September 2020   |   Issue No. 23
Watershed Quarterly: 
     Rain Barrel Pick Up - Friday and Saturday
   
The City of Tulsa's Stormwater Quality Division partnered with Upcycle Products to offer rain barrels at a discounted rate to the public. 

If you have ordered a rain barrel, you can pick it up today, Friday, Sept. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Household Pollutant Collection Facility at 4502 S. Galveston.

NOTE: The City of Tulsa does not endorse this vendor over another, nor is Upcycle Products the only vendor that offers rain barrels. 

Recognizing Local Builders for Stormwater Protection

Stormwater Quality is promoting a new program through its Compliance and Enforcement Division. We want to recognize builder's who go the extra mile to ensure their job-sites are meeting ECM's (Erosion Control Measure's) and ensuring their materials are staying on the site and out of the storm drain. Builder's who are selected will not only meet ECM standards but also follow their building plan which adheres to the SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan). We will also work alongside the City of Tulsa's Development Services Department to ensure the builder is meeting the requirements of their permit.

As the "Builder of the Quarter"you will receive recognition in our Watershed Quarterly newsletter which is distributed to thousands throughout the City of Tulsa, as well as other regions of Oklahoma. For more information regarding this program, please contact one of the following:
  Michael Randall, (918) 591-4379
  Mark Fleming, (918) 591-4356
  Don Hinson, (918) 591-4377
Volunteer Groups Needed for 
Adopt A Spot Program 

The City of Tulsa's Stormwater Quality Division has undertaken an effort to foster a greater sense of stewardship of Tulsa's streams through a program called Adopt-A-Stream. One easily seen impact of the neglect of Tulsa's streams is the amount of trash and debris that collects on the stream banks after each rain. These immense amounts of trash are more than City crews can clean up, so much of the debris is left in place, causing eyesores and blight in the community.

This program seeks to recognize the work of organizations and community groups who "adopt" an area of a stream and agree to collect trash there twice a year. For their efforts, Tulsa will put up road signs highlighting their adoption. 

For more info on this program visit www.cityoftulsa.org/sos or contact Tulsa's Stormwater Education Coordinator at (918) 591-4375.
Species Spotlight: Riffle Beetle Stenelmis sp.
  Riffle beetles in the family Elmidae are frequent members of the invertebrate community of running water and are found all around the world. Most elmid species occur in well-aerated streams and rivers. They are often found on stones and particulate debris. Both larvae and adults are fully-aquatic, getting oxygen from the water around them.
 
Riffle beetles appear to be collector-gatherers and scrapers that feed chiefly on algae and detritus. Riffle beetles, both adults and larvae, are rarely eaten by other invertebrates but are eaten by fish, especially salmonids.
 
Human threats to the survival of riffle beetles include reduced dissolved oxygen, elevation of water temperature, extremes of flow, pollution, and soaps and detergents. Therefore, riffle beetles are a good indicator of water quality.
New Yard by Yard Certification Program
Tulsa residents have an opportunity to participate in the the "Yard by Yard" Community Resiliency Project offered by the Tulsa County Conservation District. 

There are a lot of practices within the program, but a few of the things you are encouraged to do are to use native plants, offer a water feature, allow diversity in your lawn, store water with rain barrels, to name just a few.

Efforts such as these improve soil health and contribute to clean water in our streams. An additional important benefit is that yards that qualify for the project are also going to be the yards that encourage water infiltration - thus reducing the likelihood of flooding and mitigating the impacts of drought. Your yard can become a refuge for our important pollinators, like the Monarch Butterfly! 

Learn more about the Yard by Yard Project at www.tulsaccd.org. Or call (918) 877-9559. 
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