Water Quality in Northeast Oklahoma

There are many reasons that a person might be interested in water quality:  fishing, swimming, boating, wading, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, drinking water, and just enjoying a pleasant view. These are but a few of the many reasons we Oklahomans treasure our aquatic natural resources. How a lake or stream is used is so important that the EPA and states have categorized water quality standards to protect types of uses. These “Beneficial Uses” are defined in the Oklahoma Water Quality Standards. Each beneficial use has its own standards of protection. For example, for fisheries protection (called the Fish and Wildlife Propagation beneficial use) there are certain numerical criteria, water quality standards that must be maintained. There are also narrative criteria that set a "general standard of protection" goal. 

There are also "high quality" waters in Northeast Oklahoma that deserve a higher level of protection. For a more thorough discussion of the state’s water quality standards, visit the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) website.

In the Tulsa area, as elsewhere in Oklahoma, there are many streams and lakes that have been designated as impaired. The designation is done according to a specific type of study using data of high quality. The studies are mostly done by the OWRB and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), but INCOG and ACOG have also contributed to this effort as well. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) must report updates of the impairment list biannually to EPA. In the past this was known as the 303(d) List of impaired waterbodies, but recently ODEQ consolidated the 303(d) report with the 305(b) report into an integrated water quality assessment report. Impaired waterbodies in the integrated report are known as Category 5. The latest EPA approved list is 2004.

Any waterbody remaining on the Category 5 list will eventually have a special type of pollutant load study called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The TMDL defines all point source loads (such as wastewater treatment plants) and all non-point source loads (such as agricultural activities) to determine the maximum amount of pollutant loads that can be added from all sources yet will still maintain water quality. 

In years past, most load studies focused on point sources, and most of these dealt with oxygen-demanding substances. However, within the past few years the emphasis has shifted to pollutants associated with non-point sources, such as turbidity, pesticides, nutrients and bacteria. The ODEQ website provides a great deal of information about the state’s water quality and regulatory program to assess and improve our natural resources.

Federal and State environmental agencies, along with regional and local entities, can help you locate water quality information for your stream or lake. Contact INCOG at 918-584-7526 if you need assistance with your search.

Rev. January 17, 2007