Bird Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bird Creek |
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Chusto-Talasah battlefield on Bird Creek in Tulsa County, Oklahoma.
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| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Verdigris River (near Tulsa Port of Catoosa) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Verdigris |
| Tributaries |
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Bird Creek is an important stream in northeast Oklahoma. It's formed by several smaller creeks that come together in Osage County. This creek flows through different areas, including the northern part of the Tulsa metropolitan area, before joining the Verdigris River near Catoosa. Many smaller streams flow into Bird Creek, and some of them have caused flooding in the past.
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About Bird Creek
Bird Creek is a stream located in the northeastern part of Oklahoma. It's not just one single stream from the start! It's actually formed when three smaller creeks, called North Bird Creek, Middle Bird Creek, and South Bird Creek, all join up. These smaller creeks begin in Osage County.
The South and Middle branches of Bird Creek first meet at a place called Bluestem Lake. The water flowing out of this lake is then called Middle Bird Creek. North Bird Creek later joins Middle Bird Creek northwest of Pawhuska. From that point on, the stream is simply known as Bird Creek.
Where Does Bird Creek Flow?
From Pawhuska, Bird Creek flows mostly southeast and then east. It passes through the northern side of the Tulsa area. Finally, it reaches its end where it flows into the Verdigris River, close to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.
Several important smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Bird Creek. These include Birch Creek, Hominy Creek, and Mingo Creek. There are also many other smaller streams, some named and some not, that contribute water to Bird Creek. These smaller streams have sometimes caused flooding problems in the Tulsa area.
Lakes Along Bird Creek's Tributaries
Two of Bird Creek's tributaries have lakes built on them:
- Birch Creek has Birch Lake built on it. This lake is located south of Barnsdall, Oklahoma.
- Hominy Creek has Skiatook Lake built on it. The dam for Skiatook Lake is about 14.3 miles (23 km) upstream from where Hominy Creek joins Bird Creek.
Bird Creek's History
Bird Creek has been a part of some historical events. During the American Civil War, two smaller battles took place along Bird Creek in what was then called Indian Territory. These battles were the Battle of Chusto-Talasah and the Battle of Chustenahlah.
Flooding in Tulsa
For a long time, Bird Creek was known for causing floods in the Tulsa area. At first, people didn't see flooding as a big problem. But as more people moved to Tulsa and built homes in the areas around Bird Creek, the floods became a serious issue.
After a major flood on the Arkansas River in 1923, Tulsa created its first plan for how land should be used. However, this plan focused more on the Arkansas River, not Bird Creek.
Things changed after three big floods happened on Bird Creek in 1971. People living in the area were very upset and demanded that the city fix the problem. Tulsa then joined a national program to help with flood insurance. The city also agreed to new rules about building in areas that might flood.
Even after these changes, more serious floods happened on Bird Creek in 1974. Then, other nearby creeks like Mingo, Joe, Fry, and Haikey creeks also flooded. A final flood on Mingo Creek in September 1974 showed everyone that the city's earlier efforts were not enough. This led to more serious actions to control flooding.
Water Quality Concerns
In August 2016, something unusual was reported on North Bird Creek. People saw an oily film on the water, and sadly, some dead fish and turtles were found. This happened about 5 miles (8 km) from the Tall Grass Preserve in Osage County.
When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated, they found warm, salty water bubbling up through the creek. After looking into it, EPA officials thought the most likely cause was water that had been used in a process called secondary recovery of oil. This process helps get more oil out of the ground, but the water used can sometimes be salty or contain other substances.
Officials from the EPA visited the area and agreed that it was their job, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), to clean up the problem. As of December 2017, a solution had not yet been found. The EPA continued to watch Bird Creek and even considered closing some oil wells closest to the affected area to help stop the contamination.
