Spring Creek Coalition Water Quality Monitoring

Dedicated Landowners and Volunteers Collect Sound Data to Protect Oklahoma's Most Pristine Remaining Ozark Stream

Spring Creek Coalition

Spring Creek Coalition

Established in 1994, the Spring Creek Coalition, a  Waterkeeper Alliance  Affiliate, (SCC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization comprised of private landowners, residents, and supporters. It is the mission of SCC to unite as citizens and actively engage in the preservation of the Spring Creek Watershed.

Spring Creek Watershed

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Spring Creek, Oklahoma

The most pristine large Ozark stream left in the state of Oklahoma.

The Watershed

Originating near Kansas, OK, the creek flows 34 miles through Delaware, Cherokee and Mayes Counties.

Spring-Fed

Small springs throughout the watershed contribute most of the estimated 15 million gallons a day flowing down the stream. 

Water Quality

Spring Creek historically has had very good water quality, low nutrient and pathogen levels, and has served as a reference stream for Oklahoma.

Aquatic Life

Spring Creek supports over forty species of fish, most of which are cool water species that cannot thrive in polluted water.

Recreation

The combination of cool temperatures and crystal clear water make Spring Creek highly valued for recreational activities.

Threats to Water Quality in Spring Creek

While the Coalition has worked to address water quality threats for many years, an influx of very large confined poultry feeding operations in 2018 pose new, much greater threats.

Water Quality Sampling

Spring Creek Water Quality Sampling 2020-21

Monitoring Site SC-1

Monitoring Site SC-2

Monitoring Site SC-3

Monitoring Site SC-4

Monitoring Site SC-5

Monitoring Site SC-6

Spring Creek Water Quality Sampling 2020-21

SCC, with the assistance of Waterkeeper Alliance, developed a representative sampling strategy and quality control protocol for Spring Creek in the Fall of 2019. Waterkeeper Alliance provided trainings for SCC and volunteers on implementing the sampling protocol in the Winter of 2019 through the Spring of 2020. In July 2020, SCC and and team of dedicated volunteers formally started sampling Spring Creek monthly at six locations throughout the watershed.

Monitoring Site SC-1

On N4590 downstream from Kansas, Oklahoma

Monitoring Site SC-2

At Three Springs Farm downstream from the town of Oaks

Monitoring Site SC-3

Upstream from Spencer's Blue Hole

Monitoring Site SC-4

At Graveyard Bluff downstream from Teresita

Monitoring Site SC-5

At the low water bridge downstream from Littlefield's and Cave Springs

Monitoring Site SC-6

Downstream from the old Twin Bridges on the Drury Property. From here, Spring Creek flows into the Grand River and then into Fort Gibson Lake.

Sampling Results

Phosphorus

Along with nitrogen, phosphorus pollution leads to excessive growth of algae in a stream - harming fish and other aquatic organisms, potentially producing toxins, and making the creek look and smell bad.

  • Multiple sites exceeded 0.01 mg/l every month for the last three years.
  • Phosphorus levels were far above the levels that cause excessive algal growth at upstream sites SC-1, SC-2, and SC-3 throughout each year.
  • Other sites showed excessive phosphorus levels during certain parts of each year and good water quality levels during other months.
  • Generally, water quality improved as water moved downstream from SC-3, but starting in June of 2021, monitoring started to periodically show extremely high levels of phosphorus pollution at multiple sites throughout the watershed.

Nitrogen

Along with phosphorus, nitrogen pollution leads to excessive growth of algae in a stream - harming fish and other aquatic organisms, potentially producing toxins, and making the creek look and smell bad.

  • Nitrate/Nitrite levels at every monitoring site far exceeded 0.33 mg/l in every month, with the exception of three samples.
  • Nitrate/Nitrite levels generally decreased as water flowed downstream, but were still too high at all sites.
  • The highest levels of Nitrate/Nitrate pollution were recorded for multiple sites in December of 2021 and 2022.

E. coli

E. coli in a stream indicates the presence of pathogens from human and/or animal feces. To prevent illness, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) sets standards for E. coli levels in streams that are used for recreation involving direct bodily contact, such as Spring Creek.

  • E. Coli levels frequently exceeded the OWRB standard of 235 colonies/100 ml for swimming advisories at multiple sites throughout the years.
  • E. coli was detected above the OWRB standard in 19 of 28 months at SC-1 and in 8 of 28 months at SC-2.
  • When water flows were high, E. Coli was detected at levels far above the OWRB standard:
    • At all of the monitoring sites in December of 2021
    • At 5 of 6 monitoring sites in March 2021 and April 2022
    • At 4 of 6 monitoring sites in December of 2021

Enterococcus

The presence of enterococcus in a stream indicates the presence of pathogens from human and/or animal feces. To prevent illness, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) sets standards for enterococcus levels in streams, that are used for recreation involving direct bodily contact, such as Spring Creek.

  • Enterococcus was detected above the OWRB standard of 61 colonies/100 ml for swimming advisories at multiple sites in 19 of 28 months.
  • Enterococcus was detected at levels far above above the OWRB standard for swimming advisories in August 2020; March, May, August, September and December of 2021; and April, May, June, September, and December of 2022 at multiple monitoring sites.
  • Samples at multiple locations equaled or exceeded 2,400 col/100 ml on numerous occasions.

Next Steps

SCC has submitted this data to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and will be working with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and others on strategies to restore and protect Spring Creek. It is essential that SCC continue this monitoring to help identify water quality problems and sources, and develop a solid, scientifically sound basis for decisions and actions to preserve Spring Creek for future generations.