Nine Oklahoma Creeks Off EPA Impaired Streams List

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission says nine streams in Oklahoma have been removed from the state's list of impaired streams.

The creeks in Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Logan, McIntosh, Osage, and Pontotoc counties were removed from the list because of reductions in turbidity, which is the amount of sediment suspended in water.

Conservation Commission Water Quality Division Director Shanon Phillips said voluntary conservation practices helped lead to the removal from the list.

"Water quality monitoring data for these EPA success story candidates shows improvements which attributed to voluntary conservation practices. We have the strong partnership between agriculture producers, local conservation districts, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to thank for that," said Shanon Phillips.

List of Oklahoma creeks taken off list:

• Mill Creek in McIntosh County
• Whitegrass Creek in Bryan and Choctaw counties
• Bird Creek in Choctaw County
• Goose Creek in Pontotoc and Coal counties
• Sulphur Creek in Bryan County
• Otter Creek in Garfield and Logan counties
• Deer Creek in Kay and Grant counties
• Crooked Creek in Grant County
• Gray Horse Creek in Osage County

The OCC says it monitors approximately 450 creeks statewide on a five year rotation. Monitoring data is used to determine water quality and identify how conservation practices are affecting streams, as well as how and where conservation efforts should be focused in the future.

EPA Oklahoma Water Quality Assessment Report

The Associated Press contributed to this report.