity/secchi depth. Most of the time Soldier Creek is very clear. Now it’s time to do the dissolved oxygen test, the only one done creek-side. You have more time to observe the area around you. Sometimes the Arcadia sheriff stops to check on you. He is very nice.

Soldier Creek has had running water all year round. It makes you wonder if there's a natural spring somewhere up north. In a rainy year like 2007 it was running bank to bank like a red dirt river, but the water level dropped back to normal after clearing the banks and the clear, clean water returned.

Soldier Creek begins seven miles north of the city of Arcadia and flows south-southeast ending in the Deep Fork River. The watershed of soldier creek is about 25 square miles of farm land.

Soldier creek has really good shading from the tree canopy which helps to keep the water cool; this aids in keeping a good oxygen level in the water for the fish and bugs. There are grasses and shrubs at the waters edge on the banks to offer habitat and be a food source. The banks are in decent shape but do show signs of erosion. Habitat within the creek (like woody debris, aquatic vegetation and rocks) is present in moderation. The creek bed is rather sandy/silty which makes it unstable for fish to spawn and indicates sediment is traveling down the creek. This is reinforced by several new point bars due to erosion and sedimentation, which is not good. This part of Soldier Creek is pretty straight with little difference in water depth. Most of the pools are about knee deep. The overall habitat score for Soldier Creek is 57.9 and the high quality streams in the ecoregion averaged 84.0.

Benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) have been collected from rocky riffles in the winters of 2006 and 2007 and the summer 2006. The winter 2006 collection scored a low B while the summer 2006 and winter 2007 collections scored A’s when compared to high quality streams in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. Soldier Creek does not have as many different species of the most sensitive bugs as the high quality streams, but it has a lot of the ones it does have. The winter collections have a problem with percent dominant taxon. The majority of the bug population is spread amongst a few bug species, not evenly distributed amongst all the different bugs found. The diversity has been increasing since winter 2006. These collections indicate that Soldier Creek is somewhere between a high quality stream and a moderate quality stream.

A fish collection was conducted in the summer of 2006 and resulted in a D score when compared to the high quality streams. No sensitive benthic species were found in Soldier Creek. All 1,514 fish from 11 different species were tolerant or moderately tolerant, none were intolerant. The high quality streams averaged two intolerant species. There were five different sunfish species found: green sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish and largemouth bass. It is good to have this many.

Chemically, the dissolved oxygen, soluble nitrogen, pH, orthophosphate phosphorus and chloride have been within the normal range. There was a very small amount of E. coli found in

the summers of 2006 and 2007. The amounts were always within the limits for safe human contact with the water.

It is a joy to go to Soldier Creek to test the water and see nature as it happens. The habitat at the Hwy 66 bridge looks pretty, but something is perhaps limiting the fish. There is erosion present, but not in excess. The farmers could lend more land to the creek to help the riparian area grow up allowing trees, shrubs, grasses to grow out 40 feet or more from the creek. This will help stabilize the banks and keep more sediment out which might give a chance for the creek bed to filter out some silt and stabilize. Several factors of the creek’s habitat need to improve to give the fish a chance to exist, live, and reproduce. The bugs have a shorter life span in the creek water of only a few months and do not seem to be affected as the fish have been. During the time of this fish collection, top carnivores and many expected species were absent or rare; omnivores and tolerant species were dominant. The chemical quality of the water seems excellent for the parameters we are testing.

The three elements needed for a healthy stream are: 1) good chemical water quality plus 2) physical habitat quality plus 3) biotic quality. In Soldier Creek the basic water chemistry seems fine. The physical habitat is not as good as it should be. The bugs seem to indicate a moderately healthy stream, but the fish are not what would be expected. Perhaps the habitat is the controlling factor in a healthy fish population. If so, landowner education about best management practices could make a big difference to Soldier Creek.

Thank you,

Elsie Harner

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Spunky Creek: Hwy 142

BT Outreach SE SE SE Section: 31-20N-15E BT Urban Outreach Rogers County BT Volunteer N 36° 9’ 45.4” Monitoring W 95° 44’ 4305” WBID#: OK121500-02-0480K

Spunky Creek is located in northeast Oklahoma in Rogers County. The testing site is right off of Highway 412, south of Catoosa. It is within the Central Irregular Plain ecoregion. The creek runs south to north and drains into the Verdigris River. The land surrounding the creek is used for various things like neighborhood development, pasture land, and urban areas. To the east of the creek are naturally wooded areas. The watershed of Spunky Creek is approximately 22 square miles.

The habitat of Spunky Creek has been assessed twice, once in 2004 and again in 2007. Spunky Creek is fairly straight at the monitoring site, but further upstream it becomes curvy. There is little erosion taking place in the creek. This creek has a more laidback, slow flow. The creek has few riffles where the water flows over the rocks. Scattered along the creek banks are various varieties of trees and shrubs. These trees and shrubs help prevent the bank from falling in and keep it stable as well as providing shade for the creek. Within the creek are some logs, rocks, clumps of roots, and plants to give the organisms cover. The bottom of the stream has adequate amounts of material such as twigs and leaves. The depth of the pools in the creek ranges from shallow to waist deep.

There have been two fish collections from Spunky Creek, also in 2004 and again in 2007. Both times the fish were collected the creek received the same score and was missing some of the most sensitive species. During the second collection a total of 844 fish were collected. Within the collection there were a total of 22 different species. There were 8 kinds of sunfish which were Green, Warmouth, Orangespotted, Bluegill, Longear, and Redear sunfish, Largemouth bass, and White crappie. There were 2 types of darter/benthic species; Orangethroat darter and Logperch. There were 2 intolerant species; Suckermouth minnows and a Spotted sucker. The fish collection from Spunky Creek in 2007 was 82% as good as the high quality average for the ecoregion. This means that the creek is missing some of the more sensitive species of fish. http://www.ok.gov/...cy_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Spunky_Creek:_Hwy_412.html[9/27/2011 2:32:09 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Spunky Creek: Hwy 412

Bugs were collected from Spunky Creek in the winters of 2005 and 2007 and in the summers from 2004 through 2007. Both winter collections have been better than the average high quality stream in the Central Irregular Plains ecoregion with a greater diversity of taxa and more sensitive species. Summer collections have been missing the sensitive taxa. The summer scores have increased from 50% in 2005 to 79% in 2007. It appears that the quality of the summer bug collections has been steadily increasing.

Spunky Creek has been tested monthly from September 25, 2003 to present for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, pH, nitrate, nitrites, ammonia, orthophosphates, and chloride. Soluble nitrogen is often below the detection level of the tests with a median of 0.68 mg/L, well within the normal range. Orthophosphate phosphorus is a little high; median value of 0.065 mg/L P. Chloride and pH are normal. The median oxygen saturation is 79%, on the low side of normal. Considering the low flows in Spunky Creek, this is not of concern.

Spunky Creek was tested 16 times for bacteria during the summers of 2004-2008.The E. coli reading exceeded the safe levels for swimming twice over the four year time span. The readings were high on August 25, 2005 and July 11, 2007.

Spunky Creek is located in Central Oklahoma in Rogers County. The testing site is right off Highway 412 south of Catoosa. The creek is slow flowing with little erosion. The trees and shrubs growing along the bank help to prevent the bank from crumbling and falling in. The fish collection from the creek was 82% as good as the high quality average for the region. This means that the stream is lacking some of the sensitive fish. Bugs were collected in the summer and winter. The winter collections have been comparable to pristine conditions, while the summer collections appear to be improving over the years of study and are now 79% of the high quality average. This means that in the summer the streams are lacking some of the more sensitive bugs. The water chemistry has been normal with the exception of the oxygen saturation being slightly low and the orthophosphate levels being slightly high. The water has been tested multiple times for bacteria during the summertimes but only twice were the levels too high to be safe for swimming. While Spunky Creek is not pristine, it appears to be a healthy stream, especially considering that there are urban areas in the watershed.

Written by: Claire Mitchell & Cortney Brown

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...cy_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Spunky_Creek:_Hwy_412.html[9/27/2011 2:32:09 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Sugar Creek: CR 1320

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BT Monitoring Sites Sugar Creek: CR1320

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BT Urban Outreach Sugar Creek: CR 1320 NW NW NW BT Volunteer Section 8-7N-9W Monitoring Caddo County N 35.10244° W 98.17707° WBID#: OK31080-05-0010C

Sugar Creek is located in southwest central Oklahoma in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The land is used mainly for agriculture, and is very flat around the stream. The headwater, or where the stream begins, is near Hinton. Sugar Creek drains an area that measures about 240 square miles.

Sugar Creek has a high flow, which means it flows fast, and it flows a lot. The wooded bank of the stream provides the canopy cover shading and some bank stability as well. The roots of the trees and grasses that grow on the bank provide stability and prevent erosion to an extent, though the banks are not well vegetated. Sugar Creek does not vary in depth much. It was shallow with a sandy bottom and very few pools. There is not as much instream cover as is needed to shelter and protect the stream’s inhabitants. The bottom of the stream is very soft and sandy indicating that a lot of sediment is traveling down the channel. The habitat score is less than half of the average high quality stream and is definitely lacking some of the components needed to have a healthy, thriving underwater community.

The fish collection at Sugar Creek took place on August 6, 2007. There were only 9 species of fish collected; no darter/benthic species or intolerant species found. There were 2 species of sunfish (Bluegill sunfish and Largemouth bass). The lack of darter/benthic species and intolerants species causes a little concern that there might be something causing their extinction in the stream. This was a very poor collection: Sugar Creek scored an E for its fish conditions, the lowest possible score.

Bugs have been collected in the winter of 2007 at Sugar Creek. The stream scored a C with a collection only 45% as good as is found in high quality streams in the same ecoregion. There are still many of the tolerant species available in the stream, but the EPT bugs, or the more sensitive bugs, are dwindling in the winter months. Bugs were collected in the summer of 2007 at Sugar Creek. The stream scored a B in bug

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Sugar_Creek:_CR_1320.html[9/27/2011 2:32:10 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Sugar Creek: CR 1320

conditions for the summer months. The tolerant bugs are numerable and the intolerant bugs, EPT, are still there as well, but in moderation.

Water chemistry was only reported twice at Sugar Creek, August 2006 and September 2006. The oxygen saturation was normal at 102.5%. Soluble nitrogen was a little high at 1.24 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus was quite high at 0.18 mg/L P. Chloride and pH were in normal ranges. Sugar Creek has elevated levels of nutrients.

Sugar Creek has some good canopy shading, but the habitat is lacking a few crucial ingredients, such as instream cover for its inhabitants. There is also a lot of sand in the creek which makes the bottom unstable and has filled in most pools. This and the elevated levels of nutrients may be the cause for the low population of fish. There are many possibilities and outside influences involved also, such as how the surrounding communities have influenced the habitat. The bug population has retained some of its more sensitive species, so this is a good sign. There have not been enough chemical tests to see fluctuation and averages. Sugar Creek would not measure up to other high quality streams due to its lack in habitat, fish species diversity, and chemistry. All of these factors play a role in the balance of the stream, and if one is thrown off they all go haywire.

Written by: Shelbey Hill

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Tahlequah Creek: Spring Street

BT Outreach Tahlequah Town Branch: Spring Street BT Urban Outreach NE SE SW BT Volunteer Section 28-17N-22E Monitoring Cherokee County Latitude N 35° 58’ 4” Longitude W 94° 58’ 11.8” WBID#: OK121700-03-0040P

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review, December 6, 2006

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Tahlequah Town Branch is a beautiful, clear, spring-fed second order stream that is located primarily in a rapidly developing small city in northeast Oklahoma. It flows from north to south through both rural and urban areas in the city of Tahlequah and joins the Illinois River. It is in the Ozark Highlands ecoregion. The monitoring site is located near Northeastern State University where Spring Street crosses the creek.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

Though part of the stream has been stabilized by retaining walls where it runs through the NSU campus, most of the channel has not been altered. The water is clear and the bottom is rocky and stable for biological life in the creek. It is a low flow stream and is not very curvy. The banks are fairly stable with good vegetation and tree coverage which help shade the creek and keep the water temperature a little cooler. Most of the creek along a 400 meter stretch upstream from the monitoring site is ankle deep, with the deepest parts being around 0.5 meters (knee deep). Over half of the stream was pooled, 25% was classified as run and 25% as riffle. When compared to reference streams in the ecoregion known to be high quality, the habitat in Tahlequah Town Branch at Spring Street was ranked as very good.

Biological Conditions

http://www.ok.gov/...n/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Tahlequah_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:11 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Tahlequah Creek

Fish The stream is not pristine. It is 43% of the quality of an average high quality Ozark Highland stream, a D - rating on a scale of A to E for fish sampling. The fish collection that was made on 9/13/2001 provided only 6 species of fish. (17 species was the average for the reference streams.) We found 2 intolerant species (southern redbelly dace and fantail darter) and 3 species of intermediate tolerance (central stoneroller, creek chub and orangethroat darter). By way of comparison, in reference conditions you would expect 11 intolerant species. Out of the total number of fish caught, 25% of the individuals were bluegill sunfish, a tolerant species. There were no insectivorous cyprinids, the dominant minnows in our streams that disappear as the quality of the food base deteriorates. Often as the density of aquatic invertebrates decreases, the standing crop of algae increases. This is because the aquatic invertebrates are the largest group of primary consumers. Fish that can switch their diet to algae or fish that eat only algae will replace fish that cannot adapt to the new conditions.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

The quality of the macroinvertebrate collections has been declining over the last five years. The winter collections have dropped from 81% of reference in 2002 to 69% of reference in 2005. The summer collections have dropped from 93% of reference conditions in 2001 to 60% of reference in 2005. The average collection from each of the seasons scores a B on a scale from A to D. While there is good diversity with many different taxa, this site is missing taxa and corresponding numbers of individuals from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies). With few exceptions, these insects are more sensitive to pollution than any other groups. As a stream deteriorates in quality, members of this group will be the first to disappear.

Bacteria Testing

Water from Tahlequah Town Branch at Spring Street has been tested for Escherichia coli sporadically over the past few summers. The amount of E. coli in the water in Town Branch was higher than expected. The numbers below represent colonies of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water.

7/26/2001 460 CFUs/100 mL 7/18/2002 548 CFUs/100 mL 8/22/2002 196 CFUs/100 mL 9/19/2002 2419 CFUs/100 mL 6/24/2004 770 CFUs/100 mL

Inconsistent levels are shown over the last five years; however anything over 400 is unfavorable.

Chemical Testing

DO. Dissolved oxygen saturation changes with the temperature of the water. By looking at the percent saturation, we can see when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little oxygen can cause aquatic animals to die. Too much oxygen is an indicator that there are wide swings in the amount of oxygen available during a 24 hour period. This is often caused by algae in the water. The following data points fell outside the normal range of percent oxygen saturation.

10/11/2001 43%

8/7/2001 140% 8/28/2001 130% 3/25/2003 136% 8/28/2003 140%

pH. pH in the State of Oklahoma is normal between 6.5 and 9. While the pH averages 7 in Tahlequah Town Branch, it dropped to 6.5 on 11/1/2001 and to 5.5 on 3/25/2003.

Nitrogen. An estimate of soluble nitrogen was made by adding the amounts of ammonia- nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen found in the water. Ideally, the level should remain below 0.8 mg/L nitrogen. It becomes a matter of concern when it is above 1.5 mg/L nitrogen. The soluble nitrogen in Town Branch was only below 0.8 mg/L nitrogen twice and was 1.5 mg/L nitrogen or more 75% of the times the creek was monitored between 2001 and 2006.

Phosphorus. The amount of phosphorus allowed in Oklahoma’s Scenic Rivers, including the Illinois River, is 0.037 mg/L. The amount of orthophosphate phosphorus found in Town Branch was only below that level four times between 2001 and 2006 and was greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/L four times.

9/24/2003 0.10 mg/L P 3/25/2004 0.15 mg/L P 4/29/2004 0.12 mg/L P 11/30/2004 0/14 mg/L P

Chloride. Chloride levels in Town Branch average 14 mg/L.

Synopsis

Tahlequah Town Branch at Spring Street is a beautiful, clear stream with a fairly healthy physical habitat. Water chemistry shows increased levels of nutrients and high amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, which indicate possible algal growth. The macroinvertebrate community, while still reasonable, has been showing signs of degradation over the past five years. The taxa that are missing are the sensitive mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies. As the density of aquatic invertebrates decreases, the standing crop of algae increases. In 2001 limited numbers of individuals and fish species were collected and there were none of the insectivorous minnows that should dominate a healthy stream. E. coli levels in the stream are higher than expected.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

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BT Monitoring Sites Taloka Creek: N 4430

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BT Urban Outreach Taloka Creek: N 4430 SE NE SE BT Volunteer Section 36-10N-20E Monitoring Haskell County N 35° 17.747’ W 95° 7.984’ WBID#: 220300-00-0020M

The site on Taloka Creek is located just two miles north of Stigler, Oklahoma, in Haskell County. It is in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion. The creek runs from southeast to northwest and drains an area of about 25 square miles into the Canadian River. The landuse in the watershed is mostly agricultural, though Taloka Creek receives drainage from several strip mines.

The monitoring site is located where N 4430 Road crosses the creek. There is a small riparian area of natural vegetation left on the banks of the creek that provides very good shade for the water. The banks are fairly stable and are covered with vegetation in most places, though cattle have access to the stream and their trails are causing some erosion. There is moderate variety in pool depths, though the bottom of the stream has very soft sediments indicating that there is erosion upstream. A loose shifting pool bottom will not provide substrate for burrowing organisms and will not allow bottom-spawning fish to successfully spawn. There are lots of branches in the water from past ice storms. These make walking difficult but provide wonderful hiding places for fish. This portion of the stream is quite straight and the during the habitat assessment on August 3, 2007, there was low flow. The habitat at Taloka Creek received a score of 69. The average high quality stream in this ecoregion has a score of 104.

On August 3, 2007 at Taloka Creek various types of fish were collected; 263 fish of 18 different species were caught. Six species out of the total 18 species were sunfish: Green Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Bluegill Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, the Spotted Bass, and the Largemouth Bass. There were also two species of darters; they were the Bluntnose Darter and Logperch. There were only two types of intolerant species, the Spotted Sucker and the Bluntnose Darter. Intolerant species are the first to disappear when the creek is affected by pollution or habitat loss. Taloka Creek is 73% as good as high quality streams in this http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Taloka_Creek:_N_4430.html[9/27/2011 2:32:12 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Taloka Creek: N 4430

ecoregion. Its condition is a category C, which means that the intolerant and sensitive species are rare or absent.

Benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs) were collected from woody debris in the summer of 2007. There were 13 different taxa, but only 3 taxa were the sensitive mayflies, stoneflies or caddisflies and there were not many sensitive individuals. This collection is 60% as good as collections from high quality streams in this ecoregion. Its condition is graded B.

Water chemistry was tested monthly between September 2006 and September 2008. The median oxygen saturation during this time was 55%. This falls in a caution range. This could be from the low flow of water in the creek and the fact that it is mostly pooled without rocky runs and riffles. The rest of the chemical results are all within normal ranges. The median pH is 8. The median soluble nitrogen is 0.68 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus is usually below the detection level of the test. The median chloride is 15 mg/L Cl.

Bacteria were tested twice during the summer of 2007. Both times the E. coli values were low, which means the water is clean enough for swimming.

Taloka Creek is located in Haskell County just north of Stigler in eastern Oklahoma. It runs from east to west and drains about 25 square miles of agricultural land and strip mines. The creek is very shady with only a little band of trees along the bank. The water depth varies, but there is soft sediment on the bottom of the creek. The habitat is 66% as good as what is found in high quality streams in the Arkansas Valley ecoregion. There were 263 fish from 18 different species caught by seining on August 3, 2007. Only two intolerant species of fish were found in the creek. The fish collection gives Taloka Creek a C. Bugs were collected from woody debris in the summer of 2007. Only 3 of 13 species were sensitive and there were not many sensitive individuals. The bug collection gives Taloka Creek a B. Water chemistry is well with normal levels except for the percent dissolved oxygen which is quite low (55%). The low oxygen level could be caused by the fact that this is a low flow stream. Bacteria was tested twice and E. coli levels indicate the water was found to be safe for swimming. Our testing has not identified specific chemical problems with Taloka Creek aside from the oxygen saturation, but it is clear the creek is suffering from habitat loss. Both of the biological collections indicate the creek is losing the intolerant and sensitive species.

By Helen Talaese

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Taloka_Creek:_N_4430.html[9/27/2011 2:32:12 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Walnut Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Walnut Creek: Purcell

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BT Urban Outreach NE1/4 NE1/4 NW1/4

BT Volunteer Section 13-6N-2W Monitoring McClain County, OK

Latitude N 34° 59’ 56.94”

Longitude W 97° 21’ 44.7”

WBID#: OK520610-03-0010E

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review – 1 December 2007

Written by: Jack C. McNeely

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Walnut Creek is a multi-forked stream, draining a watershed basin of approximately 200 square miles in the Central Great Plains ecoregion of central Oklahoma. Land use in the basin is diverse; agriculture row crops, unimproved ranchland, urban runoff. For most of the year the stream is fed by various springs in the basin and rarely runs dry. However, spring runoff can result in severe downstream flooding and scouring of the 40 to 50 yard wide stream channel.

The monitoring site is located in the city of Purcell, approximately 1 mile upstream from where Walnut Creek empties into the South Canadian River. The site was selected due to its ease of access and lack of human disturbance. Access to the privately owned site was granted by a local sand and gravel/cement company located 400 yards upstream.

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

During the time of monitoring, the stream channel was of sandy composition and lined with http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Walnut_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:13 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Walnut Creek

streamside cover consisting of many small (6-12ft.) willow and cottonwood trees. A habitat assessment carried out during the summer of 2006 (8/8/2006) resulted in an overall score of 51.5. The average of high quality streams within the Central Great Plains ecoregion resulted in a habitat score of 77.6. This assessment on Walnut Creek showed good bank stability and streamside cover, but only moderate instream cover, canopy cover shading and bank vegetation stability. The sandy creek bottom is very unstable for fish spawning as well as for benthic macroinvertebrate habitat. The presence of new point bars shows how prone Walnut Creek is to altering its flow within its sandy creek bed. Rocky riffles would be highly beneficial for the biological community but there is no presence of riffles. There were one or two small areas that were knee to waist deep but the majority of the creek at this time was ankle deep, insufficient habitat for medium and large fish. Walnut Creek from the monitoring point down to the river is rather straight with very few and gradual curves. Stream flow was rated poor, but was measured at the lowest flow because of drought that the stream had shown in two years of monitoring.

Biological Conditions

Fish

Collection of fish species present in the monitoring site area was accomplished by seining 400 meters downstream of the sampling site. Out of 2,417 total fish captured, fourteen species of fish were identified, of which twelve were tolerant species and two were intermediate insectivores. Species included red shiners, sand shiners (intermediate tolerance), bullhead minnow, river carpsucker, black bullhead catfish, channel catfish, plains killifish, mosquito fish (predominant), brook silverside (intermediate tolerance), green sunfish, warmouth sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish and largemouth bass. Of the entire collection 87% was tolerant to pollution. No intolerant species nor sensitive benthic species (darters, madtoms, sculpins) were found. The minnow population from this fish collection was very low. However, it was very good to find five species of sunfish. When compared to the average of high quality sites in the Central Great Plains ecoregion, Walnut Creek scored a D+ (58%).

Note: Due to the abnormal drought conditions when the one fish sample was taken (8/8/2006), many of the fish observed in the stream were under stress conditions due to low water levels and higher than normal water temperature (37°C or 99°F). Future samples, taken under normal stream conditions, will most certainly show different results.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from streamside vegetation just upstream of the monitoring site. Two samples were taken over a period of six months, one in winter (1/23/2006) and one in summer (7/17/2006). The winter sampling collected 14 various taxa (Oligochaeta, Amphipoda, Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Basommatophora) having a modified Hilsenhoff biotic index of 6.81, a modified North Carolina biotic index of 5.97 and a Shannon-Weaver diversity index of 2.64. The modified Hilsenhoff biotic index is a measure of the invertebrate community’s tolerance to organic pollution. It ranges between 0 and 10, with 0 being the most pollution sensitive. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index measures the evenness of the species distribution. It increases as more and more taxa are found in the collection and as individual taxa become less dominant. This metric increases with increasing biotic quality.

The summer sampling collected 12 various taxa (Haplotaxida, Amphipoda, Coleoptera, Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata and Basommatophora) having a modified Hilsenhoff biotic index of 6.88, a modified North Carolina biotic index of 6.97 and a Shannon-Weaver diversity index of 2.94.

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Walnut_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:13 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Walnut Creek

For comparison, the Shannon-Weaver diversity average for high quality streams in the Central Great Plains ecoregion are 1.12 for winter and 2.12 for summer. These high quality sites averaged 10 various taxa for winter and 16 various taxa for summer. Walnut Creek has received excellent scores but is lacking in EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) which are the mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies respectively. These insects are more sensitive to pollution. This rated Walnut Creek a “B” (80%) for winter and an “A” (92%) for summer benthic macroinvertbrate conditions.

Bacteria Testing

Bacterial counts of Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms were taken during the summer months of July, August and September in 2006. Escherichia coli counts were 100, 400 and 400 CFU/100 ml respectively. Fecal coliforms were 13,600 CFU/100 ml, 23,600 CFU/100ml and “too numerous to count” respectively. Clearly, the number of Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms increased as the summer progressed. This bacterial increase can be attributed to a nearby rancher’s introduction of cattle into the streambed area for water, and their subsequent deposition of animal waste into the stream during the sampling period. In addition, the increase in the water temperature during this time would facilitate bacterial growth.

Chemical Testing

The following chemical data were collected monthly between 8/27/2005 and 1/28/2007.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO):

Dissolved oxygen saturation shows when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little or too much are indicatorsof problems. Chemical data show that the DO saturation levels at the sampling site ranged from a low of 82% in the winter months to a high of over 150% during the summer. Photosynthetic activity and high water temperatures are the primary causes of the high DO saturation levels in the stream during the summer months. The mean DO saturation level at the sampling site was 122%. This is within the normal range of 80% to 130%.

pH (Hydrogen ion concentration):

Hydrogen ion concentration levels at the sampling site varied from 7.7 to 9.0, with a mean pH of 8.0. The stream water is slightly basic (7.0 being neutral), but is well within pH limits for normal biological activity.

Nitrogen:

An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen found in the water. Levels of soluble nitrogen were normally in the 0 to 1 mg/L range with a mean level of 0.68 mg/L. Nitrogen level spikes of up to 4.30 mg/L were detected during the months of July and August 2006. This was attributed to runoff from a fertilizer application on a newly cultivated field alongside the stream, one mile upstream of the sample site. Nitrogen levels declined through September to pre-fertilizer application “below detectable limit” levels.

Orthophosphate Phosphorous:

Phosphorous amounts in the stream were determined by detecting the level of orthophosphate. http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Walnut_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:13 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Walnut Creek

Normal ranges between 0.00 mg/L P and 0.05 mg/L P. The levels of orthophosphate at the sampling site ranged between 0.00 mg/L P and 1.06 mg/L P, with the mean level at 0.105 mg/L P. Correlations to the higher readings could have included increased activity at the cement plant upstream. Runoff from the materials used at the plant could have possibly been the cause for the elevated readings in the stream. The lowest readings were taken during the months of November thru March. The cement plant does not make, pour and/or clean out much concrete from their trucks during these months. Increased stream temperatures could also have affected the readings.

Chloride:

Chloride levels measured in the stream ranged between 10 mg/L Cl and 120 mg/L Cl, with a mean level of 35 mg/L Cl. The highest reading came during the same month (July, 2006) as the major fertilizer application located one mile upstream on a newly cultivated field next to Walnut Creek. As with the nitrogen levels, the chloride levels quickly declined through September to pre-fertilizer application levels of 35 mg/L Cl.

Surprisingly, the chemical condition of Walnut Creek appeared to be in much better condition than was anticipated, considering that the monitoring site is at the bottom end of the drainage basin. Also, the stream was very resilient in its ability to deal with large one-time amounts of various man-made materials introduced into its ecosystem.

Synopsis

Overall, the condition of Walnut Creek during the sampling period of 8/27/2005 to 1/28/2007 ranged from poor to good. The chemical condition of the water was within normal limits except during a severe drought that brought the level of the stream to its lowest level in 35 years (according to landowners living along the stream). This led to abnormally high water temperatures and subsequently high percent oxygen saturation readings. Unfortunately, this was when the physical habitat and fish assessment was carried out. Biologically, Walnut Creek showed good to excellent benthic macroinvertebrate activity. It also showed good bank stability and streamside cover. Instream cover, canopy cover shading and bank vegetation stability was fair. However, due to Walnut Creek’s constantly shifting sandy bottom, intolerant fish and benthic macroinvertebrate species have little to no instream protection or permanent habitat. In addition, poor pool variability, constant channel alteration and poor stream sinuosity, as well as the lack of rocky runs or riffles resulted in a habitat assessment score of 51.5 out of a possible 180 for this ecoregion. Walnut Creek’s physical habitat could be one of the major limiting factors for these intolerant biologic species.

Unfortunately, during June of 2007, several heavy rains (10+ inches) over the Walnut Creek drainage basin resulted in stream flood levels of 30 feet above normal levels, with stream widths up to ¼ mile wide throughout the sampling area. All instream vegetation was scoured from the stream channel, and stream banks were eroded to the point where much of the canopy cover shading (provided by large trees such as cottonwood and willow trees) was washed away. Pools provided by beaver dams at several locations along the stream were also destroyed. The once picturesque stream now looks like a war zone, with piles of broken branches and debris alongside a radically changed stream channel. Although the stream is flowing strongly, it will take some time for Walnut Creek and its inhabitants to return to normal conditions. Future samplings may indicate similar water quality, as the geochemistry of the area has not changed. However, biological conditions will more than likely be drastically different from the samples given in this report.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Walnut_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:13 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Walnut Creek

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Walnut_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:13 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT West Cache Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites West Cache Creek

BT Outreach West Cache Creek: Boulder Picnic Area BT Urban Outreach SE NE SW BT Volunteer Section 28-3N-14W Monitoring Comanche County Lat N 34° 42’ 0.1” Long W 98° 40’ 39.6” WBID OK311310-02-0140T

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review - December 13, 2006

Description of Watershed and Monitoring Site

Starting in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge from Comanche Lake and Kiowa Lake (in the Special Use Area), flowing south into the public use area under highway 49 just north of the Refuge Headquarters, West Cache Creek travels through rural wildlife area to the monitoring site at Boulder Picnic Area. From there it continues its southeast flow through the refuge, through Ft. Sill’s Quanah Range, through the small town of Cache, and then more rural land to eventually meet with the Red River. The monitored site is located in the Central Great Plains ecoregion of Oklahoma, but is considered to be a subset because the streams have courser substrates, higher gradients, and less turbidity then elsewhere in the area (resulting in a distinctive group of fish species including the logperch, Oklahoma’s largest darter.)

Stream Condition & Habitat Overview

This part of the state has been in drought conditions for several years and the site on West Cache Creek consisted of one large pool for the entire 400 m of habitat assessment. Even with no flow and no rocky runs or riffles, this stream had better habitat than the average high quality stream in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. There was plenty of stable instream cover (rocks and woody debris) and the banks are covered with vegetation alternating with bare rock. There is not much canopy cover because the creek is so wide in this reach that though the edges are shaded, the middle of the stream gets direct sun most of the day.

http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_West_Cache_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:15 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT West Cache Creek

Biological Conditions

Fish

A fish collection on 9/27/2005 yielded many fish (708) but few species (7). The collection was missing sensitive benthic species (like darters), intolerant species, and insectivorous minnows. There were six different sunfish species: green sunfish, warmouth sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass. This is partially due to the difficulty of seining in rocks and woody debris in clear water and partially due to the fact that there was only one habitat – a pool. The missing species dropped the metric score for West Cache Creek to 50% of reference conditions.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates (bugs)

Because of the drought and the fact that macroinvertebrates must be collected in flowing water, they have been collected only twice from West Cache Creek. The summer 2003 collection was made from streamside vegetation. The winter 2005 collection was made from a rocky riffle. In both cases, the collections are comparable to the best situation expected within the Central Great Plains ecoregion.

Chemical Testing

Oxygen. Dissolved oxygen saturation changes with the temperature of the water. By looking at the percent saturation, we can see when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little oxygen can cause aquatic animals to die. Too much oxygen is an indicator that there are wide swings in the amount of oxygen available during a 24 hour period. Generally the oxygen saturation level in West Cache Creek is good. It follows the natural summer/winter undulation, yet several readings (listed below) are lower than ideal. Drought conditions alter water depth and flow, contributing to the low readings.

10/29/2003 64% 11/25/2003 73% 1/27/2004 79% 9/29/2004 35% 7/27/2005 140% 10/26/2005 70% 12/1/2005 54% 12/28/2005 55% 1/26/2005 70% 2/23/2006 67%

pH. pH in the state of Oklahoma is normally between 6.5 and 9. All the readings are within that range with no drastic surges. Two readings are at the top end of that range (9.0) and one falls at the bottom (6.75). Others fall within the mid range.

Nitrogen. An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen found in the water. Ideally nitrogen should be below 0.08 mg/L. Only one reading (11/25/03) is above 1.5 mg/L N, but no conclusions can be drawn from it.

11/25/2003 4.0 mg/L N 1/27/2004 0.10 mg/L N 2/23/2005 0.20 mg/L N 8/22/2005 0.20 mg/L N 9/29/2005 0.20 mg/L N http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_West_Cache_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:15 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT West Cache Creek

12/1/2005 0.20 mg/L N 12/28/2005 0.20 mg/L N

Ammonia. Twice in the latter part of the reviewed data have readings been above the detection level of our test. These readings are well within an acceptable range, but it would be interesting to follow up and see where the readings went from there.

Phosphorus. Orthophosphate phosphorus levels are all very low.

Chloride. There are very low amount of chloride. The readings are well within the acceptable range.

Synopsis

West Cache Creek flows through predominately rural areas. Much of the watershed is in federal government land that is protected from population growth or habitat alteration. The remainder of the watershed is rural. The habitat is excellent. The fish collection is missing several species, but they are not often found in pooled areas. The benthic macroinvertebrate collections indicate West Cache Creek is comparable to the best situation expected in the Central Great Plains ecoregion. Drought conditions the last few years have had effects on flow and vegetation, but overall the stream appears to be healthy.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/.../Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_West_Cache_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:15 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wewoka Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Wewoka Creek: Lima (N3610)

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BT Urban Outreach NW NW NW

BT Volunteer Section 16-8N-7E Monitoring Seminole County

N 35°10’19.9”

W 96°34’54”

WBID#: OK520500-02-0010Q

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review: 8 February 2008

Written by: Chrysti Bruner

The headwaters of Wewoka Creek start near Earlsboro in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma. The creek runs SE through the southern part of Seminole County to New Lima where we sample. From there, it continues east until it flows into the North Canadian River a few miles East of Wetumka, Oklahoma. The sample site is located in the Lower North Canadian Watershed and is in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The land usage around Wewoka Creek is mainly agricultural, including farmland and crops, with several small communities within the watershed. Wewoka Creek receives two point sources of treated effluent from waste water treatment plants operated by the cities of Seminole and Wewoka.

Wewoka Creek has a fairly straight channel with good canopy cover for shade and moderate bank vegetation which contributes to the banks’ stability. Canopy cover is provided by various types of trees. There is good variability between deep and shallow pools. The pool bottoms are not stable, but there are not many point bars forming. The creek is apparently used by livestock from surrounding properties. The most recent habitat assessment resulted in a metric score of 87, which is better than the average high quality stream in the Cross Timbers ecoregion.

Water chemistry at Wewoka Creek has been tested 16 times between 7/29/2003 and

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wewoka_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:16 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wewoka Creek

4/17/2007. The water test results are as follows:

Dissolved oxygen saturation changes with the temperature of the water. By looking at the percent saturation, we can see when there are problems with the amount of oxygen available in the water for aquatic life. Too little oxygen can cause aquatic animals to die. Too much oxygen is an indicator that there are wide swings in the amount of oxygen available during a 24 hour period. While the median value for dissolved oxygen saturation in Wewoka Creek is 83.5 % (and in the normal range), there have been times when it is a bit too high or too low, possibly indicating a problem with algae. The following values are outside the normal range (80% - 130%):

10/31/2005 60%

11/21/2005 75%

12/27/2005 70%

6/8/2006 140%

7/3/2006 132%

2/8/2007 70%

4/17/2007 66%

pH in the State of Oklahoma is normal between 6.5 and 9. The median value for pH at Wewoka Creek is 8.15.

An estimate of soluble nitrogen is made by adding the amounts of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen found in the water. The normal range is less than 0.8 mg/L N. The median value for Wewoka Creek is 1.1 mg/L N. The following values are above the normal range (0.8 mg/L N):

7/29/2003 2.8 mg/L N

7/29/2004 2.9 mg/L N

11/21/2005 1.0 mg/L N

5/30/2006 1.2 mg/L N

7/3/2006 1.7 mg/L N

1/23/2007 2.3 mg/L N

2/8/2007 2.4 mg/L N

3/28/2007 2.4 mg/L N

4/17/2007 2.4 mg/L N

Orthophosphate phosphorus is another nutrient. Most of the Blue Thumb streams in the state have values below 0.05 mg/L P. The median value for Wewoka Creek is 0.3 mg/L P. Only 3 of the values were in the normal range, all of the others were higher.

7/29/2003 0.187 mg/L P

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wewoka_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:16 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wewoka Creek

7/29/2004 1.4 mg/L P

11/21/2005 1.6 mg/L P

12/27/2005 1.6 mg/L P

4/27/2006 1.467 mg/L P

5/30/2006 1.333 mg/L P

6/8/2006 1.567 mg/L P

7/3/2006 0.3 mg/L P

12/27/2006 0.053 mg/L P

3/28/2007 0.107 mg/L P

Chloride is higher at Wewoka than any other site monitored by Blue Thumb in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. The median value is 380 mg/L Cl.

Water chemistry indicates a problem with oxygen saturation in Wewoka Creek. While the median value is within the normal range, much of the time, the oxygen saturation is a little too high or a little too low. This indicates a swing in the amount of oxygen available in the water during a 24 hour period. The nutrients are considerably higher than in other creeks monitored by Blue Thumb. These nutrients could be causing algae blooms which would affect the oxygen saturation. There is no indication whether the nutrients and chloride are coming from agricultural practices or from the water treatment plants or something else.

Fish have been collected twice at Wewoka Creek, in 2004 and in 2006. The 2006 collection resulted in 19 species, including 7 species of sunfish: green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, bluegill sunfish, longear sunfish, largemouth bass and white crappie. 13% of the sample was the intermediate tolerance insectivore, the sand shiner. There were 11 individuals of one intolerant fish, the suckermouth minnow. The metric score for Wewoka Creek was 73% of the average high quality reference conditions in the ecoregion, a C. The difference in the scores is due to a lack of sensitive benthic species (darters, madtoms and sculpins) and only one intolerant fish collected. The types of fish in this location tell us there is a little problem but not sure whether it is chemical or habitat.

Benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) have been collected in winter and summer index periods since the summer of 2003 from rocky riffles when available and otherwise from woody debris. In both sets of collections Wewoka Creek does not have as many taxa as the average high quality stream in the ecoregion and has only about half the number of the sensitive mayfly, stonefly and caddisfly taxa (EPT). The metric scores for the bug collections indicate Wewoka Creek receives a B in comparison with the reference streams.

Wewoka Creek has excellent habitat for the Cross Timbers ecoregion and this part of the state. The water chemistry indicates there is a problem with nutrients and chloride and the oxygen saturation sometimes swings from low to high. The bugs are doing reasonably well, though species richness is less than expected due to loss of some intolerant forms. The fish are suffering a bit more: intolerant species are rare or absent. This may be due to an unstable stream bottom in addition to the chemistry.

Wewoka Creek is an excellent target for landowner education about best management practices that can protect the creek. Additionally, the community at large might make the communities of Seminole and Wewoka aware that they care about the quality of the sewage treatment plants.

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wewoka_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:16 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wewoka Creek

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...tion/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wewoka_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:16 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wolf Creek: McMahon

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BT Urban Outreach Wolf Creek: McMahon Soccer Park NW SE NW BT Volunteer Section 2-1N-12W Monitoring Comanche County N 34° 35.439’ W 98° 26.096’ WBID#: OK 311300-02-0040M Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review

Wolf Creek is located in Lawton, Oklahoma in Comanche County which is within the Central Great Plains ecoregion. The Central Great Plains is by far the largest ecoregion in the state. The creek drains part of Lawton and part of Fort Sill. The watershed (drainage area) of this creek is about thirty-five square miles. The location where the water samples are taken is Louise D. McMahon Soccer Park on the south side of Lawton.

Wolf Creek has an excellent amount of shading from trees left along the banks. It also has a high food source coming into it from the grasses and shrubs that are along the banks, although the vegetation stability on the bank is not as good as it should be. There are some places in the stream that provide structure for fishes and insects to hide beneath, behind, and even within. The bank stability is fair; there is quite a bit of loose sediment on the bottom of the creek. There is little flow with hardly any difference in water depth throughout the stretch of creek assessed. The creek doesn’t have many curves, it seems to follow a straight line and not deviate from that line much. The habitat in Wolf Creek received a total score of 46. The average high quality stream in the Central Great Plains ecoregion has a score of 78.

Fish were collected by seining on August 9, 2007. There were actually more different species of fish collected than are found in the average high quality streams in the ecoregion, however there were no sensitive benthic species found at all. There were eighteen different species caught in this creek: six different species of sunfish (Green sunfish, Orangespotted sunfish, Bluegill sunfish, Longear sunfish, Redear sunfish and Largemouth bass), and one intolerant species (Suckermouth minnow) caught. The condition of this creek was ranked B when compared to high quality creeks in the same ecoregion, which means that there was decreased species richness, especially to the sensitive species. http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wolf_Creek:_McMahon.html[9/27/2011 2:32:17 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Wolf Creek: McMahon

In the summer of 2007 benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) were collected from woody debris. While the total number of species was not quite as good as the high quality streams, there were almost as many sensitive species and the number of sensitive individuals was considerably higher. In addition, the diversity of the collection was better than reference conditions. The condition of the bugs was ranked at an A when compared to high quality creeks in the same ecoregion; this means that the creek is comparable to the best situation expected within the ecoregion. This creek has a balanced trophic and community structure for stream size.

Water chemistry was tested only four times in 2007. Everything tested was within normal ranges except the orthophosphate phosphorus (median value 0.05 mg/L P) was in the caution range half of the times it was tested. The oxygen saturation for this creek has a median of 113.5% and can range higher than 120% and occasionally lower than 100%. A normal oxygen saturation range is between 80% and 120%. The pH of the water has a median 7.75 and ranges from 7.5 to 8.0. Neutral pH is 7.0. The soluble nitrogen level of the creek is .68 mg/L N. The chloride level has a median of 45 mg/L Cl and occasional reaches up to 80 mg/L Cl.

Wolf Creek is located in south Lawton in Comanche County. It is in the Central Great Plains, one of the biggest ecoregions of the state. The watershed for this creek is about thirty-five square miles. The creek has a low flow and doesn’t divert much off of a straight course. There is little water depth variation and quite a lot of sediment built up on the bottom of the creek. Though there were many fish there was a lack of sensitive fish. This caused the fish condition to be ranked at a B; there was decreased species richness, especially to the sensitive species. The bug condition for the summer of 2007 produced many of the sensitive bug species. The bug condition was ranked at an A, meaning that the creek was comparable to the best situation expected within an ecoregion. The chemistry was found to be suitable with phosphorous being a bit high at times. Wolf Creek is your average creek. With some care and consideration for this creek the chemical quality and biological community could do very well.

By Helen Talaese

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Wolf_Creek:_McMahon.html[9/27/2011 2:32:17 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Woods Creek

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BT Monitoring Sites Woods Creek

BT Outreach SE NW NW BT Urban Outreach Section 34-3N-23E BT Volunteer LeFlore County Monitoring N 34.6927° W 94.8824° WBID#: OK410310-02-0050D

Blue Thumb Volunteer Monitoring Data Review, May 2009 Written by Julia White and Brittany Carroll

The Woods Creek watershed drains approximately 6 square miles in southern LeFlore County in southern Oklahoma. The creek originates in the Winding Stair Mountains which are part of the Ouachita National Forest and flows in a north to south direction. The watershed is located in a sparsely populated area which includes a small rural town and a school.

The habitat assessment score for the June 8, 2007, sample was 90.74. The corresponding average score for the high quality streams in the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion was 118.8. The monitoring site was characterized by a high degree of canopy shade and vegetation along the sides of the stream. Submerged rocks and boulders in rocky runs and riffles provide a high degree of turbulence as water moves through the creek which in turn causes the water to be well oxygenated. These same rocks with gravel, small woody debris, and aquatic vegetation provide structure under the water surface that offers great hiding places for fish. There was not a great deal of variance in the depth of pools within the stream, but the bottoms of those pools had only a moderate amount of sediment which can limit the habitat for pool-dwelling fish. The presence of newly formed point bars and islands indicated some erosion upstream. In this reach, the creek is fairly straight. While Woods Creek does not score as well as the high quality streams, it seems fairly stable and should provide habitat for aquatic animals.

Fish were collected by seining June 8, 2007. The total number of species collected in Woods Creek was eight. Only one benthic species, the Redfin darter, was captured. This darter was also the only intolerant species found. Three species of sunfish were collected; the Largemouth bass, the Bluegill sunfish, and the Longear sunfish. The proportion of tolerant http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Woods_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:18 PM] Oklahoma Conservation Commission - BT Woods Creek

species was 4.8% while the central stoneroller (intermediate tolerance) made up 90% of the sample. The Redfin shiner, the Blackspotted topminnow, and the Redfin darter made up the remaining fish. The average high quality stream in the Ouachita Mountains has 18 species, 6 benthic species, 5 species of sunfish, 5 intolerant species and it takes 5 species to make up 75% of the sample. The Woods Creek sample is 67% as good as the average high quality stream. It gets a grade of C which means that intolerant and sensitive species are rare or absent.

Collection of benthic macroinvertebrates (bugs) took place in the winters of 2005 and 2007, and summer 2007. These time periods represent seasons of relative community stability providing an opportunity for meaningful site comparisons. Samples were taken from areas of rocky riffles at the monthly monitoring site. Taxa richness, which refers to the total number of different species, decreased from 21 in winter 2005, to 15 in winter 2007, and to 11 in summer of 2007. The corresponding Ouachita Mountain average was 19. The number of sensitive species and the number of sensitive individuals also dropped over the years. The total metric scores for Woods Creek went from 121% of the average high quality stream in winter 2005 to 71% in winter 2007 to 47% in summer 2007. Something seems to be happening to affect Woods Creek.

The chemical monitoring assessments on Woods Creek were done on a monthly basis beginning in December 2004 and November 2008. The percent oxygen saturation is healthy with a median value at 95%, which is normal. The pH is slightly low at 6.5, but still within a normal range. The soluble nitrogen is normal at 0.68 mg/L N. The orthophosphate phosphorus is 0.01 mg/L P, which measures up well with the other creeks in this ecoregion. The chloride, at 10 mg/L Cl, is lower than some of the neighboring creeks. The water chemistry field screening is completely normal. Woods Creek has been monitored for E.coli four times; July 2007, Aug. 2007, Sep. 2007, and July 2008. The creek only had a reading above a 400 colony forming units per 100 mL water once in September 2007. It was 440 CFUs/100 mL. If the count reaches above a 400 the creek is unsafe for swimming.

Woods Creek is a beautiful stream. There is plenty of canopy shade to help keep the water cool, and enough instream cover to offer the creatures that live there protection. The habitat score indicates that there are some changes taking place in the stream. There are still some intolerant species that live in the stream. If there were many pollutants these fish and bugs would be the first to die out, due to their sensitivity. The streams’ bug population appears to be in decline. Water chemistry is normal. Woods Creek has had only one instance where the E.coli count was over 400, which was in September 2007. When compared with the average high quality stream, Woods Creek is showing some stress. There is not a high diversity of species, as would like to be seen, but there are still some of the more sensitive species. This shows that the stream is not heavily polluted, since these species would be the first to die out. Woods Creek would be a good place to work with landowners in the watershed to try to figure out what is happening that is affecting the creek. The stream is still in moderate shape and it should be fairly easy to make a few changes that would protect the stream and help it become one of the high quality streams in the ecoregion.

Last Modified on 08/31/2011

http://www.ok.gov/...ation/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Blue_Thumb/BT_Data_Interpretations/BT_Woods_Creek.html[9/27/2011 2:32:18 PM]