Like any city, Oklahoma City has an enormous, and inevitable, impact on its natural environment. Significant issues that we must address include the impact of development on natural features, loss of prime farmland, loss of natural features, and pollution. These issues and some solutions are discussed here.

Development. Oklahoma City’s dispersed development pattern consumes open space, modifies floodplains, and disrupts other natural features and processes. This pattern increases threats to sensitive species, reduces biodiversity, and alters ecosystem functionality.

Agricultural Land. Dispersed development patterns consume prime agricultural lands. Because of its large area, the city encompasses extensive agricultural resources and active farming. Yet, of our prime farmland, 46% has already been converted to residential use (including acreages) and another 25% is zoned residential. With local and global food security issues on the horizon in the coming century, conversion of prime farmland to other uses should only be done in extreme circumstances.

Ecosystem Decline. In addition to farmland, our expansive city also incorporates extensive natural areas. One unique feature is the Cross Timbers, a mix of savanna, glade, and woodland that marks the transition between the Great Plains and eastern forests. The city also includes expansive prairie grasslands, which are the most altered and endangered ecosystem on the planet, and a variety of streams and wetland environments. Successful nature conservation requires not only that ecosystems be protected, but also that they be contiguous, with corridors for wildlife movement and sufficient space for plant and animal populations to flourish. Unmanaged development fragments ecosystems, making them less viable for wildlife and less useful and attractive to people.

Brownfields. Brownfields are properties that are or may be contaminated with environmental pollutants. Cleaning up abandoned or vacant brownfields can return the properties to productive use. Successful examples, such as the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and various MAPS projects, have increased awareness of brownfields and the federal, state, and city resources available. But past history, uncertainties about costs and liabilities, and lender and investor caution continue to hinder brownfield redevelopment. For projects not participating in the federal brownfields program, local regulations and due diligence requirements are inadequate for creating a predictable marketplace for brownfield development.

Land Conservation. Conservation is a solution to many of the environmental issues identified in greenokc. Conservation easements, for example, preserve landscapes while offering economic benefits to developers and landowners. Yet Oklahoma City has lagged in this area, reserving only about 40 acres of land through easements. In our own region, Edmond and Norman have been more effective in conservation through planning and acquisition of important land with local land trusts and can serve as examples for improvements in our city.

The park space shown here integrates built elements with natural elements creating an exciting public space.

The extent and nature of urban development has a major impact on Oklahoma City’s critical surface water and groundwater resources. Key water-related issues include water quality, groundwater conservation, and the amount of impervious coverage, which affects both surface and groundwater.

Surface Water. According to 2011 data from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 70% of Oklahoma City’s major streams and lakes fail to meet water quality standards. These problems are largely caused by stormwater runoff that discharges contaminants into waterways and by inappropriate land use and management adjacent to surface water bodies.

Groundwater. A stable supply of water below ground is necessary to support agriculture, rural development, and some domestic water users. In Oklahoma City, our groundwater appears to be receding. According to a study released in 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the average depth to groundwater increased by 3.75 feet between 1987 and 2009. Based on the current maximum pumping rates allowed by the State of Oklahoma, the study indicated that if the maximum allowable number of wells is installed, the aquifer could be in danger of depletion in 35 to 41 years.

Impervious Coverage. Impervious coverage refers to land covered by hard surfaces, preventing the ground from naturally absorbing rainwater, which is a major cause of declining water quality. Research indicates that when 10% of a watershed has been converted to impervious surface, significant ecological damage has already been done. According to the City’s Health Impact Assessment, of the city’s 40 sub-watersheds, 16 are above 10%, and eight are between 5% and 10%.

Drainage solutions in use today have improved drainage but come with undesirable side effects. For example, channelization and other “hard” engineering solutions can speed the flow of contaminated runoff water into streams and lakes. Methods that manage runoff by mimicking landforms and natural drainage patterns can provide mitigation but are not widely used in Oklahoma City.

Impaired Surface Water Bodies

The Oklahoma River: A seven-mile stretch of the North Canadian, the Oklahoma River is a series of river lakes that are bordered by landscaped areas, walking trails, and recreation facilities. Located in the heart of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma River is home to the Boathouse District, which hosts numerous man-powered and motorized boating events, festivals, and races each year.

The Oklahoma River: In addition, the district is home to the OKC National High Performance Center, a training facility that has been named a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Maintaining and improving surface quality is critical for the continued success, enjoyment and development of the Oklahoma River and the Boathouse District.

The health effects of motor vehicle emissions is a serious issue for all cities, and especially Oklahoma City, where low population density contributes to the relatively high amount of vehicle travel for the movement of people and freight. Oklahoma City is already at risk of violating air quality standards, and compliance could become even more difficult if national concerns about climate change produce more stringent emissions standards in the future. Oklahoma’s unusual weather patterns during the last few years give credence to these concerns. The city’s primary air quality issues involve ground level ozone, greenhouse gases (GHG), and air temperature.

Ozone & Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Ozone is a chemically active form of oxygen produced when motor vehicle and industrial emissions react with sunlight. Far in the upper atmosphere, ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, when concentrated at ground level, it harms human respiratory systems and environmental health. During the last decade, our metropolitan area has seen a steady increase in the number of days per year that ground level ozone was listed as the main pollutant on the Air Quality Index.

Air Temperature. In addition to the impact of GHGs on overall climate, Oklahoma City’s urbanized area creates a “heat island” that is 3.6ºF warmer during the day and 5.4ºF warmer at night than surrounding rural areas. This is caused by lack of vegetation and a high percentage of surfaces that absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night. Heat islands can impact personal, environmental, and economic health by contributing to heat-related illnesses, impaired air and water quality, and increased energy consumption.

Nationally, buildings account for a larger share of total energy use and carbon dioxide emissions than the transportation and industrial sectors, including over 70% of electricity consumption. The number of “green” buildings in the city certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program is increasing, led by the achievement of gold level certification by the Devon Tower and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s Research Tower.

While headline projects like these provide excellent models for what can be done, sustainable practices and their benefits are within reach of everyone. However, many of our buildings use outdated design and construction techniques and materials. For example, conventional development continues to favor low-density, single purpose buildings over vertically integrated structures. This increases the amount of exterior wall in relation to floor area and, consequently, air conditioning requirements. Poor ventilation coupled with interior finishes like carpeting, paint, and adhesives that contain chemicals can degrade indoor air quality. Outside the building, we use landscape materials that require a great deal of water and energy to maintain, in turn requiring civic infrastructure investments that lead to higher costs for water customers. All too often, projects focus on short-term finance, using techniques and materials that appear economical up front but are ultimately very expensive to maintain over the life of a building.

People often equate “green” or “sustainable” design with exotic technologies and high cost. Yet buildings that lack green certification can also benefit from improved efficiency. Application of the EPA’s Sustainable Design and Green Building Assessment to Oklahoma City found a variety of barriers, many of which can be addressed through policy change and incentives. We can also provide an example to developers and save taxpayers money by adopting sustainable and green building standards in municipal buildings.

OMRF Research Tower: The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation's research tower was designed with sustainability in mind, and earned LEED Gold certification. Energy management practices will save the equivalent of 44,000 gallons of gasoline and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million pounds every year. The building's most distinctive feature is its rooftop wind farm, using 18 wind turbines to supply needed electricity to the building's systems.

Two food issues affect Oklahoma City: food accessibility and locally produced food. Some Oklahoma City neighborhoods lack access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. These neighborhoods, referred to as “food deserts” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are low income communities with few grocery stores, supermarkets, or farmers markets. Lack of grocery access leaves people with few options, leading to higher consumption of unhealthy foods from convenience stores and fast food restaurants.

Locally produced food, which is locally grown and/or processed, benefits people, the economy, and the environment. Consuming sustainably grown fresh fruits and vegetables benefits health, and the economy benefits because a higher percentage of money remains in local circulation when food is purchased directly from the producer. Environmental benefits derive from decreased transportation emissions and because many small producers use more environmentally friendly growing practices. Due to these benefits, demand for locally grown food is high, and it generally outpaces supply in Oklahoma City. More must be done to stimulate production and distribution, particularly of fruits and vegetables, which are in high demand.

Food Availability in Oklahoma City: Many neighborhoods lack access to supermarkets, small groceries, and other outlets for fresh and healthy food. This low accessibility is especially pronounced in the northeast part of the city. According to the planokc Health Impact Assessment, simply having access to a grocery store does not mean that a person has access to healthy options, as many stores may only offer low-quality foods or may charge a much higher amount for organic or healthier options. In order to account for this, the NEMS-S (Nutritional Environment Measures Survey - Supermarkets) was used as an evaluation tool to provide a solid metric by which to compare the quality of major grocery stores in Oklahoma City. This score, combined with a service area of 1 mile, gives a better understanding of those in the city who have access to healthy foods. Based on this approach, it was determined that only 1 in 5 Oklahoma City residents live within a mile of an above average grocery store that provides affordable, healthy options, while 62% of residents have no grocery stores whatsoever within a mile of their home.