October 21, 2025 | Issue No. 40

Protect Your Pipes – Dispose of Grease the Right Way!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many of us are already planning our festive meals. If a fried turkey or other dish that uses cooking oil is on your menu, it’s important to know the proper way to dispose of that used oil and grease.


Pouring oil or grease outside or down a storm drain can pollute local streams and creeks. Disposing of it down your kitchen sink can clog your pipes and lead to costly plumbing repairs.


Instead, take your used cooking oil and grease to the Household Pollutant Collection Facility (HPCF) at 4502 S. Galveston Avenue. The facility is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and Noon - 4:30 p.m.


When you arrive, simply stay in your vehicle, HPCF staff will unload your materials for you and ensure they’re properly disposed of. It’s a quick and easy way to help protect Tulsa’s waterways while keeping your home plumbing safe this holiday season.

Every Creek Counts – Discover How Tulsa's Streams Are All Connected

One of the best things about Tulsa is our shared appreciation for wildlife and nature. From scenic drives down Riverside Drive to the newly established wildflower meadows and the many creeks and streams that weave through our city, there’s beauty to discover almost everywhere you look.


If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that many of these creeks and streams are connected through both underground and above-ground systems designed to manage the heavy rainfall Tulsa receives throughout the year. This network of channels is known as the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4.


The system works by collecting stormwater, any form of precipitation that flows over streets and surfaces, into storm drains. From there, the water travels through creeks and channels until it eventually reaches one of our larger waterways, such as the Arkansas or Verdigris Rivers.


Check out the map below to see just how connected Tulsa’s waterways are! 

Connecting with the Community at the Tulsa State Fair

The 2025 Tulsa State Fair ran from September 25 through October 5, drawing nearly 1.1M guests over 11 days. The City of Tulsa’s Stormwater Quality team hosted a booth inside the Exchange Center, where visitors learned how their everyday actions affect local streams and creeks. While the primary goal was to reach Tulsa residents, the booth attracted people from across the country.

Throughout the fair, the team distributed 1,687 educational brochures and 18,368 giveaway items, including rain gauges, sunglasses, reusable mesh litter bags, and kids’ cardboard binoculars. Guests were also encouraged to complete a short survey to help the team identify priorities for future outreach, and for a chance to win a free rain barrel.

Fish caught from local creeks were on display to highlight the importance of clean waterways and how certain species serve as indicators of good water quality.

The Stormwater Quality team always enjoys engaging with residents during the State Fair and looks forward to continuing to educate the community about protecting Tulsa’s water resources.

Species Spotlight:

Yellow Bullhead Catfish (Ameiurus natalis)

The Yellow Bullhead Catfish (Ameiurus natalis) is a medium sized, olive colored catfish, with a dark brown to black coloring on the caudal fin. This catfish feeds mostly at night, using the barbels around their mouths as a sensory guide to locate meals. Their preferred food sources are worms, insects, some plants, and many other aquatic dwellers. Their range extends across the central and eastern parts of the U.S., and they can be found near the bottom of muddy ponds and brackish waters.

Bullhead Catfish can lay around 4,000 eggs in a breeding season, which typically occurs in late spring to early summer. These fish use natural cavities along a riverbed for their nests, and both parents will work together to raise their young. They are highly tolerant of poor water quality and are often found by our City of Tulsa Stormwater Quality Team.