Grantee Research Project Results

2000 Progress Report: The Tulsa Air and Water Quality Information System

EPA Grant Number: R827963
Title: The Tulsa Air and Water Quality Information System
Investigators: Kitz, Hilary , Purser, Jane , Kurlkin, Joanne , Pinc, Gaylon , Jeffries, Rhonda , Potter, William
Current Investigators: Hamilton, Monica , Purser, Jane , Kurlkin, Joanne , Pinc, Gaylon , Jeffries, Rhonda , Potter, William
Institution: City of Tulsa , United States Geological Survey , Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality , University of Tulsa , Indian Nations Council of Government
Current Institution: City of Tulsa , Indian Nations Council of Government , Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality , United States Geological Survey , University of Tulsa
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: February 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: February 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001
Project Amount: $500,000
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (1999) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Statistics , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems , Air , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration

Objective:

The objectives of this project are to help people connect environmental data to their day-to-day lives and to promote public involvement in environmental policy. These objectives will be realized by providing informational and educational programs to the public. Environmental data is organized through The Tulsa Air and Water Quality Information System and disseminated through the educational programs of The Tulsa Clean Air Program and The Tulsa Clean Water Program.

Progress Summary:

Water Quality Information. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has completed the water quality data Web Site for streamflow and water quality in the Tulsa area. This currently is displayed at http://ok.water.usgs.gov/empact/ . The sites included are at Bird Creek near Sperry, Owasso, and at Highway 266 near Catoosa and the Arkansas River at Tulsa. Each site include all or some of the following parameters: gauge height, discharge, precipitation, water temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved oxygen.

The Web Site offers real-time data in an easy-to-read selected format. Users can choose what parameter(s) to display, how to display it (i.e., graph, table, fixed-width table, tab-separated data), and how many days in the past to show data.

USGS also has included real-time data on gauge height and discharge of seven Tulsa area streamflow-gauging stations. Users can choose what parameter(s) to display, how to display it, and how many days in the past to show data. Streamflow-gauging stations are at Joe Creek at 61st in Tulsa, Little Haikey Creek in Tulsa, Haikey Creek at 101st in Tulsa, Coal Creek in Tulsa, Flat Rock Creek in Tulsa, Verdigris River near Claremore, and Dog Creek south of Claremore.

The USGS water quality data Web site has been integrated into E-Tulsa.Org.

Tulsa Water Utility information is available at http://www.tulsawater.com. This Web Site contains extensive water quality data for the city water supply lakes. Water data are available for the following parameters: ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, total Kendal nitrogen (TKN), dissolved ortho-phosphorus, total suspended solids, turbidity, settleable solids, nitrite, nitrate, total phosphorus, silica, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, sulfate, and plankton data.

The TMUA water supply data will soon be integrated into the E-Tulsa.Org Web Site.

Air Quality Information. The initial programming development of the E-Tulsa.Org Ozone Prediction Model is finished. The model will be integrated into the E-Tulsa.Org Web Site, displaying the results in a fun, graphical, easy to read format. Visitors to the site will be able to access data to enable them to make their own predictions of ozone readings by using the same parameters as "the experts."

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) is providing two buildings to house new ozone monitors at monitoring stations west and east of Tulsa. RFPs have been issued for monitors. Most ancillary equipment has been purchased. Oklahoma Mesonet will be providing the mapping software for the maps.

The Allergy Clinic of Tulsa has initiated the Airwatch Program, which allows selected patients to evaluate their reaction to bioaerosols and air pollutants twice daily using the Airwatch Peakflow System. Approximately 35 patients have been selected to participate and they will submit data once per month. Each patient will submit monthly surveys reporting on health function.

Data from the Airwatch Program will be integrated into the E-Tulsa.Org Web Site using graphical representation. The survey information also will be available on the E-Tulsa.Org Web Site. These data will be compared to air quality data to see how pollution affects the breathing ability of people with respiratory problems.

Outreach. A water quality education section has been designed to present the Tulsa-specific hydrologic cycle in six sections?meteorology, watersheds, drinking water treatment, water users, wastewater treatment and storm water runoff. A prototype virtual tour with an initial graphic interface has been created. Three of the six sections have been made available for review by EMPACT partners.

Future Activities:

In the spring and summer of 2001, marketing material to promote the Web Site will be distributed at local events.

Beginning in summer 2001, Tulsa area transit bus benches will advertise the E-Tulsa.Org Web Site.

In Fall 2001, presentations will be made to area schools promoting the educational component of the Web Site.

In Fall 2001, additional marketing efforts will continue for E-Tulsa.Org, including local newsprint advertising, bus benches, radio ads, billboards, and additional marketing material.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 16 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

air, drinking water, recreational water, ozone, bioaerosol, lung function, asthma, NOx, ozone, decision making, informed public policy, treatment, resource management, community awareness, impact of waste, historical trend analysis, parameters, mitigation strategies, public policy, monitoring, data, forecasting, Northeast Oklahoma, OK, poultry industry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Air, Water, Geographic Area, Hydrology, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, State, Chemistry, Allergens/Asthma, Wet Weather Flows, indoor air, tropospheric ozone, decision-making, Drinking Water, Biology, Social Science, Economics & Decision Making, monitoring, asthma, Nitrogen Oxides, risk, risk assessment, sensitive populations, lungs, EMPACT, fate and transport, wastewater treatment, environmental monitoring, air pollutants, lung, stratospheric ozone, exposure and effects, community involvement, ozone, allergic airway, exposure, pesticides, runoff, other - risk assessment, decision making, meteorological data, air pollution, recreational area, air quality data, community based environmental planning, treatment, inhalation, data management, decision model, bioaerosols, mitigation strategies, water quality, indoor air quality, nitrogen oxides (Nox), real time monitoring, Oklahoma (OK), outreach and education, public policy, allergies, forecasting, lake ecosystems, real-time monitoring

Relevant Websites:

http://www.E-Tulsa.Org . This site was purchased for a 2-year period, with the ability to purchase additional years. This Web site has been established as part of the project and reflects research and publications associated with the principal investigators.

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Final Report