June 2022 | Issue No. 29

Builder of the Quarter: Ark Wrecking Company of Oklahoma

The City of Tulsa is pleased to recognize Ark Wrecking Company of Oklahoma as this quarter’s Builder of the Quarter, for going above and beyond in their methods to filter stormwater.

Since its founding in 1950, Ark Wrecking Company of Oklahoma has lived up to its motto to “smash expectations” by developing a demolition philosophy that focuses on safety, quality, and integrity.

Supervisor Chris Lebow trains employees to keep runoff contained on their demolition sites. Once the project is done, crews filter any water from the site before it goes into the storm drain. They use a dewatering bag, also known as a sediment filter, to filter any potential sediments in the water. By filtering the stormwater, they can safely discharge the water into the storm drains. 

Species Spotlight:

     Spotted Gar

This issue’s species spotlight is the Lepisosteus oculatus or the spotted gar.

The spotted gar can be found in many streams in the City of Tulsa. This fish is easily identifiable, with a long cylindrical body and a snout full of teeth. It also features round black spots on the head, snout, and fins. 

Spotted gar prefers to live in slow, clear water. They are commonly spotted near the surface of the water where they take periodical gulps of air. These gulps are swallowed into their stomach and exchange oxygen through its lining, much like a lung. Therefore, gar can survive out of water for much longer than other fish.

They feed on shad, crayfish, and insects. Due to their affinity for less muddy, murky conditions, spotted gar are indicators of good water quality.  

Rain Barrel Giveaway

Come visit the City of Tulsa’s Stormwater Quality booth on September 29 at the Tulsa State Fair for a chance to enter a raffle to win one of five rain barrels. 

Rain barrels are used for collecting rainwater. The stored water can be used for gardening or washing your car. Collecting rainwater limits the amount of runoff from your property and can help reduce the chance of lawn chemicals mixing with rainwater and going down the storm drains.

If you are interested in the rain barrel program, follow the City of Tulsa on Facebook or Instagram for chances to enter a drawing for a free rain barrel or you can purchase a rain barrel during the Fall Rain Barrel Sale. 

Stormwater Quality:

Erosion and Sediment

Stormwater Quality: Erosion and Sediment

Sediment and erosion are a huge problem here in Tulsa. These issues can cause turbidity in our creeks, or, how cloudy, muddy, or murky water appears due to suspended matter in the water.

What is Erosion?

Erosion is a three-step process involving the detachment, transport, and deposition of soil particles.

What is Sediment?

Sediment is the result of erosion. Once soil particles have detached from the surface, they are transported to their site of origin and come to rest on other ground surfaces, or in lakes, ponds, and streams, as sediment.

Many times, water becomes turbid from sand, mud, or soil from a site, running into the storm drainage system. Sediment runoff causes a decrease of dissolved oxygen in the water and can suffocate and kill fish.

One way to prevent sediment runoff is to protect storm drains with a buffer by leaving vegetation on the property, installing a boom around the storm drain, or having a silt fence. 

By practicing these measures, you can ensure that the water going into storm drains is strictly rainwater. If you have any questions on other ways you can protect our storm drains please visit our website,