Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #1

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1 and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Owl Creek Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2. Site #1. Detention Reservoir. Drainage area – 500 acres. 81.0 acres in cultivation; 334.0 acres in pasture, range, woods; 85.0 acres in abandoned cropland – revegetated. Excellent cover on grassland provides silt screen for water from cultivated land. Note all cultivated fields were terraced when picture was taken. Permanent storage: 1.10. Flood storage: 4.18. Peak flow: 900 c.f.s. Release rate: 23 c.f.s. Detention reservoir protects 700 acres. Flood drainage benefit ration 66:1. Note farm ponds on main branches of drain above this reservoir. Others are planned. White arrows appearing in foreground mark each end of dam at center line. Arrows laid out & ground covered with lime slurry.”
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #4

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #4 and the surrounding area. A road runs vertically on the left side of the photograph. Furthermore, a small house stands next to the road in the upper left. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2 – Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #4. Redish [sic] Prairie Land Resource group. 70 acres in cultivation, 220 acres in pasture, range, woods; 10 acres in abandoned cropland. Excellent cover on grassland. In foreground abandoned cropland has been revegetated. At right geological erosion has been greatly retarded by good grass and controlled vegetation. Permanent storage: 1.13 in. Flood storage: 4.10 inches. Peak flow: 490 c.f.s. Release rate: 12 c.f.s. Acres of bottomland protected: 700 acres. Flood drainage benefit ratio: 6.6/1. Near top of photo the main drain appears to continue up (north) and beyond the field of the camera. Actually this drainageway drains in the opposite direction startin [sic] ¼ from top of photo.”
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Switchgrass In Bloom

Photograph of a six year old Switchgrass in bloom. Note bare ground near clump where sand Lovegrass has been eliminated.
Date: July 14, 1956
Creator: Engleman, Jack
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Seeding and Overseeding

Photograph of land seeded to sand Lovegrass in 1945 and over seeded to bluestem mixture in 1950. Note elimination of sand Lovegrass in competition with other grasses.
Date: July 14, 1956
Creator: Engleman, Jack
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Excellent Specimens of Bluestem

Photograph of some excellent specimens of bluestem. Sand bluestem on the left and little bluestem on right. Note sand Lovegrass adjacent. Pasture was grazed all during 1955 but not heavily. Good vigor of grass in 1956 at watering place. Bluestem plants six years old.
Date: July 14, 1956
Creator: Engleman, Jack
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Watershed Drop Inlet

Photograph of aerial view of watershed: OK-SCD-20 Wa #5, Site #3. Type of structure: Drop inlet. Drainage area: 160 acres. Soil units: Deep medium textured slowly permeable and permeable. Area in cultivation: 32 acres. Area in pasture: 12 acres. Area in abandoned cropland: 116 acres. General condition of drainage area: Poor cover, sheet and gully erosion. Note: Right edge shown Site #2 on Adolph Johanson farm. Type of structure: Drop inlet. Drainage area - 15 acres (4 acres in pasture, 11 acres in abandoned cropland). General condition of drainage area: Poor cover, serious gully & sheet erosion. It protects detention reservoir #1 & bottomland from silt. See pipe installed in third gully from right edge.
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Irrigation Ditches

Photograph of concrete liined irrigation ditch is stablized but unlined ditch is eroding.
Date: July 14, 1955
Creator: Murray, Hubert J.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Hybrid Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of hybrid Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation. Chickasha silt loam on 5 - 8% slope. Fertilized 200 pounds 1 A of 10-20-10. OK-1155-10.
Date: July 14, 1960
Creator: Fortney, Fred
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of hybrid Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation. Chickasha silt loam on 5 - 8% slope. Fertilized 200 pounds 1 A of 10-20-10. OK-1155-10.
Date: July 14, 1960
Creator: Fortney, Fred
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Soils, Soil Erosion, Soil Conservation & Crop Management

Photograph of Carey silt loam profile. Note the compound columnar structure and the accumulation of caliche. The A1 horizon is about 12 inches thick, the B2 and B3 are about 2 ½ feet thick and the C ca [ca = pedogenic carbonates = carbonic acids that can that modify soil constituents] horizon extend below this. Entire picture covers 6½ feet of depth, typical of much of Carey soils in Harper County, transported by alluvial-colluvial forces from nearby hills and a weak B horizon has formed in places. Some soils are moderately permeable. OK-304-4.
Date: July 14, 1956
Creator: Nance, Earl C.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History
Graphs, Charts and Other Forms of Data (open access)

Graphs, Charts and Other Forms of Data

Photograph of a chart showing a comparison of tall fescue and orchard grass when grown alone and in mixture with Ladino clover. 3-Year Average of forage production.
Date: July 14, 1955
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Lost Water from Straight Row Farming

Photograph of lost water from straight row farming on about 2 percent slope section of land. Water was coming from field out into bar ditch in foreground along highway. Photograph was taken during a 1 in. rain.
Date: July 14, 1938
Creator: McLean, B. C.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

W. R. Whitehead

Photograph of W. R. Whitehead hand harvesting weeping lovegrass.
Date: July 14, 1945
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #1

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1 and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Owl Creek Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2. Site #1. Detention Reservoir. Drainage area – 500 acres. 81.0 acres in cultivation; 334.0 acres in pasture, range, woods; 85.0 acres in abandoned cropland – revegetated. Excellent cover on grassland provides silt screen for water from cultivated land. Note all cultivated fields were terraced when picture was taken. Permanent storage: 1.10. Flood storage: 4.18. Peak flow: 900 c.f.s. Release rate: 23 c.f.s. Detention reservoir protects 700 acres. Flood drainage benefit ration 66:1. Note farm ponds on main branches of drain above this reservoir. Others are planned. White arrows appearing in foreground mark each end of dam at center line. Arrows laid out & ground covered with lime slurry.”
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #1

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1 and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Owl Creek Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2. Site #1. Detention Reservoir. Drainage area – 500 acres. 81.0 acres in cultivation; 334.0 acres in pasture, range, woods; 85.0 acres in abandoned cropland – revegetated. Excellent cover on grassland provides silt screen for water from cultivated land. Note all cultivated fields were terraced when picture was taken. Permanent storage: 1.10. Flood storage: 4.18. Peak flow: 900 c.f.s. Release rate: 23 c.f.s. Detention reservoir protects 700 acres. Flood drainage benefit ration 66:1. Note farm ponds on main branches of drain above this reservoir. Others are planned. White arrows appearing in foreground mark each end of dam at center line. Arrows laid out & ground covered with lime slurry.”
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #4

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #4 and the surrounding area. A road runs vertically on the left side of the photograph. Furthermore, a small house stands next to the road in the upper left. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2 – Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #4. Redish [sic] Prairie Land Resource group. 70 acres in cultivation, 220 acres in pasture, range, woods; 10 acres in abandoned cropland. Excellent cover on grassland. In foreground abandoned cropland has been revegetated. At right geological erosion has been greatly retarded by good grass and controlled vegetation. Permanent storage: 1.13 in. Flood storage: 4.10 inches. Peak flow: 490 c.f.s. Release rate: 12 c.f.s. Acres of bottomland protected: 700 acres. Flood drainage benefit ratio: 6.6/1. Near top of photo the main drain appears to continue up (north) and beyond the field of the camera. Actually this drainageway drains in the opposite direction startin [sic] ¼ from top of photo.”
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Site 4, Sergeant Major Creek Doxey Shale Formation

Photograph of Doxey shale formation in north abutment of relocated Site 4, Sergeant Major Creek. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Doxey shale formation in north abutment of relocated Site 4. Here the formation dips slightly upstream (to the left), a favorable situation for a dam site.”
Date: July 14, 1955
Creator: Brune, G. M.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Conservation; Water Erosion; Flooding and Prevention

Photograph of waershed structure showing wave action damage. Button bush has been planted on the front slope. OK-4238-6.
Date: July 14, 1971
Creator: Salisbury, Russell
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Conservation; Water Erosion; Flooding and Prevention

Photograph, Upper Washita watershed, watershed structure that has been overgrazed. OK-4238-4.
Date: July 14, 1971
Creator: Salisbury, Russell
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Owl Creek Detention Reservoir Site #5

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #5 and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Ok-SCD-13-Wa.2. Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #5. Drainage area: 490 acres (100 acres in cultivation: 330 acres in pasture, range, woods; 60 acres in abandoned cropland). Redish [sic] Prairie soil unit. Grassland near dam site in excellent condition. Abandoned cropland in top of drainage area has or is being seeded or sodded to grass. Permanent storage: 1.15. Flood storage: 4.51. Peak flow: 975 c.f.s. Release rate: 19 c.f.s. 700 acres of bottomland protected. Flood drainage benefit ratio, 6.6:1. Note: arrows at bottom ends of dam on center line. Foreground in bottom drain has been used as a meadow. Retired terraced land at top."
Date: July 14, 1948
Creator: Ginter Photo Co.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Three UNIDENTIFIED Workers Using A Hydro Seeder on Backslope of Detention Site, No. 4, Sgt. Major Creek, to Mixture of Native Grasses

Photograph of three UNIDENTIFED workers using a hydro seeder to seed backslope of Detention site, No. 4, Sgt. Major Creek, to mixture of native grasses. Bermuda sprigging crew is seen on the bottom left and a fencing crew is located in the center right of photo. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Hydro seeder seeding back slope [sic] of Detention site, No. 4, Sgt. Major Creek, to mixture of native grasses. Men in lower left corner is Bermuda springing crew. Fencing crew is busy also."
Date: July 14, 1958
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Lost from Cultivated Field

Photograph of water lost from a field left of the photograph. The field was cultivated up and down slope. This stream of water came out of field into the bar ditch along highway during a 1.5 in. rainfall. Width of stream in foreground is 40 feet. Photo was taken while raining. Slope estimated to be 2 percent.
Date: July 14, 1938
Creator: McLean, B. C.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Pouring Out of a Field

Photograph of a river of water pouring out of a section of land. Up and down slope tilled during a 1 1/4 inch of rain. Straight rows may be seen in background. The slope was about 2.5 inch toward the point where the picture was taken. The huge volume of water that broke through the end of the field into the bar ditch along highway caused regular rapids and churning water. Width of water in the main current was at least 2 feet deep. Photo was taken during a rain.
Date: July 14, 1938
Creator: McLean, B. C.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Farming Equipment and Methods

Photograph of hand harvesting weeping lovegrass seed in a 2-year old planting in a corner of a cultivated field. (Note terraces and contour cultivation in background). W.R. Whitehead operates a 520 acre farm and plans to plant 10 to 15 acres of lovegrass next year. Last year he hand harvested 24 lbs. of seed from 1/8th an acre. A 2 acre field of rye grass was grazed by 130 hogs, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon for 90 days beginning February 1, 1945. Seed was then combined from the plot. Mr. Whitehead says the grazing alone was worth as much to him as 200 bushels of corn. Yield of lovegrass seed this year is estimated at 125 lbs per acre from approximately 8 acres. Mr. Whitehead and his son are shown in the photpgraph. OK-8992.
Date: July 14, 1945
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History