Section 319
NDNPDINT SBIHE* PROGRAM SUCCESS STDRY
Installation of BMPs Results in Turbidity Delisting
Waterbodv Improved
High turbidity, due in part to practices associated with
wheat, cattle, and corn production, resulted in impairment
of Mission 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 Mission Creek be removed from
Oklahoma's 2010 CWA section 303(d) list for turbidity impairment. Mission Creek now
partially attains its fish and wildlife propagation designated use.
Problem
Mission Creek (Figure 1) stretches just over 18 miles
through Osage County in northeastern Oklahoma,
an area of high cattle and wheat production as well
as some corn and poultry. Poor grazing land and
cropland management contributed to excess sedi-
mentation in the watershed. In the 2004 and 2008
water quality assessments, monitoring showed that
16 percent and 14 percent, respectively, of Mission
Creek's seasonal baseflow water samples exceed-
ed 50 nephelometric turbidity 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 assess-
ment results, Oklahoma added the entire length of
Mission 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.
Figure 1. Mission Creek is in northeastern Oklahoma.
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 Mission Creek watershed is included
in a tribal EQIP program focused on reducing erosion
on grazing lands. From 2004 to 2007, prescribed
grazing was implemented on 5,897 acres, with two
ponds installed for alternative water supply. Pasture
and hay planting occurred on 34 acres. Landowners
improved upland wildlife habitat management
on 1,800 acres. Brush management occurred on
approximately 2,300 acres, and weed management
was applied on 412 acres. This watershed is included
in a new NRCS no-till initiative for Oklahoma, so the
observed improvement in water quality is expected
to continue as erosion from cropland is reduced.
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission's edu-
cation program, Blue Thumb, has eight actively
monitored sites in Osage County. Educational
programs have been offered by Blue Thumb staff
in the county as well. These activities provide vital
education of the residents of the watershed and
help facilitate behavior changes. Active volunteer
monitoring and education is continuing in the area.
Results
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission's Rotating
Basin Monitoring Program, a statewide nonpoint
source ambient monitoring program, documented
improved water quality in Mission Creek due to
landowners implementing BMPs. Because of the
implemented practices and the accompanying
education of landowners, turbidity decreased in
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the Mission Creek watershed. In the 2004 assess-
ment, 16 percent of seasonal base flow water
samples exceeded the turbidity criteria of 50 NTU.
This exceedance was reduced to 14 percent in the
2008 assessment and further reduced to 6 percent
in the 2010 assessment (Figure 2). Hence, Mission
Creek has been recommended for removal from
Oklahoma's CWA section 303(d) list for turbidity
impairment and now partially attains the fish and
wildlife propagation designated use.
Partners and Funding
Mission Creek Turbidity Levels
16%
100 ' exceedance
1-
1
jt
0-
2004
14% 6%
exceedance exceedance
/C ••
2008 2010
Assessment Year
Figure 2. Data show declining turbidity levels in
Mission Creek.
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 funding supports statewide education,
outreach, and monitoring efforts through the Blue
Thumb program. The Oklahoma cost-share program
provided $3,614 in state funding for BMPs in this
watershed through the Osage County Conservation
District, and landowners contributed $10,510
through this program. The NRCS spent approxi-
mately $376,433 for implementation of BMPs in
the watershed from 2004-2007. Implementation
is continuing, with $381,193 in BMPs obligated in
Oklahoma from 2007-2009 through EQIP and NRCS
general technical assistance funds. Landowners
provided a significant percentage toward BMP
implementation in these programs as well.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-11-001X
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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