TULSA, Okla. — For Christopher Bargas, being the neighbor of a Bird Creek tributary comes with responsibilities, like looking out when it is getting trashed.
The stream is only a few inches tall, at best, still its crackling is loud and clear, much like the oddities that have sunken in.
The stream is littered, discarded brick lie around and a bucket, among other things.
“Just trying to maintain the properties that are here and be a good neighbor,” Bargas said.
He notified the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and was told they would send someone out to inspect this week.
A sheet of shingles on the creek’s bank was the last straw for Bargas.
“It’s really important you have a certain amount of bio activity in it because that’s their home," he said. "If you start inducing toxic substances to it, then you’re going to take something away from that particular environment.”
Bargas lives in Turley. The water is behind his home and moves into larger bodies of water, including Bird Creek.
“This feeds into the Verdigris, eventually. Bird Creek, then on into the Verdigris. Verdigris goes into the Mississippi, eventually,” Bargas said.
According to Tulsa County law, dumping on any public or private property is unlawful.
While 2 Works for You was on site, the owner of the shingles walked over. He lives on the other side of the tributary and said the other garbage flows downstream with the water, but is using the shingles to block erosion from growing further into his side of the property. The man hopes he can get help from the county.
A Tulsa County communications person said Tuesday they will evaluate the area and find out if dumping laws are being violated.
Environmental complaints can be submitted online or by phone to the Oklahoma DEQ. The hotline is 800-522-0206.
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