06/21/2023
Kayaking in Tulsa soon
A 900-foot-long flume for recreational kayaking is taking shape in the Arkansas River in Tulsa. There will be a “bench” area along the east bank that provides space for flume access and safety. The island built in parallel from the bank will provide the flume near the new pedestrian bridge nearing completion.
Of course, critics have arisen, and broadcast media provided coverage of their complaints without providing context.
Fred Storer, a retired chemical engineer, is quoted “Is the water actually safe to use?” he asked after noting, “Two geese will produce as much f***l indicator bacteria as a cow.”
There are different standards of water quality, and no one should ever gulp and swallow open water. It is not good to drink river, stream, or lake water. Not in Lake Keystone, Grand Lake, Lake Texoma, or even the most beautiful Illinois River. Ask any water engineer.
The 42 miles of the Arkansas River in Tulsa County has long been
used by canoers and rowers. It has never been recommended for drinking and some wouldn’t eat fish from there, but other people do. It is still a free country and government cannot keep us from the consequences of our own actions.
Point-Source pollution has and is being addressed, but the primarily pollution in the Arkansas River in Tulsa County comes from the runoff of stormwater from the City of Tulsa. Rain washes into stormwater drains all over town with whatever people dump in the drains.
Storer has another quote, “The principal thing they left out was the failure to state a clear requirement that the water will be sampled and analyzed in such a way that you can determine whether or not it meets the criteria for primary body contact recreation. They didn’t put that in there.”
Sampling in Tulsa is specified in more frequency than that of any other open surface body of water in Oklahoma. Exhaustive studies have been conducted over years as required in the permitting process. These detailed reports can be found online at riverprojectstulsa.info.
While Storer complains, we wonder why he doesn’t mention the homeless encampment upriver from Tulsa. The homeless are reported to use the river for outdoor washing and restrooms.
Maybe Storer could improve the water quality in the Arkansas River best by calling attention to the homeless? Regardless, don’t drink opensource water and try to keep your mouth shut if the kayak tips over.
Note: This story was first published in print by City Sentinel Tulsa and later found online at www.citynewstulsa.com. It was written by David Arnett, Managing Editor for both publications and one of the administrators of this group.
