Spavinaw Creek facts for kids

Spavinaw Creek is a stream that starts in Arkansas and flows west into Oklahoma. It ends when it joins Lake Hudson. This creek helps drain a large area of land, about 400 square miles. This area includes parts of the Ozark Mountain foothills and farmland.

Spavinaw Creek is very important because it helps supply water to the city of Tulsa. Two lakes, Lake Spavinaw and Lake Eucha, were created on the creek to store water for Tulsa, which is about 55 miles away.

Where Spavinaw Creek Begins

The Spavinaw Creek actually starts as a collection area for rainwater in northwest Arkansas. At first, it might just be a small, sometimes dry, brook. As it flows west into Oklahoma, it gathers more water. It picks up water from rain, runoff, and smaller streams that flow into it.

Some of these smaller streams are called tributaries. They include Brush Creek, Dry Creek, and Wolf Creek. The creek drains a big area of the Ozark Mountain foothills. It is also a branch of the larger Grand River.

How Dams Created Lakes

Spavinaw Creek has been dammed twice to create important lakes.

Lake Spavinaw: Tulsa's First Water Source

The first dam was built in 1923. This created Lake Spavinaw. This project was called the Spavinaw Water Project. To build this lake, parts of the town of Spavinaw had to be moved to higher ground. The main reason for this lake was to provide drinking water for the city of Tulsa.

Lake Eucha: Expanding Water Storage

Later, in 1952, the creek was dammed a second time. This created Lake Eucha. Lake Eucha was built to hold even more water for the Spavinaw water system. It helps make sure Tulsa has enough water, especially during dry times.

Keeping the Water Clean

The land around Spavinaw Creek is used for many things, especially farming. A study in 2002 showed that most of the land was used for raising animals like cattle and chickens.

Why Water Quality Matters

Because of the farming, water quality tests have sometimes shown high levels of a substance called phosphorus. Too much phosphorus can cause a lot of algae to grow in the water. Algae can make the water look green and can harm the environment. Another study in 2004 found bacteria in Beaty Creek, a stream that flows into Lake Eucha.

Sources of Water Pollution

There are many ways water can get polluted. Some common causes include:

• Broken septic systems (from homes)
• Animal waste from wildlife and farm animals
• Runoff from farms (like fertilizers)
• Stormwater from towns and industries
• Soil washing into the creek (erosion)
• Large animal farms, especially poultry farms.

For example, a water treatment plant in Decatur, Arkansas also handles waste from a chicken processing plant. Even small farms can add to the pollution over time.

Working Together for Cleaner Water

The city of Tulsa took legal action to help improve the water quality. This led to rules that require cities and poultry farms in the area to reduce the amount of phosphorus they release. This helps make the water cleaner and also lowers the cost of treating the water for drinking.

Both Lake Spavinaw and Lake Eucha are very important for public water supply. This means that any new pollution must be approved first. Many poultry farmers in both Oklahoma and Arkansas are now working together. They are using better farming methods to reduce pollution in the creek's watershed (the area of land that drains into the creek). This helps protect the water for everyone.