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FY 2027 Budget Hearing Presentation

Problem-Solving with Proven Results

Presented by: Trey Lam, Executive Director

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Where We Started:

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A Data-Driven Approach

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Senator Randy Grellner, District 21

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Water Quality Division Sets the Blueprint

The Water Quality Division has developed a strategy to monitor small feeder streams on a rotational basis to determine the impacts of non-point source pollution on the water resources of the state.

Each year, monitoring begins in one basin, where streams are monitored for two years. Using this rotation, all basins and 250 streams are monitored every five years, and then the rotation begins again.

Monitoring is used to:

  • Determine the beneficial use status of streams
  • Collect information on sources of pollution
  • Evaluate success of past and current restoration projects
  • Gather data for planning and implementing future projects

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Watershed Dams & High-Hazard Watershed Dams

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Impacts of Watershed Dams Benefits (Senate District 14)

  • 134 flood control dams
  • $16,638,000 in monetary benefits
  • 3,922 farms and ranches

benefited

  • 155 bridges benefited
  • 8,071 acres of wetlands enhanced or created
  • 1,636,988 tons of soil a

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Watershed Dam Operations & Maintenance

Sugar Creek Site 23

Sugar Creek Site 23

Sugar Creek Site 23

Barnitz #30

Barnitz #30

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Healthy Soil-Clean Water = Healthy Food-Healthy People

Soil Health Implementation Program (SHIP)

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Alfalfa County District 2 – Unpaved Roads Project

Project addressed a highly erodible area of the road where a large drainage area washed out the roadway after every rainfall event causing the road to close until material can be hauled back in and placed.

Alfalfa County D2 installed 3 half pipe culverts (repurposed railroad tanker cars), increased the elevation of the road, improved the drainage, and placed gravel on the road surface with compaction.

Before

72 Unpaved Roads Projects Completed Statewide

After

$4,750,000 state funding provided by

OCC

$7,250,000 in-kind match from County Commissioners

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Terry Peach Monitoring Project

Project Goals:

Assess the hydrologic, vegetation and soil health changes following removal of the invasive woody species Eastern Red Cedar.

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Study Area

  • Persimmon Creek Watershed
    • Tributary of North Canadian River
    • 110,000 acres
    • Goal of 1,000 acres of removal in headwaters

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Water Monitors

Mulched Cedars

Wildlife/Soil

Health Benefits

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Study Design

  • Randomized block design
  • 4 blocks with 4 treatments
    • Cedar Control
    • Existing Grass
    • Cedar removal- mulch
    • Cedar removal- mulch and seed

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Study Design: Vegetation & Soil Health

Pre- and Post Monitoring

Vegetation

Soil Health

  • Composition
  • Diversity
  • Cover
  • Infiltration
  • Soil chemistry
  • Worm activity

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Study Design: Hydrology

  • Continuous soil moisture monitoring
    • 60 cm depth in each treatment
    • Variability in cedar plots
  • Weather Station
    • Precipitation
    • Evapotranspiration
  • Modeled improvements in groundwater recharge and discharge

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝐸𝑇 − Δ𝑆 = 𝐺 + 𝑄

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Moving Forward

  • Continuous soil and weather monitoring
  • Yearly vegetation and soil health monitoring
  • Monitor Persimmon Creek for flow, chemistry and biology
  • Track changes in vegetation, soil health and hydrology

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Karsten Creek Burn – March 2025

OSU prescribed burn 2 weeks before wildfire

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Oklahoma’s Technical Wetlands Program

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission has been the lead wetlands agency for

Oklahoma since 1990.

$100,000 initial appropriations equate to $11,000,000 in grant funds for brush removal and wetlands development.

Cost-Share Rate:

  • 80% cost-share
  • Up to $35,000 per project

Eligible Practices:

  • Restoration
  • Creation
  • Enhancement

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EDC

SHIP

Terry Peach

Unpaved Roads

​

Wetlands

​

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$8,500,000

654 projects

500 acres of wetlands 15,000 acres prescribed fire 900 acres spray

salt cedar

USDA

Assistance

Dam Maintenance & Repair

Funds Delivered by Districts

Total # of Citizens Assisted

Retention & Turnover

$10,000,000

3000 projects

$1,000,000

60 producers

$4,000,000

10 major,

290 minor repaired

$34,699,823

in locally-led conservation delivered by districts

$4,735,405

72 projects

24,398

Oklahomans assisted through OCC programs

$6,255,000

100 RFD/PBA Grants 50 miles brush-free fire breaks

19,420 acres of Prescribed Fire Assistance

$50,000,000

Farm Bill assistance from district staff

30 district staff turnover. Lost productivity, recruiting & training expense

Conservation Program Funds Processed & Delivered by District & Agency Staff:

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Budget Request FY2027

Critical Dam Repairs

$3,000,000

Recurring

Unpaved Roads Erosion

$1,275,000

Recurring

Boots on the Ground: Local Conservation Delivery

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$1,865,731

Recurring

Woody Species Control Program – Statewide Expansion

$2,500,000

Recurring