Engel, Alexender, and Smith reported in 2008 that a phosphorus mass-balance study was performed on the Illinois River Watershed (IRW). The purpose of the study was to determine the source(s) of phosphorus causing eutrophication of Tenkiller Ferry Reservoir and water quality degradation of the Illinois River and its tributaries. Based on the findings of the study, the following were concluded:
1. Poultry production is currently responsible for more than 76% of the net annual phosphorus additions to the Illinois River Watershed.
2. Historical data indicates poultry production has been the major contributor of phosphorus to the watershed since 1964. Prior to 1964, dairy cattle were responsible for the majority of the phosphorus contribution.
3. From 1949 to 2002, there were more than 219,000 tons of phosphorus added to the IRW. Almost 68% of that addition, more than 148,000 tons, were attributable to poultry production.
4. Other contributing sources of phosphorus (net additions) include commercial fertilizers (7.5%), dairy cattle (5.2%), humans (3.2%), swine (2.9%), industrial sources - mostly poultry processing facilities (2.7%), and beef cattle (1 7%). The remaining sources of phosphorus evaluated in this study, which include urban runoff, golf courses, wholesale nurseries, and recreational users, are negligible (< 1 %).
5. Of the three phosphorus exports from the watershed (harvested crops, harvested deer, and water leaving Lake Tenkiller through the spillway) outflow of phosphorus through the spillway at the south end of Lake Tenkiller was the largest. According to current estimates, the flow of water through the spillway removes just under 1.25% of the total annual phosphorus additions to the watershed. The remaining two phosphorus exports combined remove just over 0.25% of current annual phosphorus additions to the watershed, totaling a 1.5% removal of current phosphorus additions.
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