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Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
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Installing BMPs Results in Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen Improvements
\AfetArhndv mnrnvpri High turbidity and low dissolved oxygen, due in part to practices
^	associated with wheat, cattle, and corn production, resulted in
impairment of Cooper Creek and placement on Oklahoma's Clean Water Act (CWA) section
303(d) list In 2006. Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to promote better
quality grazing land and cropland decreased sediment and nutrient runoff into the creek. As a
result, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission has proposed that Cooper Creek be removed
from Oklahoma's 2010 CWA section 303(d) list for turbidity and dissolved oxygen impairment.
Cooper Creek now fully attains its fish and wildlife propagation designated use.
Problem
Cooper Creek extends over 40 miles through Biaine
and Kingfisher counties in central Oklahoma, an
area of high cattle and wheat production as well as
some corn (Figure 1). Poor grazing land and cropland
management contributed to excess sedimentation
and nutrient runoff in the watershed. Excess nutri-
ents from runoff in the watershed may lead to the
overgrowth of nuisance algae, and the subsequent
breakdown of the algae may then cause dissolved
oxygen levels to decrease. In the 2006 and 2008
water quality assessments, monitoring showed that
16 percent of Cooper Creek's seasonal baseflow
water samples exceeded 50 nephelometric turbidity
units (NTU). A stream is considered impaired by tur-
bidity 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). In addition, 18 per-
cent of water samples included in the 2006 and
2008 assessments were below the dissolved oxygen
criterion of 5 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Impairment
results if more than 10 percent of samples fall below
the criterion (based on 5 years of data before the
assessment year). On the basis of these assessment
results, Oklahoma added the entire length of Cooper
Creek (40 miles) to the 2006 and subsequent CWA
section 303(d) lists for nonattainment of the fish and
wildlife propagation designated use due to turbidity
and dissolved oxygen impairments.

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 Cooper Creek watershed is part of
Figure 1. Oklahoma's Cooper Creek.
the EQIP Cheyenne-Arapahoe Local Emphasis
Area project which began in 2002 and focused on
reducing erosion by Improving cropland and graz-
ing land. From 2003 to 2007, no-till, strip-tiii, and
mulch-til implementation occurred on 3,195 acres,
with conservation crop rotations on 1,529 acres. In
contrast to traditional tillage, these "conservation
tillage" methods retain soil moisture and reduce soil
erosion by decreasing the amount of soil exposed to
wind and rain. Further reducing erosion potential on
cropland, landowners adopted contour farming on
62 acres, with over 19,000 feet of terraces, 26 acres
of critical area planting, 3,255 feet of diversions,
and 57 acres of grassed waterways. To improve
the condition of pasture and rangeland, prescribed
grazing was implemented on 1,985 acres, and
576 acres received nutrient management plans, with
24 acres of heavy use areas improved. Seven new
ponds were constructed to provide alternative water
supplies to livestock. Producers planted forage on
340 acres and improved upland wildlife habitat man-
agement on 549 acres. Brush management occurred

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Cooper Creek Turbidity Levels
150
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100.
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50
16%
exceedance
0%
exceedance
•

•

•

•

%•
• • •
• • *•
2006
2010
Assessment Year
Cooper Creek Dissolved Oxygen Levels
18%
4%
exceedance
exceedance
•

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••
V •
•
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2006
2010
Assessment Year
Figures 2 and 3. Less than 10 percent of monitoring samples exceeded water quality standards for dissolved
oxygen and turbidity.
on approximately 68 acres, and weed management
was applied on 266 acres. The NRCS Conservation
Security Program allowed enhancement of 158 acres
for energy and soil management. This watershed
is included in a new NRCS no-till initiative for
Oklahoma, so the observed improvement in water
quality is expected to continue.
In addition, the Oklahoma Conservation
Commission's education program, Blue Thumb,
actively promoted programs in the Cooper Creek
watershed starting in 2005. Groundwater screen-
ing and information sessions were held in Blaine
County in addition to several volunteer training
events. 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 Cooper Creek due to
landowners implementing BMPs. Because of the
implemented practices and the accompanying
education of landowners, turbidity decreased in the
Cooper Creek watershed. In the 2006 assessment,
16 percent of seasonal base flow water samples
exceeded the turbidity criteria of 50 NTU. This
exceedance was reduced to 0 percent in the 2010
assessment (Figure 2). Reductions in nutrients result
in improved levels of dissolved oxygen, as algae
are less likely to be overgrown and die off. Eighteen
percent of samples examined for the 2006 assess-
ment were below the critical dissolved oxygen value
of 5 mg/L. This value was reduced to only 4 percent
below the DO criterion for the 2010 assessment
(Figure 3). Hence, Cooper Creek has been recom-
mended for removal from Oklahoma's CWA section
303(d) list for turbidity and dissolved oxygen impair-
ments and is now in full attainment of the fish and
wildlife propagation designated use.
Partners and Funding
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
$13,168 in state funding for BMPs in this watershed
over the past decade through the Kingfisher County,
Blaine County, and Cimarron Valley Conservation
Districts, and landowners contributed $15,407
through this program. The NRCS spent approxi-
mately $338,688 for implementation of BMPs in
the watershed from 2003-2007. Implementation
is continuing, with $229,649 in BMPs obligated
from 2008-2010 through EQIP and NRCS general
technical assistance funds. Landowners provided a
significant percentage toward BMP implementation
in these programs as well.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841 -F-11 -001R
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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