Illinois River bacteria tests results

Levels in the Illinois River are three to four times what’s permitted.

Bacteria levels in the Illinois River this week were three to four times permitted levels.

The results came one week after similar tests found the water to be well within federal standards.

Analysis of water samples drawn Wednesday indicated levels of Enterococci and E. Coli exceeded federal water quality standards for the bacteria, said Skylar McElhaney, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

An analysis of water samples taken May 22 from the same eight locations along the river were below federal limits.

“Last week, numbers were pretty good; this week indicates there are high levels of bacteria in the river,” McEl- haney said.

But she cautioned that “drastically different results” in water quality testing are not uncommon when dealing with rivers.

“We had a lot of rain recently,” McElhaney said.

“Swimmers themselves are sources of bacteria.”

The most recent test results follow the Memorial Day weekend when thousands of visitors used the Illinois River and surrounding area.The test results also follow a week during which heavy rains

have saturated the watershed.

The testing was conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality at the request of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.

Water samples from the river will be taken Sundays and Wednesdays under a program that will continue through September.

The Illinois River watershed is the subject of a federal lawsuit by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson against several poultry companies. The sampling program is not associated with the lawsuit.

Edmondson contends the poultry industry is a major contributor of bacteria to the watershed, a charge denied by the industry.

Edmondson claims poultry litter laden with bacteria and other dangerous organisms are washed from fields during heavy rains.

Poultry industry officials claim human sewage and cattle manure contribute large amounts of bacteria to the watershed during heavy rains.

Evidence introduced by Edmondson during court hearings this year indicates the harmful pathogens can be traced to poultry litter use.

“We’re glad that these tests are being conducted and it will help keep the public safer,” said Charlie Price, spokesman for Edmondson’s office.

Price said the testing will allow warnings to be issued when elevated levels are found.

But despite the recent test results, no government agency has issued a public advisory calling attention to the bacteria levels.

The DEQ doesn’t plan to issue any specific warnings regarding use of the Illinois River beyond a routine health warning it gives prior to each summer for all rivers and streams in the state, McElhaney said. The agency may call attention to any exceedances as the project continues to develop, she said.

One goal of the program is to set up a system to allow the issuance of more immediate advisories, said Miles Tolbert, Oklahoma secretary of the environment, whose office is funding the estimated $16,000 program with federal money.

“The Illinois River has already been determined to be impaired for bacteria,” Tolbert said. “We know from previous summers that the river frequently is too high in bacteria, so the challenge is to get more real-time information.” Both Edmondson and the poultry officials are awaiting a ruling on the state’s request that poultry litter use as fertilizer be halted in the watershed.

Local poultry industry officials did not immediately respond to a request for a comment regarding the river test results.

Curtis Killman 581-8471
curtis.killman@tulsaworld.com

By CURTIS KILLMAN World Staff Writer