Oklahoma has set a benchmark for restoring its waterways, appearing to lead the nation in such efforts. A significant aspect of this success has been a straightforward strategy: providing cows with clean drinking water while keeping them away from streams.
When farmer Grant Victor took the initiative to fence his cattle off from Horse Creek in northeast Oklahoma, he was uncertain about the outcomes. The creek, flowing through his family's pastures and cropland, had been negatively impacted by years of cattle grazing, resulting in eroded banks and contaminated waters full of sediment and animal waste.
In 2016, Victor joined a conservation program and took decisive action to protect Horse Creek by installing fencing, even though it meant restricting his animals from accessing 220 acres (approximately 6% of his family's land). The effort proved worthwhile, as Horse Creek is no longer classified among the most polluted waterways in the state.
Thanks to efforts akin to those of Victor, around 100 streams in Oklahoma, previously compromised by runoff from agriculture, have been rejuvenated. This accomplishment ranks Oklahoma first nationally, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This narrative is part of a series titled "50 States, 50 Fixes," which highlights local solutions to environmental challenges. More stories in this ongoing series are anticipated in the coming year.
When farmer Grant Victor took the initiative to fence his cattle off from Horse Creek in northeast Oklahoma, he was uncertain about the outcomes. The creek, flowing through his family's pastures and cropland, had been negatively impacted by years of cattle grazing, resulting in eroded banks and contaminated waters full of sediment and animal waste.
In 2016, Victor joined a conservation program and took decisive action to protect Horse Creek by installing fencing, even though it meant restricting his animals from accessing 220 acres (approximately 6% of his family's land). The effort proved worthwhile, as Horse Creek is no longer classified among the most polluted waterways in the state.
Thanks to efforts akin to those of Victor, around 100 streams in Oklahoma, previously compromised by runoff from agriculture, have been rejuvenated. This accomplishment ranks Oklahoma first nationally, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This narrative is part of a series titled "50 States, 50 Fixes," which highlights local solutions to environmental challenges. More stories in this ongoing series are anticipated in the coming year.
