United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (4503-F) Washington, DC 20460 EPA 841-R-97-001 October 1997 Section 31© Success Stories: Volume II Highlights of State and Tribal Nonpoint Source Programs ------- ------- INTRODUCTION i STflTES | ALABAMA Conserving Alabama's Lakes and Rivers — The Sand Mountain/Lake Guntersville Watershed Project • . .' '....:'..- ...7 Volunteer Water Quality-Monitoring —The Alabama Water Watch - . . . . 8 ALASKA Alaska Piggybacks Environmental Projects —A Manual for Stream Crossings Provides Fish . ' Habitat Improvements ..........:... 11 ARIZONA Nonpoint Source Management Zones—A New Tool for the Upper Gila Watershed •. . 13. Watershed Protection—Verde Watershed Management Zone.'. 14 ARKANSAS Cadron Creek Dairies Go Regional —A New Approach to Animal Waste Management 17 Moore's Creek and Beatty Branch :—A Subwatershed in the Muddy Fork Hydrologic Unit Area . . . .' ": . ..:.. •. •"...- ! .... 19 CALIFORNIA The BIOS Project — Improving Conditions in Agricultural Watersheds .••••' 21 Stream Restoration in Huichica Creek — Protecting Shrimp Habitat 23 COLORADO The Badger Creek Watershed Project'—Improving Fisheries on the Arkansas River . . ., 24 Management Initiatives Along the South Platte River — The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District . '. , , . . . .26 CONNECTICUT Responding to Urban Development — Communities in the Mattabesset River Watershed .... 28 Lake Whitney Artificial Marsh Treats Urban Runoff 30 DELAWARE In the Christina River Basin — Delaware and Pennsylvania Work Together 33 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Reviving the Anacostia — Freshwater Tidal Marsh Restoration 35 FLORIDA Renaissance for Lake Jackson—An Outstanding Florida Water : ... 37 Florida's Silviculture Best Management Practices — Test Sites Rated "Excellent" 39 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- GEORGIA Restoration of a Riparian Forest — An Agricultural Water Quality Improvement Project ...'.. 42 Evaluating Best Management Practices — A Farm Demonstration Project in Rayie, Georgia . . . 43 HAWAII A Modified Deep Litter Waste Management System—The Kealia Farms Model 45 IDAHO Protecting Bear Lake — The Thomas Fork Stream Channel Project 48 Paradise Creek Restoration — Trout Return, Citizens Learn 49 ILLINOIS Chain O'Lakes and Fox River Selected for Streambank Protection Project 51 Creating Useful Beauty — The Skokie River Restoration Project . 53 INDIANA No-Till Farming Saves Soil—A Reprieve for Starve Hollow Lake 55 Constructed Wetlands — Treatment for Dairy Farm Wastewater 56 IOWA . Brown Trout Return to Iowa Streams— The Coon Creek Story . . 58 Sny Magill Creek — The New Standard Agricultural Practices . 59 KANSAS Banner Creek Water Quality Protection Project — Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin 61 Clean Water Neighbor Projects— Local Initiatives Drive Public Awareness 63 KENTUCKY The Tripplett Creek Project — On-site Wastewater Issues in Rural Areas 64 Renovating a Constructed Wetland — Rock Creek's Answer to Acid Mine Drainage Treatment . . 66 Beginning with Information and Technical Assistance — Kentucky's Agricultural Water Quality Act 67 LOUISIANA Tangipahoa River Projects — Using an Ecosystem-Based Approach 68 Louisiana's Bayou Queue de Tortue Watershed — Incorporating BMP Demonstrations in Pollution Prevention Plans - 70 MAINE The Taylor Pond Watershed Project — Increasing Public Awareness about Nonpoint Source Pollution . 73 Bond Brook Responds to Progress — Fish Habitats Improve 75 Building a Local Watershed Alliance — A Common Sense Approach 77 MARYLAND Constructed Wetlands — Maryland Investigates Dairy Waste Treatment Methods . 79 The Sawmill Creek Project — Modeling the Watershed Approach 81 MASSACHUSETTS Wetlands to the Rescue • Spragues Cove Stormwater Remediation Project 84 ii SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- MICHIGAN Talking with "Farmers — The North Branch Chippewa giver 319 Watershed Project 86 Saving Michigan's Blue Ribbon Trout Stream— The Boardman River Project 88 MINNESOTA Lake Shaokatan Restoration Project — Improving Water Quality Through Reduced Phosphorus Loading , -. 90 The Lake Bemidji Watershed Management Project—.Clean Water is Good for Business 91 MISSISSIPPI An Animal Waste Irrigation Project in Mississippi — Saving Farmers Money 93 Lake Hazle Project Takes on Urban Runoff — Expects Return of Beneficial Uses , . . 94 Mississippi Demonstrates Dead Chicken Composting — A Water-Quality Safe Disposal Method 96 . MISSOURI Forage and Grassland Improvement — Livestock Producers Explore Best Management Practices '.,. ........... ...'. : 97 The Mark Twain Water Quality Initiative — Total Resource Management in Missouri's Upper Salt River Basin - 99 MONTANA Reducing Nutrients in Agricultural Runoff —The Godfrey Creek Project in Gallatin County . . 101 Reclaiming East Spring Creek — Greater Trout Populations . . 103 NEBRASKA Hanscom Park Lake Rises tp New Heights • 104 NEVADA Controlled Flooding Helps Nature Take Care of Itself — The Truckee River Story . .-...'..... 106 The Small Ranch Water Quality Program.— Teaching Residents about BMPs 107 NEW HAMPSHIRE Crystal Lake Preservation Association Tackles Urban Runoff 109 The Connecticut River Watershed Project — Agricultural BMPs Enhance Stream Ecology ... Ill NEW JERSEY Navesink River Shellfish Beds Upgraded .•'. 113 NEW MEXICO Grant County's Royal John Mine — A Full-Scale Site Reclamation Project 115 Treating Acid Mine Drainage from the Oro Fino Mine . . 117 NEW YORK Village of Forestville — Water Quality and Water Quantity Improve 119 Constructed Wetlands Block Passage of Nutrients — The Wayne County Project 120 NORTH CAROLINA Sediment Controls Installed along Timbered Branch — Common Sense Practices for Forest Roads 121 Practice Makes Perfect — The Long Creek Watershed Project ........ '. 122 Forestry Nonpoint Source Pollution Management 124 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I Hi ------- NORTH DAKOTA The Bowman/Hayley Watershed Project — Conservation Planning Succeeds in North Dakota .. 125 Protecting the Knife River — Improved Land Management Around Goodman Creek ...... 126 OHIO The Maumee River Project — Curbing Sediment Delivery ' ' . 128 Indian Lake — Limiting Pollution Inputs ,..,.... 130 OKLAHOMA Tulsa County Blue Thumb Program—Volunteers Make a Difference . . 131 Combining Oil Production and Water Quality — The Clearview Brine Reclamation Project .- . . 132 OREGON Coos Coquille Watershed — Haynes Inlet Project Allows Shellfish Beds to Reopen 134 Tualatin River Vastly Improved — TDMLs and Section 319 Included in Basinwide Initiatives . . 136 PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania Adopts Nutrient Management Act — Package Includes Education, Incentives, and Financial Help :' . . 138 Partners in Wildlife — The Pike Run Watershed Restoration Project. : 139 RHODE ISLAND The Greenwich Bay Initiative — Shellfishing Closure Challenges Rhode Islanders 141 Flexible Zoning — The Scituate Reservoir Watershed Project 142 Section 319 Helps Common Fence Point Improvement Association — The Portsmouth Salt Marsh Restoration Project 143 Rhode Island's Septic System Maintenance Policy Forum— A Spearhead for Collaboration . . 144 SOUTH CAROLINA Bush River-Camping Creek Watershed—A Priority Watershed in South Carolina . . 146 South Carolina Hones in on Nonpoint Source Pollution — Minigrants Program .Encourages Local Participation -.' 148 Champions of the Environment — South Carolina Program Rewards Student Environmentalists ., . .' '..-.'." 150 SOUTH DAKOTA Bad River Watershed Project — Watershed Management Model Works in South Dakota .... 152 Riparian Improvement on the East River — Information and Education are Keys to Success . . 154 TENNESSEE A New Era for the West Sandy Creek Watershed — Tennessee Works with Landowners to Reduce Erosion 157 TEXAS - Protecting the Edwards Aquifer — Urban Development BMPs in Central Texas ......... 158 Clean Texas 2000 — Urban Composting Program Meets Its Goals 160 Wellhead Protection Program — Communities and Wellhead Protection Follow-up . ' 162 UTAH Rangeland Restoration — New Management Practices in the Otter Creek Watershed ...... 164 Miles of Fences, Hundreds of Cows — Farmers on the Little Bear River Protect Water Quality . 165 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- UERMONT Agricultural Best Management Practices Lead to Less. Phosphorus in Lake Memphremagog . . 167 Integrated Crop Management — Preventing Agricultural Pollution 169 UIRGINIA Lower Powell'River—Riparian Restoration and Karst Conservation Program ., : . . 171 Alternative Watering Systems for Livestock — The Middle Fork Holston River Builds on Success ' 173 WASHINGTON Irrigation Best Management Practices in the Moxee Drain — The Yakima River Basin Water Quality Plan •....' 175 Sediment Control in the Skagit and Stillaguamish River Basins —A Pilot Project,. ....... 177 WEST VIRGINIA Certification Program for Timber Harvesters — Changes in West Virginia's Approach to Logging Sediments '•-,-. 179 Potomac Headwaters Water Quality Project — Poultry Production and the Environment .... 180 WISCONSIN In the East River Watershed — An Animal Waste Treatment Demonstration 182 Water Action Volunteers Paint the Town — Wisconsin Citizens Work to Protect Their Resources • • •' '•- • 184 WYOMING Restoring. Riparian Areas Improves Trout Fishery — The Squaw and Baldwin Creeks- Watershed '... 185 Increasing Livestock Grazing on Plateaus — Water Development for Loco Creek . . 187 TERRITORIES GUAM Guam Environmental Protection Agency Shifts Course — Nonpoint Source Management Reduces Discharges to Tumon Bay 189 NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS Turning Problems into Advantages — The Marianas Islands Responds to Nonpoint Sources . in the Lau Bay Watershed . . •! 190 PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico's Nonpoint Source Management Program —:New Regulations Expected in 1997 .193 VIRGIN ISLANDS Boaters Contribute to Water Quality — Education Leads to Better Marine Sanitation Practices .:..... 194 Erosion and Sedimentation on St. John — For Virgin Islanders, Knowledge is Action 195 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- TRIBES INDIAN NATIONS: Project Accomplishments and Long-term Plans 197 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cherokee Critical Area Treatment —Trout Return to Streams 198 Mississippi Band of Cfioctaw Indians Choctaw Tribe Assesses Soil Erosion and Siltation — Proposes Water Quality Best Management Practices ' 199 Colville Confederated Tribes Owhi Lake — Restoring a Resident Fishery ' 201 Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes Demonstrating the Effects of Managed Grazing 203 Hoopa Valley Tribe The Hoopa Valley Tribe is Making Plans — A Soil Remediation Project to Remove Leaking Diesel Fuel 204 Hualapai Tribe Hualapal Tribe, Northwestern Arizona 205 Seminole Tribe of Florida Projects on the Brighton and Tampa Reservations 206 Confederated Tribes of the UmatiKa Indian Reservation Protecting the Floodplain. Riparian, and In-stream Habitat 207 GLOSSARY . 209 INDEX 213 vi SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES — The Successful Implementation of the Clean Water Act's Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Program This document is the second volume of Section 319 Success Stories, the first of which was published in November 1994. That document illustrated the states' achievements in their initial efforts to implement their nonpoint source programs under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. This second volume • demonstrates the maturation of the state programs, replete with .many examples of • . documented water quality improvements, improved fisheries, reduced loadings, and increased public awareness that are a result of the many projects that have received section 319 funding, . Success Stories: Volume II contains . approximately two stories per state and one story per territory and tribe. Each story contains an overview of a state, territory, or tribe's 319 project. Some of the stories are updates of stories contained in the first volume of Success . Stories; but most are new stories about projects that have been implemented since publication of the first volume. Collectively, they represent only a fraction of the section 319 project . successes. Nonpoint source pollution The United States has made significant progress during the last 25 years in its commitment to clean up the aquatic environment by controlling pollution from industries and sewage treatment plants ("point source pollution"). We did not, however, do enough to control pollution that stems from diffuse, or nonpoint, sources. Today, nonpoint source pollution remains the nation's largest source of water quality problems. It is the main reason that approximately 40 percent of surveyed rivers, lakes, and estuaries are not clean enough to meet basic uses such as fishing or swimming. . Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation runs over land !or through the ground, picks.up pollutants, and deposits them into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters or introduces them into groundwater. Nonpoint source pollution also includes adverse changes to the hydrology of water bodies and their associated aquatic habitats. The most.common nonpoint source pollutants are soils and nutrients that stormwater runoff picks up as it flows overland to rivers and streams; for example runoff from agricultural land and other treated open spaces, 'urban developments, construction sites, roads, and bridges. Other common nonpoint source pollutants include pesticides, pathogens (bacteria and viruses), salts, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. The most recent National Water Quality Inventory (1994) indicates that nonpoint sources comprise .the leading sources of water pollution in the United States today. For example, of the 17 percent of rivers and streams surveyed by states, 36 percent were found to be impaired, and agriculture was found to be impairing 60 percent of those waters, with some of the other leading sources including hydrological/habitat modification (17 percent), urban runoff and storm sewers (12 percent), removal of streamside vegetation (10 percent), and forestry (9 percent).' SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- SECTION 319(h) REGIONAL GRANT AWARDS Fiscal Year 1995-1996 = $92,503,104 Section 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for FY 1996 • , Cross Cutting NFS Category: $37,190,443 S Agriculture: $31,805,216 B Urban Runoff: $10,875,702 !H Silviculture: $1,960,411 iD Construction: $1,339,722 03 Resource Extraction: $2,257,210 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $1,059,874 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $2,126,552 D Other: $3,887,974 REGION 1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachuefts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont REGION 2 Now Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands REGION 3 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia REGION 4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky; Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee REGION 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin $4,552,302 $3,939,508 $8,132,899 $17,225,800 $17,938,688 ' , i ,-j i '-'''• ii REGION 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas REGION 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska REGION 8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming REGION 9 American Samoas, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada REGION 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington $11,958,259 $8,089,152 $7,509,895 $7,588,195 $5,732,061 SOURCE: Section 319(h) grant award data was downloaded from EPA's Grant Reporting and Tracking System (CRTS) for section 319 grants in July 1997. CRTS is a program and project management tool to assist EPA headquarters, regions, and state participants in the nonpoint source program. Nonpoint source pollution was also found to be a very significant source of pollution to lakes and estuaries as well. For these reasons, most of the waters listed by states under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as failing to meet water quality standards, are listed in whole or in significant part as the result of nonpoint source pollution. Beach closures, destroyed habitat,'unsafe drinking water, fish kills, and many other severe environmental and human health problem are related to nonpoint source pollutants. They also spoil the beauty of healthy, clean water habitats. Each year the United States spends $100 million through the section 319 program to restore and protect areas damaged by nonpoint source pollutants. SECTION 3)9 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [( ------- Nonpoint Source Program—Section 319 of the Clean Water Act Congress established the national .'•• nonpoint source program in J987 when it enacted the Clean Water Act amendments of . that year. The amendments included a new section that considerably strengthened the states' capacity to respond to nonpoint'source pollution. . ' { .' '.. •...'•.'•'. Section 319 established a three-stage , program whereby states; • conduct statewide assessments of their waters to identify those that are impaired • (that do not fully support state water : quality standards) or threatened (that presently meet water quality standards but are unlikely to continue to meet water quality standards fully) because of nonpoint sources; • • develop nonpoint source management programs to address the impaired or threatened waters identified in the nonpoint assessments; and • implement their EPA-approved nonpoint source management programs to support their implementation efforts. .EPA has now approved assessments and management programs for all states and . territories, and most states are now reviewing and upgrading their nonpoint source management programs to address nine key elements: 1. Each state program contains explicit short- and long-term goals, objectives, and strategies to protect surface and groundwater. 2. The state will support working partnerships and linkages to appropriate state, interstate, tribal, regional, and local . • entities (including conservation districts), private sector groups; citizens groups, arid federal agencies. 3. The state balances its approach to emphasize .statewide nonpoint source nonpoint source programs and' on-the-ground management of local watersheds where waters are impaired or threatened. 4, The state program (a) abates known water quality impairments from nonpoint source pollution and (b) prevents . significant threats to waterquality from present and future nonpoint source activities. , • 5, The state program identifies waters and watersheds impaired by nonpoint source pollution and unimpaired waters that are threatened or otherwise at risk. Subsequent to its identification of these waters, the state will include them in more detailed watershed assessments. The state will help local areas develop and carry out watershed implementation plans. 6. The state reviews, upgrades, and r implements all program components required by section 319(b) of the Clean Water Act, and establishes flexible, purposeful, and iterative approaches to- achieve and maintain beneficiaLuses of water as expeditiously as practicable. State programs include • A mix of water quality- or . technology-based programs designed to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of water; and • A mix of regulatory, non-regulatory, ' financial and technical assistance as needed to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of water as expeditiously as practicable. 7. The state may also identify federal lands and activities that are not managed consistently with its state nonpoint , source program objectives; if so, it may seek EPA help to resolve issues. 8, The state manages and executes its . • nonpoint source program efficiently and effectively, including necessary financial management. 9. The state will periodically review and evaluate its nonpoint source SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- management program using functional measures of success, and on this basis will revise its nonpoint source assessment and management program at least every five years. In Fiscal Years (FY) 1990 through 1997, EPA awarded nearly $571.5 million to states and territories under section 319. A small portion of the annual section 319 appropriation, one-third of one percent ($330,000), is by statute annually set aside for Indian tribes. To date, EPA has approved nonpoint source assessments and management programs for 11 tribes and they are receiving section 319 funding to support their nonpoint source programs (see page 197). EPA awards grants to states using an allocation formula based on population, cropland acreage, critical aquatic habitats, pasture and rangeland acreage, forest harvest acreage, wellhead protection areas, mining, and pesticide use to determine the amount to be awarded to each state. Each year, the congressional appropriation for section 319 is multiplied by the applicable percentage based on the formula to determine each state's allocation for that year. Each state or tribe is required to provide a 40-percent nonfederal dollar match. Responsibility for the 319 program EPA is divided into 10 Regions, with offices in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle. Each EPA Region has a nonpoint source Coordinator who is familiar with the nonpoint source programs in each of the states, territories, and tribes in that region and the 319 funding process that supports them. In turn, each state has a designated nonpoint source Coordinator responsible for managing the state's nonpoint source activities and funds. In most states, this Coordinator is located in the state's water quality agency. In several states, however, the nonpoint source Coordinator is located in the state's conservation agency, health agency, or agricultural agency. Increasingly, decisions about funding and program priorities are made by a broad-based nonpoint source Task Force representing not only state agencies but other stakeholders at the state and local level. Defining success The objective of the Clean Water Act is to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." To help achieve this objective, EPA and the . states have agreed on the following Vision statement, which was published in the Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidance for Fiscal Year 1997 and FutureYears (May 1996): "All states implement dynamic and effective nonpoint source programs designed to achieve and maintain beneficial uses of water." EPA has also established a goal under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) that is designed to move us towards ultimate attainment of water quality standards: "By 2005, nonpoint source sediment and nutrient loads • to rivers and streams will be reduced. Erosion from cropland, used as an indicator of success in controlling sediment delivery to surface waters, will be reduced by 20 percent from 1992 levels." Many of the projects contained in Success Stories-. Volume II directly address the Clean water Act goal of achieving water quality standards as well as the GPRA goals outlined above. In the "Highlights" discussion set forth immediately below, we summarize some of the pertinent information relevant to achieving water quality standards and to reducing pollutant loads. In addition, we highlight other successful state nonpoint source programs and projects that have not yet resulted in demonstrated water quality improvement but can be expected to ultimately help the states achieve their water quality goals. These include a range of activities such as implementation of best management practices,, training programs, development of • new enforceable policies and mechanisms, and volunteer monitoring activities. Highlights Projects funded with section 319 dollars. have over the past seven years resulted in a variety of water quality improvements, load reductions, and multilevel, interagency , partnerships in watershed projects. Section 319 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Success Stories: Volume II showcases only some of these successes. In this document, examples of reduced nutrient concentrations, pathogens, and other pollutants in waterbodies can be found in'20 projects in 16 states. Examples of trout returning and improved fisheries are documented in 12 projects in 10 states. This document reports that in four 319 projects in four states, shellfish beds have reopened. We have included examples of load reductions (decreases in the amount of nutrients entering waterbodies) in 20 projects in 18 states and tribes. Success Stories-. VolumeII also provides descriptions of multilevel, interagency partnerships in 13 projects in 12 states, and six new laws in five states are giving states the authority they need to control certain nonpoint sources of pollution. > Trout return and fish habitats improve. Sediment from eroding croplands can enter streams. When it settles, this sediment covers the gravel beds that fish use as spawning grounds and alters the stream's overall characteristics. In addition, sediments often create wide, shallow streams that warm rapidly and provide habitat conditions that are ' particularly unfavorable for fish survival. Section 319, projects have resulted in many examples of trout returning and improved fish populations in rivers. Best management practices (BMPs) have improved habitats, decreased nonpoint source flows, and created clean water diversions. Trout are returning or fish habitats are improving in rivers in Idaho, • Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, Wyoming, Ohio, Alabama, California, Colorado, the Cherokee Nation, and others. > Shellfish beds reopen. Pollution caused by urban runoff can adversely affect waters that contain shellfish beds. Elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria (bacteria normally found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals) contribute to the pollution and eventual closure of shellfish beds. Section 319 projects that control soil erosion, redirect manure applications, or form citizen monitoring programs have resulted in the reopening of shellfish beds in at least four states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Rhode Island., >•- Reduced loadings. Rain washes silt and other soil particles off plowed fields, construction sites, logging sites and roads, urban areas, and strip-mined lands into waterbodLes. Sediment and siltation can severely alter aquatic communities by suffocating fish eggs; adding pollutants to a waterbody, and interfering with recreational activities. Nutrients and toxic chemicals may attach to sediment particles-on land and run off into surface waters when it rains. Section 319 grants used for vegetative filter strips in riparian (streambank) areas, constructed wetlands, detention basins, nutrient management, integrated pest management, and conservation tillage have all contributed to reduced loadings of sediment into waterbodies. Load reductions have been measured in projects in Washington, .Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, New York, California, Ohio, South Dakota, and*other states. > Partnerships. Section 319 projects have also proved to be a catalyst for other groups and projects. A habitat restoration project in Pike Run Watershed, Pennsylvania, is a good example of this "multiplier effect." A new "Farmland Habitat Project" modeled after the Pike Run project will be implemented on an even larger scale by nine neighboring watersheds with a generous monetary award from a California Foundation. Other projects with outstanding partnership efforts are located in Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri, and other states. . , >• New enforceable authorities. Section 319 of the Clean Water Act provides that states include both nonregulatory and regulatory programs to achieve nonpoint source controls. While most states place a priority on promoting nonpoint source controls through voluntary approaches such as financial assistance, technical assistance, and training, many states supplement or back up these approaches with enforceable authorities. These authorities range from specific prescription of practices (e.g., to control animal manure or to reduce erosion in urban developments) to more general back-up authorities that .enable a state to order abatement of specific activities that are causing, contributing to, or threatening to create water quality problems. This volume SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- provides examples of some new state enforce- able policies and mechanisms established in Kl Vermont. North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, |i| Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. For more information The stories in this document are "thumbnail" sketches, nontechnical reviews that reflect only a small portion of each project's larger purposes. For further information, please call the state or local-contact listed at the end of the story you wish to know more about. You may also contact EPA Headquarters Nonpoint Source Control Branch, Washington., DC 20460, at (202) 260-7100. You can also find us on the Internet: www.epa.gov/owow/NPS. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $62,433 S Agriculture: $1,338,156 H Urban Runpff: $0 E3 Silviculture: $20,286 DID Construction: $Q E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $640,680 Conserving Alabama's Lakes and Rivers — The Sand Mountain/Lake Guntersville Watershed Project The Sand Mountain/Lake Guntersville Watershed Project, one of the first major nonpoint source projects in the southeastern United States, encompasses four hydrologic units that drain to Guntersville Reservoir, a mainstem reservoir on the '• Tennessee River in northeastern Alabama. The 400,800-acre watershed has a predominantly rural landscape; it is characterized by small towns and farms (45 to 50 acres), The local . economy is driven by agriculture and agribusiness, and is strongly influenced by poultry and livestock production, Water quality problems in the watershed, first noted in the 1979 State Agricultural Runoff Management Plan, were underscored in 1981, when Town Creek, one of the area's principal streams, was rated as a critical watershed: having a high potential for pollution. In 1985, the entire watershed, consisting of the Town, Short, Scarham, and South Sauty Creeks, was designated a top priority watershed. In response;'the Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and local soil and water conservation districts developed a water quality plan. This plan outlined the sources and nature of water quality impairments in the watershed and suggested some remedies. Nutrients, bacteria, and sediment were among the primary problems, and they had diffuse and multiple sources: for example, animal waste disposal,, on-site sewage disposal, dead animal disposal, household wastewater, and cropland runoff. _ . - . A large number of federal, state, and local agencies helped the NRCS put the water quality plan into action. Best management practices were recommended, and technical and financial assistance encouraged many landowners to use best management practices as part of. their routine. A large-scale cooperative effort had begun. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Fishery is improving The Sand Mountain/Lake Guntersville Watershed Conservancy District was established in 1989 and a project coordinator position was created to better manage the project. Funding for BMP demonstrations and water quality monitoring was provided to this new entity through section 319. However, the installation of best management practices continued to be cost-shared between landowners and various agencies or programs, such as Agricultural Conservation Program, Water Quality Special Projects, and Hydrologic Unit Area. Significant changes in the status of water quality have been observed in the project area as a result of these cooperative and ongoing programs: fewer violations of annual in-stream water quality standards, a more balanced pH, and reduced nitrogen inputs. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management receives fewer complaints, the fishery is improving in at least one of the major streams in the watershed, and pollutant loadings have fallen as a result of better animal waste management and nutrient management planning. An annual volunteer monitoring contest for high school students in the watershed has increased involvement and ' awareness in water quality. More important, the cooperation fostered by and coordinated through the Conservancy District has improved relationships among the participants. Pollutant loadings have decreased in the project area as a result of these cooperative and ongoing programs. The Conservancy District is currently planning for sustainability and future growth. As the project progresses, new stakeholders become involved and additional problems are brought forward for solution. The ultimate goal .is to provide for ongoing community involvement in the project area. CONTACT: Steve Foster Alabama Department of Environmental Management 334213-4309 Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring — The Alabama Water Watch Scores of citizen groups interested in the conservation of lakes and streams have sprung up in Alabama in recent years. Such groups include lakefront home owner/boat owner associations, environmental clubs of high schools and universities, canoe or kayak clubs, and other statewide and national environmental organizations. Their motives range from pride and concern for a local resource to anger over unchecked pollution. The Alabama Water Watch Program (AWW), a statewide coalition of monitoring groups incorporated in 1995 to train and coordinate active monitoring groups in various Alabama watersheds, exemplifies this public interest: Dedicated to developing citizen volunteer monitoring of Alabama's lakes, streams, and wetlands, AWW is funded, in part, by a Clean Water Act section 319 grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. It is coordinated through the • Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures of Auburn University. The goals of the Alabama Water Watch Program are to • educate citizens about water issues in Alabama and the world, • train volunteers to measure the condition of water at sites of concern, and • improve environmental policy by challenging citizens to actively participate in identifying long-term water quality trends and specific problems that need immediate attention. 8 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- AWW helps its members become "globally aware and locally active" in aquatic resource management. AWW is also a grassroots program; each participating citizen group has the privilege and responsibility to plan its own agenda and use of data. Finally, AWW is holistic in its approach. Water, AWW's adherents say, is. the "grand integrator" of all that occurs within a watershed, and citizens need to be .involved in the ecological, sociocultural, and political aspects of land and water use. .'.-._ Training citizen monitors AWW conducts basic certification workshops in which citizens are trained to monitor and evaluate physical, chemical, and biological water quality indicators. Six water quality parameters form the core of water - quality data: water temperature, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. The training workshop shows each monitor how to use a custpmized kit to collect the chemical data. BIO-ASSESS,-an environmental game developed at Auburn University, helps the trainees prepare to do biological assessments. They also learn through field collection and evaluations of stream macroinvertebrate communities. About 30 to 50 percent of the workshop time (each workshop is six hours) is spent in the field so that the monitors can begin with hands-on monitoring experience. . Then, each participant selects one or more sampling sites near home. The sites should be convenient, accessible (physically and legally), and safe. The most important aspect of a citizen monitoring program is to protect the credibility of the data through an effective Quality Assurance (QA) Program. EPA and Alabama's Department of Environmental Management approved a Quality Assurance/Quality Control manual for statewide citizen volunteer water quality data in September 1994. One of the first citizen-based QA protocols in the United States, this manual addresses 16 elements of data collection and processing. It has also been used as a tool for the annual recertification of monitors and in the development of the test kits. A fujl-time quality officer coordinates the database and all QA protocols, By December 1995, about 950 people had attended basic certification'workshops to become, water quality monitors. About 160 water quality test kits were distributed and several others had been purchased by citizen groups or other organizations. Since the program started in 1993, 52 citizen groups have participated in the Alabama Water Watch, and 41 groups have sent in data within the last six months. About 35 percent of these groups are teachers and students. The potential for AWW citizen groups to create an integrated and in-depth database on water quality greatly exceeds that of government agencies and universities. Over 180 sites, on nearly 100 waterbodies have been.monitored. More than 1,500 data forms have been received from the'lO major watersheds in Alabama. Even more, important, all data have been entered into a computer database. The data are then summarized, graphed, interpreted, and presented to the monitors, policymakers, and other interested citizens through two avenues: the semiannual Alabama Water Watcfi newsletter (published by Troy State University with funds from the EPA and the state) and a bimonthly Water Quality Bulletin (published by Auburn University). Ongoing activities, increasing benefits AWW monitoring groups are most active in the northeast quadrant of the state, especially in the Coosa, Tennessee, and Tallapoosa watersheds. One of the largest groups in AWW is the Coosa River Basin Initiative. Based in Georgia, with monitors in' both states, this group exemplifies an important organizing principle: AWW monitors are oriented to watersheds, not political boundaries. Ongoing activities will help fortify the program in the western and central parts of the state, For example, the citizen group at SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Weeks Bay (in the Mobile watershed) has recently become very active. A series of Training the Trainers workshops began in March 1995 that added four to six citizen trainers to Alabama's statewide roster, An Alabama Water Watch Teacher Coordinator joined the staff of Troy State University in June 1995, and a volunteer Monitor Coordinator joined the Alabama Water Watch at Auburn University in January 1996. In' addition to financial support from section 319' and state funding, the program has received two grants from Legacy, inc., to help pay for the annual replacement of chemical reagents in all water quality test kits and similar program needs. More important, citizen monitors have accrued thousands of hours in workshops and field sampling, which AWW can use as a valuable component in grant proposals for cost-share funding. The Water Watch program acknowledges its debt to previous and ongoing citizen monitoring projects around the country. It also benefits a variety of programs by sharing its concepts and methodologies with other states and countries. Indeed, the approach and resources of AWW have been implemented or presented for possible implementation in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Vietnam. International Visitors from several countries have visited AWW groups on two occasions to • exchange ideas regarding citizen monitoring. Such exchanges have kept a true "global to local" focus within the AWW program. The potential for AWW citizen groups to create an integrated and in-depth database on water quality greatly exceeds that of government agencies and universities. Citizens can reach a greater number of sites, Visit or staff more trend stations, and sample with greater frequency and responsiveness to special sampling needs (e.g., pollution spills or storm. events). A large pool of citizen data serves as a first alert to water quality problems and troubled waterbodies that need state resources. To that end, the Department of Environmental Management supports and applauds the formation of a Citizen Advisory Council composed of AWW monitors and citizen leaders. The Council meets quarterly with the department to discuss pertinent water issues and ways of collaboration. . CONTACT: William G. Deutsch "Alabama Water Watch . Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture Auburn University 334844-9119 10 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [( ------- ALnSKn 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $220,906 S Agriculture: $0 . H Urban Runoff: $56.9,986 03 Silviculture: $131,141 11 Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $33,936 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $58,854 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 CD Other: $0 ' " . . Alaska Piggybacks Environmental Projects — A Manual for Stream Crossings Provides Fish Habitat Improvements Improper design and installation of stream crossings and other cross-drainage structures often results in'two major problems. First, they become barriers to the free movement of fish; second, they require more maintenance than properly installed crossings. The problem can be most acute in ' the oil fields on Alaska's North Slope, where ice and snow accumulations intensify spring. runoff events. . -The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, recognizing the seriousness of this problem, began working on its solution in the state's 1990 Nonpoint'Source Pollution Control Strategy. Specifically, the Department asked the Nonpoint Source Oil and Gas Working Group, consisting of industry, borough, and agency'representatives, to help the state determine a course of action. . After some deliberation, the working group recommended the development and • publication of consistent design and installation standards for culverts, bridges, and pipeline crossings on all North Slope fish . streams. A manual containing such standards is now available for all resource managers, mining operators, and residents of the North Slope.. As predicted, the manual is used whenever new structures are needed and routinely to 'ensure that maintenance, either regular repairs or 'retrofits of older crossings, will adequately reduce pollution and improve fish passage., Surveys demonstrate project effectiveness This project is a companion task to a survey completed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game under the same work plan. Fish SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME H 11 ------- and Game surveyed 10 stream crossings and verified the success of fish habitat remedial actions at five high-priority stream crossings. The manual is used whenever new structures are needed and to ensure that maintenance will adequately reduce pollution and improve fish passage. The database and conclusions generated from the survey were intended to support improvements in the stream crossings manual. In turn, the manual has helped reduce the impact of culverts, bridges, and cross-drainage structures on wetlands and water and should reduce permitting and project review times for both industry and state agencies. CONTACTS: Steve Willingham Andrew Grant Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation 907 465-5304 12 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- ARIZONA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting HPS Category: $844,850 S Agriculture: $270,964 H Urban Runoff: $0 03 -Silviculture: $0 fflD Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Nonpoint Source Management Zones — A New Tool for the Upper Gila Watershed The Upper Gila watershed occupies an area larger than five eastern -states. With 7,200 square miles in Arizona, and another 5,000 square miles across the border in New Mexico, it is a clear example of the usefulness of organizing smaller nonpoint source management zones for programs initiated under section 3.19. Land ownership of the Gila management zone is comprised of 10 percent private, 34 percent Indian Nation, 45 percent federal and 15 percent state trust lands. The principal industries are agriculture, ranching, mining, recreation, and small businesses.. The Upper Gila River violates water quality standards for ; turbidity, heavy metals, fecal cpliform, and pH level. ' . • It's all in the planning The San Carlos/Safford/Duncan Nonpoint Source Management Zone, on the eastern side of Arizona, was established in 1993..Led by SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEH volunteers representing a cross-section of communities, the advisory group developed a long-range strategic plan designed specifically for the watershed to address known nonpoint source pollution issues such as'salinity, turbidity, and pesticides in groundwater. The plan introduces time-tested strategies to manage nonpoint sources holistically. A significant component of the plan has been to form a contract with Arizona State University to perform an ecological inventory and analysis of the Gila River. In cooperation with local .community colleges, the study will focus on collecting information and incorporating all known historical data into one document. The ' study is expected to be a benchmark for all future studies and projects involving this management zone. > Historically, throughout the Safford Valley, high levels of salinity have threatened the Gila River.The advisory group has introduced a canal sampling program to monitor this 13 ------- problem and to gage the effectiveness of current irrigation practices. The-Arizona Geological Survey is also helping to profile saline deposits in the watershed. >• In most places, a shallow upper aquifer of good quality water is Separated from a highly saline lower aquifer by a clay aquitard. Where the clay is fractured or discontinuous, artisan pressure forces saline groundwater into the upper aquifer, thereby creating local saline conditions. >• The advisory group sponsored a Farm*A*Syst program developed especially for the San Carlos/Safford/Duncan Nonpoint Source Management Zone by the University of Arizona. The Farm*A*Syst program helps farmers and ranchers evaluate their land-use practices as possible sources of nonpoint source pollution. > Grazing allotments are common within this management zone, particularly in an area designated as a National Riparian Conservation Area, As a best management practice, the advisory group has installed fences in this area , to reduce the impact of livestock on water quality. > A toolbox of other BMPs for grazing, recreation, and sand and gravel operations, is being developed for implementation next year. Other activities that may contribute nonpoint source pollution to the environment must also be addressed through best management practices. The plan focuses on solutions to salinity and pesticides in groundwater, on Farm*A*Syst evaluations to help identify nonpoint sources, and on the introduction of fencing and other agricultural BMPs. >• Educational outreach is an important aspect of the advisory group's program. Methods such as special event displays, a speakers' forum, meetings with local special interest groups, and multimedia outlets for news, updates, and progress reports have been developed. CONTACTS: Russ Smith 602207-4509 Mike Hill 602207-4518 Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Watershed Protection — Verde Watershed Management Zone In central Arizona, the Verde River and its tributaries represent 170 miles of flowing desert stream. The river is marked with marshes, canyons, and woodlands, and travels through privately owned lands, national forests, canyons, woodlands, and high desert regions. A section of the river south of Camp Verde has received the distinction as a wild and scenic river. Archaeologic ruins dot the river's landscape, dating to thousands of years before the present, and serve as a constant reminder of the river's value to those who came before us. The Verde plays an important role for all who share its resources. Much of the river ecosystem provides habitat for endangered species, such as the bald eagle, peregrine - falcon, southwest flycatcher, and the spikedace fish. The river also shares itself with those who enjoy swimming, fishing, and boating. Others depend on the river to irrigate their farmlands. • A variety of historical and existing land-use practices within the Verde watershed directly or indirectly threaten the integrity of the river's riparian ecosystem. Nonpoint source pollution runoff from overgrazed riparian areas, agricultural diversions, mining; sand and gravel operations, residential and commercial development, and recreational activities affect 14 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- the water quality of the Verde River and its tributaries. Impacts from these activities have degraded riparian zones and disturbed the balance of riparian ecosystems, threatening habitats and species survival. Yet the watershed's 5.2 million acres • contains some of the most diverse and valuable natural and cultural resources in the Southwest. The population within the Verde watershed, has surpassed a million with no sign of slowing down. The central Verde corridor of Sedona, Cottonwood, and Prescott is the fastest growing area in Arizona. Current land uses within the watershed are forestry, grazing, residential and commercial development, irrigated agriculture, recreation, and mining. Watershed protection efforts Numerous efforts are underway to protect the Verde River and its watershed from further degradation. EPA, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and other agencies and groups are engaged in regulatory and nonregulatory activities. Consider, for example, • trie diversity of agencies and citizen groups and the strength of their mutual goals. Since recognition of the Verde as a nonpoint source management zone in 1993, a plethora of programs have become active. For example: > The Oak Creek National Monitoring Program is in its third year of monitoring Oak Creek and in its first year of implementing best management practices in the Oak Creek Canyon. The principal pollutant to Oak Creek is fecal coliform. Recreation, residential . wastewaters, and wildlife have been identified by volunteer citizens as the principal sources of pollutants. ; >• The U.S. Forest Service, Arizona State Parks, Coconino County Environmental Health Services, Yavapai County Environmental Service, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality are developing a ' monitoring strategy for the entire length of Oak Creek to determine the health of the stream and to develop a management strategy for recreational users of the creek. >• Recreation Resource Management, Inc., has'installed trash receptacles throughout Oak Creek Canyon as a measure to keep litter from entering the stream. Homeowners associations operate a watchdog network to identify recreational vehicles and individuals who deposit their toilet loads or wash soiled diapers in the creek. The Oak Creek Canyon Property Owners Association has developed a grant application to study the treatment capabilities of the canyon's soils, and the Coconino County Environmental Health Service has implemented a sampling regime along popular recreational 1 reaches of the stream to test for fecal and E. coli contamination. The Verde plays an important role for all who share its resources. Much of the river ecosystem provides habitat for endangered species, such as the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, southwest flycatcher, and the spikedace fish. >• Slide Rock State Park hosts an average of 2,000 visitors per day each year. Parking along the road allows another 4,000 people access to the popular recreation area. The U.S. Forest Service and Arizona State Parks have recently improved the trail leading to the tourist facilities located adjacent to the creek. The station was also extensively renovated to make it safer and more attrpctive to visitors. > Arizona State Parks has published a water quality booklet using state park funds, and printed in English and Spanish. *• Friends of the Forest have been awarded .a 319 grant to develop an educational program for the Sedona Oak Creek area. The program will target school-age children and.tourists driving through the canyon. >• The Arizona Department of Environmental Qualify, working with Coconino County Environmental Health Services, Yavapai County Environmental Services, and the Oak Creek Canyon Property Owners Association, has SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 15 ------- nearly completed the Oak Creek Septics Initiative. This initiative will allow residents living within the canyon to repair or replace failing septic systems. The property owners association has agreed to educate residents living along Oak Creek to encourage them to take advantage of this program. > The Oak Creek Canyon Task Force, a volunteer citizens committee of land resource managers and special interest advocates (e.g., the Northern Audubon Society, Keep Sedona Beautiful, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and the World Survivalist Foundation), is developing long-term strategies to maintain or improve Oak Creek's water quality. >• The Arizona Department of Transportation has installed over 300 yards of post and cable along Route 89A to limit parking access to the Creek. More fencing will probably be added. X The Verde Watershed Watch is a 319 program that involves seven high schools located throughout the Verde Watershed. Each school has established a sample area on the Verde or on a tributary to the Verde to measure water quality. The monitors also describe the riparian corridor and land uses around the sample area. The results are displayed during the town of Cottonwood's "Verde River Days," so several thousand people learn about the quality of the river's health. >• Verde Irrigation Diversion Program, also a 319 program, is guided by a volunteer citizens group made up of government and local citizen representatives from the watershed. Its purpose is to develop and implement irrigation diversion structures that will have a minimal impact on the Verde River. Local cattle ranchers have played a vital role in this program. >• Verde Watershed Association, a volunteer group created by citizens of the watershed to look at water use planning, facilitate communication, and build consensus on natural resource issues, works primarily to , ensure sufficient flows in the Verde River to maintain a healthy river ecosystem, and enough water supplies to accommodate realistic levels of future development within the Verde River basin. The Verde Watershed Association is currently undergoing a review of its structure .and organization in an attempt to better meet the needs of the residents of the Verde watershed while maintaining the integrity of the Verde River. > The Verde Cooperative River Basin Study was initiated in 1994 at the request of local sponsors, the watershed association, and the six natural resources conservation districts within the Verde watershed. The Natural Resources Conservation Service conducted the study with the cooperation of EPA, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and other state and federal agencies. Its objective is to gather all watershed'data into a central database for general public access through Verde's Internet home page (www.verde.org). This database will help citizens understand the watershed and its natural resources and support better land use planning'despite pressures from residential and commercial development, grazing, sand and gravel operations, and recreation. CONTACT: Daniel Salzler Arizona Department of Environmental Quality 602 207-4007 16 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $250,000 S Agriculture: $1,707,400 H Urban Runoff: $0 EH Silviculture: $0 ED Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Cadron Creek Dairies Go Regional — A New Approach to Animal Waste Management The Cadron Creek Watershed is a five-county, rural region in central Arkansas with a high concentration of poultry and dairy farms. Among its water ' resources, Cadron Creek is widely used for recreation, canoeing, and fishing; Brewer Lake provides drinking water to the cities of Morrilton and Conway. Other land uses in the project area include forestry (41 percent), grasslands (52 percent), and croplands (6 percent). • Project goals and methodology All waters within the watershed are threatened by bacteria and nutrients from confined animal operations; at least 20 stream miles do not meet their designated uses, and it is likely that most small streams in the watershed do not meet the standard for contact . recreation. To restore the watershed, the Van Buren County Conservation District used section 319 funds to begin an animal waste management demonstration project in the five counties: Van Buren, White, Cleburne, Conway, and Faulkner. The district used the grant to purchase, demonstrate, operate, and maintain a portable land application system for liquid animal waste. The system collects and land applies liquid waste from 30 to 40 dairies to reduce water pollution and return nutrients to pastures and fields in the watershed. Monitoring on East and West Ward Creek and the establishment of on-farm waste management systems are other key elements of the project to protect the watershed's streams, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, and groundwater. Early results Early results indicate some initial progress toward solving the problem.-With only slight incentive, farmers are voluntarily applying best management practices (BMPs) to their operations, among them: • dead poultry composting, SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- X j • nutrient management planning, • pasture management,- • proper grazing use, • waste management systems, and • waste management ponds. The cooperation of so many helps make the communitywide system affordable and ensures its operation according to state approved methods. The project also functions as an educational tool; it shows farmers how to use dairy waste to return valuable nutrients to their pastures..and it addresses a sensitive public and regulatory issue, namely, the importance of using locally driven initiatives to protect local concerns (e.g., water quality). The Van Buren County Conservation Commission, working as a grassroots agency between the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology and the community, helps solve resource problems. Thus, the project solidifies a viable working partnership between the producers and federal, state, and local agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Restoring beneficial uses Water quality monitoring on the tributaries of Ward Creek before and after installation of the waste systems indicates that the system successfully decreases nutrient and bacteria loading to the creek. For example, it has reduced the measure of fecal coliform bacteria in the stream by a factor of 10 (from 100,000 to 10.000 colonies per 100 mL). The count is still far higher than the 200 colonies per mL considered the maximum level for human contact; however, with continued efforts, it should be possible to, restore swimming as a beneficial use of this stream. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities (aquatic insects) are another indicator of watershed health and in-stream conditions. Species diversity, a standard indicator of benthic strength, is measured on the Family Biotic Index (FBI): the lower the FBI, the more Reel and Hose, and Big Gun Sprinkler for applying liquid manure to, the land. Irrigation pump for applying liquid manure to the land. This is coupled to the sprinkler system. diverse the community. The FBI in the monitored stream improved from 5.38 to 4.27; the first number indicates the probability of substantial organic pollution; the second, the .probability of slight organic pollution. Project managers recommend that appropriate agencies continue to educate dairy producers and other citizens about the public and private benefits of the BMPs. Eric Staggs, District Director for the Van Buren County Conservation District recently received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Environmental Excellence Award for his contributions to this project. CONTACT: Bob Morgan Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission 501 682-3954 18 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Moore's Creek and Beatty Branch — A Subwatershed in the Muddy Fork Hydrologic Unit Area The Muddy Fork Hydrologic Unit Area Project, in the Arkansas River basin, encompasses 47,122 acres, the tributaries of the Illinois River and Lakes Lincoln, Budd Kidd, and Prairie Grove. The entire area is a USDA agricultural assistance, technology transfer, and demonstration project, A section 319 water quality monitoring operation is also ongoing in the hydrologic unit area, specifically, in the Moore's Greek and Beatty Branch subwatershed. Moore's Creek and Beatty Branch are in the Grand Neosho part of the Arkansas River basin between the Boston Mountains and the Springfield Plateau. These same tributaries form Lincoln Lake, a drinking water reservoir serving Lincoln, Arkansas. The 319 project monitors these waters to help establish the usefulness of nutrient-BMPs. ; Nutrient enrichment causes problems A major source of pollution in the project area is nutrient enrichment resulting from confined animal feeding operations and pasture management. According to the state's 1996 Water Quality Inventory Report, a publication of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Protection, water in the Grand Neosho basin . only partially supports aquatic life, while land uses, primarily poultry production and pasture management, are major sources'of nutrients and chronic high turbidity. Pathogens sampled in the Muddy Fork Hydrologic Unit Area also exceed acceptable limits for primary contact recreation (swimming). This problem was reported:in the 1994 water quality inventory, and it, too, was •traced to extensive poultry, swine, and dairy operations in the Moore's Creek basin.. Essentially, all parts of the subwatershed are impacted by these activities. Monitoring nutrient practices The Muddy Fork project applied nitrogen and phosphorus management practices throughout the basin to help control the flow of nutrients from confined animal feeding operations. The 319 project began in September 1991, To demonstrate the integrated impact of the nutrient best management practices on water quality, five monitoring sites were established on Moore's Creek and Beatty Branch. At three sites, monitors collected biweekly grab samples; at the other two (downstream) sites, they collected storm-event samples in addition to biweekly grabs. All sampling was conducted in accordance with an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Plan. A major source of pollution in the project area is nutrient enrichment resulting from confined animal feeding operations and pasture management. Areas under BMP implementation were matched to the monitoring stations. At the Moore's Creek storm-event station, 24.3 percent of the land has come under BMPs since the project began. Since only about half.of the A watershed is in pasture, this figure represents , about half the available acreage. At the Beatty Branch storm-event site, 36 percent of the total land is under BMP protocols, or about two-thirds of the available pasture. The grab samples were analyzed for nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, orthophosphorus, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. The storm-event samples were tested for the same parameters with the exception of pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Logging interferes The project's original design was threatened after the project began, when the new owners of High Ocean Ranch (800 acres of SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 19 ------- Moore's Creek bottomlands) decided to sell their timber. Logging began in late 1995, and . though it does not affect the Beatty Branch basin, logging sites above and below the sampling station could have had significant effects on the environment and might even have masked the results of project activities. To accommodate this situation, project managers installed an additional sampling station in the Moore's Creek basin above the logging activity. Background data collected at this station will help gage the impact of the logging operation and make it possible to partition the effects of the BMPs. Major accomplishments Monitoring during the first three years of the project (1991 to 1994) showed decreasing levels of ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids. To determine whether these levels continue to decrease or stabilize at the 1994 post-BMP levels, the sampling regime has been extended to September 1997. The first three monitoring sites demonstrated significant improvements in water quality indicators — and, with time, the chemical oxygen demand also decreased in the subbasins. Concentration decreases (of nitrate nitrogen, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and chemical oxygen demand) at the automated station sites on Moore's Creek and Beatty Branch are as follows: • Nitrate nitrogen (Nh3-N) declined 66 percent per year on Moore's Creek; 54 percent per year on Beatty Branch. • Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (NH3-N) declined ' 67 percent per year on Moore's Creek; 54 percent per year on Beatty Branch. • Chemical oxygen demand (COD) declined 44 percent per year on Moore's Creek; 67 percent per year on Beatty Branch. CONTACT: Bob Morgan - • Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission 1 . 501 682-3954 20 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Section 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for FY 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $3,258,358 H Agriculture: $ 1,506,760 H Urban Runoff: $363,984 ED Silviculture: $207,900 ID Construction: $0 D Resource Extraction: $ 162,000 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 El Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 • .' . The BIOS Project — Improving Conditions in Agricultural Watersheds The Biologically Integrated Orchard System (BIOS) project is a community-based pollution prevention program that uses biological methods to replace chemical farming practices..It began in 1993 to help California almond growers and other farmers lessen their reliance on synthetic pesticides. Initiating changes in agricultural watersheds depends in part on finding management measures that not only use natural resources efficiently but also protect and enhance the environment. An example of a successful management practice is underway in the San Joaquin and Sacramento "valleys in central California. Individual farmers, experimenting with various methods to increase production, improve quality, reduce costs, and enhance environmental conditions, are discovering a cost-cutting alternative to synthetic pesticides. The new method grows 'crops efficiently and makes a significant contribution to water pollution control. Most almond growers have relied on ' organophosphate pesticides, especially diazinon, to protect their crops. Diazinon, however, has been identified by state and federal agencies as a significant pollutant in the Central Valley's Sacramento, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers. As a result, some chemicals have been taken off the market, and costs are rising on others. In addition, the University of California has had data for over a decade showing that almond production systems that rely'on biological control and less toxic pesticides produce as much quality and total yield as those using diazinon and other organophosphates. In 1988, two almond growers — Glen Anderson, whose farm was organic, and his brother Ron, who farmed conventionally decided to find out whether their different methods produced different yields. Lennie . Hendricks, a farm adviser with the Merced County Cooperative Extension, compared the SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 21 ------- two orchards and found little difference in the number of rejected almonds. Other growers followed the Andersons' example and their combined experience provided the basis for BIOS. Participating growers adopt a whole-system management approach that in effect provides each grower with a new roster of management tools. The BIOS project provides the information, expertise, and support needed to help California almond growers move from reliance on pesticides to biological farming practices. BIOS was founded in 1993 by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers Foundation (CAFF), the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and the Merced County Cooperative Extension. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides funding through its Agricultural Initiative Program and a section 319 partnership with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. How BIOS works CAFF recruits farmers into three-year projects. Those recruited operate farms that vary in size, soil types, irrigation systems, and chemical inputs. Each farmer enrolls 20 to 30 acres in a regional project, and each project has 20 to 30 enrollees. Each project is managed by a team composed of local farmers, pest control advisers, project/farmer organizers, and a Cooperative Extension agent. This team provides financial incentives and technical assistance to help the grower and pest control advisor create a customized farm management plan for each BIOS parcel. Participating growers adopt a whole-system management approach that in effect provides each grower-with a new roster of management tools. The approach considers all aspects of production: tillage practices; nutrient, water, and pest management; and soil and water issues in the larger landscape. For example, BIOS uses cover crops, compost, and other natural fertilizers, to decrease soilborne pest problems and promote soil health. It uses biological controls — cover crops, natural areas, and hedgerows — to provide habitat for ' predators and beneficial insects, and to reduce or even eliminate plant diseases and pests; and finally, it relies on monitoring and observation to determine when and if a least harmful • chemical should be applied. BIOS also facilitates the exchange, of information among farmers, pest control advisers, and researchers who are developing these systems in their counties. In the past, only a few farmers had access to this information or were willing to depart from customary farming methods. Now with university, government, and industry partners, BIOS encourages farmers to share both risk and information. Participants in a BIOS project learn through a comprehensive program of field days, ongoing problem-solving meetings, visits from the management team, program updates, field notes, and 'other educational materials. '. BIOS continues to attract additional partners and new funding sources, including state and local agencies, USDA agencies, private and corporate sponsors, foundations, and the Almond Commodity Board of California. Its environmental benefits are significant: • To date, 69 almond growers and 20 walnut growers have about 10,514 acres under BIOS-type management. • The BIOS soil-building program increases the soil's capacity to hold and filter water. • Its cultivation of biological pest • management alternatives reduces the use of herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides, and therefore, their occurrence in air and water. • Its use of cover crops and hedgerows provides habitats and enhances biodiversity. • BIOS practices reduce dust and the incidence of airborne organic compounds, thereby improving air quality in the Central Valley. 22 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- BIOS projects are established among almond growers in Merced,, Stanislaus, Madera, and San Joaquin counties,, and among walnut growers in Yolo and Solano counties. As word - , spreads of their success, other BIOS-style projects are being developed by other organizations, including projects for prune systems, winegrapes, and raisins. CONTACT: Sam Ziegler U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 415744-1990 Stream Restoration in Huichica Creek — Protecting Shrimp Habitat Much of the Huichica Creek, California, watershed — formerly known for its dairies and cattle — is classic Napa Valley wine country; and the creek itself, a tributary to the Napa Marsh State Wildlife Area and San Pablo Bay (about 25 miles north of San Francisco), provides habitat for an endangered freshwater shrimp. Sediment problems, originally caused by overgrazing and poor dairy practices and later by the grape growers'- hillside tillage practices, including vertical tillage, have seriously destabilized the creek. As a result, runaway down-cutting of the stream channel, collapsing streambanks, and increased braiding threaten not only the creek but also the shrimp — and ultimately the grapes. However, stakeholders in the watershed are using strong leadership, dedicated grower interest, and participation coupled with technical and financial assistance from state and federal agencies to provide a solution to these problems. A winning situation A restoration plan is now being implemented with section 319 funds. It uses bioengineering techniques and revegetation with native plants to stabilize the streambanks; in-stream.checks to reduce the stream gradient where necessary; and new, lower elevation flood terraces to .carry high flows and prevent , streambank erosion. ' Project managers quickly discovered that repairing streambanks is only a partial solution. Controlling sediments from upland areas is critical to protect the work. Mutually acceptable solutions to upland sediment control include changes in land management practices, among them redirecting vertical rows and adding .cross-slope diversions, terraced planting, runoff control through terrace backsloping, and planting grass between vineyard rows. Agencies, landowners, and managers worked together to develop a "Natural Resource Protection and Enhancement Plan." Sediment problems are less threatening when the experience and ingenuity of landowners and managers are combined with the technical abilities and assets of government agencies. This plan emphasizes land uses that benefit the owners economically, even as they protect and enhance the watershed's natural resources. Sediment problems are less threatening when the experience and ingenuity of landowners and managers are combined with the technical abilities and assets of government agencies. As sedimentation decreases, the shrimp- habitat increases as expected. A more surprising spin-off of this project has been the value added to the grape harvests. When grapevines grow too vigorously, they produce too much leaf cover, which can rob the grapes .-. of flavor. Planting grass between the rows not only helps control erosion, it also reduces the leaf cover, thereby enhancing the fruit. CONTACT: Sam Ziegler U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 415744-1990 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( 23 ------- n n i r COLORADO 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $248,103 S Agriculture: $366,777 H Urban Runoff: $226,500 EH Silviculture: $0 U Construction: $0 D Resource Extraction: $ 168,675 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 The Badger Creek Watershed Project — Improving Fisheries on the Arkansas River Badger Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River, is an important spawning stream for brown trout. However, this approximately 135.000-acre watershed also has a history, a reputation, for dumping sediment-laden flood waters into the Arkansas River, Working together, landowners, local governments, special interest groups, and state and federal agencies have made progress to improve the conditions of the watershed and reduce nonpoint source pollution. The project's goals are improved water quality in the Arkansas River, improved fisheries in the creek and river, and protection and improvement of the creek's historical significance as a brown trout spawning stream. To ensure the success of these larger goals, the project includes the following objectives: • establish flood and sediment controls throughout the watershed, • stabilize stream channels, • improve the vegetation in riparian areas, and » improve water and land management. A work in progress A section 319 grant gave ranchers the incentive to install fencing, alternative livestock watering places, and erosion control structures on state and private land. The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners provided addi- tional funds to help their leaseholders install best management practices on state-owned land. Project-encouraged planned grazing systems are now in place on 79,788 acres. The U.S. Forest Service constructed 124 erosion control dams and installed 344 miles of, stockwater pipeline, four stockwater tanks, and 8.6 miles of fence to facilitate grazing. The Forest Service also closed and revegetated 7.9 miles of unneeded roads. . . 24 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- The Bureau of Land Management completed a land exchange for 80 acres of important'riparian area, which included the primary source of perennial waterflow to the creek. With other partners they established a riparian grazing demonstration area to show land managers and owners how varying the number of livestock and grazing seasons can improve a riparian area. Reduction in sediment Monitoring results indicate general upward trends in characteristics .of vegetation, soils, and stream channels in areas where management actions have changed. Increased vegetative cover and species diversity provide shade and protect soils, which exhibit increased" • microorganism activity, more consistent temperatures, and greater moisture. Willows are growing once more, with increasing vigor. As controlled grazing produces more vigorous vegetation on the streambanks, the stream channel begins to narrow and deepen at the monitoring sites. The vegetation helps to catch sediment and litter and build up streambanks. Sediment transport changes are also apparent, indicating a reduction in sediment transport per volume of water. The mouth of Badger Creek as it empties into the Arkansas River. New willow shoots sprouting along upper Badger Creek in the riparian grazing demonstration. CONTACT: Bill McKee Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment • 303692-3583 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 25 ------- I Management Initiatives Along the South Platte River - The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (based in Loveland, Colorado) begins north of the Denver metropolitan area and extends more than 1.2 million acres along the South Platte River and its tributaries to the Colorado-Nebraska border. The alluvial aquifer along the South Platte has been extensively developed for irrigation, industrial . and municipal purposes, and drinking water. However, high nitrate levels are presently found in wells serving several municipalities. These communities have been forced to seek alternative drinking water supplies. The available alternatives, ranging from reverse osmosis treatment plants to participation in a regional water supply pipeline, are costly to residents. In addition to health concerns (in some areas, the nitrate level may be as high as 40 parts per million |ppm] — four times the recommended level for drinking water), the nitrogen also potentially jeopardizes the production of high quality sugar beets and malting barley, the district's major cash crops. While corn for grain is the largest acreage crop, approximately 40,000 acres of sugar beets are also grown in the basin, with gross revenues exceeding $30 million annually. Demonstrating total resource management Among projects undertaken to protect the aquifer and the South Platte River, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District is sponsoring a demonstration of total resource management for irrigated cropland. Two small farms of 45 and 20 acres, respectively, provide area producers an opportunity to evaluate whole farm management and the transferability of similar management practices to their own operations. At the same time, they can assess the program's cost-effectiveness because the farms have real expenses and income. Since a major environmental goal of the project is to use best management practices to reduce the amount of nitrate-nitrogen in soil and water, initial phases of the project focused on nutrient and irrigation management. Later phases will demonstrate sediment control with conservation tillage and polyacrylamide use. Polyacrylamide, also known as PAM, is a soil additive that acts as a flocculent to consolidate soil particles suspended in the irrigation water. . . The consolidated particles drop out of suspension and stabilize the furrow surface. Two chapters of the Colorado Young Farmers Education Association — the Thompson Valley Young Farmers and the Valley. Young Farmers — provided the demonstration farms. Together these Young Farmer chapters have more than 80 active members farming an estimated :20,000 irrigated acres in the project area. 'Each chapter served as the advisory committee for operations at its farm site. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Northern Coloiado Wats? Conservancy District DgflHUisirailoit Site for Irrigation and Nitrogen Management (above and right) Signs posted at demonstration sites. The agribusiness community near each farm also made significant contributions; it provided inputs for crop production, including seed, agrichemicals, compost,'manure, and equipment. The young farmer organizations prepared the ground prior to planting and provided seed, fertilizer, chemicals, and the water for irrigation. The District was'responsible for planning and performing all other field operations necessary for normal crop production. 26 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Surge irrigation valve and gated pipe set up for surge furrow irrigation in sugar beet field near Johnson's Corner, Colorado. Irrigation practices and results All fields were furrow irrigated. The control fields were conventionally irrigated, while water was applied to the others with surge valves and gated pipe. Surge valves pulse water across the field, cycling water back and./ forth between two alternating sets of furrows, using a solar powered controller. The valves : allow the field alternate wetting and drying . cycles during irrigation, which permits more uniform application across the field and generally improves the efficiency of water use. Efficiencies can be expressed as the ratio of water needed or used for crop production to the volume of water applied to the field. The closer the value of crop water use is to the actual application, the greater the efficiency. Conventional furrow irrigation ranges from 25 to, 60 percent efficiency; surge irrigation efficiencies range from 30 to 80 percent. Irrigations were scheduled using the root zone water balance method along with soil moisture readings. Average irrigation efficiencies for the project are depicted in Table 1. Groundwater was analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen oh the Thompson Valley Farm, . using samples from four observation wells: The wells were sited so that one" pair represented water-entering the site, while the other pair represented water leaving the site (Table 2). Table. 1 .'—Irrigation effieienees on demonstration farms along the South Platte. THOMPSON VALLEY YOUNG FARMERS FIELD, CROP, IRRIGATION METHOD Sugar Beets - surge Corn 1 - surge Corn 2 - surge Corn - conventional FIELD SIZE 5.7 acres 6.5 acres 5.8 acres 1 8 acres Irrigation Efficiencies 1995 59% - 52% 48% 31% 1994 36% 33% 34% N/A VALLEY YOUNG FARMERS Corn 1 - surge Corn 2 - surge Corn - conventional 5.8 acres 4.8 acres 1 0 acres ' 46% 39% 36% 21-36%' 21-37%' N/A Fields were conventionally irrigated during first half of season at 2 1 % efficiency. Surge valves were used during second half . of season, increasing efficiencies to 36% and 37%. Table 2.— Nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater observation wells, in parts per million (ppm). 1994 1995 GROUNDWATER ENTERING SITE low 4.9 9,9 high 23.0 26.7 avg. 13.7 16.6 GROUNDWATER LEAVING SITE low 1.9 3.5 high 8.0 8.9 avg. 5,4 6.5 In addition to the field demonstrations, the District also operated a surge valve trial program. Cooperating producers had free use of a surge valve for one irrigation season, as a way of introducing them to the unfamiliar technology. District personnel provided technical assistance in programming the valve and suggesting installation options. Where practical, irrigation application efficiencies were calculated from measures of the amount of . water applied and field runoff. Of the 72 valves loaned during a three-year period, 60 percent were subsequently purchased by the producers. CONTACT: Bill McKee Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 303692-3583 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 27 ------- CONNECtlCUT 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting UPS Category: $266,000 ED Agriculture: $169,000 a Urban Runoff: $481,500 E3 Silviculture: $0 (QD Construction: $99,000 D Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $53,000 D Other: $20,000 Responding to Urban Development — Communities in the Mattabesset River Watershed The Mattabesset River Watershed Pollution Management Project, initiated in 1992, targets nonpoint source pollution and the restoration of riparian areas along the river and throughout the watershed. Sponsored jointly by the Middlesex and Hartford county soil and water conservation districts, the project is funded primarily by grants under sections 319 and 604(b) of the Clean Water Act, with nonfederal matching contributions from the districts and watershed communities. The Mattabesset River is a major tributary of the Connecticut River in central Connecticut, flowing 18 miles from its headwaters in New Britain to its confluence with the Connecticut River in Middletown. The watershed's 44,000 acres are highly urbanized and include portions of seven towns. As a result of intense development, water quality is impaired, and important habitats and riparian areas have been lost. The major project objectives, related to these conditions, are to • develop a constituency for protection and improvement of the river; • conduct chemical and biological water quality monitoring to establish baseline conditions and measure progress; • establish critical area treatment sites to demonstrate best management practices; • develop and implement water quality management programs for the municipalities in the watershed; and • reduce erosion and sedimentation from urban development sites. • , . To achieve these objectives, the conservation districts have conducted stormwater management workshops for municipal officials and staff in the watershed communities. The workshops served as a forum for ideas and provided an opportunity for municipal staff from neighboring communities to build working relationships. The districts - 28 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Benthic monitoring on the Mattabasett River. also have provided "one-on-one" technical training to help municipal staff conduct site plan reviews and field-based problem solving. General workshops were conducted for municipal land use commissioners as part of regular commission meetings, The Connecticut RiverWatch Program, (CRWP) helps the project identify baseline conditions and water quality problems in the Mattabesset River. CRWP, a volunteer water quality monitoring, protection, and improve- ment program initiated in 1992, is an integral part of the watershed project. This ongoing monitoring program has helped the watershed project focus its efforts to reduce pollution, especially sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. Project milestones Project work in the Mattabesset watershed has focused on remediation and restoration. BMPs for sediment control'are incorporated in new developments, municipal maintenance measures have been expanded to preserve riparian values and reduce nonpoint source pollution, and people are becoming more involved through education and outreach programs. K At Progress Park, an industrial park adjacent to the Mattabesset in Cromwell, a severely eroding site from which the topsoil had been stripped prior to development was stabilized. In addition, a sediment delta that had formed at the site's discharge point to the river was removed, helping to restore the hydrological conditions in that stretch of the river. >• On West Swamp Brook in Middletown, an innovative bioengineering method using coconut fiber rolls and live plants was used to stabilize and restore a section of streambank where loss of riparian vegetation had resulted in severe erosion. The newly stabilized banks protect property and water quality. >• At a public school playing field adjacent to Belcher Brook in Berlin, custodians roped off a 10-foot-wide strip along the water's edge to form a natural vegetative buffer. Previously, the playing field was being mowed right up to the streambank. >* In Cromwell Meadows, a significant tidal marsh in the mouth of the Mattabesset River, junk cars and trash we're removed, and cleanup activities have continued on an annual basis. > The town of Cromwell used bacteria data collected from Coles Brook to help justify a sewer expansion project. A brochure about septic system maintenance was also distrib- uted to help residents deal with this problem. Street sweeping and catch basin pumping also have decreased sediment and nutrient .pollution, and district staff are helping the towns' public works departments develop pollution prevention plans for town garages' and parking lots. , The Mattabesset watershed project has improved the quality of the Mattabesset River and its tributaries. It also has been successful at encouraging behavior changes that may . ultimately stem the tide of nonpoint source pollution. Degraded areas have been restored and pollution controls designed and implemented for the new development projects. -'.'•.' SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [[ 29 ------- Town staff and land use commissioners, developers, and contractors are more aware of best management practices to control nonpoint source pollution and are beginning to adopt these best management practices as standard practices. Most promising of all — town staff, developers, and contractors have developed stronger working relationships, spurred by a clearer understanding of the necessity for nonpoint source pollution controls. In sum, the project has led to increased communication and cooperation among the watershed towns. Project managers view the new, grassroots . Mattabesset River Watershed Association as an important measure of their success. Citizens from the watershed communities have formally established this organization as a community-based group. The project believes that this new group will maintain its vision of a restored watershed, advocate for its support, and provide services to ensure the long-term protection of the river and its watershed. CONTACT: MeJ Cote U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 617565-3537 Lake Whitney Artificial Marsh Treats Urban Runoff Lake Whitney, in Hamden, Connecticut (about three miles north of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound) is a public water supply reservoir owned by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. The lower portion of the watershed is heavily developed; approximately 70 percent of land use is for commercial, industrial, or high-density residential development. Because of the large amount of impervious surface, the watershed used section 319 funding to demonstrate how constructed, multicelled wetlands (or artificial marshes) can reduce the impacts of urban runoff. Describing the new system The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority's design called for redirecting a stormwater outfall draining about 20 acres of primarily small residential lots (with 45 percent impervious cover) into a new multicell treatment system. The new system consists of a sediment forebay, a sediment basin, and an artificial marsh and wet pond. The cost was reasonable (less than $50,000) and the system was compact, covering only about a half-acre or 2.6 percent of the contributing drainage area. Multi-celled systems have many advantages. The sediment forebay effectively traps coarse sediments and trash, is easy to clean, and preserves system storage volumes. Subsequent treatment stages are easily accommodated in the other cells, including further sediment removal in the sediment basin, and biological treatment, filtration/and other pollutant removal mechanisms in the marsh and wet pond cell. Long, narrow shapes were used in both the sediment basin and wet pond to maximize detention time and pollutant removal, The system is visually attractive, provides habitat for wildlife, and effectively removes a variety of pollutants from urban runoff. . . ' . Monitoring of the system indicates that while the sediment basin has variable removal rates, the combined sediment basin and wet pond removes conventional pollutants and heavy metals in excess of 50 percent. Minimal maintenance is needed, and with the exception of some nuisance wildlife problems, no serious functional problems have arisen. Although better water quality is the primary objective, multicell systems with artificial marshes and wet ponds are also visually attractive and valuable habitat for wildlife. Additional benefits include the simplicity of their design and low maintenance requirements. Publicity generated by the Lake Whitney project has increased awareness of urban runoff issues within local government as attested by several recent land-use decisions within the watershed. For example, a 30-acre shopping center has been approved, at least in part because its developers included plans for a 30 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- (left) Lake Whitney Marsh in August 1995 (below) in Summer 1996 comprehensive stormwater ' management system designed to minimize adverse impacts to water quality. Planning a stormwater management system This project identified a number of issues that should be considered during the planning, design, construction, and operation of multicelled stormwater management systems: > Incorporate multicell concepts in the treatment design, with each cell-having its own primary function. Sediment forebays are effective; preserve system storage volumes, and simplify maintenance. Subsequent stages can be designed to serve many physical and biological treatment needs. .. >•' Consider water quality goals, the quality of incoming runoff, available land, and costs during the design phase. The,detention volume should be sufficient to treat .at least one-half inch of runoff over the.impervious areas; however, additional volume and by-pass/overflow provisions may be desirable for winter thaw and rain storms that can overwhelm a system of this size. - >• Increase the potential for pollutant removal bymaximizing overland flow and buffering vegetation. When using buffers to detain flow, flows should be distributed across the buffers as.evenly as possible. > Enhance visual attractiveness by using curvilinear pond shapes, peninsulas, and wetland.and flowering plants; by substituting vegetation for riprap; and by retaining existing trees where practicable. > Consider in advance possible nuisance wildlife that could damage vegetation and affect the appearance, structural integrity, and function of the system. At Lake Whitney, for example, the project was plagued by muskrat burrows and Canada geese droppings. Three-to-one side slopes, wire mesh barriers, riprap in certain areas, winter drawdown, and trapping, grates, and screens over outlet pipes are'possible countermeasures. Selecting less palatable plant species may also discourage nuisance wildlife. > Design to facilitate maintenance. Ramps allow heavy equipment access to sediment removal areas.: ... , SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 31 ------- >• Design inflow and outflow structures with adjustable water levels and flows. Removable weir boards can be used to adjust water levels or temporarily bypass flows. A high-flow bypass serves as an emergency spillway and can be used to lower water levels for maintenance. >• Project managers should communicate with local officials early in the planning process to facilitate local zoning approval. A stormwater management project may be a new concept to local boards or may not fit existing land-use regulations. In some cases, amending local regulations may be necessary to expedite the process. >• Reuse stripped topsoil on basin side slopes and bottoms. In some places, it may be necessary to place topsoil over excessively stony or gravel bottoms to ensure successful wetland planting. > Establish a permanent inspection and maintenance program to monitor system performance and vegetative cover and plantings. Maintenance and landscaping crews should be educated about how each component functions and how to maintain it; for example, these personnel should be , instructed on whether vegetation should be mowed, removed, or left undisturbed. Crews should also check system structures for erosion and subsidence, and look for wildlife damage, sediment and debris accumulation, and vandalism. Sediment forebays should be cleaned every two to three years, although local conditions, such as excessive soil disturbance, may require more frequent cleaning. CONTACT: Mel Cote U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 617565-3537 32 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $322,331 S Agriculture: $213,246 H Urban Runoff: $0 §3 Silviculture: $0 W Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $41,7QO H Hydrologic Modification: $ 164,905 D Other: $37,309 In the Christina River Basin — Delaware and Pennsylvania Work Together A watershed program shared by Delaware and Pennsylvania establishes a common goal to preserve the beneficial uses of Christina River basin waters. The basin's streams begin in Pennsylvania and Maryland and flow through the hills of northern New Castle County, Delaware, to the Delaware River. The four major streams, Brandywine Creek, White Clay Creek, Red Clay Creek, and the Christina River, currently have impaired water quality with higher than normal levels of sediment and bacteria. Nitrogen and phosphorus levels exceed acceptable limits during the summer, and when stream flows are low in the fall. These conditions threaten the public drinking water supply for northern New Castle County. For years, Delaware and Pennsylvania had different views on how to solve the basin's problems. The major differences involved water quality standards, perceptions of uniqueness, forms of government, and equal representation. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II Delaware regards the Christina Basin as a drinking water source and requires a higher degree of protection than Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the Christina River is used for wastewater assimilation and water supply purposes. Finally, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) established a committee with representatives from both states. The bistate Christina River Basin Water Sources Committee, chaired by DRBC, is made up of district, county, state, and federal agencies. Its principal purpose is to coordinate the water quality management policies of Pennsylvania and Delaware within the watershed. After collecting watershed data from both states, the committee found that soil and geology maps differ across state lines. These inconsistencies point to the need for interstate consultation and a watershed-based approach to water problems. 33 ------- Differences in water quality standards and government may be at the root of the problem. Delaware is made up of a small number of county governments, which permits easier administration of stormwater quality standards. But in Pennsylvania's portion of the basin, over 40 different jurisdictions have each imple-. mented a different stormwater quality program. The Christina Basin Water Resources Committee is now developing a unified strategy for improving the quality of streams that supply drinking water to residents on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. The five-year cooperative effort will address point and nonpoint source pollution, beginning with monitoring and identifying various sources and types of pollutants. Using a Total Maximum Daily Load approach will help control wastewater discharges and provide the foundation for developing a water quality management model of the watershed. Once this step is taken, an assessment and identification of nonpoint sources, such as sediment, road oils, fertilizers, and metals, will be incorporated into the model. Both Delaware and Pennsylvania will use the watershed model to develop projects to control stormwater runoff and reduce water quality impacts to the receiving streams. The plans, which extend through 2000, include bioengineering and riparian restoration demonstration projects, public awareness programs, and stormwater detention retrofits. CONTACT: Nancy Goggin Delaware Department of Natural Resources and • Environmental Control 302739-3451 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- DISTRICT OFIOQLiU 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $0 S Agriculture: $0 B Urban Runoff: $525,665 E3 Silviculture: $0 HI Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 S Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Reviving the Anacostia — Freshwater Tidal Marsh Restoration The decline of the Anacostia River, one of the nation's most threatened rivers,Is a familiar tale. To make way for urban growth, its freshwater tidal marshes were filled, its meanders straightened, and its banks diked and walled. Eventually the watershed was paved and piped, leaving the river vulnerable to high nutrient inputs from combined sewer outfalls and excessive sedimentation from eroding streamban.ks. Historically, expansive tidal freshwater marshes had helped buffer the river from the urban' environment, but population pressures soon overcame the wetlands' natural ability to process and trap excessive nutrients and sedi- , ments. Dredging operations to deepen the river channel ajid the threat of illness from sewage in the marshes led to the diking and filling of most of the Anacostia's unique wetlands. The Kenilworth Marsh, which is connected to the Anacostia River in northeast Washington, D.C., is one of the last unfilled SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I marshes in an area that once was dominated by tidal wetlands.,This marsh, and the surrounding Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, is managed by the U.S. National Park Service, which is now in the process of restoring it. The goal is to restore a portion of the emergent tidal wetlands that once characterized the Anacostia River. The National Park Service sees the Kenilworth's restoration as one in a series of steps to save the Anacostia from high nutrient . and sediment loadings, while simultaneously expanding the habitat of native species — a . function of the marshes that all but disappeared during the last century. Opportunity to begin the Kenilworth Marsh restoration coincided with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' mandated dredging of the Anacostia River. A lack of suitable upland . disposal sites and the National Park Service's longstanding intention to restore the marsh lead to a proposal for an innovative use of the dredge material. The subsequent filling of the 35 ------- Aerial view of the Kenilworth Marsh. marsh mud fiats with the dredged river material created favorable conditions for emergent . macrophyte growth. The project had begun. Preliminary tests were conducted with cells of different macrophyte species grown under varying degrees of tidal inundation. These tests determined that substrate elevation and resulting tidal inundation were the limiting factors in emergent vegetative growth. A partnership of many agencies The Kenilworth project involved several federal and local agencies. The Army Corps of Engineers did the primary construction work with the National Park Service as the lead agency for planning and coordination. The District of Columbia's Water Resource Management Division, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin were among the local agencies consulted. The Army Corps of Engineers provided the funds to construct the marsh. The reconstruction and revegetation of Kenilworth was completed in July 1993. The Kenilworth Marsh Monitoring Committee, a workgroup and advisory committee, then planned and initiated a detailed physical, chemical, and biological monitoring program to track the development of the new marsh. The District of Columbia uses a 319 grant to monitor the restored marsh. Its findings contribute to the compilation of an overall database on the evolving, essentially new, wetland ecosystem. The aquatic biological monitoring design used by the District can also be used to gather baseline data on areas targeted for future wetlands restoration. The first season after the replanting saw a dense greening of the major areas. The seed bank in the fill sediments contributed greatly to this rapid growth, and even eliminated the • planted species in some areas. Growth in the remaining barren areas occurred in the second year of the project. Studies of the surface sediment found the sediments clean after the filling and planting operations. Nutrient studies and surveys of birds and various aquatic communities, for example, fish, plankton, benthic, and m'acroinvertebrate communities, are ongoing, multiyear efforts. Monitoring the restored Kenilworth Marsh is expected to be a five-year process that will afford valuable insights into the early successional stages of large-scale , wetland reconstructions. Findings from the Kenilworth Marsh will help other partnerships develop successful wetland restoration projects on the Anacostia River. At this time, several such projects are in the planning and implementation stages. These new restoration projects have already benefited from the Kenilworth data, and it is believed that the Kenilworth experience will lead to more accurate and less costly restorations. CONTACT: Sheila A. Besse District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 202645-6601 36 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting HPS Category: $ 1,484,583 S Agriculture: $693,118 H Urban Runoff: $1,477,299 E3 Silviculture: $0 HE] Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $20,000 H Hydrologic Modification: $225,000 D Other: $0 Renaissance for Lake Jackson - An Outstanding Florida Water Lake Jackson in northcentral Leon County, Florida, became known for its bass fishing in the late' 1950s and was held in high esteem until the early 1970s when rapid urbanization of its watershed resulted in dramatic changes to the lake: The lake is a relatively closed, system with no outlets other than several sinkholes. In fact, its renown . followed a natural drawdown after the collapse . of a solution sinkhole. In addition to the stress of residential and other urban development, a major federal highway, Interstate I-10, was built through the Megginnis and Fords Arms subbasins in 1972. Above average rainfall during the highway's construction, coupled with . inadequate sediment controls, created a large turbidity plume over the southern third of the lake. Subsequent efforts to protect the lake turned Megginnis and Fords Arms into sediment traps. A clean lakes remedy Many studies conducted between 1974 and 1976 indicated widespread problems, • including increased sediment, nutrient loading, •and contamination of the bottom sediments by heavy metals and other pollutants. The Northwest Florida Water Management District compiled and evaluated this research in a 1977 report. The report concluded that, storm water runoff was the primary cause of Lake Jackson's water quality degradation. It recommended that nutrient and sediment loads to the lake be reduced. In 1981, a partnership-was established between the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, the Northwest Florida Water Management District, and, EPA., Using a section 314 Clean Lakes program grant, the partners built a detention pond, sand filter, and marsh system to reduce the flow of stormwater pollutants through Megginnis Arm. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME H ------- This system, completed in 1984, was studied extensively for the next four years and eventually refined for optimal performance..No matter how efficiently the system operated, it was still undersized in relation to development within the watershed. Stormwater loadings .were. substantially reduced, but the lake and Megginnis Arm continued to deteriorate. Removing sediment In 1990, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation committed section 319 funding to the Northwest Florida Water Management District to remove the troublesome sediments from Megginnis Arm. Analyses indicated that the sediments were well within the limits for land application. The project broke ground October 11, 1990. The first tasks centered on the establishment of sediment controls and site barricades. Favorable weather and minimal equipment problems enabled rapid construction of the disposal area and a sheetpile dam to isolate Megginnis Arm from the main body of Lake Jackson. Dredging started on Decembers, 1990. Low water levels facilitated progress until they were too low to support the dredge. Groundwater provided by the city of Tallahassee, was then used to augment the pool; Concerned that the dredge slurry could not be effectively controlled in the disposal area, the project used a section of an adjacent .constructed marsh as a polishing pond. To counter unusually heavy rains from January to March 1991, hay bales were placed between sections of the marsh to protect the main area, while increased alum treatments helped control turbidity. Dredging in Megginnis Arm was completed by July 1991, followed by reconditioning of the marsh area, removal of the sheetpile dam,.and consolidation of the disposal area. Remaining details such as grading and landscaping the containment area were completed by May 1992. All told, the project removed more than 100,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from Megginnis Arm. Streambank stabilization Following the dredging project, workers (again using section 319 funds) helped remove ' exotic or nuisance vegetation (primarily Chinese tallow and alligator weed) from the littoral area of Megginnis Arm 'and began to reestablish native species. The project originally called for planting 150,000 herbaceous wetland plants and 200 woody plants on 44 acres of the littoral zone. However, these plans were substantially revised because water levels remained unusually high and wild seed stock - quickly stabilized the area. Ultimately, 40,000 herbaceous wetland plants and 700 trees were planted in Megginnis Arm to enhance the basin's natural biological communities.. Effects on water quality In general, sampling analyses indicate poorer water quality at the inflows to the lake (i.e., at Megginnis and Fords Arms) and better water quality in more open areas. Data trends from the northernmost part of Megginnis Arm show that the project to remove nonpoint source pollution from the watershed is 38 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME !l ------- Table 1.- Water quality measures in Lake Jackson, 1970 to 1990. PERIOD Early 1 970s Late 1970s Early 1 980s Mid 1 980s Early 1 990s Mid 1990s Average NO3-N02 mg/L .054 .087 .035 .038 .010 .008 .039 TN mg/L .882 .559 .427 .605 .670 .629 NO3-N02 = nitrate-nitrite TN = total nitrogen Orth. P. = orthophosphorus Orth. P. mg/L .015 .046 .048 .012 .042 .005 .028 TP mg/L .394 .464 .131 .055 .073 .037 .192 Chi a ng/L — - 16.10 26.40 22.97 12.54 19.50 TP = total phosphorus Chi. a = chlorophyl a Cond. (jmho/em 61 87 82 127 67 - 55 80 Turbidity NTU 55.07 14.10 21.91 9.48 5.70 — - Sfc. DO mg/L 5.81 9.64 10.10 . 8.47 6.55 9.10 8.30 Cond. = conductivity Sfc. DO = surface dissolved oxygen achieving success. The values shown in Table 1 are means for the various periods. Nitrate-nitrite, orthophosphorus, total phosphorus, turbidity, conductivity and chlorophyl a are at their lowest levels in over 20 years. Dissolved oxygen concentrations at the surface are near all-time highs and, even more important, were above 8 milligrams per liter at mid-depth and bottom during sampling in April and July 1996. The Lake Jackson project exemplifies section 319's contribution to successful nonpoint source management. This program financed the restoration of impaired areas and provided for better management of Lake Jackson in the future. The lake has been designated an "Outstanding Florida Water" and is included in the state's aquatic preserve program. Consequently, it will continue to merit attention, protection, and restoration. The partnerships formed on behalf of Lake Jackson will continue to achieve remarkable results. CONTACT: Eric Livingston Florida Department of Environmental Protection 904921-9915 Florida's Silviculture Best Management Practices— Test Sites Rated "Excellent" Florida's silviculture NFS management program was cooperatively developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, the Florida Division of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, and the forest industry, acting in response to requirements set forth in Section 208 of the Clean Water Act. In 1976, responsibility for the program passed to a newly formed Silviculture Technical Advisory Committee. The major goal of this committee — whose members included 12 paper companies, the relevant state and federal agencies, a consulting forester, the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I Conservation, and the Florida Forestry Association — was to develop a workable set of best management practices (BMPs) to minimize water quality impacts associated with forestry activities. Early developments get results Between 1977 and 1979, the technical advisory committee, together with the Department of Forestry, developed a set of practices, including streamside management zones, minimum bare ground exposure, culvert ' and cross ditches, water turnouts, broad-based dips, and a variety of nonstructural BMPs to 39 ------- Testing for forestry BMP effectiveness using biological sampling. minimize stream crossings and other potential nonpoint sources of pollution created by forestry activities. In 1979, these practices were published as the Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual. The practices are intended for use with forestry activities in discretionary zones adjacent to waterbodies. The width of these zones and the specific BMPs to be used within them are recommended, depending on a "site sensitivity classification" (SSC), an index that identifies sedimentation potential. The SSC is based on soil erodibility, slope, and proximity to a waterbody. Initial implementation of the program was voluntary. In 1982, as part of the state's stormwater regulation, forestry activities conducted in accordance with the BMP manual were exempt from stormwater permitting. When the Department of Environmental Regulation delegated the stormwater program to the regional water management districts, the silviculture exemption became a noticed general permit. Its only requirement was to identify the location and timing of planned forestry activities. New issues prompt review In November 1991, the Department of Forestry held a public meeting to review the silviculture NFS management program. . Participants at this meeting identified 12 major BMP issues, and a 22-member Technical Advisory Committee was formed to conduct a comprehensive review of the BMP manual. This committee, like its prototype, had broad stakeholder representation — this time also including nonindustrial private land owners and conservation organizations. The review was undertaken in expectation that a revised updated manual would result. This revision occurred between January 1992 and March 1993, with funding provided by a 1992 section 319 grant. The revised Silviculture Best Management Practices greatly • increases the water quality protection associated with forestry activities. Though many of the original BMPs were retained, their use has been expanded to address other water resources . such as sinkholes, small lakes (less than 10 acres), canals, and wetlands. Streamside Management Zones were renamed Special Management Zones (SMZ). The width of the primary-zone of the SMZ was expanded from. 35 feet to up to 200 feet, depending on stream width and waterbody classification. In addition, general'ecological considerations and wildlife habitat values were added as specific BMP objectives. An entirely new set of BMPs were developed for forestry activities conducted in wetlands or during wet weather. Training Once the new manual was published, distribution and training began. In July 1994, the Department of Forestry asked the community to identify individuals who could serve as BMP trainers within their respective companies, agencies, or area; and in September, 28 prospective trainers — 18 from the forest industry and 10 from state and federal agencies — attended a "train the trainers" session in Tallahassee. Following that initial training session, the Department of Forestry conducted BMP workshops throughout the state, beginning in northwest Florida and working toward the south. By May 1994, 47 BMP workshops had been conducted with over 1,500 participants, primarily loggers, foresters, forest landowners, 40 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- and regulatory agencies' staff. These workshops and distribution of the manual continue to be a key component of Florida's silviculture program. Effectiveness assessments . In addition to reviewing the BMP manual, the 1991 Silviculture Technical Advisory Committee was also charged to evaluate the environmental effectiveness of the practices. To lead this effort, a BMP Effectiveness subcommittee was created. Working with the . Departments of Forestry and Environmental Protection, the BMP Effectiveness subcommittee has also designed a monitoring program that will use recently developed bioassessment protocols to evaluate the impacts of forestry activities on aquatic ecosystems. This assessment is unrelated to compliance, since in every case the forestry activities are already in compliance. The effectiveness study is to determine whether the BMPs actually protect the water resources as planned. The effectiveness evaluation, which began in the fall of 1995, includes two components-. long-term BMP effectiveness monitoring and project-duration monitoring for BMP effectiveness under select, controlled conditions including before and after disturbance. An example of this second component is the nearly completed "319 Biological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices in Protecting Stream Biota." This project used a before and after control impact design to sample sites up- and downstream of forestry activities. The sampling parameters included benthic macroinvertebrates (resident biota), habitat assessment, and standard physical and chemical measurements. Four streams in, north Florida were chosen for this project. Then, in February 1996, on each of these streams, three stations upstream and three stations downstream of a proposed clear-cutting operation were monitored to determine the streams before treatment condition. In February 1997, investigators went back to the identical stations to sample for the after treatment condition. At three of the test streams, the reference and test sites were rated "excellent"; at the other stream, they were "good. Next, the data were used to calculate the Stream Condition Index (SCI) for each stream segment studied. The Stream Condition Index (a composite of seven invertebrate parameters) has been calibrated to reflect the regional conditions in undisturbed streams. Its final result supports the effectiveness of the silviculture BMPs. Based on the SCI, no statistically significant changes were observed between the reference and test sites after silviculture activities in which the BMPs are strictly adhered to during all aspects of the operation. At three of the test streams, the reference and test sites were rated "excellent"; at the other stream, they were "good." Results from habitat assessment showed no major adverse habitat changes from the forestry operations. The project analysts also found the precision (that is, the repeatability) of the SCI measures very satisfactory. The development of forestry BMPs is thus shown to be an effective solution to a nonpoint source environmental problem. CONTACT: Eric Livingston Florida Department of Environmental Protection 904921-9915 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 41 ------- GEORGIA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $ 1,882,100 S Agriculture: $38,500 H Urban Runoff: $ 115,000 03 Silviculture: $0 W Construction: $290,400 B Resource Extraction: $0 Q Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Mydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 . . . Restoration of a Riparian Forest — An Agricultural Water Quality Improvement Project Intensively farmed areas can maintain good water quality if riparian forests are left in place along the streams draining agricultural areas. Such forested areas are usually wetlands; they filter water and prevent excess chemicals, dissolved solids, nutrients, and sediments from reaching downstream waters. Therefore, the reestablishment of riparian forests that have been cut or drained can also be expected to contribute to water quality improvements. Until now, the benefits of restored riparian forests on water quality have not been demonstrated or evaluated in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. This 319 project — a riparian restoration in the Suwanee River Basin nearTifton, Georgia, became the first to focus on the efficiency of the restored forested wetland to store and remove nutrients. The project was designed to reestablish a riparian forest to ameliorate the water ' quality impacts of applying liquid manure to cropland; that is, to determine whether a ' restored riparian forest—trees, shrubs, and native grasses—would improve the quality of runoff leavingthemanureapplicationsiteand moving through the riparian area to the stream. It was conducted in conjunction with an agricultural project at the University of Georgia's Coastal Plain Experiment Station nearTifton. The USDA Agricultural Research Service participated.in the section 319 project to restore a streamside riparian forest receiving runoff from the USDA-funded liquid manure application and forage crop production site. The Tifton project sought to demonstrate the conservation and water quality effects of using minimum plowing and liquid manure to grow forage crops. It was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Low Input/Sustainable Agriculture Program. 42 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- The project demonstrated that riparian forested wetlands can be restored to help prevent nonpoint source pollution from manure application sites. Obstacles and successes Riparian vegetation was successfully restored in the project area, but not before several obstacles had been' overcome, for example, knowing which species to plant. Yellow poplars were not a good choice for wet conditions; black gum and green ash were effective substitutes. Within two months it was apparent that there would be low survivorship among the poplars, since they were not locally produced seedlings and did not thrive in wet, saturated soils. Black gum and green ash were substituted since it was thought they would tolerate wet conditions. Project workers evaluated the effects of the riparian restoration by measuring changes in surface and subsurface water quality indicators in the field where manure was applied and again after the runoff had moved , through the restored riparian area toward the stream. Results of the monitoring demonstrated that the restored riparian area removed nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in the first two years of the project. Nitrate levels leaving the area in shallow groundwater were higher than in mature riparian forest sites. The.project demonstrated that riparian forested wetlands can be restored to help prevent nonpoint source pollution from manure application sites. Information gleaned from this project, and others, has been incorporated in an interim USDA Natural Resources Conservation,Service and U.S. Forest Service specification for Riparian Forest Buffer Systems. The guide recommends a three-zone buffer system in riparian areas. CONTACT: Frank Carubba Georgia Department of Natural Resources • 404651-5492 Evaluating Best Management Practices — A Farm Demonstration Project in Rayle, Georgia Traditional methods of allowing livestock free access to streams and pastures must change as modern farming methods intersect with environmental concerns. With this commitment, the Georgia Resource Conservation and Development., Council, Inc., several conservation districts, federal agencies, and the University of Georgia arranged a farm demonstration to teach area cattlemen that new practices to keep livestock out of streams could be cost-effective and practical. After selecting a dairy farm, the partners helped install and monitor the following practices: proper grazing management, nutrient management, animal waste management systems (including holding pond, solid separator), loafing area, geotextile walkway, and livestock exclusion. The dairy farm is located within a 385-acre watershed in northeastern Georgia's Savannah River Basin near Rayle. In fact, it sits on an unnamed tributary that flows into a pond next to the most heavily used section of the . dairy. The unnamed tributary continues through a wetlands (actually, another pond that had been breached) and flows into the Broad River. The 793,000 acres of agriculture land within the watershed contain the following animals: 22,000 dairy cows, 185,000 beef cows, 95,000 swine, and about 22 million poultry (layers and broilers). These animals potentially contribute to the nonpoint source pollution problems in the watershed and river basin. Direct access of livestock to streams and runoff from loafing areas have degraded the watershed SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME H 43 ------- (left) The geotextile walkway and (below) the solid waste separator at Wilkes County Dairy. and Impaired water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities. The project managers planned an extensive water quality monitoring program to demonstrate that the recommended best management practices were cost-effective and practical. Water quality measurements included biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), fecal coliform, fecal streptococci, nitrate, ammonia, and orthophosphate. Additional in situ parameters monitored by an automated sampler included pH, temperature, conductivity, ammonia plus ammonium, turbidity, depth, and dissolved oxygen. Comparing the results from post-BMP and pre-BMP monitoring show a marked. improvement in water quality. Statistical analyses have indicated significant decreases (p = 0.05) in ammonia, orthophosphate, TSS, COD, BOD, and fecal streptococci. Extensive water quality monitoring has quantitatively • demonstrated that the recommended BMPs are both cost-effective and practical. CONTACT: Frank Carubba Georgia Department of Natural Resources 404651-5492 44 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 No data available from the state. A Modified Deep Litter Waste Management System — The Kealia Farms Model New animal waste management systems are helping hog producers in Hawaii deal with the costly and potentially polluting aspect of hog farming. Among new systems, the Modified Dry Litter Waste Management System has a definite advantage. This model, unlike traditional water-based waste management systems, does not use water . to wash down the pens and transport animal waste to a storage lagoon, which can be a major pathway for surface and groundwater pollution. An interagency team convened by the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts and supported by a 319 grant, developed a Hawaiian style waste management system by modifying the dry litter waste management systems currently being tested in other land-limited countries, for example, the Netherlands and Japan. In this system, the hogs are housed in sloping pens and dry litter or bedding is used to help push the waste down slope into a composting or storage pit. Various slope ratios and types of dry litter help determine the effectiveness of the system and the quality of the composted product. How the system works The Kealia Farm's model significantly improves the original dry litter waste management system by incorporating pen sizes with slopes ranging from 15 to 1 to 20 to 1. The optimal pen size for these slope ratios are 8 feet by 16 feet, which is typical of pen designs used in the United States (but smaller than a typical • pen in Japan and the Netherlands).. Wood chips and grass cuttings were used as litter; both are excellent bedding materials for the hogs and keep the pens dry, but the Kealia and Masazu Farms (in Kona District, • Hawaii) achieved their best results using macadamia nut (Macadamia integrefolia) husks. The hogs crush the bedding materials and the manure with their hooves; the mix dries and SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I 45 ------- A look at the Modified Dry Utter Waste Management System Kealia Farm. begins to decompose (compost), and it eventually moves down slope into a composting or storage pit, where high temperatures finish the job. Temperatures in the composting pit range on average from 140 to 150°F. When the team analyzed the cooked, or composted, product, it contained 2,6 percent nitrogen, 0.6 percent phosphorus, and 2.6 percent potassium with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 13:1 — making it a good medium for organic farming. A typical pen operated under this system can convert about 30 cubic yards of green waste into 20 cubic yards of valuable compost annually. Healthy hogs As the green waste is an excellent bedding for the hogs and keeps the pens dry except where the hogs are watered, the modified dry litter waste management system also produced healthy hogs. In fact, feeder hogs produced under the modified dry litter waste management . system easily matched and exceeded the industry's national production standard. Feeder hogs in the modified dry litter pens averaged a daily weight gain of 1.20 to 1.69 pounds; the national standard is an average daily weight gain of 1.25 pounds. During the trials, small feeder hogs entered the system weighing an average of 22.0 Ibs. Atypical system has 16 pens (Fig. 1). Each pen can be stocked with 30 wean-offs at the beginning of the growth cycle, then each group can be subdivided .as they reach heavier wights to prevent overcrowding. . . . Environmental and other assets Because it does not rely on wash downs to move the waste out of the pen and subsequently to a lagoon or storage tank, the modified dry litter waste management system eliminates one of the major potential sources of contaminated runoff on the farm. And it has other at attractive benefits: lower water bills and labor costs to the farm because pen washing is virtually eliminated. Odor production is practically nil. Hydrogen sulfide levels recorded throughout the production and storage areas were considerably less than the conventional wash down or scrapper system. The dry litter waste management facility produced 10.7 parts per billion hydrogen sulfide levels and 5.0 parts per billion in the production and storage area. The control or conventional wash-down facility had measurements of 54.3 parts per billion and an average of 104.5 parts per billion at the effluent entry to the waste lagoon. The modified dry litter waste management system succeeds in turning a potentially polluting waste product into a lucrative income stream. A yard of compost imported from the mainland United States normally sells for about $100 per cubic yard including freight costs. The organic farmer on 46 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Figure 1.—Typical Modified Dry Litter Waste Management Facility. the island of Hawaii can obtain similar material at farms with the modified dry litter waste management system at approximately one-third that price. Therefore, each pen can produce about $660 of compost annually. Expanding benefits The prospects are bright that as more farmers learn about the system, other hog farms in Hawaii will install modified dry litter waste management systems. The technology is scheduled to be exported to the rest of the . Pacific Basin Islands supported by additional section 319 funding. CONTACT: Randall Rush Polluted Runoff Control Program Hawaii Department of Health 808*586-4309 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- IDAHO 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $235,654 H Agriculture: $407,731 S Urban Runoff: $339,130 EO Silviculture: $10,000 BID Construction: $127,787 D Resource Extraction: $ 199,000 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 EJ Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Protecting Bear Lake — The Thomas Fork Stream Channel Project The Thomas Fork Watershed in Bear Lake County, Idaho, and Lincoln County, Wyoming, is a 144,366-acre agricultural watershed near Bear Lake. This geologically old lake, which is one of Idaho's Special Resource waters, has developed unique physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. It has more endemic fish species than any other lake in North America, including five species found nowhere else in the world. Thomas Fork is a major tributary to the Bear River, immediately upstream from its diversion into Bear Lake. Thomas Fork is a valuable resource to , Bear Lake; however, its condition also concerns the Bear Lake Regional Commission. Excessive streambank erosion in the watershed and high nutrient levels in runoff from Thomas Fork and the Bear River have accelerated eutrophication throughout the watershed and lake. Historical data show the increase of phosphorus and nitrogen in the area. Bank erosion is largely the result of earlier channel modifications undertaken to support agricultural land uses. When the natural meander patterns of Thomas Fork were broken, severe down-cutting and unstable streambanks exceeded the river's capacity to restore equilibrium. Project description lures local landowners Recently, the Bear Lake Regional Commission began to interest local landowners in streambank restoration. Several farmers and ranchers came forward to begin the project, which was funded through Idaho's section 319 program. Initial plans called for regrading a. 600-foot section of the streambank to restore the nearly vertical 4 to 10 foot high banks along the stream to a 3:1 grade. Materials removed from the banks were used by area farmers to level the low, spots in their fields. The Bear Lake Regional Commission also obtained a U.S. Forest Service tree cutting permit and, with the help of area farmers and 48 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- ranchers, cut and transported a number of trees to the site. The trees, approximately 15 to 20 feet in length, were placed in the stream channel in an overlapping fashion as flow deflectors and temporary fish habitat. They were anchored to the streambank using special anchors. A project review found many fish in the area though none had been recorded before the restoration began. Large rocks and boulders were placed at intervals to also act as flow detectors and to protect willow plantings along the reconstructed banks. After a final grading, the area was seeded with native Sodar grass (a streambank wheat grass), and covered with a thin layer of straw to minimize erosion. The reseeded area was fenced to keep cattle from trampling the banks before the plants could mature and stabilize the banks. During the summer of 1996, a project review found many fish in the area though none had been recorded before the restoration began. Photographs taken after the construction and during later stages help. document the project. Community and area farmers have enthusiastically supported the project; and the site has been, and continues to ' be, the focus of many watershed tours. Area ranchers, farmers, county commissioners, state legislators, state and federal agency staff, and citizens have, visited the site. 'Additional work using 319 grants will be completed in 1997. When finished, the project will decrease the flow of nutrients to the Thomas Fork by 25, percent and to' Bear Lake by 10 percent. The Bear Lake Regional Commission and the 31.9 program is slowing the pace of eutrophication in Bear Lake and reducing the impact of human activities on the watershed., , CONTACT: Charlie Bidondo Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 208 373-0274 Paradise Creek Restoration — Trout Return, Citizens Learn Paradise Creek, a fourth order tributary to the South Fork of the Palouse River, is approximately 19 miles long and drains a 34.5-square-mile priority watershed in ' northcentral Idaho. The watershed's upper portion is forested with very steep slopes, while the middle and lower portions are largely dryland agriculture with moderately rolling hills. Paradise Creek also flows through the city of Moscow, Idaho, where much of the sinuous nature of the original channel has been modified, that is, lost to channelization. The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, using a grant from Idaho's section 319 program, took the lead in rebuilding a 1,200-foot reach of Paradise Creek. The project site is owned by Moscow School District, number 281; several state and city agencies, local conservation districts, and the nearby city of Pullman, Washington, actively supported the project. The Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute provided oversight and design, coordinated volunteers, and communicated with the public. Its information and educational program was extensive. . According to plan Detailed design plans, including a site plan, revetments, plantings, and general erosion controls, were completed in 1994. Because no aerial views of the original channel were available, aerial photographs of an adjacent stream channel were used to provide a meander pattern and flood channel design. The final plan called for widening the channel nearly 200 feet to accommodate a low flow center , channel with a 2:1 slope ratio and a floodway channel with a 3:1 slope. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME ([ 49 ------- The restoration began in September 1995 with permits from the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Within a week, nearly 12,000 cubic yards of earth were moved to create the channel and a five-acre floodplain. Volunteers, including school children, university students, and community members, did much of the rest of the work. The restored channel no longer looks like the old, muddy Paradise Creek, and trout have returned to the creek. Volunteers from the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute built and demonstrated three revetment structures to stabilize the streambanks. These structures included a 175-foot log crib, a 175-foot rock and root wad, and a 175-foot BioLog®. Volunteers also seeded and mulched more than 3,000 feet of stream bank and the five-acre floodplain, installed more than 6,000 feet of geotextiles, and planted more than 750 native plants. A model for future projects The new configuration is functioning as designed, and this project has become a model , for future restoration work in the Palouse region. Not only are the project's partners pleased with the, project, it has also become an educational laboratory for students from the Moscow City School District and the Universities of Idaho and Washington State. Long-term monitoring will help determine how long it takes such projects to fully restore beneficial uses within creeks. In the meantime, the physical evidence at this site points to improved water quality. The restored channel no longer looks like the old, muddy Paradise Creek, and trout have returned to the creek. The restored Paradise Creek now provides a working flood plain and stream channel system in an area frequently ravaged by spring floods, habitat for fish and wildlife, and a sense of community pride in protecting, restoring, and preserving its natural resource. CONTACT: Charlie Bidondo Idaho Department of Environmental Quality .208 373-0274 50 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- ILLINOIS Section 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for FY 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $ 1,818,762 S Agriculture: $1,054,156 H Urban Runoff: $1,048,280 EHI Silviculture: $0 HI Construction: $0 E -Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D.Other: $0 Chain O'Lakes and Fox River Selected for Streambank Protection Project The Chain O'Lakes and Fox River is an Illinois river system with an on-stream lake in western Lake County and eastern McHenry County that provides recreational opportunities for more than a million visitors each year. This beneficial use is, however, potentially threatened by nonpoint sources in the watershed. The lake and river are affected by runoff, shoreline and bank erosion, and land disturbances'(development). In addition, heavy boat traffic on the lake often stirs up the bottom sediments, resuspending them in the waterway. To counter these problems; watershed partners began a bank protection demonstration project. That is, using 319 funding, they 'implemented various bank protection methods, thereby modeling a wide variety of management tools. Among the many tools available, the project emphasized natural or vegetative solutions, nonstructural management solutions, and other methods to hold the soil. Biotechnical methods To demonstrate biotechnical protection methods, the project put advanced erosion control materials and riparian vegetation at the base of the eroding shoreline, where scour from wave action usually occurs. Special fabrics, natural fiber products, wave breaks, or several of these in combination protect root systems arid trap sand, silt, and gravel along the water's edge.. The result is an aesthetically pleasing natural landscape that routine maintenance will protect and improve. Leaving a buffer strip of plants at least 10 feet long and mowed no lower than 6 inches is simple, inexpensive/and protective. The benefits of biotechnical methods are many; they are cost-effective, improve boating conditions (wave energy from boats and wind is absorbed, not reflected), offer attractive and improved shoreline habitat, and yield better water quality. While native plants are SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 51 ------- (above) Material laid under the a-jacks for additional support, (below) Nylon mesh was placed over the newly Installed sod to protect it and to keep it from washing away. recommended, other plants can be used. Species selected for revegetation projects should be adaptable to a moist shoreline setting and local soil conditions. Common choices include red osier dogwood, prairie cord grass, blue flag iris, and arrowhead. Biotechnical methods prevent shoreline erosion, which in turn prevents sediments from entering the water. Their use in this project led to the following overall improvements: • erosion prevention control, • shoreline stabilization, and . • habitat restoration. Created wetlands The Chain O'Lakes and Fox River project also made the first inland use of a "geotube" to create new wetlands along the Fox River. This fabric tube — 30 feet in circumference and 1*40 feet long — is a piece of woven polyester that can be filled with dredged sediment. Geotubes should last at least 15 years under normal weather conditions, and they also act as a buffer against waves. "It has worked amazingly well," said Karen Kabbes, the former executive director of the Fox Waterway Agency. The agency hopes to use a series of geotubes, linked together in a giant circle, for long-term protection. Wetland plants are added once the interior is filled with sediment. Nonstructural methods Nonstructural management techniques include the creation of no-wake zones and no-motor areas. The redirection of traffic routes to deeper locations, strict dredging rules, monitoring and educational efforts (with some especially directed to boaters) are other proposed management methods. CONTACT: Laura Rinbenberger Chain O'Lakes Fox River Waterway Management Agency 708 587-8540 52 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Creating Useful Beauty — The Skokie River Restoration Project A brochure for the Chicago Botanic £-\ Garden invites people to "experience the JL Vbeauty that extends beyond floral color." This beauty now extends to the banks of the Skokie River which flows through this 300-acre living museum. The Chicago Botanic Garden has recently completed a restoration project on the Skokie River with section 319 funding. The project was a partnership,- the ' Chicago Botanic Garden, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and Applied Ecological Services shared responsibilities and resources to save the river. In all, approximately 100,000 plants of various native species were planted along the river's edge. A troubled past The Skokie River,.a 23-mile-long tributary of the North Branch of the Chicago River, flows . along Lake Michigan in Lake and Cook counties in northeastern Illinois. The river is much altered from its presettlement conditions. • Original land maps from the area indicate that it was once a wet prairie, about one-quarter-mile wide. Today, it is a channel not more than 20 to 40 feet wide. 'The river was channelized in 1957, and over the last 30 years, its banks have severely eroded. The Skokie also encounters pollution as.it flows along a major expressway.- siltation, organic enrichment, nutrients, urban runoff, hydrologic modifications, and habitat alterations are serious problems. Erosion has exposed many underground pipes, and the river is often green with mats of algae. Sedimentation downstream has created wide, shallow channels with poor habitat and degraded buffer zones that also provide poor pollution filtering capabilities. Project toolbox The Skokie River Restoration Project began during the summer of 1994 in response to these degraded conditions. The project's goals are to stabilize eroding streambanks, improve water quality, and enhance the streamside buffer zones. It also serves as an educational tool. Workshops sponsored during the project provide information about effective and economical restoration and management/ techniques. Landscape professionals, urban and environmental planners, conservation groups, and engineers are using information provided by the project: The project has used seven basic tools to help restore the river: • Streambank planting. Native prairie grasses that have deep, dense roots were planted to protect the river against erosion. I • Brush layering. Horizontal layers of willow and dogwood branches were : , placed along the bank to hold the. soil in place and reduce the energy of the water against the bank. One of the five wetland areas created as a biofilter. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 53 ------- Rock riffle (riffle enhancement) was installed. • Willow posts. Dormant willow posts, which root profusely, were pounded into the ground as a bank stabilization technique. » Coir fiber rolls. Biodegradable coconut fiber rolls planted with native wetland plants and placed along banks or in-stream further stabilize and enhance aquatic habitats. • Riffle enhancement. Placing large rocks and boulders in existing riffles improved water aeration and habitat. • No-till drill seeding. Approximately 11 acres of streamside buffer were planted with native prairie plants. • Wetland creation. A five-acre wetland was created on the river to treat runoff. Approximately 48 species of native wetland plants will grow in this system. Information and education are integral components of the Skokie 'River Restoration Project. The partnership developed a fact sheet that explains the multifaceted project and streambank stabilization techniques and a 30-minute video that documents the project's progress and describes its techniques, methods, and materials/Students have even used the site to learn water monitoring methods. The Skokie River Restoration Project will remain an invaluable model of inexpensive, vegetative solutions to impaired aquatic habitat and water quality. Using native vegetation to stabilize and buffer the riverbanks requires little maintenance and improves pollutant filtering and aquatic habitat. , • CONTACTS: Cynthia Baker Chicago Botanical Garden 847 835-8300 Scott Ristau Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 217782-3362 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $ 1,395,957 S Agriculture: $443,880 H Urban Runoff: $169,200 E3 .Silviculture: $0 ED Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $ 107,303 No-Till Farming Saves Soil — A Reprieve for Starve Hollow Lake The Jackson County (Indiana) Soil and Water Conservation District used 319 funding to help landowners in the Starve Hollow Lake watershed install best management practices on sandy soils. The goal of the project was to reduce the flow of sediment to Starve Hollow Lake. This 145-acre lake, constructed in a 1938 flood control project, drains 4,400 acres of agricultural, recreational, and woodland areas. The Starve Hollow watershed has serious sedimentation problems. By 1980, it had already lost about 20 acres to sedimentation. A combination of sandy soils and intensive land uses.— including specialty crop production (melons and vegetables), other agricultural practices, logging, and livestock production — are eroding the watershed. To begin the project, the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) convened landowners, SWCD supervisors, and representatives of other local agencies. These people realized the importance of forming a cooperative unit to gain credibility and support. They became the project's steering committee, committed to solving the problem. Dredging was considered, but quickly dismissed as an option, since it would cost . nearly $400,000, and not stop the flow of sediment to the lake. Everyone agreed that the steering committee's choice had to be more effective than dredging. This agreement, more than anything else, indicated how serious the problem had become, and how concerned the residents were. Instead of dredging, local landowners agreed to take responsibility for their activities on the land. " They began using cover crops and borrowed the SWCD's two no-till drills to plant" no-till crops. Others began rotational grazing practices, moved feedlots from highly erodible land, converted croplands to additional SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 55 ------- pasture, and used fencing to protect riparian buffers. Eventually, the treated acreage was coextensive with the watershed. "The project has cut down on erosion. Now we have less sediment in the lake, no mud on the county road, and everyone was cooperative." The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Conservation, provided technical assistance, and the Cooperative Extension Service provided information and conducted outreach for the project. Several field days and tours to highlight the practices were held for interested individuals and groups. The SWCD' also worked with the County Highway Department to install several new culverts on roads adjacent to the project area. The project reduces erosion by an estimated 2,751 tons of soil annually on 379 acres of land. The county road that had previously been buried in six inches of mud and,soil after each rain is now.clean. As one landowner says: "The project has cut down on erosion. Now we have less sediment in the lake, no mud on the county road, and everyone was cooperative." CONTACT: Jill Ebner Indiana Department of Environmental Management 317308-3216 Constructed Wetlands — Treatment for Dairy Farm Wastewater Indiana has used section 319 funds for a pilot project to monitor the water quality effects of a constructed wetland system on runoff from a dairy farm in Koskiusko County in the Upper Tippecanoe watershed. The Upper Tippecanoe is a priority hydrologic unit area included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Water Quality Initiative. The constructed wetland system was designed to treat 70 adult cows (1,400 pounds) and 70 heifers/dry cows (800 pounds). Typical wetlands (and constructed wetlands) remove dissolved organic and inorganic contaminants in runoff, using aquatic vegetation for plant uptake and absorption. The one-acre constructed wetland in this pilot project has two small wetland cells, operating in series, to allow for periodic drawdown and regular maintenance of one cell while the other continues to function. The first cell is rectangular; the second, horseshoe shaped. Solids are removed from wastewater on a concrete drying pad above a septic manure pit. Barn washwater is directed into the pit, but solid animal waste is stacked on the pad. Liquids remaining in the solid waste stack drain into the septic pit through slots. The combined liquids then drain by gravity from the pit to the first cell through a distribution pipe. Flow from Cell 1 into Cell 2 is also through a distribution pipe. Yard runoff is diverted around the drying pad to the first cell. After passing through the two cells, wastewater enters a holding pond, then a grassed infiltration area. The yard from which runoff is diverted .is 25,300 square feet,., and was designed with a theoretical holding time of 60 days based on average rainfall. The Koskiusko County operation began in the spring of 1994 and was monitored through 1995. The treatment's effects on water quality were determined through chemical monitoring of the surface water (to determine its nutrient load), and the observation of plant and animal dynamics. Monitoring occurred at several sites along the feedlot-wetland-outflow continuum, including the cell inlets and the entrance point for yard runoff to Cell 1, the outlet of Cell 2, the holding pond, and the infiltration area. A ditch channel downhill from the infiltration area was also monitored. The ditch received water from a subsurface tile beneath the infiltration area (see Fig. 1). SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Cropland Yard Runoff Collection RunoffDiversion Drying Pad Flow Control Switching Valve Infiltration Area Figure 1.—Diagram of the constructed wetland system used. Early in the project, samples taken at the monitoring sites showed a complete absence of coliform bacteria between the Cell 1 inflow and the Cell 2 outflow, and declining phosphorus and nitrogen levels as well. In 1994, the following improvements in water quality were observed. • Between the barnyard runoff inflow point to Cell 1 and the outlet of-.Cell 2: fecal coliform bacteria (75 percent); phosphate (35 percent), and total phosphorus (45 percent). • Between Cell.l inflow and Cell 2 outflow: ammonia (68 percent); total suspended solids (60 percent); total nitrogen (54 percent); and conductivity (24.1 percent). In 1995, reductions between Cell 1 inflow and Cell 2 outflow included fecal coliform 'bacteria (95 percent), ammonia.-total suspended solids, total nitrogen, phosphate (79 percent), total phosphorus (83 percent), and conductivity (56 percent). Routine maintenance and year-round management were required for successful treatment. These improvements Resulted from the high motivation of the landowners to maintain the system. . The system was also designed to work with minimal input from the farmer; that is, it was properly integrated with the layout of the farm, and it was designed to treatonly runoff, not manure. The manure was scraped and stacked for future use. The system's appeal to wildlife was an added benefit throughout the project. Mallards with fledglings, blackbirds, frogs, a crane, and a red-tailed hawk frequent the site. CONTACT: Jill Ebner Indiana Department of Environmental Management 317308-3216 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 57 ------- IOWA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $922,300 S Agriculture: $1,035,417 S Urban Runoff: $0 03 Silviculture: $0 ID Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Brown Trout Return to Iowa Streams The Coon Creek Story Recent stream surveys by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources indicate that trout are once again reproducing in some northeastern Iowa streams. A 1994 survey of 15 streams in . Allamakee, Clayton, and Fayette Counties found natural trout populations in seven streams, including (in two streams) the state's first documented reproduction of rainbow trout. Natural trout have not yet been observed in sufficient quantities to support heavy fishing pressure, so the practice of stocking hatchery-raised trout will continue. Brown trout reproduction is, however, extensive in the upper portion of French Creek, and here stocking has been discontinued. Lost spawning grounds Sediment frequently enters Iowa's trout streams, much of it carried in runoff from eroding croplands. When it settles, this - sediment covers the gravel beds that trout use as spawning grounds and alters the stream's overall characteristics. For example, sediments often create wide, shallow streams that warm rapidly and provide habitat conditions unfavorable for trout survival. In recent years, significant progress has been made to control soil erosion in Iowa's watersheds — much of which can be credited to conservation provisions in the 1985 and 1990 federal farm bills, especially conservation compliance and continuance of the Conservation Reserve Program. Other Iowa streams, for example, Coon Creek, have been further protected through participation in state and federally funded water quality projects. Coon Creek, a small coldwater stream located in Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties, illustrates the progress that these combined programs have made in protecting and improving many of Iowa's trout streams 58 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- During the 10-year period ending in 1995, sediment^—"' movement into Coon Creek was reduced by 42 percent annually. andother water resources. During the 10-year period ending in 1995, sediment movement into Coon Creek was reduced by 42 percent annually (from an estimated 24.5 thousand tons per year in 1985 to 14.1 thousand tons per year in 1995). The conservation provisions of the farm bill were responsible for most (nearly 90 percent) of this reduction. Then, from 1992 to 1994, a water quality project funded by the 319 program took place at Coon Creek. This project, too, was highly successful. It helped install 11 settling basins, three manure storage structures, and 1,500 feet of clean water diversions. These structures were used for animal waste treatment; specifically, they helped treat the animal waste from 35 percent of the livestock produced within 0.5 miles of Coon Creek. The treatment reduced manure movement into the stream by an estimated 1,330 tons annually. In addition, the project prevented livestock from having direct, access to the stream; particularly in areas where their access had already caused significant water quality problems. CONTACT: Ubbo Agena Environmental Protection Division Iowa Department of Natural Resources 515281-6402 Sny Magill Creek — The New Standard Agricultural Practices Sny Magill Creek, one of 25 coldwater streams identified by the state of Iowa as a priority, has impaired water quality primarily resulting from nonpoirit sources, particularly agricultural nonpoint sources such as sediment, animal waste, nutrients, and pesticides. Sny Magill Creek is also one of the more widely used streams for recreational trout fishing in Iowa. It drains a 22,780-acre agricultural watershed consisting of row crops, pasture, forest and forested pasture, and farmsteads. Approximately 140 grain, dairy, beef, and swine producers live and work in the watershed. The watershed is characterized by narrow, gently sloping uplands that break into steep slopes with abundant rock outcrops. Up to 550 feet of relief occurs across the watershed. The stream bottom (of Sny Magill and its tributaries) is primarily bedrock and gravel with frequent riffle areas. Along the lower reach of the creek where the gradient is less steep, the stream bottom is generally silty. Sny Magill Creek empties into the Wildlife and Fish Refuge part of Effigy Mounds National Monument. Sediment reductions Estimates based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation suggest that landowners' use of best management practices (BMPs) has decreased sediment delivery to Sny Magill Creek by over 40 percent since 1991. The BMPs preferred by landowners are contour terraces, water and sediment control basins, contour stripcropping, and conservation tillage. Streambank revetments Streambank erosion is a major source of sediment. Demonstrations that use multiple bank-stabilization techniques, ranging from willow posts to rock riprap, are being installed. Many landowners have adopted animal waste management systems because they are not expensive and they provide an economic benefit from nitrogen and phosphorus crediting in an overall nutrient program. About 30 animal manure utilization plans have been developed since the demonstration projects began. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [[ 59 ------- Soil blocnglneering along the streambank. Integrated Crop Management Integrated Crop Management (ICM) is a method used to help producers balance nutrient and pesticide applications with plant and soil needs. For example, a project coordinator served as a crop consultant and hired a crop scout to make field observations. By recommending the use of pesticides and herbicides only as needed and using soil tests to balance fertilizer applications with plant needs, applications within the watershed have decreased by 39,450 pounds of nitrogen, 33,625 pounds of phosphate, and 28 pounds of corn rootworm insecticide. ICM activities, in fact, produce savings for the farmer of about $13.85 per acre. The project has developed an education-based Nutrient and Pest Management Program to help smaller producers refine their ICM systems on their own. Workshop sessions instruct producers on proper soil-sampling techniques, soil-test interpretation, manure nutrient management, .fertility planning, and pest management! Producers then independently develop and implement their own crop management plans. CONTACT: Ubbo Agena Environmental Protection Division .Iowa Department of Natural Resources 515281-6402 60 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUMEII ------- KANSM 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $ 1,094,000 S Agriculture: $399,374 H Urban Runoff: $65,890 Ell Silviculture: $0 OH Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0. D Other: $0 Banner Creek Water Quality Protection Project — Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin In 1993, construction of a lake began near the City of Holton in Jackson County, Kansas. ' Sponsored by the Jackson County Rural Water District #3, Delaware River Watershed Joint District #10, and Jackson County, this multipurpose lake was-designed primarily for public water supply, flood retention, and recreation. Its watershed (in northeastern Kansas) encompasses 12,610 acres and includes multiple land uses, including woodlands, agricultural crop and grazing lands, residential developments, and county roads and highways. Dam construction was designed for 520 surface acres and completed in 1996. Protecting the lake for long-term uses Kansas law (K.S.A.82a-1608) provides that any.multiple purpose small lake dam receiving state funding must have a nonpoint source management plan. The plan must include an evaluation of projected water quality conditions in the watershed and in the proposed waterbody (based on current conditions) and an identification of the protection measures that will be needed to achieve, lake water quality given these conditions. Accordingly, in 1993, Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, using a lake model called Eutromod, began evaluating the flow of nutrients to the lake. The resulting data and their involvement in the approved nonpoint source management plan helped the Jackson County Conservation District secure EPA section 319 funding to supplement,and enhance earlier planning and implementation activities. _- . The Conservation District's objective and three-year project is to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic watershed and lake protection plan for the Banner Creek Lake. Information and education'— both in print and through demonstration projects — financial incentives, and water quality sampling are major elements in the Conservation District's strategy for success. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( 61 ------- Milestones Two water quality monitoring stations have been established. Samples from 11 runoff events and three base flows at each of the two sites identify some pollutants and their relative impact on the lake. The Conservation District is successfully using these data to determine which best management practices it should focus on in this watershed. These relationships are shown in Table 1. Table 1 .—Common pollutants in runoff to Banner Lake, keyed to management strategies. POLLUTANT pesticides bacteria suspended solids phosphorus nitrate ammonia BOD AVERAGE infrequent high moderate high low low moderate PRACTICE FOCUS maintain practices waste/disposal/ management erosion control erosion/nutrient/organic waste maintain practices maintain practices nutrient/organic waste management The project has encouraged residents and agricultural producers to maintain the following practices: • conservation tillage — by purchasing a no-till drill to rent to producers; • biological monitoring — by involving local students in sampling insect larvae, snails, crayfish, and other macroinvertebrates; • zoning — by establishing a buffer area around the lake to protect it from residential development and the effects of construction-generated pollution; The project has installed two diversions totaling 695 cubic yards, four ponds, 4,453 linear feet of tile terraces, and two streambank stabilization projects, and upgraded 10 septic systems. • nutrient and pesticide management — by implementing plans on brome grass and croplands. Nutrient and pesticide management plans are now in effect.on 37 acres of cropland and 132 acres of brome grassland,, and 147 acres are under crop residue management practices (i.e.,'no-till or 30 percent residue). An additional 34 acres have been planted with native seedings, and 10 acres of brome pasture have been renovated. • Finally, the project has installed two diversions totaling 695 cubic yards, four ponds, 4,453 linear feet of tile terraces, and two streambank stabilization projects, and upgraded 10 septic systems. Riparian management projects, stream stabilization projects, and tree and shrub plantings are likewise included in the project's goals. In 1996, 3,780 trees and 12,878 shrubs were installed in mitigation areas of Banner Creek; the Holton Central Schools' third grade classes planted 86 trees. CONTACTS: Scott Satterthwaite Kansas Department of Health and Environment 913296-8038 Don (ones Jackson County Conservation District 913 364-4638 62 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Clean Water Neighbor Projects — Local Initiatives Drive Public Awareness Glean Water Neighbor, funded by the 319 program, is designed specifically to involve local groups and individuals in voluntary nonpoint source pollution programs. Thus/it also seeks to enhance the public's awareness of water quality problems, their causes, and the best management practices and individual behaviors that can lead to their control .and elimination. Cooperation is key Clean Water Neighbor projects are local initiatives. They involve a range of participants, various degrees of difficulty, and diverse goals. Indeed, the idea of neighbor helping neighbor may be the only common element among many projects. The following projects, exchanges, or alliances, are Clean Water Neighbors: ' > Wichita State University's "Teaching Teachers." Two members of the Biology Department hold workshops to teach high school teachers stream monitoring techniques. Teachers then teach their students these same methods. The University has also added a full course to its curriculum so that secondary ~ teachers can request academic credit. > High school monitoring projects. In separate projects,' four high schools established stream monitoring projects. Each school developed its own program and follow-up activity. One high school began to compile a computer database for stream quality in Topeka; another completed a stormdrain • stenciling program in Wichita. The third planted 1,100 tree seedlings along streambanks; the fourth hauled a large quantity of debris from a number of county streams. Clean Water Neighbor projects are local initiatives. They involve a range of participants, various degrees of difficulty, and diverse goals. > Faculty and graduate students of the School of Architecture and Urban Design, University of Kansas designed a watershed identification project to teach midd.le school students to delineate the watershed and to understand the way human activities affect watershed health. > Riparian vegetation surrounding Cheney Lake, the primary source of Wichita's drinking water, sustained significant storm damage. Clean Water Neighbor funds contributed to the debris cleanup that followed the storm and to the cost of replanting riparian vegetation that had sustained storm damage. > Fort Scott, Kansas, completed two good neighbor projects: monitoring to determine pollutant sources affecting a local lake, and a citywide composting effort. Other Clean Water Neighbor projects-in-progress include establishing wetlands and sand filters/wetlands monitoring, distributing nonpoint source pollution literature for middle schools, and household hazardous waste disposal efforts. CONTACT: Judy Scherff Kansas Department of Health and Environment 913296-8038 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 63 ------- KENTUCKY 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $526,008 S Agriculture: $651,966 H Urban Runoff: $0 03 Silviculture: $0 M Construction: $30,000 B Resource Extraction: $0 Q Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 Q Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $261,471 The Tripplett Creek Project —, On-site Wastewater Issues in Rural Areas The Tripplett Creek Project, a 20-month program to reduce septic system effluent in Rowan County's Tripplett Creek watershed, was developed and implemented by the Gateway District Health Department in response to high in-s'tream levels of bacteria, mostly downstream from older residential clusters. The overall goal of the project was to reduce pathogen loadings into Tripplett Creek by reducing or eliminating the number of unpermitted straight-pipe discharges, increasing compliance with home septic . regulations, installing and demonstrating best management practices (BMPs) (including constructed wetland wastewater treatment systems), and initiating a maintenance and management educational program for owners of home septic systems and other on-isite wastewater treatment technologies. Graduate students from Morehead State University's Environmental Science program monitored the watershed during all phases of the project, which also featured an extensive public education and outreach component: walking surveys, direct contact with homeowners, news media releases, feature articles, radio and television interviews, and presentations to various student and community groups. . • Background and results Tripplett Creek was part of an ongoing effort by the Nonpoint Source Section of Kentucky's,Division of Water to explore , innovative strategies to address on-site wastewater treatment problems, in low-income rural areas. Project staff have been advocating the development of a statewide cost-share, plus a low-interest loan program to encourage low-income rural residents to comply with on-site wastewater treatment regulations. Replacing failed septic system components, eliminating straight pipes, and 64 SECTION 31 & SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME 11 ------- installing demonstration systems in places that have substandard systems are the obvious ways tb.reduce human pathogens in the watershed. Success in the project area will determine whether it can be carried over to other 'low-income rural counties. This project's extensive public education outreach program, BMP demonstrations, and successful formation of partnerships have fostered tremendous contributions and progress toward assuring a bright future for the Triplett Creek watershed and its inhabitants. More than a hundred applications for assistance were distributed to businesses and individuals in the project area, with other referrals provided by county agencies and health department staff. The project received more than 48 applications for cost-share funds, and approved 30 for assistance. Eligibility for cost-share support was determined using conventional public assistance program guidelines. A three-member committee approved all cost-share projects, and arrangements for repairs to existing but inadequate systems were handled on a case-by-case basis. Health department environmental staff designed and inspected all installations and repairs. , Applicants who had substandard septic .systems were eligible for subsidized replacement of the wastewater line (from the residence to the septic tank); the concrete, 1,000-gallon tank; the line from the tank to the distribution box; and the distribution box. Installation of the remaining components (e.g., trench and gravel lateral field, leaching chambers, and plant/rock filters) was the responsibility of each property owner, who agreed to complete the work within a specified time period. Project success, in terms of improvements in the water quality of Triplett Creek, will be measured by follow-up pathogen monitoring, which is scheduled to begin during late summer 1997. However, other measures of project success have already been documented. For example, in addition to the many homeowners who repaired or upgraded their pn-site wastewater systems with section 319 funds, 20 additional community members used their own money to voluntarily correct their on-site wastewater disposal problems as a result of this project. " . , Although the specific factors motivating these 20 individuals are not known, this , project's extensive public education outreach program, BMP demonstrations, and successful formation of partnerships have, fostered tremendous contributions and progress toward assuring a bright future for the Triplett Creek watershed and its inhabitants. CONTACT: David Daniels Gateway District Health Department 606674-6396 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 65 ------- Renovating a Constructed Wetland — Rock Creek's Answer to Acid Mine Drainage Treatment: Mining practices in the coal-bearing strata of Appalachia have created a serious water pollution problem in the Rock Creek Watershed. When pyrite is exposed to the atmosphere, it forms acid mine drainage (AMD), a low pH, iron- and sulfate-rich, highly acidic water. In 1989, a 1,022-square-meter surface flow wetland was constructed at Jones Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek, to reduce the effects of acid mine drainage. Metal concentrations and acidity were reduced substantially during the first six months of treatment; however, the system failed thereafter. It did not sufficiently use the treatment area and produced inadequate alkalinity and metal overloading. In an attempt to improve treatment efficiencies, a two-phase renovation project was developed that incorporates the use of anoxic limestone drains and a series of anaerobic subsurface drains that promote vertical flow through limestone beds overlain by rich organic compost. The modified design is intended to increase pH and bicarbonate alkalinity through limestone dissolution and bacterially mediated sulfate reduction. Moreover, the subsurface drains force the interaction of AMD within the substrate, leading to increased residence time — and possibly increased filtering of contaminants within the wetland system. Looking for results Analyses of postconstruction water quality monitoring data are encouraging. Mean iron concentrations have decreased from 788 to 35 mg/L; pH increased from 3.41 to 6.38; and acidity has been reduced from 2,280 to 124 mg/L CaCO?. The renovated wetland retains the following pollutants (figures after each element refer to how much of the total pollutant load is retained): aluminum, 98 percent; iron, 95.5 percent; acidity, 94.4 percent; sulfate, 57.3 percent; and manganese, 48.6 percent. Monthly performance data revealed dramatic( changes in water quality after construction and have continued to indicate good consistency in treatment efficiency ever since. Results from the renovation indicate that sulfate-reducing bacteria are effectively precipitating heavy metals as insoluble sulfides and producing a net alkaline drainage capable of neutralizing acidity from metal hydrolysis. Prior to renovation, the surface flow system was curtailed by a, two-hour residence time and an acid-forming environment: Results from the renovation indicate that sulfate-reducing bacteria, are effectively precipitating heavy metals as insoluble sulfides and producing a net alkaline drainage capable of neutralizing acidity from metal hydrolysis. In addition, an increased residence time in the subsurface flow system of nearly 94 hours has been observed through the use of a bromide tracer. Thus, modifications from the renovation • have enhanced heavy metal removal efficiencies and contributed to the increased life expectancy of the treatment system. CONTACT: Dr. A.K. Karathanasis University of Kentucky 606257-5925 66 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEII ------- Beginning with Information and Technical Assistance — Kentucky's Agricultural Water Quality Act In 1994, Kentucky's legislature passed an Agricultural Water Quality Act that requires the use.of best management practices on all logging and farming operations larger than 10 acres. A 15-member panel, the Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Authority, also established by the act, representing farmers and loggers, environmental groups, agriculture and forestry agencies, commodity groups, and industries, then examined water quality data and evaluated management practices. With additional input from 250 producers and commodity groups, the Authority developed a manual of best management practices (BMPs) to be used by all state agencies. The manual includes 58 BMPs and encompasses a broad range of land uses: livestock, crops, farmsteads, and silviculture. A special category was also created for stream protection management. Kentucky farmers and loggers must develop and implement a management plan based on this selection of BMPs. A producer's notebook that accompanies the manual provides a series of questions to help them make appropriate selections among the practices. , Producers have five years to implement their management plans. This schedule ensures that education — and technical and financial assistance — will precede the statutory requirements statewide. After that, enforcement will, rely primarily on complaints or documented water quality problems. A "bad actor" protocol will be the enforcement arm for implementing this statute. The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Authority developed a manual of best management practices to be used by all state agencies. The manual includes 58 BMPs and encompasses a broad range of land uses: livestock, crops, farmsteads, and silviculture. If documented water quality problems are occurring because of agricultural operations, these operations will be reviewed and if they have not implemented all appropriate BMPs, they will be given another opportunity to do so. Should a producer fail to comply with this statute, the producer is subject to a "notice of violation" and enforcement action, and may no longer be eligible to participate in cost-share programs. CONTACT: Jack A. Wilson Division of Water Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection 502 564-3410 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 67 ------- LOUISIANA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $512,986 S Agriculture: $415,748 B Urban Runoff: $1,003,075 03 Silviculture: $135,600 fflD Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $98,991 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $250,000 D Other: $0 Tangipahoa River Projects — Using an Ecosystem-Based Approach The Tangipahoa River flows for 79 miles southeast across the Mississippi and Louisiana state lines to Lake Pontchartrain. The northern segment of the river is an upland stream that flows through rolling hills above a sand and gravel substrate; the southern segment is a lowland stream that widens and flows through a cypress/tupelo swamp before entering Lake Pontchartrain. Most of the watershed is rural, consisting of pine forests, pastures, truck farms, and upland dairies, with swamps and marshes in the lower portion. Dairy farming is a predominant land use in the watershed; Tangipahoa Parish alone has 273 dairies. Other agricultural land uses — truck farms, beef, poultry, fish, and swine operations — follow dairy farming in that order. Industries in the area are primarily agricultural, such as milk, fish, and meat processing. A potential health hazard Public concern for the safety of the Tangipahoa River for swimming and tubing began in October 1987, when a graduate student concluded .that the river was not meeting water quality standards for primary contact recreation; and, later, that high levels of. fecal coliform in heavily used beach areas could pose a health hazard. A review of historical fecal coliform data from the Tangipahoa River and preliminary results of a sampling program begun in October 1987 confirmed her judgment. In 1988, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, issued an advisory to residents along the Tangipahoa River of a potential health hazard from primary and secondary contact recreation in the river. The entire river was not in violation of the bacteria standard; however, the standard is exceeded 68 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- periodically at all sampling stations, thus, the advisory covered the entire length of the 'Tangipahoa River. Source assessments Bacterial contamination in the Tangipahoa River includes both point and nonpoint sources. Fecal coliform bacteria reside in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded; mammals, both humans and animals, and are released to the environment in wastewater and from nonpoint sources. During an initial investigation, 11 wastewater treatment facilities were inspected, and enforcement action was recommended for nine of these facilities. Nonpoint sources of pollution were also identified, including runoff from unseweredor , poorly sewered communities and recreational campgrounds, and animal wastes from dairy farms-ahd other animal holding operations. Wastewater treatment Communities with no sewage systems or poor sewerage worked with the Tangipahoa : Parish sanitarian and the Household Sewage Committee to reduce the level of untreated sewage entering the river. In recent years, more than 7,882 new home sewerage systems have been installed in the parish. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has also contracted with the Louisiana Cooperative , Extension Service to implement a'n education program focusing on the maintenance of existing septic systems and installation of traditional individual sewage systems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also awarded funding to Tangipahoa Parish for the construction of a sewage treatment plant to alleviate problems faced by the parish resulting from a shortage of available locations for the proper disposal of septic tank sludge. The sewage treatment plant was completed in 1995 and began full operation in the spring of 1996. The section 319 grant supported lagoon clean-out programs and education programs for the proper siting, selection, and maintenance of home sewage systems. . Controlling dairy runoff To control runoff from dairies, the Department of Environmental Quality requested that all farmers in the parish apply for NPDES permits or install no-discharge animal waste management systems (lagoons). Over 125 farmers agreed to install treatment systems. Design specifications were developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. These agencies also provided technical assistance for the construction of lagoons or other waste treatment structures. Both projects emphasize the importance of leaving trees and other vegetation along the edge of the bayou or drainage canal, since these riparian areas provide filtration for nonpoint sources of pollution and nutrient assimilation. Farmers are eligible for federal cost-share assistance through the Farm Service Agency, NRCS, and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and for state cost-share assistance through the Louisiana Departments of , Environmental Quality and Agriculture and . Forestry. During 1996, 120 dairies were inspected to determine their status on installing no-discharge animal waste management systems and applying for wastewater discharge permits for their dairy operations. These inspections resulted in 60 notices of violation and one compliance order. The remaining dairy operations have agreed to participate in the program. , ' Additional projects Based on the most recent data from the Tangipahoa River, average and median levels of fecal coliform continue to decrease, meeting state water quality standards for primary and secondary contact recreation during portions of the year. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will continue to monitor the river closely"to determine when the health advisory can be lifted. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 69 ------- Other projects in the watershed have emerged from the cooperation between federal and state agencies working to restore the Tangipahoa River. These projects include, for example, a Forestry Nonpoint Source Task Force and a Hydromodification Demonstration Project modeling alternative methods for control of vegetation along streambanks, waterways, and canals. Both projects emphasize the importance of leaving trees and other vegetation along the edge of the bayou or drainage canal, since these riparian areas provide filtration for nonpoint sources of pollution and nutrient assimilation. As more native habitats are • encouraged and maintained along the streambank, water quality should improve and maintenance costs decline. Volunteer monitoring programs have also been .implemented along the.Tangipahoa River, and their results indicate that conditions in the river continue to improve. In sum, these cooperative efforts lead to a better understanding of water quality problems in the Tangipahoa River; they are-also helping to 'reduce pollution to levels that will soon, residents hope, permit the lifting of the health advisory. CONTACT: Jan Boydstun Louisiana Department of Environmental Protection 504 765-0546 Louisiana's Bayou Queue de Tortue Watershed Incorporating BMP Demonstrations in Pollution Prevention Plans Bayou Queue de Tortue — its French name means "tail of the turtle" — is located in the Mermentau River Basin in. southwest Louisiana. The area is often referred to as the "rice capital of the world." One of the first watersheds in the state targeted for nonpoint source implementation activities, Bayou Queue de Tortue exemplifies most of the problems in the Mermentau River Basin. Since the Mermentau has more bayous not meeting their designated uses than any other Louisiana basin, demonstration projects in Bayou Queue de Tortue can have a significant areawide impact on water quality. The Bayou Queue de Tortue Task Force began in 1989 as a joint cooperative effort to coordinate section 319 programs with USDA programs such as the President's Water Quality Initiative. The task force included staff from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana State University Rice Research Station, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Most bayous in the Mermentau River Basin are impacted by sediment, nutrients, organic enrichment, and low dissolved oxygen levels, all of which affect fish habitats and fisheries. Agriculture and hydromodification are the two primary activities that contribute to water quality impairments in the basin. . Rice growing in the watershed. In the Bayou Queue de Tortue Watershed, 92 percent of the land is used for agriculture, primarily rice and soybeans. Farmers here and throughout the basin use mudding-in and water-seeded rice as cultural practices to control the weed, red rice. As a result, water used to irrigate rice fields before and during the planting season is laden with solids, nutrients, and metals. Its discharge affects the streams and bayous, especially during the spring planting season when most traditional mudding-in practices are used. Working rice fields in water results in suspension of soil particles in irrigation water. If irrigation water is discharged before soil particles settle out, topsoil is lost and sediment is deposited in the receiving water. Because of the prolonged time period for settling of soil particles, removal of even 50 percent of the sediment is a challenging goal. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- As rice field discharges are released from fields through drainage canals to the bayous, bottom sediments are resuspended, creating a sediment oxygen demand (SOD) in the bayou. Dissolved oxygen levels in the bayous barely average 2.0 to 3.0 milligrams per liter (mg/L), and when rice field discharges are released, these levels are significantly reduced, ranging from 0.2 to 0 mg/L. Beginning with the.1990 planting season, farmers participated in a multiyear demonstration project to evaluate the effectiveness of rice management practices in improving water quality . in the Mermentau River Basin. The Farm Service Agency provided cost-share assistance to rice growers in the project area (the Bayou Queue de Tortue Watershed), while NRCS. and local soil and water conservation district.staff provided technical; assistance to the participating farmers. The project developed and recommended four management practices for rice: ' • no-till rice planting — water planting into previous crop residue with no mechanical soil disturbance; • mudding-in with a 15-day settling period — flood water is retained in a closed levee system constructed prior to soil disturbance; • dry cultivation with clear water planting '— clear water planting into a prepared seed bed; and • mudding-in with a vegetative filter strip — retention of flood water in a closed .levee system,constructed prior to soil disturbance; flood water is drained into an adjacent area where native vegetation is maintained. The clear water and no-till rice plantings were equally effective in reducing sediment (right) A rice field and (below) the Louisiana rice field day at the Research Station in Growley, LA. concentrations in the initial discharges. Mudding-in with a vegetative filter strip also significantly reduced sediments from rice fields as compared with the traditional mudding-in practice. Results from the project indicate that all four management practices can improve the quality of rice field discharges, though results differ, depending at least in part on historic conditions in the treatment streams. Numeric evaluation — water monitoring . Department of Environmental Quality analyses of Bayou Queue de Tortue and other bayous in the Mermentau River Basin show improvements in dissolved oxygen concentrations. Dissolved oxygen levels showed declining tendencies from 1982 to 1989, before the demonstration project was implemented. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 71 ------- The reverse is true from 1990 to 1995, when average dissolved oxygen concentrations increased from 2.434 mg/L in the preproject time period (1982-1989) to 3.335 mg/L during the project implementation time period (1990-1995). Other data also illustrate the success of this project. For example, from 1991 through 1994, FSA cost-share funding helped support the four recommended rice best management practices (BMPs) on over 80,000 acres. Since then, interest in water quality improvement and BMPs has continued without FSA cost-share assistance. Rice growers voluntarily used the recommended BMPs on over 3,200 acres in 1996 — motivated by concern for water quality and topsoil losses from their farms. According to a report from the Louisiana' State University (LSU) Rice Research Station, conservation tillage practices were used to plant an estimated 99,600 acres statewide during the 1996 planting season. This acreage represents approximately 20 percent of the total rice acreage in Louisiana. Of the acres planted with conservation tillage practices, 13,000 acres were within the project area, and 10,000 acres were in adjacent areas in Vermilion Parish. In 1996, the Farm Service Agency submitted Bayou de Queue Tortue as one of three priority watersheds for additional cost-share funding through the Water Quality Incentive Program, a move that will result in the use of additional BMPs on rice fields. Narrative evaluation — ongoing activities The Bayou, Queue de Tortue Task Force continues to support activities to improve the bayou's water quality. First, to address the. sediment problem more directly, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service have developed a suspended sediment test kit to enable rice producers to reduce soil loss by determining the amount of sediment suspended in irrigation water. The test kit contains a chart that indicates (in parts per million) the amount of suspended sediment contained in the sample and also estimates (in inches) the amount of topsoil that would be lost in 100 years if the water were released when . tested instead of after the soil particles had settled out. During the 1996 planting season, the LSU Agricultural Center disseminated 750 test kits free of charge to rice producers in the Mermentau River Basin. During the 1997 planting season, a total of 1,500 kits were distributed. Second; the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the state legislature, USDA, and various agricultural commodity producer groups, such as parish, regional, and state rice growers' associations, provide ideas and funding for many educational programs to help reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Mermentau River Basin and to encourage other farmers to adopt the BMPs used in the Bayou Queue de Tortue Watershed. These agencies are also helping farmers " build their pollution planning skills. Because 82 percent of the rice growers and 75 percent of Louisiana's total rice acreage are located in the Mermentau River Basin, Cooperative Extension will develop a model pollution prevention plan (PPP)-for introduction in this area. (Since 1990, Louisiana has required that all agricultural producers must develop and follow such plans). To ensure that the rice field PPP will cover most if not all potential sources of nonpoint pollution encountered by rice producers, initial field tests in the Mermentau River Basin are planned for 1997. Once the model has been developed, the public will be made aware that additional help is available to those needing to develop farm-specific PPPs; and the tenets and ' practices in the model plan will be adapted as lesson plans for use by 4-H agents, volunteer leaders, and teachers in grades K through 12. This aspect of the project is still in the development process, and extension agents have submitted a proposal to expand the effort to the entire Mermentau River Basin. The Department of Environmental Quality anticipates initiation of this project during 1997. CONTACT: Jan Boydstun Louisiana Department of Environmental Protection 504 765-0546 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- MMNfi 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MRS Category: $459,002 S Agriculture: $288^222 H Urban Runoff: $10,080 '_ HI Silviculture: $0 - W Construction: $O B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 \ The Taylor Pond Watershed Project— Increasing Public Awareness about Nonpoint Source Pollution From past to present Taylor Pond is a 644 acre pond encompassed by a 15-square-mile watershed located in Auburn, Maine, about 25 miles southwest of Maine's .capital city of Augusta. Land use in the watershed is predominantly residential. Other land uses include two active commercial farms and several small logging operations. Although slopes throughout the watershed are highly variable, the eastern shore of Taylor Pond is moderate to steeply sloping and creates problems for the two- and three-tiered developments existing in .the.area. Water quality data have been collected for Taylor Pond since 1941, and during the past decade the lake has been monitored regularly by the Taylor Pond Lake Association and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Local residences generally dispose of waste- water through septic systems or connection with the Auburn Sewer District. Many lakefront homes are occupied year-round, camproads are. traveled throughout the year, and road and shoreline erosion problems are common. Present water quality is not suitable to sustain a coldwater fishery, exhibiting documented . signs of below-average water clarity, severe dissolved oxygen depletion, habitat loss, .and increasing total phosphorus levels. . The cumulative effects of annual phosphorus loadings from various sources and the conversion of forest land to developed land are primary, causes of Taylor Pond's water quality decline. , / A community protects its lake Over the years, most Taylor Pond residents were unaware of the exact nature of nenpoint so.urce pollution and even less able to manage it. More important, few recognized that they were part of the problem. This condition changed in 1992, when the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and the Taylor Pond Lake Association began the Taylor ' SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 73 ------- Pond Watershed Project with the cooperation of landowners, the nearby towns of Auburn and Minot, and local, state, and federal government agencies. Partial funding for the project was. provided by a section 319 grant. The objectives of this 319 grant project were primarily water quality-related: to stabilize or improve the lake's water quality, and to reduce phosphorus and sediment inputs to the lake through widespread use of best management practices (BMPs). The centerpiece accomplishment of this project is its design and implementation of BMPs that successfully reduce phosphorus and sediment loading to the lake. Technical assistance From the beginning, the project faced a substantial challenge. It was accomplished, however, in two phases that continued from 1992 through 1995. A project steering committee including an aquatic biologist, several engineers, conservationists, municipal representatives, and local residents, delineated focus areas. Issues needing the greatest attention included education about nonpoint sources, creation of BMP demonstration sites, direct technical assistance to landowners, and implementation of a phosphorus ordinance. When volunteers, contractors, town and government officials, students, teachers, planners, homeowners, and even some admitted skeptics of the operation eventually pitched in, the project became a community . effort to reduce nonpoint source pollution sources in Taylor Pond. Many residents received one-on-one assistance with erosion problems that seemed of little consequence to individuals, but which when added together contributed significantly to lake pollution. Problems and solutions ranged widely, from repairing and maintaining eroding camp and forestry roads, ditches, and driveways to preventing washwater discharges and excessive use of lawn and garden fertilizers. Technical assistance helped landowners know why and how to use BMPs effectively, and road crews learned how to perform roadway and ditch maintenance activities to reduce sedimentation and avoid future maintenance costs. Inspections and technical assistance encouraged town planning boards and developers to incorporate BMPs into local development projects. Even with technical help and a solid plan of action, success would be difficult without local notice of ongoing project activities. Newsletter articles were distributed to teachers and municipal officials. Brochures and other resource materials illustrating the effects of erosion and phosphorus were developed and distributed at presentations and workshops for schools, associations, construction engineers, and town officials. A watershed ecology curriculum series with expert guest speakers was presented to local grade school teachers, who incorporated the information into daily instruction. Lasting accomplishments According to methodology developed by the Maine Department of Natural Resources and applied by the Department of Environmental Protection, Taylor Pond's yearly transparency data and long-term average means for water transparency do not indicate a statistically valid rise in water quality over the past 16 seasons of data collection, because a 90 percent confidence level was not attained. Yet, the information does indicate a positive increasing trend in water transparency at the 84 percent confidence level, suggesting that statistically proven and "quantifiably measurable" water quality improvement may be just around the corner for Taylor Pond. The centerpiece accomplishment of this project is its design and implementation of BMPs that successfully reduce phosphorus and sediment loading to the lake. Each BMP demonstration site was carefully chosen to model effective low-cost erosion and sedimentation controls and stormwater runoff management. The project team worked extensively with individual landowners and towns to construct these sites. Local residents and those of other nearby watersheds (Sabattus SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Lake, Range Pond, Crystal Pond, Mud Pond) toured the sites, and local public works departments donated signs and other displays to inform people about the project. Thus, the project increased the public's awareness of the variety of nonpoint pollution sources to Taylor Pond and their effects on water quality. It showed landowners that each of them has a personal stake and responsibility in protecting water resources, and emphasized the difference each of them can make acting individually and as a community. Their sustained energy and enthusiasm will be the deciding factor in whether this effort continues to be successful in the years to come. CONTACTS: Tony St. Peter 207287-3901 Norm Marcotte 207287-7727 Maine Department of Environmental Protection Bond Brook Responds to Progress — Fish Habitats Improve Maine's 20-square-mile Bond Brook watershed has long'been a victim to the wheels of progress in Augusta, Maine. A tributary to the venerable Kennebec River and a popular fishing attraction for residents of Maine's state capital, this once vibrant trout and salmon fishery had declined significantly over the years, as a result of rapid development. The brook was still a source of recreation for many but compared to earlier times, it was clearly in trouble. Local ordinances were insufficient to protect Bond Brook from the effects of: uncontrolled development, poorly constructed or maintained roads and ditches, agricultural and mining activities, and unstabilized, naturally eroding streambanks. With so many forces pressing the brook to the brink of col- lapse, local residents began to consider Bond Brook as a resource-that could not be saved. Then the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District came up with an idea. Active in watershed protection efforts throughout Kennebec County, the district saw Bond Brook as an opportunity to augment its ongoing water quality improvement efforts and to address major problems within the brook watershed. With help and funding from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) nonpoint source program, the Conservation District sought a 319 grant to begin the work. In 1991, the district contacted the City of Augusta and the Maine DEP, proposing to restore the worst portions of the brook's eroding shoreline'and reduce recurrent discharges ,of sediment into the brook. Project design invites approval the district's overall approach was simple: repair significant erosion sites immediately adjacent to the brook and attack the problem at its root by teaching the public about nonpoint source pollution. The district presented a work plan to the DEP that called for stabilizing eroding banks, implementing and demonstrating best management practices (BMPs) on multiple sites within the watershed, and establishing a basic information flow about erosion and BMPs. Led by Water Quality Specialist Mitch Michaud, the Conservation District undertook the Bond Brook Watershed Project in cooperation with other city, state, and local agencies and partners. Significant accomplishments followed, including: • construction and demonstration of an innovative livestock exclusion and watering site; • training for local residents in the use and , importance of forestry BMPs (erosion controls, buffer strips, runoff control, and road construction techniques); • production of newspaper articles and presentations featuring the restoration of Bond Brook; SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I Z5 ------- • presentation of the project's goals and efforts at the 1993 Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference; and • erosion control BMP demonstrations at ' seven sites within the watershed. The BMP demonstrations included riprap installations, vegetative planting and mulching, and slope preparation. Other satellite projects were generated from these project activities. Technical assistance was provided to these additional projects but no 319 funds were spent on them. These projects included instruction in fill placement and soil stabilization techniques, storrnwater runoff control, revegetation plan reviews, ditch construction and maintenance,' and assistance in fish ladder permitting and construction at the Governor Hill State Fish Hatchery, Teamwork and commitment Teamwork was a key ingredient to the success of the Bond Brook grant project, as shown in the following examples of project activities: >• Several eroding streambanks were revegetated using mostly volunteer help from local groups (e.g., Trout Unlimited) and neighboring residents. >• A large section of streambank was riprapped to prevent the landowner's septic system and 20 feet of severely slumping shoreline from washing into the brook. This repair required contractor expertise but also received ample roll-up-your-sleeve volunteer help from Maine DEP staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, and the landowner himself. >• Still another heavily eroded bank, located within 100 feet of Bond Brook, was repaired with help from the City of Augusta, who agreed to purchase and remove some of the eroding clay material for use as landfill cover, facilitating sloping and ditching of the site for final hydroseeding. From armoring an all-terrain vehicle crossing to planting trees in an eroding playground, the variety of repairs conducted by a similar variety of people during the fieldwork segment of this project created a team atmosphere that carried on through the entire project. The district's overall approach was simple: repair significant erosion sites immediately adjacent to the brook and attack the problem at its root by teaching the public about nonpoint source pollution. Higher fish survival rate The Bond Brook project was completed in 1996, and preliminary results point to at least some water quality improvements/According to recent observations by Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, higher salmonid survival rates (brown trout) are evident within Stone Brook (a major Bond Brook tributary). Further observation shows that brook trout are doing well in the upper reaches of Bond Brook, and sites repaired during the project are contributing significantly less sediment to the brook than sites that were not repaired. . More needs to be done to fully restore Bond Brook, and additional work is being planned to.restore riparian buffer habitat in the upper watershed in 1998. Without water quality monitoring having been performed over many years, it is virtually impossible to gauge the success of project activities or determine the long-term effects on water quality in the watershed. But one thing is certain. The cooperation and commitment of the participants in this project offer new hope that Bond Brook.can become the exceptional clean-water recreational and fisheries resource that it was in its earlier days. CONTACTS: Tony St. Peter 207287-3901 Norm Marcotte 207287-7727 Maine Department of Environmental Protection SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- Building a Local Watershed Alliance — A Common Sense Approach Ghina Lake, Webber Pond, and Threemile Pond are culturally eutrophic lakes in' central Maine — in the towns of China, Vassalboro, and Windsor. Combined, these lakes drain an area of approximately 52 square miles. Because they are primarily used for recreation, the improvement and maintenance of their water quality directly affects the economic base for the communities in this. region. During the 1980s, in-lake treatment, funded in part by section 319, was employed on Webber and Threemile Ponds to help address declining water quality. Threemile was treated , with aluminum salts to achieve a reduction in internal nutrient cycling, and a new outlet structure was constructed on Webber to facilitate annual drawdowns. In both lakes, restoration efforts focused primarily on these measures rather than on the continual influx of phosphorus from the combined watersheds. Eventually, coordinating efforts between the towns began to make sense as residents recognized the value of pooling resources and providing landowners with technical assistance for repairing nonpoint source problems — with landowners contributing to the cost of repair materials. The idea gained additional support when local volunteers suggested that a regional alliance be created to share knowledge, experience, and human and financial resources to establish a coordinated and long-term .total watershed management system over the three-town area. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and EPA Region 1, also saw this innovative approach to lake restoration as a unique opportunity to establish, with partial funding support from section 319, a permanent, and self-sustaining lake protection presence in the region. In 1994, the China Region Lakes Alliance was. formed between the three towns as a regional nonprofit corporation, with a board of directors representing the lake associations, the towns, and the Kennebec Water District (a local utility). Core program funding from section 319 allowed the Alliance to establish itself and obtain local public and private funding, along with grant funding from various sources. Since its inception, the China Region Lakes Alliance. has been creative in finding effective solutions to nonpoint source problems within its jurisdiction. • Local volunteers suggested that a regional alliance be created to share knowledge, experience, and human and financial resources to establish a coordinated and Ibng-term total watershed management system over the three-town area. Partnership-based protection The Maine DEP section 319 Nonpoint Source Program has become a vital player in this ongoing regionally integrated watershed management effort. EPA Region 1 and the state have worked with the Alliance to fund and implement the first and second phases of the Webber and Threemile Ponds Watershed Project; a third phase is currently under review for possible implementation in 1998-1999.' These efforts are bringing the Threemile and Webber Pond watershed programs up to the level of China Lake's program. A full-time resource specialist and summer Youth Conservation Corps workers-receive watershed survey results from trained local volunteers, facilitate design and implementation of erosion controls around the ponds, help educate the public about nonpoint source pollution, and assist landowners install best management practices. Results of the China Region Lakes Alliance program are impressive. Working SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 77 ------- Youth Conservation Corps workers installing best management practices in China Lake. labors of 20 Erskine Academy students (who would be considered "at risk" in a traditional school setting) to repair eroding banks on a heavily silted section of Jones Brook, a major tributary to the south basin of China Lake. These energetic students learned about erosion control techniques and water quality protection while; also learning the basic ingredients for teamwork and cooperation. Since this work was completed, gravel has reappeared on the stream bottom and brown trout are again occupying this traditional salmonid spawning area. cooperatively with state, federal, and local agencies and landowners is producing tangible results, among them: • a highly successful local public and private nonpoint source remediation program; • education and employment opportunities for local high school students involved in helping the China Region Lakes Alliance install scores of cooperative erosion control projects; • a locally-enacted Phosphorus Control Ordinance currently serving as a statewide model; • employment of prison inmate volunteers on large projects; • a strong financial and human resources commitment from the Federal Highway Administration and the Maine Department of Transportation; and the • implementation of ongoing projects aimed at restoring and protecting the three-lake area and its tributaries. > The Erosion Control Demonstrations — China Lake Watershed. This 319 project focuses on 10 stream and lakeshore sites where various structural and vegetative techniques new to central Maine are employed to stabilize existing erosion problems. Some sites were more successful than others, but all were educational and will continue to be employed as regional training sites. Through this comprehensive grassroots process, the local public are becoming aware, informed, and involved with resource protection in the China Lake/Threemile Pond/Webber Pond watershed. As the water quality of the resources is improved and protected, the local economy and property values will also increase. Public safety will be enhanced as a result of local road improvements. Over time, the result will be a locally funded, perpetual watershed management program that produces continuing and comprehensive environmental and economic benefits for this valuable lakes region. Among the latter projects, two were outstanding: >• The Jones Brook Restoration Project. This also is a 1995 319 grant project that used the CONTACTS: Tony St. Peter 207287-3901 Norm Marcotte 207 287-7727 Maine Department of Environmental Protection SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $296,322 S Agriculture: $735,894 H Urban Runoff: $438,396 EB Silviculture: $71,368 HID Construction: $O E Resource Extraction: $0 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Constructed Wetlands — Maryland Investigates Dairy Waste Treatment Methods Untreated dairy effluent contains high concentrations of nutrients, oxygen- demanding substances, and solids that can adversely affect water quality and the health of aquatic organisms in downstream waters. To address this threat, the State Soil . Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service [NRCS]) constructed a waste treatment system consist- ing of two settling basins, two wetland cells, and a vegetated filter strip at a dairy farm near Frederick, Maryland, in the Monocacy River watershed in July 1993. Other partners.in this 319 project are the University of Maryland at College Park, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and dairy farmer Clyde Crum. Background The project is designed to investigate whether constructed wetlands can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional technologies, such as lagoons and land application, for controlling animal waste runoff from dairy farms. While constructed wetlands have been found.to be effective for treating other waste types (e.g., domestic sewage and industrial waste), few quantitative data are available to document the effectiveness of constructed wetlands for treating dairy waste. Controlling nutrient releases from dairy farms has some urgency, since Maryland and other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have agreed to reduce the input of nutrients to the Bay to 40 percent of 1985 levels by the year 2000. Animal waste, particularly from dairy cows, is a major source of nutrients to the Monocacy River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. . Wetland treatment systems Effluent from the dairy milking parlor flows through one of the settling basins and is SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME H ------- then split to flow into both of the wetland cells in parallel. Runoff from the barnyard flows through the other settling basins and then into one of the wetland cells. Effluent from the wetland cells then flows through the vegetated filter strip and out through a culvert at the downstream end. The project is designed to investigate whether constructed wetlands can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional technologies, such as lagoons and land application, for controlling animal waste runoff from dairy farms. To assess the effectiveness of the wetland treatment system, researchers from the University of Maryland collected surface water samples once each month in each of two settling basins receiving effluent from the milking parlor and barnyard, at the inflow to each wetland cell, and at four to six sites across the length of each cell. Additional samples were taken at the outflow pipes of the cells if discharge was occurring, at a culvert at the downstream end of the vegetated filter strip, and at a groundwater seep area within the strip. The samples were analyzed for several water quality parameters including five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD?), total suspended solids (TSS), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), nitrate-nitrogen (NOs-N), nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N), ammonia-nitrogen (NHs-N), orthophosphate (PO4-P), and total phosphorus (TP). Reductions in nutrients Based on the results of sampling and analysis conducted between May 1995 and January 1997, the treatment system as a whole achieved considerable reductions in all parameters except nitrate and nitrite. The percentage of overall reduction (from the settling basin receiving milking parlor effluent to the outlet of the vegetated filter strip) was 87 percent for BOD, 99.8 percent for TSS, 59 . percent for ammonia, 97 percent for total nitrogen, 88 percent for orthophosphate, 94 percent for total phosphorus. Nitrate and nitrite increased from 5.7 to 12.4 mg/L (117percent), and most of the increase in nitrate and nitrite occurred in the filter strip, suggesting that the strip is a site of nitrification (a precursor to nitrogen removal via denitrificatiort). The settling basins reduced TSS but had .little effect on BOD or nutrients. . Guidelines developed by the NRCS specify as design objectives that constructed wetlands'for treating agricultural waste should reduce BOD and TSS to below 30 mg/L and ammonia-nitrogen to below 10 mg/L. Filter strip effluent contained average concentrations of TSS (60 mg/L), BOD (144 mg/L), and ammonia (30 mg/L) that exceeded design objectives. Nonetheless, these concentrations are within an order of magnitude of design objectives and represent a tremendous improvement over conditions that existed prior to the treatment system. • Our results suggest that the system could be improved by recirculating effluent through the system or creating another wetland cell downstream of the .existing system. The University is continuing to work.with the NRCS and Mr. Crum to develop design modifications. CONTACT: Andrew Baldwin, Ph.D. Department of Biological Resources Engineering University of Maryland 301405-1198 80 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- The Sawmill Creek Project — Modeling the Watershed Approach Sawmill Creek — one of four watersheds selected by the governor's Chesapeake Bay Work Group to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate a coordinated approach to improving water quality and habitat conditions for living resources — is using an adaptive management approach to reverse declines in water quality and habitat. Substantial habitat improvements have already been made to a tributary to the creek, and the project may also provide some of the first documented research on the lag times associated with restoration activities. Project description A wide spectrum of land owners and land management agencies have pooled their resources to develop the new approach and restore Sawmill Creek: five Anne Arundel county government departments, seven state agencies, three federal agencies, five nongovernmental organizations, several local businesses, and numerous private citizens. Each partner is mandated to use existing programs to achieve the goal. No new funds were allocated for the project, and even section 319 funding was used . solely for assessment and monitoring. Profile of the watershed Sawmill Creek is a second order freshwater stream on Maryland's coastal plain. The watershed drains approximately 8.4 square miles,.and the creek flows about 5 miles from its headwaters to its mouth, a tidal estuary near the mouth of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor. The region was originally known for its productive fruit and vegetable farms. Approximately two-thirds of the • watershed has been converted to residential and light industrial land uses over the past 50 years. Development of a major transportation network has had a significant effect on the watershed. The Baltimore Washington International Airport is the center of a . web of interconnecting rail lines and interstate highways. Groundwater withdrawals for municipal drinking water have increased dramatically, and excessive pumping from an unconfined aquifer has reduced the annual base flow in the creek from an average of six cubic feet per second in 1965 to less than one cubic foot per second during more recent dry years. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 81 ------- The adoption of a watershed perspective (i.e., the coordinated and integrated approach called for by the governor's work group) is intended to be a continual and permanent change in management practice. In this case, the monitoring and implementation teams acted concurrently. The implementation team began to address obvious flaws in historic management practices, while the monitoring team investigated the subtle, cumulative impacts of various land-use practices. The implementation team drafted a restoration strategy that described the geographic location of each environmental problem, prescribed a general restoration goal, and identified the responsible management • agencies for each major problem. The partners then used feedback from the monitoring team's ongoing investigations to revise and improve the details of each restoration project. This interactive process has been described as adaptive management. It continues, but after three years the emphasis has shifted from assessment and planning to implementation and evaluation. Examples culled from the implementation phase The implementation phase began in 1994 and actively continues. A wide variety of best management practices have been, and will be, installed as the partners revisit each site using biological health and stream conditions to guide their determination of overall conditions. Thus, for example, the project used a biological survey (EPA's Rapid Bioassessment Protocols) to assess and quantify stormwater problems. Table 1 compares habitat scores and fish populations in a reference stream and a Sawmill Creek tributary before and one year after restoration. The scores shown for each stream parameter are reported as a percentage of a theoretically perfect stream. The last line shows the number of fish species that were found in each stream. There is documented evidence that six species of fish survive in the restoration area. The reference stream indicated in Table 1 is covered with second growth forest. It is not pristine but the stream ecosystem is in good condition for a western shore coastal-plain stream. Tributary 9, by comparison, is in an urban portion of the watershed and has approximately 50 percent impervious cover. It drains an area mostly covered by subdivisions built in the late 1940s. Much of the upper stream network was buried in drain pipes under the streets with no stormwater management plan in place to control either the quantity or the quality or runoff. Habitat improvements on Tributaiy 9 consisted of reshaping the eroded channel to restore a stable cross-section, gradient, and plane geometry to accommodate the increased stormwater discharge rates. The new channel was stabilized with bioengineering techniques including root-wad-revetments, rock weirs, and dense riparian plantings.. Table 1.— Habitat scores and fish species on Sawmill Creek. HABITAT PARAMETERS Substrate and cover Enbeddedness Flow Channel alteration Scouring and deposition Pool/riffle/run ration Bank stability Bank vegetative stability Stream side cover TOTAL SCORE FISH SPECIES REFERENCE STREAM 80% 65% 60% 93% 67% 87% 80% 90% 80% 78% 9 TRIBUTARY 9 PRE-IMPLEMENTATION 50% 25% 45% 13% 40% 47% 30% 40% 60% 39% 1 TRIBUTARY 9 POST-IMPLEMENTATION 75% 60% 30% 67% 60% 87% 70% 90% 50% 65% 6 82 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Table I indicates the significant habitat improvements that have evolved from the stream restoration practices installed on Tributary 9. The habitat scores are expected to continue to improve as the riparian plants develop into a mature forest buffer. Experimental stocking of resident nongamefish species has also been accomplished, with help from a local junior high school science club. Thus far, there is documented evidence that six species of fish survive in the restoration area. Lessons learned The Sawmill Creek project shows that an ecosystem-based approach can be used to set priorities for watershed management planning. Quantifiable measures of biological health and stream stability can be used to guide the integration of a wide variety of best management practices. The approach can be used for both restoration and planning purposes. However, lag time — the time that elapses between the installation of a best management practice and the first improved conditions —- is highly variable depending on the level of action and specific site conditions. As monitoring continues in the watershed,' section 319 funding may contribute to.research on this aspect of watershed management. CONTACTS: Larry Lubbers 410260-8701 Watershed Restoration Division Elysabeth Bonar Bouton 410260-8734 Coastal Zone Management Division Maryland Department of Natural Resources SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 83 ------- * V • 1 • 4 I I, >1 f ( Jl I, ( MriSSACHUSETtS 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $666,160 S Agriculture: $0 H Urban Runoff: $66,578 • E3 Silviculture: $0 3H] Construction: $0 BQ Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 0 Hydrologic Modification: $390,000 D Other: $128,762 Wetlands to the Rescue — Spragues Cove Stormwater Remediation Project In June 1995, Marion, Massachusetts, completed construction of a wetlands system designed to reduce stormwater pollutant discharges that were adversely affecting Spragues Cove. Elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria were the primary concern; before the wetlands system was built, they had contributed to the closure of shellfish'beds in the cove and threatened nearby swimming beaches. To obtain funding for the remediation structure, the town joined the Buzzards Bay Project of the National Estuary Program in competing for a section 319 grant. In Massachusetts, the 319 grant program is administered through the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Watershed Management. The town also received grant . monies from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Marion Cove Trust. Once grant funding had been obtained,. the Buzzards Bay Project requested technical assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS put together an interdisciplinary team of engineers, biologists, soil conservationists, a geologist, and a soil'scientist to'work with the town and the Buzzards Bay Project. This team helped the partners identify alternatives and select best management practices. Several alternatives were considered, including chlorination, UV dissectors, vegetative swales, and infiltration structures. The constructed wetlands system was deemed the most feasible solution based on site-conditions, pollutant removal capabilities, capital costs, and operation and maintenance requirements and costs. Constructed wetlands The constructed wetlands system is comprised of a sediment basin, two shallow marshes located on both sides of a deep pool, and a stone-lined channel. Project workers used design criteria from a Florida manual to size the 84 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (( ------- system: it was made to store 1.0 inch of runoff with an average detention time of 14 days. Although wet weather monitoring has been limited since the construction of the wetlands system (because of summer drought conditions in Massachusetts), thejatest data indicate fecal coliform counts of 10 organisms per 100 milliliters in Spragues Cove. In Massachusetts, the Water Quality Standard for shellfish harvesting without depuration is 14 organisms per 100 milliliters. Prior to construction of the wetlands system, fecal coliform counts as high as 20,000 organisms per 100 milliliters were recorded. Monitoring of-the discharges from the wetlands system and Spragues Cove will continue on a regular basis. The data will help determine ther effectiveness of the system in reducing stormwater pollutant loads and thus, project the future status of the shellfish beds. Shellfish beds open for harvesting At this time, it appears that the wetlands system has - successfully reduced the stormwater pollutant loadings to levels that permit the valuable shellfish beds of . Spragues Cove to be open for harvesting. In addition, the project has given the town an aesthetically pleasing landscape.'The restoration reclaims a former salt marsh that had been filled with dredge materials in the 1950s. The townspeople of Marion have shown their support for this project by helping to replant the shallow marshes and stabilize the BEFORE the project - ---,,-,; T ":.;„ —,,_ ^p;,*^r rEr^-pi.J* ,*5^5-J,,.™=a ^, .•»,_ shoreline. They have also continued to replant the vegetation that died during the drought. CONTACT: Elizabeth McCann Division of Municipal Services Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection 617292-5901 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 85 ------- MICHIGAN 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $1,395,957 H Agriculture: $710,213 H Urban Runoff: $335,000 03 Silviculture: $35,000 ID Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $113,000 D Other: $300,000 Talking with Farmers — The North Branch Chippewa River 319 Watershed Project The North Branch of the Chippewa River, located in the center of Michigan's lower peninsula, forms a subwatershed of the Saginaw Bay basin. The North Branch begins in Isabella County and flows into the Chippewa River near Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Land use in the 49,000-acre watershed is 78 percent agricultural, including a mixture of dairy, beef, and rowcrop farming. Row crops are grown on 33,000 acres or 67 percent of the watershed (87 percent of the agricultural area) and livestock are found on 100 (53 percent) of the roughly 189 farms in the watershed. Clay soils and rolling typography, along with an intensive network of agricultural drainage tiles, lead to unstable flows — to high water velocities that transport large quantities of nutrients and suspended solids during storm events. Excessive rainfall or a heavy snowmelt only intensifies the problem. First Steps The Isabella County Soil Conservation District received a section,319 planning grant for the watershed in 1990. Since the Conservation District's primary goal was to reduce sediment, -phosphorus, and fecal coliform levels in the North Branch, it began the project by surveying the watershed to identify the major sources of these pollutants. The district's watershed planner walked all the tributaries in the watershed and recorded and ranked sources of nonpoint pollution on aerial photos. In addition, the district hosted local advisory meetings to promote awareness and participation. The water quality problems were sediments, nutrients (particularly phosphorus), and fecal coliform. The sediments and nutrients derived mainly from soil erosion on row-cropped fields, while uncontrolled cattle access was a source of fecal coliform. Fully 25 86 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- river miles and 26 miles of tributaries were affected. The basis for ranking the nonpoint sources on the aerial photos was the watershed planner's experience and expertise in • recognizing and diagnosing the problems and solutions. In effect, each problem area was scored in the field as low, medium, or high priority in consideration of the project's . overall goals. Once the priority sources were identified, the watershed planner contacted individual landowners and met with them at their farmsteads. During these meetings, the planner proposed an appropriate system of farming practices that would address all known and potential nonpoint sources — and meet the landowners' specific farming needs. The watershed planner identified the priority areas and actively sought farmers in these areas to develop plans for implementing best management practices (BMPs). In other watersheds (i.e., those that .were not designated as priority areas), those interested in participating in the program contacted the. district to sign up for cost-share funding. The "one-on-one" interaction with landowners in the priority areas contributed greatly to the project's overall success/ Reducing loadings result Implementation of BMPs began in 1991 and continued for three years. During this time, the project installed 49 erosion control structures, over 7 miles of fencing, numerous stream crossings, 24 acres of filter strips, a grassed waterway, 0.5 miles of diversions, an agricultural waste management system, over 17 acres of critical area seeding, and 2.7 miles of streambank stabilization that included seven in-stream check dams. All livestock in the North Branch of the Chippewa River are now restricted by fencing from access to the main tributaries. These structural practices have prevented 12,015 tons of sediment from entering the North,Branch; they have also saved an estimated 6,248 pounds of phosphorus and 78 pounds of nitrogen. CONTACT: Amy Peterson Nonpoint Source Unit Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 517373-2037 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( 87 ------- Saving Michigan's Blue Ribbon Trout Stream — The Boardman River Project In 1992, the Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District received a section 319 grant to treat streambanks and road crossings that were contributing sediment to the Boardman River, a 295-square-mile blue ribbon trout stream • located in northwest lower Michigan. To ensure that the diversity of river users would be honored, the District developed a steering committee that topped 200 members, including local townships, numerous state and county agencies, communications companies, utilities, . recreational groups, a regional land conservancy, construction companies, and other businesses. Working together for almost four years, these partners stabilized 96 sites on the Boardman River and, as a result, prevented over 1,200 tons of sand from entering the system each year. To maximize resources, the District worked with the Michigan Department of Corrections to obtain prison labor for the project. They also used numerous bioengineering practices to further stretch their 319 funding. Bioengineering practices used included • transferring native plants from elsewhere in the watershed to the site needing vegetation, • using whole tree revetments at the toe of some slopes, • using log cribbing to terrace a steep slope, • bringing vegetation to near the water's edge, and • planting vegetation with rock riprap. These practices stabilized the sites at a lower cost than traditional rock structures and helped blend the new sites into the surrounding landscape. Other practices also proved useful in the Boardman River. For example, working with fisheries managers, the District added fish lunkers to several of the sites to help provide habitat for trout. The wooden lunkers were • installed at the toe of a bank, covered over with rock and topsoil, then seeded. Amazingly, the sites with lunkers look no different than sites without lunkers. And — a final example — using composted .leaves became a regular practice for the District. The leaves were donated by Traverse City and mixed into the soil prior to seeding or hand planting vegetation: This practice has been especially helpful, on ^•UKMi^^BMHH«R*MH*!BB:. _.«t*fti*«i™*SB»fl^Tii«K*«a9«M^»««»«^ Log cribbing, shown in the foreground (right), was used on the Boardman River to impede the downward movement of soil on a bank. Here, seed, individual plantings of native shrubs, and stairs were used with the log cribbing to create a natural-looking access site. south-facing sandy slopes where it is usually difficult to get vegetation to grow. Ongoing and long-term management Having addressed the primary sources of sediment in the watershed, the District installed and developed long-term agreements with individuals and groups to maintain four. sand traps, each of which, when cleaned, will remove an additional 1,000 tons of sand from the river. 88 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- To promote the watershed restoration efforts, the District also developed an information/education campaign,that included watershed brochures, a project display, T-shirts, an educational video, and three 30-second public service announce- ments (PSAs). The educational video, entitled "Currents of the Boardman," was filmed and produced by a local utility company, MichCon, which also- filmed and produced the PSAs. The PSAs have been aired over 1,000 times on local television. Now that 319 funding has ended, the District has joined forces with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy and local businesses to continue the project. The Conservancy is a nonprofit land protection organization that has already worked with local landowners to protect nearly 600 acres in the Boardman River watershed. In addition, an endowment fund for the- Boardman .River has been.established • through the Conservancy. The interest from this fund will provide for the long-term management of the Boardman River system, CONTACTS: SteVe Largent Boardman River Project Director 616941-0960- .Amy Peterson Nonpoint Source Unit Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 517373-2037 aSSr "*sfcs. ••agjJjg**"»*ug"BUBi»um; i imss vis* • a uji/^/n • yw j«^p»i|«^r SK^SS- y jiir=s5r="~51-<^-JE»'*' *, Ag - jg. jf "*.j% yFj^f^f. *jB # ayjpg^i- .fTfepw JEM** * s*' 2*-" -«. a sf*s—• •^T Ha*15*- .. .n*. ,.*~»» «A-» »™ . This site on the Boardman River was contributing sediment to the river. Here, workers are applying composted leaves to help create a better growing medium for vegetation on this "hot" slope. Photo by Steve Largent, Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District. The same site after one growing season. Note how the composted leaves and seed were brought to the water's edge — on top of some of the rock riprap — to provide a more natural-looking finish. Photo by Steve Largent, Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES; VOLUME (I 89 ------- MINNESOTA 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $2,829,742 S Agriculture: $298,843 H Urban Runoff: $92,158 0 Silviculture: $0 (H Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $ 159,263 03 Hydrologic Modification: $146,737 D Other: $76,947 Lake Shaokatan Restoration Project — Improving Water Quality Through Reduced Phophorus Loading Lake Shaokatan is a shallow prairie lake located in western Minnesota,on the South Dakota border. The lake water quality severely deteriorated in the 1980s as a result of excessive nutrient loading associated with watershed land-use practices. Nuisance algal blooms dominated the open water season and occasionally produced algal toxins alleged to have resulted in the death of dogs and cattle. The lake has a surface area of 1,018 acres, a mean depth of 7.3 feet, and drains about 8,054 acres. The Yellow Medicine River Watershed District initiated a Clean Water Partnership project in 1990 that subsequently discovered extremely high levels of total phosphorus (average summer value of 270 ug/L). Chlorophyll a concentrations were episodic with concentrations noted to exceed 100 pg/L (with summer means of 20 to 30 ug/L). The major source of the phosphorus was attributed to feedlot and drain tile operations within the watershed. Assessing nutrient budgets To counteract these problems, the watershed began an extensive monitoring program in 1991. The data were expected to help residents understand watershed nutrient loading and lake response dynamics. Using seven state-of-the-art stream measurement sites, the monitors obtained water and mass loading estimates and determined lake system balances. The basic approach was to manage the lake nutrient budget to achieve a total phosphorus goal of 90 pg/L (as defined by EPA's ecoregion analyses). Watershed restoration After completion of the monitoring effort, a complete watershed restoration program began. Since late 1991, this program has • diverted a stream from a swine operation, • rehabilitated a feedlot-impacted wetland, 90 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- bought out,a swine operation to eliminate it as a nutrient source to the lake, upgraded a dairy feedlbt operation, repaired shoreline septic systems, and restored four wetland complexes in the watershed. Lake Shaokatan in June 1995 — after restoration. These actions reduced phosphorus loading rates by 58 to 90 percent (over a range of years). They cost about $3 to $ 11 per kilogram of reduced phosphorus. Nuisance algal blooms dominated the open water season and occasionally produced algal toxins alleged to have resulted in the death of dogs and cattle. The watershed's responses to these corrective actions was immediate and significant as both nutrient and sediment losses were reduced. Concurrently measured average summer total 'phosphorus concentrations dropped from 270 to 89 ug P/L by 1994. The intensity and duration of seasonal algal blooms have been curtailed with all values now less than 20 pg/L. These trends are expected to continue as the Yellow Medicine River Watershed District and local management groups continue additional watershed actions. Project monitoring is conducted mostly by farmers and others in direct contact with landowners who are most knowledgeable about land-water interactions and causal relationships between their operations and water quality. CONTACT: Margaret Velky Water Quality Division Watershed Assistance Section Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 612296-8834 The Lake Bemidji Watershed Management Project — Clean Water is Good for Business The Lake Bemidji Management Project is a cooperative effort between 21 local, state, and federal groups and citizen organizations (including EPA's Clean Lakes Program). It began seven, years ago with a'single objective: to improve and maintain Lake Bemidji's water quality by reducing nonpoint sources of pollution. The Lake Bemjdji watershed contains more than 400,000 acres and includes the headwaters of the Mississippi River and its first major tributary, the Schoolcraft River. The City of Bemidji, justly proud of being the "first city on the Mississippi," has helped bring massive lake management changes to the watershed over the past 15 years. Accomplishments along the way With help from its many partners, Lake Bemidji and its city have avoided confrontation and legal proceedings. Instead, the management project has defined specific lake management goals and pursued corrective actions worth about $1 million. Examples of their accomplishments illustrate the power of a true partnership. Among other activities, the project has • established a state-of-the-art flow monitoring and sampling program to define river and in-lake conditions, • created three stormwater basins to treat runoff from downtown Bemidji, SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 91 ------- • installed multiple sediment traps to treat runoff from other downtown areas, • conducted winter litter clean-up campaigns with many cooperators (the area's a virtual city on the ice during winter), • rehabilitated about 400 feet of severely eroded Mississippi riverbank, and • revegetated a wetland on the new downtown sediment basin/Chamber of Commerce learning center (next to the historic Paul Bunyan and Babe statues). Notwithstanding this'impressive list, a crowning accomplishment may well be the project's extensive education and outreach program. The partners sponsor educational seminars, give television interviews, and teach countless secondary education classes, from which the project has drawn many student volunteers. The partners also distribute informational brochures (more than 95,000 so far), file newspaper inserts, sell placemats and bait shop clean-up bags, plant trees (more than 250,000 to date), and help develop forestry plans. Water quality, the first and final goal The Lake Bemidji Management Project has achieved its long-term goals for the Lake Bemidji basin. Phosphorus levels are in the 15 to 22 ug/L range (down from the 30 to 40 pg/L range observed in the 1970s and 1980s), Of more significance, however, is that they have also'achieved widespread agreements to protect those levels. The City of Bemidji continues (without outside funding) to install sediment basins to treat urban runoff. These commitments will help maintain the lake despite its draw of 536,000-visitor days of water-based recreation annually. Water quality and the watershed's economic health are thus intimately related. Among its other findings, the Lake Bemidji management project discovered that recreationists will seek alternative bodies of water or reduce their level ENTERING W1SM (above) These signs were placed on the watershed borders along every major road entering the watershed. (below) Two of the Girl Scouts who labeled storm sewer inlets. of activity whenever water pollution is an issue — particularly in an area where people expect to find a "land of .sky blue water," And they ;, estimate that a 10 percent reduction of visitor activity can result in economic losses of millions of dollars per year. "Clean water," in the words of the Lake Bemidji Watershed Management Project, "is good for business." CONTACT: Margaret Velky Water Quality Division Watershed Assistance Section Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - 612 296-8834 92 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $955,000 S Agriculture: $329,515 H Urban Runoff: $359,919 [JE Silviculture: $100,000 Hffl Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $82,700 11 Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $82,866 An Animal Waste Irrigation Project in Mississippi — Saving Farmers Money Mississippi's Soil and Water Conservation Commission has initiated a demonstration project that will ultimately change the way lagoons and other animal waste facilities are managed. A relatively simple description explains the activity: farm workers remove (pump) solids from improperly functioning animal waste lagoons and apply them to the land with a traveling gun irrigation system. Animal waste is a contributing factor to the high level of nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal coliform found in some Mississippi streams. However, on land, the fecal coliform die and the nitrogen and phosphorus become a rich source of natural fertilizer. Production values increase when animal wastes are recycled, and the water stays cleaner. Improperly functioning lagoons? Animal waste lagoons stop functioning properly if they are being misused, that is, if they are too small; or if they are not properly maintained. Suppose one has an older lagoon, one built for 50 head of cattle. If the herd increased to 100 head, the old lagoon will fill up twice as fast. Further, removing the solids that accumulate in any lagoon is a standard operating procedure that should be performed regularly. This project, which was funded through a 319 program grant from EPA, began in the Amite, Pike, and Walthall County Soil and Water Conservation Districts in southwestern Mississippi. Those districts were selected for the first demonstrations to help remedy water quality problems in the Tangipahoa River. Once the irrigation system was demonstrated in this area, other districts began to serve as demonstration sites. Nutrient management plans Demonstration sites must have a suitable amount of pastureland or cropland near the lagoons being pumped out. Landowners SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 93 ------- participating in the demonstration (or choosing this option as a best management practice) are required to consult with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. An approved animal waste management plan should be developed for each lagoon system. Production values increase when animal wastes are recycled, and the water stays cleaner. The waste management plan may also include a nutrient management plan. Farmers must know the nutrient content in their lagoon, the amount of nutrients already available in soil resources, and plant nutrient needs before they can determine how much waste can be properly applied. An economic and environmental success During the entire time period of this proiect, a total of 12 lagoon systems were pumped out. Of these, 10 were dairy lagoon systems, one was a swine lagoon system, and the other a poultry lagoon system. The total amount of land used for the applications included 192 acres of cropland and 206 acres of pasturelahd. The total volume of lagoon effluent irrigated onto these acres contained 72,402 pounds of nitrogen, 34,911 pounds of phosphorus/and 82,715 pounds of potassium. The dollar value of those nutrients — that is, the money landowners saved in fertilizer costs — was $19,548.54 for nitrogen, $6,633.09 for phosphorus and $9,925.80 for potassium. The landowners who.participated in this demonstration project were pleased with the outcome. They knew that a positive impact was being made on water quality through this system and agreed with the Mississippi Soil and Water Commission that the demonstration contained at least the following benefits: • The irrigation system helps alleviate lagoon overflow problems, thus preventing water quality problems in the demonstration areas. • The project shows that more expensive and time-consuming equipment is not necessary for.the adoption of this lagoon management practice. Tank trucks and tractors, which cause soil erosion and compaction, can be eliminated. • Production costs are' significantly lower when nutrients are recycled to crop and pasture systems. The alternative practice, commercially formulated fertilizers, is more expensive. This system has now been transferred to the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission who will continue to demonstrate its benefits, especially in Mississippi's priority watersheds. Having received numerous requests for use of the system, the Commission applied for, and received, an additional grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Land and Water 201 program to purchase an additional system. That system is now in use in the 32 TVA counties in Mississippi. CONTACT: Gale Martin Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission 601 354-7645 Lake Hazle Project Takes on Urban Runoff Expects Return of Beneficial Uses Lake Hazle, a 22-acre public lake in Hazlehurst, Mississippi (about 40 miles south of Jackson), is used for fishing, wildlife, and aesthetic quality. Nearly one-quarter of its 400-acre drainage area has been developed for commercial or residential use. Approximately 50 acres of the surrounding land contribute sediment runoff. Service stations, auto repair shops, streets, highways, and parking lots collect oil and grease, and highway construction and commercial developments are another major source of contaminated runoff and sediment. The impacts from these nonpoint sources of pollution are keeping Lake Hazle from meeting its designated uses. 94 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- The purpose of the Lake Hazle Project was to identify and correct the nonpoint sources of urban runoff, thereby restoring the recreational values and aquatic life resources of the lake to their full potential. EPA provided 319 funding for the project. Several, other state, federal, and local governmental agencies were cooperating partners, including the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission; Copiah County Soil and Water Conservation District; the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Department of Environmental Quality, Office, of Pollution Control; the City of Hazlehurst; and the Southwest Resource Conservation Development Office. Lake Hazle's water quality has clearly improved since the implementation of BMPs throughout the watershed. In 1990, EPA's Region 4 provided guidance on the proposed Lake Hazle monitoring plan. The Water Quality Assessment Branch of the state Department of Environmental Quality implemented the monitoring plan to document improvements to water quality from the installation of best management practices in the Lake Hazle watershed. Section 319 grant funds funded up to 60 percent of the best management practices (BMPs). Nine BMPs were installed to treat runoff from 233 acres. Of the nine practices, six were critical area plantings; one, a grade stabilization structure; and two were water and sediment control wet detention basins. As a result of these activities', 2,238 tons of soil annually are retained on properties adjacent to the lake. Although water quality has improved, additional practices are needed to bring Lake Hazle to its fullest potential. Awareness and water quality increase Comparisons of monitoring samples taken before and after the practices were installed show a dramatic decrease in suspended solids following the, installation of stormwater controls. The critical area plantings and other practices had a similarly dramatic effect, as did the BMPs installed to manage stormwater sediment. The depth of the euphotic zone (water clarity) increased 72 percent, thereby taking sunlight to greater depths and increasing photosynthesis in the lake. Other water quality parameters were also monitored: • Dissolved oxygen and temperature data are less conclusive, but indicate that dissolved oxygen did increase, though slightly, at both-middle and bottom depths during the post-BMP period. • Tests indicate a reduction in nitrate-nitrogen concentration greater than 61 percent. The reduction of total nitrogen in stormwater runoff had a positive effect on nitrogen within the lake. Once BMPs were introduced around the lake, the in-lake total nitrogen "concentration fell by 54 percent. • Stormwater runoff concentrations of phosphorus declined by 50 percent. Lake samples indicate that the combined project activities reduced phosphorus loading to the lake by 34 percent. • Pre-BMP stormwater monitoring showed a very high number of fecal cpliform (bacteria) colonies; post-BMP levels fell by 84 percent. Lake Hazle's water quality has clearly improved since the implementation of BMPs throughout the watershed. However, it is still too early to determine the long-term'effects of these activities. As project activities continue and lake users become more aware of how nonpoint sources affect water quality, it is possible to anticipate that Lake Hazle will be restored sufficiently to support its original designated uses. CONTACT: Gale Martin Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission 601 354-7645 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 95 ------- Mississippi Demonstrates Dead Chicken Composting — A Water-Quality Safe Disposal Method A t the time this project began, /•A southcentral Mississippi was bracing for JL Xa rapid expansion of the poultry producing industry. It was widely predicted that the poultry population in a six-county area would increase to approximately seven million birds. In fact, in 1993,62 growers handled 7 million birds and by 1997, 150 growers reported a census of 16.2 million birds. In an industry this large, the disposal of dead birds must be carefully managed to avoid potential threats to surface and groundwater resources. Alternative methods Traditionally, dead birds have been disposed in burial pits or incinerated. Unapproved methods were sometimes discovered, such as exposing the carcasses or . dumping them in streams or roadside ditches. But even the approved methods carry some risk of water contamination that adds to the cost of production. Arkansas, another major poultry-producing state, has recently prohibited the use of pits for dead bird disposal, and other states are likely to take this action in the near future. The Arkansas ban tells the story: often the carcasses decay only partially and leachate from the pit poses a danger to surface and groundwater. In Mississippi's case, several agencies worked with local soil and water conservation districts to educate and advise area producers about the composting project, then provided technical assistance to those who cooperated. The original project plan called for one composter to be constructed in each district included in the demonstration, but the project was so well received in two conservation districts that ah additional composter was constructed with cooperators electing to divide the cost-share funds among themselves. Following construction, workshops were held in each of the participating conservation districts to give participants an opportunity to relate their experiences. Local producers who had not participated and the general public were also invited to learn more about the use of, cofnposters to protect water quality. The Department of Environmental Quality expects more composting facilities to be constructed if producers can obtain funds to cover the cost of construction. And area farmers are realizing an additional benefit. Many are saving up to $25 per ton by using the composted material as fertilizer, thereby reducing their purchase of and dependence on commercial fertilizers for land applications. Benefits that distinguish composting from other methods Approximately 194,400 birds per year will be disposed of by composting in a manner that reduces the chance of groundwater contamination. And area farmers are realizing an additional benefit. Many are saving up to $25 per ton by using the composted material as fertilizer, thereby reducing their purchase of and dependence on commercial fertilizers for land applications. When composting is combined with other practices such as soil testing and nutrient management planning, it reduces the risk of nutrient enrichment to nearby surface waters. CONTACT: Robert Seyfarth Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality 601 961-5160 96 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Categpry: $487,721 .S Agriculture: $1,577,680 H Urban Runoff: $210,994 §3 Silviculture: $0 M Construction: $0 G Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 • H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Forage and Grassland Improvement — Livestock Producers Explore Best Management Practices Missouri's "show-me" livestock producers demonstrated their forage management project with great enthusiasm. "Except for areas where I cut hay, we haven't used any nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium in three years," says Joe Ewing of Polk County, Missouri. • Ewing has been a Clean Watershed ' Cooperator with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources since the Forage and Grassland Improvement Demonstration Project. began in 1992. Previously, his pastures had been straight Kentucky 31 tall fescue, and more than 80 percent was infected with the endophyte fungus. Now Ewing has adopted a more intensive grazing system. He also tests his soil for fertilizer and pH; and overseeds the grass with a mixture of red clover, white clover, and annual lespedeza. "We retest soils each year," he said. "But so far, the only plant nutrients needed have been calcium and magnesium. We try to maintain soil pH in the 6,5 range. Phosphorus and potash have stayed up well, and the legumes fix enough nitrogen for the grass." In the rotational grazing system used for this project, livestock graze a section of pasture for one to three days before moving on to the next section. Each section is rested 18 to 40 days between grazings. Ewing manages three separate grazing cells. He uses' electric polywire fencing to subdivide pastures into grazing paddocks. One cell is divided into 12 paddocks of 3 acres each; a second, larger cell has 8 paddocks of about 12 acres each; and the third cellconsists of 6 paddocks, each about 7 acres in size. Ewing turns cattle into a paddock when the grass, is 6 to 8 inches tall and lets them graze the forage down to 3 to 4 inches. This still leaves enough leaf surface for good photosynthesis and quick regrowth. Depending on how fast the grass regrows, each paddock - gets a rest period of 18 to 26 days. Ewing said SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 97 ------- his steers gain weight at the rate of 1.76 pounds per day, which is an added incentive for rotational grazing — it brings home a tidy profit when Ewing sells the steers after 173 grazing days. "Except for areas where I cut hay, we haven't used any nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium in three years." Other producers buy the project's claims In all, 15 demonstration sites in southwest Missouri participated in the Forage and Grassland Specialist Improvement Project. The Top of the Ozarks and the Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development councils conducted the project from mid-1992 through 1995. As incentives to participate, producers received guidance on how to design, install, and maintain the grazing and watering systems and additional information on pasture establishment measures. The success of this project owes much to the dairy producers and ranchers who cooperated, and to the soil and water conservation districts, Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Missouri's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — who all who shared their time, technical knowledge, and management skills during the project. Two Resource Conservation and Development councils, the Missouri DNR. the NRCS, and EPA'(using 205 and 319 program grants) funded a grasslands specialist to implement the project. The project site, a 23-county area in southcentral and southwest Missouri, has the highest concentration of beef and dairy cattle in the state. (Missouri ranks second in the nation as a producer of beef cows.) The area's five recreational lakes and several scenic rivers provide a base for tourism and residential development in the area. This potentially uneasy mix of land uses works as smoothly as it does because so many of its residents are willing to participate in demonstration projects of this kind and adopt practices that protect their valuable water resources. •• Related benefits also count The farms ranged in size from 40 to 4,000 acres. Mark Kennedy, the project's grassland specialist, tested .soils on the farms and helped producers maintain a satisfactory plant fertility level through nutrient recycling. Improved manure distribution also eliminated the need for supplemental fertilizers. What is more, the grazing livestock "harvested" many weeds, such as ragweed and lambs quarters, thereby eliminating the need for herbicides. Practices implemented in this project helped protect recreational waters and increased profitability in the forage and livestock enterprises. Rotational grazing systems provide the following actions and benefits: ACTIONS Reduced bare soil exposure Alternative watering supplies and fences, thus, (1) limited cattle access to streams (2) improved water quality for consumption Even distribution of manure Reduced fertilizer application Improved forage qualify Reduced weeds, thus reduced herbicide BENEFITS Reduced field erosion (1) reduced strearnbank erosion and improved wildlife and aquatic habitat (2) improved cattle and dairy performance Reduced nutrient runoff Reduced nutrient runoff Improved cattle and dairy performance Reduced chemical runoff "From an animal waste standpoint," says Kennedy, "management-intensive grazing ensures that plants are in a high state of nutrition when livestock graze. From a plant standpoint, it provides respite, and from an environmental standpoint, it more evenly distributes manure .over the grazing area. It ties the animal needs to the plant needs." 98 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Extending the program statewide In an unusual twist to the project, farmers who implemented the grazing systems did not receive cost-share. Kennedy explains that the cash-flow benefits of the systems were their selling point. "It would have defeated the . purpose of the demonstration project if other farmers who wanted to apply the grazing systems could not obtain cost-share." In 1994, however, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources recognized the benefits of grazing systems and initiated a pilot cost-share program for three counties. This year, the cost-share program was extended to nine counties and statewide. The program is administered by local soil and water conservation districts. Missouri livestock producers who have • tried the system agree that the demonstration project offered convincing evidence for the notion that changing livestock systems to reduce inputs in favor of increased management results in positive water quality and income benefits — a change that Kennedy says, "replaces horsepower with brain power." CONTACT: Ruth Wallace Missouri Department of Natural Resources ,. 573 526-7687 The Mark Twain Water Quality Initiative — Total Resource Management in Missouri's Upper Salt River Basin The Mark Twain Water Quality Initiative is a dual project designed to implement on-farm BMPs and inform and educate citizens on the importance of watershed management in northeast Missouri. The two portions of the project include the Mark Twain Water Quality Demonstration Project and the Mark Twain Public Information Project. The paragraphs that follow describe the Water Quality Demonstration Project. The Mark Twain Water Quality Demonstration Project expedites the adoption of innovative best management practices (BMPs) through technical assistance to producers. Led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the original project targeted portions of seven counties draining into the. Mark Twain Lake, but the focus has. been expanded to include a major portion of the Upper Salt River Basin. The project.is designed to help farmers • develop, implement, and evaluate total- resource management (TRM) systems or whole-farm plans that emphasize nutrient and pesticide strategies; • plan, design, and install animal waste systems; and • provide assistance to field personnel in the formulation and implementation of TRM systems training. The project area consists of approximately 630 square miles in northeast Missouri and includes all of the drainage area of the Crooked, Otter, and North Fork tributaries located within the hydrologic or political boundaries of Knox, Monroe, Shelby, Macon, Marion, Rails, and Randolph counties that empty into. Mark Twain Lake. Agricultural land comprises 55 percent of the project area's Jand use and is the number one industry in the basin. Soybeans, corn, wheat, grain, sorghum (milo), and other feed grains and forage crops are the major crops grown in the basin, and agricultural chemicals are used extensively throughout the area. Upland and bottom lands of the basin are intensively cropped, and the basin is also a major hog producing region, with Shelby and Monroe Counties among the top 10 hog-producing counties in Missouri. The two. counties have over 300 swine facilities in operation with an additional 100 dairy and beef operations in existence. Animal waste produced in the counties has a human population equivalent of 144,500 (6,845 in Shelby County and 8,872 in Monroe County). The total resource management plans include BMPs such as manure and nutrient management, intensive rotational grazing systems, alternative water supplies for SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 99 ------- livestock, waste production storage and ' treatment programs, erosion control, prairie restoration, woodland and wildlife management, precision farming, crop rotation, farm dump cleanups and alternatives to illegal dumping, insect scouting, weed mapping, dead . animal composting, pesticide container, recycling, nitrogen-fixing legumes for reduced fertilizer applications, and soil and water testing. Fertilizer savings On one farm in the project area, 84-year-old Lucille Redman has planted lespedeza clover — and also grass and legume species such as brome, orchard and ladino, along with red clover on her hay field. "My cattle have had more grass to eat than ever before, yet my fertilizer bill has gone down," she says. At one point, the hay field was so tall Redman had to bring in her cattle between hayings, which in turn gave their usual grazing pasture a resting period for regrowth. Redman also maintains a buffer strip along the riparian corridor which helps to stabilize streambanks and filter runoff. Soil erosion and rainfall runoff are major hazards on about 80 percent of the cropland and pasture in the project area, she reminds her visitors and friends. The sediment is really bad," she says. "Since nutrients and chemicals adsorb to clay and silt and are deposited with them in lakes and streams." Redman's reduced fertilizer bill indicates, however, that there is less potential for nutrient runoff under the Water Quality project than before the project began. The result is a cleaner drinking water supply for residents in Monroe City as well as an increase in profit for area farmers like Redman. On still another project site, Clarence Seiber notes that half of his farm borders the Sugar Creek Lake reservoir north of Moberly, Missouri. Sugar Creek is one of the six drinking water resources threatened by sediment and runoff from the project area. Before Seiber took over, the land his farm is on had been stripped of its terraces and greatly deforested. He was faced with working up glacial plains land that had lost a considerable amount of topsoil. More recently, Seiber has been working with the Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Missouri Department of.Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in an effort to rebuild the highly erodible land. "My cattle have had more grass to eat than ever before, yet my fertilizer bill has gone down." Increased profitability Tdidn't believe hay production could be any more profitable than grain, he says, "but I've learned through this program that with this kind of soil I can produce hay in higher quality and for higher profit than grain." In addition to reducing fertilizer inputs on the hayfield, Seiber and his son Max are involved in a Wildlife and Forestry program and a Stewardship Incentive Program. Now the cooperation among the many agencies, and the family's hard work, is beginning to pay off: in soil conservation, fertilizer savings, improved wildlife habitat, and increased hay quality — all of which mean, less polluted runoff in Sugar Creek Lake and an increase in profits for Clarence Seiber. Actions expended, benefits received The combined actions and benefits from the Redman and Seiber projects are examples. of TRM. Each producer selected management actions that would limit bare soil exposure, reduce his or her dependence on fertilizer, improve crop or forage quality, control weeds, and save herbicides. In short, each one chose management actions that would benefit the whole farm. In addition, both took some action to protect riparian areas, buffer zones, and wildlife. As a result, their farms and communities reaped whole benefits, including improved water quality, less field and streambank erosion, more plentiful wildlife and beneficial pests, fewer chemicals and nutrients in runoff, and not. least, increased yields and income. CONTACT: Ruth Wallace Missouri Department of Natural Resources '• ' - 573526-7687 100 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting UPS Category: $638,311 S Agriculture: $666,949 H Urban Runoff: $0 E3 Silviculture: $0 W Construction: $0 D Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 S Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $82,000 Reducing Nutrients in Agricultural Runoff — The Godfrey Creek Project in Gallatin County The Godfrey Greek project, initiated in 1989 by the Gallatin County Conservation District and other key agencies, has two primary objectives: to demonstrate agricultural best management practices that will reduce suspended solids, fecal coliform, and nitrates in runoff from dairy operations, grazing, and . farming practices; and to develop an education program for producers in the watershed. Several animal confinement operations (dairies, swine, and beef operations) are located immediately adjacent to Godfrey Creek and are the major sources of impairment. But grazing management, riparian area degradation, and crop farming also add to the problem. The education program can help the agricultural community in general understand how its actions impact water quality, the environmental and financial consequences of the impact, and the benefits of improvement. . Farmers turn out All landowners became actively involved in project implementation — at least to the extent of making management changes in their operations. Over 80 percent participated in major efforts such as fencing riparian areas, adopting improved grazing systems, removing livestock from riparian areas, establishing buffer zones, improving manure-handling systems, and improving irrigation water management. In addition, nearly all landowners participated in informational tours and meetings. Because of the expense associated with improvements to the dairies' waste management systems — lagoons or similar structures can cost $60,000 to $80,000 each — the District pursued multiple funding sources . for this project. Major funding was provided by the USDA, section 319, and the state of Montana. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [( 101 ------- (left) Water gap approximately one year following installation in 1992. (right) Same area in 1994. Reductions in nutrients The District collected baseline data on various water quality parameters for this project, including total suspended solids, nitrate + nitrite, total phosphorus, fecal coliform, and macroinvertebrate samples. To monitor the effectiveness of the project, data collected prior to 1994 were considered preproject; data collected since 1994 were considered postproject. Samples of these parameters were taken 11 to 19 times a year at each of three sites. Annual means were computed from monthly averages of the raw data to eliminate potential effects of seasonal bias that might occur from an increase in sampling frequency part way through the project. The hydrograph data and relationship between flow and pollutant concentration were also examined to ensure that flow variability would not influence the results. Postproject data (samples taken in 1995 and 1996) are sufficient to prove that water in Godfrey Creek watershed did improve as a result of project activity. Estimated reductions in mean annual concentrations are 58 percent for total phosphorus and 64 percent for total .dissolved solids over preproject conditions (see attached figures). Fecal coliform data also . indicate a dramatic 82 percent decline in bacterial contamination. These improvements were not, however, matched by reductions in nitrate plus nitrite. Instead, the data show an (estimated) average increase of nitrate plus nitrite of 24 percent. Though it. has not yet reached its goal of 80 percent reductions in these key indicators (except for fecal coliform), the project is successfully helping landowners gain control of the factors that influence surface and bank erosion and nutrient runoff. Agricultural practices that can be managed to help control nitrate include a combination of irrigation and manure disposal methods. Future project activities may need to emphasize these practices to ensure the full realization of Godfrey Creek's potential. CONTACT: Bob Bukantls _ Montana Department of Environmental Quality 406444-4684 102 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UQLUMEII ------- Reclaiming East Spring Creek — Greater Trout Populations The East Spring Creek Project was initiated in 1987 by the Flathead County Conservation District with support from the EPA and the Montana Departments of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Conservation, and Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Project goals were to improve water quality by reducing accumulated in-stream sediments, improving the riparian habitat, restoring the trout fishery, and removing debris and debris dams. East Spring Creek flows through a suburban area near Kalispell, Montana, that is bounded by 194 individual tracts. Thus, the stakeholders, as well as the management activities needed to achieve these goals, were many, and the changes required might have been resisted. However, an exceptional public relations campaign convinced all but two landowners along the stream corridor to participate in the project. As a result, management changes were far easier to recommend than anyone thought possible, and a number of best management practices (BMPs) were implemented, including 'fencing, stoekwater development, flow control structures, channel reconstruction, erosion control, fish habitat improvement, and riparian vegetation planting. These activities are, in fact, complete, though the monitoring phase continues. Biological monitoring on East Spring Creek measures water quality and the project's , effectiveness. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality sampled macroinvertebrate communities using EPA's Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III (RBP-III), and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks took fish population surveys. Based on these data, conditions improved in two out of three sites included in , the macroinvertebrate data. One of the sites iroproved from moderately to slightly impaired, Manure pit installed to reduce animal waste. while the other improved from moderately •. . impaired to unimpaired. Project success was also clearly indicated by improved trout populations. Trout densities quickly responded to improved habitat from channel reconstruction. Table 1 shows the results of fish density estimates on a reach of East Spring Creek sampled from 1988 to 1995. Estimates of trout density have increased almost threefold since the channel was reconstructed in 1989. When fish biologists sampled a nearby reach of East Spring Creek that had been left in the preproject degraded condition, they found about one-fifth as many trout as were in the restored reach. Table 1.— East Spring Creek trout .abundance (per 150 M) s/J^J- Brook Rainbow Cutthroat & **i f 1988 41, ,. 5 0 RESTORED REACH 1989 .15 3 0 1991 87 27 2 1994 104 42 5 1995 82 27 1 UNRESTORED 1995 19 0 0 CONTACT: Bob Bukantls Montana Department of Environmental Quality 406 444-4684 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 103 ------- m ? !) • fci ; fi «»! ~ * 1 s :^ ', -. ;,iiiii,i iii!,(ii»i jiiijg i it, •• •• •''«'"' ">:;''" ^:*W,M.^:::sJ),'.w. NEBRASKA 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $30,000 S Agriculture: $2,265,776 EH Urban Runoff: $0 E3 Silviculture: $0 On Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Hanscom Park Lake Rises to New Heights Hanscom Park, the oldest remaining park in the Omaha, Nebraska, park system, provides numerous recreational activities for city residents. Its lake provides winter ice skating and summer fishing opportunities and serves as the aesthetic focal point of the park. Recently, however, the lake fell victim to age. Its banks collapsed and eroded, filling the lake with sediment. The shallow water became eutrophic; sediment continually resuspended and dissolved oxygen all but disappeared. The lake lost its aesthetic value, and the fishery failed. In 1992, the City of Omaha's Parks, Recreation, and Public Property Department in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and EPA Region T.began to restore Hanscom Park Lake. Project objectives were to increase the water depth to restore the fishery and prevent further degradation by redesigning and replacing shoreline structures. The six major components of the restoration project included removing sediment, stabilizing the shoreline, replacing the overflow and inlet structures, installing an aeration system, and improving access to the lake. Lake reconstruction activities Restoring Hanscom Park Lake was a multi- task activity, beginning with dredging the lake to a new depth of 8 feet. Among shoreline improve- ments, a new concrete footing was constructed below water level with a stone wall extending 1 foot above the original grade. This design increased the lake's depth at minimum cost. Next, drainage pipes were installed to allow the .springs to discharge under the stone wall lather than weep through it. The old inlet pipe was removed and a new 2-inch copper line was extended from an existing water line to a new access hole and inlet structure. The drain line now extends under the stone wall and discharges out of sight below the water line. Finally, an electric-powered fountain aeration system was installed to maintain oxygen levels and serve as an aesthetic focal point. 104 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Landscaping iriiprovementis Access to the lake was also improved. A walkway was constructed and •shoreline pads were extended from the walkway to the stone wall. The . walkways provided a stabilizing structure around the lake and directed foot traffic away from the shoreline. The shoreline pads allowed close access to the lake, however, so that visitors may fish in deep water without.disturbing the shoreline. The newly restored lake was quickly restocked with carpi a favorite of park fishing enthusiasts. Hascom Park Lake, Omaha. Data collection and analysis Monitoring results indicate that the project has had a positive impact on water quality (Table 1). The concentration of total suspended solids was reduced from an average of 21 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 5.0 mg/L. Total phosphorus decreased from 0.08 mg/L to 0.05 mg/L. Organic nitrogen declined from an average of 0.85 mg/L to 0.72 mg/L. The concen- tration of chlorophyll a decreased from 27.17 mg/m3 to 0.24 mg/m3. Water clarity'increased from an average of 7.5 inches to 96 inches. It should be noted that while these differences are large, statistical confidence cannot be assessed because the sample,size is too small, Table 1.— Monitoring results. PARAMETER Total suspended solids Total phosphorus Total nitrogen Chlorophyll a • Water transparency WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT 76 percent reduction 38 percent reduction 1 5 percent reduction ' 99 percent reduction 1 1 00 percent increase The aesthetics of Hanscom Park Lake are vastly improved and the lake area is much simpler to maintain as a result of this restoration project. Increased recreational use of the lake and adjacent areas for fishing, family and group picnicking and walking is ' immediately apparent. Pedestrian traffic around the lake has increased as people come-to the park in greater numbers and with more frequency. Use of the walkway and shoreline pads makes the lake accessible but reduces the visitors' encroachment oh the shoreline. Because section 319 funding was available for this project, the city of Omaha was able to leverage city funds otherwise dedicated solely to Hanscom Park Lake to initiate a watershed management planning effort for the much larger Zorensky Lake. CONTACT: Elbert Traylor Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality 402471-2585 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 105 ------- NEVADA 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $494,066 S Agriculture: $253,526 H Urban Runoff: $64,787 0 Silviculture: $ 11,000 ID Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $130,000 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $20,000 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Controlled Flooding Helps Nature Take Care of Itself — The Truckee River Story A n innovative restoration effort has taken /•A advantage of two winters of abundant JL Vsnowfall and spring floods to bring hundreds of trees back to the lower Truckee River in northwestern Nevada. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Tribe's reservation surrounds the lower Truckee River and the desert lake toward which the water rushes. Pyramid Lake is home to two endangered fish, the Lahontan cutthroat trout and the cui-ui, an ancient desert sucker found nowhere else. Giving water back to the river All along the lower reaches of the Truckee River, patches of cottonwoods are beginning to cover the raw banks. Unlike the situation in most reforestation projects, however, these trees were not planted by people. The river itself did the work. But it took a concerted effort by the Nature Conservancy, working with the tribe, federal agencies, and local governments, to put enough water in the river to do the job. These cottonwood saplings grew from seeds that floated down on carefully controlled floods in the last two summers. They are the first visible signs of success for a cooperative effort to make a tightly controlled river that furnishes much water for farms and cities behave more like a free-running river. Scientists managed the river to mimic the natural flood cycles that were lost when water was diverted to farms and cities. Natural cottonwood regeneration depends on just the right combination of spring floods and summer water levels; the levels must drop slowly enough that young tree roots beside the river can stay in contact with the declining water table. For the last two summers on the Truckee, those natural conditions have been artificially created with releases from reservoirs. Last year, the tribe experimented with excavated basins on the bare, gravelly banks.to bring the ground surface a little closer to the water table and give the cottonwood 106 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEII ------- One of thousands of cottonwood seedlings along the lower Truckee River. Photo by Jonathan R. Kfotz, University of Nevada, Reno. seedlings an even better chance for survival. This spring, several of the basins were covered with tiny cottonwoods, grasses, and wildflowers. If this newborn cottonwood forest survives and expands, the endangered Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui will benefit from a narrower, shadier, and cooler river in which to spawn. Weeds that cover riverbanks . will be crowded out by a healthy forest along the riparian zone and at least some of the 42 species of songbirds that currently avoid the hot riverbanks of the lower Truckee can be expected to return. CONTACT: Jim Smitherman Department of Conservation Nevada Division of Environmental Protection 702687-4670 The Small Ranch Water Quality Program — Teaching Residents about BMPs The Small Ranch Water Quality Program was developed as a pilot program to teach suburban property owners about best management practices and decrease nohpoint source pollution in Dry Greek — and ultimately in the Truckee River, Reno, Nevada's most important source of drinking water. The project watershed contains only 1,500 acres, but Reno's water treatment system serves about 164,000 people. Program promotes land-use management Pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and salts are present in small amounts all over the Truckee River watershed, and their effect on the environment is cumulative. For example, sediments that " accumulate downstream of Reno clog spawning gravels and smother fish eggs, and phosphorus and nitrogen stimulate algae growth, which leads to reduced levels of dissolved oxygen in the water and the death of coldwater fish such as trout. Therefore, a program that promotes land-use management techniques that reduce nonpoint source pollution along each small tributary can be expected to improve the overall water quality in the Truckee River. BMPs also increase beauty Agricultural experts were recruited from the University of Nevada, Reno, the Desert Research Institute, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey to teach a series of indoor classes and outdoor workshops. The program coordinator made individual visits to small ranches to document conditions and provide plans for best management practices. People opted to increase the beauty and value of their small ranch properties by adopting practices to protect the water and habitat of Dry Creek in southwest Reno. Among the practices demonstrated: • replacing lawns around wells with drought-tolerant vegetation, • pasture regrading and renovation, • no-till seeding, • composting (several projects and different methods), • grazing systems and fencing, SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEII 107 ------- (left) This pre-renovation pasture shows the effects of overstocking and over grazing. (below) During renovation the pasture is rested and furrows are installed for more efficient irrigation. , "» =;- •'•:•',•!•••••• *v> • »•• •'^.^^jS^"^is^5^SfiS^ »^s-.-»r-*^w^ iiilff8?^!*^^!^^^ • riparian plantings at creek side for temperature control, and • upsizing of septic systems. Each summer participants hold a barbecue to celebrate progress and share success stories. The program, which is ongoing, was the first of its kind in Nevada, and quickly reached an audience of 450 ranchers. It recruited 61 ranches (14 percent) as active volunteer participants, and continues to recruit new participants through various outreach programs. Promoting wise decisions A Small Ranch Manual promoting \ management for green pastures and clean water was published and distributed to all homeowners in the Dry Creek watershed. This 96-page illustrated guide covers irrigation system management, erosion control, and animal waste management; care of wells and septic systems; control of weeds, rodents, and insects; landscape planning and care; and protection of creeks, ponds, ditches, and wet pastures. Photographs, diagrams, and tables of information were designed to assist wise decisions on property management. Using this manual and pooling their labor, residents worked very hard to improve their properties and the quality of water for everyone. The publication is now used in 30 states and five foreign countries, and has received a national publication award. A monthly newsletter is distributed to 450 ranches. Each issue explains a relevant BMP in detail. A telephone tree network has been m^i ...... ...^ established to help organize work parties for BMP implementation. Demonstration projects completed to date include pasture renovations, planned grazing systems, structural measures and vegetation establishment for erosion .control, planting of drought-tolerant species, animal waste composting and reuse, and noxious weed control. Reductions in pollutants result Water samples collected in Dty'Creek in 1994 and 1995 will provide a baseline for monitoring trends in water quality. Monitoring of local irrigation water at one demonstration project site already has shown a drop in phosphorus levels from 2.1 grams/day to 0.5 grams/day, and reduction in suspended sediment from 238.7 g/day to 11 g/day. In 1996, the Small Ranch Water Quality Program received two national awards-, the Search for Excellence Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and the Environmental Achievement Award from Renew America. The program has been written up in the journal of Soil and Water Conservation (51(1): 41-45). CONTACT: Jim Smitherman Department of Conservation Nevada Division of Environmental Protection 702687-4670 108 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1994 • Cross Cutting HPS Category: $141,225 H Agriculture: $200,005 H Urban Runoff: $10,623 HE Silviculture: $0 HI Construction: $0 G Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $128,206 H Hydrologic Modification: $80,459 D Other: $24,992 Crystal Lake Preservation Association Tackles Urban Runoff Successful watershed projects usually have two common elements: active community participation and a relatively small geographic area. The Crystal Lake Watershed Project in Manchester, New Hampshire, is the first 319 project in that state with contract funds awarded directly to a volunteer organization with no professional staff. Members of the Crystal Lake Preservation Association (CLPA) have a direct stake in the lake's water quality and an active presence both within the watershed and in city government. • The watershed is about 200 acres and includes about 300 homes. Project description Crystal Lake is a small urban lake (21.2 acres), that is also an important recreational resource. Its watershed lacks tributaries during dry weather; the lake is recharged by groundwater and stormwater runoff. The source Of all tributaries is the interface between stormwater runoff and groundwater. A diagnostic/feasibility study completed in 1985 documented that 67 percent of the phosphorus contribution to the lake is from stormwater . runoff. Anecdotal information, such as dumping crankcase oil in storm drains and grass - clippings in drainage ditches, indicated that residents did not understand that stormwater drains into the lake without treatment. Crystal Lake's 319-project began in 1994 and ended in June 1996. It had three interrelated components: storm drain stenciling; street sweeping/stormwater quality; and an informational kiosk. Educational activities were included in all project activities. For example, a workshop on stormwater was held prior to storm drain stenciling. Volunteer stencilers were equipped with doorknob flyers that let residents know why they should be concerned about stormwater drainage. Additional workshops were held to . educate watershed residents about shoreline | Sy|^|| ST0?{fS: VOLUME (I 109 ------- Crystal Lake Preservation Association volunteers Blanche Manning and Kacle and Elizabeth Cardln participate in a clean-up day at Crystal Lake Park. vegetation, lake water quality trends, and proper disposal of household hazardous wastes. To inform the public about long-term lake issues, the CLPA constructed an information kiosk on which they could post water quality monitoring results, announcements about upcoming events, and lake protection tips for homeowners. Pollutant levels decrease Water quality benefits from educational activities are difficult to measure; however, volunteer lake assessment data collected monthly during the growing season from 1991 to 1995, indicate that pollutant levels have been reduced to levels at which alum treatment, recommended in the diagnostic/feasibility study, is no longer needed. The project's street sweeping/stormwater quality component included storm event monitoring to measure the effectiveness of street sweeping. Stormwater runoff was monitored at four entry points to the lake • during similar storm events before and immediately after street sweeping. After street • sweeping, pollutant levels were significantly lower. For example, phosphorus declined by 48 percent; lead by 78 percent; total suspended solids by 75 percent; turbidity by 68 percent; copper by 67 percent; and zinc by 33 percent. E. coli bacteria increased after street sweeping — from a range of 30 to 70 colonies per 100 mL to a range of 10 to 2,000 colonies per 100 mL, for reasons unknown to the monitors. , The CLPA complements the lake project with political action. Local politicians now participate in CLPA meetings and trust their ideas. The planning board has required at least one developer to redesign Stormwater drainage included in his proposed building plans, based on CLPA objections. CLPA is also lobbying for sewer line extensions into the watershed. New project planning Using its Stormwater monitoring data, CLPA has identified the subwatersheds that contribute the greatest pollutant load to Crystal Lake, and will in the near future (and in partnership with other stakeholders) install a structural best management practice that will intercept and filter Stormwater that flows into the lake from these sources. The watershed residents' heightened awareness of nonpdint source issues combined with Stormwater monitoring has helped create a long-term vision for controlling pollution. CONTACT: Eric Williams New Hampshire Department of Environmental ; • Services 603271-2358 110 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- The Connecticut River Watershed Project — Agricultural BMPs Enhance Stream Ecology New Hampshire does not have a significant agricultural nonpoint pollution problem statewide. However, the Connecticut River watershed (in central New Hampshire, midway along the New Hampshire/Vermont border) does have significant dairy farming and other agricultural activity (corn and field crops) and associated water quality impacts. Many of the farms are old and worked on the margin; few of their owners have money available for dealing with agricultural nonpoint problems. To address certain needs, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services' Nonpoint Source Program funded the Upper Connecticut River Watershed Project in 1991 with a 319 grant. Part of this project included working with farmers to demonstrate agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The demonstration site chosen for intensive monitoring — whose owner was a willing participant in the project — was Dale Lewis' farm (the Rocky Hill Farm). This dairy operation is located near the headwaters of Morris Brook (which has, a total length of about 2 miles and . -drains about 3 square miles), a tributary to Oliverian Brook which feeds into the Connecticut River in Haverhill. Problems with sediment and stream turbidity, cow manure, and fertilizers were the main focus. Beginning in 1991, agricultural BMPs were installed to address these problems. BMPs included construction of manure storage areas and application of manures to avoid contamination of the brook, construction of concrete pads in heavy animal use 'areas to minimize soil disturbance, addition of house and barn roof drains to divert clean runoff away from the dairy, and a brook crossing for animal control'(to prevent streambank erosion). In 1992, the River Watch Network (RWN) was contracted to monitor the water quality (chemical and macroinvertebrate monitoring) of Morris Brook to assess the effectiveness of the BMPs. Volunteers and staff of the Connecticut River Watch Program collected the water and macroinvertebrate samples and performed the data analysis. Improved macroinvertebrate community River Watch Network's summary report, The Impact of Agricultural Waste Management Practices on Morris Brook, 1992-1994, included chemical A stream crossing for cattle was installed at Morris Brook to reduce impacts from stream access at Rocky Hill Farm. This is one of the BMPs that helped improve the macroinvertebrate community in Morris Brook. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 111 ------- and biological monitoring and sampling for total phosphorus, turbidity, temperature, and E. coli bacteria at six sites and for macroinvertebrates at three locations. Elevated bacteria were found in Morris Brook at all sites (including the upstream control sites), both during storm events and during dry weather. RWN's findings indicate that the source of bacteria is not runoff related, but from a constant source such as manure deposited directly into the brook or a failing septic system. Samples tested for phosphorus and turbidity were somewhat elevated below the farm most of the time. The macroinvertebrate community downstream from the demonstration site showed significant improvement. Macroinvertebrates are stream insects and other tiny life forms that are excellent indicators of pollution, since some are more pollution tolerant than others. Over the three years, the previously impacted sites downstream from the farm changed. They began to show greater diversity and fewer pollution-tolerant organisms. Over the years, RWN observed an increase in the percentage of the mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies in the sample, from about 55 percent in 1993 to over 75 percent in 1994. In addition, the dominant group shifted from worms in 1993 to mayflies in 1994. This represents a shift from pollution-tolerant to pollution-intolerant organisms; thus, the quality of the water was improving. BMPs included construction of manure storage areas and application of manures to avoid contamination of the brook, construction of concrete pads in heavy animal use areas to minimize soil disturbance, addition of house and barn roof drains to divert clean runoff away from the dairy, and a brook crossing for animal control (to prevent streambank erosion). In its report, RWN stated "the waste management practices implemented on the farm reduced organic pollution and improved the quality of the brook's ecological integrity, despite consistently elevated bacteria levels." Had this assessment relied solely on water chemistry as a measure of BMP success, the project may not have demonstrated any improvements. On the other hand, RWN noted .that without the bacteria monitoring, the continuing E. coli problem would have been missed. The Morris Brook report recommends continued annual monitoring to document continued improvements, and the installation of additional BMPs isuch as streambank fencing to keep out livestock along the entire stream). CONTACT: Eric Williams New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 603271-2358 112 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1995 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $855,100 S Agriculture: $75,000 H Urban Runoff: $481,000 H Silviculture: $40,000 HI Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 S Hydrologic Modification: $226,000 . D Other: $49,000 Navesink River Shellfish Beds Upgraded On January 1, 1997, the Navesink River ; was approved for unrestricted shellfish harvesting for the first time in 25 years. Water quality in the Navesink River has improved significantly as a result of a major interagency initiative involving federal, state, and county governments, private institutions (representing the environment, health, and agriculture), and the general public. The Navesink flows through Monmouth County, New Jersey, near the Atlantic coast. Success through partnership The primary goal of this initiative, which has been underway for several years in the Navesink River watershed, is to reduce nonpoint sources of pollution sufficiently to reopen the river- to unrestricted shellfish harvesting. Harvesting in the Navesink has been restricted since 1971. A comprehensive, coordinated management plan was implemented in 1987 to reduce bacterial loadings to the estuary and restore recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting. At that time, a Memorandum Of Understanding was signed by the New Jersey 'Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey Department of ' • Agriculture, U.S. EPA, and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. It. was also endorsed by 12 county, municipal, academic,1 and private organizations. The agreement formalized each one's commitment to the Navesink River Watershed Management Program and its goals. The water quality improvements in the Navesink are a direct result of successful nonpoint source pollution controls implemented by these partnerships over many years. In the 1980s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Environment Planning Program initiated the Navesink nonpoint source study, which included • intensive watershed/land-use analysis, inventory and compliance assessment of point source permits, evaluation of potential SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 113 ------- nonpoint sources and monitoring of the estuary and its tributaries. Sources of contamination were subsequently attributed to a combination of stormwater runoff associated with residential development, agricultural waste, and marina/boat associated pollutants. A total of nearly 4,800 acres were upgraded in the shellfish reclassification as a result of improvement in overall water quality, bringing the total harvesting acreage to over 580,000. Over the last 10 years the NJDEP (Land Use Regulation, Shellfisheries and Marine Water Classification and Analysis programs) successfully carried out a joint project review strategy to "red-flag" coastal development applications (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act and Waterfront Development permits) for individual docks, marinas, and multiunit development projects in the Navesink watershed. Proposed projects considered for approval were scrutinized to assure that nonpoint source best management practices (BMPs) were incorporated in the design plan. The NJDEP also designated the Navesink a "Special Water Area" in the Rules on Coastal Zone Management (N.J.A.C. 7:7E-3.1). which provides an additional measure of protection. Innovative measures Many innovative measures were implemented to control nonpoint source pollution in the Navesink watershed: • Construction of a manure composting facility with federal and county funds to reduce animal waste runoff. Manure is . removed from the waste stream through composting. • Comprehensive stormwater controls as part of coastal permits. Project applications in the coastal zone portion of the Navesink watershed were not approved for permits unless adequate stormwater management controls were part of the plan. • Putting in place berms and concrete pads to redirect manure and contaminated runoff away from tributaries that drain to the Navesink. • Initiation of a citizen monitoring program. • Formation of the Navesink Municipalities Association and the Navesink Environmental League, which meet monthly to represent local government and citizen stakeholder interests in the watershed. • State and federal funding for public education on ways to reduce nonpoint source pollution in the watershed, including hiring a public outreach coordinator; completing a 30-minute film documentary, Navesink — the Restoration of a River, that aired periodically on PBS television; a quarterly newsletter, Navesink News-, and a Navesink watershed worldwide Web page on the Internet. • State funding for a free public boat • pumpout facility, which led the way to other pumpout facilities and a pending application to EPA for a "No Discharge Zone" in the Navesink River. • Development of subwatershed approach to environmental planning,'monitoring, and implementation of BMPs. There was an upgrade in classification for 623 acres of waters east of the Oceanic Bridge that allowed shellfish to be harvested every year from November through April without need for purification. A total of nearly 4,800 acres were upgraded in the shellfish reclassification as a result of improvement in overall water quality, bringing the total harvesting acreage to over 580,000. CONTACT: Bob Scro Office of Environmental Planning New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 609633-2003 114 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $ 128,560 S Agriculture: $ 1,061,324 H Urban Runoff: $0 E3 Silviculture: $0 M Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $34,192 HI Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $80,783 D Other: $0 Grant County's Royal John Mine — A Full-Scale Site Reclamation Project The Royal John Mine, located in the Gila National Forest on the headwaters of the Mimbres River, produced lead, zinc, and silver ores enriching a variety of owners for pver 100 hundred years, until the 1960s. This portion of the Gila Forest (about '25 miles east of Silver City, New Mexico) is the dominant drainage for a large closed desert basin,in Grant, Sierra, Hidalgo, and Luna counties in southwestern New Mexico. Drainage is through Cold Creek to the Gila River. The mine area consists of several buildings, walls, and foundations, including the mine portal and two acres of waste rock and tailings. Present, too, are typical riiine yard dumps and refuse materials. In the early 1990s, a single open portal still emitted a perennial metal-laden flow, and approximately two acres of mine waste remained, bisected by a six-foot-deep incised channel. The Forest Service monitored the contaminated water flowing from the open mine portal, and New Mexico's nonpoint source staff used x-ray fluorescent technology to document the transport of the polluted water and sediment from the mine and mill to sites located more than three miles downstream. Water samples routinely contained copper (46.0 ppm), zinc'( 16,0 pprn), aluminum (4.5 ppm), iron (2.4 ppm), and lead (1.0 ppm). These concentrations exceed the applicable state standards for all five metals. In addition, turbidity measurements in the water were quite high, over 1,000 nephelometer turbidity units (NTUs), and the. water was also slightly acidic (pH=5). Initial attempts to divert this perennial drainage away from the mine waste as it emerged from the portal failed; the material beneath it was too porous. Installing best management practices Having determined that only a full-scale mine reclamation project would protect the Gila River and Cold Creek, the Nonpoint Source Section of New Mexico's Environment SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( 115 ------- - ^'""^ jf if ( » "•„! „ ,1 ' «•/.'•"<'"•»'•""** 5:5::,: ''' Royal John Mine after reclamation — showing lined channel and revegetation. > Department — with a 319 grant and with other state and federal agencies as partners — began the installation of the critical best management practices (BMPs). By project's end, they had installed an adequately sized sediment control basin downslope of the waste materials and reconstructed the central drainage channel. The reconstructed drainage (some 300 feet in length) was lined with a geotextile fabric to reduce infiltration during runoff events, then meticulously armored by hand with limestone riprap. The drainage channel was designed with as much sinuosity as the physical constraints of the site allowed to provide for reduced slope. The deeply incised waste piles were graded back toward the adjacent undisturbed slopes. Project managers constructed an energy dissipator apron along the last 50 feet of this . channel that connects into the sediment control basin. The slopes adjacent to the channel were graded to blend with the surrounding undisturbed land area. This topographic configuration was then covered with 12 inches of topsoil and growth media, mainly biosolids obtained from local stock tanks, and hand seeded with 40 pounds per acre of dry-season range grass. The entire reclaimed area was mulched with wheatstraw to retain soil moisture, and this material was then crimped into place with bulldozer cleats. The perimeter of the reclaimed area was fenced to reduce grazing impacts. The perennial seep from the mine portal created a saturated zone along the south side of the project area, covering approximately 1,500 square feet. This entire area was hand planted with emergent wetland vegetation. The fringes of the wetland and the sides of the .reconstructed channel were planted with woody riparian .species. All of this work was completed in late 1994 and early 1995. In March 1996, an additional 600 willows were planted in the reclaimed riparian enclosure at the Royal John, in April 1996, a french drain consisting of a trench lined with clay and filled with limestone was constructed to divert mine drainage away from an old.mill building. This drain also expands the wetted area associated with the previously reconstructed stream channel. In July 1996, the local Boy Scout troop and parents of some of the boys planted 300 willows along the full length of the restructured channel, bringing the total to about 1,100 willows. In September 1996, staff of the New Mexico Environment ' Department's Silver City field office, along with . members of the Friends of Cold Creek Watershed Association, spread native grass seed and mulch at the Royal John Mine site. After the initial reclamation, the Silver City field office assumed management responsibility for the Hot/Cold Springs Watershed project of which the Royal John reclamation was a part. Members and parents of a local Boy Scout troop planted additional willows in July 1996. Other adults have also planted willows as part of their community service work (in a partnership arranged though a local district attorney's office). Staff of the Silver City field office participated in and coordinated these efforts. Mine wastes stabilized The first sediment control basin downslope of the wastes received an effective test when two severe storm events occurred only two weeks apart shortly after its installation. During both events, turbidity values exceeding 1,000 NTUs were measured entering the sediment basin; however, the effluent discharged from the basin ranged from 20 to 25 NTUs during these intense storm events. Clearly, this BMP worked as intended. As of early May 1995, the grass cover on - the reclaimed area was over 75 percent, and 95 percent of the riparian pole plantings were sprouting leaves. The willow plantings of 1996 116 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- improved the site further by establishing riparian vegetation in the upper portion of the enclosure and supplementing the willows in the lower portion. Sediment from upstream is creating a substrate in the channel, returning it to a state more conducive to the growth of a biotic community. In addition, the saturated zone created by the seep from the mine portal is now a wetland. The mine wastes are stabilized and protected from further erosion. The french drain installed in 1996 is serving its purpose, diverting water away from the old mill and expanding the wetted area of the channel. Cold Creek, the drainage through and below the mine site, has been transformed at ' the Royal John site from a gully deeply incised into,mine wastes, with no riparian vegetation, into a stable, meandering channel lined with hundreds of willows. CONTACT: Dennis Slifer New Mexico Nonpoint Source Pollution Program New Mexico Environment Department 505827-2841 Treating Acid Mine Drainage from the Oro Fino Mine In operation from 1880 through the early 1900s, the Oro Fino Mine is located about 10 miles north of Red River,-New Mexico, on the headwaters of Bitter Creek, a tributary of the . Red River in the Carson National Forest in Taos County, northern New Mexico. Late stage hydrothermal alteration from-the area rocks was responsible for the formation of the gold ores and a broad suite of sulfide minerals, especially pyrite. During the early years, mine operators extracted free gold primarily by mercury amalgamation. The resulting rock drainage and increased metals content in runoff are charac- teristic nonpoint source pollution problems found along these reaches of Bitter Creek. A combination of surface runoff, seep discharge, and groundwater drainage moves through the Oro Fino Mine wastes and emerges as acid mine drainage. Tracking the source Watershed assessments delineate the stream site at which the acidic, metal-laden waters enter Bitter Creek, some metal precipitation occurs, and upstream high quality waters are suddenly degraded. The source of this pollution is a seepage zone in pyritic waste rock piles a,few yards northwest of the mine portal. Monitoring data collected from the seep in July 1992 reveal water quality standards violations for seven metals, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (see Table. 1). After the Oro Fino site was mined and abandoned, the surface waste and tailings piles started to deteriorate and the mine portal collapsed. The main mine workings are fully flooded. Partners approach a solution Primary financial support for the Oro Fino Mine project,came from Amigos Bravos, a . Taos-based river conservation group. The N Questa Ranger District, Carson National Forest, provided labor and logistic support, and additional labor and subsequent monitoring were accomplished by the New Mexico Environmental Department's nonpoint source staff, with funding from 319 grants. In September 1993, the project installed a bench-scale anoxic alkaline drain passive treatment system to treat the acidic metal-loaded mine drainage. An L-shaped trench, 12 to 14 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 4 to 5 feet deep was dug into the poorly consolidated tailings and positioned to intercept the obvious area of seepage, where the tailings were well saturated. The trench was filled with 12 cubic yards of crushed cobble-sized limestone (2 to 4 inches) that was 88 percent CaCO. Several layers of 20 millimeter polyethylene liner were installed as a dilution barrier on top of the limestone. The treatment system was capped with 14 to 20 inches of compacted clay, and a resurgence pool (about 4 feet deep) was built downgrade of the drain. The acid mine drainage passes through the alkaline drain, fills the resurgence pool, and flows on toward a developing wetland for secondary treatment before it enters Bitter Creek. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 117 ------- Table 1. Sampling results at the Oro Fino Mine on Bitter Creek in New Mexico. PARAMETER pH Aluminum Cadmium Cobalt Copper Iron Lead Manganese Molybdenum Nickel Zinc Sulfates Conductivity TTDS MEASUREMENT BEFORE REMEDIATION (7/24/92) 2.4 89.0 mg/L** 0.005 mg/L 0.52 mg/L 0.29 mg/L* 990.0 mg/L*gw < 0.005 mg/L 4.2 mg/L*gw 2.4 mg/L** 1.5mg/L*gw 1.5 mg/L 3,675.0 mg/L 3,668.0 nmhos* 5,642.0 mg/L*gw MEASUREMENT AFTER REMEDIATION (6/22/94) 6.6 0.7 mg/L < 0.001 mg/L 0.01 mg/L 7.0 mg/L*gw ' <0.1.m'g/L 1 .8 mg/L*gw <0.1 mg/L 0.1 mg/L 0.08 mg/L 647 mg/L 1,1 00.0 nmhos* l,028.0mg/L*gw MEASUREMENT AFTER 3 YEARS REMEDIATION (9/24/96) 5.93 2.2 mg/L* < .0001 mg/L . <0.01 mg/L 93.0 mg/L*gw < 0.001 mg/L 2.5 mg/L*gw 0.04 mg/L 0.2 mg/L 0.08 mg/L 790.0 mg/L 1, 238.0 nmhos 1,31 0.0 mg/L*gw The above results for metals are for the dissolved phase. * These values violate New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission standards for surface water. *gw These values violate standards for groundwater. ** These values violate standards for both surface water and groundwater. Results After the anoxic alkaline drain was installed, the quality of the acidic water emerg- ing from the site wastes improved dramatically. The results of monitoring samples taken;at the resurgence pool before and after effluent passes through the drain are shown in Table 1. These results show that dramatic improvement continues even four years after the drain was installed with little or no maintenance. The slight decrease in the drain's effectiveness indicated by the September 1996 sampling can be attributed to off-road vehicles trespassing on the site. The trespassers made tire ruts that diverted a small amount of acid drainage from the control seep (left untreated to measure local improvement) into the . finishing pool. Livestock and wildlife had also been accessing the pool, eroding the surrounding berm. Some ruts .were filled in and other minor repairs performed at the site, but further repairs and the installation of a barrier are necessary to prevent future trespassing. Lessons learned This project reinforces the value of careful observation and water quality testing before best management practices are installed. Second, the relatively small size of the affected area was also helpful; as the drainage was obviously seeping through the tailings, it was possible to position the drain precisely for maximum effectiveness. A third lesson is that continued mainte- nance of the site is needed to ensure the highest efficiency. Finally, project staff will find it useful to look at methods adopted in other parts of the country. The anoxic alkaline drain was initially used to treat acid mine drainage from coal mines in the eastern part of the United States. This project successfully reduced the impacts of acid mine drainage on Bitter Creek. Improved water chemistry in Bitter Creek helps reduce the impact of nonpoint source pollutants on the main stem of the Red River system and benefits wildlife at the site and downstream. CONTACT: Dennis Slifer Nonpoint Source Pollution Program New Mexico Environment Department 505827-2841 118 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting UPS Category: $2,743,064 S Agriculture: $608,000 H Urban Runoff; $12,000 E3 Silviculture: $0 ill Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 , B Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $20,000 Village of Forestville — Water Quality and Water Quantity Improve A two-year project to protect and improve - /-\ the springs that are the Village of JL JlForestville's primary source of drinking water is nearing completion. The project (in the southeastern corner of New York) involved activities to remove the potential for nonpoint source groundwater contamination, protect public health, and increase system efficiency. • If successful, the project will not only address threats to water quality, but will also increase the quantity of water provided. The availability of groundwater to deep production wells is extremely limited in this area; hence, the importance of safeguarding the shallow groundwater collection system. i Preserving future integrity Work performed on this project includes reconstructing the groundwater collection systems, diverting overland flow away from the collection systems, sealing disturbed areas to inhibit infiltration to the systems, revegetating disturbed areas, and implementing a watershed maintenance plan to preserve the system's future integrity. The Village was able to shut down two shallow, low-yield wells — a gain in water conservation, a reduction in operating costs. Monitoring to assure the project's effectiveness show that both water quality and water quantity have improved. The turbidity spikes that used to be associated with storm events have been eliminated. Bacteria levels have also declined dramatically. The Village has been able to reduce the amount of chlorine used to disinfect its water by 50 percent. In terms of yield, the production of the springs has SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 119 ------- increased from about 50,000 gallons per day to about 110,000 gallons per day. On the strength of this increase, the Village was able to shut down two shallow, low-yield wells — a gain in water conservation, a reduction in operating costs. The Village plans to continue formal postproject monitoring through the summer of 1997. CONTACT: Robin Warrender New York Department of Environmental Conservation 518457-0635 Constructed Wetlands Block Passage of Nutrients — The Wayne County Project TV s part of a project to reduce nonpoint A-\ source nutrient loadings to Port Bay] the J. Vwayne County, New York, Water Quality Coordinating Committee has sampled tributaries that enter the Bay (which is connected to Lake Ontario). The committee determined that Wolcott Creek was the highest priority tributary. Recommending treatment Based on a study of the nutrient loadings- in Wolcott Creek and subsequent analysis of management strategies, the soil and water conservation district recomm'ended that constructed wetlands be installed on two farms in the watershed. The wetlands were constructed in 1996. These two constructed wetlands, both in the Wolcott Creek watershed, will reduce nutrients in runoff from two significant agricultural sources. The first wetland was designed to treat miikhouse wastewater from a 120-head dairy farm. The system has dual beds and a design flow of 360 gallons per day. Separation tanks were installed to reduce the volume of solids entering the treatment beds. Both beds are 60 feet wide, 25 feet long, and 2 feet deep. Bed one is an organic matter bed filled with 70 percent wood chips, 20 percent pine bark, and 10 percent stone. The second bed is filled completely with washed stone and planted to Phragmites. The second wetland is a single bed system with washed stone and Phragmites. It has a design flow of 480 gallons per day. The bed is 120 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. Alternating berms slow the water's movement through the wetland. A clean water diversion on the upland end of the barnyard prevents runoff from entering the waste stream. Determining efficiency Comparisons of water quality samples taken before and after the constructed wetlands treatment indicate that the wetland does successfully contribute to nonpoint source control. Downward trending data (expressed,as averages) were recorded for the following indicators: • Organic Nitrogen (TKN): down 91.5 percent; • NO2 and NOs; down 47 percent; • Ammonia: down 84 percent; • Total Phosphorus: down 93 percent; • Soluble Phosphorus: down 70 percent. Nutrients have been identified as the primary pollutant to Port Bay, causing significant algae blooms annually. Agricultural sources have been, identified as the primary source of nutrients to both the Bay itself and to Wolcott Creek. These two constructed wetlands, both in the Wolcott Creek watershed, will reduce nutrients in runoff from two significant agricultural sources. CONTACT: Robin Warrender New York Department of Environmental Conservation 518457-0635 120 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $398,744 S Agriculture: $925,166 H Urban Runoff: $466,822 03 Silviculture: $220,000 M Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $316,268 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $162,000 Sediment Controls Installed along Timbered Branch — Common Sense Practices for Forest Roads In 1992, the North Carolina Division of Water Quality asked the U.S. Forest Service to design simple, effective, lowrcost methods for reducing chronic sediment loading from • streamside gravel roads and to apply these best management practices on a demonstration site in the Nantahala National Forest. A section 319 program grant accompanied the request. Project description Timbered Branch, a tributary to Upper Creek in the Catawba basin, is closely paralleled for over two miles by Forest Service Road (FSR) 982, a historic travelway stabilized with gravel. Seven practices were used along this stretch of FSR 982 to infiltrate road runoff or reduce its sediment content. The best management practices (BMPs) were field-designed in less than a day, and all were easy to construct. They were able to capture about two-thirds of the road runoff, and effectively controlled sediment. Common sense was the rule in applying the BMPs. For example, ditch outlets with or without sediment traps effectively dispersed concentrated ditch flow and runoff from . trenched roads into available roadside infiltration areas. Weeps accomplished the same task on bermed roads. Since conducting the Timbered Branch project, the Forest Service has successfully used these techniques in other road reconstruction projects in North Carolina and Georgia, and has transferred the technology to other land managers, including a demonstration project in Mexico. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I 121 ------- Sediment traps were a useful option when distance to the stream channel was limited. Berms kept runoff on the roads until it reached a safe disposal area. Outslopes were used to allow sheet flow to adjacent infiltration areas. Humps diverted flow on down-sloping road surfaces. Quantitatively, the best manage- ment practices included 28 weeps, 19 sediment traps, 14 ditch outlets, 10 outslopes, nine berms, seven relief culverts, and five humps. High ratings for Timbered Branch Biological monitoring performed by the Division of Water Quality a year after the BMP installations showed improvement in water quality compared to a control stream and to two sampling events before BMP installation. Benthic macroinvertebrate and total taxa richness values increased (from 38 to 48 and from 74 to 79, respectively); the biotic index value also improved, dropping from 3.01 to 2.68 on a scale of 10 to 1. Thus, largely as a result of the roadway BMPs, Timbered Branch received an excellent biological rating. This rating creates the potential for including Timbered Branch in the Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) supplemental" classification currently in place on the rest of 'Upper Creek and its tributaries. An ORW classification can be considered if an outstanding trout population or fisheries habitat can be documented. At this time, fisheries monitoring has not been conducted. Moving on Since conducting the Timbered Branch project, the Forest Service has successfully used these techniques in other road reconstruction . projects in North Carolina and Georgia, and has transferred the technology to other land managers, including a demonstration project in Mexico. A nontechnical pamphlet, Road Runoff Control, describing the method is available from either the Forest Service in Asheville, North Carolina, or the Division of Water Quality in Raleigh. CONTACT: Annette Lucas Division of Environmental Management North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 919733-5083 Practice Makes Perfect — The Long Creek Watershed Project Land-use patterns in the Long Creek watershed in the southwestern Piedmont of North Carolina are agricultural, urban, and industrial. Nonpoint source pollution from all three sectors are a potential threat to Long Creek, which is a perennial stream and the primary water supply for Bessemer City (population about 4,888). The Long Creek Watershed Project in Gaston County, North Carolina, began in 1994. The goal is to accelerate the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) that the Long Creek Nonpoint Source Monitoring Program Project had initiated in fiscal year 1992. A major component of the watershed project is to quantify the effect of BMPs on water quality. BMPs that prevent or treat nonpoint source pollution have been developed to reduce nutrient and sediment loading to rivers and streams. These BMPs include nutrient management, waste management, livestock exclusion, riparian buffer restoration, field borders, grassed waterways, conservation tillage, urban stormwater wetlands, and waste storage structures. • Whether it is a farmer planting a vegetative buffer along a stream or a homeowner properly disposing of pesticides, • these practices implemented by entire watershed communities over a period of time should reduce pollution and improve our environment. The following BMPs have been implemented: >• Three dairy farms (representing 75 percent of the watershed's dairies) have fenced their livestock or otherwise excluded them from the 122 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- stream, installed alternative watering systems, stabilized streambanks, established riparian buffers, and used level spreaders, stream crossings, and proper nutrient and waste management practices. '. > Two beef farms (representing about 20 percent of this industry) have fenced their livestock or otherwise excluded them from the '• stream, installed alternative watering systems, stabilized streambanks and established riparian buffers, and implemented proper nutrient and waste management. >• One. horse farm (a boarding stable - representing about 80 percent of this industry), has fenced its livestock or otherwise excluded them from a pond and stream, installed alternative watering systems, established riparian buffers, and implemented proper nutrient and waste management. > One urban watershed site has been selected as a best management practice . demonstration site. Its BMPs include streambank stabilization, construction of a stormwater wetland, and pollution prevention through education. At least one value judgment follows from these figures, namely, that landowners in the watershed are keenly interested in participating in the project. . . Phosphorus levels decline Initial results illustrate that pathogens, nutrients, and sediment concentrations have decreased considerably since the installation of BMPs. The Kiser Dairy Farm was selected as a monitoring site to evaluate the effect of waste management and a riparian vegetated buffer on - pathogens, nutrients, and sediment. Weekly grab samples have been taken for the months of February through June since 1994 for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (organic nitrogen "plus ammonium), total phosphorus, and total suspended solids. Organic nitrogen concentrations downstream of the farmstead have decreased considerably since the installation of the livestock exclusion fence in February 1996. Similar decreases in total phosphorus and total suspended solid concentrations have also occurred. Before BMP installation, total phosphorus averaged above 0.5 mg/L and at least 20 mg/L for total suspended solids. After BMPs were installed, total suspended solids were slightly lower at downstream sites than at upstream sites. Total phosphorus levels • downstream were at least 50 percent lower than those reported the previous year. Whether it is a farmer planting a vegetative buffer along a stream or a homeowner properly disposing of pesticides, these practices implemented by entire watershed communities , over a period of time should reduce pollution and improve our environment. These imprbvements can be attributed to fencing out livestock and providing an alternate drinking water source for the cattle. Fencing out livestock prevents trampling, allows natural and planted vegetation to stabilize the soil in highly eroded areas, and ultimately results in less solids and sediment in the water. The combination of fencing and vegetative enhancement promises further improvements in the watershed. Teaching watershed protection The Long Creek project includes a strong education and community outreach program. Educational programs include an annual tour of the watershed and project sites' and a workshop to update funding agencies, local officials, community leaders, scientists,-engineers, environmental.educators, and citizens. Nearly 80 individuals attended the third annual workshop in 1996. Specific technical workshops are occasionally scheduled to teach bioengineering techniques for BMP implementation, monitoring designs for BMP evaluation, data SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (1 123 ------- analyses techniques, and water quality education programming. Other educational events are scheduled periodically to publicize the project, encourage stewardship, and promote the use of BMPs. For example, • A Stream Watch team was organized to expand monitoring in other watersheds within the county. Volunteers conduct stream monitoring on a monthly basis. • One-on-one visits with watershed landowners provide technical assistance with BMP implementation. • Water quality programs tailored to elementary, junior high, and high schools actively involve students in learning environmental stewardship. In 1996, 77 environmental education classes were taught to 2,011 students. CONTACT: Annette Lucas Division of Environmental Management North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 919733-5083 Forestry Nonpoint Source Pollution Management In 1989, the North Carolina legislature amended the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act to limit its forestry exemption to only those operations that adhere to forest practice guidelines. The amendment required the Division of Forest Resources to develop performance standards known as the Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality. Put into effect on January 1, 1990, the guidelines are nine performance standards for activities such as maintaining streamside management zones and applying fertilizers and pesticides. They are used to'help the forest industry understand how its activities can be managed to control nonpoint sources in downstream waters. They can also determine if a forestry operation falls under the jurisdiction of the Division of Land Resources, which enforces the Sediment Pollution Control Act. Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) have been signed between the departments of Forest Resources and Land Resources and the Division of Water to coordinate their respective activities in the sedimentation control program. The Division of Water is the state's primary water quality agency, coordinating enforcement activities from a water quality perspective. Site-disturbing forestry activities are inspected by local Forest Resources personnel as part of an ongoing training, mitigation, and monitoring program. Additional site inspections are conducted when a problem or potential problem is suspected. Forest Resources refers sites not brought into compliance within a reasonable time to Land Resources or the Division of Water Quality for appropriate enforcement action. The Division of Water Quality has an ongoing monitoring program in support of the Forest Practice Guidelines. This program has conducted 14,542 site evaluations since its inception in 1989. In recent years, the number of evaluations has averaged about 3,000 per year. In fiscal year 1995, 3,318 site evaluations were conducted, yielding 94.2 percent compliance and 9 enforcement referrals to the Division of Land Resources. CONTACT: Annette Lucas Division of Environmental Management North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 919733-5083 124 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $172,879 S Agriculture: $991,921 H Urban Runoff: $222,460 E3 Silviculture: $0 OKI Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0' •' : H Stowage and Land Disposal: $6 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 The Bowman/Hayiey Watershed Project — Conservation Planning Succeeds in North Dakota Originally developed in 1990, the . • Bowman/Hayley Watershed Project has become a model for improving the __ ' quality of North Dakota's waters. Project efforts funded in 1990 arid again in 1994 focus ;on controlling the flow of nutrients and sediments from agricultural lands. To reduce the delivery of these pollutants to the reservoir and improve water quality, the project staff provide , one-on-one technical assistance to local producers and help them develop conservation plans for their farms arid ranches. The basic purpose of,conservation planning is to evaluate potential nonpoint source pollutants on the farm or ranch and remediate them by installing the most appropriate best management practice (BMP). Financial assistance is provided through various USDA programs (e.g., the Water Quality Incentives Program, Agricultural Conservation Program, etc.); the 319 funding also offsets costs associated with the installation of BMPs. Over 50 percent of the watershed's acreage is under some type of conservation plan. In conjunction with conservation planning, the Bowman/Hayley Watershed Project coordinates efforts with the Cooperative Extension Service to provide information and educational activities to project participants and other watershed residents. Increasing the public's awareness of the impacts of nonpoint source pollution on water quality is a primary goal of the project along with reducing the delivery rate of nutrients and sediments to the reservoir. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 125 ------- Project accomplishments To date, the project has developed one livestock waste management plan and farm or ranch management plans that collectively cover 2,460 acres of cropland, 4,860 acres of rangeland, 1,543 acres of pasture land, 1,194 acres of hayland, and 246 acres of farmstead or wildlife habitat. Over 50 percent of the watershed's acreage is under some type of conservation plan. Project staff have also organized and conducted several information and education events and assisted the North Dakota Department of Health in promoting nonpoint source pollution control in other areas of the state. Water quality data indicate that the median concentrations for phosphorus and total suspended solids have also declined over the past three1 years. CONTACT: Jim Collins Division of Water Quality North Dakota State Department of Health 701 328-5242 Protecting the Knife River — Improved Land Management Around Goodman Creek The Goodman Creek Watershed Project is a subwatershed of the Knife River watershed located in west-central Mercer County, North Dakota. The project area encompasses approximately 59,000 acres, of which 52 percent is cropland and 45 percent is either rangeland or pasture. Low residue farming practices (plowing) and overgrazing have resulted in increased wind and water erosion on much of this land. Agricultural pollutants attached to the wind and waterborne sediments are deposited in Goodman Creek at an accelerated rate. Taking action The goals and objectives of the Goodman Creek project are twofold. First and foremost, it will improve the water quality of Goodman Creek by promoting improved land management practices and installing various best management practices that are known to reduce erosion effectively on agricultural lands within the watershed. A second objective is to document and disseminate information on the positive effects that the application of various best management practices (BMPs) has on water quality — especially in small watersheds. Water quality and land treatment data compiled during this project are being used to determine the correlation between land treatment and water quality improvements. This data will help the state and individual farmers to evaluate the overall effects of the project activities on the watershed. Monitoring results The following structural practices were installed during this project: • feedlot windbreaks,' • fencing, • grassed waterways, • pasture/highland planting, • pipelines, . • ponds, • spring developments, • tanks, and • wells. Four monitoring sites have been established at which both water samples and macrpinvertebrate inventories will be collected to help measure the project's effectiveness. Approximately 248 water quality samples have been collected since the project began in 1993. Trends from these samples indicate an improvement of several variables, that is, declining concentrations of fecal coliform, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids. Figures 1 through 3 document the results to date, but as this project is relatively new, these numbers (and the trends they establish) can be expected to change by the project's end. 126 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- CONTACT: Jim Collins Division of Water Quality North Dakota State Department of Health 701 328-5242 200- o. 150- S s 100- 50- 1993 median 1994 median 1995 median Fecal Coliform Bacteria Figure 1;—Monitoring results of fecal coliform bacteria in the watershed. Total Phosphate as P Nitrate + Nitrite as N 11993 medians •• 1994 medians EH3 1995 medians Figure 2.—Monitoring results of ammonia, total phosphate, and nitrate-nitrite in the watershed. 1993 median ' 1994 median 1995 median Total Suspended Solids Figure 3.—Monitoring results of total suspended solids in the watershed. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 127 ------- OHIO 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $715,000 S Agriculture: $782,845 B Urban Runoff: $210,000 El Silviculture: $0 [QI] Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $600,000 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $ 176,793 E3 Hydrologic^Modification: $0 D Other: $392,400 The Mautnee River Project — Curbing Sediment Delivery The Maumee River watershed is the single largest contributor of phosphorus and sediment to Lake Erie. The watershed contributes 46 percent of the phosphorus and 37 percent of the sediment entering Lake Erie, but only 3 percent of the inflow. The Ohio portion of these watersheds drains 4,850 square miles and covers portions of 17 northwest Ohio counties. Approximately 80 percent of the land surface in the watershed is cropland. Erosion rates are relatively low (less than 5 tons per acre), but the soils are high in clay content. Clay particles easily suspend in water and have chemical and physical properties that strongly absorb phosphorus, thus creating a major water quality problem for Lake Erie. The key to phosphorus reductions The Maumee River's goal for this project was to reduce phosphorus transport to Lake Erie by 310,000 pounds over a three-year period. To do so, however, the project would need an annual soil savings of approximately 99,028 tons (297,084 tons over three years). Using a conservative 10 percent sediment delivery-ratio, the necessary soil savings was forecast as 9,903 tons per year. • ' To obtain local buy-in and increase landowner participation, the Ohio. Department of Natural Resources, other state and federal agencies, and the soil and water conservation districts in the Lake Erie basin worked with local county committees to develop phosphorus reduction strategies. Each county had a specific phosphorus reduction allocation, and a local strategy designed to meet it. In general, the plans indicated that the best way to reduce sediments and phosphorus entering Lake Erie was to maintain adequate cover on the land, especially in winter and early spring. Federal funds were available so that the project could « cost-share the purchase of conservation farming equipment; 128 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- • offer incentives (in this case, tax rebates) to encourage (1) the adoption of cultural practices such as winter cover and filter strips, or (2) permanent land-use changes; and • provide financial assistance for such high-ticket items as animal waste management collection and storage facilities. The resource management systems that resulted from these aspects of the project- usually included rotation, conservation tillage. (residue management), pest management, and fertility management. They were often developed and installed with technical assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Exceeding expectations Not only has the Maumee River Project met its goals, it has enjoyed widespread acceptance by the agricultural community. The actual phosphorus and soil saved was nearly double the initial objectives. Reliable estimates are that 545,736 pounds of phosphorus and 43,168 tons of sediment were saved. Another number to note is that 525. ' farmers cooperated in the project. Given that conservation tillage equipment lasts many years and is now installed on over 500 farm demonstration sites, residue management will continue to be practiced in the watershed for years to come. Not only that, but since "farmers learn from farmers first," we can expect the adoption rate of conservation tillage to increase. Although the catalyst and overriding influence for the success of the Maumee River Project was the farmers' strong conviction that it was in their best interest to participate, other motivations also played a role: • the involvement of all stakeholders, including local, state, and federal agencies, bankers, machinery dealers, and farmers; • the identification of a common purpose and single goal; •' clear and attainable objectives on the Ohio side of Lake Erie; • flexible decisionmaking, shared leadership, process planning, and local ownership; and • identification of best management practices that not only dealt with the environmental problem but also made sense to farmers in turn of improving management and profitability. The resource management systems that resulted from these aspects of the project usually included rotation, conservation tillage (residue management), pest management, and fertility management. Lessons learned for future projects relate to scheduling times and economic realities. First, consider timing. Farmers make most of their equipment and land-management decisions immediately after fall harvest. Consequently, the greatest impacts are likely to come from projects driven by the cropping season, not agency or corporate budget cycles. Then, consider economic incentives. Filter strips, for example, have not been easy to • promote in Ohio; most farmers have to give up cropland to establish this BMP, and do not always see its value. The average annual incentive payment for filter strips was only $20 per acre, while the average annual cash rent available on the land was $80 per acre. Farmers derive little income from filter strips, though they must also continue to pay real-estate tax or rent on land put to that use. At a minimum, then, the incentive payment should be equal to the farmers' cost. CONTACT: Julio Perez Division of Stormwater-Nonpoint Source Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 614644-2874 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME H 129 ------- Indian Lake — Limiting Pollution Inputs Eight years of cooperative activity between many federal, state, county, and local agencies and citizens is yielding results in the Indian Lake watershed. Ohio's third largest reservoir, Indian Lake covers 4,800 acres in west-central Ohio and draws from a drainage area of 100 square miles in three counties — Logan, Hardin, and Auglaize. Indian Lake was formed by the damming of the Miami River in 1852 to supply water to the Miami-Erie Canal system, an important trade route between the Ohio River and Lake • Erie. Since that time, Indian Lake has been heavily used for recreation. More than a million people visit Indian Lake each year for camping, boating, swimming, fishing, or a variety of other activities. The Clean Lakes Program funded several assessments of Indian Lake (in 1988 and 1990), and these assessments identified several nonpoint source problems: • overabundant weed growth, • high nutrient levels and algal production, • poor transparency and aesthetics, and • diminishing volume as a result of sedimentation. Indian Lake's watershed contributes approximately 1.500 tons of sediment annually to the lake from each square mile in the drainage area. Agricultural runoff from highly erodible soils within the watershed accounts for most of this problem. With an average sediment thickness of 3.5 feet, the lake's depth has been reduced to an average of 6.5 feet, which severely limits recreational activities. Because of the sediment problem, the lake has been dredged on a regular basis since World War II. Innovative watershed activities have been added to the dredging effort to emphasize the importance of limiting other pollution inputs, especially phosphorus and nitrogen. The area's multiple agencies use a watershed approach, which includes the following practices: • cost-sharing no-till and ridge till equipment, chaff spreaders, and chisel points; • offering a conservation incentive to recognize farmers achieving at least a minimum percentage of crop residue; • demonstrating various stream protection ' and restoration practices; • installing a sediment retention basin; and • conducting nutrient management education. The Indian Lake project was one of the first in the nation to incorporate a highly successful equipment buy-down program, encouraging farmers in the watershed to use conservation tillage equipment. Taking stock of recent gains After six years of project activities related to various nonpoint source controls, soil losses from erosion have been reduced by an estimated 50,000 tons per year — roughly a third of the total soil loss occurring in the' watershed. Citizens and professionals notice fewer sediment plumes in the lake after significant rainfall events. Crop observations throughout the watershed in 1996, often performed by professionals using transects/ revealed that 87 percent of crops are now planted-with conservation tillage. Use attainment in 1994, based on samples of fish and macroinvertebrate communities, indicates that streams or stream reaches that failed to support their designated aquatic life use in 1988-1989 have improved to full or partial attainment in 1994. CONTACT: Julio Perez Division of Stormwater-Nonpoint Source Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 614644-2874 130 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $ 1,475, S Agriculture: $0 H Urban Runoff: $94,500 03 Silviculture: $0 Hffl Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 100 Tulsa County Blue Thumb Program— Volunteers Make a Difference The Tulsa County Blue Thumb Project was initiated to educate Tulsa residents and businesses about controlling and : preventing water pollution. A strong emphasis on education is central to the entire project, which also provides technical assistance to developers, homeowners, and public officials. Topics include erosion control, streambank protection, and other nonpoint source pollution control activities. Finally, Blue Thumb's trained volunteers collect water quality data and work on "educational programs. Blue Thumb partners include the Tulsa County Conservation District, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service, • USDA'Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. In all, 24 agencies, civic groups, and environmental organizations participate in various ways. Education Nonpoint source pollution education is a major project goal, involving staff, volunteers, youth, and adults in various formal and informal settings. Blue-Thumb developed a miniature stormsewer drainage model that demonstrates how stormwater can pollute and how people can use their blue thumbs to keep water clean. Over 50 different schools, civic clubs, churches, and educational events (e.g., the Tulsa State Fair and the Greater Tulsa Home and Garden Show) have seen this model. Blue Thumb also works with more specialized audiences. For example, it teaches erosion and sediment control training to builders, developers, engineers, government , staff, and others who must have a professional Understanding of the field. At training sessions and in two-.day courses participants learn • the principles of soil erosion, SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 131 ------- ' the importance of ground cover and vegetation, alternative practices that minimize erosion and maintain sediment on site, and the importance of proper maintenance and best management practices. A combination of classroom learning, science labs, and field trips prepare the volunteers for monthly chemical monitoring, biological and ,. habitat assessments, and educating the public. Evaluations of the two-day course have , been exceptional. Participants have been particularly pleased with the site tour and sessions dealing with how to prepare a stormwater pollution prevention plan. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has requested training for their staff and contractors in 1995 and 1996. Blue Thumb staff also traveled to Pierre, South Dakota, to provide similar training in that state. Volunteers integral to Blue Thumb programs Blue Thumb volunteers were integral to the success of the program. The Tulsa Blue Thumb Program has 40 active volunteers, including eight teachers who joined so that Blue Thumb monitoring can benefit students as well. Among the 32 other volunteers, are 11 members of the original class who trained in the spring of 1993. A combination of classroom learning, science labs, and field trips prepare the volunteers for monthly chemical monitoring, biological and habitat assessments, and educating the public.,Volunteers contributed over 3,700 hours between 1992 and 1995. Data from their monitoring activities are used to tailor outreach activities. The result is a greater emphasis on the wise use of lawn chemicals and continued emphasis on erosion and sediment control. CONTACT: John Hassell Water Quality Division Oklahoma Conservation Commission 405 858-2000 Combining Oil Production and Water Quality The Clearview Brine Reclamation Project The Clearview Brine Reclamation Demonstration Project in east-central Oklahoma is a cooperative effort of the Water Quality Division of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, EPA, and the University of Oklahoma. Oil field development began decades ago in Clearview and oil production continues today, although the sheer density of wells in the field and historically poor environmental practices have contaminated the area's water resources. The eroded landscape of the Clearview site is common to many old oil fields in the area. Because significant salts accumulate in the soil matrix, the soil is unable to support plant growth. Vegetation disappears, erosion increases, and with it, the discharge of salts and sediment into nearby creeks and rivers — in this case, into Clearview Creek, which runs through the project area and discharges into Alabama Creek. Long-term improvements expected Once soil productivity and vegetative cover are reestablished, sediment and brine discharges will decrease and water quality will improve. Thus, the objective of the Clearview project was to improve soil productivity by increasing its organic matter content and correcting its dispersion potential to make it 132 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- less erodible..Preproject field-sampling and laboratory analytical work documented the contamination-postproject sampling will help evaluate the project's success.; The formerly intermittent creek has shown steady flow during every postproject monitoring event. To begin the project, workers amended the impacted soil with a combination of fly ash, turkey litter, sulfur, and gypsum. Then they graded the site to establish proper drainage - and mitigate the potential for soil erosion. Next, they sprigged the site with Bermuda grass to establish vegetative cover — to control erosion and improve the soil simultaneously. Finally, they began a monitoring program to track the changes in soil, water, and vegetation resulting from the project. Physical changes To date, 1Q months after the reclamation, water quality measurements have not shown any statistically significant improvements; however, significant qualitative improvements have,been noted and may be seen in photographs taken of the site. In addition, the formerly intermittent creek has shown steady flow during every postproject monitoring event. Thus, continued long-term monitoring is expected to confirm that the project does lead to improved water quality and increased biological activity. Perhaps the most successful aspect of the program has been the participation of community members, local conservation service staff members, agronomists, legislators, and other stakeholders. Their involvement was the more notable at this location because Clearview's land ownership patterns are complex and greatly increase the number of potentially affected parties. Only a committed populace with a stake in the success of the program could have reached consensus. CONTACT: John Hassell Water Quality Division Oklahoma Conservation Commission 405 858-2000 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 133 ------- OREGON 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $369,242 S Agriculture: $811,893 H Urban Runoff: $87,973 El Silviculture: $104,100 IB Construction: $ 19,400 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 0 Hydrologic Modification: $68,018 D Other: $27,000 Coos Coquille Watershed— Haynes Inlet Project Allows Shellfish Beds to Reopen Coos County. Oregon, has long been economically dependent on resource-related industries, such as agriculture, timber, and fisheries. Cutbacks in employment opportunities in these industries can cause economic decline throughout the area. The county is currently working to diversify employment opportunities and to enhance its historical resources. Expansion of the shellfish industry is one opportunity to diversify county employment opportunities. Haynes Inlet has been identified as a desirable shellfish production area because it provides rich mudflats and clam waters during storms. However, shellfish production had to be prohibited in this portion of the Coos Bay Estuary because of elevated fecal'coliform counts. The estuary has three fresh water inputs: Larson, Palouse, and the much smaller Hollow Stump Creeks. In 1983, the two larger tributaries, Larson and Palouse creeks. exceeded the standard for fecal coliform in waters used for contact recreation. When these ' creeks enter the estuary, the fecal coliform is carried into the Haynes Inlet area. Spontaneous, piecemeal initiatives In '1991, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) entered into a funding agreement with the EPA to begin enhancing fish habitat on Palouse Creek. Meanwhile, staff from the Division of Health's Shellfish Program, in cooperation with ODFW, began a water quality evaluation and the Division of Health completed a sanitary survey of the.area. In the latter project, each home was visited to .document the condition of its on-site septic system and other potential nonpoint sources of pollution. The Oregon Department of Agriculture also met with the owners of a Confined Animal Feeding Operation to address its potential for fecal coliform problems. 134 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- Although some links existed between these projects, they were not coordinated, and their goals were no.t defined. Next, a coordinated effort began to bring the community and these many agencies together through a series of meetings. Invited " agencies included the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Health Division, Coos Estuary Shellfish Task Force, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Water Resources, Coos County Commissioners, and Economic Development. It was the first coordinated effort between government and private landowners to resolve resource issues. Shellfish beds reclassified If mutual goals are identified and peer pressure applied on a community level, the effort can be successful. Downstream users began asking upstream sources for help. The perception that agency and landowners have different and mutually exclusive goals is slowly being dispelled. Mutually acceptable approaches have begun to surface that pave the way for project implementation. Many area landowners have stepped forward and implemented projects on their properties. They have, for example, installed fences to restrict cattle and protect seedlings and used wooden structures to encourage the formation of pools and hold back gravel. They have also . replanted riparian areas, in some cases with willow and fir trees, which filter and reduce runoff, decrease sedimentation, and provide shade. As protection .against further degradation, they have installed pump-noses for cattle to.drink from and created channel ponds for livestock watering areas. The Haynes Inlet area has been reclassified from prohibited for shellfish production to a conditionally approved growing area; and so has the remainder of the classified area in Upper Coos Bay. Max and Lillie.Clausen, oyster growers, are thrilled to open this area to shellfish production and have just completed construction of a processing facility on the inlet that will employ up to 25 persons full time. In addition, Oregon's 1995 legislature passed a bill resulting in the resolution of stock watering restrictions. Landowners are now free to participate in projects that exclude stock from streambanks without fear that they may forfeit their historic source of water for their stock. Government and private landowners as partners are making great progress to clean up the estuary and to develop the community's economic base. Together, they are making a real and measurable difference to the watershed. - Lessons learned in the Haynes Inlet project, including the need for, and the way that resource management goals can be coordinated, are currently being applied in other Coos County watersheds. Strong councils have been formed to represent area landowners. These councils are privy to technical guidance provided by the coordinating agencies. Such partnerships are significant in Coos County; they enhance watersheds and provide improved water quality and fishery resources. Government and private landowners as partners are making great progress to clean up the estuary and to develop the community's economic base. Together, they are making a real and measurable difference in the watershed. . CONTACT: Ivan Camacho Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 503 229-5088 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 135 ------- Tualatin River Vastly Improved — TDMLs and Section 319 Included in Basinwide Initiatives Pollution problems in Oregon's waterways are nothing new. In 1938, the State Sanitary Authority — now known as the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — was created to clean up the Willamette River. The first efforts focused on limiting discharges from industry and sewage treatment plants, but demands on the water are changing as communities grow and chemical uses increase. To address these changes, the DEQ is now working with a strategy that sets limits known as Total Daily Maximum Loads (TMDLs) for each pollutant entering a body of water. TMDLs are established for waterways that fail to meet certain standards for water quality. They describe the amount of each pollutant a waterway can receive without violating water quality standards. DEQ considers future growth and development in establishing these limits, then adds a margin of safety to its calculations. TMDLs take all pollution sources into account, including discharges from industry and sewage treatment facilities, runoff from farms, forests, and urban areas, and natural sources such as decaying organic matter or nutrients in soil. In 1988, Oregon's Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) established TMDLs to improve the water quality of the Tualatin River. This action established in-stream criteria for total phosphorus and ammonia-nitrate at various locations on the Tualatin River and at the mouths of certain tributaries. The TMDLs for phosphorus and ammonia were necessary to bring the river into compliance with dissolved oxygen and pH standards and the criteria for ammonia toxicity and nuisance algal growth. Significant reductions in point and nonpoint source pollutant loadings followed the establishment of the TMDLs and have greatly improved the Tualatin River over the last 10 years. Data collected over the last several years show the river to be in compliance with water quality standards most of the time. Most of the reductions resulted from the construction and subsequent upgrading of two advanced tertiary municipal wastewater treatment facilities by the Unified Sewerage Agency. Both facilities, Rock Creek and Durham, have very stringent water quality-based effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, phosphorus, ammonia, and chlorine, and now meet the waste load allocations established by the TMDLs. . Forestry, agriculture, and urban land uses in the Tualatin Basin were assigned nonpoint source load allocations through the TMDL process, and best management practices were used to bring the loads into compliance. Designated Management Agencies (DMAs) are responsible for implementing the practices for- their respective land uses. The DMAs are the Unified Sewerage Agency; the cities of Portland, Lake Oswego, and West Linn; Clackamas County/Rivergrove, Multnomah County; Washington County; and the Oregon Departments of Agriculture and Forestry. The section 31.9 program, has also funded projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Tualatin Basin. These projects increase . local involvement and stewardship in nonpoint source pollution control projects and contribute to environmental education and water quality monitoring. Two examples are the Dairy-McKay Hydrologic Unit Area (HUA) Project conducted by the Oregon Graduate Institute, and the Student Watershed Research Project of the Saturday Academy. HUA project demonstrates link between land management and improved water quality Extensive federal and state funds have been applied to agricultural and forested watersheds in the Tualatin Basin to promote and implement best management practices (BMPs), but the connection between improved land management and improvements in surface water quality has not been sufficiently documented. The Dairy-McKay HUA Project is designed to assess the impact of agricultural BMPs on 136 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- water quality in an agricultural watershed. Its overall objective is to monitor the water and relate any changes in water quality to modifications in land management practices in the watershed. If such a relationship can be documented, better recommendations to managers will be possible; that is, the most effective, rapid, and economical land management practices can be selected and implemented to improve water quality. Section 319 projects help identify and evaluate local efforts to use agricultural best management practices in the project area. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is working closely with producers; the DEQ's contribution is to validate the practices and reflect them in policy developments. Students contribute to regional database Saturday Academy, a community-based precollege education center of the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, has developed a program that encourages middle and high school students to add information to the regional watershed database. The Student Watershed Research Project (SWRP), partly funded by section 319, involves teachers and students performing in-field research with practicing scientists. During the school year, students collect and analyze physical, chemical, and biological data at sites in the Tualatin Basin and other area watersheds. Throughout the process, teachers and students receive support from SWRP staff and agency scientists. An additional benefit of this project is that many middle and high school students have become interested in, and enthusiastic about, water quality in the Tualatin River and other streams in the Portland area. The data collected by students in the SWRP program are high quality data. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality used this database to help develop the state's in-stream dissolved oxygen standard. The SWRP program has also served as a model and a catalyst for the development of citizen monitor- ing programs. SWRP staff help train citizen groups to use the quality assurance and quality control procedures necessary for the collection and analysis of valid water quality data. CONTACTS: Ivan Camacho 503 229-5088 Roger Wood 503 229-6893 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 137 ------- ! S'B'i" PENNSYLVANIA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $ 1,418,649 S Agriculture: $722,685 H Urban Runoff: $73,000 El Silviculture: $0 ED Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $521,946 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 Q Hydrologic Modification: $110,557 D Other: $0 Pennsylvania Adopts Nutrient Management Act — Package Includes Education, Incentives, and Financial Help After several years' discussion and debate, Pennsylvania adopted a Nutrient Management Act in 1993. This legislation requires high-density animal farms (those with more than 2,000 pounds of livestock or poultry per acre) to develop nutrient management plans to prevent water pollution, and encourages other farmers to do the same voluntarily. The plans are written for the farmers by nutrient management specialists certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The Nutrient Management Act also directs the State Conservation Commission to develop programs for education, technical assistance, and, to the extent funds are available, financial assistance. Defining criteria, negotiating regulations As a first step toward nutrient management, Pennsylvania's State Conservation Commission began to define minimum criteria for nutrient management regulations. The criteria apply to how the plans are written and to standards for manure storage facilities, recommended best management practices, and administrative requirements, The regulations were developed through a negotiation process with the Nutrient Management Advisory Board. This 15-member. board includes farmers, agribusiness representatives, scientists, a local government representative, nonfarming citizens, and an environmentalist. For 3.5 years, the State Conservation Commission and the advisory board developed and proposed regulations, held public meetings and hearings, received numerous comments, and drafted final regulations. The Commission formally adopted the regulations in March 1997 with an effective date of October 1, 1997. Education and assistance programs Education and technical assistance , programs will be carried out in large part by 138 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- cpunty conservation districts in partnership •with Pennsylvania State University Copperative Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environmental Protection, and others. The State Conservation Commission funds conservation districts to provide these services and to administer other aspects of the Nutrient Management Program, such as reviewing and approving plans. A framework for loans, grants, and loan guarantees is included in the regulations, and.funding sources are being pursued. Incentives The Nutrient Management Act preempts any local ordinances that are inconsistent with, or more stringent than, its statewide regulations. This, unique feature benefits farmers whose farms lie in two or more municipalities. In addition, the Act limits a farmer's liability for penalties or damages in civil actions related to nutrient use, provided that such farmers are fully and properly implementing approved nutrient management plans. The State Conservation Commission is also developing a program to assist farmers with the costs of having to write the nutrient management plan. CONTACT: Mike Sherman Division of Watershed Support Bureau of Watershed Conservation Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection 717787-5259 Partners in Wildlife — The Pike Run Watershed Restoration Project The primary goal of the habitat restoration project in Washington County's Pike Run Watershed is to demonstrate the . effectiveness of including habitat restoration techniques in a watershed treatment program. A secondary aim is to show that landowners are willing to cooperate with government agencies and conservation groups in habitat restoration programs. The project is a partnership venture of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners in Wildlife Program. Other partners are the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Laboratory, Ducks Unlimited, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California University of Pennsylvania, Pheasants Forever, the Audubpn Society of Western Pennsylvania1, and interested landowners. .Major funding for the project came from • section 319 grant administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Watershed Conservation. Other contributions were provided by cooperating groups and agencies and private landowners. Results are being monitored by Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, USDA researchers, and California University of Pennsylvania students. This project shows that restoring riparian areas and wetlands benefits landowners by providing direct economic gain — increased land values and better herd health — but also by providing excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife. Rebuilding habitats improves watershed health Restoration efforts in the Pike Run Watershed have progressed rapidly. Since Spring 1994, approximately 48,500 feet of streamside habitat have been fenced on 15 properties, and 22 stone ramps have been installed for controlled cattle access and SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( 139 ------- crossing. In addition, 12 alternative livestock watering structures have been constructed to provide a clean water supply and eliminate the need for livestock to enter the stream. A total of 40 wetland acres in Pike Run Watershed has been restored by fencing cattle out of degraded wetlands, blocking tile drains, filling ditches, and constructing low-level earthen dams. More than 8,500 trees and shrubs have been planted in the riparian zones and restored wetlands of Pike Run. Approximately 112 acres of native warm season grasses have been planted in the Pike Run project area. These grasses contribute significant environmental benefits. They provide cover for ground-nesting birds, erosion control on upland soils, and a filter for surface runoff. Landowners are permitted to harvest or graze these grasses after July 1, when most ground-nesting birds have fledged. Warm season grasses grow well in dry conditions and can be used for grazing between the growing seasons of other grasses. Nothing succeeds like interest Landowner interest and participation in the Pike Run Restoration Project contribute to its success. Landowners have been involved in every aspect of the project, from planning where to locate cattle crossings, access gates, and watering structures to clearing trees and brush from fence lines and mowing to control weeds in the planted areas. They have also spread the word to their neighbors about the benefits of participation in the project. Landowners also help document the success of the restoration; they report wildlife sightings, streambank revegetation, and visible improvements in water quality. Volunteers work on Pike Run Watershed Project. This project shows that restoring riparian areas and wetlands benefits landowners by providing direct economic gain — increased land values and better herd health — but also by providing excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife. Indeed, the Pike Run Watershed Restoration Project has been 'so successful that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chose the project as a national model for habitat restoration. In June 1996 the Richard King Mellon Foundation awarded $750,000 to the California University Foundation to fund several watershed restoration projects modeled on the Pike Run Project. This new Farmland Habitat Project will include 5,000 acres in Fayette, Westmoreland, Montour, York, Berks, Centre, Erie, Franklin, and Mercer Counties. In all, nine watersheds will be included in the project planning. CONTACT: Dave Putnam U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 814234-4090 140 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $322,296 S Agriculture: $0 H Urban Runoff: $99,929 §3 Silviculture: $0 U Construction: $35,735 G Resource Extraction: $0 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $54,013 D Other: $164,527 The Greenwich Bay Initiative — Shellfishing Closure Challenges Rhode Islanders Greenwich Bay, a 4.9-square-mile embayment of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, is one of the East Coast's most productive shellfish areas. In 1992, a severe Nor'easter triggered elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels in the Bay. Since fecal coliform bacteria is used as an indicator of sewage contamination, the bay was closed to. shellfishing to protect public health. Such closures are normally temporary, but when the bacteria levels did not return to acceptable limits within a reasonable time, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management closed the Bay's waters indefinitely until the area could be reclassified as permanently closed. While the Department of Environmental Management and the Federal Food and Drug Administration launched an extensive investigation to identify potential pollution sources, a number of organizations mobilized to restore the Bay, including the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, the City of Warwick, the Rhode Island Shellfisherman's Association, the Southern- Rhode Island Conservation District, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Save the Bay, the University of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. This coalition, unique in Rhode Island, is linked together by common restoration goals, open and constant communication, and mutual respect for each one's expertise. Resolute and successful In 1994, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program and the University of Rhode Island undertook the first pollution source assessment in the Hardig Brook watershed. Samples taken during three storm events tested so high for fecal bacteria that everyone suspected a broken or failed sewer line or sewer pump station. Instead, the team discovered that a dairy farm had not sheltered its manure storage pile from runoff from the barn roof and farmyard. The SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEII 141 ------- contaminated runoff flowed across the farm to a small tributary of Hardig Brook. Once there, the contaminants traveled rapidly downstream. 14 months after the bay was closed, Rhode Island's Governor Bruce Sundlun boarded a shellfishing skiff and participated in the dry-weather conditional reopening of Greenwich Bay. As soon as the farm was identified as a source of contamination, rapid coordination ensued among the farmers, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, the City of Warwick, and the Department of Environmental Management's regulatory branches. With the farmers' trust and cooperation and help from other partners (the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District), they designed and helped implement interim best management practices. In fact, their work established a model for dealing with similar situations on other farms. To date, this coalition has secured nearly all the funding needed to install final BMPs. / Failing or inadequate septic systems are ' another source of contamination to the Bay. To counteract this problem, the partners used Section 319 funding and alternative technology to develop an innovative septic system 'pilot project. The project provided nearly 50 percent of the funding needed to design and construct advanced on-site wastewater treatment systems on five residential sites! These residences are located in a section of the Greenwich Bay watershed that is not well-suited for septic systems, yet is unlikely to be sewered. Among the problems thatresidents face are constraints such1 as high water tables and exceptionally small lots. Advanced technologies can address these problems and remove s'ome of the nutrients and possible disease-causing organisms from the septage. In lune 1994, only 14 months after the bay was closed, Rhode Island's Governor Bruce Sundlun boarded a shellfishing skiff and participated in the dry-weather conditional reopening of Greenwich Bay. CONTACT: Susan Adamowicz Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 401 277-396l.ext. 7272 Flexible Zoning — The Scituate Reservoir Watershed Project The Scituate Watershed Zoning Project was developed to help three rural towns in northwestern Rhode Island design and implement flexible zoning. The new ordinance will achieve two goals: the preservation of the towns' rural character and the prevention of new pollution sources that could potentially degrade the Scituate Reservoir, the primary source of drinking water for two-thirds of all Rhode Islanders. Referred to by many as a new tool for saving community character, flexible zoning is not conventional or cluster-style development. Nor is it really new. In fact, many communities 142 developed before zoning ordinances appeared used this common-sensical approach. Impervious surfaces pose problem Concerns about the effect of conventional land development on water quality in the area led former Governor Edward DiPrete to commission a study of the watershed. Analysis confirmed that conventional land development projects were adding too much impervious surface/threatening water quality, and destroying the area's rural character. Moreover, the development was often misplaced — occurring in the middle of fields, atop ridges,. and sprawling across open spaces. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- As a result of conventional land development, stormwater runoff increases in volume and intensity and has higher concentrations of pollutants (e.g., nutrients, oil and gas, salts, and human and animal wastes). The higher velocity increases erosion and threatens riparian areas as well as water quality. New plan boosts profits Using a section 319 grant, the Npnpoint Source Pollution Management Program of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management helped the Scituate Reservoir communities develop new standards based on flexible zoning. The new plan not only prevents environ-mental problems; it also reduces taxes and boosts developers' profits. In short, everyone wins. • Flexible zoning allows the Scituate , communities to guide land development to more appropriate sites within the area. It is a tool that helps planning boards approve building placements and lot lines that.conform more closely with land forms.and environmental features. Thus, where flexible zoning is available, a farm here or there may be retained; a forested ridge may be preserved; or a wooded lake front may be spared. Flexible zoning weighs the placement of impervious Flexible zoning allows the Scituate communities to guide land development to more appropriate sites within the area. surfaces and land clearings to lessen the impact that most development has on water quality. • The Rufal Design Manual, a guidebook prepared as part of the project, makes flexible zoning easy to understand. It explains the new procedures and standards in nontechnical terms and provides a straightforward reference for community officials, developers, and interested professional and lay persons. The three towns implementing the new zoning regulations in the Scituate Reservoir Watershed are also being used as model communities. Portsmouth, a Rhode Island community outside the watershed, has recently adopted the new zoning standard. Other communities will likely follow suit. CONTACTS: Jim Riordan 401 277-3434, ext. 4421 Scott Millar 401 277-4700, ext. 4419 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Section 319 Helps Common Fence Point Improvement Association — The Portsmouth Salt Marsh Restoration Project The Common Fence Point Improvement- Association has restored a coastal wetland at the northern tip of Portsmouth, .Rhode Island. Undisturbed salt marshes are critical habitat for juvenile fish, nesting areas for waterfowl, and a natural filtration system for many pollutants, but this tidal marsh and pond complex had not been functional in 45 years — not since it received more than 20,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil from Mount Hope Bay. The spoil drastically altered the coastal wetland system. The marsh turned into a thicket of tall reeds, a mosquito breeding ground, and a dumping site that was also the scene of numerous fires through the years. In addition, the degraded marsh blocked tidal flow and disrupted natural habitats. With help from a section 319 grant, the Association removed the dredge spoil from more than five acres of tideland. This action , was the first step toward recreating the original tidal marsh and salt pond ecosystems. Once the SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 143 ------- spoils had been removed, the Association's work continued: channels and ponds were installed to enhance tidal flushing, which in turn eliminated mosquito breeding sites and helped rebuild the intricate chain of species dependence. Finally, engineers built a new tidal channel to connect Mount Hope Bay with two salt ponds in the restored marsh. Then the restoration team recreated a 2.6-acre salt marsh by transplanting seeds and shoots from marsh plants near the site. The existing dike was widened to a uniform width of 40 feet, and water runoff was directed into a sedimentation basin, then filtered across the marsh to the upper road. The Common Fence Point Improvement Association and its project have been nominated for three awards: a Greenways award, an Environmental Merit Award (from EPA), and a National President's Service Award (the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management nominated Mill Consella Sullivan for the latter). CONTACTS: Stephanie Powell 401 277-3434, ext 4418 Jim Riordan . 401 277-3434,.ext. 4421 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Rhode Island's Septic System Maintenance Policy Forum— A Spearhead for Collaboration Rr years, Rhode Island, like many states, as encouraged its communities to adopt aptic system management programs; but while launching numerous attempts, few programs have actually materalized. Now that has changed. Spearheading collaboration, the section 319 program of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) convened the Septic System Maintenance Policy Forum. The forum is a roundtable group that includes representatives of federal, state, and local governments, as well as private associations and citizens. It has delivered two essential advances in septic system management and helped four towns initiate management programs. Guidance for septic systems inspection How should septic systems be maintained? How can one determine if a given septic system is working? Previously, there were no standards, but the Rhode Island Handbook for the Inspection of Septic Systems written by nonpoint source program staff, will fill that gap. The handbook describes two types of inspections: • 1. A maintenance inspection to determine if pumping and minor repairs are needed, and 2. A home inspection for use during property transfer. It includes detailed instructions for locating septic system components, diagnosing in-home plumbing problems, scheduling inspections, and flow testing and dye tracing. Never before has the subject of inspection protocol been covered so fully. Never before has the subject of inspection protocol been covered so fully. Loan program and pilot project grants Rhode Island estimates that 90,000 or approximately 60 percent of its on-site wastewater systems predate regulation. These antiquated systems, probably cesspools, rarely serve the needs of a modern family. However, cost to upgrade—as much as $20,000 for an advanced system—often outstrips even an affluent household's budget. 144 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- • Nonpoint source program staff, who recognized that upgrade costs were probably preventing the adoption of management programs, began to seek a source of funding. Coincidentally, the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency discovered that the State Revolving Fund (SRF) could be used to provide low-interest loans to fix septic systems. The agency, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Management (its regulatory partner in the SRF) then established the Community Septic System Loan Program (CSSLP). Slated to come out later this year, CSSLP marks the. first SRF program in New England designed exclusively to provide : low-interest loans for septic system upgrades. A related pilot project has been developed by the section 319 program to help initiate the CSSLR The pilot project provides $150,000 in special one-time grant funds. Four communities on the outskirts of Rhode Island's very sensitive coastal salt ponds have been contacted to participate in the program. The grant funds are for management plans and startup of the community programs. CONTACT: Jim Riordan Rhode Island Department of .Environmental Management 401 277-4700, ext. 4421 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 145 ------- SOUTH CAROLINA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $585,360 H Agriculture: $393,738 B Urban Runoff: $104,515 03 Silviculture: $144,572 ID Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $9,537 H Stowage and Land Disposal: $90,726 El Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $225,552 Bush River-Camping Creek Watershed — A Priority Watershed in South Carolina The Bush River-Camping Creek watershed in Newberry County, South Carolina, drains directly to Lake Murray, a 51,000-acre impoundment used to generate power. The lake is also a municipal water supply serving approximately 330,000 people and a major recreational resource in the midlands of South Carolina. More than 175 miles of streams (perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral) run through the project area, and more than 800 ponds are located along these streams. The ponds range in size from 0.5 to 25 acres in size and are used for livestock watering, irrigation, and recreation. Agricultural land uses Though land uses vary, the potential for nonpoint source pollution is primarily agricultural. The watershed's nearly 130,000 acres support the following uses: about 29,500 acres of cropland, 60,700 acres of forest, 22,900 acres of pasture, and 16,600 acres of development (urban, industrial, and • commercial). Over 200 farmsteads are maintained in the watershed — with an average size of 165 acres. The farm industry is quite diversified, though the most prevalent enterprises are confined animal operations, • small grain production, and row crop farming. Over 60 confined animal operations have been inventoried in the watershed, and more than 50 percent of these enterprises are dairy • and beef operations. The others are poultry and swine units. The estimated animal population in the watershed is 15,000 beef cattle, 7,000 dairy cattle, 2,800 swine, and over 1,000,0.00 poultry. The USDA Natural Resources 5 Conservation Service (NRCS) estimates that the watershed produces about 75,000 tons of animal waste annually. Thus, agricultural activities in the project area are a major influence on the streams and ponds in the watershed. They also contribute to nutrient-related water quality problems in the headwaters of Lake Murray. In fact, bacteria, nutrients, and sediment from soil erosion are 146 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME ([ ------- the primary contaminants affecting these resources. The NRCS has calculated that soil erosion, occurring on over 13,000 acres of cropland in the watershed, ranges from 9.6 to 41.5 tons per acre per year. At times excessive amounts of nutrients, especially nitrates, are found in the water, primarily as a result of land applying too much manure — sometimes with or in addition to commercial fertilizers. Based . on these conditions, the Bush River-Camping Creek watershed was identified in the South . Carolina Nonpoint Source Management Plan as a high priority watershed. A coordinated multiple agency effort to control these nonpoint sources began in 1990 and continues into fiscal year 1997, with funding provided by Section 319(h) grants and USDA funds along with matching state and ' local dollars. Additional partners include Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, South Carolina Department of Natural . Resources, South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Newberry County Soil and Water Conservation District, and landowners in the watershed. Phase one of the project/demonstrated agricultural best management practices (BMPs), provided technical assistance to agricultural landowners implementing nonpoint source pollution controls, financial assistance to • qualifying landowners for BMP installations, • and a water quality monitoring program. Section 319(h) funds were used to demonstrate ; a BMP called interseeding, a tillage technique that combines conservation tillage, controlled traffic, narrow rows, and full-season growth. The Land Resources Division of the Department of Natural' Resources coordinated the demonstra- tion under contract to the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Simultaneously, an agricultural technician from the Department of Health and Environmental Control helped inventory and inspect.all confined animal facilities in the watershed. Technical assistance was then provided to owners who were not in compliance with regulations. Potential violations include illegal discharge pipes, overflow discharges, high vegetation around lagoons, runoff from animal housing, improper dead animal disposal, and no permits. The Department of Health and Environmental Control used •*««&.. ____ .*** ~— -?=™* , -&SK -!*«*«« .«&- »« (above) Mobile equipment is being used to pump but a confined animal waste lagoon. i (below) The liquid animal waste that was pumped out of the lagoon is then used to irrigate pastureland on the farm.' Section 319(h) funds for this aspect of the project; it also provided, and continues to provide, in-stream monitoring for the project. - NRCS conservationists worked with land- owners to develop and implement conservation plans and the Cooperative Extension Service , provided a full-time water quality specialist to work with landowners to implement BMPs. The Consolidated Farm Service Agency provided funding for cost-share assistance. Ongoing efforts • Phase two of the project concentrates on confined animal operations in the watershed. Components include demonstration of innovative BMPs, such as lagoon pump-out/irrigation practices and dead bird composting. Farmers can rent the lagoon pump-out equipment for a very nominal fee. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 147 ------- Farmers in the project area have access to a mobile nutrient testing service, which helps them calculate the right amount of manure to apply to their fields and pastures, and additional computerized information to help them make prudent decisions about pesticide selection and management. Educational activ- ities include newsletters, workshops, field days, and one-on-one technical assistance to farmers. Since implementation of the project in 1990, nonpoint source pollution from agricultural activities has lessened, thus . improving water quality in the watershed. At the beginning of the project, 48 confined animal operations in the watershed were not in compliance with regulations. As of 1993, 26 of these operations were in compliance and the 22 others were working with the state and their natural resource conservation district to gain compliance. The farm community's interest in the project is widespread. For example, in April 1995, approximately 80 people attended a demonstration of the agricultural waste lagoon pump-out equipment, and by the end of 1996, at least 112 long-term contracts between landowners and USDA had been signed, and the following best management practices had been installed: • conservation tillage on 18,000 acres; • proper land application systems on 3,600 acres, • tree plantings on 2.000 acres, • conversion of cropland to forest land on 1,000 acres, and • eight new agricultural waste lagoons. The NRCS estimates that 94,000 tons of soil have been saved in the watershed through the use of BMPs, and that annually 75,000 tons of animal waste are being properly us£d • according to South Carolina guidelines (i.e., application rates, slopes, and time of year). The Department of Health and Environmental Control maintains an ambient water quality monitoring station in the headwaters of Lake Murray that receives the flow from the Bush River-Camping Creek watershed. Sampling data at the station gathered between May and October 1992 indicated statistically significant reductions in nutrients (total phosphorus and nitrate-nitrite) occurred after the project's implementation. These decreases could be attributed to reductions in the amounts of nutrients reaching the waterbody from nonpoint sources. Similar data gathered at that location between 1992 and 1996 indicates continued statistically significant reductions in nitrate-nitrite. While reductions in total phosphorus were not noted . during the latter five year period, neither were statistically significant increases, even though it is likely that activities contributing to nutrient inputs increased into the watershed during that period. CONTACT: Doug Fabel Bureau of Water South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 803734-4837 South Carolina Hones in on Nonpoint Source Pollution — Minigrants Program Encourages Local Participation South Carolina uses Section 3I9(h) funding to implement management strategies for nonpoint source water pollution and reduction. Until 1995, the state used only the annual allocation of funds and large-scale multiyear projects to implement these strategies. State agencies, universities, and similar organizations carried out these projects, because participation in the Section 319(h) grant program required sizable resources. More recently.'however, the state has realized that a much broader array of groups have a stake in controlling nonpoint source pollution and that involving these smaller, often locally oriented groups would help1 balance and diversify the statewide Section 319(h) program, effectively bringing nonpoint source pollution control closer to home. Nonpoint source minigrants Therefore, South Carolina's Section 319(h) grant recipient, the Department of 148 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Health and Environmental Control, began to develop an administrative framework for a new, innovative program commonly called Nonpoint Source Minigrants. Under this initiative, a portion of the state's annual Section 319(h) allocation is reserved for small grants that enable local governments, community organizations, schools, conservation districts, and similar groups to implement smaller, more . narrowly focused nonpoint source prevention or reduction projects. A staff member serves as the Minigrant Manager whose job it is to screen proposals, award grants, provide technical support, administer grant agreements, and manage the projects. The minigrants program supports and strengthens the state's nonpoint source management program by creating new partnerships with local governments, community nonprofit organizations, and other private-sector groups. To maximize the number of minigrants that can be awarded each year, a $10,000 cap' has been placed on the federal share of a project, and the grantee must match the federal share with 40 percent nonfederal funds. The minigrants program supports and strengthens the state's NFS Management Program by creating new partnerships with local governments, community nonprofit organizations, arid other private-sector groups. As the program facilitates their pursuit of effective nonpoint source solutions through relatively small education and implementation projects, the effectiveness of the overall nonpoint source water pollution program is thus enhanced. Minigrant funding supports projects that are focused in scope, site, or program specific, and relatively small in scale. Only projects that intend water.quality improvement through nonpoint source prevention or reduction are considered for funding. Among the activities that are.eligible fora minigrant are implementation of small watershed strategies, unique or innovative BMP demonstrations, financial support to local volunteer stewardship programs, the formation of watershed organizations, various citizen, involvement programs, wellhead protection activities, riparian buffer preservation/restoration, and community awareness campaigns. The minigrant program is in keeping with EPAs emphasis on community-based environmental protection programs and also supports the Department of Health and Environmental Control's "Local Solutions to Local Problems" vision statement. , ' Now entering its second grants cycle, the minigrants program can point to many successes. In this short time, a variety of new organizations throughout the state have received grants to facilitate their involvement in locally oriented nonpoint source projects. The minigrant program has also received considerable publicity; it was featured in the January J 997 newsletter of the Water Environment Federation. Exemplary accomplishments The minigrants program has increased the number and diversity of organizations involved in the statewide nonpoint source pollution control effort. Nine new organizations have now become involved in nonpoint source control projects, and some of these groups are taking on the problem of nonpoint source pollution for the first time. One project, for example, involved helping a lakeside homeowners' organization post signs at marinas and boat landings warning boaters of . the regulations prohibiting the discharge of sanitary waste into a reservoir. , , Another minigrant recipient, the Congaree Land Trust, has undertaken a streamside forest land acquisition project. Negotiations with land owners are currently in progress on easements along two major creeks of the Congaree watershed, Besides the potential for nonpoint source prevention inherent in preserving riparian buffer zones, this project is establishing a precedent in South Carolina whereby land trusts can acquire land for the specific purpose of water pollution control. A similar land acquisition project SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 149 ------- administered by a regional council of governments has already acquired two parcels of land along the Catawba River, is negotiating for 20 additional acres, and has several other tracts under consideration. Coastal projects Along the South Carolina coast, two minigrant projects stand out. An organization that originally formed as a result of a prior Section 319(h) project has been able to continue its involvement in protecting water quality in the highly prized East Cooper watershed through activities funded through minigrants. The Clean Water Council's volunteer monitoring project supports hands-on involvement by action-oriented citizens. Its efforts have led to an opening of dialogue between area citizens and four local governments regarding actions needed to protect valuable local water resources. On Hilton Head Island, the town government has taken the initiative to undertake a comprehensive nonpoint source project. The goal is to eventually restore the shellfishing status of the central creek of the island now situated within a mostly developed watershed. This project has involved town personnel, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, university researchers, and consultants. Together, they are working to characterize nonpoint sources in the watershed, formulate a strategy for its control, and educate the Hilton Head population on the need for water quality protection in the Broad Creek watershed. The town's commitment to this project represents a major change in how water pollution control is viewed. Instead of looking to state water pollution control agencies to find a way to make water quality improvements, Hilton Head has made a commitment to find its own solution. In a short time, the minigrants program has established new and different working relationships between the state's water pollution control authority and a number of different governmental and citizen-based ' , organizations. The nontraditional nature of these relationships represents a new and innovative way of doing business. It is hoped that through this new emphasis on fostering local water quality stewardship, the state's nonpoint source control program will realize greater water quality benefits. CONTACT: Doug Fabel Bureau of Water South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 803 734-4837 Champions of the Environment — South Carolina Program Rewards Student Environmentalists Champions of the Environment, a public-private partnership with Union Camp, DuPont, WIS-TV, Riverbanks Zoo, and the University of South Carolina, merges environmental education with experience of nature and science. The program is designed to cultivate an aware, critical-thinking generation challenged to develop breakthroughs in environ- mental protection and technology and stimulate stewardship in South Carolina citizens. The Champions program encourages creativity outside the classroom, it advocates an interdisciplinary approach to learning science by connecting science, mathematics, and technology with the arts, humanities, and vocational subjects. Champions of the Environment develops students' ability to use the scientific method for solving problems and testing new ideas; it also provides recognition for academicians and others involved in scientific endeavors. The centerpiece of the program is its focus on the student environmentalist —'• he or she is given a starring role in a 30-second television spot that is broadcast 25 times by WIS-TV to 40 of South Carolina's 46 counties. The program began as an educational outreach component of South Carolina's nonpoint source water pollution program, funded through the Section 319(h) program. 150 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Learning through competitions and creativity A partnership with industry has significantly expanded a program that began five years , earlier as the South Carolina Environmental Awareness Student Awards Competition for middle school students. This first component of the Champions program incorporates six categories of competition and ' culminates each Spring at Riverbanks Zoo. This competition is for middle school students and includes environmental awareness posters, essays, speeches, bowling, projects, and photography. The second component of the Champions of the Environment program recognizes outstanding environmental students with a television spot showcasing the student wearing the Champions medallion: This competi- tion 'is open to students in all grade levels who actively seek solutions to environmental problems. The students work individually, as a team, or collectively on class projects. • These "Be a Champion" spots and a series of environmental tips geared toward pollution eradication recorded 15 million impressions during the past year. The student "champions" address such topics as nonpoint source pollution, creating a wildlife habitat, learning how to compost, following label directions, landscaping to prevent pollution, recycling .used oil for pollution prevention, participating in environmental competitions,,and avoiding pollution while boating. Current activities Now in its fifth year, the Champions program reaches South Carolina's 640,197 students in grades 1 through 12 and has recognized student projects that range from converting an,area used for felonious activity into an outdoor laboratory to creating an environmental awareness musical involving .3 50 students (an entire school district). Other topics and projects honored have included • compiling data on a city's trees, • studying the behavioral responses of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon to various light . and magnetic fields, 1996 scholarship awards reception. • planting and caring for native trees, - • measuring amounts of lead in drinking water from various sources, • comparing contaminants in stormwater runoff to bacteria counts in different surface waters, and • researching such issues as decomposition rates, the effects of acid rain, and fecal contamination in well water. During the past four years the partnership has presented over $16,000 in scholarship awards for students and an additional $3,000 for teachers. Each year the program increases in participants: from 200 in 1993 to 470 in 1994; 1,100 in 1995; and 1,500 in 1996. The program has received national commendations from the White House Conference on Environmental Technology, EPA, and South Carolina Governor David Beasley for'its innovative approach to environmental education. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control selected the Champions program as one of the top 10 most successful programs in the agency (which has 6,000 employees and many programs). "It's a textbook example of what can be done when we pool resources to help our young people and our planet thrive," said Governor Beasley during the 1996 scholarship awards reception. CONTACTS: Doug Fabel Bureau of Water South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 803 734-4837 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 151 ------- SOUTH DAKOTA 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $489,425 S Agriculture: $927,652 B Urban Runoff: $84,608 03 Silviculture: $0 HID Construction: $0 ED Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 El Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Bad River Watershed Project — Watershed Management Model Works in South Dakota The Bad River watershed, 3,172 square miles that drain into the Missouri River at Ft Pierre, South Dakota, consists primarily of highly erodible shallow and dense clays. The river does not support its assigned beneficial uses primarily because its sediment load is 3.25 million tons per year, which also severely impacts the Lake Sharpe impoundment of the Missouri River. The sport fishery in this reach of the Missouri River contributes about $2.5 million annually to Pierre's economy, but only when it is not impaired by turbidity from the Bad River. When the Bad River is flowing, the value essentially goes to zero. Unchecked sediments pose many risks The Bad River's sediment load settles in the Missouri River near Pierre and Ft. Pierre and has significantly filled the channel. The result is increased flooding in the municipalities and surrounding area, and a consequent reduction in the water that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will release from the Oahe Reservoir during extremely cold periods. The loss of power generation during these times has an average annual value of $12.5 million. Beyond economic value, however, is a greater concern; namely, that the loss of power generation during critical winter conditions may result in regional multistate brown- or black-out conditions with consequent loss of life. If the sediment continues to accumulate, the Corps of Engineers predicts flow restrictions and subsequent power generation curtailments even under open channel flows. Although these impacts of sediment delivery are sizable and well known, numerous obstacles must be overcome before anyone can undertake a project large enough to make a significant reduction in the volume of sediment delivery. 152 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Steering committee takes first steps The Bad River watershed steering committee — composed of local residents and governmental officials — selected a watershed management approach. Thus, the steering committee, who will guide program development and conduct a monitoring and assessment program, began documenting the magnitude and . • • location of sediment contributions in the watershed as a first step toward solving the problem. People generally believed that the sediment came mostly from South Dakota badlands in the upper basin and tablelands that had been converted from grasses to wheat production. The steering committee's assessment program suggested,1 however, that the lower third of the watershed produces two-thirds of the sediment — primarily from gully erosion on grazing lands and streambank scour. The next step toward a solution was to begin a demonstration project in the . , 250-square-mile Plum Creek subwatershed to illustrate the feasibility of pollution controls. The practices must be carefully chosen not to jeopardize the economic stability of ranches and farms in the project area. In the Bad River watershed, the project recommended an array of practices: planned grazing systems, proper grazing use, erosion control structures, riparian revegetation, range seedings, water spreader systems, and alternative stock watering • facilities. The breadth of these practices demonstrated to farmers and ranchers that the program Was truly voluntary and would enhance the economic stability of their operations. Simultaneously, it convinced management agencies that the project could achieve substantial landowner participation. • Above all, this portion of the workplan showed that the steering committee had explored innovative best management practices and knew for certain that the recommended practices would help the watershed community control the volume of sediment in the Bad River drainage. The Bad River Watershed in South Dakota. The principal partners in the Bad River contributed financially and offered technical expertise. Among them: • Stanley County Conservation District (Primary Sponsor) • South Dakota Department of . . Environment and Natural Resources . • South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks • USDA Farm Services Agency • USDA Natural Resources Conservation •• Service • South Dakota Department of Agriculture • South Dakota Cooperative Extension . Service • U.S. Geological Survey • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • North Central Resource Conservation and Development • Pheasants Forever • South Dakota Wheat Commission Results of the demonstration project exceeded expectations and achieved a significant reduction in erosion and sediment delivered to the Bad River. In 1990, Plum Creek delivered 82.7 tons of sediment per acre/foot'of runoff. The average annual sediment delivery during 1993 through 1995 was 10.2 tons of sediment per acre/foot of runoff. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 153 ------- A major tributary of the Bad River that drains approximately 87,000 acres of rangeland and cropland. These data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Stanley County Conservation District and published in the annual USGS Water Resources Data for South Dakota, 1990 through 1995. Years 1991 and beyond were unusually high precipjtation years. Nevertheless, a significant reduction of sediment delivery was apparent. Increased vegetation in the formerly eroded streambanks and riparian areas helped control water yield. Improved land resource management by project cooperators further reduced total runoff. Landowner participation in the Plum Creek watershed was approximately 90 percent,. with approximately 95 percent of the land under some type of intense, management. The watershed residents have supported expansion of the project to the rest of the basin and demands for technical and financial assistance are about four times expected levels. CONTACT: Duame Murphy South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources 605 773-4254 Riparian Improvement on the East River — Information and Education are Keys to Success Water quality in the Big Sioux, James, and Vermillion rivers of South Dakota, which drain all or parts of 34 eastern counties, is impaired. Samples from these streams contain pollutants and physical impairments that limit their use for drinking water, fisheries, and water-related recreation. The persistence of poor water quality over many years relates to several land uses in the watersheds, namely, urban growth, and a variety of agricultural practices. Sediments from sheet, rill, and ephemeral erosion on croplands and construction sites; stormwater runoff; streambank erosion; and loss of riparian vegetation, mainly from cattle grazing and cropland encroachments, are , partial reasons for the water's poor quality. Excessive nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, and human and animal wastes in runoff and sediments are additional concerns. Identifying the players Although some remediation work is ongoing in these watersheds, South Dakota's Nonpoint Source Task Force saw the section 319 grant program as an opportunity to strengthen the effort. It organized the East River Riparian Committee to determine how local people can be encouraged to take active roles in riparian management and water quality improvement. The Nonpoint Source Task Force is an ad hoc group of South Dakotans interested in water quality; its members are representatives from agricultural groups, state and federal agencies, resource conservation and development districts, conservation districts, and water development districts. The East River Riparian Committee is composed of competent resource managers and local area leaders who have developed a project to provide information and education 154 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME K ------- on riparian area management for resource managers, land users, and the general public. The committee's goal is to provide incentives to land users who voluntarily implement a riparian management demonstration site. The sites can be in an area that needs treatment or in one that already displays the results of good riparian stewardship. Reaping the benefits The project helps resource managers develop their knowledge and improve their confidence in planning and implementing riparian area management projects. Land users interested in improving riparian areas can also obtain technical and financial assistance from the project. Landowners who already have good riparian areas receive recognition for their efforts and share their experience with those working in riparian areas for the first time. Everyone increases his or her awareness and understanding of the values arid functions of healthy riparian areas in relation to water quality. Riparian areas influence the surface water quality by affecting the timing and amount of water, sediment, nutrients, and organic matter that enter, an intermittent or perennial stream from the adjacent uplands. The riparian areas in the James River watershed (along the mainstem and tributaries) are pasture. In the Big Sioux and Vermillion River watersheds, both cropland and pastures are found in the riparian area. Overgrazing, cultivation, and trampling eventually eliminate riparian plants, which increases runoff and sediment delivery to the rivers, accelerates streambank erosion, and prevents the- floodplain from functioning as it should to retard flooding. Project overview and sponsors . The project began with section 319 funding. The local landowners and the South Dakota Conservation Commission provided local match. Moody County Conservation District was the project sponsor with 15 other conservation districts serving as cosponsors. The endeavor is a true exa'mple of how partnerships work. To date, 18 projects have been identified in 14 counties. Funding and technical assistance are provided by EPA, local landowners, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 155 ------- Dakota Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, and Ducks Unlimited. All management practices demonstrated at the project sites were selected from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide. Most practices were related to grazing management: for example, planned grazing systems, cross fencing, livestock crossings, livestock exclusions, range seeding, and water development (nose pumps, solar pumps, pipelines, dugouts, stockwater dams). Other practices include grass waterways, grass seeding, tree planting, grade stabilization structures, and streambank stabilization. Wet weather has hampered the implementation of these practices at several sites, but the landowners have remained enthusiastic. In all cases, the land user was asked to allow media coverage and public tours to observe progress and riparian values of each site. Riparian information reaches the public through on-site tours, newspaper articles, slide talks, displays, and presentations. On-site tours are especially useful; they show that landowners accept riparian management practices and that improved riparian vegetation benefits both the landowner and surface water quality. Benefits and results The East River Riparian Area Demonstration Project has shown how conservation-oriented riparian management can succeed in South Dakota. A total of 18 project sites were selected in the riparian areas of the Big Sioux, lames, and Vermillion river basins. The majority of the riparian areas in the project were classified as nonfunctioning or functioning minimally. Partnerships between the producers, the NRCS, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, and other resource agencies have provided a vehicle for improving the condition of these riparian areas. Producers and resource personnel are working together to manage agricultural systems in riparian areas in an economically and ecologically sound manner. Producers have implemented grazing plans that have increased the vegetative cover and the stability of the riparian areas, while still increasing net profit from their agricultural operations. The overall results from the project have been an increase in the number of functional streams in the river basins, improved water quality, larger profits from agricultural operations, and an increased awareness of the value of riparian management. CONTACT: Steve Scholtes South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources 605 773-4254 156 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $66,344 EJ Agriculture: $625,545 H Urban Runoff: $0 EOT Silviculture: $83,844 HI Cpnstruction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $66,233 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $146,811 D Other: $527,023 A New Era for the West Sandy Creek Watershed — Tennessee Works with Landowners to Reduce Erosion In response to a history of water quality problems in the western embayments of Kentucky Lake Reservoir, the Tennessee Nonpoint Source Program contracted with Austin Peay State University Center for Field Biology to work with landowners to reduce erosion in the West Sandy Creek Watershed. This project has involved multiple state, federal, and local agencies in the Henry County area near Paris, Tennessee (about 70 miles west-northwest of Nashville). A total of 73 agricultural best management practices (BMPs) have been implemented in West Sandy Creek. For example, 95 percent of the land used for row crop agriculture is under no-till BMPs, and numerous roadside BMPs have been installed in cooperation with the Henry County Road Commission. Over the past five years, more than 20 in-stream BMP structures have been installed to enrich biotic habitat and reduce sediment and organic particulates. Water quality data indicate a significant improvement in water quality since BMP installations. In-stream structures include log and rock wing deflector weirs and artificial riffle systems. Educational forums and demonstration projects have been stressed in all project activities. Each year, several public meetings, workshops, and field days are offered to raise public awareness and provide hands-on experience for interested residents and professionals in the West Sandy Creek watershed and surrounding areas. CONTACT: Greg Upham Nonpoint Source Program Tennessee Department of Agriculture 615 360-0690 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 157 ------- TEXAS 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $789,476 S Agriculture: $1,505;384 H Urban Runoff: $920,173 03 Silviculture: $292,919 Hi Construction: $569,914 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $632,134 Protecting the Edwards Aquifer — Urban Development BMPs in Central Texas The Edwards Aquifer is often described as amazing because it recharges so rapidly, has relatively high groundwater velocities, and large yields in springs and wells. Aquatic environments as far downstream as the Gulf Coast (about 150 miles) depend on springs that discharge from the Edwards Aquifer. The aquifer runs under nine counties and serves as the public water supply for numerous communities. In 1975, the San Antonio portion of the aquifer was the first in the United States to receive EPA sole-source status; and in 1988, the northern Hays/southern Travis counties portion of the aquifer received the same designation. In recent years, development within the recharge zone has been very rapid. Critical factors and regulations Three critical factors potentially affect the aquifer: • its rapid acceptance of recharging waters, either directly through karst features, or more circuitously as surface runoff percolating through soils or through a. fractured vadose zone; • relatively rapid groundwater movement; and • rapid population growth over the San Antonio-Austin region of the aquifer. Because of the importance of the Edwards Aquifer to the population of central Texas, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and its predecessor agencies have regulated development over various portions of . the aquifer since July 31, 1970, when the Texas Water Quality Board issued .a board order designed to protect the quality of water entering the Edwards Aquifer recharge,zone. The board seeks to identify and eliminate potential sources of pollution from developments prior to their construction. Formal regulation of nonpoint source pollution in the recharge zone commenced in 158 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- The Edwards Aquifer in Texas. 1990 with a revision to the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 313. Under the revised rules, individuals, developers, their agents, or government agencies seeking to develop property in the recharge zone must submit Water Pollution Abatement Plans for approval by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. These plans must include descriptions of proposed site disturbance and development, erosion and sediment control plans, a geologic assessment including recharge features, and a stormwater pollutant mitigation plan. As a condition of approval, the TNRCC may impose other site-specific provisions deemed necessary to protect the Edwards Aquifer from pollution. This process is supported by section 319 funding and carried out by the TNRCC's regional offices. Changing behaviors and attitudes Through the permitting process, developers, construction staff, engineers, and water quality specialists are educated in the application of best management practices (BMPs) for the prevention of nonpoint source pollution. While changing construction and development habits has not always been easy, there have been several positive changes in development activities over the recharge zone in recent years, and some innovative solutions to satisfy the requirements of Water Pollution Abatement Plan permits. / New developments use innovative practices Two commercial developments in Travis County prove that stormwater BMPs can be attractive as well as efficient. At one development, an office complex, the engineer combined the natural slope of the land with good landscaping to treat the first 0.75 inches of stormwater at the site. This treatment uses grassy berms to form a sediment pond followed by a filtration area where grasses slow and filter Williamson San Marcos Hays New Braunfels Coma! Bexar the water befpre draining it into vertical filtration walls made of rock, peat, and sand. The system creates an overall impression of a gently rolling landscape, incorporating several beautiful live oak trees that were saved during construction. Two sets of detention/filtration ponds catch runoff from both parking lots at the site. In addition, grassy berms have been constructed to conduct runoff from the building roofs into the filtration areas. Runoff in excess of the first 0.75 inches is diverted into three separate detention ponds. The project engineer estimates that the combined removal rate of the three treatment components will eliminate 95 percent of the total suspended solids, 75 percent of the total phosphorus, and 87 percent of oil and grease. Another commercial development, a local plant nursery, uses two sets of landscaped detention and filtration ponds between its complex and the highway access road. The ponds are lined with attractive rock walls that hold the soil in place. Planter boxes at the top of the walls are filled with native shrubs. Two splitter boxes bring stormwater into the detention ponds, from which the water drains •' through a series of conduits into the filtration basins. These ponds treat the first 0.5 inches of stormwater from the nursery site. Data from the City of Austin's Environmental Quality Manual indicate that a structure of this type removes 70 percent of total suspended solids. . SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 159 ------- Sedimentation/filtration ponds at a plant nursery located in the Edwards Aquifer Protection Zone. The environmental sensitivity of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone requires strict regulation of development in the recharge area. The activity of-the TNRCC's regional offices in verifying and approving Water Pollution Abatement Plans is an important step in the process of preventing nonpoint source pollution in local receiving waters. In addition, the knowledge that the regional staff are following up on BMPs to ensure that they are properly maintained encourages business owners to keep these pollution prevention measures in good operating condition. The transfer of technology that necessarily takes place as a part of this process also increases the use of pollution prevention practices in the recharge • zone, and therefore provides additional protection for this critical natural resource. CONTACT: Arthur Talley Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission 512239-4546 Clean Texas 2000 — Urban Composting Program Meets Its Goals The Clean Texas 2000 campaign, a pollution prevention program of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, has two major goals: to reduce the amount of wastes generated in the state and to educate all Texans about how their lifestyles affect the environment. The strategy for reaching these goals is to form a statewide network of partnerships (citizens, businesses, civic groups, schools, and government agencies) to reduce pollution, reclaim resources, and make our communities healthier and cleaner places in which to live. The Urban Composting Project is part of this innovative pollution prevention program. It begins, as does the larger campaign, with the notion that individual Texans play a critical role in achieving waste reduction goals. Yard trimmings and vegetative food material account for over 20 percent of the trash going to landfills in Texas. However, if composted or recycled, these materials can be used as organic, environmentally friendly substitutes for home chemical fertilizers. Too much chemical fertilizer in runoff from urban landscapes can cause algal growths and eutrophic conditions in aquatic ecosystems, especially lakes. The Master Composter and Centralized Compost Planning programs, a one-year project supported by a section 319 grant, were designed to address this issue by increasing composting and decreasing the use of chemical fertilizers. The project took a dual approach to reducing the waste stream: one part aimed at directly educating individual citizens; the other, at educating waste control professionals. Citizens train to be master composters The goal of the Master Composter. Program was to teach a core group of individual citizens why and how to compost yard waste and how to pass their information on to other citizens, individually or in group settings. Volunteers committed to this program participated in 20 hours of formal instruction and performed 20 hours of community outreach to earn their certification. 160 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- (above) Demonstration of a composting bin. (right) Wetting and turning the compost at a Master Composter workshop. The training sessions were conducted in partnership with other state agencies, regional planning agencies, or cities. The Master Composter Training Manual, Master Composter Program Planning Guide, and Resource Notebook were distributed to all participants. In a relatively short time, the program trained 116 people to be Master Composters; of these trainees, 32 have completed their public outreach hours and are certified Master Composters. By November 1995, these masters had trained another 3,951 citizens. Several cities sign on In the Centralized Compost Planning program, professionals responsible for planning and implementing waste management policies learned effective methods for setting up community composting plans. Participants in this program received instruction on collection, processing, and marketing strategies; equipment selection; facility siting and design issues; and regulatory compliance. Participants were also provided with a.Centralized Composting Planning Notebook and a Compost Information Kit, including posters and brochures and other : informational resources. This program trained 95 people. . . . The Urban Composting Project met or exceeded its original goals for the number of citizens trained and the production of project training materials. Its success in reducing water- pollution was determined through surveys distributed to participants. Of those responding to the Master Composter Program survey, 30 percent reported using less fertilizer after their training. In the Centralized Compost Planning Program, the results were similar; 30 percent • reported that they used less fertilizer after the training. All respondents to the surveys had stopped bagging lawn trimmings, which decreases the need for additional lawn fertilizers by 50 to 66 percent. Urban composting is increasing through- out Texas. Local governments have embraced the initiative that began as a section 319 project and are now supporting urban composting without the need for federal money. So far, 15 communities have implemented, or have made • plans to implement, the Master Composter Program. Several cities have expressed interest in beginning the program or in hosting training sessions on backyard composting in their cities. The cities of Beaumont, Bryan, and Big Springs have served as'host cities for the training and technical assistance provided through the Centralized Composting Training Program. This project shows that Texas citizens are willing to comply voluntarily with practices that improve the environment if they are informed about reasons and benefits. CONTACT: Arthur Talley Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission 512239-4546 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 161 ------- Wellhead Protection Program — Communities and Wellhead Protection Follow-up The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program is the lead team for prevention of nonpoint source pollution to public groundwater supplies. With support of section 319 grant funds, the Wellhead Protection Program accomplishes this goal by delineating Wellhead Protection Areas to prevent. groundwater contamination and offering guidance and technical assistance for conducting inventories of potential sources of contamination in the protection areas/The WHP program then assists communities in developing local ordinances to protect groundwater, and contingency plans for alternative water supplies. In addition, the WHP program educates public water supply officials about best management practices (BMPs) available for the prevention, abatement, and remediation of nonpoint source pollution. Some of these BMPs include land-use management practices, local ordinances and permits, regulation of specific activities in the protection areas, and public awareness programs. The program encourages institutionalization of wellhead protection at the local level. The Wellhead Protection Program of the TNRCC was established in Texas in 1987 with initiation of the nation's first WHP project in Del Rio, Texas. In 1988, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) began recruiting Texas cities that rely on groundwater for their public water supply into the WHP program. Since that time, more than 200 government entities have enrolled in Texas' voluntary WHP program. By making the program voluntary, the TNRCC has made it possible for local governing agencies to tailor the program to their specific needs and resources, implementing cost-effective BMPs with government assistance rather than by government mandate. One of the early successes of the WHP program comes from the city of Rockdale, population 5,500, in Milam County. Rockdale . joined the TNRCC's Wellhead Protection Program within the first year of its implementation. One of the first cities in the ' state to enact a Wellhead Protection Ordinance, Rockdale went on to develop and adopt the first Wellhead Protection Contingency Plan in Texas. Rockdale was also one of the first cities to erect WHP roadside markers. Fortunately for the city, these tools were in place when it had to respond to a chemical spill. Quick response and affirmative leadership prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating. Public Works staff pose behind Rockdale's Environmental Excellence Award. The City of Rockdale wrote their ordinance and contingency plan with technical assistance from the WHP program at the TNRCC. As a pioneer in the WHP program, the City of Rockdale constructed a model ordinance that describes and delineates their wellhead protection area, regulates water well drilling in the WHP area (which the state does not have the power to do), and.mandates enforcement measures. Because of Rockdale's leadership and competent planning, their ordinance and contingency plan are used as models for other Texas cities participating in the WHP program. Rockdale's plans have also been distributed to approximately. 200 cities nationwide. As a result of these achievements, the City of Rockdale 162 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- received the EPA Award for Environmental Excellence for its Wellhead Protection Program in 1994, and was the first city in Region 6 ever to receive such an award. In 1993, the TNRCC WHP program began a project to follow up with WHP participants in the state to identify and document their voluntary implementation of WHP activities. This project was also supported by section 319 grant funds. In Texas, s'everal public entities with varying degrees of . legislative and enforcement powers have impact on and governing power over . underground water supplies. This complexity. , can hinder the implementation of BMPs. Therefore, TNRCC determined that it should follow -up with the communities that had enrolled in the original program, and.reach out. again to those communities that did not ' participate from the beginning of the program. Questionnaires were sent to the 6,000 public water supply systems in Texas that rely wholly or in part on groundwater. The questionnaire asked respondents to identify and describe the BMPs their communities had implemented. In addition to providing information on voluntary compliance, the questionnaire also enabled TNRCC staff to identify those entities unfamiliar with the WHP program and those who needed additional assistance to complete implementation. The follow-up study determined that throughout the state, approximately 62 percent of all WHP participants are involved in some form of BMP implementation. If participants ,'who have been enrolled in the program for less than two years are excluded, the implementation rate jumps to 76 percent. City officials show off their EPA awards. Based on the trend of .earlier WHP studies, the newer participants can be .expected to implement their BMPs in one to two years. Measured against the original project goals, this is a good success rate, and compares favorably with compliance in regulated programs. Voluntary implementation has been consistent and measurable under the Wellhead Protection Program, and the program's success has increased public awareness and use of other related TNRCC programs, such as Household Hazardous Waste Collections, Texas ' Country Cleanups (collection of agricultural chemicals), Empty Pesticide Container Recycling programs, and Citizens Monitoring, as these programs were selected by some entities for BMP implementation. These programs have shown that voluntary public service programs can surpass the milestones originally established by regulatory actions. CONTACT: Arthur Talley Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission 512239-4546 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUMEII 163 ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting PiPS Category: $224,760 S Agriculture: $1,065,575 O Urban Runoff: $0 03 Silviculture: $0 Hffl Construction: $O D Resource Extraction: $0 I Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Rangeland Restoration — New Management Practices In the Otter Creek Watershed Utah's Otter Creek watershed is a tributary to the Sevier River. Located mostly in Sevier and Piute counties, Otter Creek provides municipal, industrial, and agricultural water to several thousand downstream water users. However, the watershed is also a source of nitrate and nitrites, phosphorus, sulfate, sediment, and coliform to the Sevier. Most of the riparian areas along Otter Creek were in poor condition before the restoration project began, and while some riparian areas have greatly improved, much of the watershed was not affected by the restoration and remains degraded. Otter Creek watershed encompasses 240,000 acres. It is about 39 miles long and 12 miles wide, and drains into the East Fork of the Sevier River. Otter Creek is the main tributary to the East Fork, with six to eight tributaries feeding it. Three reservoirs are also located within the watershed: Boobe Hole, Koosharem, and Otter Creek. Streambank erosion Studies of the watershed identify several water quality problems, including sheet, rill, gully, and streambank erosion; streambank channel erosion; and degraded riparian areas. The loss of vegetation in the riparian areas and on rangeland increases erosion, which is aggravated by heavy grazing. Livestock and wildlife (deer and elk) have grazed this land for many years. About 38,000 acres of highly eroded land within the watershed need special treatment to stabilize vegetative cover. This area contributes up to 18 tons of sediment per acre per year. About 80 percent of the affected land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management; the rest is private. Much of the worst streambank erosion along Otter Creek and many other Utah rivers and streams took place a decade ago during the severe floods in 1983 and 1984. Erosion during 164 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- lower flow years is usually caused by animals- trampling banks as they drink from the stream. Ongoing efforts will reduce rangeland erosion and stabilize streambanks to prevent continued erosion. Stream-channel erosion also affects the riparian condition by lowering the water table along some reaches of the stream. When adequate water no longer reaches the root systems, riparian and other vegetation cannot survive to protect the streambanks from erosion, thus, changing both the water quality and quantity. Shrubs and other vegetation no longer filter the runoff that flows to Otter Creek. Without this important filter strip, agricultural chemicals-and animal wastes can more easily enter the stream. . Irrigated acres and wet meadows The watershed has about 2,800 acres of irrigated pasture/hayland and some 3,100 acres of wet meadows adjacent to Otter Creek. About 90 percent of the,land is privately owned. .Heavy livestock concentrations in these areas are a potential source of additional sediment, nutrient, and coliform bacteria. The objectives of the restoration project in the Otter Creek watershed follow from this analysis of historic and current land uses and their effect on the health of the watershed. Ongoing efforts will reduce rangeland erosion and stabilize streambanks to prevent further erosion. To reach these goals, landowners and other partners must begin proper management of wet meadows and pasture/hayland to prevent pollutants from reaching the stream, modify grazing practices to .better manage erodible rangeland, and install irrigation systems to assist in irrigation water management. CONTACT: George Hopkin Environmental Quality Section Utah Department of Environmental Quality 801 538-7177 Miles of Fences, Hundreds of Cows — Farmers on the Little Bear River Protect Water Quality Richard Nielsen runs a 250-cow dairy near Hyrum, Utah, in the Cache Valley. A third generation farmer, Nielsen worries about things his father and grandfather never had to think about. One such concern is water quality. Nielsen's farm is along a canal in the Little Bear River watershed. Water in the canal is diverted from.the Little Bear River just below Porcupirie Reservoir. It serves several farms above Nielsen's dairy and two or three farms below before his before emptying into Spring Creek. Spring Creek, in turn, eventually drains into the Little'Bear River. The return of the canal to the main channel creates a potential for agricultural nonpoint source pollution that lets Nielsen and other farmers along the canal know that they must be good stewards of their resources. They . are also good candidates for programs funded by section 319 grants, Rerouting the water "Nielsen's dairy was, in fact, contributing significant coliform to the system before we began this project," says Bob Clark of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. His corral was adjacent to the canal — and it had been built on a downward slope to the water. Everything drained right into the canal, the problem worsened during storms .and flowed constantly during spring runoff. Project managers considered various alternatives before deciding to pipe the canal around the corral. Project money also helped Nielsen construct two animal waste storage facilities. Now any pollution that leaves the SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 165 ------- corral goes directly into pasture and alfalfa fields and does not leave the farm. While work was being completed at the Nielsen dairy, other section 319 projects and other types of water quality efforts were taking place upstream from Nielsen's property on the canal. "Consider the miles of fences we've installed and the number of cows we've moved off the river already. And more projects are expected." Water quality improvements The results are significant. The Cache County Health Department took water samples above and below the canal before and after the project. Tests were run for total coliform and fecal coliform. Before Nielsen's farm was included in the section 319 project, total coliform in the canal entering his property was 10,000 colonies per 100 milliLiters (mL) of water; the fecal coliform count was 7,600 colonies per 100 mL. At a point just below Nielsen's corral, the total and fecal coliform were too numerous to count. After the completion of Nielsen's project and other projects at farms upstream on the canal, total and fecal coliform levels fell to 350 colonies per 100 mL entering Nielsen's farm. What's more, the readings below the corral were identical. Contamination by the dairy had been completely eliminated. More projects expected Though the project at the Nielsen dairy was only a tiny piece of the water quality puzzle, the successes are starting to mount up. in the Little Bear River and other watersheds that, host section 319 projects, according to Utah's Department of Agriculture. Such projects also demonstrate the value of continued water quality monitoring. The Division of Water Quality needs dependable quantitative data to document-improvements and the methods used to achieve them. An interagency workgroup has formed to monitor channel geomorphology, riparian health, and biological integrity in the Little Bear River watershed. This initiative will document the permanent effectiveness.of the BMPs on several stream reaches and, in time, provide a more complete picture of stream recovery. "Consider the miles of fences we've installed and the number of cows we've moved off the river already," says Nielsen, "and more projects are expected. Monitoring will ensure that our efforts are not in vain." CONTACT: George Hopkin Environmental Quality Section Utah Department of Environmental Quality 801 538-7177 166 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $ 153,158 H Agriculture: $179,071 B Urban Runoff: $0 El .Silviculture: $0 Din Construction: $167,486 B Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $ 126,270 H Hydrologic Modification: $ 152,513 D Other: $0 Agricultural Best Management Practices Lead to Less Phosphorus in Lake Memphremagog Richard DelFavero flicks a switch in his barn in Derby, Vermont, and the manure from his 100 beef cows and 200 young stock begins moving toward an animal waste storage structure. DelFavero is quite proud of the round concrete structure built with financial and technical assistance from the Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). DelFavero is one of 26 farmers who participated in the Lake Memphremagog Best Management Practice Demonstration Project. DelFavero says_he could not have built the structure and implemented other conservation practices without financial assistance from the project, which began in May 1994 and ended in February 1997. The purpose of the project was to reduce the flow of nutrients (primarily phosphorus) and other pollutants to Lake Memphremagog by installing agricultural waste management systems in th*e Black, Barton and. Clyde river watersheds — all of which drain to Lake Memphremagog. Learning from the past Lake Memphremagog is a 5,800-acre lake that straddles the border between Vermont and Canada. An international study by the Quebec/Vermont Working Group, published in 1993, stated that surface runoff and nonpoint source pollution from agricultural watersheds were contributing to the lake's water quality problems and impairing its beneficial uses. The NRCS started two projects in the 1980s to help farmers in the Black River, Barton River, and Clyde River watersheds. These projects included cost-share measures funded by the Small Watershed Protection Act (Pub. Law 83-566) to implement conservation practices that would reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Memphremagog. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 167 ------- Several farms did not have enough capital to complete their contracts in those projects (i.e.. they could not match the federal grant). The Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District believed that if the cost-share rate was raised to 75 percent, more farmers could install best management practices and thereby reduce the pollution from agricultural land. Pollution reduction was further enhanced in the watershed when modified waste utilization plans were developed for all farms receiving section 319 funds. Testing the belief The Newport office of the NRCS provided technical assistance to 42 farmers who volunteered to participate in the new project. Of these farmers, 26 installed water quality improvement practices with section 319 funds, including 18 animal waste storage structures and 12 barnyard runoff improvement practices. One animal waste storage structure was modified for better performance. Where milkhouse waste was a problem, it was incorporated in the waste storage structure or treated separately. 1 The NRCS estimates that 250 farms in the ' watershed house about 27,600 animal units. ..Thus, the 26 farmers receiving section 319 funds have .increased the number of animal units, under best management practices by 10 percent. Estimates of phosphorus loading reductions using computer .models indicate that about 2,500 pounds per year are retained on-farm by the increased cost-share — an estimated 10 percent of the total nonpoint source pollution load. Pollution reduction was further enhanced in the watershed when modified waste utilization plans were developed for all farms- receiving section 319 funds. Orleans County district supervisors worked to develop, these plans, which specified waste application rates for fields based on nutrient needs for average crop yields. Manure nutrient tests and soil nutrient tests were used to develop the plans. The modified waste use plans provided . recommendations for nutrients needed, number of spreader loads needed, and any remaining nutrients, needed from inorganic fertilizer for each field on the farm. CONTACTS: Paul Stanley Franklin Natural Resources Conservation District 802524:6505 , Jon W. Anderson • , • , Vermont Conservation Council . 802 828-3529 Rick Hopkins . Water Quality Division Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation 802241-3770 168 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Integrated Crop Management — Preventing Agricultural Pollution In 1992, the Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Council, the Agency of Natural Resources, and Vermont's Natural Resources Conservation Districts were looking for a way to incorporate pollution prevention into dairy farming operations, specifically to improve water quality. A group of state, federal, and local government personnel, farmers, conservation district supervisors, the Cooperative Extension Service, and business owners met to consider ways of reducing agricultural nonpoint source pollution on Vermont dairy farms. As a result, the Franklin County Integrated Crop Management (ICM) Service was developed. Franklin County takes the lead The Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District took the lead in developing the ICM Service for Franklin County dairy farmers in the Mississiquoi River watershed. The project began in northwestern Vermont for several reasons: > The Mississiquoi River is a major tributary to Lake Champlain. Many segments of Lake Champlain have become eutrophic as a result pf excess phosphorus loadings, particularly from nonpoint sources in watersheds that are heavily agricultural. These sources must be reduced if Vermont is to meet its in-lake phosphorus criteria. > Farmers in the watershed have been involved in other USDA water quality programs, and many of them already have the infrastructure (manure storage facilities) in place to manage their manure in a more efficient manner. The ICM Service was developed to improve farm management and the economic viability of the farm — to foster the creation of environmentally sound and sustainable farming operations. It provides direct assistance to help farmers improve their management of crops and pastures. The improvement follows from reduced chemical (fertilizer and pesticide) inputs made possible by optimal use of the nutrients in dairy manure. Properly managed waste applications can reduce the farmer's dependence on chemical inputs with no reduction in crop'yields. ICM methods The program provides accurate, detailed information at the individual,field level based on soil tests, manure sampling for nutrient content, pest scouting, side-dress nitrogen tests for corn, crop yields, and economic ; analysis of all crop management activities. A computer-based record-keeping system developed by the University of Vermont Extension Service helps each participating farmer track this information. The immediate results of the program included reduced inputs of commercial nitrogen and phosphorus on nearly all of the first 11 farms enrolled in the program. A review of pesticide applications indicate a marked difference in field management. Instead of using broad-based chemicals for pesticide applications, information received through pest-scouting led to the use of pesticides based on specific pest species and population numbers. The end result was a reduction in the amount of chemicals applied to the fields and a reduction in the cost of pesticides to the farmer. While no in-stream monitoring was conducted in conjunction with this project, it can be assumed that reductions in inputs of commercial fertilizers and pesticides, accompanied by tailored applications of manure to fields, will eventually reduce the amount of nutrients and pesticide chemicals in SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 169 ------- field runoff, and ultimately, in the Mississiquoi River. Less than 10 percent of the watershed is affected by the section 319-sponsored ICM program. Combined with other ICM services, ' however, the percent of the watershed affected maybe 10 percent. Project funding The ICM service has been funded through two section 319 grants that the Conservation District considered as seed money. A second section 319 grant was used to support the program through the spring of 1996. The initial goal of the project was to have 15 farms signed up for the service by Fall 1995. Currently, 23 farmers are active in the program and numerous others have expressed their desire to contract for services. The initial intent of the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District board was to facilitate the start-up of a crop management service in the community. It will, therefore, relinquish the service to the current Crop Management Technician as a private business this spring. The District does expect, however, to continue its leadership role in crop management services by piloting a program to provide geographic information systems databases and field-specific maps to farmers to increase their efficiency in nutrient'and field management. CONTACTS: Paul Stanley Franklin Natural Resources Conservation District 802 524-6505 Jon W. Anderson Vermont Conservation Council 802828-3529 Rick Hopkins Water Quality Division Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation 802 241-3770 IZO SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $471,046 S Agriculture: $706,505 B Urban Runoff: $250,275 ED Silviculture: $0 HI Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $150,000 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $50,000 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Lower Powell River — Riparian Restoration and Karst Conservation Program During 1992, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Wafer Conservation, awarded the Nature Conservancy a nonpoint source pollution implementation grant for the Lower Powell River Riparian Restoration and Karst Conservation Program in Lee County, Virginia. This program was designed specifically to protect priority riparian and karst areas in the Lower Powell River Hydrologic Unit. The Department of Conservation and Recreation ranks this area as a priority because it is sensitive to nonpoint source pollution and host to an unusually rich aquatic and cave biodiversity. As many as 37 species of mussels live in the Powell River, including six species that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists as endangered, In addition, 12 of the top 24 cave communities in the Commonwealth are found in this hydrologic unit, which is also the most - significant karst area in the state. The project included an extensive information and education program to publicize the region's biological significance and the importance of conserving land, water, and karst/groundwater resources. . Objectives and methods Each restoration activity complied with . the best management practice protocols specified by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and was evaluated using chemical analysis and bioassessments of macroinvertebrates. In addition, the project included a hydrogeologic investigation of the Cedars karst region (Central Lee County Karst Area) to ensure that major groundwater basins were included in the karst conservation. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 171 ------- Eight restoration projects were completed from October 1992 through December 1994. These projects included four riparian restoration projects at ecologically significant mussel concentration sites on the Powell River and four karst conservation projects at critical cave and karst recharge sites within the Central Lee County Karst Area. Each project was designed and implemented with technical assistance from the NRCS. The Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also provided financial support for additional best management practices (BMPs) at many of the restoration sites. Other partners also contributed to various aspects of the project: for example/the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Cave Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Cooperative Extension Service. Highlights of the restoration The project protected 13,500 feet of riparian habitat along the Powell River and other waterways; 22 species of mussels, includ- ing three endangered species; the entrance of Gollahon Cave Number 1, a habitat for seven globally rare cave-adapted species including the federally endangered Lee County Cave Isopod; and two sinking streams and a sinkhole dump site in the Cedars karst recharge area. The array of management strategies used to achieve these protections included denying stream access to 250 head of cattle grazing upstream of four significant mussel concentra- tion sites; fencing and bank stabilizing activities at the cave entrance; the development of alternative watering sites for livestock at five project sites (using two water wells, 5,000 feet of pipeline, and seve~n water troughs serving 12 fields); stream and sinkhole cleanups; and several innovative practices including the "cow-powered" Rife pasture pump, freeze-proof troughs, division fencing for rotational grazing, solar fence chargers, and a stream crossing reinforced with geotextile filter cloth. Reduced concentrations of herbicides/pesticides Restoration projects, where feasible, were paired with monitoring stations to evaluate changes in water quality and macroinvertebrate communities before and after restoration. Parameters for water quality measurements were pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates and nitrites, stream flow, conductivity, total fecal coliforms, total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids. The project used EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III to evaluate macroinvertebrate communities. Results of chemical water quality monitoring of data collected over a 12-month period tended to follow predictable curves according to precipitation event intensity and duration. All data collected and analyzed for herbicide and pesticides revealed concentrations below detection limits. A heightened conservation ethic will be among the enduring benefits of this project. Continued monitoring on the Lonesome Creek watershed may better determine effectiveness of livestock crossings and other best management practices since the project there addressed a much smaller drainage. Flows from springs or open cave systems appear to follow surface stream curves, indicating that flow regimes are subject to storrnwater inputs. Biological assessments using EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocol III were inconclusive. Factors contributing to this result include the limited time allotted to the study, the variety of sites, and difficulty at some locations in determining valid control sampling locations. Despite these challenges, several sites did improve following BMP installations and visual indications are that habitat improvements (such as plant recovery on banks and sediment reductions) will prove beneficial to macroinvertebrate populations,and species diversity. In each case, vegetation improved and bank instability was reduced by removing livestock from sensitive rivers, streams, sinking streams, and cave entrances. The Lower Powell River Riparian Restoration and Karst Conservation Program 112 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- projects were significant not only for their direct conservation benefits, but also because they will serve as permanent demonstrations of ways to protect the unique resources'of Lee County, Virginia. Each one applied a new conservation technique or innovative practice to this , ecologically important region of southwest Virginia. Thus, a heightened conservation ethic will be among the enduring benefits of this project. ' . CONTACTS: Stu Wilson 804786-4382 Bill Kittrell 540676-2209 Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Alternative Watering Systems for Livestock — The Middle Fork Hoiston River Builds on Success The New River-Highlands Resource Conservation and Development Council, sponsor of the Middle Fork Hoiston River Project (see Success Stones, 1994), has begun a new section 319 project in the watershed. The new project (the fourth section 319 project in the Middle Fork Hoiston watershed . since 1990) was launched in April 1994. Entitled "Using TMDL Study to Plan and Model BMP Implementation in the Middle Fork Hoiston," this project has focused on the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) in the Greenway Creek and Chestnut Ridge, two subwatersheds in Washington County. The Middle Fork Hoiston watershed includes 153,437 acres covering a 38-mile stretch in Smyth and Washington Counties in southwest Virginia. The towns of Abingdon, Chilhowie, and Marion are located in the watershed. The subwatersheds of Greenway Creek and Chestnut Ridge are located in the southern portion of the Middle Fork.Hoiston watershed in Washington County. Project managers selected the sites by identifying the most critical treatment sites for water quality benefits based on the total , • maximum daily load (TMDL) methodology developed in 1991 with 319 funding. Area farmers then installed various BMPs, including alternate watering systems for cattle (beef and dairies), streambank fencing, and pasture management improvements. Project managers used the AGNPS model to quantify pollutant loading reductions for the various practices based on site-specific conditions (e.g,, soil type, slope, proximity to stream). Then they used a computer-based geographic information system (GIS) named VirGIS with the AGNPS model to rank land tracts in the subwatersheds based on their potential for contributing - nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment loadings. In all, 18 farmers participated in the project, each one implementing an alternative watering system for cattle.. Five cooperators used solar powered pumps to operate their watering systems; two connected their systems to public water; and the remainder used electric power. The water sources varied from spring Alternative watering system for cattle. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 1Z3 ------- development to water intakes in streams and farm ponds. In conjunction with the watering systems, the farmers also installed 8,000 feet of fencing to protect streambanks, and three of the farmers implemented pasture management BMPs. The Greenway Creek and Chestnut Ridge subwater- sheds total 6,133 acres. BMPs were installed on 1,996 acres. The total length of streambank in the two subwatersheds is 24.88 miles. Based on the expected performance of these BMPs, VirGIS and the AGNPS model predicted that 4,880 tons of sediment, 24,948 pounds of nitrogen, and 3,330 pounds of phosphorus would be removed from the nonpoint source loading to Greenway Creek. Reductions to Chestnut Ridge included 3,788 tons of sediment, 22,809 pounds of nitrogen, and 3,396 pounds of phosphorus. The estimated reductions in sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loadings are listed in Table 1 are based on the period of May 1994 through June 1996. Table 1.— Nutrient loadings (Mdy 1994-June 1996) GREENWAY CREEK Sediment Nitrogen Phosphorus CHESTNUT RIDGE Sediment Nitrogen Phosphorus BEFORE 27,730 tons 1 60,592 Ibs 3 1,790 IBs BEFORE 16,474 Ions 93,486 Ifas 17,889 Ibs AFTER 22,850 tons 135,644 Ibs 28,460 Ibs AFTER 12,686 tons 70,677 Ibs 14,493 Ibs REDUCTION (instream) 4,880 tons 24,948 Ibs 3,330 Ibs REDUCTION (instream) 3,788 tons 22,809 Ibs 3,396 Ibs Monitoring results The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has' used the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) for fish community structure and conducted benthic surveys to assess water quality conditions in the Middle Fork Holston watershed on an annual basis since 1988. The 1994 to 1996 IBI scores showed no improvement in the upper Greenway Creek subwatershed, despite the predicted nonpoint source loading reductions. IBI scores remained in the poor to fair range but did improve over 1991 baseline conditions, and benthic invertebrate sampling using the family-level Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Tricoptera (EPT) index indicated water quality improvements from 1994 to 1996. Scores improved from "poor to fair" to the "good" range. For the Chestnut Ridge subwatershed, the IBI scores and EPT scores did not improve for the 1994-1996 period, even though the project resulted in a substantial reduction in the • sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loadings there. EPT scores would be expected to respond faster than IBI scores to water quality improvements. A lack of increase in the biological indicator scores indicates a system lag time between the actual BMP implementation and habitat improvements that generally are reflected in positive changes in the biological community structures, providing water quality is adequate. The biological monitoring will continue in 1997. Keys to success Projects in the Middle Fork Holston have been successful — so much that other watershed groups across the state have visited the project area. The New River-Highlands Resource and Conservation District attributes its success to several factors: • project marketing by a conservation specialist who makes numerous one-on-one contacts with landowners; • strong local support spearheaded by a watershed committee; • successive 319 projects, each building on the other; • adequate sources of funding beyond 319 from TVA and NRCS help support the BMP implementations; and •,a preexisting monitoring network in the watershed. CONTACTS: Stu Wilson 804 786-4382 Bill Kittrell 540676-2209 Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 174 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $259,185 S Agriculture: $1,101,079 H Urban Runoff: $137,975 E3 Silviculture: $240,856 W Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $171,215 D Other: $0 Irrigation Best Management Practices in the Moxee Drain — The Yakima River Basin Water Quality Plan Nonpoint source pollution stemming . from surface irrigation, inadequate tailwater management, sedimentation, and irrigation spills have been depositing approximately 40 tons of sediment per irrigation day to the Yakima River via the Moxee Drain. This figure — and the sediment carries all manner of associated agricultural chemicals — is based on monitoring performed by the Bureau of Reclamation from 1974 to 1981. In January 1994, the Washington State Department of Ecology approved the Yakima River Basin Water Quality Plan that had been developed by the Yakima County.Conference of Governments (COG Plan). The COG Plan identified 31 major tributaries within the Yakima River Basin and summarized information on the natural conditions, land and water uses, and quality for each basin. Based on that information, the COG Plan recommended 529 specific actions to address water quality issues in the basin. In relation to the Moxee Drain/the COG Plan identified five problems and recommended an action for each one. For example, irrigation delivery systems contribute to water quality problems; COG called for financial incentives and technical assistance as the actjon needed to help landowners improve the delivery system. Reduction in TSS goal Starting in late 1993, the North Yakima Conservation District received a section 319 grant to work on this action item. The goal of the project was to initiate a common effort among many agencies and other stakeholders to reduce on- and off-farm soil erosion, improve the water quality of irrigation return flows to the Yakima River, conserve irrigation water, and improve the irrigation district's operational capabilities. In addition, the project was expected to • protect groundwater quality; SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 175 ------- • improve in-stream flows of the Yakima River for fisheries and downstream users; • enhance and expand wetland and wildlife habitat areas; • enhance Yakima County, Terrace Heights, and Moxee's surface water management; • develop and implement adequate voluntary incentive programs; and • enhance the agricultural economies of the diversified crops of the Moxee Hydrologic Unit. The specific measurement goal was a 75 percent reduction of total suspended solids (TSS) in the agricultural tailwater draining to the Yakima River. Watershed delineation The Moxee Hydrologic Unit is in the Yakima River Basin in the center of Washington State. The Yakima River Basin consists of nearly 4 million acres; however, this Unit covers 97,680 acres near the middle of the river basin. The Moxee Drain carries the primary return flow of surface water to the Yakima River from the entire Moxee Hydrologic Unit. Annual precipitation in the Unit is under 10 inches and mean annual runoff is less than 0.2 inches. Land uses in the Unit are furrow-irrigated land, 7,000 acres (all in hops production); other irrigated land, 12,880 acres; tailwater areas, 1,000 acres; dry cropland, 2,700 acres; and dry rangeland, 74,110 acres. Priority was directed first to furrow-irrigated lands, second to irrigation tailwater management, third to all other irrigated lands, fourth to cultivated dryland, and fifth to nonirrigated rangeland. Project interventions by year The 7,000 acres of furrow-irrigated land were producing up to 100 tons of sediment per acre per year, and the sediment carried additional pollutants, such as DDT and its derivatives, at levels in excess of water quality standards. The first year of this five-year project was spent developing farm plans, doing project outreach to hops farmers, and developing contacts and partners. During the second and third years, the > major emphasis has been the development of contracts with over 80 individual hops farmers to convert to drip irrigation. This effort has also encouraged several thousand individuals to volunteer their time for water quality improvement work throughout the Yakima River Basin. Evaluation data and criteria The evaluation of best management practices (BMPs) in large-scale watershed projects is always a difficult task. Current recommendations from EPA and othejs generally state that many years (10 or more) are needed to monitor, observe, and analyze conditions and to relate changes in water quality to nonpoint source control efforts. However, several measures of success can be used to rate this project, despite the uncertainty of the scientific data. On individual farms, for example, the conversion from furrow to drip irrigation has reduced sediment loads to zero tons per acre. The Moxee drain sediment load now averages 28 tons' per irrigation day, a 30 percent reduction over the numbers recorded 20 years ago. The 1997 growing season will see the implementation of drip irrigation BMPs on a total of 2,148 acres. This event will double the impact of previous seasons' conversions. With the cooperation of Education Service District 105 and using this area for a field training, 50 Washington teachers have been trained in watershed management. This effort has also encouraged several thousand individuals to volunteer their time for water quality improvement work throughout the Yakima River Basin. The absolute need for active partnerships to develop planning, create multiple funding sources for project administration and implementation, and organize a solid education 116 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- and outreach program was the major lesson in this project. These programs require tremendous time and effort to set up. They cannot be properly done as an adjunct to other duties. Major partners in this effort included the Washington Hop Growers Association and the USDA. USDA helped with a Small Watershed Project Grant and direct support from its Natural Resources Conservation Service. CONTACT: Mike Tobin North Yakima Conservation District 509 454-5736 Sediment Control in the Skagit and Stillaguamish River Basins — A Pilot Project The Skagit and Stillaguamish Rivers flow easterly from the Cascade mountains into Puget Sound. The Skagit River, a national Wild and Scenic River, drains 3,093 square miles while the Stillaguamish River basin, directly to the south, drains 557 square miles. Annual precipitation in the eastern, mountainous areas of these watersheds.is over 100 inches but decreases as it moves west to less than 30 inches annually in some areas. Land-use activities, principally logging, have added greatly to the flow of sediment from these basins. Numerous stream reaches and various tributaries to the rivers are listed on the state's section 303(d) report for nonattain- ment of sediment and temperature standards. Forest roads used to access logging areas are significant contributors of sediment to streams. They increase surface erosion and the problem is compounded for roads on steep and unstable slopes and in areas with high water flows. Such roads are also vulnerable to dam breaks and landslides that contribute even larger amounts of sediment to downstream waters. These events widen streams,' reducing their depth and further increasing their temperature. : Forest roads and riparian enhancement Two watersheds, one each in the Skagit and Stillaguamish River Basins, were selected for a forest roads and riparian enhancement and restoration pilot project. The first, Deer Creek, flows into the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River; the second, Finney Creek, flows into the Skagit River immediately to the north. The Deer Creek basin contains 43,000 acres located north of the town of Oso, Washington. Elevation ranges from 340 feet at its confluence with the North Fork of the Stillaguamish, to 5,142 feet at the top of Mount Higgins. The basin bedrock can be generally described as metamorphosed sedimentary rock with igneous intrusions that have been glaciated over the past 2 million years. The major techniques used for limiting sediment production are road abandonment/improvement, in-stream deflectors, landslide •„ stabilization, in-stream projects, and riparian manipulations. The lower basin, is dominantly glacial outwash in terraces cut by subsequent erosions. Stream valleys are typically quite narrow, with only a few intermittent broad sections. Very narrow, ravine and canyon conditions predominate in the lower five miles of Deer Creek. Stream gradient throughout the remainder of the basin is moderately steep. Floodplain characteristics exist in areas of the drainage where the valley floor broadens. The federal government owns approximately half the land, especially along the upper reaches of the Creek. The remaining land is controlled by the state and private owners. Private forest landowners include John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Port Blakely Tree Farms, and Merrill, Ring, SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 177 ------- Green, and Crow (MRGC). Land near the town of Oso is controlled by small nonforest landowners. The Finney basin, directly to the north, contains 38,000 acres and approximately 75 linear miles of stream with elevations between 300 and 5.000 feet, Initial efforts involve a diverse partnership Partners in the project include landowners, tribes, state and federal resource agencies, and user groups. Among these many partners one finds expertise in forestry, engineering, biology, hydrology, and geology. In addition, U.S. Forest Service lands are included in the Adaptive Management Area and the Mount Baker-Snoqulamie National Forest is included in the President's Northwest Forest Plan. These initiatives provide additional incentives to bolster section 319 program management. The Department of Natural Resources performs watershed analysis (i.e., collects data) on state and private forest lands for the entire Watershed Analysis Unit. The analysis generally covers hydrology, mass wasting, soil erosion (especially relating to roads and timber harvest), fisheries, channel morphology, and riparian condition. Project plans were developed based on related scientific studies and watershed protection and improvement projects already done or underway in these.watersheds. The major techniques used for limiting sediment production are road abandonment/improvement, in-stream deflectors, landslide stabilization, in-stream projects, and riparian manipulations. A network of experienced field managers using historic data move the project forward without jeopardizing the watersheds' health, even while detailed watershed analysis is occurring. Thus, a proactive pollution prevention plan has begun using priorities established by this group. Respecting nature's timelines Project managers and generally proactive citizens can learn patience if they will from their involvement in this project. Results may not be measurable in less than 30 years. Consider only the riparian plantings, for example. Conifers planted to shade the stream require that many years to grow tall enough to produce shade. Still, a few results are evident even now. Perhaps the most striking early result is that despite two extremely wet years with reports of extensive landslides in many areas similar to • the treated areas, no landslides have occurred in the project area in several years. CONTACTS: Bob Penhale 206649-7074 David Howard 360407-6412 Water Quality Program Washington State Department of Ecology m SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NFS Category: $485,954 S Agriculture: $188,446 H Urban Runoff: $36,700 EB Silviculture: $100,000 OH! Construction: $0 D Resource Extraction: $0' H Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Certification Program for Timber Harvesters — Changes in West Virginia's Approach to Logging Sediments In 1992, West Virginia enacted dramatic changes to it's Nonpoint Source Silviculture Water Quality Program by passing the Logging.Sediment Control Act. This Act incorporated several provisions designed to protect the environment and to ensure that all logging operations are registered with the state's tax department and in compliance with all other rules, regulations, and laws of the state. Each logging operation must pay severance taxes, worker's compensation fees, and personal income taxes. The law provides that after September 1, 1992, anyone conducting a logging operation, buying timber, or buying logs for resale is required to be licensed with the Division of Forestry. Acceptance of the license implies that the operator will protect the'environment through the judicious use of silviculture best management practices (BMPs). Improperly planned and constructed logging roads and landings can cause soil erosion and sedimentation. Sedimentation can clog stream channels, contribute to streambank and channel erosion, damage the habitat of- fish and aquatic life, adversely affect.water supplies, and reduce values. Some recommended BMPs are • maintaining filter strips, • limiting grade on haul and skid roads, • erosion control seeding, and • water control measures such as culverts and broad-based dips. The second main provision of the law requires the certification of loggers. The requirements for certification are the satisfactory.completion of courses in tree felling safety, personal safety equipment, first aid, and silviculture BMPs. Since July 1, 1993, each logging crew must be supervised by a certified logger. The Act includes a third provision: loggers must submit a logging notification form within SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 179 ------- three days of starting a new harvesting operation. The site must also be posted with a sign listing the logger's name and license number. Failure to comply with any of these provisions, which have also been amplified by new regulations, can lead to suspended or revoked licenses. An appointed committee will meet every three years to review BMPs, modify them, or suggest new ones as needed. Current BMPs have been adopted from those already found in the Nonpoint Source Silviculture Management Plan. CONTACT; James Warren West Virginia Division of Forestry 304 558-2788 Potomac Headwaters Water Quality Project Poultry Production and the Environment Increases in poultry production in the early 1990s served as the catalyst for the West Virginia Soil Conservation Agency and the Division of Environmental Protection to consider using its section 319 program to provide technical and educational assistance to, the agricultural community in the Potomac Valley. Early interventions Recognizing the potential for increased water quality problems associated with the poultry industry in neighboring states, the West Virginia Soil Conservation Partnership, consisting of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), West Virginia Soil Conservation Agency, and the Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District, in cooperation with the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, developed proposals for section 319 funding to address these issues. Section 319 funding currently supports staff: one nonpoint source environmental specialist and one nonpoint source resource management specialist in the region. These specialists work closely with farmers; federal, state, and local government agencies; and private groups such as the West Virginia Poultry Water Quality Advisory Committee. They educate residents and farmers on nonpoint source water quality issues and best management practices (BMPs) such as nutrient and pesticide management, sediment and erosion control, and proper animal waste handling and storage. The Partnership's initial efforts led to the implementation of numerous best management practices, including 85 litter sheds, 139 dead-bird composters, 72 nutrient management plans, the incorporation of sediment and erosion control planning in poultry house construction, alternative uses for poultry litter, and educational efforts to reduce nutrient and pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater resources in the project area. Concentrated educational efforts included 16 poultry nutrient management and waste management seminars that attracted, nearly 400 participants in the last two years. These meetings included 11 grower meetings and 5 meetings promoting the use of litter outside the Potomac drainage area. Training and information services are also provided to local and state agencies, civic organizations, livestock groups, and schools to increase public understanding of various nonpoint programs and water quality issues. The Headwaters Project In 1992, a Memorandum of Agreement was developed between the West Virginia Soil Conservation Agency, West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, NRCS, and the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District. This agreement provides for accelerated federal, state, and local educational, technical, and financial assistance to reduce and prevent water quality impairments arising from agricultural and urban lands. The project covers 180 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- the eastern panhandle counties in West Virginia that drain into the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It is identified as the Potomac Headwaters Water Quality Project. Local demonstrations focused on the agricultural use of compost as a fertility amendment for vegetation. In late 1993, the original coalition of federal, state, and local agencies was expanded to include the West Virginia University College of Agriculture and USDA's Rural Development program. Through an accelerated cost-share •' program under the Small Watershed Act (Pub.Law 78-534), this project will provide up to 60 percent of the cost for accelerated nutrient management plans, agricultural waste storage structures, dead-^bird composters, livestock confinement areas, and riparian area development. To complement the NRCS cost-share, the West Virginia Soil Conservation Agency has initiated the use of the State Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans to producers who install BMPs in the Potomac Valley District. Demonstration projects Since its inception, the Potomac Headwaters Water Quality Project has garnered significant support in the form of legislative appropriations and individual agency budget allocations on both the state and federal levels. Numerous .demonstration projects have illustrated how to properly manage agricultural resources to prevent impacts on surface and - groundwater quality. These demonstrations include rotational grazing, nutrient management, livestock confinement areas, riparian zone development, composting, and a pesticide collection field day. The latter resulted in the removal of more than 20 tons of outdated or unused pesticides from the area. Composting Among the various demonstration projects, the composting project is one that seems to have captured the imagination and interest of many industry analysts and environmentalists. The benefits of on-farm manure composting include soil conditioning, development of a marketable product, improved handling measures, better land application, reduced pollution risk, and the destruction of disease-causing organisms (pathogens). This project stimulated the private sector's interest in whether and how to develop larger-scale litter composting systems for economic and water quality benefits. It also provides opportunities for local producers to install a regional composting operation that can produce a salable product and increase farm profits. Demonstration activities included the use of the composted product by local landscapers, nurseries, athletic fields, and golf courses. Local demonstrations focused on the agricultural use of compost as a fertility , amendment for vegetation. Compost maybe used in flood control projects —•• a possible additional market in the Potomac Valley. Its use on crop and forage production and as an ingredient in low-value lumber processing, perhaps with sawdust and bark, is'also being tested. Not only composting, but also the other demonstration projects serve as a local educational resource for agriculture producers, industry, and others. They help identify alternative markets for litter, proper confined animal siting arrangements and site layout, nutrient .and waste management plans, and animal waste storage facilities, along with odor and fly control for poultry operations. The Potomac Headwaters Water Quality Project is possible only as a result of efforts over the last five years during which the EPA continuously and diligently supported West Virginia's nonpoint source and section 319 programs. • CONTACT: Theresa Byler West Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Agency 304558-2204 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 181 ------- WISCONSIN 3I9(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $2,161,744 S Agriculture: $213,132 H Urban Runoff: $ 111,351 El Silviculture: $51,825 M Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 E3 Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 In the East River Watershed — An Animal Waste Treatment Demonstration Rrmers in the East River Watershed, one if 16 watersheds chosen to become a sderally funded USDA Water Quality Demonstration Project, are benefiting from . their embrace of management practices that enhance water quality and farm profitability. The practices, which include animal waste management systems and constructed wetlands, were the focus of a project carried out as a joint effort of the University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension, the USDA . Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the consolidated Farm Services Agency. The East River watershed is in the Green Bay area of northeastern Wisconsin. Wetlands may be recipient of milkhouse waste The impacts of milkhouse waste were monitored at different sites along the river. When the data confirmed the need for a viable and cost-effective disposal system for milkhouse waste, the project managers explored the long-term pollution control capability and survivability of small constructed wetlands for this purpose. They also examined the ability of a constructed wetland to remove nutrients and solids in a cold-weather climate that is subject to heavy and intermittent rain events. Once it was determined that,the system would be effective and durable, even in Wisconsin's climate, it was recommended as a best management practice (BMP) for treating milkhouse wastes in the East River watershed. Pipes and a holding tank The wetland filter system begins with a pipe leading fronrthe milkhouse to a holding tank with a sump pump. Once the waste reaches the tank it remains there until it has accumulated sufficiently to trigger the float control switch. The waste is then pumped to a diverter tank, which directs the effluent to either a settling/flotation tank, which functions as a 182 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- pretreatment, or directly to the constructed '.wetlands. , • The constructed wetland is a 12-cell system arranged in four parallel rows with three cells in a series in each row. Six of the cells received untreated wastewater; and six, as noted above, received pretreated wastewater. This design made it possible to test the efficiency of the constructed wetland on treated and untreated wastes. In both cases, prior to reaching these cells, the wastewater flows through the weir slot, where samples can be taken automatically or by grab sampling. After ' flowing through the weir, the waste flows to the first cell, then the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cells, until it reaches the filter strip and exits the treatment system. Each cell measures 76 feet by 10 feet. The sides slope to a depth of 18 inches. A layer of sand is placed at the bottom'of each cell, then a plastic liner (to prevent any possible groundwater contamination), and a second layer of sand above the plastic liner. Topsoil is laid above the sand and each cell has a berm top. Each one also contains several emergent aquatic plant species. Results Based on initial results, the constructed; wetland does reduce the flow of nutrients in the wastewater. It is probably more effective in the summer months than in the-winter when everything is frozen, but further experience and monitoring are necessary to determine if the nutrients trapped in the system remain there, or if they will be flushed from the wetland during spring thaws. When the data confirmed the need for a viable and cost-effective disposal system for milkhouse waste, the project managers explored the long-term pollution control capability and survivability of small constructed wetlands. Two other important lessons have emerged from this project. First, samples taken at the beginning of the experiment, that is, before the wastewater enters the wetlands, show that the pretreated wastewater has less nutrient content than the untreated wastewater. However, there is basically no difference between the pretreated and untreated flows when the wastewater exits the wetlands. In this case, pretreatment is probably not necessary. Second, the system as a whole appears to be overdesigned for the size of the application. During the summer months not enough wastewater is generated to keep all 12 cells of the wetland functioning. The farm operators and project managers agree that the constructed wetlands should be maintained and reconfigured: the pretreatment structure will be dismantled and the wetland will be reduced in size from 12 to 6 cells. CONTACT: Lynn Goldade ' Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 608264-9223 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 183 ------- Water Action Volunteers Paint the Town — Wisconsin Citizens Work to Protect Their Resources Water Action Volunteers (WAV), a partnership combining the Department of Natural Resources' • water expertise and the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension's educational skills, coordinate a variety of stream and river activities throughout Wisconsin. WAV provides educational materials and know-how for local volunteers who want to take action to improve water quality. WAV groups stencil "Dump No Waste, Drains to River" messages on storm drains to remind people that refuse dumped into storm drains does not disappear but ultimately flows to a waterbody. Groups in more than 60 Wisconsin communities have stenciled nearly 10,000 storm-drain inlets this year. The program has cooperated with the Lake Michigan Federation, Chippewa and Waukesha County land conservation departments, the Adopt-A-Lake program, the Audubon Society, and the Wisconsin River Alliance in painting the towns in Wisconsin. WAV provides educational materials and know-how for local volunteers who want to take action to improve water quality. s Another WAV project involves working with others to help clean up Wisconsin's rivers and streams. For example, teamed with America Outdoors and the Wisconsin River Alliance, WAV recently drew 580 volunteers to streambanks and lakeshores for a full day's work. The three groups distributed information and trash bags to these volunteers who collected over 37,000 pounds of garbage to clean up 267 miles of shoreline. CONTACT: Lynn Goldade Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 608 264-9223 184 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting NPS Category: $333,300 S Agriculture: $600,000 H Urban Runoff: $0 E3 Silviculture: $0 ED Construction: $0 B Resource Extraction: $0 I Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Restoring Riparian Areas Improves Trout Fishery — The Squaw and Baldwin Creeks Watershed The Squaw and Baldwin creeks' section 319 project lies in west-central Wyoming, near- Lander in Fremont County. The watershed consists of approximately 5.1.7 square miles, including a 13-mile stretch of Squaw Creek (a tributary of Baldwin Creek) and a 17-mile section of Baldwin Creek. Each section extends from the point where Baldwin Creek leaves federal property (managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service) to its confluence with the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River, north of Lander. . Land ownership is primarily private, interspersed'with state-leased properties. The properties include ranches ranging in size from 500 to 2,500 acres with the larger percentage of properties consisting of small ranchettes and subdivisions in the populated fringes of Lander city. A portion of Squaw Creek traverses the Lander city limits, including high school and elementary school properties. Squaw and Baldwin creek valleys were settled, along with the town, in the 1800s. At the time, these streams supported riparian vegetation, healthy fish, and abundant wildlife habitats. Residents report seeing many beaver dams and enjoying excellent brown trout fishing as recently as 50 years ago: Sometime during these early years, water was diverted from the streams and used to irrigate hayland adjacent to the stream channels. Riparian areas decline The streambanks and overflow channels gradually lost the natural diversified riparian vegetatiqn they once had through excessive grazing by livestock and burning and clearing for agriculture, along with the urban sprawl of subdivisions. Gone were the beaver dams, and with them, most of the trout. Channel alterations/such as cutting through meanders, facilitated further deterioration of the channel area over time. Improper irrigation wastewater SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 185 ------- Reconstructed streambanks along a section of Squaw Creek located in Popo Agie Conservation District. , return and poor irrigation water management in the channel vicinity further eroded the two streams. Seasonal high water, resulting from melting valley snowpack and snow on the northern slopes of the Wind River Mountains, flushes the channels with high volumes and velocities of water. Tremendous amounts of , sediment are washed from raw banks and channels into these streams, then into the Popo Agie River system, which in turn, dumps sediment into the Wind River and eventually into Boysen Reservoir. The North and Middle Forks of the Popo Agie River are both important trout streams and run clear even through much of the high water season. Squaw and Baldwin creeks, though they contribute little water to the river system, totally cloud the water with tremendous sediment loads. The Squaw/Baldwin creeks watershed has been identified as the single greatest contributor of silt and associated contaminants to the Popo Agie River. Their sediments damage Popo Agie trout fishery by covering important food sources and smothering fish eggs. In October of 1990, the Popo Agie Conservation District received the first of two grants from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (DEQ) and EPA under Section 319 to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Squaw and Baldwin creeks. Correcting grazing and irrigation practices The Popo Agie Conservation District leads the project in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), landowners,'City of Lander, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, and Fremont County Weed and Pest District. Lander Valley High School, Northside Elementary School, Teton Science School, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Boy , Scouts of America are also involved in information and education portions of the project. The project goal is to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Squaw and Baldwin creeks while correcting resource-related problems in the riparian areas. Conservation practices have been installed and land users are implementing totalresource management systems. The project installed best management practices (BMPs) to prevent streambank and channel erosion and to improve grazing and'irrigation management adjacent to" riparian zones. In addition, the project provides an invaluable educational vehicle to teach students and the public about nonpoint source pollution and gives hands-.on experience in working with these'practices. To date, approximately 18 miles of streambank have been treated with BMPs such as riparian fencing, plantings, water gaps, streambank stabilization, irrigation water control structures and pipelines, grade stabilization structures, pasture and hayland management, planned grazing systems, and irrigation water management. These practices address problems such as overgrazing, grazing in riparian areas, and irrigation water application and runoff. As many as 25 landowners participated under the initial grant, including the Education/Demonstration site behind Lander Valley High School; and 16 landowners have contracted with the District in the second grant. Of these, 12 contracts have been completed with four in progress. The Popo Agie 186 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (I ------- Conservation District offers participants a 60 percent cost-share assistance grant from DEQ and/EPA; 25 percent from District funds, and 15 percent fro.m landowner.contributions. Signs of success Monitoring by the District, Lander Valley High School Students, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and others have demonstrated numerable accomplishments. Examples include an increase in pollution-intolerant macroinvertebrates with a corresponding decrease in pollution-tolerant . macroinvertebrates. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports a dramatic improvement in the brown trout population. The observation that Squaw Creek no longer runs red is evidenced by water sampling reports. Total suspended solids have decreased an average of 38 percent during the years 1993 into 1996. Community awareness has generated interest in additional partnerships and has , facilitated the locally led conservation effort. CONTACT: Phil Ogle Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality 307777-5622 Increasing Livestock Grazing on Plateaus — Water Development for Loco Creek The 1992 Wyoming Water Quality Assessment (305b) report listed Loco Creek's coldwater fishery as threatened by sediments and'high temperatures. Livestock grazing and road development were the suspected causes of the impairments. With the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and livestock grazing permittees determined to improve conditions, the Little Snake River Conservation District organized a project to address these nonpoint sources of pollution with a section 319 grant and funding from BLM. Disturbed streambanks Loco Creek flows into Savery Creek, which is a tributary to the Little Snake River. Its watershed, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains in southcentral Wyoming, is comprised of high plateaus and 11 miles of steep canyon created by Loco Creek, The plateaus are roughly 8,000 feet above sea level and the canyon floor is at an elevation of approximately 6,700 feet. Average annual precipitation for the area is 14.inches, and mountain shrub and sagebrush/grassland vegetation types, predominate. . Land ownership within the watershed is 58 percent federal, 34 percent private, and 8 percent state. The Morgan-Boyer is a Bureau of Land Management grazing allotment almost ' totally within the watershed. It consists of a single pasture with few water developments. Five permittees run cows and calves in the allotment, another permittee runs sheep, and an additional 12,000 sheep are herded through the allotment on their.way to and from their mountain pastures (for spring and summer grazing). The sheep driveway crosses the lower end of Loco Creek. Livestock move to, the canyon for shelter, shade, and water during hot periods and do not return to the plateaus. The result is overgrazed riparian Vegetation and disturbed streambanks. Solar-powered fences The Little Snake River Conservation District and its partners formed.a coordinated • resource management group to help set priorities and coordinate various activities. Solar-powered electric drift fences and two water developments were completed under a riparian improvement demonstration grant to increase livestock use of the plateaus. Additional funds were needed for water ' developments to provide adequate water on the approximately 18-square-mile watershed, and to complete other proposed activities. The Conservation District received a section 319 grant to continue these improvements. The partners then-constructed five additional water developments on the plateau, and divided the canyon bottom into three riparian pastures, by fencing and the use of ' natural topographic breaks. They also used prescribed sagebrush burns on portions of the SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 187 ------- plateau and canyon bottom to improve the forage base and increase herbaceous vegetation cover. Next, they installed small in-stream structures to help control flows, increase bank water storage, and provide habitat for a beaver population. A plan to introduce beaver was abandoned, however, because the recovering riparian environment was not yet suitable and because beavers were likely to come from surrounding watersheds once suitable habitat was available. The project also included moving a portion of the canyon access road away from the stream and installing a culvert at a washed-out drainage crossing. The installation of water bars and drainage control measures on the road helped limit runoff to the stream. An information and education component ensured that other landowners and interested members of the public would understand the project and its results. Taxa richness increases A variety of monitoring methods have been employed by both the BLM and the Conservation District to evaluate success of the best management practices (BMPs). These monitoring methods included chemical water quality sampling, aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling, measuring stream channel cross sections, streambank well monitoring, riparian vegetation monitoring, and photo points. With the exception of chemical water quality, monitoring indicates that the project's goals are being reached and its BMPs have improved Loco Creek's aquatic and riparian environments. Results of water chemistry analysis showed no apparent change in quality from previous monitoring data, but it is always difficult to detect changes in chemical water quality with limited samples taken over a short time period. Other monitoring methods indicate greater improvement. , . Aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling has been part of the monitoring plan for this 319 project since 1994. Generally, all biologic indices evaluated indicate an improving trend in the aquatic macroinvertebrate community health. Total taxa richness statistically increased from 26 in 1994 to 34 in 1996. As part of the initial BMP implementation and monitoring, the BLM established eight monitoring locations on Loco Creek to evaluate width to depth ratios. Monitoring results from 1996 indicate that five of the eight cross sections have shown reductions in width to depth ratios, indicating channel deepening and greater stability. Eight streambank water wells were established in 1992. Wells were 5 to 10 feet deep and 10 to 100 feet from the stream channel. Water well data were collected from 1993 to 1996 and indicate that the overall riparian area function, to store water and allow slow release, is improving. Both Nebraska sedge and willow are key riparian species along Loco Creek. Density and frequency of Nebraska sedge and frequency and height of willows increased during the monitoring period from 1992 to 1996. CONTACT: Phil Ogle Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality 307777-5622 188 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- GUAM Guam Environmental Protection Agency Shifts Course — Nonpomt Source Management Reduces Discharges to Tumon Bay Presently in Guam, great strides are being made to implement the nonpoint source management program through the Guam Environmental Protection Agency permitting program. A capacity for on-site handling of stormwater runoff on commercial properties is now being implemented, especially on properties near the shorelines. An erosion control plan is likewise required before any properties can be cleared and graded. Guam is fortunate because it does not have to control many point sources found in other areas; mining activities, street salting, and combined sewer overflows are all essentially absent. The,nonpoint sources considered to have the greatest impact on Guam are • construction, • agriculture, • urban runoff, • solid waste disposal, and • sewage disposal. Discharges to Tumon Bay, which fronts major hotels and other tourist facilities and attractions, have been eliminated, primarily by removing all existing storm drains along Tumort Bay. Overflowing sewage from residential and other on-site disposal systems has also yielded . to control, following a house-to-house survey of . these systems and a requirement that homeowners connect their houses into the nearest .available public sewer system. These measures are impressive if only because Guam has been so focused on preventing point sources of water pollution that little specific data are available from Guam at this time concerning the effects of nonpoint - sources of pollution.'Control of nonpoint sources is more difficult than point sources because of the difficulty in identifying and characterizing these diffuse sources. The importance of nonpoint sources is now recognized, however, and their impact becomes relatively greater as point sources are brought under control. CONTACT: Narsiso Custodia Guam Environmental Protection Agency 671 646-8863 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 189 ------- NORTHERN MARIANAS ISLANDS Turning Problems into Advantages — The Marianas Islands Responds to Nonpoint Sources in the Lau Lau Bay Watershed _^_^^ The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) is a commonwealth of the United States, consisting of 16 small islands in the western Pacific, The islands are tropical and have a growing population for which tourism and the garment industry are major businesses. Saipan, the largest of the 16 islands, is the business, government, and population center. Nonpoint source pollution is a serious problem in the CNMI. The rainfall pattern (intense storms and only two seasons [wet and dryl), geology, and downstream resources (coral reefs) make nonpoint source both difficult and important to prevent and control. Focusing on a watershed approach The Lau Lau Bay watershed is located on the southeastern side of the island of Saipan. The watershed is characterized by steep slopes, volcanic soils, and intermittent streams. Runoff from the watershed drains into a fringing coral reef, the site where most of the tourists and many residents scuba dive and where many local families fish and picnic on the weekends. The watershed is relatively undeveloped; an unpaved coral road traverses most of the area and only a few small farms and residences appear in the watershed. However, much of the watershed will soon be developed to accommodate a golf course and megaresort. In 1991, two unpermitted land clearings occurred in the Lau Lau Bay watershed, one for a residential housing development and one for a limestone quarry. A tropical storm passed by the island soon after the clearings took place and caused massive erosion on the sites, resulting in heavy sedimentation of the reef. While these activities caused significant damage to nearshore resources, they also drew attention to the significance and fragility of the watershed. The CNMI government took note of these events and many agencies began to focus on protecting the watershed. Agency partnerships and monitoring project The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) made the Lau Lau Bay watershed the initial focus of its efforts to document and monitor the effects of nonpoint source pollution on the coral reef. The CNMI Interagency Watershed Working group has also "adopted" the watershed as their target to conduct resource studies and demonstration projects. In March 1996, DEQ began monitoring the effects of nonpoint source pollution, mostly sedimentation, on the coral reef in,Lau Lau Bay. The project's primary goals were to help CNMI agencies develop the capacity for conducting similar projects in other watersheds and to develop a systematic method to monitor nonpoint source .pollution throughout the CNMI. DEQ formed a marine monitoring team consisting of representatives from DEQ, Coastal Resources Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the Northern Marianas College. The team monitors the nearshore ecosystem to 190 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: UOLUME (( ------- detect early changes in the reefs' that may be caused by upland activities and nonpoint source pollution. Activities include • analyzing water quality, including nutrients, • determining the percent cover of coral and algae, • surveying indicator species, • taking fish censuses, and • calculating sedimentation rates. The team monitored the Lau Lau Bay reef for one year, with inconclusive results (as was .expected for such a short time). The value of the study was that it demonstrated the long-term capacity of the agencies to monitor these resources and increased public awareness of environmental needs and resources. Coastal Resources Management will produce an educational video for the local schools to show the effects of nonpoint source pollution on the Lau Lau Bay watershed and describe methods to control it. The marine monitoring team also developed a Long-Term Marine Monitoring Plan that will allow the agencies to collect and analyze data to look for early effects of nonpoint source pollution on the coral reef ecosystem. These baseline data will help developers and permitting agencies structure the development in such a way that its impact on the marine environment can be limited. The data will also help enforcement agencies take early action to control poor development practices. Developing public awareness DEQ conducted several activities that enhanced the public's awareness of the environmental values and problems of the Lau Lau Bay watershed. The marine monitoring team, in conjunction with a class of the Northern Marinas College, sponsored a public forum to discuss issues and solutions to problems in the watershed. Legislative leaders, agency directors, high school and college students, scuba divers, and the general public attended the forum to voice their concerns and to discover what steps are being taken to protect the watershed's resources. DEQ also conducted a survey of the dive operators on Saipan and determined the value of the reef to the CNMI. This information has been distributed to decisionmakers and the public and hopefully will be used when making future development decisions. Erosion controls and other practices The CNMI Interagency Watershed Working Group is also focusing their efforts on the Lau Lau Bay watershed. In May 1997, the group conducted a secondary road demonstration project in the watershed to teach heavy equipment operators best management practices to reduce sedimentation caused by eroding roads. More recently, the group has begun a revegetation demonstration project in the watershed to show landowners how to revegetate badlands and eroding slopes using simple and inexpensive bioengineering techniques to stabilize and recondition the soil. Agencies.plan to continue to study and conduct projects in the Lau Lau Bay Watershed. The Division of Environmental Quality will conduct a study to determine the erosion rates from different soil and vegetation types in the Lau Lau Bay watershed. These rates will be compared with the sedimentation rates on the . reef to better determine the effect that erosion in the watershed has on the coral reef in the bay. Coastal Resources Management will produce an educational video for the local schools to show the effects of nonpoint source pollution on the Lau Lau Bay watershed and describe methods to control it. The Interagency Watershed Working group hopes to involve additional agencies and groups in their efforts to study and protect the . Lau Lau Bay Watershed, including the Historic Preservation Office to gain a better understand- ing of land-use history in the watershed; the •Division of Forestry to conduct a large-scale revegetation project; the Department of Public SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 191 ------- Works to construct a better road in the watershed; the scuba operators to report unusual occurrences and events; and the Department of Commence to determine the value of the natural resources and nature-based tourism in the Lau Lau Bay Watershed. Prospects for the watershed and coral reef Not every problem of the watershed has been fixed; in fact, the more intensively the watershed is studied, the more the CNMI realizes the severity of the nonpoint source pollution problem in Lau Lau Bay watershed. These problems commenced in the Japanese era (1920 to 1940) when roads were built, manganese mines were dug, and the land was cleared. World War II activities compounded the problem through bombing, fires, and some industrial development. The problems continue today as a result of periodic burning and poorly developed roads. Both the watershed and the coral reef remain stressed and relatively • unstable. However, from the recent studies focused. on the Lau Lau Bay watershed, agencies and the public have learned>about the sensitive nature of the watershed and the value of preventing nonpoint source pollution. Ideally, this awareness will lead to better protected land in which development will be more closely scrutinized and steps will be taken to protect ' the resources. CONTACT: Susan Burr Division of Environmental Quality Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands '671 234-6984 192 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- PUERTO RIC§ 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1996 • Cross Cutting MPS Category: $0 S Agriculture: $556,444 H Urban Runoff: $0 013 Silviculture: $0 HID Construction: $0 E Resource Extraction: $0 Hi Stowage and Land Disposal: $0 H Hydrologic Modification: $0 Q Other: $0 Puerto Rico's Nonpoint Source Management Program — New Regulations Expected in 1997 Puerto Rico's section 319 program is administered by the Water Quality Planning Bureau of the Office of the Governor. Puerto Rico targets two main ' categories of nonpoint source pollution: livestock enterprises and erosion. Regulations for both categories have been proposed by the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board. If passed, the new regulations will help the board enforce the use of best management practices. At present, though no formal regulations are in place, the board requires an Erosion Control Plan at any site involving the mechanical movement of soil components. These plans include a description of the temporary and permanent measures that will be used to minimize erosion and prevent sediments from reaching nearby waterbodies. However, as these plans are not mandatory,. enforcement is very difficult. The proposed regulation for erosion control will provide the legal mechanism to enforce these measures. It was submitted to the public hearing process on January 28, 1997. . Livestock enterprises are the other nonpoint source that potentially threatens the quality of Puerto Rico's water resources: the discharge or improper application of animal waste and its high nutrient concentration. The board has been concerned about this issue since the early stages of the nonpoint source management program, but it has only recently developed a proposed regulation. Currently, the board reviews all animal waste management systems used by livestock enterprises. Such systems are covered in general terms only under Puerto Rico's nonhazardous solid wastes rule. Agreements supporting the proposed regulation have been reached, however, with local and federal agricultural agencies, such as Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Its passage will make compliance with the plans easier to enforce. . CONTACT: Eric Morales Water Quality Planning Bureau , Office of the Governor 787751-5548 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 193 ------- VIRGIN ISLANDS 319(h) Funding by Functional Categories for Fiscal Year 1995 • Cross Cutting DPS Category: $183,600 S Agriculture: $0 I! Urban Runoff: $0 El Silviculture: $0 Hill Construction: $30,OOO E Resource Extraction: $0 • Stowage and Land Disposal: $55,000 E] Hydrologic Modification: $0 D Other: $0 Boaters Contribute to Water Quality — Education Leads to Better Marine Sanitation Practices High bacterial counts have been detected in some bays in the Virgin Islands, especially in those with a large concentration of boats and boating berths. The contamination is partly the result of sewage and wastewater discharges from the boats, particularly from "live-on-board" vessels. To address this problem, section 319 funds and a grant authorized under the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Clean Vessel Act were used to cost-share the installation of vessel waste pump-out facilities at key marinas. The effort is managed by the University of the Virgin Islands-Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service, part of the University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Program. Six marinas on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix have already installed pump-outs through this program, or will in the near future. Several other marinas are expected to install pump-outs within a year. As soon as pump-outs are readily available, local and federal regulations prohibiting the release of untreated wastewater can be enforced. A revision of the Islands' principal legislation related to boat sewage discharges, namely, the Vessel Mooring and Anchoring Rules and Regulations, is underway. The new law will require that liveron-board vessels be berthed only at facilities with connections to sewage pump-outs. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Islands' principal environmental agency are stepping up marine sanitary device enforcement in areas where the pump-outs are now available. The Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service will use future section 319 funds to educate the boating public. The curriculum will include information on the location of pump-out facilities and the rules governing ' marine sanitary devices and boat sewage discharges. This project will not only help boaters comply with regulations, it will also lead to significantly improved water quality in the coastal waters and bays most visited by boaters. , . The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources- is presently performing quarterly ambient water monitoring 194 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- for fecal coliform. This quarterly testing will be expanded to include turbidity,and total kjeldahl nitrogen to provide a preliminary assessment on the quality of water and the effectiveness of the pump-out facility. CONTACT: Syed A. Syedali Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources 809773-0565 Erosion and Sedimentation on St. John — For Virgin Islanders, Knowledge is Action Over half of St. John island; one of-the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a national park. The physical layout of the island is a : combination of short, steep slopes terminating in sensitive wetlands and marine environments; this makes it susceptible to damage from even slight increases in erosion. Working in conjunction .with federal and local agencies, and with partial funding provided through the section 319 nonpoint source management program, the islanders recently began an investigation to assess the complex runoff • processes affecting the park. The project began in 1994 with the Virgin Island Department of Planning as the lead agency. Citizen groups, such as Fish Bay Homeowners Association and the Friends of Data logging from each sediment measuring site takes time and is difficult to do with muddy hands after a rain shower. Cyrus lean, a research assistant at Fish Bay on the Island of St. John, makes erosion and runoff entries. the Virgin Islands National Park; other local organizations, such as the Virgin Islands Resources Management Cooperative, the Island Resources Foundation, and the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development . Council, were also involved. They provided critical local contacts, disseminated information, and helped assure that problem definitions and solutions were crafted to fit local values and customs. A number of federal and local agencies and private interests from outside the islands supported the project — some with additional funding, others with technical or research assets. Among them: • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, • National Park Service, ; • US.GS Biological Resources Division, and • Colorado State University's Watershed Sciences Program. ' , Rainfall on roadways Roads cut into the hillsides have several impacts on runoff processes with direct implications on water quality. First, roads contribute to overland surface runoff in even the smallest storms. Investigation has shown that while undisturbed areas may saturate and yield runoff in perhaps 5 percent of rainfall events during the year, roads contribute to runoff as a result of 70 percent of annual rainfall events. Landscape with many roads is hydrologically more active than one with few roads. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 195 ------- Second, unpaved roads erode severely. The study documented road surface erosion of a centimeter a year, delivering in the case of one catchment some 400 metric tons of sediment to the mangrove swamps and bays. Surface water yields of up to 30 percent of rainfall have been measured on unpaved roads with suspended sediment loads of up to 60,000 parts per million. Third, road cuts of one to two meters into the hillside intercept the slow moving subsurface water and route it onto the road as surface water. This water, in turn, causes additional erosion. After extended periods of rainfall, the cuts intercepting the subsurface flow become saturated and slump onto the roadway, which compounds the problem. Changing practices Armed with this better understanding of how surface runoff works, local homeowners, machine operators, politicians, and government officials began crafting acceptable and economical solutions that address the complex problem. Their first decisive action involved retrofitting the island's roads. Spaced drains and roads sloped to the downhill side have been installed to allow small volumes of water to reinfiltrate into the soil. Synthetic mulch is being demonstrated at different construction sites as a cover that prevents the exposed earth from eroding. Additional solutions will come as new methods of road layout are analyzed'and used to replace the outdated practice of connecting roads directly to gutters. Different low-cost retaining wall structures are being investigated to stabilize steep road switchbacks. Porous paving has also been proposed, and investigations are underway to determine which native shrub and grass species should be planted to help stabilize roads cut into the hillslopes. The plants should not only anchor the substrate; they should also increase transpiration, helping to minimize the extent of saturation. The Fish Bay Homeowners Association has responded to their new understanding of. the problem by paving several kilometers of roads in the last three years. A common problem The problem the St. John islanders confronted is a common one on the Virgin ' " Islands. Sediment — from dirt roads, farmland, construction sites, urban encroachments, and other disturbed soils — is the primary nonpoint source pollutant threatening the Islands' water resources. Eroded sediment buries coral reefs and seagrass beds, clouds the water, impairs fish feeding and breeding sites, and impacts recreational activities. In sum, sediment and erosion destroy natural resources, reduce the income and attractiveness of the tourist industry, and damage the territory's fishing industry. The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Islands' Non- point Source Committee are successfully using a multifaceted education and outreach approach to address this severe water quality problem. Workshops sponsored by the University of the Virgin Islands-Cooperative Extension Service help regulators, developers, and the general public better perceive the challenge that erosion and sedimentation present. Newspaper articles inspired by committee members have widely publicized the erosion and sedimentation problem and the resources available to help reduce its magnitude. The Third Annual Virgin Islands Nonpoint Source Conference in November 1996, highlighted innovative methods for reducing erosion and featured the first-ever trade show of erosion and sediment control products in the territory. More than 90 percent of those participating indicated that they would implement at least one practice presented at the conference. CONTACT: Syed A. Syedali Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources 809 773-0565 196 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (( ------- INDIAN NATIONS Project Accomplishments and Long-term Plans In the 1987 reauthorization of the Clean Water Act, Congress added sections 319 and 518 to help states, territories, and tribes respond to problems caused by nonpoint source pollution. Section 319 established baseline requirements for state and territorial nonpoint source management programs and authorized national funding to support implementation of approved management programs. Section 518 authorized EPA to treat federally recognized Indian tribes in the same manner as states, and to grant up to one-third of 1 percent of national 319 grant funds to tribes ($330,000 annually). EPA annually awards section 319 grants to tribes that submit approved nonpoint source assessments and management plans. Each grant awarded under section 319 requires a 40 percent nonfederal match. If a tribe demonstrates a special financial need, however, EPA may, and frequently does, approve a 10 percent nonfederal match. As of fiscal year 1997, 11 tribes have qualified for and received- section 319 grants. Tribal section 319 projects have resulted in many successes, but many tribal programs are still planning for nonpoint source programs. Tribal Success Stories showcase the reduced sediment'loadings on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina, the improved , water quality in trout streams on the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon, the reduced nutrient loadings oathe Tampa and Brighton Reservations of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and others. More Success Stories preview the plans of tribes that are new to the section 319 program; many have received their first section 319 grant in the past year. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 197 ------- EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS Cherokee Critical Area Treatment Trout Return to Streams In 1995, the Cherokee Tribe in southwestern North Carolina used section 319 funding to complete an erosion project that it had begun in 1988. At that time, the tribe and the Southwestern North Carolina Resource - Conservation and Development Council had determined that severe erosion along access roads on tribal trust lands constituted critical areas for treatment. The roads in question, many of them extending 3,500 to 5,500 feet above sea level,. had been eroding for 20 to 30 years. The average rate of erosion was 150 tons of soil per acre per year, but along some roads, the soil loss was more than 1,000 tons per acre. By the The mill road BEFORE Critical Area Treatment time the Critical Area Treatment was completed, a total of 147,421 linear feet (60.8 acres) of main and access roads had been treated. Specifically, the 319 project treated the Mill Road section, the seventh and final phase of the project. It involved regrading some .26,796 linear feet of road and reseeding the area to permanent vegetation. In sum, the Mill Road section stabilized 9.9 acres, and since its completion, soil loss has fallen to less than 6 tons per year. In addition to installing soil-conserving measures, the Mill Road project provided enhanced habitat for bear, deer, and small game birds. These species are now very active in the area — a direct benefit of including plants that wildlife feed on in the reseeded areas along side roads. Stream habitats have also improved as erosion and sediment controls take hold; native trout have returned to many streams. ' CONTACTS: Kenneth Futreal Southwestern North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development 704452-2519 Eddie Almond Tribal Environmental Office Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 704497-3814 198 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- MISSISSIPPI BAND OF ( INDIANS Choctaw Tribe Assesses Soil Erosion and Siltation — Proposes Water Quality Best Management Practices The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is proposing to develop a Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) plan to address the problems of soil erosion and siltation resulting from various silviculture, • construction, a,nd resource extraction activities on the Choctaw reservation. Forestry, construction, and mining activities add to soil losses Source assessments indicate that land uses are the major pollution problem on tribal lands. In particular, three land uses account for most critical areas. They are . • silviculture, especially harvesting and reforesting activities without appropriate residue or groundcover management; • construction, especially for highways, bridges, and roads (sometimes in connection with forestry or mining activities) but also for housing, industrial, and commercial development; and • resource extraction and development, especially surface mining, or topping pits. Thus, soil losses to erosion in some upland (hilly) areas may be as high as 40 to 50 tons per acre per year. In some places the land is devoid of adequate tree, brush, or grass cover; in others, skid rails, fire lands, and roads have created gullies that cause annual soil losses in excess of 100 tons per acre per year. Siltation resulting from these identified nonpoint sources is the primary pollutant of tribal waters. . Pollution prevention The following activities — a mixture of pollution prevention, source controls, structural and nonstructural remedies (such as ordinances) — are proposed in the BMP plan for tribal lands: 1. Develop a nonpoint source (best management practices) plan to address erosion and siltation problems that affect water quality on the Choctaw reservation. 2. Hold meetings with stakeholders to discuss, and implement'pollution prevention activities and this plan. These stakeholders will serve the 'tribal chief in an advisory capacity to help prevent nonpoint sources of pollution on the Choctaw reservation and to implement and enforce tribal ordinances. 3. Conduct monitoring activities to identify discharge points, drainage patterns, direction of flow, water quality at surface water bodies affected by discharges, locations of significant materials exposed to stormwater, and structural control measures to control erosion and siltation. 4. Formulate and pass tribal ordinances, adopt erosibn and sediment controls for disturbed areas, and enforce selected- - BMPs. 5. Evaluate the success of pollution prevention activities to include the following activities: SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 199 ------- • Annual site compliance evaluation to be conducted by qualified personnel to evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs. • Revise the BMP plan as needed. • Implement a pilot project demonstrating the effective use of BMPs selected and comparing this site to a project where no pollution prevention activity is implemented. The tribe will also evaluate its current environmental management plans for consistency, and determine which, if any, provisions should be strengthened and incorporated in the Pollution Prevention Plan. CONTACT: Bernadette Hudnell Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians EPA Program 601 656-5251 200 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- COLUILLE TRIBES Owhi Lake — Restoring a Resident Fishery The Owhi Lake watershed is a 25,000-acre watershed located in Okanogan and Ferry Counties of Washington state, near, the center of the'Colville Confederated Tribal Lands. The lake, which-encompasses 500 acres, is 10 miles northeast of Nespelem, near tribal headquarters. The project area is within the Little Nespelem watershed. The Little Nespelem River originates at Owhi Lake. The Owhi watershed is roughly one-third rangeland (8,790 acres) and two-thirds forestland (16,210 acres). The rangeland occurs at lower elevations in the southwest corner of the watershed and extends north to Owhi Lake and east to the Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests. Owhi Lake is nutrient-enriched; its problems have multiple sources, but livestock's unrestricted, all-seasons use of the Owhi creek and lakeshore coupled with.a historic pattern of road construction for timber harvesting intensify the impacts from all sources. Limiting livestock access The tribes' Owhi Lake section 319 project is part of an integrated management plan that includes forests, rangelands, recreation, and traditional land uses. Its goal is to improve water quality through best management practices (BMPs). Tribal activities have focused on limiting livestock access to Owhi Creek and Lake. Using section 319 funding, tribal, and other money, the tribes fenced Owhi Lake and created livestock enclosures to restrict the use of pastures along the creek. The primary and ultimate objective of these and other project activities is to flush the lake and reduce the inflow of phosphorus'. However, the tribes also plan to improve riparian habitat and encourage more beaver activity along the creek. The fencing portion of the project was . completed about, 18 months ago. School children worked with tribal technicians- they planted riparian vegetation and helped put medium organic debris in the creek, using only local materials. Owhi Lake also has the most important resident fishery within the reservation. Indeed, School students placing organic woody debris in Owhi Creek. ; ~n SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME [[ 201 ------- the lake provides an excellent subsistence fishery for the Colville Tribes and is the sole source of brook trout broodstock for the entire reservation. The Tribal Fish and Game Division collects between 700 and 800 thousand brook trout eggs annually to restock the fishery. • Current fish stocking efforts provide subsistence and recreational opportunities for tribal members and other lake users. CONTACT: Gary Passmore Environmental Trust Department Colville Confederated Tribes 509 634-8844 Livestock fencing — lake In background. 202 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- Demonstrating the Effects of Managed Grazing Improved water quality is a major concern for the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana's glaciated plains, and nonpoint source program management is the method most likely to serve their goal. Grazing is a major contributor to nonpoint source pollution on the reservation. Most grazing units follow waterways because livestock are dependent on the streams for their water supplies. More than that, however, livestock grazing makes a dual contribution to the tribes' economic livelihood:, the tribes produce livestock and lease grazing lands to other ranchers. The demonstration .of a managed grazing system, a section 319 project, is underway as a first phase of a full-scale water quality protection plan for the reservation. The system will be demonstrated in the Little Porcupine Creek watershed, which' is used for grazing from summer through fall. The creek itself, a Class 1 Warm Water, supports several beneficial uses: aquatic life, secondary contact recreation, and agriculture. Three monitoring locations will be used to help project managers gage the effectiveness of the best management practices (BMPs). Approximately 80 percent of the watershed is native rangeland which produces approximately. 0.25 animal unit months per •acre. The normal management of the range is to graze cow/calf pairs for 5.5 months between May 15 and November 1. Generally the livestock- are unconfined and tend to concentrate in the riparian areas in the heat of the summer. At its upper end, Little Porcupine Creek has lost almost all integrity as uncontrolled grazing stripped its banks of riparian vegetation. Though the stream flows mostly underground, appearing only in isolated pools in the flat valley, it still serves as the only livestock watering source for the range. Grazing along the riparian corridor has been especially heavy. Woody species, including trees and shrubs, have been reduced to almost nothing, degrading the landscape and increasing stream temperatures/sedimentation, and conductivities. Summertime water temperatures average 22°C. The stream channel bottom is over 50 percent silt. Short-term goals for this project include the restoration of a healthy riparian zone and improving water quality at the long-term monitoring sites located in this range unit. Indicators for grading water quality and riparian improvement include increasing the biological condition category from severely impaired to moderately impaired and increasing the habitat supportability ratings from nonsupporting to partially supporting. CONTACT: Deb Madison Fort Peck Office of Environmental Protection 406 768-5155, ext. 399- SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 203 ------- HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE The Hoopa Valley Tribe Is Making Plans — A Soil Remediation Project to Remove Leaking Diesel Fuel For the Hoopa Valley Tribe of northern California. 1997 is a potential turning point: it is the first year the tribe is formally participating in the section 319 grant program. Project scope A watershed assessment financed through a 1991 Section 305(b) grant has identified both point and nonpoint pollution problems on tribal lands. Four major industrial, areas and approximately 20 minor sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons- (total petroleum hydrocarbons [TPH]) remain in residential areas of the reservation. Many are contaminated with diesel fuel (D), and some threaten the tribe's domestic water supplies. Among these 24 sites, a single site has been selected to demonstrate and evaluate a soil remediation technique and whether an air contact and wood-chip composting program can reduce the TPH-D levels in soils. The treatment should be sufficient to protect both surface and groundwater. The Masonite Mill Creek site is an abandoned sawmill with two large underground storage tanks. A leak from the tanks has contaminated the surrounding soil with diesel fuel. Investigators suspect that the leak may , have been as much as 10,000 gallons. Initial site investigations show that petroleum hydrocarbons had already contaminated the site's groundwater. Project managers had the tanks removed and disposed of in an approved manner by a licensed contractor. Contaminated soils were likewise excavated and transported off-site. • Postexcavation testing of both the residual soil • and the groundwater show no traces of TPH-D. The tribe considered various alternative methods for cleaning the contaminated soil and eventually selected bioremediation. This technology appears to be the appropriate method; it is within the scope of the tribe's available technological skills and appears to be cost-effective. Bioremediation uses microbacteria to break down and digest volatile organics (such as diesel fuel). The warm summer months will aid this process. The tribe plans to conduct bioremediation on approximately 1,700 cubic yards of soil contaminated with diesel fuel. The process will include windrowing the soil on an impervious surface, working wood chips into the soil, and turning the soil monthly to encourage complete aeration. The soil will be monitored for TPH-D during the treatment period. The tribe's Environmental Protection Agency believes that two summer seasons will be required to remediate the soil. Windrows will be covered during the rainy season between the first and second years. When remediation is complete, the open pit will be refilled, and the site will be cleaned and revegetated. During the. remediation period, the site can also be used for educational field trips. CONTACT: Larry P. Oetker Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency . 916625-5515 204 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- HUALAPAI TRIBEj Hualapai Tribe, Northwestern Arizona The Hualapai Reservation, on approximately one million acres of land in northwestern Arizona and 108 miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, will be a first-time participant in the section 319 grant program in 1997. The Hualapai Department of Natural Resources will be responsible for accomplishing the program on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Flight of the burros The Spencer Creek subbasin is located directly west of the Diamond Creek/Peach Springs Canyon subbasin and covers about 240 square miles. Spencer Creek is the largest perennial stream on the reservation. The creek and its tributaries, the Meriwhitica, Milkweed, and Hindu canyons, drain a large part of the Hualapai Plateau. The land changes from a high elevation pinon-juniper forest on the southern end to high-desert vegetation along the Colorado River, the northern boundary of the reservation. Many feral burros live on the reservation: 17 were counted in an April 1996 reconnaissance of the drainage. The predominant land uses in this subbasin are cattle grazing and recreation. The confluence of Spencer Creek and Lake 'Mead is a popular camping spot for Colorado River trips and recreational lake boaters. Coaxing the flight The removal of 90 percent of the feral burros in the Spencer Creek subbasin is a major undertaking for this project. Removal methods include the use of helicopter net guns and riding herd on the burro by horseback. The roundup is necessary to prevent fecal contamination of the creek and to protect the basin's wetlands, restoring the native vegetation and providing important habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The actual project will require three days' using a helicopter. During the first four hours, the helicopter crews will haul fence panels down to Indian Gardens to make a temporary holding pen. Then they will net all burros encountered in Spencer Canyon and transport them by helicopter to the holding pen for relocation to other areas. Estimates are that this step will require approximately 16 hours. Previous projects to remove burros and wild horses from the reservation have been successful. However, the animals regain their original numbers in approximately 10 years. In the meantime, the Department is developing plans to prevent the .buildup of these feral. populations, and the woody riparian vegetation now lost to overgrazing will have an opportunity to mature. Selected sites will be observed for vegetation recovery. Removal of the burros from Spencer Canyon will immediately improve wetland plants and water quality throughout the Spencer Creek drainage. Project managers will monitor its effects by pre- and postremoval photographic documentation. The project is expected to enhance approximately 321 acres of wetland habitat along the lower reaches of the creek. These areas serve as forage, nesting, and cover grounds for migrating waterfowl and • neotropical migrants. CONTACT: Don Bay Hualapai Department of Natural Resources 520769-2255 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 205 ------- SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA Projects on the Brighton and Tampa Reservations The Seminole Tribe of Florida has requested assistance to develop and implement best management practices on two distinctly different reservations. The Brighton Reservation Project seeks to limit the flow of nutrients in runoff from lands used primarily as pasture for cow-calf cattle ranching. Because the reservation is highly urban, the Tampa Reservation Project seeks to divert runoff from a large parking lot, and collect it to restore a wetlands area that is part of a recreational business. The Brighton project has entered the monitoring phase; the Tampa project is only now being implemented. Its purpose remains as described, but its design has expanded as other businesses on the reservation become involved, Pasture management The Brighton Reservation, approximately 36.000 acres located on the northwest edge of Lake Okeechobee, is sweet cabbage palm flatwoods dominated by palm hammocks and bahia/Pensacola grass pasture lands. It has 25 ranches on 12,000 acres of pasture, which are grazed by approximately 6,500 head of cattle. The tribe worked with the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office to develop a pasture management plan that would use a four-pasture rotational system with new cross-fences and livestock watering facilities. Autosamplers were placed at the surface water ditches entering and leaving each pasture. A fifth pasture was used as a control, and phosphorus and nitrogen are measured weekly. Data from the monitoring activity on Brighton Reservation indicate that total phosphorus and nitrogen are still present in the field runoff. However, a longer-term monitoring .program is needed to gage the project's overall success. In the meantime, the rainfall, water quality, and surface water pumping quantities are being measured and grazing patterns documented for further remediation. Managing urban runoff The Tampa Reservation consists of 45 acres in eastern Hillsborough county between Highways 98 and 1-4. It is primarily steeply sloping urban land with a hotel,' stores, gaming facility, a cultural village, and community townhouses. It even has a recreational softball field. The Tampa Reservation is about 80 percent paved; runoff from the paved areas at the top of the hill flows to the Village and community homes at the bottom of the hill. The original plan to route runoff from the Tampa parking lot called for installing a constructed wetlands in the cultural village. More recent plans are to drain more of the parking lot and expand'a small detention pond that will actually be the first tier of a multiple floor parking garage. CONTACT: Craig Tepper Water Resources Management Seminole Tribe of Florida 954 967-3402 206 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II ------- CONFEDERATED TRIBiS^FirH&« UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION Protecting the Floodplain, Riparian, and In-stream Habitat Land uses on the Umatilla Indian Reservation and in the surrounding Umatilla River watershed (in northcentral Oregon) include agriculture (both dryland and irrigated), ranching (grazing),, forestry, and residential, commercial, and.industrial . development. These land uses yield a variety of nonpoint sources primarily related to erosion. Thus, for example, they include the loss of • wetlands and riparian vegetation along the : Umatilla River and its tributaries and runoff from fields, roads, parking areas, and industrial sites. Groundwater contamination may also result from these land uses. Failing septic systems and sewage 'effluent also contribute to water quality impairments associated with nonpoint source runoff and soil erosion. River basin protection enhances ancient rights Throughout the Umatilla River Basin, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation retain aboriginal and treaty rights related to fishing, hunting, livestock production, and the gathering of traditional plants. Water quality, riparian, and'watershed conditions must be managed to provide ample opportunity for the tribes to exercise those rights. Most recently, the tribes have undertaken a.project to ensure the in-stream, riparian, and upland habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants. , • An integrated approach serves the coldwater fishery The project is using a watershed protection approach to restore the Umatilla's Jloodplain, riparian areas, and in-stream habitats. The tribes look forward to improved livestock and crop management practices that will ultimately improve coldwater fisheries (especially the salrnonid habitat), water quality, and native plants. Specifically, the tribes will reduce stream temperatures and control sedimentation through increased riparian " plantings, shading, and additional groundwater storage and infiltration. The following objectives have been identified: • increase riparian shade and bank storage to improve productivity and survival of adults during holding and spawning of eggs and of juveniles during rearing and passage; • improve pasture management and efficiency by rotational grazing and wider use of upland pastures; • reduce late summer water temperatures and increase winter stream temperatures to improve productivity and survival of adult salmonids, eggs, and juvenile salmonids during rearing and passage; • improve crop management practices to protect and restore water quality and fish habitat; • increase riparian vegetation and consider the introduction of beaver to provide natural habitat structural improvements; SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME ({ 207 ------- • increase in-stream structure and channel diversity to improve overwintering habitats and fish survival; and • implement a proactive approach to private land grazing and agricultural management. Monitoring for outcomes Project outcomes can be evaluated by monitoring five categories: • physical changes in streambank and floodplain vegetation; • changes in water quality (temperature and suspended sediment primarily); • juvenile salmonid production; • adult salmonid returns; and . • maintenance of project improvements. Streambank and floodplain vegetation and stream morphology will be monitored through habitat surveys, photo points, and air photographs; water quality, with permanent in-stream temperature monitoring stations. Other changes can be gaged through synoptic educational and effectiveness monitoring. Salmonid numbers will be monitored, with prior landowner permission, by the Confederated Tribes and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. CONTACT: Rick George Department of Natural Resources: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation 541 278-5206 208 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Access road—a temporary or permanent road over which timber is transported from a loading site to a public road. Acid mine drainage—Mine leachate, or drainage, that contains free acidic sulfates (usually, ferrous ' acid). Sulfide minerals generally breakdown in the presence of oxygen and water. , Aquifer—An underground geologic formation or structure that transmits water in sufficient quantity to supply the needs for a water development (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Berth—A low earthfill constructed in the path of flowing water to divert its direction, or constructed . to act as a counterweight beside the road fill to reduce the risk of foundation failure. Best Management Practice (BMP)—A practice or combination of practices that are determined to be the most effective and practicable means of controlling point and nonpoint pollutants at levels compatible with environmental quality goals (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Channelization and channel modification— Engineering activities or techniques undertaken to change stream and river channels for certain reasons, including flood control, navigation, and drainage improvement. Also called channel modifications, these activities include straightening, widening, deepening, relocating and clearing or snagging operations that generally result in more uniform channel cross sections. Chlorophyll-a—A blue-green chlorophyll or magnesium chlorine pigment, found in all higher plants and algae. Chlorophyll plays an important role in photosynthesis. Composting—A controlled process of degrading organic matter by microorganisms (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Constructed wetland—Engineered systems • designed to simulate natural wetlands to exploit the water purification functional value for human use and benefits. Constructed wetlands consist of former upland environments that have been modified to create poorly drained soils and wetlands flora and fauna for the primary purpose of contaminant or pollutant removal from wastewater or runoff. Crop rotation—The growing of different crops in recurring succession on the same land (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Dissolved oxygen—The concentration of free molecular oxygen in the water column. Although oxygen makes up about 90 percent of water, it's concentration in water is higher near the surface and declines to almost nil at the lowest depths. Its absence causes fish kills and the condition known as hypoxia, or dead water. Effluent—Solid, liquid; or gaseous wastes that enter the environment as a by-product of human activities . (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Erosion—Wearing away of the land surface by ' • running water, glaciers, wind, and waves. Estuary—The part of the river that is affected by . tides. The region near a river mouth in-which the fresh water in the river mixes with the salt water of the sea. ' Eutrophication—The alteration of lake ecology through excessive nutrient input characterized by excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae and low' levels of dissolved oxygen. Fecal coliform bacteria—Bacteria normally found in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals; these bacteria are normally harmless to humans, but are used as indicators of the presence of sewage that may contain harmful bacteria and viruses. GIS—see Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—A computer system used to store, analyze, and present geographical information, such as topography, ecosystem types, vegetation, land uses, and political and transportation systems, among others. A single map can be displayed on the computer screen with additional maps added as overlays to facilitate comparisons. Geotextile—A product used as a soil reinforcement agent or filter medium. Made of synthetic fibers manufactured in a woven or loose nonwoven manner to form a blanket-like product. Groundwater—Underground water supplies stored in aquifers; the source of groundwater is rain which soaks into the ground and flows down until it is collected at a point where the ground is not permeable. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 209 ------- Habitat—The place where a biological species naturally lives or grows. Herbaceous—A vascular plant that does not develop woody tissue (Soil Conservatioa Society of America. 1982). Holding pond—A reservoir, pit, or pond, usually made of earth, used to retain polluted runoff water for disposal on land (Soil Conservation Society of America. 1982). Hybrid—A plant resulting from a cross between parents of different species, subspecies, or cultivar (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—A pest population management system that uses cultural practices to anticipate and prevent pests from reaching damaging levels. IPM uses all suitable tactics including natural enemies, pest-resistant plants, cultural management, and pesticides, leading to an economically sound and environmentally safe agriculture. Irrigation—Application of water to lands for agricultural purposes (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). . Karst—A type of topography characterized by closed depressions, sinkholes, underground caverns, and solution channels (Soil Conservation Society of America. 1982). Lagoon—A reservoir or pond built to contain water and animal wastes until they can be decomposed either by aerobic or anaerobic action (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Leachate—Liquids that have percolated through a soil and that contain substances in solution or suspension (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Leaching—The removal from the soil in solution of the more soluble materials by percolating waters (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Load—The quantity (i.e., mass) of a material that enters a waterbody over a given time interval (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Manure—the fecal and urinary defecations of livestock and poultry (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Nitrate—Any salt or ester of nitric acid or any compound that contains the NOs- group. A fertilizer consisting of sodium or potassium nitrate. More generally, a water soluble form of nitrogen. Nonpolnt source pollution—water pollution that comes from many diffuse sources rather than from a specific point, such as an outfall pipe; often the unintended result of human activities. Nutrients—Elements, or compounds, essential as raw materials for organism growth and development, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982).: Permeability—The quality of a soil horizon that enables water or air to move through it; may be limited by the presence of one nearly impermeable horizon even though the others are permeable (Soil Conservation Society of America, 1982). Pesticide—Any chemical agent used for control of plant or animal pests. Phosphorus—A widely occurring nonmetallic element used in matches, pesticides, fertilizers, and other products; one of the primary nutrients, phosphorus is involved in nearly all processes of, metabolism. Point source pollution—water pollution that comes from a specific definable source. Pollutant—Dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste discharged into water (Section 502(6) of the Clean Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100-4) Retrofit—The creation or modification of an urban runoff management system in a previously developed area. This may include wet ponds, infiltration systems, wetland plantings, streambank stabilization, and other. BMP techniques for improving water quality and creating aquatic habitat. Riparian area—Vegetated ecosystems along a waterbody through which energy, materials, and water pass. Riparian areas characteristically have a high water table and are subject to periodic flooding and influence from the adjacent waterbody. ' Runoff—That part of precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that runs off the land into streams-or other surface water. It can carry pollutants from the air and land into the receiving waters. Salinity—The concentration of dissolved solids or salt in water. Sediment—The product of erosion processes; the solid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by air, water, gravity, or ice. Sedimentation—The process or act of depositing sediment. Silvicultural system—A process, following accepted principles, whereby the tree species constituting forests are tended, harvested, and replaced. 210 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I ------- Storm drain—A system of gutters, pipes, or ditches. used to carry stormwater from surrounding lands to streams, lakes, or coastal waters. Stormwater—Water that is generated by rainfall . Surface water—All water whose surface is exposed to the atmosphere. . Suspended sediment—The very fine soil particles' that remain in suspension in water for a considerable period of time. TMDL—see Total Maximum Daily Load Tillage—The operation of implements through the soil to prepare seedbeds and rootbeds, control weeds and brush, aerate the soil, and cause faster breakdown of organic matter and minerals to release plant foods, . . Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)—This program, established by Section 303{d) of the Clean Water Act, provides for the protection of waters in ' areas where pollution control is not stringent enough to achieve water quality standards. The program authorizes states to assess water quality and to allocate the total maximum allowable daily load(s) of pollutant discharges.to those waters, regardless of the pollutant's source. Future TMDLs are expected to emphasize wet weather stormwater discharges and nonpoiht source pollution problems. Turbidity—A cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic matter. Vegetated buffer—Strips of vegetation separating a waterbody from a land use with potential to act as a nonpoint pollution source; vegetated buffers (or simply buffers) are variable in width and can range in function from a vegetated filter strip to a wetland or riparian area. . Water quality—a term that reflects the condition of water that has been affected by natural processes and human activities; good water quality may mean that it meets its designated uses, i.e., it is fishable and swimmable. Watershed—A drainage area or basin iti which all land and water areas drain or flow toward a central collector such as a stream, river, or lake at a lower elevation. Wetlands-r-Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration to support an, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions; wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME II 211 ------- ------- acid mine drainage 66-67, 116-118, 141-142 agriculture 26-27, 43-44, 55-56, 59-62, 68-72, 86-87, 90-91 ,96-101, 111-112, 128-129, 130, 146-148, J57, 165-170, 173-177,. animal waste 7-8,45-47,93-94,182-183 burros 205 composting 96, 160-161, 180-181 constructed wetlands 64-66., 79-80, 84-85, 120 dairy waste 17-18, 43-44, 56-57, 68-70, 79-80, 90-91, 111-112, 165-166 erosion 73-75,77-78, 107-108, 157, 164-165, 175-177, 179-180,204 forestry 39-44, 75-76, 121-122, 124, 177-180, 190-192, 195-196, 199-200 grazing 24-25,97-99, 101-102, 107-108, 126-127, 164-165, 187-188, 203 . ' ' . integrated crop management 59-60, 169-170 lake 37-38,48-50,61-62,91-92,94-95,104-107, 109-110,130,167-168,201-202 legislation 67, 124, 138-139, 193 manual 11-12,39-41 marina 113-114, 194 marsh restoration 35-36,143-144 minigrants 148-150 no-till farming 55-57, 107-108, 130 nutrients 7-8, 19-20, 30-32, 61-62, 73-74, 86-87, 90-95,97-102, 104-105, 109-110, 126-130, 154-156, 167-168, 173-174 range management see grazing rice 70-72 . . ' • riparian 24-25, 42-44, 48-54, 59-60, 55-76, 103, 106-107, 154-156, 164-165, 171-173, 177-178, 185-188,207-208 roads 195-196, 198 'sediment 23, 24-25, 30-32, 59-60, 73-75, 121-122, 128-130,154-156,177-180, septics 64-65, 119-i 20, 144-145 shellfish bed 84-85, 113-114, 141-142, 134-135 soil remediation 204 stream restoration 23, 49-50, 58-59 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) 136-137, 173-174 total resource management 26-27, 99-100 trout 7-8, 24-25, 49-50, 58-59, 88-89, 106, 122-124, 185-187,198 • - . urban 29-32,94-95, 109-110, 158-161, 206- volunteers 8-10, 63, 131-132, 150-152, 184 watershed 13-16, 21-23, 33-34, 77-78, 81-83, 88-89, 122-126, 134-135', 139-140, 152-154, 190-192 wellhead protection 162-163 zoning 13-16, 142-143 •fr U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1997-615-649/90403 SECTION 319 SUCCESS STORIES: VOLUME (I 213 ------- ------- ------- ------- |