Stench not a problem? Think again

[Conan71]

I work about 6 blocks from the south end of the Sinclair refinery and I have to say I rarely smell anything objectionable coming from the north when the wind is blowing from that direction.  I think saying the refineries stink all the time is an over-generalization.  

There would be more potential for stench coming from meth labs in Garden City.

My brother lived at River House near the 21st St. bridge and I don't recall anything wafting over there except for an occasional odor from a refinery.  

Walking along the trails, yes, you do get some smell from wet mud, but that's the case at any lake or river you can visit around the country.

Waterboy- Do you remember the "Open Door Arts Cooperative" that used to be across the side street from where the Full Moon is now?  That was cool funky Bohemian.  Speaking of which, what used to be in the Full Moon space?

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I work about 6 blocks from the south end of the Sinclair refinery and I have to say I rarely smell anything objectionable coming from the north when the wind is blowing from that direction.  I think saying the refineries stink all the time is an over-generalization.  

There would be more potential for stench coming from meth labs in Garden City.

My brother lived at River House near the 21st St. bridge and I don't recall anything wafting over there except for an occasional odor from a refinery.  

Walking along the trails, yes, you do get some smell from wet mud, but that's the case at any lake or river you can visit around the country.

Waterboy- Do you remember the "Open Door Arts Cooperative" that used to be across the side street from where the Full Moon is now?  That was cool funky Bohemian.  Speaking of which, what used to be in the Full Moon space?

Sorry, I don't remember the Cooperative location. But I do remember the Full Moon in a few different uses. One was a mechanic garage of some sort, then a newpaper I believe called the "Oily Town Rag" and then a lovely little tea garden kind of restaurant for elegant women. Do you remember Cardo's Cadillac and their great spicy mexican?

[pmcalk]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Waterboy- Do you remember the "Open Door Arts Cooperative" that used to be across the side street from where the Full Moon is now?  That was cool funky Bohemian.  Speaking of which, what used to be in the Full Moon space?

I remember the Open Door--great place to hang out.  Since they didn't serve alcohol, it was one of the few places we could hang out in highschool.  We also rented it out occassionally for parties.  

What was the name of the funky antique clothing store?  The spectrum?

Back on topic--Waterboy, while there are many great things about Tulsa, I think it is ok to admit that sometimes the refineries on the river stink.  There are days when I get headaches from the smell of something burning.  I think it is better to admit this, and try to resolve it, then to pretend it doesn't exist.

[jamesrage]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy


What a crock. Your first time fishing? Fish stink, wet river banks stink, but I just spent two & 1/2 hours kayaking that area and didn't notice any smell, chemical or otherwise. And its a rainy day which usually increases the chances for stink. I saw smoke coming from the Texaco stacks which if the wind had been blowing from that direction would be detectable. But that is not the river. That is a refinery and those types of smells can even be detected at 41st & Sheridan where an aluminum smelter operation is active.

I really get tired of the "river stinks", "downtown sucks", "the arena will never make money", "big bad developers have ruined Tulsa" crap that people keep spouting here regardless of facts to the contrary. So fun to say, so stupid to hear. Get over it. The refineries make money, the arena will be completed and make money, downtown and river development WILL happen and WILL be successful using these big bad developers. But doubt you whiners will ever notice.

A.The river does stink.And I know what fish smell like.Have you ever noticed any normal people swimming in the river or eating fish from the river?If the river is clean please tell me why have two little dirt mound islands have been put in the river and nobody has done any thing to them?If you can't smell the stench from the river your sense of smell is obviously impaired.

B.Downtown does sucks.It is a bum magnet and paid parking sucks.Downtown are parking lot/garage eyesore.Downtown is a old blind arthritic toothless dog on terminal cancer that needs to be put out of it's misery.The only thing worth going to downtown for is Cains Ballroom,Brady Theater ,Mexicali Border Cafe,Spaghetti Warehouse and Home Depot. I am sure those places can be relocated to other parts of Tulsa or substitutions for those places can already be found elsewhere in Tulsa.Downtown will never ever see any of it's old glory days.If you want to ruin 71st and memorial or any other popular part of town just add soup kitchens and other bum magnets and make all the lots paid parking lots and add a bunch of parking garages.

[Breadburner]

The Full Moon....Was Cherries at one time...And also The Black Forrest....

[waterboy]

PM, I want to emphasize the difference between the smell of the refineries, and the natural smell of a body of water. People reference the area as "the river" then complain about the stink, which is petro-chemical.

James, do some research. I have never met a "normal" person, but lots of people have and do swim in the river and eat the fish. They show no ill effects from it. Bottom feeders are suspect in any body of water though. I spent much of three summers waist deep in this river and never even got a rash. But I suspect when you say river you refer to what you see around Zink lake to Jenks. When I say river, I refer to Keystone Dam down to Zink Lake.

Zink lake suffers from fertilizer runoff from area neighborhoods and a high concentration of animal feces. Mostly geese droppings. One goose produces 1lb per day of droppings. Health Dept. used to monitor the river at Zink, now I think the ODEQ does it. Neither showed high amounts of pollution from reports I saw. Generally the river is in good shape but worse around Tulsa because of the low water dam slowing its movement.

The two islands are also public record. They have been off limits most of their life because they are a habitat for endangered least terns. Recently it was made public by The Channels what many of us knew for years. The islands are man-made "caps" that cover barrels of refinery waste. There is no indication of leakage, which would have affected the geeses, terns, foxes, beavers and fish that populate the area. However, it should be cleaned up.

Nature stinks. When the water level drops on any body of water, the remaining biologicals start to decay and gassify. It doesn't bother me or most fishermen any more than manure bothers a farmer, but city folks aren't familiar with nature. So, the river stinks ergo the river is polluted ergo dangerous.

As a post script, I heard a young woman complaining to her boyfriend on the river path early this spring that the river was really stinky. Her boyfriend couldn't smell it nor could I. The river was full. Turns out she was under one of the blooming ornamental trees that indeed was quite stinky. She represents yet another convert to the brigade of city folks who can't tell the difference.