Geology topics

Research about Skiatook Lake

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Skiatook Lake.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2007

Geologic controls on movement of produced-water releases at US geological survey research Site A, Skiatook lake, Osage county, Oklahoma

Highly saline produced water was released from multiple sources during oil field operations from 1913 to 1973 at the USGS research Site A on Skiatook Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. Two pits, designed to hold produced water and oil, were major sources for release of these fluids at the site. Produced water spills from these and other features moved downslope following topography and downdip by percolating through permeable eolian sand and colluvium, underlying permeable sandstone, and, to a lesser extent, through shales and mudstones. Saline water penetrated progressively deeper units as it moved through the gently dipping bedrock to the north and NW. A large eroded salt scar north of the pits coincides with underlying fine-grained rocks that have retained substantial concentrations of salt, causing slow revegetation. Where not eroded, thick eolian sand or permeable sandstone bedrock is near the surface, and vegetation has been little affected or has reestablished itself after the introduced salt was flushed by precipitation. The extent of salt-contaminated bedrock extends well beyond existing surface salt scars. These results indicate that one of the legacies of surface salt spills can be a volume of subsurface salinization larger than the visible surface disturbance.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2007

Use of dissolved chloride concentrations in tributary streams to support geospatial estimates of Cl contamination potential near Skiatook Lake, northeastern Oklahoma

Releases of NaCl-rich (>100 000 mg/L) water that is co-produced from petroleum wells can adversely affect the quality of ground and surface waters. To evaluate produced water impacts on lakes, rivers and streams, an assessment of the contamination potential must be attainable using reliable and cost-effective methods. This study examines the feasibility of using geographic information system (GIS) analysis to assess the contamination potential of Cl to Skiatook Lake in the Hominy Creek drainage basin in northeastern Oklahoma. GIS-based predictions of affects of Cl within individual subdrainages are supported by measurements of Cl concentration and discharge in 19 tributaries to Skiatook Lake. Dissolved Cl concentrations measured in October, 2004 provide a snapshot of conditions assumed to be reasonably representative of typical inputs to the lake. Chloride concentrations ranged from 5.8 to 2300 mg/L and compare to a value of 34 mg/L in the lake. At the time of sampling, Hominy Creek provided 63% of the surface water entering the lake and 80% of the Cl load. The Cl load from the other tributaries is relatively small (<600 kg/day) compared to Hominy Creek (11 900 kg/day) because their discharges are relatively small (<0.44 m3/s) relative to Hominy Creek (3.1 m3/s). Examination of chemical components other than Cl in stream and lake waters indicates that many species, such as SO4, cannot be used to assess contamination potential because they participate in a number of common biogeochemical processes that alter their concentrations. GIS estimates of well density, well proximity to tributaries (wells within 200 m), and subdrainage area identified tributaries with the most potential for Cl contamination. Tributaries with large measured Cl concentrations (>150 mg/L) were generally in subdrainages with greater well density (>15 wells/km2), relatively large numbers of petroleum wells in close proximity (>2 proximity wells/stream km), and relatively small discharge (<0.005 m3/s). GIS calculations of subdrainage areas can be used to estimate the expected discharge of the tributary for each subdrainage. GIS-based assessment of Cl contamination potential at Skiatook Lake and at other lakes surrounded by oil fields can proceed even when direct measurements of Cl or discharge in tributary streams may be limited or absent.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2005

Distribution and abundance of black bass in Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma, after introduction of smallmouth bass and a liberalized harvest regulation on spotted bass

We conducted a 3-year study to examine the trends in abundance and distribution of three sympatric black bass species ( Micropterus ) in an Oklahoma reservoir after implementation of a differential harvest regulation to reduce the abundance of spotted bass M. punctulatus and after stocking nonnative smallmouth bass M. dolomieu . Largemouth bass M. salmoides were stocked in Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma, immediately after its creation in 1984 to supplement the existing population in the watershed. Nonnative smallmouth bass were stocked in 1990, and their abundance and distribution have increased ever since. Native spotted bass, which have less fishery value than the other two black bass species, increased fivefold in abundance in 1994, became the predominant black bass species by at least 1996, and appeared to displace largemouth bass from many habitats. From boat-mounted electrofishing sampling conducted in April and May 1997–1999, we found that spotted bass abundance (proportion and catch per hour) had decreased while smallmouth bass abundance and distribution within the reservoir steadily increased. Largemouth bass abundance did not change among years. Throughout our study period, spotted bass was always the most abundant black bass species where differences in abundance were found. Our results suggest that the continually expanding smallmouth bass population is displacing spotted bass from many of their formerly used habitats, much like spotted bass had displaced largemouth bass by 1996.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2002

Impact of oil production releases on soil chemical properties at the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research Project Site

A site characterization study was conducted at an old oil production area where highest activity occurred during the 1930's. Two site locations referred to as OSPER are along the shoreline of Skiatook Lake northwest of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Crude oil and brine water releases have impacted soils, surface and ground water, and the Oak cross-timber ecosystem. Local effects include soil salinization with destruction of plant cover and soil texture, and resultant deep erosion. Stress on affected vegetation is prevalent, but some grass revegetation has occurred. Surface soil samples and vertical profile cores to four feet have been collected and analyzed for salinity, organic matter, petroleum hydrocarbons, texture, nitrates, and dehydrogenase activity. Native grass re-establishment was inversely related to soil salinity and extent of erosion. As expected oil wastes increased the soil organic matter, greatly over surface controls near 0.3%.. Natural soil nitrates were at a low level near 0.2 ppm, but sufficient to support native grasses.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2001

Precision and bias of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass ages estimated from scales, whole otoliths, and sectioned otoliths

We compared the precision and bias of age estimates derived from scales, whole otoliths, and sectioned otoliths and by readers of varying experience level for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, smallmouth bass M. dolomieu, and spotted bass M. punctulatus from Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma. Precision was assessed with the coefficient of variation of age estimates for each fish. Bias was determined among readers and structures from age bias graphs derived from least squares regression. Precision was similar among species for all three structures and among structures for any species, except for smallmouth bass; its age estimates were more precise with whole otoliths. Bias between pairs of readers was found for scales and whole otoliths among all three species but never for sectioned otoliths. The experience level of the reader influenced the bias between readers for scales but not for otoliths. Bias between structures was found between scales and whole otoliths for all three species and between scales and sectioned otoliths for smallmouth bass and spotted bass. Age estimates were unbiased between whole and sectioned otoliths for all three species. Although sectioned otoliths required more preparation time, they provided the best age estimates for the three populations in Skiatook Lake.

Oklahoma↗