Save the Illinois River Inc. | Environment | April 23, 2025
A tributary of Barren Fork Creek, a designated Oklahoma Scenic River, is an ephemeral stream, flowing intermittingly or sub-surface (STIR Photo)
EPHEMERAL STREAMS IMPORTANT TO ILLINOIS RIVER WATERSHED.
Farm Bureau Ignores ephemeral streams
April 23, 2025
Oklahoma Farm Report
The American Farm Bureau Federation today asked for changes to the “Waters of the United States” rule to bring it in line with the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court ruling, which called for more clarity in water regulations. AFBF submitted comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s request for recommendations.
“Considering drains, ditches, stock ponds, impoundments, irrigation ditches, and low spots in farm fields and pastures as jurisdictional ‘waters’ opens the door to regulation of ordinary farming activities that move dirt or apply products to the land on those lands,” AFBF stated in its comments. “Everyday activities such as plowing, planting, or fence building in or near ephemeral drainages, impoundments, ditches, or low spots could result in enforcement action triggering the (Clean Waters Act’s) harsh civil and criminal penalties unless a permit was obtained first. Bear in mind that permitting under CWA requires the investment of significant amounts of time and money. Most farmers and ranchers have neither of those in abundance.”
STIR's position on so-called ephemeral streams
Ephemeral drainages often are cited in the discussion of water quality protection and in the in much-debated issue of Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
In the Illinois River watershed, there are many ephemeral streams leading to the Illinois River and its tributaries. These streams may only flow after heavy rain, but they still are important contributors to the river and Lake Tenkiller. Many have sub-surface flow. These streams carry polluted water from poultry farms and fields fertilized with chicken litter and cattle manure.
They are vital for high water quality, but Big Ag wants the EPA to ignore them.
