Litter trashes activity on Oklahoma City rivers and lakes

BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
Published: December 1, 2008


File photo by Paul B. Southerland

Careless litter is certainly not a problem that is unique to Oklahoma City.

Advertisement

But people who use the city’s waterways would probably appreciate it if more discarded water bottles and burger wrappers made it to a trashcan instead of a gutter.

Now more than ever, especially on the Oklahoma River, the city’s bodies of water are becoming central to the area’s outdoor activity options.

If you check out one of the rivers or lakes in the metro area, it’s more than likely you’ll see someone boating, fishing or just hanging out.

"We’re reclaiming the Oklahoma River,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation. "It used to be a ditch. Now it’s a waterway that people use for fun.”

Trash still flowing
The system of ditches, creeks and rivers is still a primary debris-clearance route in Oklahoma City, said Mark Derichsweiler, an engineering manager in the water quality division of the state Department of Environmental Quality.

If you toss trash out of your car window, the chances are good it might end up in the river, or at least one of the debris barricades set up to try to catch litter before it gets to widely used areas.

The Oklahoma River, as with most waterways in the state, also fails quality standards for bacterial pollution, Derichsweiler said. But that doesn’t mean the river is unsafe.

Most people using the river for normal recreational activities, even swimming for a short time, are at little risk of getting sick from the water.

Many pollution sources, both bacterial and otherwise, on the river are from natural or industrial sources, Derichsweiler said.

But some things ordinary residents do contribute to the mess as well.

The main culprits are pet waste, improperly discarded fluids, like motor oil, and litter, Derichsweiler said.

To make sure you aren’t part of the problem, pick up after your pets — everywhere, including your own property — throw away trash and always properly dispose of hazardous or unnatural liquids.

"We can all be good stewards of the river, and that’s what most of the people who use it try to do,” Knopp said.

We’re reclaiming the Oklahoma River. It used to be a ditch. Now it’s a waterway

that people use for fun.”

Mike Knopp
executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation

Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Bookmark and Share


Your thoughts!

Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.

Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.

Leave a comment

Log in below or sign up (it's free).





What?! Snappy slogans put out by several governors and/or their wives hasn't cured the problem? Hey, at least we have a high number of prisoners to keep the roadways picked up.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Dec 1, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Lonnie, you're right. OKC is the trashiest city I've ever been in aside from Naples, Italy. I disagree that the trash barrels by them selves are to blame though. There's nothing to prevent people from not carelessly throwing their trash out the windows of their cars. They could take it home and dispose of it properly. They're just too trashy and lazy to do it the right way!
Jan, Oklahoma City - Dec 1, 2008 at 9:37 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Jan
My experience with OKLAHOMA TRASH, the trash barrels are full, never empty. OKLAHOMA need more trash barrels or current barrels need to be empted more often. Same for the trash that has been gathered, bagged along our Interstates and state highways. I help to gather trash on I-40 north and south shoulders starting at Choctaw Road. We pick up trash one mile west and east. I have seen the trash that we have gathered and bagged and left for pick up remain at pick up points for weeks. They become trash again. Lonnie Carlton,
Lonnie, Midwest City, - Dec 1, 2008 at 12:45 am