Section 319
NDNPDINT SBIHE* PROGRAM SUCCESS STDRY
Turbidity Improves Due to BMP Implementation Efforts
Waterbodv Improved
High turbidity, due in part to practices associated with cattle
and crop production, resulted in impairment of Dugout
Creek and placement on Oklahoma's Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list in 2004.
Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to promote better quality grazing
land and cropland decreased sediment loading into the creek. As a result, the Oklahoma
Conservation Commission has proposed that Dugout Creek be removed from Oklahoma's
2010 CWA section 303(d) list for turbidity impairment. Dugout Creek now fully attains its
fish and wildlife propagation designated use.
Problem
Dugout Creek stretches nearly 14 miles through
Lincoln and Payne counties in central Oklahoma, an
area of high cattle and wheat production as well as
some dairy and poultry production (Figure 1). Poor
grazing land and cropland management contributed
to excess sedimentation in the watershed. In the
2004 water quality assessment, monitoring showed
that 50 percent of Dugout Creek's seasonal base-
flow water samples exceeded 50 nephelometric tur-
bidity units (NTU). A stream is considered impaired
by turbidity if 10 percent or more of the seasonal
base flow water samples exceed 50 NTU (based
on 5 years of data before the assessment year). On
the basis of these assessment results, Oklahoma
added the entire length of Dugout Creek to the
2004 and subsequent CWA section 303(d) lists for
nonattainment of the fish and wildlife propagation
designated use due to turbidity impairment.
Project Highlights
Landowners implemented BMPs with assistance
from Oklahoma's locally led cost-share program and
through the local Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) and general technical assistance
program. The main focus of the NRCS programs was
grazing land improvement. To improve the condition
of pasture and rangeland, prescribed grazing was
implemented on 2,650 acres. Producers planted
forage on 74 acres, supplemented rangeland plants
on 114 acres, and improved upland wildlife habitat
management on 203 acres. Seventy-seven acres
received nutrient management plans, and 164 acres
received waste utilization improvements. Brush man-
agement occurred on approximately 471 acres, with
Figure 1. Dugout Creek is in Lincoln and Payne
counties.
prescribed burning on 265 acres, and weed manage-
ment was applied on 1,117 acres. From 2004 to 2007,
mulch-till implementation occurred on 207 acres,
with additional seasonal residue management on 169
acres. In contrast to traditional tillage, this type of
tillage retains soil moisture and reduces soil ero-
sion by decreasing the amount of soil exposed to
wind and rain. Further reducing erosion potential on
cropland, landowners installed 2 grade stabilization
structures, 5 acres of critical area planting, and 4
acres of grassed waterways. More recent conserva-
tion practices, installed after 2008, include 322 acres
of upland wildlife habitat enhancement, 70 additional
acres of mulch tillage, 636 acres of prescribed graz-
ing, 192 acres of forage management, and 153 acres
of brush management.
In addition, the Oklahoma Conservation
Commission's education program, Blue Thumb,
actively promoted programs in the Dugout Creek
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watershed starting in 2005. A groundwater screen-
ing and information session was held in Lincoln
County in addition to a volunteer training event held
in Payne County. These activities provide vital edu-
cation of the residents of the area and help facilitate
behavior changes. Volunteers are actively monitor-
ing eight sites in the two counties, and education is
continuing in the area.
Partners and Funding
Results
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission's Rotating
Basin Monitoring Program, a statewide nonpoint
source ambient monitoring program, documented
improved water quality in Dugout Creek due to
landowners implementing BMPs. Because of the
implemented practices and the accompanying
education of landowners, turbidity decreased in the
Dugout Creek watershed. In the 2004 assessment,
50 percent of seasonal base flow water samples
exceeded the turbidity criteria of 50 NTU. This
exceedance was reduced to 29 percent in the 2006
assessment and finally fell to 6 percent in the 2010
assessment (Figure 2). Hence, Dugout Creek has
been recommended for removal from Oklahoma's
CWA section 303(d) list for its turbidity impairment
and is now in full attainment of the fish and wildlife
propagation designated use.
The Rotating Basin Monitoring Program, which
includes both fixed and probabilistic components, is
funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) CWA section 319 program at
an average annual cost of $1 million. Monitoring
costs include personnel, supplies, and lab analysis
for 19 parameters from samples collected every
5 weeks at about 100 sites. In-stream habitat, fish
and macroinvertebrate samples are also collected.
Approximately $600,000 in EPA CWA section 319
funds supports statewide education, outreach, and
monitoring efforts through the Blue Thumb pro-
gram. The Oklahoma cost-share program provided
$9,618 in state funding for BMPs in this watershed
through the Lincoln County Conservation District,
and landowners contributed $8,528 through this
program. The NRCS spent approximately $232,494
for implementation of BMPs in the watershed
from 2004-2007. Implementation is continuing,
with $194,354 in BMPs obligated in Oklahoma
from 2008-2010 through EQIP and NRCS general
technical assistance funds. Landowners provided a
significant percentage toward BMP implementation
in these programs as well.
Dugout Creek Turbidity Levels
^ 400-
1 '<
•£ 100-
50-
50%
exceedance
•
/
• •
:%•
2004
29% 0%
exceedance exceedance
.
..*
M \
2006 2010
Assessment Year
Figure 2. Monitoring data showing reduction in turbidity levels in
Dugout Creek.
I
o
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-11-001U
March 2011
For additional information contact:
Shanon Phillips, Director
Water Quality Division
Oklahoma Conservation Commission
shanon.phillips@conservation.ok.gov
405-522-4500
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