Anyone who has been around Currentland a while is probably at least somewhat familiar with the ongoing tension surrounding the pollution of the Illinois River. Anyone who has recently swum in the river probably has an even better idea of the effects of certain bacteria on health.
A spokesperson for Save the Illinois River, an organization committed to a clean watershed, wrote an article titled CSI: Illinois River. Though it takes a clever approach to telling the story, the article focuses on the very serious issue of water pollution.
“What has happened to the once clear Illinois River and to Tenkiller Lake certainly is a crime and it’s time we get to the bottom of it,” said Ed Brocksmith (STIR, Inc.).
A lot of people have been waiting for change to occur, and it now looks like maybe some is coming.
According Brocksmith’s March 2010 article, the Environmental Protection Agency has launched a two-year study to look at pollution levels in the Illinois River. The study will look at the entire watershed, as opposed to just sampling main hotspots in Oklahoma and Arkansas, taking the Total Maximum Daily Load of pollutants into consideration.
According to the article, the EPA defines TMDL as “a calculation of a pollutant load that assures that when implemented, an impaired (body of) water will attain and maintain applicable water quality standards.”
According to an August 2010 article by Janet Pearson, associate editor of Tulsa World, STIR and its supporters hope this leads to the EPA setting new phosphorus limits in an attempt to protect the river.
But as Brocksmith points out, some pollutants, such as phosphorus, don’t just go away.
“Phosphorus most certainly will be an object of any TMDLs for the Illinois River watershed. From 2000 – 2004, it’s estimated that between 391,000 to 712,000 pounds of phosphorous entered Tenkiller Lake. Phosphorus does not disappear and is recycled from lake sediments for use over and over by algae,” wrote Brocksmith.
Though it may be a bit confusing to think of phosphorus as a pollutant (because of its classification as a nutrient), it is important to understand what risks it poses to the health and vitality of our land when used in such large amounts.
Phosphorus promotes the growth of algae, and as Brocksmith points out, “in great amounts, algae degrade water clarity; rob fish of oxygen, and cause taste and odor problems. Some algae can even be toxic to humans, pets and livestock.”
Even though many tests have been done showing significant levels of nutrient pollution, it can be difficult for many people to wade through the ocean of contradictory results presented by different researchers. Brocksmith points out a difference in type of research methods implemented from state to state and how testing at certain times can produce very different results.
Bill Andrews of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said that trying to parallel results from these two methods is “like comparing 19th century and 21st century medical technology.”
Many people believe the method adopted and used by Oklahoma researchers is the best indicator of water damage. In fact, at a Tahlequah meeting sponsored by the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, Andrews said just as much.
“Oklahoma’s flow-weighted testing is more representative of actual conditions,” Andrews told a Tahlequah meeting sponsored by the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission. “We believe that we have found the right way (for both the river and the lake) to do it.”
The basic assertion is that ignoring peak flow testing overlooks storm runoff from fields, yards and parking lots, which is one of the biggest obstacles to optimal water health.
“Runoff accounts for an estimated 78 percent of the phosphorus load entering beautiful Lake Tenkiller. This is called nonpoint source pollution since there are no obvious pipes or channels. The bulk of phosphorus in runoff is from animal feeding operations and in our region, this means chicken and cattle manure spread on pastures surrounding poultry farms. When only base flow conditions are sampled, phosphorus from sewage treatment plants, estimated to be about 35 percent of watershed phosphorous, is unfairly emphasized. This has placed Oklahoma water quality agencies at a stalemate, forcing the EPA to conduct the TMDL study,” said Brocksmith.
Followers of the Illinois River pollution debate look at this new study as a real turning point in the ongoing battle between peace and pollution. This could finally start to make some significant changes in the way we treat our natural surroundings.
“This is one of the most optimistic things on the horizon for the Illinois River,” said Brocksmith.
Even though change is near, the road to clean waters could be a long one. The important thing now is for people to acknowledge that the use of animal waste as fertilizer is having a dramatic effect on the immediate environment. Once that notion is clear, it becomes a choice of supporting the pollution or taking a stand against it.
Some Oklahomans are now looking to political leaders to make this choice in the public arena.
With Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson on his way out of office, many Oklahomans fear the worst, especially after hearing that recent political candidates Jeri Askins and Scott Pruitt accepted financial donations from those associated with the poultry industry.
"We are concerned that we —and the river — have lost an important ally in Drew Edmondson," said Kurt Robinson, president of STIR. "Certainly, if Drew were to be elected governor, he would have used all of that political clout to protect the river and probably would push strongly for an appeal of any unfavorable decision that might come out of the trial. Be that as it may, we are still optimistic that the judge (U.S. District Judge Greg Frizzell) could rule for a restriction, or better yet, a moratorium on the application of poultry waste in the watershed."
Pearson points out that regardless of actual intent, this is the kind of thing that starts to worry people.
“Even if no promises were made, there's always that perception that donors expect something for their contributions, especially those with something big at stake. And vague comments about open doors and open minds open the way for suspicious interpretations,” wrote Pearson.
Still, she says, advocates for protecting the river remain optimistic that legal intervention will lead to improvements in the watershed, even if it is just the beginning of a long fight to clean up the mess.
There are plenty of people willing to work toward the cause, though. Many people remember the CD put out by local supporters years ago. Songs for the Illinois River was put together by many artists who are interested in saving the water. Songs by Randy Crouch, Dan Garber, Eddie Glenn, Kelly Anquoe, Scott Lawrence, and many more urge listeners to think about the implications of river pollution.
Proceeds from the album are donated to STIR to aid with its many efforts in cleaning up the watershed. The cover art, Rabbit and Bear Canoeing, by Tahlequah artist Murv Jacob, is an exquisite display of color and life. This is the way many Currentlanders like to think of our precious Illinois River. The original is available for a project donation of $10,000.
For more information about the album or artwork, please visit www.songsfortheillinoisriver.com.
To find out more about issues with the Illinois River, please visit www.illinoisriver.org.