Rotating Basin Site Summary Central Great Plains Level 3 Ecoregion: Jackson and Tillman Counties

              Rotating Basin Site Summary
Central Great Plains Level 3 Ecoregion: Jackson and Tillman Counties
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) has the statutory responsibility of monitoring streams across
the state in order to identify healthy streams as well as those which may be impacted by non-point source
(NPS) pollution. NPS pollution is pollution which runs off the land from diffuse sources rather than being
discharged from a specific source. If a stream is found to be impaired by NPS pollution, the OCC may be able
to implement a voluntary cost-share program to address the identified problems; however, streams must be
monitored in order to select the best management practices necessary for improvement. The OCC’s “Rotating
Basin Monitoring Program” provides the tools to assess and then restore water quality in Oklahoma.
This leaflet gives a brief summary of the assessment results for the first cycle of the monitoring program for
streams in Jackson and Tillman Counties. The full report can be accessed online at:
http://www.ok.gov/okcc/Agency_Divisions/Water_Quality_Division/WQ_Reports/WQ_Assessment_Reports
or by calling (405) 522-4500 and requesting a copy of the “Rotating Basin Year 4 Final Report.”
#
#
#
#
#
#
Jackson Co.
Tillman Co.
# Gypsum Creek
# Little Deep Red Creek
# Otter Creek
# Sandy Creek
# Suttle Creek
# Turkey Creek
OCC Rotating Basin monitoring sites within Jackson and Tillman Counties.
Through the Rotating Basin Program, three streams in Jackson Co. and three streams in Tillman Co. were
sampled approximately every five weeks from June 2004-June 2006. Nineteen water quality parameters were
measured or analyzed at each site visit. In addition, OCC staff conducted one fish and habitat assessment and
up to four macroinvertebrate collections during this time. Summer samples were also analyzed for E. coli and
Enterococcus bacteria. Each site was compared to “high quality” streams in the ecoregion, streams known to
have high quality fish populations, benthic macroinvertebrate populations, instream and riparian habitat, and
water quality. All of the data collected has been distilled into a few key components in order to produce an
index score of general, overall stream health, shown on the next page.