June 2020   |   Issue No. 21
Watershed Quarterly: 
     Yard Care Tips for Water Quality
   
With spring in full bloom and seasonal rain beginning to fall, it is important to prepare your yard to ensure a beautiful lawn, but also to prevent unnecessary pollution. Here are some ways that you can be ready:

Clean Up: Collect and dispose of any trash that winter winds may have left behind. Pick up any leaves or garden cuttings you may have missed in the fall and incorporate them into compost. This will prevent them from being washed down the storm drain and reducing oxygen levels in local streams.

Test Soil : Have your soil tested to see if and how much fertilizer you will need to buy. Often, soil is nutrient rich and does not need fertilizer. In the case that it does, be sure to apply the recommended amount. Excess fertilizer will not produce a healthier lawn and may be washed off into local waterways.

Mulch Clippings: Grass clippings are a free source of nitrogen fertilizer, so let them decompose into your lawn.

Sweep Away Clippings and Fertilizer : Use a leaf blower or broom to push stray grass clippings and fertilizer granules off sidewalks, driveways and streets. Sweep them onto your lawn, where they can provide beneficial nutrients. If left on impervious surfaces, they can be washed off into a storm drain and cause water quality problems in local streams.

Implement Low-Impact Strategies: Possibilities include replacing turf with native meadow plants, capturing the water from your downspouts in a rain garden or rain barrel, and redirecting the flow of water into a lawn or planting beds. It's better for the water to soak into your lawn instead of running down sidewalks or driveways and washing pollutants into the storm drains.

Household Pollutant Collection Facility Opens Back Up

We are excited to announce that on May 27 the Household Pollution Collection Facility opened back up to the public. 

It is important for our City to make this available to our community, and at the same time keep everyone safe. With that in mind, we have made some adjustments for the protection of everyone. 
  • You must make an appointment by calling (918) 591-4325. Appointments are available Wednesdays and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 
  • You are required to stay in your vehicles at all times, and facility staff will be wearing additional protective equipment for your protection. 
  • The Swap Shop will remain closed at this time
Tulsa's Household Pollutant Collection Facility is located at 4502 S. Galveston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74107. For questions call (918)591-4325 or visit www.cityoftulsa.org/hpcf
Species Spotlight: 
     Hellgrammite

Hellgrammites are the larvae of dobsonflies. They are aquatic, somewhat flattened, and usually some shade of dark brown or black. The hellgrammite's head is equipped with a pair of large, sharp pincers that can deliver a painful bite. There is a pair of hooked, leglike appendages at the hind tip which help the hellgrammite from being swept away in the water current.

Hellgrammites live along the rocky bottoms of streams. They are mostly active during the night and ambush their prey in the middle of oxygenated riffles. The prey of hellgrammites consists of almost anything smaller than themselves, including other aquatic invertebrates, small fish, small amphibians, etc. Hellgrammites are a favorite among many fish, and anglers will often use them as bait.

Although not to the same extent as the larvae of mayflies and caddisflies, hellgrammites are intolerant of polluted waters and can be used as an indicator of water quality.
Help Keep Tulsa and Our Waterways Beautiful and Healthy
The City of Tulsa has a litter problem. Although you can find wonderful scenery and recreational spots, you won't have to travel far to also find a plastic bottle that was tossed aside, a bag floating around, or a cigarette butt. This litter builds up and eventually finds its way into a water source. When it rains, all the trash gets washed into a neighboring creek.

Within the city of Tulsa, numerous creeks are affected by litter. Whether big or small, this litter has an impact on these creeks and is a huge source of pollution. Because litter degrades water quality in a creek, the wildlife in the creek suffer from these effects. The health of a creek is directly tied to the amount of litter that accumulates in it.

With your help to prevent litter, we can keep Tulsa beautiful.
Education Spotlight
In late February, we had the opportunity to stop by the Tulsa Garden Center and speak to one of their groups called "Let's Talk Gardening."

It was a great group of folks who regularly meet to share tips, discuss seasonal planting, and show the fruits of their labor. While visiting with this group, our focus was on fertilizers and pesticides. This group was already very knowledgeable on the subject and the potential negative effects from these two applications. They also shared the steps they take to provide health to their lawns and gardens without using these chemicals. It was a fun and informative experience. 

Our education coordinator is always available if your group or organization would like to learn about storm drain pollution and how we can Save Our Streams.
Download Our New Children's Coloring Book

We believe that education makes the greatest impact on protecting our local creeks and streams from storm drain pollution. That's why we go to many schools, public events, and businesses to educate citizens on the everyday problems we face. We also enjoy providing pet waste bags, rain garden seeds, rain gauges and other beneficial items. 

In 2018 we developed a coloring book to engage children in understanding how to Save Our Streams. Watch for our new children's activity book which will include games, crafts, and around-the-house activities to help kids not only learn about but also be active in making a difference.

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