Boaters, campers thank pollution lawsuit for helping Illinois River watershed appear cleaner

Boaters, campers credit lawsuit for improved river

SCRAPER, Okla. — Many campers, boaters and business owners in northeastern Oklahoma are crediting a 2005 lawsuit against the poultry industry for the Illinois River watershed appearing much cleaner than it was several years ago.

They say the lawsuit against industry giants such as Tyson Foods Inc. and Cargill Inc. brought more attention to just how bad things had become in the once-pristine valley.

A decision on the lawsuit is still pending, but both sides agree that the river is cleaner.

In its suit, the state claims runoff from land covered with chicken waste for decades contaminated the watershed.

The industry has countered that cattle, area businesses and others are to blame for the pollution.