Creek pollution fight spurs payment of owners nearby
Creek pollution fight in state spurs payment of owners nearby

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By John David Sutter

Published: June 11, 2008

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board voted Tuesday to fight water pollution by helping to pay landowners near Tulsa to stop using land that buffers two troubled creeks.

The program — which is being applied to Eucha and Spavinaw creeks and is intended to clean Tulsa's water supply — was touted by board members as the first of its kind in the nation.

The board's hope is that the unused land will filter out pollutants, such as bacteria and feces, which they said flush during heavy rains down into the creeks from animal farms and agriculture.

The buffer zones will be turned into permanent conservation easements, meaning the water board will finance loans so the city of Tulsa can pay willing property owners not to use the land again.

One board member, Richard Sevenoaks, of Tulsa, said the program could be used as a state model, including for the Illinois River, which has been called the "crown jewel” of the state's water resources, but doesn't meet clean water standards.

"It'll be nice — instead of responding to problems — to go up to the front and solve the problem,” he said.

What is being done?

Speaking after the meeting, the board's executive director, Duane Smith, said Oklahoma needs to up its efforts to combat water pollution in light of a state Department of Environmental Quality report that found all but five of the state's water bodies are polluted beyond federal standards.

He said water monitoring needs to be doubled by the state Legislature — from $1 million per year to $2 million.

Voluntary programs like the one passed Tuesday need to be expanded, Smith said, adding that cities will have to foot much of the bill for tracking down pollution from agriculture and general land use practices, which aren't permitted by the state.

The state loan to Tulsa is for $1.25 million, and matching funds will be sought from the federal government.

Related Topics: Environmental Protection, Nature and the Environment