Environmental Program
The Department’s Environmental Program, in cooperation with
other state agencies, investigates pollution complaints that
affect fish and wildlife resources. It also reviews
environmental impact documents, including water discharge
permits and major construction projects that adversely impact
fish or wildlife habitat.
Pollution complaints and fish kill reports are received by the
Department from field personnel, private citizens, other state
agencies or directly from the parties involved. The local
Department game warden, whether contacted directly by the
complainant or through the Environmental Program, is usually the
first Department representative dispatched to verify the
pollution/fish kill report. Upon arrival at the site, the game
warden will try to determine:
1) If fish or wildlife are or have been affected. This includes
an evaluation of behavioral and physiological symptoms.
2) The source of pollution, if unknown.
3) Water conditions -- color, odor, vegetation, etc.
4) The extent of the pollution/fish kill -- upstream and
downstream boundaries or land area affected.
5) The potential for continued effects.
All pollution/fish kill complaints received by ODWC are
documented and referred to the proper state agency of
jurisdiction for administrative procedures within that agency.
To report fish or wildlife kills suspected to be caused by
pollution, contact the ODWC Environmental Program, (405)
424-6062 or (405) 990-7029. The Wildlife Department investigates
fish die-off complaints on public waters (e.g. streams and
rivers) -- it does not investigate reports for ponds that have
been stocked by the owner, such as stocked catfish, hybrid
bluegill and goldfish/koi ponds. For these types of instances,
please obtain Managing Pond Fisheries in Oklahoma for $3.
To report a pollution incident without dead fish or wildlife,
contact the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s
Pollution Complaints Hotline, 1-800-522-0206.