September 2018   |   Issue No. 15
New Stormwater Quality Community Outreach Coordinator
   
The City of Tulsa Stormwater Quality group would like to welcome our brand-new Community Involvement Coordinator, Mr. Dustin Jaggers! 

Dustin joins us from Hicks Park Community Center, where he was an integral part of the team. He is already working hard at raising public awareness of Stormwater Quality in the City of Tulsa.

If you would like for Dustin, or any Stormwater Quality professional to come to your group meeting, classroom, or event to be educated on Stormwater environmental impacts, contact Dustin directly at (918) 591-4375 or (918) 591-4325.  
Crow Creek Community Project

The Crow Creek Community is a citizen-participation project focused on improving the water quality of one of Tulsa's most visible and central watersheds. 

The group has transformed three City of Tulsa floodplain lots into a wildflower meadow which includes two rain gardens. This property is used as a demonstration area to help homeowners manage stormwater on their property for the benefit of water quality.

You can participate in two upcoming events: The first is a workday on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon where we will tidy up the lots and pick up litter along the stream. The second event will follow the BooHaHa parade in Brookside on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.

For more details, visit Crow Creek Community on Facebook or email Jean Lemmon.
Why Rain Barrels?

A rain barrel is a small way to make a big difference. There are many reasons to consider using a rain barrel at your home, and here are just a few ways. Rainwater is better for your plants and soil. It is highly oxygenated and free of salts and fluoride compounds that can potentially harm your plants roots over time. It will also reduce runoff pollution. 

Directing the rain into a barrel, instead of running down your yard will limit the amount of soil, fertilizer, oil and pesticides that are washed into our streets and down our storm drains. It can also make a difference by reducing your water bill. Garden and lawn watering account for 40 percent of residential water use during the summer. Rains barrels can save up to 1,300 gallons of water during a growing season. These are just a few of the eco- and budget-friendly reasons to consider making the rain barrel part of your home.

Species Spotlight:
  Common Logperch

The common logperch is a darter species. Darters are small fish found in freshwater streams in North America. The common logperch can be found in some creeks throughout the city of Tulsa such as Joe Creek, Spunky Creek and Flat Rock Creek.

Logperch have a tiger-like coloration that distinguishes them from other darters. They also have narrow dark bars on the side and back and the head and snout are conical for turning stones and sand.
 
Like most darter species, the common logperch dwells in benthic habitats and prefers clear, swift water with rocky or sandy substrate. They exhibit a foraging behavior that makes them unique among darter species and feed mainly on benthic invertebrates, hunting for food by flipping over stones with its snout.
 
Logperch are a vital part of stream ecosystems. While they themselves feed on aquatic insects, the logperch itself provides food for larger fish. Logperch are also a good indicator of stability within a certain area. Low numbers of logperch can indicate poor water quality or insufficient insect prey.
 
HPCF Special Collection Event

On Saturday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Household Pollutant Collection Facility (HPCF) is having a special collection day! This special event is open to City of Tulsa residents as well as surrounding community members to dispose of tires, small electronic waste, medication, and ammunition for free. No appointments are necessary. Citizens are welcome to dispose of special items on a first-come, first-served basis, except for CRT monitors.

To avoid waiting in line, please make an appointment during our normal operating hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Accepted items to bring include: automotive fluids, lawn and garden materials, household cleaners, cooking grease, aerosols, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs and batteries

Disposal of household items is open to citizens outside of the City of Tulsa, however you will be charged a fee. M.e.t. community members are eligible to receive a voucher that covers a disposal fee for the first 60 lbs.
Items never accepted at the HPCF include: Commercially generated waste, latex paint, needles and sharps, and radioactive material.You can find more information about this service online.
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