1
Section 319
NOKPOINT SOIHCE PPHGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Aquatic Life Use Restored in Agricultural Watershed
WatPrbndv Irnnrnvpd Agricultural runoff decimated macroinvertebrate life in a 1.9-
'} * -*..» mjte segment of the Mills River in western North Carolina.
Because the segment failed to meet aquatic life criteria. North Carolina placed it on the
state's 303(d) list of impaired waters in 1998. Local and state water quality experts worked
with the community to implement several best management practices, including moving
pesticide mixing stations away from river banks and restoring vegetated buffers. Water
quality improved enough to once again support macroinvertebrate life, and the state
expects to remove the river segment from its 303(d) list in 2006.
Problem
The Mills River supplies drinking water for more
than 50,000 people in three western North
Carolina counties. Areas upstream from the
town of Hendersonville are home to many intensely
managed agricultural activities, including the
production of cattle and specialty crops such
as tomatoes. Officials suspected that these
operations contributed sediments and pesti-
cides to a 1.9-mile river segment extending
upstream from the town's water intake.
The state conducted benthos sampling in
the river segment and used the EPT index to
measure the presence of pollution-sensitive
aquatic insects. The index assumes that a
waterbody showing high EPT richness is less
likely to be polluted than another waterbody
with relatively low EPT richness in the same
geographic region. In addition, the state mea-
sured biotic integrity (Bl) in the river segment.
A low Bl value indicates better water quality
than a high Bl value.
As shown in the accompanying table, monitor-
ing results from both indices revealed that the
segment met state water quality standards
for aquatic life support in 1997. In subsequent
years, however, the North Carolina Division of
Water Quality (NC DWQ) found much lower
EPT and higher Bl values, indicating a decline
in water quality. In 1998, NC DWQ assigned a
This chemical-handling facility replaced one that was
directly adjacent to Mills River.
Year
1997
1998
2001
2002
EPT
24
2
6
28
Bl
5.17
6.69
—
5.54
State assessment rating
Good-Fair
Poor
Poor
Good-Fair
Mills River biomonitoring results using the EPT
index and Bl. Low EPT/high Bl indicate poor water
quality, while high EPT/low Bl suggest good water
quality.
Poor rating to the river segment and placed it
on the state's 303(d) list.
Project Highlights
State and local water quality experts teamed
with landowners and other organizations to
address suspected pollutant loading sources
-------
Streambank and buffer restoration shortly after tree
planting. Small trees are in the tall grass on the left.
to the river segment. Project partners obtained
three conservation easements totaling 192
acres, designated and planted 7.8 acres of
riparian buffers, and restored nearly 4,700
linear feet of streambanks. In addition, they
moved two chemical mixing stations away
from river tributaries.
To address the sources of sediment, project
partners stabilized 10 miles of logging roads,
installed 2,580 linear feet of cattle fencing, and
created 400 feet of stock trails to reduce cattle
traffic on steep slopes. Area cattle operations
received two water tanks, further helping to
keep cattle away from streams.
Public outreach also played a role in the
restoration effort. Workshops educated local
agriculture producers about the dangers of
pesticides in the river. Local residents received
general watershed education.
Finally, project partners established a
stormwater monitoring program in 2001.
Results
Restoration efforts resulted in dramatic water
quality improvements, as confirmed by benthic
monitoring. In 2002, NC DWQ macroinver-
tebrate sampling showed a much richer EPT
index of 28 and a stronger Bl of 5.54. Both indi-
ces placed the river segment in the Good-Fair
assessment rating, placing the river segment
in compliance with its aquatic life support
designation. With such a positive result, North
Carolina expects to remove this river segment
from its 303(d) list in 2006. Macroinvertebrate
monitoring will continue, with the next sam-
pling event scheduled for the summer of 2007.
Gains will be lost, however, if work does not
continue. The Mills River watershed is in
western North Carolina's fastest growing area.
Keeping pace with development impacts is
essential if designated uses are to be sus-
tained. The state's future plans include restor-
ing a mile of vegetated buffer and constructing
a chemical mixing building that will eliminate
two additional streamside mixing stations.
Partners and Funding
Numerous groups worked together successfully
to restore this segment of the Mills River. The
NC DWQ supported the work with a 319 grant of
$448,000. The state's Clean Water Management
Trust Fund provided $730,000, and the partners
used a $50,000 EPA Source Water Protection
grant to create land conversion inventories and
hold meetings and workshops.
Many agencies and organizations contrib-
uted services and funds, including North
Carolina's Divisions of Forest Resources and
Soil and Water Conservation; N.C. Ecosystem
Enhancement Program; N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission; N.C. State University
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research
Station; Henderson County; Henderson
County Soil and Water Conservation District;
Environmental Conservation Organization
of Henderson County; U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Forest Service, and Natural
Resources Conservation Service; Carolina
Mountain Land Conservancy; City of Asheville's
Water Treatment Plant; City of Hendersonville;
Cross Creek Foundation; Land of Sky Regional
Council; Tennessee Valley Authority; Trout
Unlimited (Land of Sky Chapter); North and
South Mills River Community Development
Center; Regional Water Authority of Asheville,
Buncombe and Henderson Counties; University
of North Carolina at Asheville's Environmental
Quality Institute; and Mills River Partnership.
. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
\ Off ice of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-06-003D
June 2006
For additional information contact:
Michelle Raquet
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
919-733-5083 ext. 367
Michelle.Raquet@ncmail.net
------- |