Background:

Stream restoration/rehabilitation is an often unrecognized but nonetheless important priority for both urban and rural environments.  The consequences of previous generations of improper agricultural production, urban construction, and oil and gas development practices have left many of Oklahoma’s streams in poor condition.  Many miles of streams in Oklahoma and the nation have impaired water quality because of degraded stream channels.  Streams are often deeply incised and separated from their flood plains; flood plains are often converted to the development of home sites and commercial enterprises and not allowed to perform their natural function as flood relief and energy dissipation areas.  The result is rapidly eroding stream channels with degraded or nonexistent aquatic communities and in some cases threatens landowner and public investments.  Many times the consequences of poor management are also expressed miles down stream from the original site, in the form of increased flooding and the silting in of lakes.  Degraded streams and surrounding riparian ecosystems have a reduced capability to assimilate nutrients and other pollutants, thereby exacerbating water quality problems.  Research and extension programs are needed to develop systems to protect relatively unimpacted streams, to restore the proper functioning of degraded streams and to mitigate the impact of previous abuses, putting in place new ways of viewing and working with streams which will avoid similar problems in the future.

For more information contact Garey Fox -- 405-744-8423 

Web Links

Publications

List of Focus Group Members

Current Team Projects (primary contact listed):

1. 4-H Stream Hydrology Trailer Program (Beem)
2. Assessment of Black Bass Populations and Fluvial Geomorphology of Eastern Oklahoma Streams (Fisher)
3. Evaluation of Environmental Flows for Fish in Oklahoma Streams (Fisher)
4. Ground Water Seepage as a Mechanism of Streambank and Gully Instability (Fox)
5. Influence of Riparian Vegetation on Bank Stability (Fox)
6. Illinois River Riparian Targeting (Storm)
7. Population Ecology of Large River Fishes (Fisher)
8. Role of Riparian Pore-Water Pressure in Streambank Failure of Incised Streams (Fox)