Oklahoma Chapter

July Chapter Updates: Pipeline Advocacy, Air Quality, Food Systems & Monarch Kickoffs!

Hi Oklahoma Sierra Club Members,

Good golly, it is HOT! I hope y'all are staying safe out there.

July has been a busy month of action across all our team. From public advocacy and volunteer training to local food systems, air quality, and water infrastructure tours, here is a look at what we’ve accomplished together this month and where we are heading in August.

Protecting Our Environment & Standing Up for Communities
 

Keystone Bridger Pipeline Advocacy: As crude oil infrastructure continues to expand, we have been speaking out in local media against the environmental and community risks of the newly proposed Keystone Bridger Pipeline planned for Cushing. We remain committed to pushing for strict environmental oversight, protecting local water resources and air quality, and boosting access to safe, good green jobs. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1366411228950833/

Tulsa Drone Delivery Expansion: With commercial drone delivery service preparing to launch in Tulsa in September, we have been actively engaging in public discussions and media interviews to elevate concerns regarding noise pollution and the impacts on urban wildlife habitats. The FAA regulates Tulsa airspace—meaning state and local officials, especially Representative Meloyde Blancett and City Councilor Laura Bellis, have limited regulatory power—though we greatly appreciate their responsiveness to citizen concerns. While we support moving toward electric transportation for goods, we are concerned that our progress on protecting birds and pollinators may be disrupted by low-flying aircraft and noise. We will keep a close eye on this development and look forward to your input as well.

Building Grassroots Power & Outdoor Leadership
 

Thanking Our Legislators: The Capitol Action Team (CAT) successfully wrapped up the third and final event of our summer Legislator Thank-You Note writing series! We were thrilled to be joined in attendance by State House Representatives Meloyde Blancett and Amanda Clinton. Building strong, positive relationships with elected officials outside of the legislative session is vital to our long-term advocacy for clean energy, water quality and quantity, wildlife and environmental protections. Check out our 2026 Legislative Scorecard for more details on how our legislators interacted with our priorities this past session.

Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT): Congratulations to our five newest certified Outings Leaders who completed their OLT in Norman! Expanding our roster of trained leaders allows us to safely guide more community members into nature across the state. Future First Aid trainings are planned for OKC and Tulsa in the coming months. Stay tuned for future updates or Sign Up Here to Volunteer & Request Outings Info.

Regional Group Highlights
 

Tackling Tulsa Air Quality with Green Country Group: At their July meeting, the Green Country Group tackled a critical local health issue with guest speaker Michelle Merchant from the INCOG Tulsa Area Clean Cities Program. Tulsa currently ranks in the bottom 20 cities nationwide for ozone pollution. Because none of us have a choice about whether to breathe, children, the elderly, and individuals with cardiovascular or lung diseases are especially vulnerable. Michelle walked members through the challenges Tulsa faces in improving local air quality and highlighted actionable paths forward toward a cleaner, healthier future.

Red Earth Group Summer Social: Red Earth Group Chair Heather Supinie shared a lovely recap of their July 23rd gathering:
"We had a great time at the annual Summer Social and Picnic Potluck last week! There was so much good food and great company at our event. For something different, we gave the REG ExCom members an opportunity to talk about the different projects or committees they've worked on so far this year. It also gave members an opportunity to hear what we (the lead volunteers) have been up to behind the scenes. It's nice to know what's going on and give people opportunities to volunteer."

Up Next: Red Earth Group is taking August off from their regular meeting schedule, so keep your eyes and ears open for their next gathering at the Eastside Library in September!

Cimarron Group Water Treatment Tour: On Saturday, July 25th, 17 attendees joined the Cimarron Group for an eye-opening tour of the Hefner Water Treatment Facility. The group got a firsthand look at the processes and byproducts involved in treating the roughly 60 million gallons of drinking water our city relies on from this source daily. Special thanks to our wonderful tour guide and everyone who attended—keep an eye out for future opportunities to tour OKC recycling facilities!

Reshaping Local Food Systems with Cimarron Group: Cimarron Group Chair Jessica Zimmerman shared a wonderful recap of their July 23rd meeting with guest speaker Travis Andrews of Native Farming Solutions:
"The food we eat has a major impact on our environment, our health, and our communities. While Oklahoma currently sits at the bottom of rankings for access to healthy food and lacks a comprehensive Food Policy Council, groups like Native Farming Solutions are working to reshape our landscape and increase access to sustainably grown produce and traditional Native American foods. Sierra Club has a role to play in this network—whether by supporting local food growers, advocating for positive food-related policy, volunteering at community gardens, or building networks across environmental organizations."

Next Month with Cimarron: Mark your calendars to join the Cimarron Group next month to learn about Oklahoma’s Liquid Gold (our groundwater!) with Andrew Fleet from the OSU Extension. Sign Up Here to Bring Snacks!

Urgent Deadline: Apply for the Oklahoma Wildlife Habitat Grant!
 

Do you live in Grady, Logan, Oklahoma, or Tulsa County? Time is running out to apply for the Wildlife Habitat Grant Program!

The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and Oklahoma Monarch Society have partnered for a second year to support Oklahomans creating native wildlife habitat that benefits pollinators, birds, and other native species.

• How it works: Grant funding is available at $525 per 100 square feet of habitat, with eligible projects ranging from 100 to 1,000 square feet—whether you're creating habitat in your yard or another outdoor space!
• Who is eligible: Eligible counties rotate annually to expand opportunities across Oklahoma based on available funding. This year focuses on Grady, Logan, Oklahoma, and Tulsa counties.
• Deadline: August 2, 2026 (Funding support is provided by the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Oklahoma Monarch Society, and Oklahoma Native Plant Society).

👉 Learn More and Apply for the Wildlife Habitat Grant Before August 2nd

Take Action: Monarch Conservation Kickoff Events!
 

Our great state is getting an updated roadmap for pollinator protection, and we need your help to celebrate and put it into action! Join us as we team up with the Oklahoma Monarch Society to launch the Oklahoma Monarch Conservation Action Plan (Version 2.0):

OKC Kickoff

Sunday, Aug 23rd from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Anthem Brewing Company in Oklahoma City

OKC Facebook Event

Tulsa Kickoff

Sunday, Aug 30th from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Heirloom Rustic Ales Tulsa

Tulsa Facebook Event

Grateful for Our Oklahoma Sierra Club Community
 

None of this work—from protecting our water and air quality to training outings leaders and advocating at the Capitol—would be possible without the generous financial investments of our donors. Your support powers every campaign, community event, and grassroots victory across Oklahoma.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteer Gratitude Team, who work alongside me behind the scenes to ensure our donors are personally thanked and know just how much their support means to our chapter.

Whether you give your time, your voice, or your financial support, thank you for being in this movement with us!

Support Our Work – Donate to the Oklahoma Sierra Club

Get Involved – Sign Up to Volunteer With Us

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to exploring, enjoying, and protecting Oklahoma!

Best, 

KJ McKee 
Chapter Director 
Oklahoma Sierra Club

Legislative Action