Photograph of land protection via levee ½ miles east of Binger and looking south from a highway bridge on highway 152 on Curtis Opitz’s land. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Looking south from highway bridge on highway 152 east of Binger, Oklahoma [sic]. The field on the right is protected by a levee. This field was of little use due to overflows before the levee was constructed.”

Photograph of the proper land use of a retired cultivated field. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Planting of bluestem grass on a retired cultivated field. Old terraces are still noticeable in the field. This land is highly erodible and should be farmed with protective measures.”

Photograph of sediment damage that has caused land to go from cultivable to willows along Sugar Creek and highway 281. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Looking east from bridge on highway 281 showing sediment damage that has caused land along Sugar Creek to go from cultivation to willows.”

Photograph of the main channel of Sugar Creek south of Gracemont. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Main channel of Sugar Creek which crosses Highway 281, south of Gracemont, Oklahoma. This land was Class I and is now useless because it is covered with silt, Bermudagrass and willows. It needs protection from floodwaters to be made to produce at its maximum.”

Photograph of Crop rotation. Curtis Optiz is harvesting maize which followed vetch and rye with fertilizer added. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. OK-1474-11.

Photograph of sedimentation. Herb Prevett, Soil Conservation Service [SCS], measuring the amount of sand laid down along the channel of Sugar Creek from a single rain. This layer of sand is from 10 to 12 inches thick. Silt comes from the farms upstream where sound land use practicies are not used. OK-615-5.

Photograph of a UNIDENTIFED man standing on a bridge on Highway 281, which has sediment fill blocking water from passing underneath the bridge. A barn, house, or building stands behind the bridge. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Bridge on highway 281, 5 miles south of Hinton Oklahoma showing sediment fill. This sand from upstream has almost completely fill in under the bridge. This sand must be removed at regular intervals or the water will not have sufficient room to pass under the bridge and must overflow the highway. When the water flows around the bridge, considerable damage to the bridge approaches and highway are the result."

Photograph of B. P. Prickett examining young Black Locust trees to help prevent further severe gully erosion. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Black Locust trees planted in bottom and on sides of a severe active gully in an attempt to stabilize it against erosion. These trees were planted in March of 1957. B. P. Prickett in gully examining the young trees."

Photograph of erosion control dam, community project. Printed description on back: "Looking south at 235 feet of 18 inch diameter, with 1/4th inch thick, steel pipe being compacted in the place with spill end and laying on solid sand rock. This is principal spill for 753 acres of drainage. 125 feet of flood pool storage to be drained in 45 hours. The dam being built to control active gully eating into crop land and blocking use of county road. Caddo Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service [ASCS], County Commissioner, City of Hydro and Foss community farmers all helping in the project."

Photograph of Rob Wall, SCS, pointing to top of piling of old bridge which has been silted full. The new bridge was raised eight feet which required raising the approaches on both sides of the new bridge for approximately one-half mile.

Photograph of sediment damage looking west from bridge on highway 281 south of Hinton, Oklahoma. This is the main channed of Sugar Creek. Note the sand bars along the creek and sand deposited ont eh fields adjoining the creek. Rip rap on left has reduced the stream bank erosion but the siltation is not controlled

Photograph of a UNIDENTIFED man standing on a bridge on Highway 281, which has sediment fill blocking water from passing underneath the bridge. A barn, house, or building stands behind the bridge. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Bridge on highway 281, 5 miles south of Hinton Oklahoma showing sediment fill. This sand from upstream has almost completely fill in under the bridge. This sand must be removed at regular intervals or the water will not have sufficient room to pass under the bridge and must overflow the highway. When the water flows around the bridge, considerable damage to the bridge approaches and highway are the result."

Photograph of a UNIDENTIFED man standing on a bridge on Highway 281, which has sediment fill blocking water from passing underneath the bridge. A barn, house, or building stands behind the bridge. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Bridge on highway 281, 5 miles south of Hinton Oklahoma showing sediment fill. This sand from upstream has almost completely fill in under the bridge. This sand must be removed at regular intervals or the water will not have sufficient room to pass under the bridge and must overflow the highway. When the water flows around the bridge, considerable damage to the bridge approaches and highway are the result.”

Photograph of two UNIDENTIFED men evaluating sediment damage on the main channel of Sugar Creek. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Looking north from highway bridge on highway 152 East of Binger, Oklahoma. Field on right is unprotected and is subject to overflow. Note unevenness of the field from past flooding.”

Photograph of the proper land use of land near Sugar Creek. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Proper use of some of the better land along Sugar Creek. This Class II land has been terraced and is properly farmed. Farmstead (Fred Wunderlich?) is seen in the left background."

Photograph of the mouth of Sugar Creek two miles north of the Washita River. The area is in a heavily forested area. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Mouth of Sugar Creek 2 miles north of the Washita River. Looking south from steel bridge on country road. Sugar Creek has a drainage area of 185,000 acres all of which flows through this small channel into the Washita River.”

Photograph of Bob Wall and Herb Prevett examining siltation under Highway Bridge on Highway 281, south of Gracemont. The photograph does not indicate the position of Wall or Prevett. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Highway bridge on Highway 281 south of Gracemont, Oklahoma showing sediment deposited within two feet of bridge abutment on 275 feet of the original 325 feet length of bridge. Bob Wall and Herb Prevett examining siltation under bridge.”

Photograph of M. A. Caruso here on land that had grown weeping lovegrass for 10 years. The grass was plowed out and wheat planted in its place. The wheat shows excellent color and vigor. Caruso is Chair of the Board of Supervisors. OK-1474-8.

Photograph of M. A. Caruso inspecting a pasture planting consisting of weeping lovegrass. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Pasture Planting. Caruso in weeping lovegrass seeded in 1945, that has carried a grazing load of 107 head of cattle on 70 acres all summer."

Photograph of a large gully formed on the Esynter Estate five miles SE of Binger. The back of the photograph proclaims, “A severely eroded farm showing the results of land misuse along Sugar Creek. Note the rows on the far side of the gully running up and down hill, which go as near the edge of the gully as it is safe for a tractor to go. This keeps the lip of the gully free of vegetation and encourages continuous erosion. This is Class VII land and needs to be put into permanent grass for its protection."

Photograph of two UNIDENTIFED men evaluating sediment damage on the main channel of Sugar Creek. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Looking west from bridge on highway 281 south of Hinton, Oklahoma. This is the main channel of Sugar Creek. Note the sand bars along the creek and sand deposited on the fields adjoining the creek. Rip rap on left has reduced the stream bank erosion but is not controlled."