Friday, December 19, 2014 | Issue No. 4

Watershed Quarterly:

Erosion Control: Builder of the Quarter

The City of Tulsa would like to recognize Doug Walker of Douglas Walker Companies, Inc. as the Erosion Control Builder of the Quarter. Each quarter, the City recognizes one builder for implementing and maintaining exemplary erosion control measures on a construction site.

The Douglas Walker Companies, Inc. offers nearly 20 years of architecture, design, building, and development experience in the Tulsa area. The company specializes in building homes that are energy efficient and low maintenance. Mr. Walker is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa.

Mr. Walker's construction site is located at 2630 S. Troost Ave. on an approximately half-acre lot. Mr. Walker utilized a gravel drive to ensure vehicles did not track sediment from the site into the street. The gravel drive was composed of 1.5 inches of rock and was approximately 40 feet long. He also used a reinforced silt fence surrounded by a 5-foot strip of vegetation to block sediment from running off the site after rainfall. Mr. Walker regularly inspected and adjusted his erosion control measures throughout the construction process to ensure silt and sediment wasn't carried off the site into Tulsa's storm drains and streams. Congratulations Mr. Walker!

Using Ice Melt Properly

Winter is one of the most wonderful times of the year, however the colder temperatures mean slick spots on driveways, walkways, and parking lots. Knowing how to use ice melt correctly can prevent slips and falls, as well as prevent pollution in local streams. Below are tips on how to apply ice melt so it stays on site:

There's no need to cover the entire ground - read application instructions to find out how much to use
Apply to the ground - don't apply to snow or before a heavy rainfall
Ice melt can work at a variety of temperatures - choose one designed to work where you live
Sweep up any excess - if you can't reuse it, toss it in the trash

Remember, the most important thing this holiday season is to keep your families safe. Make sure to keep those walkways free of ice and remember to protect your local creeks too!

Leeches

The City of Tulsa samples stream insects to determine the healthiness of Tulsa's streams. Leeches are a relatively common insect found in eastern Oklahoma where they prefer to live in calmer waters among decaying leaves and other plant debris.

Leeches are distinguishable from other segmented worms by having two suckers on each end of the body, which they use to move around like an inch worm. Leeches are notorious for attaching to hosts and feeding on the bodily fluids of larger animals. While this is true for some individuals, most leeches found in Tulsa's streams feed on smaller invertebrates.

Finding high numbers of leeches in streams within the City of Tulsa is an indicator of poor water quality. Leeches absorb oxygen through the skin of their body and a lack of gills makes them able to tolerate low-dissolved oxygen levels. While there are many leeches that call the City of Tulsa home, don't worry: your chances of being chosen as a host are low, so enjoy our streams.


2015 Tulsa Home and Garden Show Come visit the City of Tulsa's booth at the 2015 Tulsa Home and Garden Show, March 12 - 15. Representatives from various City departments will be on hand to answer your questions. Also, Tulsa's Stormwater Quality group will be offering promotional giveaways and drawings for prizes, as well as children's activities and a fish aquarium at the booth. More information on the show is available online.	Shape up Civilian. Your Stormwater is Calling! Tulsa's Stormwater Quality group is hitting the airwaves to spread the message about solutions to stormwater pollution. Our three-part commercial series features a sharp-tongued red-eared slider turtle, Sgt. Red, and his sidekick, Mingo, the orangethroat darter. The commercials are now airing on local news channels and are also available on the City's YouTube Channel.	2015 Industries and Stormwater Conference On March 26, 2015 the City of Tulsa will team up with the Tulsa County Conservation District, Tulsa Area Conservation Foundation, and Indian Nations Council of Governments to present this year's Resource Management Conference (RMC). The primary topic of this year's conference will be the OKRO5 stormwater permit for industrial facilities. The RMC will also cover topics such as employee training requirements, monitoring requirements and stormwater pollution prevention plans. For More details are available online.

STAY CONNECTED