Improving the water quality in the Lake Hudson Watershed in Mayes County, Oklahoma

Abstract

Water quality in the State of Oklahoma is governed by the Clean Water Act (CWA). Lower Lake Hudson was listed on the EPA's 303 (d) Impaired Waters List for not meeting the dissolved oxygen water quality standard in 2016. The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) manages Lake Hudson. It is a hydroelectric reservoir along the Grand River. GRDA, in collaboration with Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and Oklahoma State University (OSU), sought to implement management measures in the Lake Hudson Watershed in order to improve water quality. A riparian habitat watershed assessment was conducted for the subwatersheds in Mayes County in order to determine critical areas that require protection. The condition of the riparian areas of the watershed were assessed using visual interpretation of aerial images in a GIS environment. The critical areas were then modeled using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL) model to estimate pollutant loading within the Lake Hudson Watershed. The application of riparian forest buffers as a best management practice (BMP) was used to calculate load reductions. Riparian forest buffers were economically evaluated in the prioritized areas using the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost-share program as a conservation option. Conservation easement evaluation methods used in Oklahoma were contemplated as a possible benchmark for this watershed as another option. The results of the riparian assessment, STEPL modeling, economic evaluation of riparian buffer implementation, and the conservation easement evaluation will collectively inform water quality improvement efforts in the Lake Hudson Watershed.