Section 319 Success Stories:
The Successful Implementation
of the Clean Water Act's
Section 319 Nonpoint Source
Pollution Program
Draft Text
September 7, 2001

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Section 319 Success Stories:
The Successful Implementation of the Clean Water Act's
Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
This document is the third volume of Section 319 Success Stories, the first volume
of which was published in November 1994 and the second in October 1997. The first
document illustrated the states' achievements in their initial efforts to implement their
nonpoint source programs under section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The second volume
demonstrated the maturation of the state programs and was replete with many examples
of the 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 III contains approximately two new stories per state,
highlighting some of the additional successes achieved since the 1997 publication. These
stories demonstrate better-defined water quality improvements, as well as growing
partnerships and funding sources, as state 319 programs expand and learn increasingly
more from past 319 demonstration projects. Collectively, they represent only a fraction
of the section 319 project successes.
Nonpoint source pollution
At the inception of the Clean Water Act in 1972, the Nation's water quality
community placed a primary emphasis on addressing and controlling point source
pollution (pollution coming from a discrete conveyance or location, such as industrial and
municipal waste discharge pipes). Not only were these sources the primary contributors
to the degradation of our nation's waters at the time, but the extent and significance of
nonpoint source pollution was also poorly understood and overshadowed by efforts to
control pollution from point 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 storm
water 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), salt, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals.

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The most recent National Water Quality Inventory (1998) indicates that nonpoint
sources constitute the leading sources of water pollution in the United States today.
States and other jurisdictions reported agriculture as the most widespread source of
pollution in assessed rivers, streams, and lakes, with hydromodification and urban runoff
following as the second and third leading sources of pollution.
Beach closures, destroyed habitat, unsafe drinking water, fish kills, and many
other severe environmental and human health problems are related to nonpoint source
pollutants. They also spoil the beauty of clean, healthy water habitats.
Nonpoint source program—Section 319 of the Clean Water Act
Congress established the national nonpoint source program in 1987 when it
amended the Clean Water Act with section 319, "Nonpoint Source Management
Programs." States were to address nonpoint source pollution by
•	Conducting statewide assessments of their waters to identify those that are impaired
(do not fully support state water quality standards) or threatened (currently meet
water quality standards but are unlikely to continue to meet water quality standards
fully) because of nonpoint sources.
•	Developing nonpoint source management programs to address the impaired or
threatened waters identified in nonpoint source assessments.
•	Implementing their EPA-approved nonpoint source management programs over a
multiyear time frame.
All states and territories and, as of September 2001, more than 70 tribes
(representing over 70 percent of Indian Country) now have EPA-approved nonpoint
source assessments and management programs.
In 1995, recognizing the growing experience of states, tribes, and localities in
addressing nonpoint source pollution and the fact that state, tribal, and local nonpoint
source programs had matured considerably since enactment of section 319 in 1987,
representatives of EPA and the states, under the auspices of the Association of State and
Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA), initiated joint discussions
to develop a new framework for further strengthening state nonpoint source programs.
These discussions continued for more than a year, spanning fiscal years (FY) 1995 and
1996, and resulted in new national section 319 program and grant guidance that EPA
signed and ASIWPCA endorsed. This May 1996 guidance reflected the states' and
EPA's joint commitment to upgrade state nonpoint source management programs to
incorporate nine key program elements designed to achieve and maintain beneficial uses
of water.
The guidance also provided for discontinuing competitive award of a portion of
each state's annual section 319 grant award, thereby ensuring a firm annual planning
target for each state and tribe at the outset of each annual award cycle; reducing the
amount and frequency of administrative oversight and reporting; and offering greater
flexibility for the states, territories, and tribes in establishing priorities for the use of these

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funds. Additionally, a state that incorporates all nine key elements in its revised nonpoint
source management program and has a proven track record of effective implementation
of its nonpoint source programs is formally recognized by the Regional Administrator
and the Assistant Administrator for Water as a Nonpoint Source Enhanced Benefits State.
Nonpoint Source Enhanced Benefits States are afforded substantially reduced oversight
and maximum flexibility to implement their state programs and to achieve water quality
objectives. Thus, although EPA greatly streamlined the section 319 grants program for
all states, it also provided further flexibility to the Nonpoint Source Enhanced Benefits
States with complete programs and proven track records.
The nine key elements that form the core of the states' upgraded nonpoint source
management programs are the following:
1.	Short- and long-term goals and objectives
2.	Strong working partnerships with all key stakeholders
3.	Balanced approach emphasizing statewide and watershed-level programs
4.	Plans to abate known impairments and prevent significant threats to water quality
5.	Identifying and progressively addressing impaired or threatened waters
6.	Establishing flexible, targeted, iterative approaches
7.	Identifying federal programs that are not consistent with state programs
8.	Efficient and effective program management and implementation
9.	Periodic review and evaluation of program success at least every 5 years
All states and territories will have approved, upgraded nonpoint source
management programs by the end of 2001.
Responsibility and funding 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 also other stakeholders at the state and local levels.
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

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allocation for that year. Each state or tribe is required to provide a 40 percent nonfederal
dollar match.
In FY 1990 through 2001, EPA awarded an aggregate of more than $1 billion to
states and territories under section 319. Funds available for grants in FY 2001 alone have
increased to more than $200 million, which is nearly double the FY 1998 appropriation.
A small portion of the annual section 319 appropriation, one-third of 1 percent, is by
statute set aside for Indian tribes. In FY 2000 and FY 2001, Congress authorized EPA to
award grants to Indian tribes under section 319 in an amount that exceeds the statutory
cap, recognizing that the tribes need and deserve increased financial support to
implement their nonpoint source programs. EPA's long-term goal is that the 1/3 percent
cap on tribal nonpoint source grants will be permanently eliminated.
Future of nonpoint source programs
With virtually all state 319 programs upgraded by the end of 2001, EPA and
ASIWPCA have established a new state/EPA Nonpoint Source Management Partnership
to support states in the implementation of their upgraded programs. The partnership
consists of a state/EPA Steering Committee and seven workgroups to help identify and
solve states' highest-priority nonpoint source needs. The seven workgroups cover issues
relating to
1.	Watershed planning and implementation
2.	Rural nonpoint sources
3.	Urban nonpoint sources
4.	Nonpoint source grants management
5.	Nonpoint source capacity building and funding
6.	Information transfer and outreach
7.	Documenting nonpoint source results
This new partnership provides an excellent framework for the states and EPA to
work together cooperatively to identify, prioritize, and solve nonpoint source problems.
For more detailed information on particular workgroup activities, see EPA's web site at
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/partnership.html.			 _
Defining success
Many of the projects contained in Success Stories: Volume 111 directly address the
Clean Water Act's goal of achieving water quality standards by restoring and maintaining
the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters. The "state-by-
state showcase" stories primarily demonstrate water quality improvements, a return to
water quality standards, or other objective evidence of improvement in the water or in the
habitat associated with the water. Many of the stories also document specific load
reductions or other measurable improvements attributed to the 319 project, such as
increased shade for temperature-impaired waters and improved streamside habitat. The
stories highlight the range of best management practices, training programs, and other

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activities implemented to achieve these successes, as well as the funding sources and
other partners that contributed to the successful project.
Three "special feature" sections are also included in this document, highlighting
especially innovative state programs, information and education programs, and state
funding programs.
For more information
The stories in this document are abbreviated, nontechnical reviews that reflect
only a small portion of each project's larger purposes. For further information on a
particular project, call the state or local contact listed at the end of the story. You may
also contact EPA Headquarters' Nonpoint Source Control Branch at 202-260-7100 or
find them on the Internet at www.epa.gov/owow/nps.

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Flint Creek Watershed Project: Mulitagency
Effort Results in Water Quality Improvements
The Flint Creek watershed is in southeast Lawrence County and western Morgan
County in Alabama. The creek is listed as a priority water body for agricultural nonpoint
source pollution and is documented as having at least 25 miles of impaired surface water
due to nutrients, organic enrichment, and pathogens originating from animal holding and
management areas, feedlots, dairies, and other nonpoint sources. The water quality
problems were so severe that a local water supply on Flint Creek was forced to abandon
an intake and water treatment facility as a result of excess nutrients.
Multiagency effort
The Flint Creek Watershed Project is a multiagency cooperative effort led by
local leaders and watershed residents. In 1994 a Watershed Conservancy District was
established, and plans were developed with the assistance of five federal agencies, five
Alabama state agencies, and three local soil and water conservation districts. Sources of
funding for the project activities included section 319 grants, USDA programs such as
EQIP and WQIP, Soil and Water Conservation District cost-share funds, and corporate
donations.
A variety of projects were implemented in the watershed, including poultry, beef
cattle, and cropland demonstrations; well sampling programs; on-site wastewater
demonstrations; and riparian zone management efforts. Agricultural BMPs implemented
included installing dry stacks and dead bird composters, promoting no-till farming and
heavy use areas for feeding, and constructing stream crossings for cattle.
Outreach activities were conducted frequently in the watershed. The annual Flint
Creek Wet & Wild Festival, for example, brought together more than 800 students in
1999. Other projects included a household hazardous waste day, pesticide amnesty day,
and volunteer monitoring programs.
Water quality improvements
Improvements in fecal coliform counts have been documented at 11 of the 13
sampling sites. In addition, nitrate concentrations have decreased over time at three sites,
turbidity has decreased at two sites, and ammonia concentrations have decreased
downstream of a sewage lagoon. Although no benefit to dissolved oxygen has been
documented to date, the decline of duckweed and algae blooms in Flint Creek
demonstrates that the health of the watershed is improving.
Contact Information: Brad Bole, Project Coordinator, 3120 Highway 36 West, Hartselle,
AL 35640,256-773-6543 (ext. 107), bbole@al.nrcs.usda.gov
Project Location: Lawrence and Morgan Counties, Alabama

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Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dairy)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (dry stacks, dead bird composters, no-
till farming, heavy use areas for feeding, stream crossings), riparian zone management,
outreach
Results: decrease in fecal coliform counts, nitrate concentrations, turbidity, and ammonia
concentrations; decline in duckweed/algae blooms
'"Submitted by Norm Blakely, Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

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Tuscumbia-Fort Payne Aquifer Protection
Program: A Multiagency, Cooperative Approach
to Aquifer Protection
One of the fastest growing regions in Alabama is the Tennessee River Valley.
This area is also one of the state's most rapidly developing areas in agricultural
production (cotton and corn), recreation, and industry. The expanding economic base has
led to suburban expansion into rural areas, resulting in more diverse nonpoint sources of
pollution and more land coverage by impervious surfaces. As a result, one of the state's
major aquifers, the Tuscumbia-Fort Payne Aquifer, was showing signs of stress due to
contamination from surface sources.
The Highland Rim Physiographic Region of the state, in which the aquifer is
located, includes six counties with roughly 4,500 square miles within the Tennessee
River drainage basin. About 1.3 million pounds and 146,102 gallons of pesticides and
herbicides are applied in the area yearly, causing major concern about the drinking water
supplies throughout the region. Sampling results indicate that there is localized
contamination in the Highland Rim Physiographic Region: 33 percent of wells and 32
percent of springs tested positive for pesticides, indicating that pesticides are entering the
subterranean channel system that discharges into surface water bodies. Fecal coliform
bacteria from poorly maintained on-site wastewater treatment systems are also a concern.
Multiagency project
The Tuscumbia-Fort Payne Aquifer Protection Program involved a multiagency
cooperative approach. Alabama's Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)
received partnership support from the Geological Survey of Alabama, the Alabama
Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation
Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Alabama
Cooperative Extension Service, the Alabama Department of Public Health, EPA, and the
Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as 17 municipal and 6 county governments.
Financial support for the program came from EPA's 319 grant program, which funded all
aspects of the program.
The purpose of the aquifer protection program was to create a comprehensive
program that would provide the maximum aquifer protection, given the regulatory
limitations of community and county authorities. The program incorporated various state
programs and developed a strategy for groundwater protection through cooperative
efforts. The strategies for aquifer protection were to technically assess the aquifer and its
characteristics, to assess the nonpoint sources of contamination (such as agricultural
applications of chemicals and improperly maintained septic systems), and to create
educational programs based on the technical data.

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Technical strategy
Madison County's Wellhead Protection Program provided a framework for the
technical strategy. That program had previously delineated recharge areas for 6 of the 14
water systems in the Highland Rim Region. The Geological Survey of Alabama
delineated the recharge areas for the remaining 8 water systems in the study area.
Water level and geologic field mapping, as well as dye tracing studies, was used
to determine the flow boundaries and characteristics of each well or spring. After the
recharge areas were identified, a comprehensive potential contaminant source inventory
was conducted to identifiy all potential or existing sources of point and nonpoint
contamination that could impair groundwater quality. Nonpoint sources of particular
importance are sink holes, abandoned wells, residential septic systems, and agricultural
fields under production.
Based on the potential contaminant inventory, the University of West Alabama
conducted a pilot study in Lauderdale County to determine the relationship between on-
site sewage treatment systems and bacteria in well water. One hundred homeowners
voluntarily participated in a survey that collected information on characteristics and
maintenance of the on-site system, factors related to water usage, and environmental
information that could be related to fecal coliform contamination. Of the 100 wells and
springs examined, 32 percent were found to contain fecal coliform bacteria. An
examination of well depth indicated a possible relationship to the probability of
contamination. It was found that 56.3 percent of the shallow wells were contaminated
and that there was a very high probability of contamination (83 percent) when drainfield
lines ran toward the well as compared to 23 percent probability for drainfield lines that
ran away from the well.
Educational campaign
The foundation for protection of the aquifer and the identified recharge areas was
a regional educational campaign developed to create public and private partnerships and
instill a sense of responsibility for their drinking water in the local residents.
A pilot Groundwater Festival was held in Madison County in 1998, and more than
1,200 fourth grade students participated. Following the successful pilot, festivals were
held in three other counties. Each festival was unique, depending on the needs of the
county and its schools. The festival organizing committees consisted of public water
system personnel, Cooperative Extension agents, NRCS agents, regional planning and
county commission representatives, local nongovernmental organizations, and school
system representatives. The county organizing committees remain intact, and the
festivals have continued annually. In spring 2000, approximately 5,000 fourth graders
and their teachers attended a Groundwater Festival in the Tennessee Valley area.
A Cooperative Extension outreach program was also designed to introduce both
urban and rural residents to the source of their drinking and irrigation water, as well as
programs and practices, that can protect groundwater. The Cooperative Extension
System worked with ADEM and NRCS to implement the program. Public presentations

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and public service announcements were the primary methods of presenting information.
Other materials created for the effort included a slide show, a table-top display,
brochures, a karst groundwater flow model, and questionnaires similar to the Farm,
Home, and Business*A*Syst Program questionnaires.
Over the span of 3 years, the agents published 24 newspaper articles and aired 31
radio spots and 7 TV programs. A 30-minute program describing the Wellhead
Protection Program was aired on the local CBS station. Presentations were made at
farmers' meetings such as the annual cotton and corn producers meetings, the county fair,
Master Gardener classes, Pesticide Safety Programs, Rotary clubs, home and garden
shows, and 4-H clubs. In addition, self-help booklets and questionnaires were distributed
to businesses and organizations. The Cooperative Extension System estimates that more
than 3 million people were reached during the 3 years of the media campaign.
The aquifer protection program showed what can happen when many agencies
join forces to protect a vulnerable groundwater resource. State, federal, and local
agencies collaborated to define the aquifer characteristics and flow conditions in the area
and to use this information to build successful educational and outreach programs.
Contact Information: Enid Probst, Alabama Department of Environmental Management,
P.O. Box 301463, Montgomery, AL 36130, eib@adem.state.al.us
Project Location: Tennessee River Valley, AL
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (farming), failing septic systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: pesticides, herbicides, fecal coliform bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: aquifer assessments, education/outreach programs
Results: assessment of all 14 water systems, outreach to more than 3 million people
~Information for this success story was gleaned from "A Multi-Agency Cooperative Approach to Aquifer
Protection: Program Completion," by Enid Probst, Ph.D., Alabama Department of Environmental
Management. Submitted by Norm Blakey, Alabama Department of Environmental Management

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Restoration Work on the Kenai: 319 Funds Are
Key to Youth Restoration Corps's Success
Alaska's rivers and streams are increasingly being affected by recreational use.
People from around the world come to fish in some of Alaska's fabled waters and often
return home with incredible stories and pictures. But all of that fishing is starting to exact
a price. One of Alaska's most famous rivers, the Kenai, has been particularly hard hit,
resulting in the closure of 22 miles of the river to bank fishing because of concerns
regarding the natural habitat. People trampling its banks have caused severe damage that
threatens the riverine habitat and causes erosion. Many efforts are under way to prevent
further damage and restore the banks where damage has already occurred.
One of the most successful efforts has been the work of the Youth Restoration
Corps (YRC), a nonprofit organization established in 1997 to promote environmental
stewardship in youth while restoring riparian habitat along anadromous (salmon) streams
on public lands. YRC has received 319 funding for its activities since its inception.
Restoration on the Russian River
In 1997 YRC established its first program on the Russian River, a tributary of the
Kenai. The youth restored 2,219 linear feet of riparian habitat, using soil bags, root wads,
coir logs, sod layers, and dormant willow cuttings. YRC has continued its restoration
work on the Kenai and its tributary Russian River every year, and to date has worked on
more than 7,700 feet of some of the most heavily impacted riverbanks in Alaska. As a
result, a river once in decline is now a river in recovery.
Fostering environmental stewardship and partnerships
In addition to helping restore Alaska's streams, YRC has also passed along its
environmental stewardship ethic to young people. Each summer, kids aged 16 to 19 from
local communities participate in this work and education program. They receive
invaluable education on watersheds, healthy habitat, and the inhabitants that depend on a
healthy ecosystem. YRC's motto is "We are building partners to build environmental
ambassadors for the next generation."
YRC has also played a critical role in bringing together stakeholders from across
the spectrum. Many other agencies and groups have partnered with YRC, including the
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Game and Natural
Resources; the National Guard; the Forest Service; the Army; the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and others. Local governments, as well as local, national, and
international private businesses and organizations, have also partnered with YRC.
YRC's work has been well publicized each year by a professionally produced
educational video on youths' participation in the program and successful completion of

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each project, which has been aired several times on statewide and national television.
YRC has received many state and national awards and recognition for its work.
Although YRC has garnered many matching funds and in-kind matches from
other organizations and businesses, 319 funds have been key to its success. The 319
funds have totaled less than $100,000, but other funds and in-kind match and value of the
project work have been contributed at the rate of 5 to 1.
Contact Information: Kelly Wolf, YRC Director, P.O. Box 2416, Kenai, AK 99611,907-
262-1032, yrc@gci.net
Project Location: Kenai River, Alaska
Primary Sources of Pollution: streambank degradation from recreational fishing
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank restoration (soil bags, root wads, coir logs,
sod layers, dormant willow cuttings)
Results: restored more than 7,700 feet of riverbanks
~Submitted by Kent Patrick-Riley, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

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Road and Stream Crossing Project in
Tongass National Forest: New Data Help Identify
Needed Fish Habitat Restoration
The Tongass Road and Stream Crossing Project is a 3-year cooperative effort by
the USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to
identify and correct fish passage problems in the Tongass National Forest in southeast
Alaska. ADF&G's participation was partially funded through section 319 grants. The
project evaluated fish passage and sources of sediment from nonpoint source pollution
along 60 percent of the miles of permanent (system) roads on the Tongass National
Forest; the remaining 40 percent of the permanent roads, as well as all of the temporary
roads, will have the road "condition survey completed in 2001.
The project involved the inspection of all stream crossings and sources of
sediment along the 2,153 miles of roads. There were 273 anadromous fish stream
culverts and 662 resident fish stream culverts evaluated for passage. Adequate fish
passage requires that the weakest swimming fish present in a watershed can pass both
ways through a culvert at all flow levels. Although some culverts are complete barriers
to both adults and juveniles, many only restrict movement of juvenile fish during periods
of high stream flow.
Velocity is the most common cause of fish passage restriction in culverts. If a
culvert is installed at too steep a gradient or the culvert width is significantly narrower
than the streambed width, the water velocity is increased within the culvert. Very slight
changes in the slope of a culvert and the roughness of the substrate in the culvert can
significantly change velocity and the ability of fish to pass through the culvert during all
of the times of year when they normally move upstream or downstream. Other frequent
causes of fish passage problems are perching of the culvert outlet above the water
surface, blockage by excessive substrate or woody debris within the culvert, and
structural damage to the culvert. In most cases, multiple factors interact to restrict fish
passage.
Project results
Preliminary results indicate that 66 percent of the culverts across salmon streams
on the Tongass National Forest are inadequate for fish passage. Eighty-five percent of
the culverts across trout streams might also be inadequate.
The resulting database will be used to maintain historical information on roads,
identify existing and potential risks to fish habitat and passage, and prioritize and
estimate the costs of needed road maintenance and fish habitat restoration. The Forest
Service has been using the data from this collaborative project to identify needed fish

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habitat restoration work. The data have already helped them obtain an additional
$500,000 in annual road maintenance funds for the Tongass for the past 2 years.
Contact Information: Linda Flanders, ADF&G, 907-465-4287; Larry Meshew, Tongass
National Forest 907-228-6269; Chris Meade, EPA Region 10,907-586-7622
Project Location: Tongass National Forest, Alaska
Primary Sources of Pollution: inadequate culverts, forest roads
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: comprehensive evaluation of stream crossings/fish
passage
Results: database on inadequate culverts, leveraged funding for remediation
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Tongass Road Condition Survey Report (Technical
Report No. 00-7) by Linda Shea Flanders and Jim Cariello, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Habitat
and Restoration Division, June 2000. Submitted by Kent Patrick-Riley, Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation.

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American Samoa 1
Nu'uuli Pala Lagoon Restoration Project
American Samoa's Governor proclaimed "Paradise 2000," with the goal of American
Samoa being the cleanest island in the South Pacific by the year 2000. In support of this goal,
American Samoa initiated the restoration of the Pala Lagoon wetland area, a lagoon with an
important nursery and spawning ground for fish and invertebrates. Restoration activities
included identifying and developing best management practices to control nonpoint source
pollution and supporting public education programs on wetlands and nonpoint source pollution.
A major effort in this project involved the establishment of trash stands in public areas
surrounding the wetlands, and hiring a contractor to collect and properly dispose of the refuse.
As a result, refuse is nearly absent from all of the coastline. Public education about the lagoon
and its resources was also considered integral to this project's success. A number of signs and
posters were produced, and a wetlands fair was held in the lagoon area, emphasizing the
functions and values of wetlands. Work continues with regard to cleanup and restoration of two
major streams that discharge into the lagoon. Through the combined efforts of the American
Samoa EPA (ASEPA), American Samoa Coastal Management Program, Americorps Volunteers,
American Samoa Community College, Department of Public Works, and village volunteers,
solid waste is being cleared from the streams, and streambank habitat is being restored over an
estimated few hundred feet (out of a thousand).
/
/
Restoration efforts have spread to other island villages, and ASEPA now plans to work
with area businesses to continue the momentum. A contractor has completed a hydrologic
assessment of the areas, and ASEPA has completed an initial assessment of stormwater control
problems. ASEPA, in cooperation with the ASCMP wetlands program and the village mayor,
will continue to monitor the Nu'uuli village wetland areas to assess whether improper solid waste
disposal remains a problem. American Samoa is committed to rectifying any problems that are
identified via enforcement under American Samoa's new water quality standards.

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Contact Information: Carl Goldstein, EPA Region 9 (CMD-5), 75 Hawthorne Street, San
Francisco, CA 94105, (415) 744-2170, goldstein.carl@epa.gov or Edna Buchan, American
Samoa EPA, Executive Office Building, Pago Pago, AS 96799.
~Submitted by Carl Goldstein, EPA Region 9.

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Restoration in Nutrioso Creek:
A Success in Progress
Nutrioso Creek is located in the Little Colorado River Basin in southern Apache
County along the eastern border of Arizona. It is a 27-mile-long tributary to the Little
Colorado River. Historical livestock activity resulted in a loss of riparian vegetation,
such as willows, which has resulted in exposed streambanks aggravated by continued
large ungulate grazing (cattle and elk). Riparian vegetation is necessary to help stabilize
banks, dissipate stream energy, reduce erosion, and naturally filter sediment to reduce
turbidity.
Nutrioso Creek was listed as an impaired water for violating the turbidity standard
for aquatic and wildlife cold water streams. The entire 27 mile reach of Nutrioso Creek
was listed on the state's 303(d) list, requiring the development of a Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) for the watershed. The TMDL Report, issued in July 2000, focused
recommendations on 3 miles of private property and 4 miles of property owned by the
U.S. Forest Service. The turbidity impairment in Nutrioso Creek is a result of suspended
solids in the form of excessive sediment. The excess sediment comes from the banks of
the stream itself, which is incised in some areas because of channel degradation. This
downcutting of the channel created a loss in floodplain for the stream, resulting in higher
stream velocities during high flows. The higher velocities increased the shear stress/force
acting on the streambanks and thus increased erosional forces.
A local model of success
Restoration of Nutrioso Creek is occurring as a result of the cooperative efforts of
area landowners. One landowner, Jim Crosswhite, has undertaken efforts to implement
watei; quality practices while at the same time improving ranching economics. In 1996
Mr. Crosswhite purchased the 275-acre EC Bar Ranch, which included IVi miles of
riparian zone within the 3 miles recently recommended for water quality improvements.
During 2000 Mr. Crosswhite purchased 115 acres from two neighbors, including another
mile of the riparian corridor downstream. He now owns about 390 acres, including 2xh
miles of the riparian zone being restored.
Mr. Crosswhite has changed range management practices and has been actively
seeking grant monies to protect the riparian corridor, help restore the stream, and
implement best management practices. He has used a combination of 319 funding and
grants obtained through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Arizona
Stewardship Incentive Program, Arizona Water Protection Fund, and Arizona Game and
Fish Department. He receives continued technical assistance from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS).
In 1997, at Mr. Crosswhite's request, the NRCS prepared a Conservation Plan for
the EC Bar Ranch. The plan recommended a number of conservation practices designed
to restore the riparian zone, improve grazing management of livestock, and increase

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irrigation efficiencies. In 1998 the riparian corridor was fenced to limit livestock grazing
to dormant winter months, restore the wetland habitat, and raise the water table to
increase off-channel forage production. A plan has been followed to eradicate
rabbitbrush because it causes erosion into the creek and consumes vast quantities of
subsoil moisture that could otherwise be used by productive grasses and crops.
Improvements are under way to increase the efficiency of an irrigation system using
water from Nutrioso Creek. Portions of 20,000 feet of earth irrigation ditches are being
replaced with permanent and temporary pipe. Water is stored in a 250,000-gallon tank to
supply a 1500-GPM pump to deliver water to traveling gun sprinklers covering 100 acres
of upland pastures and 2 miles of the riparian zone. A significant portion of the 100
million gallons previously lost due to seepage and evaporation in earth ditches will now
remain in the creek to help reduce turbidity, increase wetland habitat, and improve forage
production for dormant season grazing; it can also be applied to upland pastures to help
reduce erosion and improve crop production.
Improvements in water quality and ranching economics
Successful results are already beginning to show. In a study in 1996, the Bureau
of Land Management, using the Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) score, rated the \Vi
miles of riparian corridor on the EC Bar Ranch as "Non-functional" in places and
"Functional-at-risk with a downward trend" in other places. In 1999, after
implementation of some BMPs, the same area was found to be "Functional-at-risk with
an upward trend." In 2000 one reach was rated as "Proper Functioning Condition." In
turbidity and flow monitoring by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality over
high and low water flow events between October 1999 and April 2001, the level of
turbidity has stabilized at 9 NTUs'while flows have reached 50 percent above historical
high levels. In another vegetative study performed during a severe drought in September
2000, the creek was dry upstream and downstream of the 2 miles located on the EC Bar
Ranch where water quality improvement practices had been implemented. This created a
stable wetland habitat for the threatened Little Colorado River spinedace and other fish.
Ranching economics are beginning to improve through a combination of conservation
practices. A new Livestock Management Plan (LMP) places emphasis on producing
forage during the growing season, assessing forage availability in the fall and then
acquiring stockers to be sold in January to March. This LMP will increase gross
	revenues,.reduce year-round feeding expenses, allow wetlands to reach PFC, and
permanently reduce turbidity.
Ongoing TMDL Implementation in Nutrioso Creek
Implementation of the Nutrioso Creek TMDL is ongoing, with a 5-year estimated time-
frame (and a 5- to 20-year time-frame to meet turbidity standards). Primary goals of
TMDL implementation include:
•	Increased education and public awareness.
•	Decreased stream velocities using willow and streambed vegetation, stream grade
stabilization structures, and increased floodplains.
•	Decreased sheet flow and wind erosion contributions to the creek with removal of
rabbitbrush and increased density of grasses as land cover.

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• Arresting resting the downcutting of the stream channel to promote stabilization
through large ungulate (cattle and elk) grazing, BMPS, and revegetation of the
stream channel. With strong partnerships and the support of area landowners,
restoration of Nutrioso Creek is guaranteed.
Contact Information: Jim Crosswhite, EC Bar Ranch, Nutrioso, AZ,
jim@ecbarranch.com
Project Location: Apache County, Arizona
Primary Sources of Pollution: grazing, channel degradation
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: restoration of the riparian zone, improved grazing
management practices, increased irrigation efficiencies
Results: reduced sedimentation, improved wetland habitat, projected increases in
ranching economics
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Nutrioso Creek Turbidity TMDL, Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality (July 2000); and James Crosswhite, EC Bar Ranch web-site at:
www.ecbarranch.com. Submitted by Ephraim Leon-Guerrero, EPA Region 9.

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Sediment Reduction at Hackberry Ranch, Arizona:
Reduction of 4 Tons Per Acre Realized
Sampling results from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality revealed that
water quality standards, particularly turbidity standards, were being exceeded in the Gila River.
Hackberry Ranch is located east of the Whitlock Mountains 20 miles south of S afford, Arizona.
The area is composed of wide and comparatively flat valleys between narrow rugged mountains
that generally run northwest-southeast. Vegetation is primarily desert scrub or desert grassland
type. Most of the rain received (about 9.5 inches per year) is from intense thunderstorms in the
summer, resulting in heavy runoff into the San Simon River, which discharges sediment into the
Gila River. Winter rains are usually gentle, but they can also result in heavy runoff after the soil
is saturated.
A solution: sediment retention structures
Through a 319 grant of $65,530, Boy Scouts and Americorps employees installed
sediment retention structures on grazing land in the Whitlock Valley watershed, which drains to
the Gila River. The structures were installed to trap sediment and slow runoff, thereby allowing
the establishment of vegetative growth. Sediment is trapped behind structures to reduce the
discharge into the San Simon. Structures were installed on two different range sites-a limey
upland with predominately creosote bush cover and basalt hills with grass over malpai. The
structures were constructed of rock and/or brush. They were expected to improve conditions on
some 300 acres of grazing land and reduce water erosion by around 95 percent.
Improved vegetative condition and sediment reduction
The project's 540 small sediment reduction structures are reported to have reduced
erosion by an estimated 4 tons per acre per year. Photo monitoring also reveals that the sediment
retention structures are capturing sediment. Some vegetation (primarily grasses) is beginning to
grow in the newly captured sediments. Improved grazing management is increasing the amount
of ground cover in the watershed and also reducing sediment. The success of the project will be
demonstrated with a video, which will compare pre- and post-project conditions. Educational
materialsand events such as a slide show, photo monitoring, range transect information,
sediment accumulation measurements, a fact sheet, a brochure, a slide show presentation, and a
field day are being developed.
Contact Information: Pete Brawley, P.O. Box 50, Safford, AZ 85546,520-428-2607
Project Location: Safford, Arizona
Primary Sources of Pollution: erosion from lack of vegetation
Nonpoint Source Pollutants: sediment
Restoration Activities: sediment retention structures
Results: reductions in sediment of 4 tons per acre per year
Submitted by Kris Randall, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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Buffalo National River Watershed Partnerships:
Partners Improve Swine Waste Management
The Buffalo River watershed in north-central Arkansas covers 860,000 acres. From the
headwaters in the Boston Mountains, the Buffalo River flows unobstructed for 150 miles
eastward to the confluence with the White River. Because of the unique scenic and scientific
features associated with the free-flowing river, Congress established the Buffalo National River
Watershed in 1972 to preserve this national treasure for future generations. The federal and state
governments own 40 percent of the watershed, primarily in the headwaters and along a narrow
riparian corridor of the river. About 60 percent of the basin is privately owned, including most of
the larger tributaries.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has designated the Buffalo
River an Extraordinary Resource Water and a Natural and Scenic Waterway, the highest water
quality designation given by the state. Although the water quality in the Buffalo River at present
is very good, several tributaries have been affected or threatened by agricultural activities. In
1992 there were 39 confined animal operations within the watershed, including 12 swine
farrowing operations, one broiler operation, and 26 dairy facilities. All of the swine operations
and 10 of the dairy facilities had Liquid Animal Waste Management Systems (LAWMS). At that
time, the ADEQ Water Division received notice of intent from a watershed farmer to construct a
540-sow/pig farrowing operation adjacent to National Park property and less than a mile from the
river. Manure land application sites for the proposed swine facility were as close as 1/4 mile to
the river. All of the existing watershed swine operations were located on the southern edge of
the drainage basin in an area underlain by sandstone and shale. If the proposed swine facility was
built, it would be the first swine operation located in such close proximity to the river and within
a karst terrain.
Both citizens and resource agencies expressed concern over the construction and
operation of a confined swine facility so close to the river. Personnel from the ADEQ Water and
Environmental Preservation Divisions performed an investigation of confined animal operations
within the watershed, visiting and evaluating 16 swine and dairy operations. Results of the
watershed investigation showed that most LAWMS were not being operated and maintained in a
manner that would eliminate or minimize the amount of waste leaving the farms. Subsequently,
the ADEQ secured grant money to further study the problems revealed during the watershed
investigation.
Project goals and methodology
The Buffalo River Swine Waste Demonstration Project was initiated in 1995 with the
primary goal of protecting the high-quality water in the Buffalo National River Watershed by
working with the local farmers and government agencies to identify and address the problems
associated with the LAWMS. This 5-year, 319-funded project evaluated existing swine liquid
waste management practices and demonstrated the benefits of new or improved best management
practices (BMPs) in protecting water quality. The project objectives included evaluating the
effectiveness of existing LAWMS BMPs (including design, training, and management aspects)
by monitoring water quality and waste management practices at cooperating farms, improving
existing BMPs or implementing new BMPs, and evaluating changes in the water quality and the

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operation of the LAWMS as a result of improved or new BMPs implemented at cooperating
farms.
Other project goals included demonstrating to farmers and various government agencies
the effectiveness of proper waste management at confined animal operations in protecting water
quality. Nutrient loads in surface water were estimated before and after BMP implementation.
Storm water runoff studies also were conducted to document nutrient loss from manure land
application sites. In addition, waste management practices were documented before and after
BMP implementation through frequent site visits and farm management surveys.
Waste management and water quality improvements
New or modified BMPs were implemented at the six cooperating farms based on site-
specific problems and included the following:
•	Storm water diversions were improved or installed.
•	All-weather access to LAWMS was improved or installed.
•	Storage capacity for liquid waste was increased.
•	Waste collection systems were repaired.
New or modified BMPs associated with operational practices were also implemented and
included decreasing fresh water usage; performing routine manure solids removal; and improving
overall farm nutrient management by using a waste pumping service for solids handling, properly
sampling manure holding structures to determine nutrient content, reducing phosphorus
application rates, and increasing available acres for land application. In addition, 91 percent of
the watershed's farmers had accumulated solids removed from the LAWMS, reestablishing the
maximum available manure storage capacity at their facilities.
As a result of the new or modified BMPs, substantial improvements were documented in
waste management practices. Free-board problems associated with waste storage ponds were
reduced by 66 percent at cooperating farms. Overall, farmers began to manage the manure
generated at their facilities for its fertilizer value, which reduced the time and expense associated
with the LAWMS. Using water quality monitoring data collected on a stream (less than 1 square
mile drainage area) adjacent to a poorly operated swine facility, it was estimated that 2,800
pounds of total nitrogen and 400 pounds of total phosphorus were lost to the stream each year.
Following BMP implementation, nutrient loads in the stream were decreased by approximately
90 percent, while average fecal coliform bacteria concentrations were decreased by more than 99
percent.
Partnerships to solve complex problems
This project involved building working relationships with watershed swine farmers, the
swine industry, local Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, the Newton County
Conservation District, and the Environmental Preservation, Water, and Technical Services
Divisions of ADEQ to improve LAWMS operation and swine manure management. All of the
partners in the project cooperated to evaluate the data generated on LAWMS and to develop
BMPs. New or improved BMPs were installed by extending cost-share programs and working
one-on-one with individual farmers to ensure that all aspects of the waste system were
understood. Emphasis was placed on finding economical solutions to waste management

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problems. Other groups, such as the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the
Arkansas Pork Producers, and the University of Arkansas, contributed a considerable amount of
time, resources, and technical expertise to help make this project a success.
Swine farmers in the Buffalo River watershed have successfully changed their waste
management practices and are using the fertilizer benefit of the manure generated at their
facilities while minimizing their impact on the environment. Information gained from this
project has been presented at farmer training meetings and has helped swine producers statewide
to improve their manure management practices. All of the partners participating in the project
received an EPA Region 6 Partnerships for Environmental Excellence Award in 1998. The
award acknowledged the contribution of each partner in cooperating to solve complex
environmental problems.
Contact Information: Sandi Formica, Environmental Preservation Division, Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality, 501-682-0020, formica@adeq.state.ar.us
Project Location: Buffalo River watershed, Arkansas
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (confined animal operations)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nitrogen, phosphorus, fecal coliform bacteria
Restoration/Project Activities: revised storm water diversions and waste collection systems,
revised operational practices (changes in phosphorus application practices and on-site storage
capacity)
Results: 90 percent decrease in nutrient loads, 99 percent decrease in fecal coliform bacteria
concentrations
~Submitted by Sandi Formica, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Project summary authors also
include John Giese, Tim Kresse, Tony Morris, Matt Van Eps, and McRee Anderson of ADEQ and Dr. Tommy
Daniel of the University of Arkansas.

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A Community Approach to Managing Manure in the
Buffalo River Watershed: Local Watershed
Assistance Program Helps Dairy Farmers
The Environmental Preservation Division of the Arkansas Department of Environmental
Quality (ADEQ) was awarded a section 319 grant in 1997 to evaluate the effectiveness of "dairy
manure management alternatives," designed for facilities with 100 cows or fewer, in minimizing
nutrient and bacteria loads leaving farm sites. The dairy 319 project worked with dairy farmers
and government agencies in the Buffalo River watershed, as well as with state and federal
agencies, to develop and implement solutions to better manage manure in the watershed.
The Buffalo River watershed
The Buffalo River watershed is in northern Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains, and the
Buffalo River is our country's first National River. Congress established the National River
designation in 1972 "for the purposes of conserving and interpreting an area containing unique
scenic and scientific features." The ADEQ has also designated the Buffalo National River as an
Outstanding National Resource Water and Natural and Scenic Waterway with extraordinary
recreation and aesthetic values, the highest ranking given to a stream in the state. The Buffalo
River watershed encompasses about 857,620 acres. The Buffalo National River Park Service
manages 11 percent of the watershed along the main Buffalo River, the U.S. Forest Service
manages 26 percent of the basin within the headwaters, and the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission manages 3 percent of the watershed. Private landowners own the remaining 60
percent of the watershed. The Buffalo National River, known for its spectacular, giant bluffs,
excellent fisheries, clear water, and abundance of wildlife, draws nearly 1 million visitors each
year.
From the beginning of the dairy 319 project, the ADEQ project staff sought out
cooperation with other agencies, the dairy cooperative, and dairy farmers in the Buffalo River
watershed by forming a task force with representatives from all interested parties. Key
relationships were developed between the ADEQ project staff and the Conservation District
Boards, NRCS staff, and the dairy farmers in the watershed.
Most of the dairy farm owners in the Buffalo River watershed volunteered to participate
in the dairy 319 project. The Buffalo Conservation District staff contacted farmers and
requested individual meetings with them at their farms. During these meetings, the project staff
explained the project to the farmers and requested their participation on a voluntary basis. In
exchange for participation in the study, farmers hoped that the project would result in developing
better information regarding the operation of manure management systems or finding a source of
funding for improving their manure management systems.
Dairy operations and manure management
In 1994 there were 27 dairy facilities operating in the Buffalo River watershed. Recent
financial difficulties have taken their toll on Arkansas dairy farmers, and today only 18 dairy

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facilities still operate in the watershed. Finding economic solutions to improve manure
management at these small dairy facilities continues to be a challenge.
After an exhaustive investigation into the manure management practices of the dairy
industry in the Buffalo River watershed, it became apparent that the 18 watershed farmers did
not have the specialized equipment required to handle the different waste streams generated from
the confinement of the cows at their farms. Although several individual problems were
identified, such as ineffective fertilizer utilization and improper land application practices that
increase the potential for contaminants to be transported in storm runoff, all of these problems
originate from the lack of adequate manure handling equipment in the watershed. Therefore, the
funding set aside for implementing best management practices (BMPs) in the watershed as part
of the dairy 319 project was focused on solving identified manure handling problems.
Local watershed assistance program
To help accomplish the dairy 319 project goal of improving dairy manure management,
partnerships were formed among the ADEQ, local NRCS, and the Buffalo Conservation District
to develop a local watershed assistance program (LWAP). The program is administered through
the Buffalo Conservation District office. It has been designed to provide a low-cost, effective
solution to the manure handling problems identified throughout the watershed. In addition, the
program will enable farmers to receive the maximum fertilizer benefits of their dairy manure
while minimizing farm impacts on the environment. The LWAP includes the development of a
local clean-out service, long-term clean-out scheduling, initial cost-share assistance, and
comprehensive nutrient management planning.
As part of the LWAP, the Buffalo Conservation District provides a manure clean-out
service for dairy farmers and an operator to maintain and operate the equipment. Easily
transportable equipment for manure removal, including a side-discharge manure spreader,
submersible pump, and pit agitator, will be purchased as part of the LWAP. This service
provides dairy farmers in the Buffalo River watershed with a method to handle dairy manure
without having to purchase and maintain specialized and seldom-used equipment. Additionally,
by providing an operator, the program allows the dairy farmer more time to spend on milk
production and other farm management responsibilities.
With the hope of increasing participation, up to 75 percent of the cost-share money will
initially be available for watershed dairy farmers who use the program's manure handling
service. To be eligible for the program, the farmer is required to develop a long-term clean-out
schedule for the dairy facility. ADEQ and NRCS staff will assist participating dairy facilities
with the development of the 12-month clean-out schedules. This will ensure that solids are
removed within the designed storage time for each manure management system.
Meetings were held to present the results of the dairy 319 project and introduce the
LWAP, and they were attended by most of the dairy farmers in the watershed. Farmers in the
Buffalo River watershed understand the importance of preserving water quality and were
receptive to the LWAP. They realize that the program can help them economically manage and
utilize dairy manure while protecting water quality in the watershed in which they live.

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Contact Information: Sandi Formica, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 501-682-
0020, formica@adeq.state.ar.us
Project Location: Buffalo River Watershed, Arkansas
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dairy waste)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: dairy manure management practices, manure clean-out service,
comprehensive nutrient management planning
Results: comprehensive local watershed assistance program
~Submitted by Sandi Formica, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Information for this
success story was gleaned from Proceedings of Dairy Manure Systems, Equipment and Technology: A
Conference for Producers and Their Advisors, by Sandi J. Formica, McRee Anderson, Matthew Van Eps,
Tony Morris, and Puneet Srivastava; Rochester, New York, March 20-22,2001.

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Grassland Bypass Project: Economic Incentives
Program Helps to Improve Water Quality
Agricultural runoff is one of the primary sources of pollutant discharge to rivers and
streams that do not meet water quality standards, affecting 70 percent of these impaired waters.
This problem is particularly challenging in the western United States, where approximately 50
million acres of land are devoted to irrigated agriculture and where agricultural drainage and
runoff provide a significant proportion of river flows during dry seasons.
The Grassland Drainage Area is an agricultural region on the west side of California's
San Joaquin Valley. The agricultural land there is productive, but the soil contains a high level
of selenium, a naturally occurring trace element. Selenium accumulates in the agricultural
drainage water that collects in the tiles installed to drain excess water from the fields. In 1983
this problem received national attention when deaths and deformities in wildlife at the Kesterson
Reservoir were attributed to selenium-contaminated drainage from outside the Grassland
Drainage Area. In the early 1990s, selenium-laden drainage from the Grassland Drainage Area
was still being discharged into other federal and state wildlife refuges, threatening important
ecosystems and associated fish and wildlife.
An innovative tradable loads program
The Grassland Bypass Project is an innovative program designed to improve water
quality in the channels used to deliver water to wetland areas. In 1996 several irrigation and
drainage districts formed the "Grassland Area Farmers," a regional drainage entity that includes
some 97,000 acres of irrigated farmland.
The group's initial goal was to use the San Luis Drain, owned by the federal Bureau of
Reclamation, as an outlet for agricultural drainage. To do so, they entered into a Use Agreement
with Reclamation, incorporating monthly and annual selenium load limits. A procedure was
included in the Use Agreement to assess incentive fees if the monthly or annual load limits were
exceeded. In addition, a maximum cap was established on the total amount of selenium that the
Grassland Area Farmers could discharge. The Use Agreement for the project will continue until
September 2001, at which time a long-term plan is to be developed; that process is under way.
To meet the selenium load limits, the Grassland Area Fanners have implemented a wide
variety of practices, including formation of a regional drainage entity, newsletters and other
communications with the farmers, a monitoring program, an active land management program to
use subsurface drainage on salt-tolerant crops, installation of improved irrigation systems,
installation and use of drainage recycling systems to mix subsurface drainage water with
irrigation supplies under strict limits, and tiered water pricing.
Additionally, with support of section 319 funding, the Grassland Area Farmers developed
and adopted a "tradable loads" program to help achieve regional water quality targets. To date,
pollution trading policies have been designed for trades between point sources, such as factories,
and trades between point sources and nonpoint sources, such as farms. This project is unique in

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that it also establishes a trading program between nonpoint sources.
Under the tradable loads program, the total allowable regional selenium load is allocated
among the member irrigation and drainage districts. The districts can then either meet their load
allocation or buy/trade selenium load allocation from other districts. The theory is that the region
will meet its selenium load target at the lowest possible cost because reduction measures will be
taken where they are cheapest to achieve. In addition, the program should spur innovation by
bringing selenium reduction decisions to a more localized level. Finally, the tradable loads
program aims to distribute the costs of selenium discharge reduction equitably among the
districts.
Environmental benefits
The environmental benefits of the project to wetland areas, including state and federal
refuges, are significant. Drainage water has been removed from more than 93 miles of
conveyance channels, allowing for delivery of fresh water to the wetland areas. Good-quality
water from areas upslope of the Grassland Drainage is now separate from selenium-contaminated
drainage water and can be put to use in the Grassland Water District and in the state and federal
refuges.
Compared to data on preproject conditions observed in 1996, year 2000 data reflect that
drainage volume has been reduced 41 percent; selenium load, 54 percent; salt load, 29 percent;
and boron load, 14 percent. With the exception of the very wet year 1998, selenium discharge
data show continuous reduction in selenium discharge since 1995—reductions from 16 ppb to 2
ppb in some channel segments and reductions from 55.9 ppb to an average of 2 ppb in others.
Selenium load targets were met every month in 1999 and 2000 and have been met every month
to date in 2001. Selenium loads in 1999 and 2000 were the lowest ever discharged from the
drainage in the past 15 years.
Other related efforts
The tradable loads program works together with other policies in place in the Grasslands
Drainage Area. Many of the programs designed to encourage water conservation through
irrigation efficiency also decrease selenium discharge. For example, one of the member districts
of the Grassland Area Farmers pioneered a tiered water pricing policy in which increasing block-
rate pricing motivates the use of water conservation practices. Other districts in the Grassland
Drainage Area have followed suit by implementing their own tiered water pricing policies.
Additional incentive-based water conservation programs in the Grassland Drainage Area
include low-interest State Revolving Fund loans and land management incentives. Irrigation
system improvements in the Grassland Drainage Area include quarter-mile furrows, gated pipe,
sprinklers, and drip irrigation systems. Districts are also pursuing methods aimed directly at
selenium reduction.

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In addition to providing local water quality benefits, this project provides valuable insight
for controlling agricultural nonpoint source discharges elsewhere. Through a combination of
quantitative discharge limits and economic incentives, a model that provides for direct
accountability within a system that is locally controlled is emerging. In the long term, the use of
economic incentives might enhance implementation by promoting cost-effectiveness and
preserving farmers' flexibility to choose the most appropriate pollution reduction practices.
Contact Information: Joe McGahan, Drainage Coordinator for the Grassland Area Farmers, 559-
582-9237, jmcgahan@summereeng.com; Joe KarkosH, Central Valley Regional Water Quality
Control Board; (916) 255-3368
Project Location: Grassland Drainage Area, California
Primary Sources of Pollution: agricultural drainage
Primary NPS Pollutants:- selenium
Restoration/Project Activities: establishing selenium discharge caps, instituting tradable loads
program
Results: reductions in selenium load discharges
•Information for this success story was gleaned from Grassland Bypass "Project Description and Update."
Submitted by Katherine Domeny, California Environmental Protection Agency and Joe MeGahan, Drainage
Coordinator for the Grassland Area Fanners.

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Turning Around History:
Stream Restoration Restores a Meadow and a
Fishery While Helping to Control Floods and
Increase Water Supply
Some of the worst floods in California have occurred where the Feather River,
draining out of the Western Sierra Nevada Mountains, meets the Sacramento River in the
Sacramento Valley of Northern California. Contributing to these major floods, as well as
to localized flooding, the East Branch of the North Fork of the Feather River and its
tributaries drained a land that had been over-logged and over grazed for hundreds of
years. Erosion and downcutting characterized the landscape, not only contributing to the
flooding problem, but sending tons of sediment downstream, impairing water quality and
fishery habitat.
Cottonwood Creek was one such tributary. The creek drained almost 11,000
acres of Big Flat Meadow, of which was once covered with forage grasses and sedges.
But all that had changed with a combination of livestock grazing, fire, and timber
harvesting, leading to the channel's down cutting, a lowered water table, and a sagebrush
wasteland where once lush grasses had flourished. Cottonwood Creek began to dry up in
the summer, adversely affecting the fishery.
A headcut had created an incised gully that cut across the meadow. Over the
years, the gully had downcut 15 feet and captured the flow from Cottonwood Creek, the
meadow's natural drainage channel. Before restoration, the downcut channel functioned
like a fast flowing drain, carrying off rainfall and snowmelt so quickly, the meadow was
completely dewatered.
Restoring natural drainage
With 319 funding, the Feather River Coordinated Resource Management (CRM)
team began work with the goal of restoring the natural drainage regime, re-watering the
meadow, and regaining wet meadow grasses and sedges. The restoration strategy was to
construct a new channel on top of the meadow at the same location where the creek's
historic channel had been and to fill the gully. Dirt from the newly constructed creek
channel was used to fill the gully. At the same time, a number of intermittent ponds were
left open within the former gully for the use of waterfowl.
Impressive results
The restoration process, dubbed "pond and plug," was so successful it is being
used to restore other meadows in the area. With the meadow floodplain restored,
floodflows now remain in the meadow long enough to percolate to the underground
aquifer. Since they are saved and released as baseflow later in the year, they no longer
add to downstream floods.

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Data show the meadow is storing and later releasing about 18 acre feet of water a
year. For many years previous to 1997, the stream usually had stopped flowing by the
first of July. In 1997, water flowed year round, providing cool temperature flows for a
restored fishery.
Leveraging additional restoration
The Big Flat Meadow restoration is part of a larger vision of Plumas Corporation,
a non-profit economic redevelopment firm which coordinates the CRM projects. Plumas
is promoting the natural water storage concept to attract restoration dollars from
downstream water contractors, proclaiming that such meadow restoration projects can
provide water that otherwise would run off as winter flood flows. This water is then
available later in the season, when it is most in demand for delta fisheries and urban and
agricultural communities south of the delta. Plumas now has four additional meadow
restoration projects in progress. In one of the projects, Plumas is experimenting with a
cost-cutting strategy that allows for the stream to build its own channel after they plug
and pond the gully. This is a slower process, but much less expensive, and so far it is
working.
Through the CWA section 319(h) grant program, the State Board helped fund
many of the early Plumas County projects that paved the way for the restoration
successes enjoyed today. The most recent project to be funded is development of a
stream restoration guidance document that will document what has been learned from the
many projects implemented.
Contact Information: Jim Wilcox, Plumas Corp, (530) 283-3739, plumasco@psln.com
Project Location: Feather River, California
Primary Sources of Pollution: over-logging and over-grazing
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Restoration/Project Activities: restored natural drainage; new channel construction; re-
watering of meadow
Results: Increased stream flows, 18 acre feet or more of water each year
~Submitted by Katherine Domeny, California State Water Resources Control Board.

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Watershed Restoration Through
Decommissioning Forest Roads: Karuk Tribe and
Forest Service Form Successful Partnership
For years the tribal lands of the Karuk Tribe of California, located in Northern California
near the Oregon state line, have been honeycombed with roads for mining (gold, gravel, and
quartz) and timber harvesting. Today, however, the watersheds are in imminent danger of
environmental crisis because of sedimentation resulting from those past activities, threatening the
habitat of coho and Shinook salmon and steelhead trout. A 72 percent decline in timber
harvesting between 1989 and 1997 has also devastated the region's economy. Many tribal
members who once worked for logging or mining operations are now unemployed.
Today, 95 percent of Tribal Ancestral lands are located in the Klamath and Six Rivers
National Forests. In 1994 a government-to-government protocol agreement emerged from this
overlap to help protect and restore the region. The Steinacher Road, once serving as the region's
main corridor, was soon identified as the largest contributor of sediment to Steinacher and
Wooley Creeks, which eventually lead to the Lower Salmon River. It is estimated that since the
road's construction in 1971, more than 10,600 cubic yards of sediment has entered stream
channels from cutbanks and the road surface; annual delivery is more than three times
background levels.
Securing funding
In 1998 the Karuk Tribe entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the
Klamath National Forest calling for the sharing of resources, funding, and staff to help with
decommissioning Steinacher Road. The Karuk Tribe secured 319 funding to help provide
"storm-proofing" and prescription planning until significant restoration funds could be secured
for the remainder of the decommissioning. Over the next 2 years, the Karuk Tribe and the
Northern California Indian Development Council secured more than $1 million of funding from
seven different funding sources to help with the project. In January 2000 an MOU was signed
between the Karuk Tribe and the Six Rivers National Forest to continue completion of the
Steinacher Road project as funding becomes available. Organizers of the project estimate that it
will cost $1.9 million and take one project team 3 years to complete.
Building tribal capability
With assistance from the Northern California Indian Development Council, the Karuk
Tribe initiated a Comprehensive Watershed Restoration Training and Implementation Program
for tribal members and staff. The goal is to prepare the members of a Tribal Restoration Division
for careers as watershed restoration specialists while supplying an on-the-job apprenticeship
completing critical restoration work on projects available throughout the tribe's Ancestral
Territory.
Since the Tribal Restoration Division was established, at least 16 tribal members have
undergone training in heavy equipment application, prescription planning and surveying, and

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supervision of project sites. The new watershed restoration specialists have also removed about
94,800 cubic yards of sediment to stable locations and reestablished the natural drainage for five
major streams that cross the abandoned Steinacher Road.
Improved water quality and fisheries are seen as a significant component of rebuilding the
economy of the region. Watershed restoration represents an opportunity for long-term, stable
employment based on non-resource-extraction ecosystem management and a stable, fully
functioning ecosystem. Building the tribe's capability to play an appropriate role in ecosystem
management is the only means by which ecosystem restoration, cultural survival, and community
prosperity will be achieved.
Looking ahead
Over the long term, more than 2,000 miles of road throughout the Karuk's ancestral
territory will need decommissioning or significant upgrading and remediation of mining impacts.
These projects will take 12 project teams 25 to 30 years to complete. At a minimum, continuing
this program requires $3 million per year above the current forest watershed budget for planning,
inspection, administration, and logistical support. If funding can be secured, the partnership
created between the Karuk Tribe and the Forest Service will continue to serve as a model for a
systematic approach to long-term salmon recovery efforts on the Klamath River.
Contact Information: Leaf Hillman, Director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy,
P.O. Box 282, Orleans, CA 95556, 530-627-3446, leafdnr@pcweb.net
Project Location: Northern California
Primary Sources of Pollution: logging and mining roads
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: training in heavy equipment application, prescription planning
and surveying
Results: removal of 94,800 cubic yards of sediment to stable locations, reestablishment of the
natural drainage for 5 major streams
~Information for this success story was gleaned (in part) from A Watershed Restoration
Partnership, Karuk Tribe of California/Six Rivers and Klamath National Forest. Submitted by
Jenee Gavette, EPA Region 9.

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Milling Remediation in the Chalk Creek
Watershed: Project Demonstrates
Exciting Possibilities
Hardrock mining in the Chalk Creek watershed of central Colorado has been
extensive, continuing on and off from the late 1870s into the 1950s. Chalk Creek and its
tributaries drain the eastern slopes of the Collegiate Range, and the creek enters the Arkansas
River 10 miles south of Buena Vista. The Colorado Division of Wildlife maintains the Chalk
Cliffs Fish Rearing Unit in the lower reaches of the creek.
The single greatest contributor of heavy metals to the creek is the Mary Murphy Mine,
located 1 mile above the town of St. Elmo. The Mary Murphy developed steeply dipping
gold-silver deposits and lead-zinc sulfide fissure-vein deposits through extensive underground
workings on 14 different levels in the Tertiary-aged Mount Princeton quartz-monzonite. The
two lowest adit levels, the 2200 level Golf Adit (10,400-foot elevation) and 1400 level Main
Adit (11,200-foot elevation), continue to discharge at a rate of 222 gallons per minute (gpm),
contributing 66.2 pounds per day of zinc to Chalk Creek at high flow. Chalk Creek was
identified on Colorado's 1998 303(d) list as impaired due to zinc; the TMDL is scheduled for
completion in 2006.
The watershed first came under scrutiny in 1986 after a fish kill at the rearing
unit. The kill was attributed to elevated concentrations of metals in Chalk Creek during
spring runoff. Water quality sampling at that time found zinc and cadmium at levels
exceeding state water quality standards. The effects were reduction of the number of
brown trout and elimination of young fish for a 12-mile stretch below the mining district.
Metal concentrations in Chalk Creek peaked in the vicinity of the Mary Murphy Mine
and the Iron Chest tailing piles. At that time it was suspected that interaction between
mine drainage, creek flows, and the tailings piles caused most of the metals in the stream.
Diversion to reduce metal loadings
A 319 project in 1991 consolidated five tailings piles to a location just below the
Mary Murphy mill ruins. The consolidated tailings were stabilized and revegetated with
grasses, forbs, and frees. The"drainage fromlfre mine works was diverted around the
consolidation pile into a constructed wetland between the consolidated tailings and Chalk
Creek.
Biotic sampling conducted by the Division of Wildlife in 1994 and 1997 found
the recovery zone had moved upstream, from 12 miles to approximately 4 miles below
the mining activity. Greater numbers of individuals, greater species diversity, and more
diverse age classes are now represented in the creek. However, despite the impressive
reductions in metal loadings from the now-reclaimed tailings sites, zinc loads still exceed
state water quality standards.

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Underground approaches to control continued discharges
The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) completed hydrologic
characterization at the Mary Murphy Mine in 1997. This work suggested that most of the
flow coming from the adit portals was groundwater intercepted at discrete fault/fracture
structures within the mine workings. Based on this work, underground inspection of the
Golf Adit workings, and historical records of mining activity, an underground source-
controls approach was developed and proposed, through the 319 NPS program and two
other Clean Water Act grant sources.
In 1998 CDMG received $310,000 through three separate grants—$98,000 in 319
funds, $62,400 in 104(b)(3) funds, and $150,000 in an EPA multimedia grant—to
implement underground flow characterization and control work over a 3-year period.
This project was designed to demonstrate the source control approach, on a pilot scale, in
only one level of the underground mine. This effort would essentially "untangle the
plumbing" of the underground metals sources by determining where the groundwater was
interacting with mineralized rock.
A loading analysis developed from flow and metals concentration data showed
that 85 percent of the metals load exiting the Main Adit was attributed to one inflow from
the north drift on the Mary Vein. The inflow constituted only 1.5 percent of the total
discharge from the adit, but at high flow it had a total zinc concentration of 190,200
micrograms per liter (jxg/L). The contaminated inflow was traced back to an ore chute on
a high-sulfide stope on the north vein, which drained 15 gpm. This same high-
concentration source also accounts for 70 percent of the zinc load discharging from the
Golf Adit.
Flow measurements taken along the cross-cut adits of the Main level and Golf level
indicated that clean groundwater inflows intercepted by the workings downstream from the
contaminated stope inflow accounted for 70 percent of the total mine discharge volume. This
proved that, at a minimum, it is possible to segregate the clean groundwater inflows from the
mine discharge, reducing the total discharge needing treatment from the 90 to 222 gpm (low
flow-high flow) range to the 5 to 20 gpm range. At these low volumes and high
concentrations, many more passive or semipassive treatment options are available.
Success realized
CDMG conducted a demonstration of an underground diversion to control metals
loading on the Main Adit level. A temporary, underground earthen dam was constructed
by hand to divert the high-concentration flow. Subsequent sampling showed this
diversion reduced dissolved zinc in the Main Adit flow from 5,000 |ig/L to 250 Jig/L,
essentially eliminating the need for a treatment alternative at the 11,200-foot elevation
site.
This project demonstrated exciting possibilities for addressing acid mine drainage.
If clean inflows can be segregated, the volume of contaminated flows is greatly reduced
and the scale of treating the remaining waste stream is greatly reduced. It now appears
technically feasible to isolate underground sources of pollution to such an extent that it

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might be possible to eliminate 80 percent of the pollution source within a mine, rather
than having to treat the discharge in perpetuity.
Contact Information: Bruce Stover, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, 1313
Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203,303-866-3567, bruce.stover@state.co.us
Project Location: Chalk Creek Watershed, Colorado
Primary Sources of Pollution: hardrock mining, acid mine drainage
Primary NPS Pollutants: zinc, cadmium
Remediation/Project Activities: diversion of mine works drainage into constructed
wetland, underground diversion/earthen dam to segregate contaminated flows
Results: surface diversion moved recovery zone upstream from 12 miles to 4 miles below
the mining activity, underground diversion decreased dissolved zinc flows from 5,000
fXg/L to 250 Hg/L
~Submitted by Laurie Fisher, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Rio Blanco Restoration:
Adopted Rocks and Homemade Jelly
Help Fund Demonstration Project
The Rio Blanco, a tributary to the San Juan River, originates at the Continental Divide in
Archuleta County, Colorado. Elevation ranges from more than 13,000 feet to around 6,400 feet
at the confluence with the San Juan River. Land ownership is mixed: the headwaters lie within
the Southern San Juan Wilderness area, and the confluence is on the Southern Ute Reservation.
Private land is interspersed, but primarily in the lower 12 miles. The river runs about 30 miles
from source to confluence. The watershed averages about 250 inches of snow in the winter and
13 inches of rain in the summer.
In the 1950s Congress appropriated funding to construct the San Juan-Chama Diversion
Tunnel. The tunnel would take water from the Rio Blanco, which is part of the Colorado River
Basin, under the Divide into the Rio Grande Basin for use in New Mexico. The diversion is
located about 12 miles from the confluence.
The system began operation in 1971 and diverted approximately 70 percent of the in-stream
flow of the Blanco. A basin summary prepared in 1990 by the U.S. Forest Service found that
•	Fish habitat was poor.
•	Sediment loads were high because of flow changes and streambank erosion.
•	Sediment supply was greater than stream transport capacity.
•	Water temperatures were high.
•	Diversion and land use practices had created a wide, shallow stream with little pool and
cover habitat.
The Rio Blanco is classified as an Aquatic Life Cold Water Class 1, Recreation Class 1
stream. Those uses, however, are not attained, resulting in the river's being listed on Colorado's
1998 303(d) list for sediment. A TMDL is scheduled for June 30, 2006. Colorado also holds an
in-stream flow water right that provides for 29 cubic feet per second (cfs) flows from May 1 to
September 30 and for 20 cfs flows from October 1 through April 30. The right was appropriated
in 1974 to protect fish and aquatic life in the river; however, the physical structure of the river
precluded adequate habitat under those flows.
The diversion had created a completely new flow regime in the river, which reflects the
fundamental nature of Colorado's Nonpoint Source Management Program for Hydrologic
Modification: make the best use of the water remaining in the stream, and restore the stream to
its designated uses.
Hydrologic modification projects
In 1997 the San Juan Water Conservancy District and Colorado Water Conservation Board
initiated a demonstration project under Colorado's Nonpoint Source Management Program for
hydrologic modification. The goal of the project was to improve stream water quality aiid
aquatic habitat through (1) reducing low-flow water temperatures by narrowing and deepening
the channel and creating overhead and in-stream cover and (2) reducing sediment loading by

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stabilizing banks and enhancing sediment transport capacity by increasing the stream
width/depth ratios.
A total of $96,000 of 1997 section 319 funds were used in the demonstration. Matching
funds totaling more than the required $64,000 were provided by contributions from the San Juan
Water Conservancy District, Southwest Water Conservation District, Colorado Division of
Wildlife, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Archuleta County Commissioners, Pagosa Public
Schools, Wetlands Hydrology, Lower Blanco Property Owners Association, and local
landowners.
Match contributions were collected in unique ways, including an "Adopt a Rock" campaign
that allowed people to sponsor a rock for use in the restoration. Also, the local homeowners
association sold homemade chokecherry jelly, offering the proceeds as match. The Bureau of
Reclamation provided a significant contribution by providing staff and equipment to haul large
boulders to strategic sites along the river.
Early signs of restoration
The project overcame considerable opposition on the part of some adjacent landowners, who
feared the reconstruction would adversely affect the water level in their alluvial wells. The
project was finally constructed in fall 1999 over 1.1 miles of the river below the San Juan/Chama
diversion. Some of the early observations include:
•	Pools within the river are now nearly 7 feet deep; previously, they were nonexistent or
less than 2 feet deep.
•	The channel is well defined and meanders, instead of braiding through the width of the
riverbed.
•	Water levels in alluvial wells have increased by 7 to 10 inches.
•	Within a week of the completion of construction, children were again catching 10- to 16-
inch fish in this segment of the river.
These observations are particularly notable because the river was at its lowest flow of the year,
approximately 17 cfs, when data were collected. Data collected after construction are still being
evaluated.
The goal for the Rio Blanco has now expanded from demonstration to full restoration of the
impaired segment of the river. An application has been made for FY2001 319 funding to
complete the next 2.2 miles, with the intent of restoring the entire 12-mile segment.
Contact Information: Dan Beley, Lower Colorado Watershed Coordinator, Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division, (303) 692-3606,
daniel.beley@state.co.us
Project Location: Rio Blanco River, Colorado
Primary Sources of Pollution: stream-flow diversion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, high water temperature
Remediation: hydrologic modifications, channel modifications, bank stabilization
Results: increased pool depth and water levels, well-defined channel, increased fish population
~Submitted by Laurie Fisher, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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The J-hook in the foreground is typical of the structures installed in the river. It directs stream
flow toward the thalwag and away from the banks. Note the stream width before the
reconstruction. Willows will be planted along the new banks, although some natural
regeneration is already occurring.
An example of a drop structure that spans the river. The pool in this area is now 7 feet deep and
supports trout; previously, the depth did not exceed 2 feet during spring runoff.

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Center Springs Pond Restoration Project: Skaters
and Fish Return to Pond
Center Springs Pond is the central feature of a 55-acre urban park in the center of Manchester,
Connecticut, in the Hockanum River watershed. Center Springs Park and its pond are valued
resources, providing residents with a variety of recreational opportunities. The pond has a surface area
of 6.1 acres and is fed by Bigelow Brook. From the late 1920s through the mid-1970s, the pond was
a popular site for skating and fishing, attracting people from all parts of Manchester. In addition, during
the warm weather people were drawn to the area to enjoy picnic lunches or simply to sit by the pond
and enjoy the scenery.
Environmental problems
Bigelow Brook, which feeds Center Springs Pond, runs through a heavily urbanized area. As a
result, the brook receives high volumes of storm water runoff. This storm water carries with it
pollutants such as sediment (from road sanding and construction activities), nutrients (from atmospheric
deposition, septic systems, and lawn fertilizer), and trash (everything from common litter to shopping
carts).
The filling of the pond with sediment and nutrients contributed to weed growth and increased
water temperatures by allowing sunlight to penetrate to the pond's bottom. The combined effect of the
sediments, increased temperature, and die-off of the algae and weeds consumed oxygen and led to
low-dissolved oxygen conditions. These impacts rendered the pond inhospitable to most species of fish
and too shallow for ice skating. The trash, bottles, cans, plastic containers, tires, lumber, logs, shopping
carts, and even a doghouse made the park a less appealing place to visit.
The solution
The goals of the Center Springs Pond Restoration Project were to improve water quality in the
pond and to reestablish the pond and surrounding area as a focal point for recreational activity in the
town of Manchester.
Phase 1 included construction of a recreation building, which is used as an office/public
gathering place; reconstruction of the parking lot; installation of new parking lot lights and other security
lights; clearing of brush and undergrowth from the building area; and upgrading of certain amenities
(including repairing a burned-down skating lodge).
Phase 2 was based on the recommendations of a diagnostic/feasibility (D/F) study conducted
by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Proection (CT DEP) Lakes Management Program on
behalf of the town of Manchester. It included the following components:
• Installation of a trash rack upstream of the pond. A trash rack collects large debris before
items enter the pond. The trash is held in areas easily cleaned by the town maintenance crew.

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•	Construction of a sedimentation forebay at the eastern end of the pond. The forebay
accumulates sediment entering from Bigelow Brook in a confined area for easy removal. The
forebay is separated from the main pond by a gabion wall/weir. The wall/weir directs the flow
to the southern end of the forebay and extends the detention time, allowing sediments to settle
before water enters the main body of the pond. The town also developed and has implemented
a pond maintenance plan, which includes periodic sediment removal.
•	Dredging of the pond. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of material was removed. The
pond was excavated to the bottom of the soft sediment, and the materials were trucked to a
landfill. At the landfill, the material were stockpiled, dewatered, and then used as landfill cover.
Project partners and funding
This project was a combined effort by the Town of Manchester, the Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection (CT DEP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several
private consultants and contractors. The total cost of the project was $342,900, which included
$250,000 from CT DEP special bond act funds authorized by the state's General Assembly, $62,900
from federal Clean Water Act section 319 funds, and $30,000 from Town of Manchester capital
improvement funds.
Section 319 funds were dedicated to nonpoint source controls in and around the pond, and
other watershed management activities. Nonpoint source controls included the construction of the trash
rack and the sedimentation forebay. As a condition of the section 319 grant, CT DEP and EPA
required the town to conduct watershed management activities, including a review of street sweeping
programs, a public education program (in the form of mailed pamphlets and newspaper articles), and an
investigation of high nutrient loading areas.
Promising results
The Center Springs Pond Restoration Project was completed in 1995. Since then, there have
been many noticeable changes. The most obvious of these is the improved appearance of the pond and
the park. Before the restoration project, Center Springs Pond's extensive duck weed growth rendered
the pond unattractive for recreation and unsuitable for most fish. Since the project was completed, the
duck weed blooms have been eliminated. Floating debris has been brought to an end by the trash rack
and watershed management activities. Watershed residents have done their part by responding to
public education and helping to reduce the amount of litter and other household and yard pollutants.
Before the project, sedimentation of the pond and winter draw-downs for weed control had
reduced the surface area, greatly limiting ice skating for the past 20 years. Now the pond once again is
used for skating. Perhaps the most astonishing change is the return of fishing as a viable recreational
opportunity. Before the restoration project, the town's annual fishing derby, which usually attracts 600
to 700 people each spring, was held at other ponds in the region. Since the project was completed, the
annual fishing derby has been held at Center Springs Pond, which is stocked with trout and bass.
The Town of Manchester now has a regular maintenance program for the pond and park that

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includes weekly litter pickup and periodic dredging of the sedimentation forebay. Other amenities have
been added since the completion of the restoration project, including a fishing pier/lookout point on the
gabion wall and a picnic area.
Future plans
Future plans for Center Spring-Pond include regular maintenance of the immediate park
grounds. There are also plans to rebuild a picnic pavilion/observation deck over the foundation of the
old skating lodge, which burned down. A concrete fishing pier, which is present in addition to the
recently added pier, will be "dressed up" to match the d6cor of the new skating lodge. Also proposed
are stone dust trails throughout the park and a picnic pavilion at the top of the sliding hill. It is easy to
see that, through the Center Springs Pond Restoration Project, this picturesque place in Manchester
has been restored as an important recreational resource for the community.
Contact Information: Mel Cote, EPA Region 1,1 Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02203,
617-918-1553, cote.mel@epa.gov
Project Location: Manchester, Connecticut
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, trash
Remediation/Project Activities: trash rack, sedimentation forebay, dredging of pond
Results: debris and duck weed blooms eliminated; return of fishery; 1,200 cubic yards of sediment
remoyed in 1998
*Submitted by Mel Cote, EPA Region 1.

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Lake Waramaug Watershed Agricultural Waste
Management System: One Farm Can Make a
Difference
Lake Waramaug is in the Housatonic River watershed in northwestern Connecticut in the towns
of Washington, Warren, and Kent. This deep, 680-acre lake is the scenic center of the area's tourism
business and is used for a variety of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming.
Waramaug is the second largest natural lake in the state. The lake's 14.3-square-mile watershed is
largely forested, with land use consisting of low-density residential development and several farms.
Much of the lake's shorefront is developed with large-lot, single-family homes. Two state parks are
located on and near the lake, Lake Waramaug State Park and Mount Bushnell State Park.
Problems caused by overenrichment
Twenty-five years ago, thick mats of algae covered the surface of Lake Waramaug, causing
serious concern among property owners and local businesses. Dead fish washed ashore and became
food for seagulls, raccoons, and other wildlife. The cause of the problem was overenrichment caused
by runoff of phosphorus and other nutrients from farms, lawns, roads, and septic systems. These
nutrients are considered a significant nonpoint source problem in the Housatonic River watershed.
The nutrients fed the growth of algae, which turned the lake's surface green every summer.
When the algae died and sank to the bottom, the decomposition of the organic material consumed the
oxygen that the fish and other aquatic life needed to survive. The algae also prevented sunlight from
reaching native aquatic plants, which were both a food source and refuge for aquatic organisms.
By the mid-1990s, many of these problems had been solved through the joint efforts of the
three watershed towns, area residents, and state and federal government agencies. However, water
quality monitoring in Sucker Brook, which feeds the lake, was still finding elevated levels of nutrients
and bacteria. Stream monitoring determined that a single dairy farm was the largest remaining source of
nutrients in the watershed. This farm houses 255 cows, heifers, and calves, and the milking room, corn
bunker silos, and barnyards are located uphill and adjacent to Sucker Brook. Runoff from the farm,
containing high concentrations of nutrients and bacteria, entered the stream, which transported the
pollutants to the lake.
Solving the problems
One of the first steps to solving Lake Waramaug's problems was the formation of the Lake
Waramaug Task Force in 1975. In 1978 the Task Force, with assistance from federal and state
agencies and a private consultant, completed the Lake Waramaug Management Plan which
contained recommendations on how to restore and protect water quality. Major in-lake management
projects include a 2.0 million-gallon-per day "withdrawal-treatment-reinjection system"; two-layer
aeration systems that mix the top water with the mid depths of the lake to create a large zone of cold,
well-oxygenated water; construction of a channel through the delta formed at the Sucker Brook outlet

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to direct cold, well-oxygenated stream flow to the oxygen-depleted bottom waters; and several in-
stream sediment collection basins. Numerous watershed nonpoint source controls were also
established, including streambank and lakeshore erosion stabilization projects, a dairy farm manure
storage system, and a vineyard wine waste lagoon.
As described previously, however, one major pollution source remained unchecked. To
address this problem, in 1999 the farmer requested technical assistance from the Litchfield County Soil
and Water Conservation District and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to
plan, design, and build a farm waste management system. The Task Force raised private funds and,
through the conservation district, also solicited financial assistance from the towns that border the lake
and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP). The CT DEP subsequently
applied for and received section 319 funds from EPA. The farmer applied for funds through the USDA
Farm Services Agency and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and a loan from the Lake
Waramaug Task Force.
Monitoring results
Water quality monitoring data collected since completion of the project indicate that the waste
management system has significantly reduced pollution levels in Sucker Brook and in Lake Waramaug.
Nutrient levels (especially phosphorus) in the stream have been drastically reduced. Before the waste
management system was constructed, the farm was contributing more than 20 percent of the total
phosphorus entering Lake Waramaug. Now, instead of flowing into Sucker Brook and Lake
Waramaug, the nutrient-rich runoff from the farm area is collected, stored, and spray-irrigated on farm
fields located hundreds of yards from Sucker Brook. This allows the nutrients to become incorporated
into the soil, supporting plant growth on the farm rather than algae growth in the lake. Bacteria levels
are also lower than before the water management system was installed, allowing the lake to meet state
water quality standards for swimming and other primary-contact recreation.
Continuing the success
To ensure the future protection of water quality, the farm waste management system needs to
be regularly inspected and maintained. It is expected that the dairy farm (with the assistance of local
conservation organizations) will continue to take measures necessary to protect water quality in Sucker
Brook and Lake Waramaug by following through with a new operation and maintenance plan
established for the farm. The Lake Waramaug Task Force and local health departments will continue
to monitor the lake and its feeder streams to determine whether the farm waste management system and
other best management practices are working to maintain and improve water quality. As a Task Force
member noted in a recent local newspaper article, "This is a success story, but it wouldn't take much to
turn it around. There has to be constant monitoring, constant improvement. Everything has to be kept
working, brought up to date..." (The New Milford Times, July 21,2000).
[Project Partners and Funding section to be put in a box]
Project Partners and Funding
This project was a combined effort by LCSWCD, CT DEP, US EPA, USDA, Lake Waramaug Task

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Force, and the dairy farmer. The total cost of the project was $211,864. Funding was provided by
the following organizations:
$33,000 from an EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 grant awarded by CT DEP
$35,000 from the USDA Farm Service Agency (Agricultural Conservation Program)
$40,000 from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture
$61,864 from the Tanner Farm through a loan agreement with the Lake Waramaug Task Force
$642,000 from the USDA NRCS for in-kind and technical services
Contact Information: Mel Cote, EPA Region 1,1 Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02203,
617-918-1553, cote.mel@epa.gov
Project Location: Washington, Warren, and Kent, Connecticut
Primary Sources of Pollution: dairy farm
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: farm waste management system
Results: reductions in nutrients (phosphorus) and bacteria
"¦Submitted by Mel Cote, EPA Region 1.

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Quinnipiac River Watershed Integrated
Pest/Crop Management Project: IPM/ICM
Education Produces Reduction in Pesticides and
Excess Nutrients
The Quinnipiac River watershed in south-central Connecticut comprises
approximately 165 square miles, primarily in the municipalities of New Britiain,
Plainville, Southington, Cheshire, Meriden, Wallingford, Hamden, North Haven, and
New Haven. The watershed also includes small areas of Farmington, Bristol, Wolcott,
Prospect, North Branford, and East Haven. The main stem of the Quinnipiac River flows
for approximately 38 miles from its headwaters in Farmington to New Haven Harbor,
where it enters Long Island Sound.
The harbor is extremely productive, providing seed oysters for more than half of
Connecticut's oyster harvest. Major tributaries are the Eightmile River, Tenmile River,
Misery Brook, Harbor Brook, and the Muddy River. Land use in the Quinnipiac River
watershed is typical of many urbanized coastal watersheds in Connecticut. There is a
diversity of land uses, including vegetative land cover (44 percent); urban land use,
which includes residential areas of varying density (31 percent); agricultural land (22
percent); and lakes and ponds (3 percent).
Environmental problems
Despite tremendous improvement over the past 30 years as a result of improved
wastewater management, water quality goals for the Quinnipiac River are still not being
met. In most river segments, the biological community is characterized by a general lack
of sensitive species and a low degree of diversity, and water quality is poor during wet
weather events. The primary cause of these impairments is nonpoint source pollution,
including storm water runoff, landfill leachate, water withdrawals, and dams, which
impede anadromous fish passage. Despite improvements in wastewater management,
compliance with industrial and municipal discharge permit limits also remains a problem.
Nonpoint source pollutants include nutrients and toxic substances such as
pesticides. The Quinnipiac River watershed contains a number of commercial farms and
green industry businesses, as well as areas with intensive turf management, where
pesticides and fertilizer are used routinely. The Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection (CT DEP) has reported that pesticides accounted for the
highest percentage of contaminated wells in the state between 1979 and 1988. Most of
the agricultural sites monitored were used for field corn production, which relies
primarily on herbicides. By comparison, more intensive forms of agriculture (e.g.,
vegetable, fruit, nursery, and greenhouse production) use a broad array of herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides. Overuse and misuse of pesticides can
adversely affect public health, safety, and food safety and pose hazards to nontarget
organisms such as honeybees.

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Fertilizer contains nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which in excessive
amounts can degrade water quality and aquatic habitat. Excessive amounts of nutrients
accelerate the growth of algae, which then die, sink to the bottom, and decompose,
consuming the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive.
The solution
CT DEP and EPA selected the Quinnipiac River watershed to implement a model
watershed management initiative. In 1997 these agencies joined other watershed
stakeholders, including municipalities, regional planning agencies, soil and water
conservation districts, universities, water utilities, and the Quinnipiac River Watershed
Association, to form the Quinnipiac River Watershed Partnership. As part of this
initiative, the CT DEP awarded $217,000 in section 319 funds to the University of
Connecticut Cooperative Extension System (UConn/CES) to focus its Integrated Pest and
Crop Management (IPM/ICM) technical assistance programs in the Quinnipiac River
watershed. UConn/CES and UConn Department of Plant Science provided $146,000 in
technical services and in-kind donations.
The primary goal of the Quinnipiac River Watershed IPM/ICM Project was to
reduce the use of pesticides and nutrients in agricultural crops, green industry (e.g.,
nurseries, greenhouses), and turfgrass areas, while maintaining or improving the quality
of the crops and landscapes. This was accomplished by in-depth educational programs
that were offered to agricultural producers and green industry personnel during the
growing seasons of 1997,1998, and 1999. Depending on the commodity, educational
efforts consisted of on-site demonstration projects, individual and group training sessions,
twilight meetings, and season-long consultations. The key educational component was
the Full-Season Field-Training program. UConn/CES staff provided clientele with in-
field, hands-on IPM training throughout an entire growing season. Meetings were held
weekly or as needed.
The ICM aspects of the program provided recommendations for best management
practices, particularly to reduce high-environmental-risk pesticides and excessive
nitrogen and other fertilizer applications. New Haven County Soil and Water
Conservation District personnel conducted a soil test to determine the level of nitrogen
already available in the soil for field corn and sweet corn.
From 1997 to 1999,40 people representing 24 farms/greenhouses/nurseries, three
turf management companies, the Town of North Haven, and Choate Rosemary Hall (a
private school) participated in IPM/ICM training programs. Programs were offered for
orchards, vegetables, greenhouses, field corn, turfgrass, and nursery/landscaping. A total
of 615 in-field IPM grower training sessions were conducted in the Quinnipiac River
watershed during this period.
As a result of these efforts, agricultural and green industry cooperators reduced
pesticide applications by 63 percent (47,612 pounds of pesticide active ingredient) on 785

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acres, nitrogen use by 32 percent (42,117 pounds) on 376 acres, and phosphate and
potassium use by 47 percent (10,270 pounds each) on 79 acres in the watershed.
Future plans
Growers and green industry operators in the Quinnipiac River watershed will
need to continue IPM/ICM implementation on their own or with the help of private
consultants. The UConn/CES continues to provide IPM/ICM technical assistance in
other watersheds throughout the state based on the state's NPS Program priorities.
Agricultural producers and turf managers throughout the state will have access to
IPM/ICM information through clientele meetings, newsletters, recorded "pest messages,"
and the UConn/CES IPM website.
Contact Information: Mel Cote, U.S. EPA, Region 1,1 Congress Street, Suite 1100,
Boston, Massachusetts 02203,617-918-1553, cote.mel@epa.gov.
Project Location: southcentral Connecticut
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (croplands)
Primary NPS Pollutants: pesticides, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: educational programs on IPM/ICM
Results: 63 percent reduction in pesticide applications, 32 percent reduction in nitrogen
use, 47 percent reduction in phosphate and potassium use
~Submitted by Mel Cote, EPA Region 1.

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New Poultry Litter Options for Delmarva
Producers: Nutrients Recycled
into Fertilizer Pellets
Chicken and egg production dominate agricultural lands in the Delmarva region,
which encompasses Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. But along with producing a
successful poultry industry, agriculture is also a source of negative environmental
impacts, particularly from nutrients entering the water as runoff from the expanding
poultry industry and the use of poultry litter on cropland.
Founded in 1920, Perdue Farms is the largest integrated poultry producer in the
Northeast and the third largest in the United States. On the Delmarva Peninsula, Perdue
houses generate 250,000 tons of poultry manure annually. This constitutes about one-
third of the total manure produced on the shore.
Joint-Venture pelletizing plant
Cleaner waters along Delmarva's eastern shore are the goal of a new effort
announced by Perdue Farms in 1999. Perdue is partnering with AgriRecycle, LLC, of
Springfield, Missouri, to construct a pelletizing plant for converting raw litter (a
combination of manure and bedding) into a pelletized form. The new 65,000-square-foot
facility will be located on a 210-acre site in Laurel, Delaware, to ensure easy access to a
steady supply of raw material and to the shipping and rail lines necessary to transport the
finished product to customers.
The pelletizing process converts excess chicken manure into a USDA-approved
organic starter fertilizer product that has a consistent nutrient value and is pasteurized.
The fertilizer can be easily and safely transported to locations outside Delmarva that are
deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus for use by row-crop farmers. Under current
practices, poultry producers usually apply the litter directly to land as a crop fertilizer.
Perdue-AgriRecycle, LLC, is contracting with local farm families, regardless of
their poultry company affiliation, to clean out their poultry houses and transport the litter
to the micronutrient plant. About 10 covered tractor trailers of litter will be transported to
the new facility each day to be stored and processed inside an enclosed concrete-floor
building. The building will have dust control, bag houses, and scrubbers to clean the air.
Nutrient reductions
Perdue-AgriRecycle, LLC, plans to process 80,000 tons of raw litter annually into
pelletized organic fertilizer. The pelletizing plant alone will reduce the availability of
nitrogen and phosphorus by 3,960,000 pounds and 9,900,000 pounds, respectively.
Many are viewing the Perdue-AgriRecycle, LLC, plant site as a model site for
demonstrating best management practices (BMPs) to control erosion, reduce water

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quality impacts, and improve wildlife habitat. As a result, several federal and state
programs (including the 319 Program) will provide funding to support these BMPs.
Contact Information: Jenny McDermit, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control, 89 Kings Highway, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, DE 19903, 302-739-
8014, j mcdermott @ state.de.us
Project Location: Laurel, Delaware
Primary Source of Pollution: poultry farms (manure)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: pelletizing plant
Results: reduced nitrogen by 3,960,000 pounds and phosphorus by 9,900,000 pounds
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Delaware's 2000 Nonpoint Source Program Annual
Report and EPA's Nonpoint Source News-Notes, Issue #58 (July 1999).

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Partners Upgrade Septic Systems in Coverdale
Crossroads: Quality of Life Improved for
Residents
The Coverdale Crossroads Community is in Sussex County, Delaware, Failing
septic systems were resulting in contaminated drinking water wells and nutrient loss to
surface water and groundwater supplies. In most cases, residents of the community were
using cesspools, failed septic systems, or no systems at all.
Septic system upgrade
In October 1997 the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control (DNREC) entered into a 3-year partnership with the Coverdale
Crossroads Community and First State Community Action to upgrade septic systems and
wells. Greenwood Trust Bank and the Sussex Conservation District provided matching
funds.
During the first year of implementation, the project had to overcome a number of
unanticipated obstacles, resulting from some members of the community living in
substandard housing. An upgraded septic system and well are of little use without
electricity and plumbing. Near the end of the first year, DNREC joined forces with the
Delaware Housing Authority, and donated homes were provided to those in need.
The local Prison Boot Camp and Work Release Program provided laborers for
demolishing the substandard homes and clearing debris and trees to make way for
subsequent installation of new septic systems and wells. Residents contributed
financially, as well as through their time and efforts. They helped to remove debris and
coordinated and provided temporary housing for those displaced. The final year has
added a partnership with the Resource Conservation and Development Council, which is
lending its support in coordinating the last year of project implementation and installation
of new housing.
Most of the replacement systems are gravity systems, with the exception of a few
low-pressure pipe systems. Follow-up education on maintenance of the system is
provided to each homeowner after installation.
Benefits to water quality and residents
By the end of September 2000, about 100 septic systems and more than 50 wells
had been upgraded. Based on studies conducted in the Inland Bays watershed, the
gravity systems have an efficiency rating for nutrient removal as follows: ammonium, 25
percent; nitrate, 35 percent; and total phosphorus, 90 percent. The efficiency rating for
the low-pressure pipe systems is as follows: ammonium, 94 percent; nitrate, 66 percent;
and total phosphorus, 90 percent.

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Before the failing systems were replaced, remediation of nutrient loads was
negligible. Through partnerships, this project has provided direct environmental benefits
to groundwater and surface waters while improving the standard of living for many
residents of Coverdale Crossroads.
Contact Information: Nancy Goggin, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control, 302-739-8014
Project Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Primary Source of Pollution: failing septic systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: ammonium, nitrate, phosphorus
Remediation/Project Activities: upgraded septic systems and wells
Results: upgraded 100 septic systems and more than 50 wells
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Delaware's Nonpoint Source Program Annual Report
(January 1,1999 to December 31,1999).

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Marsh Restoration and Island Enhancement
Projects at Kingman Lake:
Tidal Wetland Habitats Re-created
Kingman Lake is not a true lake, but a 110-acre tidal freshwater impoundment created
during the 1920s and 1930s to provide a recreational boating area for District of Columbia
residents. The lake is connected to the tidal Anacostia River by two inlets located at the northern
and southern ends of Kingman Island, a wooded 94-acre dredge/fill-created island that separates
the lake from the river.
Historically, the area emerged as an expansive freshwater tidal marsh, renowned for its
migratory Sora rail population. As wetlands were dredged and filled, many such migratory birds
stopped coming. The open water tidal "lake" gradually filled with sediment deposition until the
dominant low tide feature was a mudflat. Because of the lack of suitable substrate elevation,
most species of emergent marsh vegetation have not been established over the existing mudflats.
From mudflats to wetlands
With support of section 319 funding, in 2000 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Baltimore District, led the restoration of 42 acres of the freshwater tidal emergent wetland in
Kingman Lake. Other key partners included the U.S. National Park Service, the D.C.
government, and neighboring Prince George's County in Maryland. The primary goal of the
restoration plan is to restore historically significant wetlands, thereby enhancing the habitat
diversity and structure of an area currently dominated by unvegetated tidal mudflats.
To re-create vegetated tidal wetland habitats, the morphology of the lake was altered by
filling and grading existing lake mudflats with Anacostia River dredge material. Establishing
new (higher) substrate levels on Kingman mudflats was key to creating an environment suitable
for the growth of emergent wetland macrophytes, which can tolerate only moderate levels of tidal
inundation.
Approximately 700,000 emergent wetland plants were planted in the newly elevated and
graded mudflat areas. It was soon discovered that goose exclusion fencing would be necessary to
prevent the plants from becoming a "free lunch" for the lake's resident Canada goose population.
The fencing will allow the plants to gain a foothold during their first crucial growing season.
In concert with the wetland restoration work, Kingman Island is also being restored. The
restoration primarily involves the removal of materials that historically have been dumped on the
island. A number of low-impact actions are also under consideration, including the removal of
invasive exotic plants. Also under consideration is the construction of ramps and a floating boat

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dock for canoes and kayaks, as well as an interpretive nature trail for the recreational enjoyment
of District residents. Enhancement of habitat for resident Mid migrating wildlife is also
considered a priority. It might take the form of bird boxes, nesting areas for ospreys and eagles,
and bat boxes, as well as artificial deadfalls and snags for species-specific nesting.
Ongoing monitoring
A prerestoration study will establish a baseline data set of aquatic biota and water quality
parameters by collecting monthly water quality data and conducting a multiyear summer seasonal
assessment of the benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, plankton, and bird communities living in or
using Kingman Lake. After restoration is complete, the study will continue for 5 years to
determine the relative impact of the restoration efforts on the water quality and the aquatic
community.
Implementing these two significant restoration projects in the main stem of the Anacostia
River is important not only for the improvements to wildlife habitat or water quality. The
projects also demonstrate the success of large-scale environmental restoration projects involving
multiple federal and local government agencies and funding sources.
Contact Information: Dr. Hamid Karimi, D.C. Department of Health, 51 N Street, NE, 5th Floor,
Washington, DC 20002, (202) 535-2240
Project Location: Anacostia River, District of Columbia
Primary Sources of Pollution: wetlands dredging/filling
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: wetland restoration, recreational/habitat enhancements
Results: monitoring in progress
~Submitted by Sheila Besse, D.C. Department of Health.

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The Watts Branch Initiative: Community
Involvement Key to Success
Watts Branch is the largest and one of the most polluted tributaries of the
Anacostia River. It flows from Maryland into the District of Columbia for 4 miles.
About 80 percent of the stream's watershed is urban residential and commercial property;
less than 15 percent is forested. Because of its location, the stream corridor is affected by
runoff from a primarily impervious area. It is plagued by trash and debris dumped into
the stream by local and upstream residents and businesses. The tributary is also a source
of excessive fecal coliform bacteria loadings attributed to overflows from faulty sewers.
The Environmental Health Administration of the District's Department of Health
established the Watts Branch Task Force to coordinate restoration of the Watts Branch
watershed. The Task Force created the multiphased Watts Branch Watershed Initiative,
which includes stream bank stabilization and restoration, education and community
outreach, and a strategy to prevent illegal dumping.
Public-private partnerships
The success of the Watts Branch Task Force has primarily been the result of its
ability to effectively create partnerships between the public and private sectors and
promote a high level of community involvement. Some 1,600 native trees, shrubs, and
plants have been established to create and extend the Watts Branch riparian buffer.
Through the efforts of the Task Force, in partnership with the Anacostia River Business
Coalition and the Earth Conservation Corps, the work was funded largely through a
section 319 grant. Section 319 funding also supported streambank stabilization efforts in
the spring of 2001, in partnership with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Money from Washington's "Summit Fund" supported the purchase of three
surveillance cameras that are now being used by the Environmental Crimes Unit of the
Metropolitan Police Department to monitor illegal dumping in and around Watts Branch.
A grant from the Summit Fund also supported a community education day in the park,
which helped to spread the word about illegal dumping, nonpoint source pollution, and
the importance of riparian buffer plantings to the stream.
Plans for the future
Future work will address riparian and aquatic habitat concerns, as well as water
quality impacts from sediment and nutrients. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will
provide monitoring assistance and will use the information it gathers to develop designs
for areas still in need of stream restoration. The projected completion date for the stream
restoration work is October 2004. The District of Columbia anticipates that continued
stream restoration work will be funded through the District's 319 nonpoint source
program.

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Contact Information: Dr. Hamid Karimi, D.C. Department of Health, 51 N Street, NE,
5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002,202-535-2240
Project Location: Anacostia River, District of Columbia
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: fecal coliform bacteria, sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank stabilization, riparian buffers (1,600
plantings), education/outreach
Results: monitoring in progress
~Submitted by Sheila Besse, D.C. Department of Health.

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Blackwater River Restoration: Project
Demonstrates Mechanics of Erosion and
Effectiveness of BMPs
Ever know of a natural area that the users "loved to death"? The Blackwater River and
the adjacent Blackwater State Forest in the Florida panhandle are a good example.
Primitive roads created for and by the timber industry and by recreational users, including
canoeists, tubers, horse riders, and hunters, have led to serious soil erosion problems in
the State Forest. Roads leading to or along the river and its tributaries have caused
erosion in the sandy, exposed soils of the watershed and along the shoreline, resulting in
heavy sedimentation to the river.
Stabilization project
The Florida Division of Forestry treated 17 roads on the river's south side, closing
14 and repairing 3. Methods of closing and repairing the roads varied depending on the
slope, likelihood of continued traffic, natural stabilization mechanisms in place, sources
of water creating the erosion, and suitability of the best management practices (BMPs).
The objective in each case was to remove or redirect the source of water flow causing the
problem and to stabilize the soil. The overall project cost was $55,928, of which $25,268
was provided by a section 319 grant to the Florida Division of Forestry.
Encouraging results
Despite willful damage to treated areap' »y locals (subsequently repaired), the
project was considered a success because sed ent production from the roads was
reduced and the restored areas were returned ^ timber production. The project taught the
forest staff that soil cover is the key to reducing soil loss. The cover can be in the form of
erosion fabric, vegetation, or mulch. Permanent native vegetation is expensive to
procure, especially for large restoration areas. To continue this type of work on a forest-
wide basis and make a significant impact on the soil erosion problems at a reasonable
cost, some other means of revegetation will need to be used. The forestry staff believes
transplanting forest materials will be one of the solutions.
This demonstration project helped state foresters better understand the causes and
mechanisms of erosion and sedimentation. Just as important, the project allowed the
foresters to learn more about the effectiveness of BMPs that can be used to minimize
erosion problems and where various BMPs work best. Consequently, state foresters have
developed a management plan to continue addressing the erosion problems resulting from
dirt roads and gullies that are negatively affecting the quality of the Blackwater River, an
Outstanding Florida Water. Implementation of the management plan is proceeding using
" o variety of funding sources, including section 319 grants from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, state funds, user fees, and in-kind contributions by forest
users.

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Contact Information: Tom Serviss, Blackwater Forestry Center, 11650 Munson Highway,
Milton, FL 32570, 850-957-6140
Project Location: Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, Florida
Primary Sources of Pollution: roads (timber, recreational)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: road stabilization, redirection of water flow
Results: reduced sediment delivery
~Submitted by Eric Livingston, Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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Brevard County's Urban Storm Water
Retrofitting Projects: Lessons Learned About
Design, Location, and Monitoring
With the implementation of the state storm water rule in 1982, Florida became the first
state in the country to require that storm water from all new development be treated.
However, reducing the pollutant loadings discharged from older drainage systems is also
essential to the protection and restoration of water bodies throughout Florida. The Indian
River Lagoon, an estuary of national significance and a water body of importance to both
Florida and Brevard County, has been adversely affected by storm water discharges from
older drainage systems. Fortunately, Florida's Surface Water Improvement and
Management program, in conjunction with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary
Program, has developed a comprehensive watershed management plan to restore this
important water body. A significant component of this plan is the implementation of
urban storm water retrofitting projects through partnerships between the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, the St. Johns River Water Management
District, and local governments.
Brevard County has implemented a storm water utility fee to help fund retrofitting
projects, and its storm water program has initiated several projects leading to a reduction
in the pollutant loadings discharged to the lagoon. The county has received a number of
section 319 grants to assist in funding these projects. The costs of the retrofitting projects
are provided in the table.
Indialantic area retrofitting
Several storm water retrofitting projects have been conducted in the town of Indialantic
to reduce pollutant discharge to the Indian River Lagoon. The first phase of retrofitting
involved the installation of numerous baffle boxes (sediment boxes) at the end of existing
storm drain pipes to capture sediment before it is discharged. The frequency of cleanout
depends on rainfall frequency, land use, and drainage basin size but has averaged six
cleanouts per baffle box per year. The maintenance records for 24 baffle boxes show that
202 cubic meters of sediment were removed from these boxes over a 3-year period.
Later phases of retrofitting in this area focused on treating storm water from an urbanized
residential watershed of 120 contributing acres. The best management practices (BMPs)
installed to correct storm water quality and quantity problems included construction of an
exfiltration trench that discharges to a wet detention pond. The pond was planted with
cordgrass and pickerel weed to provide nutrient removal and cattail control. The new
sideslope Geo Web cells were planted with blanket flowers and sunflowers for additional
erosion control.
Based on Florida's rainfall records and the design treatment volume of the exfiltration
system, it is removing about 60 percent of the pollutants that would have been
discharged. Water quality sampling of several storm events showed that the pond is
providing significant treatment of storm water pollutants through settling and biological

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processes. Overall, the treatment system appears to be removing most nutrients, metals,
and suspended solids from the storm water before discharge to the Indian River Lagoon.
Micco area retrofitting
The Micco area of Brevard County is an urbanized single-family residential area that was
built before the storm water treatment requirements. The area's existing storm water
system provided no treatment of the area's runoff, which was discharged to the Sebastian
River and ultimately to the Indian River Lagoon. Prior to this project, Main Street ran
directly down to its lowest point at a boat ramp. Because there were no curbs or gutters,
storm water ran down the edges of the pavement, causing considerable erosion and
transporting a lot of sediment into the river.
To arrest the direct discharge of storm water, the county developed a trench system
designed to remove sediments. The county installed 1,536 linear feet of exfiltration
trenches down the center of the road along with asphalt curbing to direct flow to inlets
installed along the road's edge. The trenches capture 0.39 inch of runoff from the 15.5-
acre watershed, and pretreatment is provided by sumps and skimmers at the inlets.
For a variety of reasons, monitoring on this project proved to be problematic. However,
maintenance activities were able to document the effectiveness of the trench system in
removing sediments. The inlet system was cleaned twice during the postconstruction
monitoring period, and a total of 14,076 pounds of sediment was removed. In addition,
based on Florida's rainfall patterns and the diversion of runoff into the trenches, it is
estimated that the system removes 80 percent of the pollutants that previously were
discharged to the Sebastian River.
Lessons learned
Many valuable lessons were learned from this project related to design, location, and
monitoring. Brevard County staff are applying this information to current and future
projects designed to address water quality and quantity problems throughout the Micco
watersheds. Other local governments in Florida also are benefiting from the project as
they develop and implement storm water master plans to reduce storm water pollution.
Contact Information: Ron Jones, Brevard Surface Water Improvement Division, 2725
Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Suite A203, Viera, FL 32940, 321-633-2014
Project Location: Brevard County, Florida
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, metals, suspended solids
Remediation/Project Activities: baffle boxes in storm drain pipes, wet detention pond
(Indialantic storm water retrofitting), exfiltration trenches, inlet system (Micco area
retrofitting)
Results: (Indialantic storm water retrofitting) 67 cubic meters of sediment removed per
year, 60 percent less discharge of pollutants; 14,076 pounds of sediment removed, 80
percent less discharge of pollutants (Micco area retrofitting)
~Submitted by Eric Livingston, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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3revard County retrofitting projects
Project
Drainage area
Cost
Project
Drainage area
Cost
Alamanda
1.8 acres
$14,376
Franklin
36 acres
$33,362
Rivershore
7.2 acres
$ 9,463
Riverside
161 acres
$24,944
Indialantic I
25 acres
$13,580
Sunset Park
24 acres
$23,422
Monaco
54 acres
$32,835
Puesta Del
2.2 acres
$25,181
Pinetree
134 acres
$33,925
Cedar Lane
0.9 acres
$25,027

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Broad River Streambank Stabilization Project:
Tree Revetments Rescue Eroding Banks
Streambank erosion on the streams and rivers of Georgia continues to be a
growing problem. Erosion is particularly evident in the Broad River Watershed District
of northeastern Georgia. The accepted consensus is that it is much easier, and more cost-
effective, to prevent erosion before it occurs than to restore streambanks after the damage
has been done. However, because in many cases erosion already exists, new and better
ways of solving the problem are being explored.
One of the methods being tried in the Broad River watershed is the technique of
installing "tree revetments." New to Georgia, this technique is relatively inexpensive
when compared to other types of streambank stabilization techniques currently in use.
Demonstrating the technique
To help combat the increasing problem of streambank erosion in the Broad River
watershed, the Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development
Council, through a 319 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
Environmental Protection Division, is implementing a project designed to demonstrate to
landowners the positive effects of "tree revetments" on eroding streambanks. The project
calls for 15 tree revetment sites, plus additional best management practices, to be
installed on selected streams throughout the Broad River watershed.
A tree revetment is a bioengineering method that uses whole trees cabled tightly
together in giant bundles. These bundles are then secured to the eroded streambank in a
shingling effect, just like the shingles on a roof, through an anchoring system of cables.
The trees used in the installation are selected by the contractor with assistance from an
NRCS specialist or by the participating landowner from the landowner's own property.
The streambank height should usually be 6 feet or more, with a steep incline; revetments
can't be constructed on gradually sloped streambanks.
Tree revetments have been shown to greatly slow the stream current along an
eroding bank, decreasing erosion and allowing sediment to be deposited in the tree
branches of the revetment. The deposited sediment forms an excellent seedbed in which
the seeds of riparian trees such as sycamores and maple, as well as other plants, can
sprout and grow. The resulting growth spreads roots throughout the revetment and into
the existing streambank. In addition to slowing streambank erosion, tree revetments also
provide excellent habitat for birds, fish, and other forms of wildlife.
Continuing efforts
As of August 2001, seven revetment demonstration sites have been installed
throughout the watershed. An additional five sites will be installed through the end of
2001, as weather permits. The progress of these sites will be monitored over the next 2
years.

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Contact Information: Jim Wren, Oconee River RC&D Council, Inc., P.O. Box 247,
Watkinsville, GA 30677,706-769-7922
Project Location: Northeastern Georgia
Primary Sources of Pollution: erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: tree revetment
Results: decreased sediment loads; monitoring in progress
"¦Information for this success story was gleaned from the project brochure Protecting & Enhancing
Streambanks in the Broad River Watershed, Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation &
Development Council, Inc. Submitted by Jim Wren, Oconee River RC&D.

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North Griffin Storm Water Detention Pond
Project: Constructed Wetland System Protects
Water, Wins Award
An important function of wetlands is their role in maintaining and enhancing
water quality. Urban storm water contains a variety of constituents, such as nitrogen,
phosphorus, metals, oil, and grease, that can contribute to nonpoint source pollution.
Because many complex chemical and biological processes that affect water quality occur
in wetlands, a vegetated wetland system can incorporate and transform many of these
storm water constituents through biological breakdown by microorganisms or vegetative
decomposition.
In addition to providing water quality-enhancing attributes, constructed wetland
systems offer other potential advantages, including comparatively simple operation with
low maintenance, process stability under varying environmental conditions, and low
construction and operating costs when compared with traditional water treatment
facilities. Additionally, the introduction of emergent wetland species not only provides
several benefits for water quality enhancement but also results in improvement of wildlife
habitats.
Comprehensive watershed management
In 1997 the City of Griffin began a comprehensive watershed management
program by implementing a Storm Water Utility to address the city's aging infrastructure
and improve the quality of storm water runoff. One of the first projects successfully
completed under the management program was construction of the North Griffin
Regional Detention Pond (NGRDP). This regional pond was designed for flood control
and to enhance and preserve water quality in Shoal Creek and Wildcat Creek of the Flint
River Basin.
The NGRDP features a drainage channel, a regional detention pond, and two
constructed wetland areas for storm water filtration. The pond and wetland areas use
natural filtration and other biological processes, rather than traditional mechanical means,
to improve the quality of storm water runoff. The pond serves as a comprehensive storm
water management system that eliminates flooding problems in a 180-acre area of North
Griffin while enhancing water quality.
Evaluating the performance of the NGRDP
To determine the overall performance of the wetland system, an evaluation of
water quality was performed by collecting and laboratory testing storm water samples
from locations upstream, within, and downstream of the detention pond. A baseline
sampling protocol was developed to establish the initial quality of storm water runoff
from the North Griffin Drainage Basin.

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Review of the monitoring data for the first 21 months (between January 1999 and
September 2000) indicates that the actual removal efficiencies are showing significant
reductions for the constituents listed (see Table 1). The City of Griffin anticipates that
the future monitoring results for the mature site will be comparable to the theoretical
removal efficiencies documented. Wetland maturation should result in utilization and
transformation of these constituents through biological breakdown by microorganisms
and vegetative decomposition.
The American Consulting Engineers Council awarded the City of Griffin and
Integrated Science & Engineering the 2000 Engineering Excellence Award for this
project.
Table 1. The following table shows the removal efficiencies for several constituents that are
currently being monitored. Table represents data collected between Jan 99 to Sept 00 by the City
of Griffin, Georgia	
Constituent
Station 1
Station 3
Average Removal
Theoretical Removal

(Influent)
(Effluent)
Efficiency
Efficiency!
TSS
42.86 mg/L
36.71 mg/L
14%
65 to 80%
TKN
4.53 mg/L
1.76 mg/L
61%
60 to 80%
Total P
0.17 mg/L
0.10 mg/L
41%
25 to 50%
COD
52.00 mg/L
31.86 mg/L
39%
35%
Total Pb
BDL
BDL
0%
50%
Total Zn
0.13 mg/L
0.07 mg/L
46%
60 to 70%
Fecal Coliform
25,457 (no/100mL)4
8,169 (no/100mL)4
68%
NCLI
BDL- Below Detection Limits
NCLI - no comparison level identified
Contact Information: Brant Keller, Public Works Director, Storm Water Utility Division,
P.O. Box T, Griffin, GA 30224, 770-229-6603
Project Location: Griffin, Georgia
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, metals, oil, and grease
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetland system
Results: removal of total suspended solids, total Kjeldohl nitrogen, total phosphorus,
chemical oxygen demand, total lead, and total
'Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program website
atwww.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Springfield Creek Watershed Project:
A Success in Progress
Springfield Creek is a small tributary to Sugar Creek in Morgan County, Georgia.
The Springfield Creek watershed contains 1,071 acres and is located in the Oconee River
Basin. Sugar Creek and Little Sugar Creek have been included on the Georgia 1998 lists
of waters as partially or not supporting designated uses due to nutrient, fecal coliform,
and lead criteria violations caused by nonpoint source pollution. Of all the streams
monitored in the Lake Oconee Basin, Sugar Creek has the highest levels of total
suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The watershed is heavily
affected by agricultural production, including dairy farms with animal holding and
management areas.
Project
In 1998 the Oconee River Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
Council initiated the Springfield Creek Watershed Project, which had the goal of
assessing the environmental impacts of conservation management systems applied to all
of the agricultural operations in a watershed. The 6-year project will measure the net
effect of the management systems on water quality and the stream ecosystem near the
watershed outlet. A database that planners can use in addressing future natural resource
concerns will be developed. One hundred-percent participation by the producers in the
watershed is critical to the project's success.
The Springfield/Sugar Creek watersheds will receive comprehensive treatment
with conservation management systems, while the Rooty Creek watershed will serve as a
control. Conservation management systems have been initiated on five contiguous dairy
farms in the Springfield Creek watershed with cost-share assistance provided by the
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). The primary conservation measures
being used are fencing, lagoon pump-out, and stream crossings.
Educational materials (e.g., fact sheets, brochures) will be prepared and
distributed. The Oconee River RC&D Council and cooperating agencies work closely
~~with localresidents and news media to emphasize the importance of water quality and the
cooperation of all persons involved in this project. Technical data will be prepared for
presentation at two field days in the final 2 years of the project.
Results
The University of Georgia is assisting with monitoring the conditions of the
watershed. Monitoring stations have been set up on several streams to continuously
monitor the flow in and out of the watershed.
Previous projects conducted by the Oconee River RC&D Council and partners on
single-farm units have shown significant reductions in NH3-N, P04-P, N03-N, TSS, and
COD. Most reductions were in the 25 to 50 percent range. With 100-percent participation

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in the Springfield Creek watershed project, similar reductions in these pollutants are
expected. Once the demonstration is completed, the results will be used in developing
other projects in the Oconee River Basin and throughout the state. The successful
completion of this project should significantly enhance the water quality of the Lake
Oconee Basin.
Contact Information: Charlie Meek, Oconee River RC&D Council, Inc., P.O. Box 247,
Watkinsville, GA 30677,706-769-7922, charlie.meek@ga.usda.gov
Project Location: Morgan County, Georgia
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dairy farms)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, fecal coliform, lead
Remediation/Project Activities: conservation management systems
Results: monitoring in progress
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
atwww.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Ugum Watershed Project: Students Plant Acacia
Seedlings to Help Restore Watershed
The Ugum watershed is one of Guam's last relatively pristine natural areas. It has been
identified as one of Guam's highest-priority watersheds in the island's Unified Watershed
Assessment. The watershed consists of 19 square kilometers of lush vegetation, productive
wetlands, savanna grasslands, and badlands with numerous springs and feeder streams. Located
in the southern part of Guam, it is home to wild pigs, deer, and carabao, as well as many birds,
some of which are endangered.
The Ugum Water Treatment Plant on the Ugum River supplies drinking water to
southeastern island villages. Soil erosion and increased turbidity levels in the Ugum River have
been adversely affecting water quality and drinking water supplies.
Acacia tree planting
In 1999 Guam's Water Planning Committee (WPC), composed of a broad spectrum of
government agencies and other stakeholders (including Department of Agriculture Division of
Forestry; Aquatic and Wildlife Resources; Department of Commerce; Guam Environmental
Protection Agency; Natural Resources Conservation Service; University of Guam; Guam
Waterworks Authority; Department of Defense; and Bureau of Planning), initiated the watershed
action plan for one of its highest-priority watersheds. The WPC determined that the most
effective means of preventing and minimizing soil erosion was to encourage actions that
maximize vegetative cover, particularly forest.
To achieve this, section 319 funding was used to plant a 50-acre area within the Ugum
watershed with 1,000 acacia tree seedlings per acre. One hundred students from Guam's
southern schools planted the 1,000 seedlings. Some 50,000 acacia tree seedlings were planted
overall in the Ugum watershed. The WPC goals were to conserve and protect the ravine forest,
revegetate badlands within the savanna grasslands, minimize fires, increase public involvement
and education, and obtain special recognition and standing that support the Ugum watershed as a
priority watershed.
Reforestation of Ugum watershed
Once established, the acacia trees will allow the opportunity for native trees to restore the
area to its native state. This is the beginning of a long-term program of forestation of the
watershed.
Another sign of success is the WPC's development of a Watershed Executive Order,
which the Governor signed in August 1999. The Executive Order affirms the WPC's work on
watersheds, gives direction for agency leaders, and emphasizes a watershed protection approach
involving multiple ownership and use perspectives.
Contact Information: Denny Cruz, Water Planning Committee, Guam EPA, 671-475-1665

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Project Location: Ugum Watershed, Guam
Primary Sources of Pollution: soil erosion
Primary NPS Pollutant: sediment
Restoration/Project Activities: planting native acacia trees
Results: 50,000 acacia tree seedlings planted in a 50-acre area; projected to reduce turbidity and
improve drinking water supply
*Submitted by Michael Lee, EPA Region 9, Pacific Insular Area Programs, Guam Water Program Lead.

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He'eia Coastal Restoration Project
Friends of He'eia State Park is a nonprofit educational institution that offers
interpretive programs in the sciences and Hawaiian culture. The park sits on an elevated
peninsula on the shores of Kaneohe Bay. Bordering the park are a unique fringing reef, a
mountain stream, and an ancient Hawaiian fishpond. This project was part of a larger
master planning effort to rehabilitate portions of the entire He'eia watershed.
The state's Department of Health has designated Kaneohe Bay a Water Quality
Limited Segment because of the nonpoint source pollution, specifically sediments and
nutrients. Kaneohe Bay and He'eia Stream are part of Koolaupoko Watershed,
designated Category I by Hawaii's Unified Watershed Assessment Plan. Alien coastal
plants were causing problems by preventing adequate filtering of waters that emanate
from the watershed above before they entered the bay.
Replacing alien plants with native species
The major goal of this project was to expand and enhance the He'eia Stream and
coastal area by replacing existing alien coastal plants with native strand species. The area
was surveyed, and plans were developed for the removal of the alien plants. Two 40-
square-foot test plots were identified to be cleared and planted with native species. Some
of the trees removed were 60 feet tall with 16-inch diameters. The trees were cut at the
top of the prop roots so the remaining roots could serve as traps or filters.
The project was very successful in removing alien flora from the stream banks
and in planting native species such as milo, naupaka, kukui, kou and puhala in their
place. The native species are expected to provide continuous protection to Kaneohe Bay
by filtering the waters that come from the watershed above. Thousands of people from
community groups, schools, service clubs, businesses, and prison work teams provided
labor for the project.
Benefits to waters and the community
Students and professors from Windward Community College monitored the water
quality of He'eia Stream at five sites in the watershed. The community benefited from
this project through the many formal presentations made to the public and from the
Hawaiian Lecture Series, which focused on the cultural relationship of the land to the sea.
The success of this project has given Friends of He'eia State Park a huge boost in their
continuing efforts throughout the watershed.
The total cost of this project was $155,000; funding included $60,000 in 319 grant funds.
Contact Information: Carole McLean, Executive Director, Friends of He'eia State Park,
Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, 808-247-3156.
Project Location: Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Primary Sources of Pollution: alien coastal plants causing erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients

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Restoration/Project Activities: removal of alien plants, planting of native species
Results: projected decrease in sediments and nutrients
Submitted by Denis Lau, P.E., Chief, Clean Water Branch, State of Hawaii, Department of Health.

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Integration of Aquaculture with Taro Production:
Nonpoint Source Pollutants Reduced in
Demonstration Project
Both aquaculture and taro production play important roles in the Hawaiian culture
but can sometimes result in significant nonpoint source pollution. Puali Stream and
Nawiliwili Bay have been particularly affected by agricultural discharges of dissolved
chemical fertilizers, high-nutrient-content aquaculture effluents, sediment, total dissolved
solids, and pesticides.
Hawaii initiated a 319 project to demonstrate that the integration of aquaculture
with taro production systems can significantly reduce nonpoint source water pollution.
The goal of the project was to demonstrate that the application of various best
management practices (BMPs) to integrated aquaculture (fish)-agricuiture (taro)
production systems can result in significant ecological and economic advantages, and
including, ultimately, the reduction of nonpoint source pollution. Equally important was
the goal that the project result in the improvement of the social and economic conditions
of taro growers and aquaculturists throughout the state.
New approaches to production
The project involved stocking four pairs of fish tanks with both tilapia and
Chinese catfish. Each taro treatment then received the effluent from two fish tanks. Each
pair of tanks that discharged into each loi (pondfield) was integrated with four treatment
taro pondfields planted with lehua maoli, which then drained into adjacent fields planted
with bun long. Two taro controls were integrated with, and discharged into, a wastewater
polyculture pond. One was solarized and one was not. The polyculture pond was
stocked with fish, taro, and aquatic plants, dependent on waste products from the two
controls for their nutritional needs. The system was expected to control eutrophication,
recycle organic and inorganic wastes, decrease soil erosion, and abate water pollution.
Quantitative water quality data were collected bimonthly with the use of a
Hydrolab and other water quality, testing equipment to monitor the following parameters:
dissolved oxygen, percent saturation, pH, conductivity, temperature, turbidity, total
dissolved solids, total nitrate, total phosphate, total ammonia, and biological oxygen
demand (BOD). The purpose of the monitoring was to assess which BMPs and
integrated methods are most effective as pollution abatement techniques.
Increased water quality without affecting crop yields
This project was successful in demonstrating that the traditional Hawaiian cultural
practice of taro production can efficiently meet today's standards of water quality without
affecting taro yield. Although the growth rate of the tilapia was considered relatively
slow, it must be considered that two crops (fish and taro) are being grown and the goal is
to optimize the production of both while at the same time protecting the quality of
receiving waters. The taro functioned well as a "biofilter" to recover nutrients in

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aquaculture effluent. Overall levels of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and BOD were
significantly reduced after the aquaculture effluent flowed through the taro loi.
Contact Information: Don Heacock, Department of Land and Natural Resources, 3060
Elwa Street, Lihue, Kauai, HI, 808-241-3400
Project Location: Niumalu, Kauai
Primary Sources of Pollution: aquaculture, taro production
Primary NPS Pollutants: dissolved chemical fertilizers, high-nutrient-content aquaculture
effluents, sediment, total dissolved solids, pesticides
Restoration/Project Activities: integration of aquaculture with taro production
Results: reduced levels of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and BOD
~Submitted by Denis Lau, P.E., Chief, Clean Water Branch, State of Hawaii, Department of Health.

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Idaho2
Conservation in Hatwai Creek: Partners Work
Together on Four Successful Projects
Hatwai Creek is 3 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho. Its watershed consists of 19,785
acres of cropland (56 percent), rangeland (31.5 percent), pasture/hayland (5 percent),
riparian areas (2.5 percent), roads (2 percent), forestland (1 percent), mining (1 percent),
and farms and suburban areas (1 percent). The watershed elevation ranges from 775 feet
to 2,964 feet. Annual precipitation ranges from 10 inches at lower elevations to 22
inches at higher elevations.
The watershed was listed on Idaho's 303(d) list and also listed as critical habitat
for steelhead salmon. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed steelhead as
threatened in Hatwai Creek. The creek's beneficial uses are agriculture water supply,
secondary contact recreation, and salmonid spawning. The nonpoint source pollutants
include sediment, nutrients, and high water temperature. The primary sources of such
pollutants are nonirrigated cropland (headwater sites), rangeland (grazing activities),
surface mining operations, and streambank erosion.
Combined resources to address watershed
In the early 1990s the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District
(NPSWCD) organized local, state, and federal stakeholders to address water quality and
fishery concerns. The watershed plan resulting from that partnership consisted of four
separate projects to address water quality and fisheries issues: an EPA 319 project, an
USDA Water Quality Incentives Project, a riparian demonstration project funded by the
Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, and a USDA Environmental Quality Incentives
Program project.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) funded a sediment and
nutrient reduction project through section 319 funding. The project included landowner
education for watershed management and nonpoint source pollution. Many structural
conservation-practices were-installed,4ncluding-12 water and-sediment control basins,
nine grade stabilization structures, two ponds, one off-site water development, eight
sediment basins, 8,000 linear feet of terrace, and 5,400 linear feet of riparian
improvement practices (brush mattresses, pole plantings, and revetments).
The USDA Water Quality Incentive Program project provided incentive payments
for nutrient and pest management and for well testing. Thirty-five landowners
participated and received training on soil testing, nutrient budgets, Integrated Pest
Management practices, and wellhead protection practices. More than 11,000 acres were
treated through this program.
The riparian demonstration project began in 1993 and will be completed in 2001.
The primary areas of focus are grazing management on riparian and upland areas,

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enhancement of the riparian areas, streambank stabilization, and fish habitat
improvement.
In June 1999 a special project for reducing sheet and rill erosion on cropland was
initiated through the support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service's
Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Conservation practices will focus on the
implementation of direct seeding systems, a new technology for this area, and there is a
possibility of reducing sheet and rill erosion by as much as 25 percent.
Success of cooperative efforts
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game collected fish data in Lower Hatwai
Creek, monitoring the responses of wild trout, natural rainbow trout, and steelhead trout.
Monitoring results for the 1995 to 1998 period indicate that the trout density increased
annually throughout the length of the demonstration project. Trout density in the project
area increased from 0.32 per 100 square meters in 1995 to a high of 13.24/100 m2 in
1998; in the control area, on the other hand, trout density was only 0.87/100 m2 in 1996,
3.00/100 m2 in 1997, and 3.06/100 m2 in 1998. This improvement is attributed to
improved riparian health, including improved streambank, increased canopy cover, and
decreased stream temperatures.
Nineteen erosion control structures were installed, reducing concentrated-flow
erosion by an average of 20 tons per acre per year. Installation of sheet and rill erosion
control practices on 10,000 acres of nonirrigated cropland resulted in a reduction of 7
tons per acre per year. Installing 9,000 acres of pest and nutrient management practices
produced a 20 percent reduction in the amount of pesticides and fertilizers applied.
The NPSWCD also completed a landowner survey to document technology
adoption. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed had participated in at least one of the
four projects, and 69 percent confirmed that they would participate again in a similar
project if given the opportunity. The survey revealed that 54 percent of those surveyed
were willing to participate in watershed advisory groups. Nineteen different types of
conservation practices were installed on more than 14,000 acres of land, representing
about three-fourths of the total watershed acreage.
Success is the result of the cooperative efforts of landowners, the public, and
various agencies. Groups assisting included DEQ, EPA, Idaho Department of Fish and
Game, Idaho Soil Conservation Commission, Nez Perce County Commissioners,
Lewiston Senior High School, Lewiston Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Idaho
Department of Lands, Idaho Department of Water Resources, NRCS, University of
Idaho, local Boy Scout groups, NMFS, and the NPSWCD.
Contact Information: Lynn Rasmussen, NRCS District Conservationist, 208-746-9886,
Lynn.Rasmussen@id.usda.gov.
Project Location: Nez Perce County, Idaho
Primary Sources of Pollution: nonirrigated cropland (headwater sites), rangeland (grazing
activities), surface mining operations, streambank erosion

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Primary Nonpoint Source Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, high water temperature
Remediation/Project Activities: landowner education, streambank stabilization structures
Results: 20 tons per acre per year reduced erosion from erosion control structures, 7 tons
per acre per year reduction from sheet and rill erosion control practices, 20 percent
reduction in use of pesticides and fertilizers, increased trout density
~Submitted by Gary Dailey, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

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Restoring the Paradise Creek Watershed: Phased
Approach Implemented to Address Pollution and
Flooding
A Historically Diverse Watershed
Paradise Creek originates on Moscow Mountain (elev. 4,356 feet) and then flows
in a southwesterly direction for 20 miles, through Moscow, Idaho (elev. 2,520 feet),
ultimately entering the South Fork of the Palouse River in Pullman, Washington. The
creek drains 34 square miles and consists of 55 stream segments, 49 of which flow
through agricultural fields. Wetlands associated with riparian areas along Paradise Creek
are in poor condition because of past and present management activities such as draining
and tiling.
Today, Paradise Creek is a simplified ecosystem adversely affected by habitat
destruction, excessive sediment, nutrients, high temperatures, altered flow, pathogens,
and ammonia, which in combination have significantly decreased its biological integrity.
Cropland is the most prevalent land use (about 73 percent) in the Paradise Creek
watershed but provides the least diverse plant community type. Historically, Paradise
Creek supported cold water fisheries; currently, the creek supports only limited nongame
fish species. Because negative impacts on the stream continue to increase along with
growth in the urban areas of Moscow and Pullman, it is becoming even more difficult for
the creek to repair itself.
A multiphase approach
For the past decade, the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI), a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has directed watershed restoration projects in Paradise
Creek. From 1994 to the present, PCEI has led a seven-phase comprehensive watershed
restoration approach in the Paradise Creek watershed. In addition to 319 funding,
support for this project was provided by a multitude of partners, including Moscow
School District No. 281; numerous private individuals and businesses; City of Moscow;
Latah Soil and Water Conservation District; University of Idaho; Palouse Conservation
District in Whitman County, Washington; City of Pullman, Washington; Idaho
Department of Fish and Game; Idaho Department of Water Resources; Idaho Department
of Lands, Soil Conservation Commission; US Army Corps of Engineers; USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service; and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Phase 1 of the project began in fall 1995, and the project continues today with
restoration efforts in Phase 7. Most of the activities have involved floodplain and
wetland restoration, streambank stabilization and revegetation, and relocation of the
previously straightened stream channel to its natural pattern in the Paradise Creek
watershed. These efforts have involved the cooperation and participation of both public
and private landowners along the Paradise Creek corridor, dealing with various
contributors of nonpoint source pollution.

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In 1995 Phase 1 began with the restoration of a floodplain and streambanks at a
site owned by the Moscow School District. Before the restoration project, this section of
Paradise Creek was channelized with unstable banks. The riparian zone was fanned, and
plant diversity along the stream channel was low. Phase I involved efforts to remeander
1,200 feet of stream channel, as well as streambank stabilization practices, including the
planting of more than 750 native plants on some 3,000 square feet of streambank and 5
acres of floodplain.
Also in 1995, the commencement of Phase 2 involved the development of
wastewater treatment wetlands with the help of local community volunteers and students,
who planted the newly constructed cells with 23,860 native herbaceous wetland plants.
The wetlands were completed in 1998, and PCEI has given tours of the site to classes
from universities and to local groups like the Native Plant Society.
In 1996 Phase 3 projects were aimed at floodplain restoration, streambank
stabilization, and the remeandering of a 1,250-foot segment of the creek owned by the
University of Idaho that had previously been channelized. The creek's path had been
tamed, but it had little value for flood control, aesthetics, or wildlife. The floodplain was
therefore revegetated with a native riparian plant community, and a sinuous, low-flow
channel with bioengineered bank stabilization and habitat structures was constructed. In
addition, biofilters, including grassy swales and "pocket" wetlands, were installed to treat
storm water runoff from a planned parking lot. Models of the completed project showed
a drop in flood elevations of up to 1.5 feet.
The Phase 4 projects, begun in 1999, focused on streambank and floodplain
restoration in private backyards along Paradise Creek. Need for this project was high, as
demonstrated by one landowner's loss of a strip of approximately 60 square feet of her
backyard to streambank erosion. Interested landowners provided buffer strips. The
widths of their strips varied based on the erosion potential of their reach of Paradise
Creek.
Restoring riparian areas in agricultural areas along Paradise Creek was the goal
for Phase 5. Before restoration, the stream channel had been straightened and acted as a
drainage ditch for active agricultural land directly adjacent to the stream. As part of the
restoration project, 3,600 feet of stream channel was relocated to follow its estimated
historical path. Vulnerable banks were stabilized, and two new wetlands were excavated
to act as a flood storage and groundwater recharge area and to provide habitat for
wildlife. In spring 2000 PCEI and the landowner planted a 150-foot-wide buffer strip
with a mix of native woody plant species.
Phase 6 involved the urbanized riparian floodplain and associated wetlands on
public land along Paradise Creek within Moscow. Work took place along two reaches of
the creek, resulting in the revegetation of more than 4,000 feet of stream by fall 2000.
Phase 7 of the project is under way, focusing on the implementation of nonpoint
source controls to achieve Total Maximum Daily Load allocations. The project includes

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construction of animal waste biofiltration swales and treatment wetlands, revegetation of
riparian areas, streambank stabilization, and agricultural land restoration activities in
association with other local agencies.
Contact Information: David Urban, Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, 208-
882-1444
Project Location: Moscow and Pullman, Idaho
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, urban wastewater, channelization, streambank
erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, high temperatures, altered flow, pathogens,
ammonia
Remediation/Project Activities: remeander channel segments, restore floodplains, re-
vegetate riparian areas, stabilize streambanks, construct wetlands, conduct community
education
Results: projected decreases in sediment, nutrients, high temperatures; projected 1.5-foot
drop in flood elevations
~Submitted by Gary Dailey, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

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Streambank Stabilization in the
Thomas Fork Watershed: Photo Monitoring Sells
Landowners on Bank Stabilization
The Thomas Fork watershed is 150,100 acres in size, with 39 percent in Bear
Lake County, Idaho, and 61 percent in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The watershed is near
where the states of Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah meet and is a subwatershed of the Bear
River Basin. Because of the latitude and elevation of the watershed, the area typically
has short, cool summers and long, cold winters. The watershed receives about 50 percent
of its annual precipitation during the winter months. Most of this precipitation falls as
snow and is stored in the snowpack at higher elevations for spring and summer runoff.
Thomas Fork is a tributary to the Bear River and is upstream from the point where
the Bear River is diverted into Bear Lake. Bear Lake, which is half in Idaho and half in
Utah, is a unique body of water with about 110 square miles of surface area. It contains
five endemic fish species. In Idaho the lake has been designated a Special Resource
Water.
The designated uses of Thomas Fork are cold water biota and salmonid spawning.
The stream is listed among Idaho's 303(d) "water quality limited stream segments." The
pollutants the state has identified as contributing to the watershed's water quality
problems are sediment, nutrients, and habitat alteration. The primary nonpoint sources of
pollutants to surface water are cropland and rangeland, animal feeding areas, riparian
areas, stream channelization, and streambank modification.
Streambank stabilization
The Bear Lake Regional Commission, a bistate organization, worked in
partnership with the Bear Lake Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA's Natural
Resources Conservation Service, and local landowners to reduce the pollutant loading to
Bear Lake that comes from the Bear River and Thomas Fork. The Soil Conservation
District developed a watershed management plan, funded through an Idaho state
agriculturafvvater quality project.	"
The plan identified 12 critical areas needing treatment. Remediation activities for
the first area selected focused on riparian and streambank problems and encompassed
100,842 linear feet. This area was further refined to a 20,000-foot segment of high
streambank erosion in the Idaho portion of the Thomas Fork watershed.
The Bear Lake Regional Commission received 319 funding to install a series of
best management practices, in partnership with area landowners. The types of practices
employed included rock stream barbs, bank shaping and reseeding, tree revetment, rock
riprap, channel armoring, fencing, and animal water gaps. The project was successful in
treating 4,767 linear feet of streambank, installing 41 rock stream barbs, and installing
2,000 linear feet of permanent fencing.

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Decreased sedimentation
The stabilization work resulted in a marked decrease in the amount of sediment
entering Thomas Fork. Three types of monitoring techniques were used to measure the
results of the stabilization work: photo points, water chemistry, and surveyed stream
transects. The stream transects have revealed that for each foot of treated streambank as
compared to an untreated site, 50 cubic feet of streambank material was retained on the
banks over a 3-year period. This quantity of retained material per foot, when expanded to
the entire treated area, amounts to more than 200,000 cubic feet of material retained.
Photo monitoring helped demonstrate the rewards of bank stabilization work to
other landowners. As a result, another 4,000 linear feet of streambank is scheduled for
remediation in 2001.
Contact Information: Craig Thomas, Bear Lake Regional Commission, 208-945-2333
Project Location: Thomas Fork watershed, Idaho
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, stream channelization, streambank
modifications
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank stabilization, fencing
Results: decreased sedimentation—more than 200,000 cubic feet of sediment retained on
streambank
•Submitted by Craig Thomas, Bear Lake Regional Commission.

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Winchester Lake Watershed Project: Local
Partners Join in Implementing TMDL Plan
Winchester Lake is located within the exterior boundaries of the Nez Perce
Reservation, about 30 miles southeast of Lewiston, Idaho. Originally, the lake served as
a mill pond from 1910 to 1963. The 100-acre body of water is now the central focus of a
218-acre State Park that surrounds the lake.
In the late 1980s, local residents and visitors increasingly complained about the
lake's nuisance algae blooms and poor water clarity. In 1990, through EPA's Clean
Lakes Program, high levels of nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen were
identified as adversely affecting water quality in the lake. In 1996 Idaho's 303(d) list of
impaired waters identified Winchester Lake as not meeting state water quality standards,
requiring the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
A local Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) was formed in 1998 to develop
recommendations for improvements they wanted to see installed in the area. The WAG
members are local residents from all sectors, including stakeholders from the agriculture
and grazing communities, forestry, the Nez Perce Tribe, Road District, city government,
and recreation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed between the
state of Idaho, Nez Perce Tribe, and EPA with the intent to work collectively on the
development of the TMDL. In February 1999, the TMDL was completed and approved,
representing the success of the collaborative approach of the many agencies and the
WAG.
Following the completion of the TMDL, the Nez Perce Tribe received 319
funding to help implement water quality projects in the watershed, as an integral piece of
the TMDL's phased implementation plan. Funds were used to restore two forest road
segments noted as high sediment producers in the TMDL. Gates for seasonal closure
were also installed to restrict travel during the wet season.
Using 319 funds, the tribe collaborated with private landowners along the stream
corridor to enhance riparian shading and stabilize streambanks. In spring 2000,
volunteers and personnel from Nez Perce Tribe Water Resources, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and Soil Conservation Commission planted 150 trees and shrubs.
A larger planting effort for 2,500 shrubs will occur in spring 2001 for the remainder of
the corridor.
These ongoing improvements are possible because of the collaborative efforts
among the many Nez Perce tribal departments, state and federal agencies, private
landowners, and members of the watershed group. Restoration efforts in this watershed
will continue with additional 319 funding for agricultural practices, livestock BMPs,
riparian plantings, culvert replacements for fish passage and maintenance, and road
rehabilitation.

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Contact information: Ann Storrar, Water Resources Division, Nez Perce Tribe, P.O. Box
365, Lapwai, ID 83540,208-843-7368
Project Location: Nez Perce Reservation near Lewiston, Idaho
Primary Sources of Pollution: runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: road restoration, streambank stabilization
Results: Planted over 2,500 trees and shrubs, restored 2 forest road segments
~Submitted by Gary Dailey, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

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Lake Pittsfield Project: 90 Percent Reduction in
Sediment Loading Achieved
Lake Pittsfield was constructed in 1961 to serve as a flood control structure and as
a public water supply for the city of Pittsfield. Pittsfield is a western Illinois community
of some 4,500 people. The Blue Creek watershed, a 7,000-acre watershed draining into
Lake Pittsfield, is predominantly agricultural, consisting primarily of rotational corn and
soybean cropland.
Sedimentation was a major water quality problem affecting Lake Pittsfield.
Sediment from farming operations, gullies, and shoreline erosion had decreased the
capacity of Lake Pittsfield by 25 percent over the past 33 years.
Project design
Based on a thorough analysis of lake problems and pollution control needs
conducted under the Clean Lakes Program, project coordinators developed a strategy to
reduce sediment transport into Lake Pittsfield. The keystone of the land management
strategy was the construction of 29 water and sediment control basins (WASCOBs)
throughout the watershed, including a large basin at the upper end of the lake. Funds
from USDA's Environmental Quality Incentive Project, Ulinois's Conservation Practices
Program, and the Illinois EPA 319 Program supported installation of additional sediment-
reducing practices such as conservation tillage, integrated crop management, livestock
exclusion, filter strips, terraces, WASCOBs, and wildlife habitat management. Land-
based data and a geographic information system (GIS) were used to develop watershed
maps of sediment sources and sediment yields.
Monitoring conducted
In 1994 the project was approved for the section 319 National Monitoring
Program. Money has been approved until 2004, allowing monitoring to continue for 9
years past installation of the sediment retention basins.
The objective of the Lake Pittsfield section 319 project was to evaluate the
—effectiveness of-WASCGBs in reducing sediment delivery into the lake. Water quality
monitoring consisted of tributary sampling after rainstorms to determine sediment loads,
pre- and post-project lake water quality sampling (104 Clean Lakes Phase I and II
Assessments) at three lake sites to determine trends in water quality, and lake
sedimentation rate monitoring to determine changes in sediment deposition rates and
patterns.
Key successes and lessons learned
A 90 percent reduction in sediment loading to Lake Pittsfield was achieved
through the installation of water and sediment control basins. The large sediment basin
covering 147 acre-feet upstream of the lake was more effective, in general, than the
smaller basins upstream. The effectiveness of the 29 smaller upland basins was
dependent on watershed geology and basin position.

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Stream stabilization of Blue Creek was an important component of the overall
program to reduce sediment loading to Lake Pittsfield. Installing low stone weirs
prevented further channel incision and mass wasting of streambanks.
Strong local partnerships, along with interagency corporation, were key to
achieving the desired success of this project.
Contact Information: Scott Tomkins, Illinois EPA, Bureau of Water, P.O. Box 19276,
Springfield, IL 62794-9276 217-782-3362; scott.tomkins@epa.state.il.us
Project Location: Pittsfield, Illinois
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (farming operations)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: sediment-reducing practices (installation of water and
sediment control basins, conservation tillage, integrated crop management, livestock
exclusion, filter strips, terraces, wildlife habitat management)
Results: 90 percent reduction in sediment loading
~Submitted by Barb Lieberoff, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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Restoration of the Flint Creek Watershed:
Restoration Partnership Completes
Multiple Projects
The Flint Creek watershed covers approximately 28 square miles of Lake and
Cook Counties in northeastern Illinois. The watershed includes several high-quality
wetlands and lakes, as well as Flint Creek. The creek was listed in the Illinois Water
Quality Report (1994-1995) as being impaired, in part, due to nonpoint source pollution
from land development, channelization, and urban runoff. Problems in the watershed
included shoreline erosion, streambank erosion, and debris blocking areas of the stream.
In spring 1996 the first of many projects using section 319 funding began in the
Flint Creek watershed. The approach of the restoration partnership was to implement
several projects to make a difference in the quality of water and aquatic habitats in the
watershed. The planners also wanted to involve the community through information and
education. The restoration partnership consisted of the Northeastern Illinois Planning
Commission, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Village of Barrington, Village of Lake Zurich, Lake County Forest Preserve
District, Good Shepherd Hospital, Natural Areas Ecosystem Management, Applied
Ecological Services, and Citizens for Conservation, a local citizens group.
Urban runoff BMPs
The project involved retrofitting outdated practices and installing new practices to
deal with urban runoff. One component involved retrofitting an outdated basin that was
no longer effective at handling runoff. Different pools of water were created for settling,
as well as a shallow marsh for filtering. An installed walkway created an opportunity for
a nearby elementary school to use the basin as a "living classroom," with a place to view
aquatic plant and animal life.
A wetland swale was created to remove pollutants and reduce the flow rate of
runoff coming-from-an-auto repaiLshop, landscape_nursery, office buildings, and roads.
The swale was constructed in a long, linear shape with a forebay where heavier solids
would be captured. Sand filters, which were effective in achieving pollution control,
were constructed using PVC piping and standard manhole structures connecting the
settling chamber and sand filter.
In addition, 250 feet of shoreline and 5,600 feet of streambank were stabilized
using a combination of bioengineering techniques such as A-jacks, lunker structures, coir
fiber rolls, brush layering, willow staking, and native plant installation. Lunker
structures, made of real or recycled plastic lumber, create artificial undercut banks.
These structures stabilized the toe of the streambank and were found to be effective at
creating a cover for aquatic habitat. A vegetative zone was created by using A-jacks to

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stabilize the shoreline and fiber rolls to reduce the effects of wave action. Native plants
were then installed in the fiber roll and the newly created zone.
Many impediments to fish migration, including debris blockages and logjams,
were removed. Riffles were installed to dissipate stream energy and improve aquatic
habitat. Through prairie and savanna restoration, native deep-rooted vegetative
communities were used to stabilize the soil and enhance infiltration.
Nonnative woody vegetation had been growing along the banks of Flint Creek,
allowing an undercover that was not effective in stabilizing the banks to grow. A
combination of techniques, including physical removal, herbicide treatment, and burning,
was used to remove the nonnative vegetation: Native plants were installed, and some
subsequent reinstallation was necessary. These efforts resulted in stable slopes, vegetated
mostly with native species.
The Hint Creek projects were completed at the end of 1999 and will continue to
be monitored and maintained. The goals of the restoration planners have been
accomplished, and the result is evident in the water quality of Flint Creek. The Dlinois
Water Quality Report (2000) now lists Flint Creek as having no impairments due to
nonpoint sources. Successful restoration came about with the help of both municipalities,
as well as some landowners who continue the projects in the watershed. The Flint Creek
watershed restoration is an example of how completing multiple projects and educating
communities can make a difference in the quality of a watershed today and in the future.
Contact Information: Scott Ristau, Illinois EPA, Bureau of Water, P.O. Box 19276,
Springfield, IL 62794-9276,217-782-3362, scott.ristau@epa.state.il.us
Project Location: Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois
Primary Sources of Pollution: land development; channelization; urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment; urban runoff
Remediation/Project Activities: detention basin retrofit, wetland swale, sand filters,
shoreline and streambank stabilization, stream corridor restoration, native plant
installation
Results: no impairments due to NPS pollution on 2000 Illinois Water Quality Report
~Submitted by Barb Lieberoff, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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Blue River Riparian Reforestation: The Nature
Conservancy Gets Landowners Involved
The Blue River originates in Washington County, Indiana, and flows south to
form the natural boundary between Crawford County, Indiana, and Harrison County,
Indiana, continuing south to the Ohio River. The Blue River has been designated a State
Natural and Scenic River and is a favorite recreation site in Indiana. The river is home to
many globally rare fish and mussels. The southern fork of the Blue River is home to the
Harrison Crawford State Forest, and the river also flows near Wyandotte Caves. Much of
the northern part of the river was primarily agricultural area, which was cleared of
riparian forest to make way for row crops and livestock access. The problems that
resulted include reduced bank stabilization and lack of filtration of nutrients. The lack of
shading and higher turbidity have also caused the temperature of the water to rise.
Role of The Nature Conservancy
In 1997 The Nature Conservancy received a 319 grant for $34,865 to replant the
riparian forest and to educate the community on its purpose, progress, and results. The
Nature Conservancy brought a large group together for the project, including landowners,
Friends of the Blue River, Harrison County Cattlemen's Association, USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Washington County Farm Bureau, Indiana University
Southeast, University of Louisville, and Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry. This group began in 1994 to coordinate a comprehensive river
conservation approach.
The Nature Conservancy placed the project in the hands of a Coordinator, Allen
Pursell, with the goals of aiding landowners in riparian reforestation, teaching
reforestation best management practices, and publicizing its work. The group advertised
its intent to aid landowners in reforesting portions of their land through local papers, a
field day, and one-on-one contact with landowners. Personal contact proved to be the
most successful method, and seven landowners agreed to implement riparian
reforestation.
By the end of the contract, The Nature Conservancy, with the help of the seven
landowners and a professional forester, had planted 72.1 acres along the corridor of the
Blue River with 56,000 trees. These acres translated to 3.1 miles of corridor
reforestation. Tree species planted included bur oak, shumar oak, black walnut, yellow-
poplar, swamp white oak, white ash, and black cherry. The landowners agreed at the
start of the contract to enroll each area as a Classified Forest if it qualified for the
program; of the seven, five have qualified.
Sharing lessons learned
During the course of this first grant, The Nature Conservancy learned the best
ways to involve landowners, to plant trees at a high density for best results, and the
importance of keeping weeds out of seedling areas. They have shared this knowledge

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with many other groups with interest in riparian reforestation. They also shared their
lessons learned by sponsoring a field day on tree planting for government and private
sector conservation practitioners. All attendees planned to begin a riparian tree planting
program in their areas.
The Nature Conservancy has received a second 319 grant for Blue River riparian
reforestation. Under this new grant, which started in August 1999, they have signed on
13 landowners. They have also planted 103 acres of riparian buffers, representing 4.3
miles of riparian zone. All planted lands have completed or are going through the
process of enrollment in the Classified Forest or Classified Riparian Land program,
which allows landowners tax breaks and periodic free inspections by a professional
forester on at least 10 acres of private land that has been left or restored to forest. In
Washington County, 4,000 feet of fencing was placed on a dairy farm to exclude the
livestock from the Blue River. The riparian area just outside the fence was planted with
native hardwoods and is going through the classification process. To date, a total of
almost 300 acres of land has been planted.
Contact Information: Amy Reeves, 100 North Senate Avenue, P.O. Box 6015,
Indianapolis, IN 46206,317-232-6566, alreeves@dem.state.in.us
Project Location: Washington, Crawford, and Harrison counties, Indiana
Primary Sources of Pollution: deforestation for row crops and livestock access
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, sediment, high water temperature
Remediation/Project Activities: riparian reforestation
Results: planted more than 200 acres of riparian buffer
Submitted by Jill Reinhar, Indiana Department of Environmental Management,
jreinhar@dem.state.in.us.

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Little Pine Creek and Indian Watersheds:
Constructed Wetland System Averts
Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution
Throughout the Indian and Little Pine Creek watersheds, the concentrations of
nitrates, phosphorus, and total suspended solids in the stream water are among the highest
in the nation. The largest inputs of chemicals to streams occur from March through June,
corresponding to spray irrigation of lagoon water, agricultural cultivation, chemical
application to crop fields, and storm events. Because these pollutants reach agricultural
ditches via overland flow and tile drain systems, best management practices (BMPs) that
can reduce pollutant levels without significantly interrupting drainage of cropland or
converting cropland to other uses are needed.
Project
In 1999 the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University
used 319 funding to construct an experimental wetland system to remove nonpoint source
pollutants from agricultural ditches before the pollutants reached the more natural parts of
Little Pine Creek and the Wabash River. Agricultural ditch water is pumped through a
series of wetlands to filter out the pollutants and is then returned to the ditch. The ditch
water passes through cells 1 and 4 or cells 2 and 3. Cell 4 contains 18 inches of gravel;
cell 3 is a surface flow cell with plants only.
Results
Although the effectiveness of this wetland system in reducing nonpoint source
pollution is still being assessed, follow-up monitoring results are variable but promising.
Preliminary results show a reduction of more than 60 parts per million in nitrate
concentration in the water treated by the system after an intense rain event (Figure 1).
The reduction in nitrate concentration varies depending on spray irrigation timing and
rainfall (Figure 1). Monitoring the success of this project in terms of the nonpoint source
pollution mitigation continues. Various wildlife species, including reptiles and
amphibians, birds, and mammals have colonized the wetlands, showing their value as
habitat.
This project has been successful in another important way—increasing the
awareness of the public and the next generation of environmental stewards about
nonpoint source pollution. Since its inception, the project has provided many
opportunities for individuals and classes to get involved in designing and constructing the
wetlands and evaluating their effects on water quality, habitat, and wildlife.
Contact Information: Jody Arthur, Indiana Department of Environmental Management,
100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6015, 317-234-1424,
jarthur@dem.state.in.us
Project Location: Tippecanoe County, Indiana

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Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (spray irrigation of lagoon water, agricultural
cultivation, chemical application to crop field, storm events)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nitrates, phosphorus, total suspended solids
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetland system
Results: reduction of more than 60 ppm in nitrate concentrations, improved wildlife
habitat
Submitted by Jill Reinhar, Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

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Bigalk Creek Watershed Project: Rainbow Trout
Population Rebounds
Bigalk Creek in northeast Iowa historically has been used for watering cattle. As a result,
streambanks along the creek were severely degraded, causing extremely high sediment delivery
from streambank erosion.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (using section 319 funds), the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service partnered in a 5-year effort (from 1995 to 1999) to reduce erosion in the watershed,
hoping to also increase the rainbow trout concentration.
Cattle exclusion and BMPs to reduce soil erosion
The first major step in the Bigalk Creek watershed project involved fencing cattle off a
primary stretch of the stream where most of the trout stocking takes place. Nose pumps were
used to provide water for the cattle while keeping them away from the streambank. The project
then focused on a subwatershed of 3,140 acres closest to the 1.2 miles of stockable stream and
complete restoration of the stream corridor by the Iowa DNR, which included reshaping the
streambank, installing rock riprap, constructing fish hides, and reseeding the bank.
Improvements to the stream corridor were augmented by preventive measures in the
watershed to reduce erosion. Practices used to achieve sediment delivery reduction goals
included grade and stream stabilization, strip cropping, sediment basins, no-till, grass waterways,
and grass/legume rotation. These practices are targeted at protecting the integrity of stream
restoration work accomplished.
Rebounding trout population
The Bigalk Creek project demonstrated the feasibility of several new and innovative
resource management systems. Major accomplishments include reducing sediment delivery to
the creek by 50 percent, reducing the amount of livestock manure reaching the stream by 50
—percentpand redueing-the-amount-of sediment from streambank erosion by 60 percent. Erosion
was reduced by 12,285 tons of soil in the Bigalk Creek watershed during the project. It is
estimated that if current sediment control structures remain in place, erosion will be reduced by
more than 5,000 tons a year in the future.
The rainbow trout population has also made a comeback. Bigalk Creek has now become
only the third stream in Iowa with documented natural reproduction of rainbow trout.
Contact Information: Ubbo Agena, DNR Nonpoint Source Coordinator, 515-281-6402; Kevin
Baskins, DNR Nonpoint Source Information Specialist, 515-281-8395
Project Location: Howard County, Iowa
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, cattle watering

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Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: cattle exclusion, stream corridor improvements, sediment basins,
innovative farming practices
Results: reduction of 12,285 tons of soil delivery into Bigalk Creek (projected future reductions
of 5,000 tons a year), livestock manure reduced by 50 percent, rebound of rainbow trout
population
~Submitted by Kevin Baskins, Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

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The Lake Fisher Water Quality Project:
Public Water Supply Protected from
Sediments and Pollutants
When the 100-acre Lake Fisher reservoir was constructed in 1936 as a Works Progress
Administration (WPA) Project, it was to serve a purely functional purpose as a water supply for
local residents. Today, that reservoir has the capacity to hold 326 million gallons of water,
making Lake Fisher the primary source of drinking water for the 3,100 residents in and around
the city of Bloomfield in southeast Iowa. Over time, Lake Fisher has also become a notable
fishery and home to Iowa's state record largemouth bass.
Originally 12 to 15 feet deep, the southwest leg of the lake is now only 3 to 5 feet deep
because of soil erosion from the lake's watershed. This portion of the lake has silted so
extensively that it can no longer handle drainage from the land above it. During heavy
precipitation, this portion of the lake fills until water spills onto the road, closing South Lake
Fisher Drive. The water draining from 1,380 acres of land in Lake Fisher's watershed deposits an
estimated 2,100 tons of sediment each year to the reservoir.
Treating the public water supply is also becoming more challenging because of the
sedimentation of Lake Fisher. Often attached to the particles of dirt are pesticides and nutrients
that can degrade the quality of water in the lake. Water quality is also hampered by the presence
of bacteria from private sewage disposal systems that simply don't work as well as intended
because of the soil characteristics of the watershed.
Partnership for land management
The Lake Fisher project is a partnership that provides governmental funding and
assistance to local farmers, landowners, and residents who want to improve the quality of their
drinking water supply now and in the future. Beginning in 1998, the 3-year watershed protection
project has used funding from various sponsors (including 319 funding, the Water Protection
Fund administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and the City of
Bloomfield) to fund structural improvements on properties designed to reduce the amount of
sediment flowing into the lake.
Project activities include treating more than 900 acres of agricultural land with a
combination of terraces, water and sediment control basins, ponds, and constructed wetlands.
The project also includes nutrient management, whole farm planning, manure management, bank
stabilization, and abandoned well plugging.
An innovative approach to upgrading private septic systems was also used, resulting in 19
of the 22 failing systems (86 percent) in the watershed being improved to meet the Iowa
Administrative Code. Although the original goal of the project was to upgrade five systems

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during the life of the project, this number was greatly increased because of a grant of nearly
$83,000 from the Waste Management Division of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Through this grant, chipped tires were used as aggregate in the secondary treatment portions of
the new systems installed. In all, more than 300 tons of chipped tires were used as part of the
project for septic systems. Monthly samples are being collected over the next 2 years to measure
the treatment efficiency of the chipped tire medium. It is of special note that four of the new
systems were installed at the homes of Amish families, which traditionally avoid governmental
involvement and assistance.
Results of project activities
Preliminary results show that all three of the project's original goals have been met. As a
result of implementing agricultural BMPs, the sediment load reaching Lake Fisher has been
reduced by 60 percent. The amount of nutrients, pesticides, and organic materials flowing into
the lake has been reduced by 50 percent. As a result of septic system improvements, the amount
of bacteria delivered to the lake has also been reduced by 50 percent. Meeting these objectives
will improve the quality of Lake Fisher for the more than 3,100 people who rely on it for
drinking water.
Contact Information: Ubbo Agena, DNR Nonpoint Source Coordinator, 515-281-6402; Kevin
Baskins, DNR Nonpoint Source Information Specialist, 515-281-8395
Project Location: Bloomfield, Iowa
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture; failing septic systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs; sediment control basins, ponds, and
constructed wetlands; septic system upgrades
Results: sediment reduced by 60 percent; nutrients, pesticides, and organic materials reduced by
50 percent; bacteria reduced by 50 percent
'"Information for this success story was gleaned from Iowa's nonpoint source brochures at
www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wtrq/npsource/nptbro.htm. Submitted by Kevin Baskins, Iowa Department of
Natural Resources.

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Pine Creek Water Quality Project: Life Expectancy of
Pine Lakes Extended
By the early 1990s, the water in the Pine Lakes might have been murky, but the eventual
fate of the two lakes was unmistakably clear. If nothing was done, the Hardin County lakes
created more than a half century ago by impounding water from Pine Creek would eventually
choke to death on the rich Iowa soil of the watershed. The degradation had even reached the
point where it could be quantified on the 75-acre Upper Pine Lake: in 1991 studies indicated that
Upper Pine would be completely filled with sediment in less than 45 years. Lower Pine Lake,
Iowa's first man-made, state-owned lake, had also lost nearly half of its original volume.
Doing nothing was not an option. The Pine Lakes and the surrounding 572-acre state park
draw approximately 500,000 visitors annually.
Combined efforts to reduce sediment delivery
From 1993 to 1998, the Pine Creek Water Quality Project, through the leadership of the
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), undertook a monumental effort to reduce
sediment in the Pine Lakes. Through intensive dredging of the Lower and Upper Pine Lakes,
DNR set out to increase the volume of the lakes and restructure the bottom for better fishing
habitat. In 1997 DNR removed more than 179,000 cubic yards of sediment from the Upper and
Lower Pine Lakes. Dredging increased the average depth of 5 to 7 feet in Upper Pine Lake to 12
to 14 feet throughout a large portion of the lake. Lower Pine Lake now has a depth of
approximately 15 feet in its west end, compared to 8 to 10 feet before the dredging.
Dredging alone, however, would result in only treating a symptom of the overall problem.
The effort to take accumulated sediment out of the lakes would be worthwhile only if the
amount of soil coming in could be significantly reduced. By implementing a variety of soil
conservation measures on their land, farmers in the watershed have also helped to reduce the
amount of sediment flowing into the Pine Lakes. Practices like streambank stabilization,
terracing, no-till and contour farming, and critical area seeding have all made a positive
difference in the watershed.
Extended life expectancy
Overall, the Pine Creek Water Quality Project has reduced the amount of sediment
coming into the lake by more than 4,000 tons per year, a 66 percent reduction (Table 1). Not
only is the water cleaner for swimming and fishing, but the watershed improvements and
dredging have also extended the life expectancy of Upper Pine Lake alone by more than 100
years.
The Pine Lakes are an excellent example of-a combined resource enhancement and

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protection effort by the Iowa DNR. But the success of this project would not have been possible
without the work and commitment of dedicated landowners in the watershed. In addition to 319
support, project sponsors included the Iowa Publicly Owned Lakes Program, USDA Water
Quality Incentive Program, Iowa Financial Incentive Program, Emergency Conservation
Program, Section 314 Clean Lakes Program, and local Friends of Pine Lake organization;
Marine Fuel Tax funds were also used to support the project.
Contact Information: Ubbo Agena, DNR Nonpoint Source Coordinator, 515-281-6402; Kevin
Baskins, DNR Nonpoint Source Information Specialist, 515-281-8395
Project Location: Hardin County, Iowa
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: dredging, soil conservation BMPs
Results: sediment delivery reduced by 66 percent, life expectancy of lake extended by more than
100 years
"Information for this success story was gleaned from Iowa's nonpoint source brochures at
www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wtrq/npsource/nptbro.htm. Submitted by Kevin Baskins, Iowa Department of
Natural Resources.

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Braeburn Golf Course Project: Nitrates Reduced by
More Than 80 Percent
Improving the water quality at Braeburn Golf Course began as part of a larger project
looking at urban runoff and its effects on nonpoint source pollution. This 319-funded project
was initiated through an agreement between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
and Wichita State University (WSU). The project commenced in 1997 with sampling of water
quality conditions at 13 sites, including public parks, urban lawns and streets, a row crop
agricultural site, and two golf courses, one of which was Braeburn. The objective was to identify
areas with contaminated runoff coming from them and then implement best management
practices (BMPs) to determine the BMPs' effectiveness in reducing nonpoint source pollution. A
number of parameters commonly associated with urban storm water, including pesticides and
nutrients, were the focus of monitoring.
Of all the sites tested, Braeburn Golf Course showed the most significant contamination
and presented itself as an optimal site for BMP implementation. Excessive amounts of nutrients
in the form of nitrates and total phosphorus were found in the ponds, prompting the growth of
excessive aquatic vegetation and algae blooms. The golf course superintendent had reported fish
kills in the past, likely due to the biodegradation and subsequent oxygen depletion caused by
these algae blooms. Periods of elevated pesticide contamination were evident, typically in the
spring and early summer during major application times, and herbicides had caused violations of
water quality criteria during those times. In addition, the algaecide copper sulfate was being used
to control algae blooms. Copper sulfate can have extremely toxic effects on aquatic organisms,
especially when found in combination with various pesticides. An assessment of
macroinvertebrates revealed only a few tolerant organisms inhabited the ponds.
Alterations in golf course maintenance
Because of these circumstances, researchers at WSU selected Braeburn as the site for
BMP implementation. In cooperation with golf course superintendent Kent Trexler, various
alterations to golf course maintenance procedures were imposed. Chemical application
procedures were modified, using slow-release fertilizers and applying chemicals at a reduced
rate. Thirty-foot buffer zones in which no chemicals were applied were established around the
perimeters of the ponds on the golf course, increasing grass density and biomass to aid filtration
of runoff. The use of copper sulfate for algae control was discontinued, substituting biological
controls (grass carp) as well as aquatic dye to act as a photoinhibitor to the algae. Rainwater
drainage patterns were also routed into filtration areas, not directly into the ponds as done
previously.
Water quality improvements
Post-BMP water sampling, conducted for more than a year in two ponds at Braeburn,
revealed that nitrates were reduced by more than 80 percent and total phosphorus values dropped
by 40 percent and 60 percent in the two ponds. In addition, contamination from pesticides was
all but eliminated. An assessment of macroinvertebrates showed an increase from 5 families
collected before BMP implementation to 16 families sampled following BMPs, along with a shift

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from tolerant organisms to those more sensitive to water quality such as mayfly, butterfly,
dragonfly, and damselfly larvae. These improvements in macroinvertebrate family richness
provide biological evidence that BMPs are improving water quality conditions on the golf course.
Contact Information: Nate Davis, Wichita State University, 1845 North Fairmount, Wichita, KS
67260-0026, 316-978-5841, nmdavis@wichita.edu.
Project Location: Wichita, Kansas
Primary Sources of Pollution: golf course maintenance, urban storm water
Primary NPS Pollutants: pesticides, nutrients
Restoration/Project Activities: modified chemical applications, buffers, rerouting drainage
patterns
Results: reductions in nitrates and total phosphorus, improvements in macroinvertebrates
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the Wichita State University web site on theBraeburn Golf
Course Project at http://webs.wichita.edu/biology/319Web/Braeburn_Golf_Course_Project.htm. Submitted by Lisa
Duncon, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and Nate Davis, Wichita State University.

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On-site Sewage Disposal on Difficult Sites: Special
Conditions Demand Alternative Response
Many of the soils in Kansas present challenges to the on-site disposal of domestic wastewater.
When site evaluations reveal shallow or heavy clay soils, bedrock close to the surface, or other limiting
conditions, alternatives to conventional septic tank lateral fields are needed to provide adequate
treatment and disposal of the wastewater. Constructed wetlands are a relatively inexpensive
technology to achieve this. Although constructed wetlands have been successfully used in other states,
the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), which is responsible for the on-site
wastewater program, funded the installation of some demonstration systems that were monitored for 2
years to verify their effectiveness in the midwestern climate.
In cooperation with the See-Kan Resource Conservation and Development District, which
covers nine counties in southeast Kansas, three homesites with failing wastewater systems were
identified. The sites were characteristic of the shallow, heavy clay soils that predominate in the area,
and the homeowners were willing to participate in the demonstration with the hope that the data would
assist others having similar problems. KDHE designed the constructed wetlands systems, which were
installed in spring 1994. The design and construction included easily accesible sampling ports to
monitor the quality of the effluent at various locations throughout the treatment cell.
Evaluation of monthly sampling results, conducted for 2 years by students from Pittsburgh
State University, showed significant reductions in all of the parameters analyzed. As a result of this
demonstration project, additional constructed wetlands have been installed throughout the state.
Several hundred people, including sanitarians, homeowners, conservation district personnel,
contractors, and other interested parties, have attended tours of the sites to observe the systems
firsthand. Two manuals have been written: Rock-Plant Filter Design and Construction for Home
Wastewater Systems and Rock-Plant Filter Operation, Maintenance, and Repair. Now in
operation for 6 years, the original demonstration projects are all thriving and the homeowners are
thrilled to have solved their wastewater disposal problems.
Contact Information: Don Snethen, KDHE, Nonpoint Source Section, 785- 296-5567
Project Location: southeastern Kansas
Primary Sources of Pollution: failing onsite wastewater treatment systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, fecal coliform, total suspended solids (TSS)
Restoration/Project Activities: constructed wetlands
Results: decreased concentrations of TSS, fecal coliforms, biochemical oxygen demand, ammonia,
phosphorus
•Submitted by Lisa Duncan, Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

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Elkhorn Creek BMP Demonstration Project:
Farmers See Water Supply Alternatives in Action
Elkhorn Creek drains 311,000 acres in Fayette, Franklin, Scott, and Woodford
counties in Kentucky. At one time, the stream was ranked among the best in the nation
for smallmouth bass fishing. It continues to be a valuable recreational resource to the area
and has provided an emergency source of drinking water during prolonged summer
droughts.
The Elkhorn Creek watershed has been identified as impaired due to sediment,
nutrient, and pathogen loading from nonpoint and point sources of pollution. Livestock
production is important in the watershed and potentially contributes a significant part of
the nonpoint source pollutant loading. Direct access of livestock to streams in the
watershed contributes to the stream degradation. This degradation affects water quality,
aquatic habitat, and recreation activities. Primary contact recreation (swimming) and
warm water aquatic habitat uses are being adversely affected in much of the watershed.
Livestock management alternatives
Often, traditional methods of excluding livestock from streams and providing
livestock water supply are not cost-effective or practical. However, promising fencing
systems and water supply alternatives are available. The principal objective of this
project is to demonstrate to farmers four alternatives for managing livestock: the ram
pump; the pasture pump (cattle-activated pump); the solar-powered water pump; and use
of limited-access watering points, using modern electric fencing components.
The solar-powered livestock watering system excludes livestock from the stream
by using a solar-powered electric fence charger. So far, solar pump system performance
has been very good. In full sunlight, the system pumps about 180 gallons per hour. The
pasture pump (or nose pump) is a cow-activated diaphragm pump, reputed to be quite
dependable. Use of this pump is limited, however, because the pump can't be used when
temperatures are below freezing. Another demonstration farm uses a limited access
watering point, using modern electrified water gaps. This type of system reduces but does
not eliminate livestock access to a stream.
These systems have the potential to protect stream quality while providing a
cleaner, safer water supply for livestock. To facilitate acceptance of the new management
practices, four demonstration farms were located in the watershed. Because this project
emphasizes use of nontraditional best management practices (BMPs), the use of field
days as an educational tool is very important and is an integral part of the project.
Results in progress
Monitoring of changes in water quality and habitat resulting from the use of
BMPs is ongoing. One year of stream data was collected for each of four demonstration
farm sites before installation of BMPs, and 2 years of post-BMP data are to be collected.

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Parameters measured include total kjeldahl-nitrogen, NO2-NO3 nitrogen, ammonia, total
phosphorus, water pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, and fecal coliform bacteria.
Monitoring is conducted at upstream and downstream stations at each site.
The demonstration sites have provided opportunities for local farmers to share
their experiences with alternative technologies for providing livestock water and to
encourage their neighbors to consider the benefits of reducing livestock access to riparian
areas. The use of local examples has proven very effective in promoting nontraditional
farm practices. The project is already considered a success in that it has resulted in more
adoption of rotational grazing and livestock exclusion from the creeks in the project area
and even outside the project area.
Contact Information: Randal Rock, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 180
Beasley Road, Versailles, KY 40383, 606-873-4941, rrock@kcc.fsa.usda.gov; Douglas
Hines, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Route 7, Box 37, Harrison
Square Shopping Center, Cynthiana, KY 41031-8800,606-234-3364
Project Location: Fayette, Franklin, Scott, and Woodford Counties, Kentucky
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (livestock)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrient, and pathogens
Remediation/Project Activities: alternative livestock exclusion practices (pumps, electric
fencing)
Results: monitoring in progress
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the U.S. EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program
website at www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Upper Salt River/Taylorsville Reservoir
Watershed Project:
Educational Component Plays Important Role
Agricultural lands occupy nearly three-fourths of the Upper Salt River/Taylorsville
Reservoir watershed; forest and urban/residential areas make up the remainder. Tobacco,
soybeans, and corn are the principal row crops along the main stem of the upper Salt River, while
dairy and beef operations predominate along the main stem and south and north of the reservoir.
Designated use impairment has been documented in both water bodies due to elevated levels of
bacteria, metals, organics, and nutrients from agricultural nonpoint, municipal point, and other
unknown sources. Both the river and the reservior have been recognized as high-priority
nonpoint source-impacted systems, and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) has been
developed for the watershed.
Multiagency effort
From 1989 tol997 the Upper Salt River/Taylorsville Reservoir watershed was the focus
of a multiagency effort that consisted of installing agricultural best management practices
(BMPs), monitoring water quality, and conducting education and outreach. BMP installation
began in 1992 and continued through 1995. A variety of animal waste management systems
were constructed, and 13 types of erosion-control BMPs were installed.
An important part of this multiagency effort was the Cooperative Extension Service-led
educational component, which included newsletters, newspaper articles, radio programs,
informational displays, field day events, and volunteer water quality monitoring groups. These
activities involved a variety of audiences, ranging from 4-H groups to farmers.
Lessons learned
Several lessons were learned over the course of this project. The project would have
benefited from a full-time coordinator to improve coordination and communication among the
multiple cooperators. The watershed was too large (about 917 square kilometers), and
insufficient time was allowed between BMP installation and monitoring (2 to 4 years) to
demonstrate improvements in water quality. The number of monitoring stations also decreased
from 1990 to 1997, preventing systematic monitoring.
A success of the multiagency project was the nonpoint source educational component led
by the Cooperative Extension Service. It involved a variety of media types and audiences of all
ages.

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Contact Information: Conine Wells, Kentucky Division of Water, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY
40601, 502-564-3410 (ext. 495), Corrine.Wells@mail.state.ky.us
Project Location: Spencer, Nelson, Anderson, Mercer, and Boyle counties, Kentucky
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (row crops, cattle)
Nonpoint Source Pollutants: bacteria, metals, organics, nutrients
Restoration Activities: ag BMPs (animal waste management, erosion control), outreach
Results: installation of ag BMPs, widespread outreach and education
Submitted by Corrine Wells, Kentucky Division of Water.

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Bayou Plaquemine Brule: Louisiana
Applies Satellite Imagery to
Watershed Planning and Management
As states continue to implement watershed planning and management strategies,
several analytical tools are necessary to classify the types of land use present in each
watershed. One of the tools that have become important for Louisiana's Nonpoint Source
Management Program is satellite imagery. The images provide so much detail on the
watershed that the people involved with developing management strategies, educational
programs, monitoring designs, or mathematical models can clearly see what needs to be
done. The maps are also very important for educating farmers, landowners, and public
officials about what a watershed is and how complicated land use patterns are. The visual
image seems to provide a basis for all of the people involved in watershed planning and
management to begin to understand what steps will be necessary to implement best
management practices (BMPs) and reduce nonpoint source pollution loads that are
affecting water quality.
Pilot watershed project
The pilot watershed project where this geographic information system tool was
initially used was Bayou Plaquemine Brule, a bayou that flows through the Mermentau
River Basin in southwestern Louisiana. This is rice and crawfish country, rich in Cajun
heritage and traditions that have existed since the 1700s. Bayou Plaquemine Brule is on
the state's 303(d) list of impaired waters and is not meeting the designated uses for
fishing or swimming. The high sediment and organic loads that enter the water body each
spring affect the dissolved oxygen concentrations and cause the water body to fail to meet
water quality standards. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
prioritized the Bayou Plaquemine Brule for a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in
1998 and completed all of the sampling and modeling involved to develop the TMDL by
December 1999. The results of the TMDL study indicated that a 50 percent nonpoint
source load reduction was needed in the upper tributaries of the bayou and a 30 percent
load reduction was needed in the main stem.
Application of GIS to land use classification
To allocate this pollutant load to the various types of land uses or crops in the
watershed, more detailed information was needed on land use patterns. LDEQ's GIS
Center agreed to tackle this complicated task by purchasing and classifying Landsat 5
Thematic Mapper satellite imagery of Bayou Plaquemine Brule. Before the imagery
could be classified, a multi-temporal data set had to be created from three separate scenes
of source satellite imagery. The resultant data set was classified, producing a map of
Bayou Plaquemine Brule that contains land use data for all of the major crops grown in
the watershed during the 1998 growing season. This map was the result of a year of
coordinated effort among numerous individuals and included extensive amounts of both
lab and fieldwork. Furthermore, interagency cooperation was essential to the success of

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this project and resulted in a maximization of all available resources. Agencies involved
included the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality; the Louisiana Department
of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Soil and Water Conservation; the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (Farm Service Agency and NRES); the Acadia Parish Soil and Water
Conservation District; and the St. Landry Soil and Water Conservation District.
Watershed modeling and monitoring
Once the land use classification was completed, LDEQ's Nonpoint Source Unit
began work with the (NRCS) and the Agricultural Research Service on an agricultural
watershed model called AnnAGNPS. This watershed model is being used to predict the
amount of water and sediment transported through the watershed and to assist in
identifying "hot spots" of high pollutant loading. The model also allows LDEQ to predict
the effectiveness of BMPs that have been recommended for reducing pollutant loads to
the bayou from rice, sugarcane, and crawfish farms. The result is that LDEQ is now
working with Louisiana State University's Agricultural Center, NRCS, and the local Soil
and Water Conservation District on a comprehensive watershed implementation strategy
that will be implemented over the next 3 years. The water bodies will be carefully
monitored as BMPs are implemented to track the water quality response to
implementation of the practices. As these data are collected, they will be shared with the
farmers so that they can know whether their efforts have been successful. Local meetings
with the farmers are being held to inform them of the watershed effort and ask for their
support.
Future activities
LDEQ has prioritized five additional watersheds for this type of intensive
watershed planning and management. Each of the watersheds is in a different part of the
state, where the soils, hydrology, land use patterns, and water bodies function differently.
The goal is to have a broad database that can be used throughout the state and guide
future watershed planning and management in each of the watersheds where the water
body is not fully supporting the designated uses. This type of comprehensive watershed
planning effort requires many partners, including local universities, educators,
landowners, and resource agencies, but it results in an effective process for understanding
how watersheds function and how water bodies can be improved through long-term
-management.
Contact Information: Jan Boydstun, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality,
P.O. Box 82215, Baton Rouge, LA 70884-2215,225-765-0773, jan_b@ldeq.org
Project Location: Bayou Plaquemine Brule, Louisiana
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (croplands)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, organic loads
Remediation/Project Activities: GIS map of land use classifications
Results: agricultural watershed model to identify "hot spots" of high pollutant loading
and predict BMP effectiveness
'"Submitted by Jan Boydstun, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

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Highland Lake Watershed Project: Hotspots Model
Links Land Use and Water Quality
Like many lakes in southern Maine, Highland Lake has experienced a long history of
adverse watershed development patterns. Highland Lake is a picturesque, blue water lake in the
foothills of the White Mountains of western Maine. The 1,300-acre take is the centerpiece for
the town of Bridgton, Maine. The watershed was developed in stages: the expansive farm fields
of the 1800s gave way to reforestation and second homes in an odd combination of old land uses
and new development patterns. Since the early 1900s, 10 miles of shoreline frontage have been
developed. Access roads were designed and built at a time when eroding roads were not believed
to be pollution sources, Although much of the land remains forested, geographic information
systems (GIS) studies showed that existing developed areas accounted for 70 percent of the
phosphorus reaching the lake.
The development patterns have affected the lake's water quality. Currently, the Lakes
Environmental Association (LEA), a nonprofit conservation group, considers the lake at risk for
developing algae blooms. Long-term monitoring data indicate the lake is threatened with gradual
declines in water clarity and dissolved oxygen. A persistent loss of oxygen would reduce or
eliminate trout habitat. In the lake's deeper waters, phosphorus is recycling in the bottom
sediments. Increases in phosphorus levels could lead to significant declines in water quality and
aquatic habitat. Reductions in water quality could lead to financial problems as well: recent
studies by the University of Maine and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(PEP) show a direct relationship between high lake water clarity and higher property values.
Concerns have been raised that property values along Highland Lake's shoreline, currently
valued at $17 million could decrease if the lake's water quality worsens.
Reducing phosphorus and sediment
These concerns prompted LEA to carry out an intense, 3-year section 319 project
(January 1997 to March 2000) to control and reduce pollution impacts on the lake. As a first
step, LEA used DEP's phosphorus loading methodology to determine a phosphorus reduction
goal for the watershed. It was estimated that a reduction of 50 pounds of phosphorus per year
would result in a noticeable improvement in water quality.
LEA then used GIS technology and its "Phosphorus Hotspots Model" to assess the
watershed. The model overlays land use information (GIS coverage) with phosphorus export
coefficients for each land use, adjusted for soil type, slope, and zones of proximity to the
lakeshore or shorelines of tributaries. "Our model represents an automated way of applying
common sense principles of phosphorus export in order to better understand the effects of a
watershed's land use patterns on water quality," explains Peter Lowell, Executive Director of
LEA.
As an adjunct to this method, LEA conducted a field survey of secondary roads under
deluge-like storm conditions. Observing areas under a worst-case scenario helped to identify
erosion sites and offered ideas regarding which management practices would be most effective.

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Throughout the project, LEA collaborated with volunteers and key organizations,
especially Portland Water District and DeLuca-Hoffman Associates, along with the Town of
Bridgton, the Town of Sweden, Maine DEP, and EPA. LEA worked with its partners to
encourage, design, and construct "fixes" using a multifaceted approach.
Under the project's "Clean Lakes Check-Up" program, LEA assisted property owners
with a wide range of storm water runoff and erosion problems. Upon request, LEA conducted
site visits and developed field reports and detailed erosion control plans. In total, 42 Clean Lake
Check-Ups were performed.
Erosion Control Workshops, focusing on camp road maintenance, shoreline buffer strips,
and a wide range of erosion control techniques, were held over three seasons. LEA and Maine
DEP staff also provided training on the latest erosion control techniques to earth-moving
contractors, resulting in the certification of 17 contractors. In addition, LEA worked closely with
the CEO from the Town of Bridgton to assist code enforcement officers in preventing and
addressing shoreline violations. LEA worked closely with contractors on a variety of sediment
problems related to roads and riparian buffers, resulting in the installation of best management
practices (BMPs) at 19 key site locations.
Encouraging Results
After the BMPs were installed, LEA recalculated the Hotspots maps in consultation with
engineering staff from Deluca-Hoffman Associates. The difference between the preconstruction
and postconstruction phosphorus export represented the reduction in phosphorus export as a
result of BMP construction. It was found that the BMPs installed under this one project
accounted for a reduction of 14.3 pounds of phosphorus. LEA will continue to work with the
community on a long-term program to achieve phosphorus reductions closer to the 50 pounds per
year goal.
LEA, Maine DEP, and EPA New England are encouraged by the overall results of the
Highland Lake project. In April 2000 EPA New England presented LEA with an EPA Merit
Award for its 30-year history of exceptional work and its efforts on the Highland Lake project.
Peter Lowell recapped the project's success: "The project significantly raised awareness among
all interest groups in the watershed. The ability to quantify the water quality impact of BMPs
will continue to be a powerful tool in encouraging ongoing efforts to protect this lake and many
others."
Contact Information: Norm Marcotte, Nonpoint Source Coordinator, Maine Department of
Environmental Protection, State House Station #17, Augusta, ME 04333,207-287-7727,
norm.g.marcotte @state.me.us
Project Location: Bridgton, Maine
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff, erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: phosphorus, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: erosion control training and BMPs
Results: reduction of 14.3 pounds of phosphorus

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'"Submitted by Norm Marcotte, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

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Silver Spring Brook Watershed Demonstration
Project: Landowners' Cooperation Plus Town's
Commitment Add Up to Success
The Silver Spring Brook watershed encompasses about 1,400 acres, 42 percent of
which are for cropland. The remaining acreage is either forested or in the Conservation
Reserve Program. Over the years, the stream's water quality had become degraded to the
point of being almost unusable. Field roads, ditches, stream crossings, and sections of
some fields were identified as significant contributors to the stream's degradation.
Silver Spring Brook had threefold value to the town of Limestone: it was the
town's drinking water supply, a cold-water habitat for native brook trout, and the feeder
for the community swimming area. Heavy sedimentation resulted in high raw turbidity
readings, exceeding federal drinking water standards, threatening the cold-water habitat
for native brook trout, and endangering the town's only recreational swimming area.
Cooperation of landowners
The town of Limestone formed a partnership with the Central Aroostook Soil and
Water Conservation District to plan and implement a 319 project, funded through the
Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP). The U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and MDEP were consulted on how
best to solve the problem. There were two key components to the project's success. One
was the cooperation of adjacent landowners—all farmers—and the other was the town's
commitment of municipal staff and equipment to the installation of the farm road best
management practices (BMPs).
A variety of erosion controls and land use practices were installed throughout the
project area. Diversion ditches were constructed to divert the flow of water away from
the brook, and turnouts were built to divert road flow into the woods. Culverts were
replaced and new ones added, surrounded by riprap, to allow unimpeded stream flow. A
sediment pond was also constructed to collect runoff from cropland.
The farm access road that crossed the stream was graded and crowned, and the
stream crossing was repaired and stabilized. Workers installed drain tile to control the
water from a natural spring that had been causing erosion and deterioration of the farm
access road. They reshaped and stabilized existing road ditches and constructed new
ditches. Grass buffers were also established along the fields.
Several acres of highly erodible cropland were placed in conservation reserve,
thanks to the cooperation of Glen Beaulieu, whose farm borders the brook on which most
of the BMPs were constructed. "I couldn't cultivate that acreage during wet years," he
explains, "and I was losing a lot of topsoil. I was happy to place that land into the
Conservation Reserve Program." Beaulieu says that since the BMPs were installed, there

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have not been any washes, the diversion ditches are working, and the water looks much
cleaner.
Decreased turbidity
Before the project, raw turbidity readings averaged 1.99 NTU (in 1995 and 1996),
exceeding the federal drinking water standard of 1.6 NTU treated turbidity. Raw
turbidity readings for the same period in 1997 and 1998 averaged 1.225 NTU—a 38
percent improvement even before fully establishing all the BMPs. A dry summer and a
very wet fall, along with plantings of a potato crop (highly erodible), contributed to an
increase in turbidity readings in 1999. Data have since become unavailable, however,
because the town switched from a surface water source (using Silver Spring Brook) to a
groundwater source after the new federal drinking water standard of 0.50 NTU treated
turbidity was established.
The native brook trout habitat has significantly benefited from the decrease in
murky conditions. Lower turbidity readings have also resulted in improved swimming
conditions for the community, improving recreational opportunities. Although many
seemingly inconsequential unstable land use practices can add up to water quality
degradation, through the commitment of local people and agencies and effective
teamwork, water pollution can be prevented and water quality restored.
Contact Information: Kathy Hoppe, Maine Department of Environmental Protection,
Northern Maine Regional Office, 1235 Central Drive, Presque Isle, ME 04769,207-764-
0477, kathy.m.hoppe@state.me.us
Project Location: Limestone, Maine
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (crops), farm access roads
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: erosion control/land use practices (diversion ditches,
culverts, sediment pond, ditches/road improvements, buffers)
Results: decreased turbidity readings, improved recreational opportunities, improved
native brook trout habitat
~Submitted by Norm Marcotte, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Maryland's
Forestry BMPs: Paired Watershed Study
Tests BMP Performance
Forests cover about 2.7 million acres of Maryland, representing 40 percent of the state's
total land area. Forest health is inextricably linked to healthy streams and a robust Chesapeake
Bay. But many forest harvest activities, including poorly designed haul roads, skid trails,
landings (loading areas), and stream crossings, can lead to significant inputs of sediment to
stream channels, resulting in degradation of water quality and impacts on living resources. The
removal of trees adjacent to streams can also cause elevated stream temperatures, reducing
habitat quality for fish and benthic macroinvertebrate populations.
To assist loggers and landowners in meeting environmental requirements, the Maryland
Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have
developed a number of forestry programs. Sediment control plans are required before
undertaking major earth-disturbing activity; best management practices (BMPs) and streamside
buffer zones are required when logging in nontidal wetlands; and a special 'Timber Harvest
Plan" must be approved before any timber may be harvested within 1,000 feet of the Chesapeake
Bay. DNR's aggressive Stream Releaf Program even has a goal of establishing 600 miles of
riparian forest buffer restoration plantings by the year 2010!
Testing BMPs
Although studies show that most Maryland loggers follow timber harvest BMPs, there
have been no studies in the state reporting the effectiveness of these BMPs in protecting water
quality under local conditions. Using 319 funding, a 4-year study was designed to test the
hypothesis that forest harvest operations have no long-term significant impacts on stream
benthos, temperature, and suspended sediment if forestry BMPs are implemented.
Two small forested watersheds, located on Sugarloaf Mountain in Frederick County,
Maryland, were monitored from August 1995 until July 1999 as part of a paired watershed study
to evaluate the effectiveness of Maryland's BMPs for timber harvest operations. One watershed,
designated the "treatment" watershed, underwent a controlled level of timber harvesting with
strict adherence to BMPs, while the "control" watershed remained unharvested.
A wide range of BMPs were installed in the treatment watershed, including a 20-foot-
long portable timber bridge, a 21-inch-diameter stream-crossing culvert, streamside forest buffer
(streamside management zone), drainage out-sloping, broad-based dips, rolling dips, grade
breaks and water bars, and the use of geotextile and stone for haul road stabilization. The
logging contractors also complied with the BMPs by following marked skid trails and performing
postharvest stabilization of roads, landings, and skid trails where required. On slopes over 10
percent, roads, main skid trails, and landings were seeded, limed, fertilized, and mulched.
Timber was harvested in 1997 on 73 acres of the treatment watershed, using a variety of

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silvicultural prescriptions. Monitoring of baseflow and stormflow suspended sediment samples,
temperature, and benthic macroinvertebrates continued until July 1999.
Successful results
The results of this study indicate that the BMPs were effective in preventing significant
impacts on stream water quality, biology, and habitat. There was no significant difference in
total suspended solid concentrations or yields due to the harvesting activities. The harvesting
also did not significantly affect stream habitat, benthic macroinvertebrate populations, or stream
temperature. Most BMPs performed as intended, and none allowed observable sediment input
into waterways. Logger awareness and training were also critical to effective use of BMPs
because implementation and installation are ultimately under the loggers' control.
Contact Information: Phil Pannill, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forestry, Wildlife
& Heritage Division, Regional Watershed Forester, 301-791-4010, ppannill@dnr.state.md.us;
John McCoy, MD-DNR, Chesapeake & Coastal Watershed Service, Watershed Restoration
Division, 410-260-8803, jmccoy@dnr.state.md.us; Ken Sloate, MD-DNR, Chesapeake &
Coastal Watershed Service, Nonpoint Source Program, 410-260-8736, ksloate@dnr.state.md.us
Project Location: Frederick County, Maryland
Primary Sources of Pollution: forestry
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: forestry BMPs, paired watershed study
Results: stable stream temperature, suspended solid concentrations, and benthic
macroinvertebrate populations during harvesting using BMPs
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Evaluating the Effectiveness of Maryland's Best Management
Practices for Forest Harvest Operations, Maryland Department of Natural Resources,
www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/mbmp. Submitted by Ken Sloate, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

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Rain Garden Project: DNR Demonstrates
Bioretention in Its Own Backyard
In the College Creek watershed, there are more than 70 parking lots, but not one
has a storm water management structure. That means that every time a storm hits the
area, thousands of gallons of water carrying gasoline, motor oil, car fluids, trash, and
toxic materials flush right into College Creek.
To address this serious problem and show an innovative approach to storm water
management, the Friends of College Creek decided to build a rain garden in the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) parking lot. The Friends of College Creek
(FCC) is a watershed association of several institutions and agencies, including the US
Naval Academy, St. Johns College, several area churches and schools, the City of
Annapolis, and Maryland DNR. The FCC provides technical assistance to assess current
environmental conditions within the watershed and identifies and implements specific
solutions to the problems identified in these assessments.
Constructing the bioretention area
The project began in November 1998. With assistance from DNR through 319
funding, a bioretention area was constructed along the east side of DNR's parking lot.
Bioretention is an innovative practice that uses native forest systems and landscape
processes to enhance storm water quality. Storm water runoff is infiltrated into a sand
bed. Once the infiltration and storage capacity of the area is exceeded, storm water is
discharged at the surface of planting soil. The DNR bioretention facility has an
underdrain system that connects to the existing storm sewer system. The bioretention
area was planted with native vegetation, and the rain garden was completed with the
assistance of local schoolchildren.
Monitoring progress
Monitoring stations were installed to measure the amounts of flow going into the
garden, the amounts flowing out of the garden, and the nutrients the garden is extracting
naturally. Samples are being analyzed for oil and grease, nutrients, and metals.
Monitoring will continue for several years before an accurate assessment can be made
about this innovative practice.
Contact Information: Frank Dawson, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 410-
260-8795, fdawson@dnr.state.md.us; Sean McGuire, Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, 410-260-8727, smcguire@dnr.state.md.us
Project Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water

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Primary NPS Pollutants: oil and grease, nutrients, metals
Remediation/Project Activities: bioretention facility
Results: monitoring in progress
~Information for this success story was gleaned (in part) from the Friends of the Annapolis Creek project
description at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/tribstrat/low_west/annap_creeks.html. Submitted by Raj
Williams, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

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Broad Marsh River
Storm Water Remediation Project: Infiltration
Structures Reduce Pollutants, Save Shellfish Beds
Over the past decade, the Town of Wareham, Massachusetts, has begun one of the
Commonwealth's most complete programs to address the pollution problems caused by storm
water discharges along the town's shoreline. Contamination from storm water runoff,
particularly suspended solids and fecal coliform contamination, has forced many shellfish
beds and public bathing beaches along Massachusetts' coast to close. The closures can range
from periodic closure for a few days after heavy rainstorms to complete year-round closure
due to nonpoint source contamination. Like many coastal communities, Wareham relies on
fishing and tourism for its economic vitality. Faced with the prospect of losing its unique and
valuable coastal resources, the town began to search for ways to address the contamination
problem.
Selecting the right alternative
In 1993 the Town of Wareham and the Buzzards Bay Project received 319 funding to
remediate storm water discharges along the lower reaches of the Broad Marsh River, The goal
was to reopen 64 acres of adjacent softshell clam and quahog beds. The project also intended
to demonstrate that leaching catch basins could be an effective storm water remediation tool
to reduce coliform contamination in the town's coastal waters.
During consulting with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, several
alternatives for treating storm water discharges were considered. The site conditions were
difficult—a high ratio of impervious surface and areas of high ground water. Narrow roads,
existing gas, sewer, and water lines, and groundwater close to the surface made designing the
system challenging.
Because of land constraints, the final project design involved installation of "under-the
road" infiltration structures along road rights-of-way. Two different types of infiltration
	structures were installed with the purpose of storing and treating the first Yi inch of rainfall.
In areas with adequate separation from groundwater, 4-foot by 4-foot concrete leaching
galleys were installed; in areas with shallower groundwater, shallower plastic infiltration
chambers were installed. The infiltration structures were installed at 15 storm water discharge
points along the banks of the lower Broad Marsh River. Instead of being discharged directly
into the river through storm drainpipes, the storm water would be directed into infiltration
structures, allowing for filtration of the pollutants.
Reopening of shellfish beds
Initial postconstruction monitoring data indicated that the infiltration systems were
very effective in removing fecal coliform bacteria (99.99 percent removal) and fecal
streptococcus bacteria (90 percent removal) from the storm water runoff. The infiltration
systems were also quite effective in removing petroleum hydrocarbons and zinc. These

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pollutants were present at low levels in the storm water prior to the infiltration treatment;
however, they were not detected during postconstruction monitoring.
Two and a half years after installation of the leaching catchment basins, Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) announced that the shellfish beds in the Broad Marsh
River would be reopened on a conditional basis. The beds continue to be temporarily closed
after heavy rainfalls, but the large softshell clam and quahog resource is now open to
shellfishermen most of the time.
Other successful 319 projects have since followed. A storm water treatment system
was installed in the upper reaches of the Broad Marsh River, with the hope that over time
water quality will improve to the point that the Broad Marsh River shellfish beds can be
reclassified and opened without restrictions of any kind.
In addition to the continued storm water remediation work on the Broad Marsh River,
town officials have set their sites on reopening the larger shellfish beds in Onset Harbor.
Onset Harbor is larger and more open than the Broad Marsh River, and its watershed area is
heavily developed and quite urban. The town now has two additional ongoing 319 grants that
are being used to target the storm water discharges from these urbanized areas. In recent
correspondence, Michael Parola, Harbormaster/Shellfish Constable for Wareham, confirmed
that storm water remediation efforts have exceeded expectations. The town's current goal is
to remediate "any and all active storm drains" because of their overall effect on water quality
and on the town's shellfish beds. Mr. Parola believes that storm water remediation has been
largely responsible for allowing the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to upgrade
miles of publicly accessible shoreline. The current remediation projects in Onset Bay and its
tributary, the East River, have the potential to allow the DMF to upgrade fully half of Onset
Bay's shellfish beds from their current classification of seasonally closed to open and
approved for shellfish harvesting.
Like so many coastal communities that rely on fishing and tourism for their livelihood,
Wareham faced the loss of the coastal resources that make the town unique and vital.
Wareham has taken full advantage of the opportunity that the 319 Program presented to
address nonpoint source pollution problems and restore coastal resources for all to enjoy.
GiverTthe demoristrated success of tfie~Mafsh Rjver Project to both reopen shellfish beds and
inspire a community to institute a phased, long-term storm water management program, the
Massachusetts 319 Program should encourage other communities to do the same.
Contact Information: Jane Peirce, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608,508-767-2792, Jane.Peirce@state.ma.us
Project Location: Wareham, Massachusetts
Primary Sources of Pollution: storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: suspended solids fecal coliform contamination
Remediation/Project Activities: infiltration structures

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Results: 99.99 percent removal of fecal coliform bacteria, 90 percent removal of fecal
streptococcus bacteria, elimination of petroleum hydrocarbons and zinc, shellfish beds
reopened
~Submitted by Elizabeth McCann, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

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Lake Tashmoo Storm Water Remediation Project:
First Flush Leaching Basins More
Effective Than Expected
Contamination from storm water runoff, particularly suspended solids and fecal
coliform contamination, has forced many shellfish beds and public bathing beaches along the
Massachusetts coast to close. The closures can range from a few days to the summer to the
entire year, depending on the type and level of contamination. The town of Tisbury on the
Island of Martha's Vineyard has numerous "hotspots" where access to shellfish beds and
public beaches has been restricted because of storm water contamination. The residents of
Tisbury rely on the fishing and tourism for their livelihood, so it is imperative for the town to
find ways to effectively treat storm water contamination.
At 1 mile in length, Lake Tashmoo is one of the larger of the saltwater lakes on the
island that feed into the sea. It is an ideal habitat and breeding ground for oysters, scallops,
clams, mussels, crabs, lobster, and a variety of fish species that serve as the food source for
larger fish, all of which are commercially harvested as the backbone of the island's fishing
industry. In addition, the lake has a major beach area, a town dock, and boat moorings and is
used for swimming, sailing, wind surfing, boating, and sportsfishing.
Before 1994 hard shell clam, mussel, and scallop beds near the storm water outlet
were showing contamination from fecal coliform bacteria, heavy metals, and oil and grease.
The Division of Marine Fisheries routinely closed the beds after large rainfall events because
of fecal coliform levels in the water. The contaminant levels were consistently high enough
that the shellfish beds were on the verge of seasonal closure, which would have effectively
put the resource off-limits to the local townspeople and to the large seasonal population that
flocks to Martha's Vineyard during the summer months. Recreational use of the lake is a
major tourist attraction, and the town considered maintaining the lake in a viable and usable
state imperative.
Adding leaching basins	~
In 1994 Tisbury Waterways, Inc., and the Town of Tisbury received 319 funding to
install a series of 12 "first flush" leaching basins along road drains to capture and treat the
road runoff that was contributing to the contamination of highly productive shellfish beds at
one end of Lake Tashmoo. The first flush basins, installed along a 1.6-mile stretch of road,
were designed to treat the first V* inch of rainfall, which contains most of the contaminants.
Each basin consists of a 6-foot by 6-foot perforated cement vessel filled with
limestone, surrounded by a gravel bed. The limestone in the basins is covered with
hydrophobic, oil-absorbing pads, which help to separate the hydrocarbons from the runoff.
The limestone in the pits raises the pH of the runoff, causing heavy metals to precipitate and
accumulate in the pit. Finally, the first flush basins provide additional residence time for fecal

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coliform bacteria to oxidize and decay. The treated runoff then passes through the gravel
surrounding the pits into the subsurface soil.
Exceeding expectations
Comparison of contaminant concentrations in Lake Tashmoo before and after
installation of the basins showed significant improvement in water quality. Samples from
Lake Tashmoo during rainfall events showed fecal coliform and total coliform levels going
down by 91 percent and 98 percent. Oil and grease could not be detected in the treated
effluent; barium, chromium, and lead, which had all been present before installing the basins,
could no longer be detected in the effluent. The project was deemed a success and
recommended as a model for other storm water hotspots around Tisbury.
The system is exceeding the town's initial expectations. Although it was designed to
capture and treat the first lA inch of storm water runoff, the system appears to be capturing and
treating the first Vi inch of runoff. The sandy soils that underlie the leaching catch basins
allow the treated storm water to percolate into the ground more quickly than the designers
anticipated, thus allowing the system to capture additional storm water.
As a result, since the basins were installed there has been no discharge to all at Lake
Tashmoo during moderate rains. Even during heavy rainfall, less storm water is discharged
into the lake and the water continues to be of significantly better quality than before the basins
were added. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has continued to monitor water
quality at the shellfish beds. The beds have not been closed during the past several years, and
there is no longer any thought of seasonal bed closure.
Contact Information: Jane Peirce, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608,508-767-2792, Jane.Peirce@state.ma.us
Project Location: Town of Tisbury (Island of Martha's Vineyard), Massachusetts
Primary Sources of Pollution: storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: suspended solids, fecal coliform contamination
Remediation/Project Activities: 12 first flush leaching basins
Results: 91 percent decrease in fecal coliforms; 98 percent decrease in total coliforms;
elimination of oil, grease, barium, chromium, and lead; shellfish beds remain open
~Submitted by Elizabeth McCann, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

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Innovative Farmers of Michigan: Blending Farm
Profitability and Water Quality Protection
The Saginaw Bay watershed is the largest watershed in Michigan, covering more
than 8,700 square miles. The water quality of the bay is impacted by sediment, nutrients,
and pesticide inputs from runoff and wind erosion. Agriculture is the major land use in
the Eastern Coastal Basin of the watershed (Huron and Tuscola Counties and part of Bay
county), representing 95 percent of the land area. The major crops are dry beans, sugar
beets, corn, and wheat.
The Innovative Farmers of Michigan is a group of agricultural producers,
supported by more than 60 partners representing the agricultural industry, lenders,
equipment companies, commodity groups, and federal, state, and local agencies. The
group's two primary objectives are reducing the amount of sediment entering the
Saginaw Bay and altering farming practices to reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff while
retaining profitability for the farmer. "All my fields drain to large ditches, to larger
ditches, and eventually to Saginaw Bay," says Pat Sheridan, Tuscola Innovative Farmers,
"and I don't want my soil in the bay."
So Sheridan joined the Innovative Farmers of Michigan, which was organized in 1994 in
Huron, Tuscola, and Sanilac Counties. Each member pays a $100 annual fee, entitling
them to membership in the Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association and
subscriptions to No-Till Farmer and Conservation Digest magazines. In 1996 the
Michigan State University Extension-Huron County received a section 319 grant of
$71,863 for a 3-year Innovative Farmers project. The Innovative Farmers aimed to reduce
soil erosion, improve soil health, and increase family farm income by using reduced
tillage, cover crops, and a totally integrated system.
Confronting traditional farming practices
Before the Innovative Farmers, reduced-tillage corn and soybean cropping
systems had been successfully used throughout the Midwest. Michigan farmers, however,
"werereluctanttousehigh-residuecroppingsystemsforbeansandsugar beets-because
such high-value crops would still make fall-spring tillage profitable. In addition, many
farmers in the area assumed that it wasn't possible to warm the soil in the spring, prepare
a good seed bed in heavier soils, and achieve adequate weed control without tilling in the
fall and the following spring.
The key to the Innovative Farmers' success is that rather than relying on research
and information provided by other sources, the group designed and conducted the studies
themselves. In one of the first studies undertaken by the group, 14 producers collected
127 water samples from their tile outlets. Concentrations and flow rates were used to
determine the extent of nutrients and the associated dollar loss from their fields. This
activity helped producers better understand the nutrient and soil interactions, as well as
the impacts on water quality.

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Valuable findings
Studies conducted by the Innovative Farmers yielded many valuable findings for
area farmers. Conservation tillage did not reduce yields of sugar beets, corn, and dry
beans when compared to conventional tillage. In fact, corn yields significantly increased
at one of the demonstration sites. Farmers also learned that the soil's capacity to supply
nitrogen to a growing crop increases with conservation tillage. Athough phosphorus
applications ceased for 6 years, the soil fertility levels did not decrease.
At the end of the project, the water holding capacity and water infiltration rates
were also higher for the limited-tillage sites. Conservation tillage reduced the potential
for soil erosion from water by up to 70 percent and from wind by up to 60 percent, as
compared to conventional tillage.
These results are making a difference. Several fanners in the area have converted
their operations to zone-till in the past 2 years. Innovative Farmers members report the
increasing use of the chisel tillage system and cover crops by their neighbors. As these
systems are used on a wider scale, others will adopt them as they see the success of
fellow farmers. That is just what the Innovative Farmers hoped to accomplish.
Contact Information: Jim LeCureux, Michigan State University Extension, Tuscola
County, 989-672-3870
Project Location: Huron, Tuscola, and Bay counties, Michigan
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dry beans, sugar beets, corn, and wheat
production)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, pesticides
Remediation/Project Activities: conservation tillage
Results: reduced soil erosion (70 percent less from water and 60 percent less from wind)
'Submitted by Karol Smith, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

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Little Rabbit River Watershed Project: One-to-
One Approach Wins Landowners' Support
The Little Rabbit River Watershed Project demonstrates the effectiveness of
community-based watershed planning in addressing water quality issues. In 1995,
through the efforts of local leaders and a broad conservation partnership, a section 319
watershed grant of $380,936 was awarded to the Allegan Conservation District. This
grant began a 5-year program that built a team of proactive stakeholders to direct project
activities, develop a watershed management plan, and implement best management
practices (BMPs) to protect water quality.
The 30,850-acre Little Rabbit River watershed is in southwest Michigan,
primarily in the northern section of Allegan County. A small portion lies in Byron
Township in Southern Kent County. The Little Rabbit River flows southwesterly to the
Rabbit River, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River. The dominant land use in the
watershed is agriculture. Sediment, nutrients, and high flow are adversely affecting the
Little Rabbit. Unrestricted livestock access, plowing up to the edge of the watercourse,
and conventional fall plowing were commonly found throughout the watershed.
Partners and funding sources
The project's Steering Committee consisted of a broad range of active
participants, including the County Drain Commissioner, County Road Commission,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Michigan State
University Extension, County Board of Commissioners, Dorr Township Parks and
Recreation, other township officials, West Michigan Regional Planning Agency, and
local residents and agricultural producers. In addition to 319 funding, other significant
sources of funding included USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and
Michigan's Groundwater Stewardship Program.
The objectives of the project were to improve water quality by reducing the
amount of sediment and nutrients entering surface water and promoting farmland
preservation and controlled development. The Steering Committee decided that one key
~to~the project's~success-would-be-to-engagearea4andownersT-The-Steering-Gommittee
exceeded its goal of contacting 50 landowners, reaching 64 landowners to discuss their
water quality issues.
A number of BMPs were installed as a result of the project, including:
•	Implementation of 3,000 acres of mulch-till and no-till
•	Installation of more than 12,000 linear feet of exclusion fencing
•	Installation of four stream crossings and a watering facility
•	190 linear feet of streambank stabilization
•	Installation of 18 acres of filter strips
•	Addition of five animal waste storage facilities
•	Installation of two sediment detention and two erosion control structures
•	Restoration of more than 9 acres of wetlands

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Successful reduction of pollutants
The quantity of sediment and nutrients entering the Little Rabbit River was
substantially reduced with the installation of water quality-protective BMPs. Pollution
reductions were calculated for all erosion control BMPs. The total amount of pollutants
prevented from entering the Little Rabbit River during the 3 years of project
implementation was 19,852 tons of sediment, 19,706 pounds of phosphorus, and 39,321
pounds of nitrogen.
In addition, the awareness of water quality issues in the community increased.
The local residents stated that the project newsletter was a primary source of conservation
information. A watershed logo was developed for use on T-shirts, hats, and watershed
cooperator signs, which created an identity for the watershed project.
The success of the project can be attributed largely to the emphasis on one-to-one
meetings that built trust one person at a time. The watershed coordinator went to
breakfast where the farmers ate, using the opportunity to interact in a relaxed social
setting. The true partnership of the agencies involved was also instrumental in the
project's success. Other agencies that had rapport with the agricultural community
promoted the Little Rabbit River Watershed Project too, helping to build credibility and
trust.
Although the section 319 portion of the Little Rabbit River Watershed Project is
complete, water quality improvement and protection efforts are continuing. EQIP funds
are available for agricultural BMP implementation. Watershed planning and protection
efforts have expanded to the Rabbit River watershed and adjoining watersheds
(Macatawa, Gun River) as a direct result of the positive response from the local
community.
Contact Information: AnneMarie Chavez, Allegan Conservation District, 616-673-8965
Project Location: Allegan County, Michigan
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (unrestricted livestock access, plowing)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (fencing, streambank stabilization,
filter strips, sediment detention, wetland restoration)
Results: reduction of 19,852 tons of sediment, 19,706 pounds of phosphorus, and 39,321
pounds of nitrogen
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the Allegan Conservation District report on "The
Gateway to Natural Resources Management: Little Rabbit Watershed Project." Submitted by Karol Smith,
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

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North St. Paul Urban Ecology Center:
Wetland Improvements Needed to
Control Storm Water
In 1994 the City of North St. Paul identified a potential wetland restoration
project and nature center, the Urban Ecology Center. The project site was a 20-acre
remnant of an old farm that had last been a sod farm in 1950. The area had once been
part of a much larger area of seasonally wet wetland of approximately 150 acres.
The Ecology Center site was also identified as a good location to provide water
quality improvement for the 420-acre watershed, which had been severely affected by
storm water leaving the site. In addition, project managers planned to include the
restoration of a diverse wetland and upland plant and animal community that could be
studied by students from the four area schools.
The project involved a unique partnership of local, regional, and state government
that provided funding and technical assistance. The total cost of the 5-year project was
about $397,000. The project was funded in part by $210,000 in grants from four
different agencies. The remainder of the project funding was supplied by the City of
North St. Paul and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. The Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency 319 Program provided a $40,400 grant in 1997.
The restoration plan included modification to the existing wetland to construct a
multicell wetland treatment system. The overall objective was not only to improve the
quality of storm water leaving the site but also to design and develop the site as a wetland
environmental learning center. Environmental changes would be monitored and
information used to make future improvements on this site, as well as on other wetlands
in the watershed. The project would serve as a model for other metro area communities
and school districts.
Using-city-and District-funds,-two.additional parcels of private land were acquired
as essential environmental education and water quality elements of the project. A
trailhead parking lot was constructed on one site, providing convenient access to the
Urban Ecology Center for school children and other visitors. A wetland boardwalk,
trails, and educational display were constructed, providing information on the history of
the site, water quality improvement, and habitat management. A section of the display
was set aside for school classes to present their environmental monitoring and research
results to the community.
District staff, school classes, and sentenced-to-serve crews completed restoration
of all disturbed areas with native vegetation. Some schools helped by growing some of
the native grasses and wildflowers from seed in their classrooms.

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Water quality improvements
Project leaders report a number of improvements as a result of the project. The
first basin is collecting significant sedimentation, and the material is removed every 2
years. Site observations have documented a dramatic increase in use of the site by
wildlife. Plant diversity also has increased, reflecting a good water quality condition.
Continuing benefits
Although completed in 1999, the project continues to involve several local
governments and state agencies in management, monitoring, and research. The site is
now being used for a research project on control methods for reed canary grass funded by
the District, the Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Department of
Transportation, and the University of Minnesota. Reed canary grass is an invasive plant
that spreads very quickly in seasonally wet areas and crowds out most desirable plants.
Reed canary grass is the dominant plant in the Urban Ecology Center. The primary
challenge to increasing vegetative and wildlife diversity will be controlling the reed
canary grass and successfully reestablishing a native habitat. This project will continue
for several years.
Contact Information: Cliff Aichinger, Ramsey/Washington Metro Watershed District,
651-704-2089, cliff@rwmwd.org
Project Location: North St. Paul, Minnesota
Primary Sources of Problem: storm water
Remediation/Project Activities: construction of multicell wetland treatment system
Results: storm water filtration, increased wildlife and plant diversity, education center,
research site for invasive species studies
~Submitted by Sarah Lehmann, EPA Region 5.

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Prior Lake/Spring Lake Improvement Project:
Long-Term Implementation Strategy
Off to a Good Start
Over the years, a combination of factors had been compounding, relentlessly
contributing to the water quality problems in the Prior Lake and Spring Lake Watershed
District. In addition to the impacts of the agricultural community, new development was
taking its toll, along with the constant adverse effects of failing septic systems in the
watershed. Both Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake were found to be hypereutrophic,
while Lower Prior Lake was mesotrophic. A reduction in phosphorus levels was
necessary to improve the quality of Spring and Upper Prior Lakes; phosphorus
concentrations needed to be maintained at their existing levels to preserve the quality of
Lower Prior Lake.
Based on the recommendations of a Clean Lakes Study completed in 1993, the
Minnesota Clean Water Partnership Project commenced. The initial phase was designed
to reduce nonpoint source phosphorus loads to the lakes. Funding and implementation
assistance for this 6-year effort were provided through the section 319 grant program.
Phase 1: A comprehensive approach to restoration
During the first phase of the project, a number of projects were successfully
completed, while relationships were built with other agencies, citizens, and organizations.
Several projects aimed at controlling storm water runoff were accomplished, including
the construction of the Iron (Ferric Chloride) Runoff Treatment Facility and installation
of storm water treatment devices with road improvements. Wetland restoration projects
also occurred, including the construction of the Highway 13 treatment wetland and
conversion of the Sand Point Park dry basin to a water quality pond. In an effort to
control the increasing threat of sedimentation, several shoreline stabilization projects
were conducted. Among them were projects to stablize the eroding channel in Fish Point
Park and to improve the desiltation basin adjacent to Spring Lake. The community was
also involved in septic system education workshops, yard waste management workshops,
and soil-testing-programs. No-till farming-assistance_was.provided_to help encourage the
adoption of such practices.
A successful first phase
Both citizen observations and monitoring data indicate that the water quality is
improving. Monitoring data shows that the ferric chloride system is operating as
designed with respect to the removal of dissolved phosphorus. In recognition of these
successes, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources named the Prior Lake/Spring
Lake Watershed District the 1998 Minnesota Watershed District of the Year. Most
importantly, trust has improved between the agricultural constituents and the District.
These successes enabled the District to convene another partnership for the
second implementation phase. This phase builds on lessons learned in the first phase, as

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well as some new efforts focusing more specifically on the lakes. Continuing efforts
include providing incentive payments for conservation tillage and nutrient management,
as well as conducting additional wetland restorations and constructing more water quality
basins. In-lake efforts will aim to control internal recycling of phosphorus and manage
submerged aquatic plants with changing water clarity.
Additional benefits
The project's initial successes have translated into water quality management
efforts beyond those initiated by the grant program. These efforts include regulatory
responses, such as the passage of a "no phosphorus fertilizer" ordinance by the local city,
and revisions or improvements to the Watershed District's rules regarding new
development and redevelopment. Agricultural improvements, participation in the
cropland filter strip program and supplemental payments for participants in the
Conservation Reserve Program and the Conservation Reservation Enhancement Program,
continue. Wetland restoration efforts are ongoing, and sewer lines are now expanding
into previously unsewered areas around the lakes. Efforts to sustain the progress
continue, with completion of macrophyte surveys and whole lake management plans.
In for the long haul
Overall, the District is pleased with the results to date. Grant assistance allowed
much more to be accomplished than the District could have achieved on its own. The
District would have preferred more immediate visual improvements of the lake's water
quality. However, scientists involved in the Clean Lakes Study had stated that although
only limited visual improvements would occur as a result of the first phase, these efforts
were a necessary first step in achieving benefits in subsequent phases. The District and
its partners realize that sustainable improvements will come from a long-term
implementation strategy.
Contact Information: Paul Nelson, Prior Lake/Spring Lake Watershed District, 16670
Franklin Trail, Suite 110, Prior Lake, MN 55372,952-447-4166.
Project Location: Scott County, Minnesota
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff (new development), agriculture
Primary NPS Pollutants: phosphorus
Remediation/Project Activities: wetland restoration, streambank stabilization, storm
water treatment systems
Results: removal of dissolved phosphorus
Submitted by Sarah Lehmann, EPA Region S.

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Muddy Creek Watershed
Demonstration Project: BMPs Retain
3,500 Tons of Soil per Year*
Winding its way through the northern part of Tippah County, Mississippi, Muddy Creek
eventually flows into Tennessee. The creek's drainage area encompasses a total of 67,070
acres, of which approximately 42 percent is in cropland, 31 percent in pastureland, and
25 percent in forest. Four dairy, 300 timber, 100 livestock, and 20 swine operations are
also in the watershed. The main agricultural products are soybeans and corn. Classified as
a Fish and Wildlife area, Muddy Creek is designated as suitable for secondary contact
recreation, such as wading and occasional swimming. Of primary concern to the local
population and the neighboring population in Tennessee was the amount of sediment and
nutrients emptied by this creek into the Hatachie River in Tennessee, designated as a
Wild and Scenic River.
Water quality and land use assessments were performed in the watershed, and 3 of
the 10 tributaries were identified as having the most agricultural operations. The land-use
assessment evaluated the average soil erosion rate and the magnitude of the animal
operations in the watershed. The average soil loss from cropland and pastureland in the
watershed was estimated at 12.2 tons per acre per year. This amount of sediment entering
the watershed gave it a designation as a priority watershed on the state's priority
watershed list for agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
Installing best management practices
To address these concerns, the Muddy Creek Watershed Demonstration Project
was initiated by establishing demonstration farms and agricultural best management
practices (BMPs). Conservation tillage was widely promoted and accepted throughout
the watershed. The purpose of conservation tillage is to reduce ground disturbance
before crop planting, so that less soil and pollutants will leave the field and enter the
receiving stream.
Other BMPs included grade stabilization structures (pipes), a pond, more than
2,500 feet of diversion (a constructed ridge diverting the flow of water), fencing, critical
area planting (pine trees), and streambank protection. Streambank stabilization BMPs
included earthwork, vegetative cover, and rock riprap.
Dramatic reductions in erosion
As a result of the BMPs installed, more than 3,500 tons of soil is being retained
on the land each year. The BMPs dramatically reduced the amount of annual soil erosion
and the subsequent flow of sediment into the Muddy Creek watershed.

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Contact Information: Zoffee Dahmash, Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality, P.O. Box 10385, Jackson, MS 39289-0385,601-961-5137,
zoffee dahmash@.deq.state.ms.us
Project Location: Tippah County, Mississippi
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (animal operations, crops), forestry
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: conservation tillage, streambank stabilization
Results: retention of more than 3,500 tons of soil annually
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
at http://www.epa.gov/reeion4/water/nps/proiects/index.htm.

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Roebuck Lake Demonstration Project:
Slotted-Board Risers Installed to Save
Topsoil and Improve Water Quality
Roebuck Lake is a 580-acre lake in the Bear Creek watershed in the central part of
LeFlore County, Mississippi. Its watershed encompasses an area of 11,200 acres.
Roebuck Lake has tremendous potential as a multiple-use recreational lake because some
101,500 people live within a 25-mile radius. In the past the lake was well known for
water-skiing, swimming, boating, and fishing, but currently these uses have decreased.
The water quality in Roebuck Lake is degrading because of the inflow of
pollutants from cropland fields. Drainage from approximately 8,100 acres of delta
cropland flows into the lake, leaving deposits of silt, pesticides, and fertilizer and other
plant nutrients. Erosion occurring from these erodible cropland acres is excessive, at an
average rate of 8 tons per acre. Based on available data, the lake was designated in the
state's 305(b) water quality report as only partially supporting its fish and wildlife
classification because of agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution.
Installing slotted-board risers
A number of partners came together to address these concerns: the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service; Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission;
Environmental Protection Agency; and Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service. The
project included installing grade-stabilization structures called slotted-board risers
(SBRs) on a selected cotton farm site. The practice involves placing a pipe at the edge of
the field just after harvesting, with slotted boards placed in front of the pipe, and allowing
the field to flood. Valuable topsoil and expensive nutrients are retained on the field,
allowing them to be used during the next growing season.
Significant-reductions-					
During the winters of 1997 and 1998, automated storm water monitoring
equipment was used to calculate the loading reductions resulting from the use of the
SBRs. Because most of the rainfall runoff was contained on-site and did not produce a
discharge, reduction percentages were high. Most of the trapped rainwater evaporated or
was absorbed into the soil. The results included reductions of 99.8 percent total
suspended solids, 89.4 percent total organic carbon, 100 percent total Kheldahl nitrogen,
90.7 percent ammonia nitrogen, 96.3 percent nitrate/nitrite, and 97.1 percent total
phosphorus. Overall, the grade stabilization structures are saving 4,950 tons of topsoil
per year.
The SBR practice continues to prove that it is a very cost-effective approach to
saving topsoil while at the same time improving the lake's water quality. Many fanners
have installed SBRs on their fields since the project was initiated. It is still too early to

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determine what long-term effects these BMPs will have on Roebuck Lake's water
quality. It is only hoped that through this demonstration and through subsequent field
days, farmers and the public will take what they have learned and apply it to their lands.
If this occurs, it is very possible that Roebuck Lake could once again support its fish and
wildlife designated use.
Contact Information: Zoffee Dahmash, Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality, P.O. Box 10385, Jackson, MS 39289-0385,601-961-5137,
zoffee dahmash@deq.state.ms.us
Project Location: LeFlore County, Mississippi
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (croplands)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, pesticides
Remediation/Project Activities: grade stabilization structures
Results: retention of more than 4,950 tons of topsoil per year; decreases in organic
carbon, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, and total phosphorus

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Water Quality Best Management Practices Plan:
Choctaw Tribe Addresses Soil Erosion
The Mississippi Choctaw trust lands consist of eight individual communities in
eight counties of east-central Mississippi and encompass more than 24,000 acres. Land
ownership in these eight communities is like a checkerboard, adjoined and fragmented by
non-Indian lands. The tribe is currently acquiring additional land parcels as they become
available to consolidate the Choctaw ownership pattern to facilitate access and
management capabilities and the delivery of services to its members. The Choctaw
population is more than 8,100.
Siltation resulting from various silviculture, construction, and resource extraction
activities has been identified as the primary nonpoint source pollutant affecting water
quality on the Choctaw lands. 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 trails, fire lanes, and roads have created gullies
that cause annual soil losses in excess of 100 tons per acre per year.
To address these problems, the Choctaw Tribe has developed a Water Quality
Best Management Practices Plan for tribal lands. A Natural Resource Conservation
Committee will oversee the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to
address erosion and siltation problems. Various BMPs will be used, including the use of
both vegetative and structural measures during construction in residential areas to control
erosion and sedimentation.
The plan also calls for the development and passing of Tribal Ordinances
adopting erosion and sediment controls for disturbed areas and enforcement of selected
BMPs. There are plans to hold meetings with stakeholders to discuss and implement the
plan.
Monitoring activities will be conducted to identify discharge points, drainage
patteitrsrdirection offlow, water quality at surface water bodies affected by discharges,
locations of significant materials exposed to storm water, and structural control measures
to control erosion and siltation. The data will also indicate the effect that recent changes
in construction management activities have on water quality in the watershed.
Contact Information: Bernadette Hudnell, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, P.O.
Box 6013, Choctaw Branch, Philadelphia, MS 39350,601-656-5251
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
at www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Mississippi Delta Irrigation Water Management
Project: Improvement of Irrigation Efficiency
The Mississippi Delta of Missouri encompasses about 4,000 square miles, or 2.5
million acres, of prime agricultural land. This region was originally covered by forests
and swamps, but it has become intensively developed for agricultural production.
The Mississippi Delta 319 Irrigation Water Management Project was
implemented in 1995 with the goal of maintaining and enhancing Missouri's portion of
the Mississippi Delta alluvial aquifer. The project area and demonstration activities
occurred within the 700,000 acres of irrigated lands in the Delta. The management
complexities of the intensively irrigated lands in the project emphasize the need in the
region for comprehensive nutrient and pesticide management plans and maximum-
efficiency water delivery systems.
Targeting irrigation system efficiency
The project involved field-scale demonstrations of three best management
practices (BMPs) targeting the improvement of irrigation system efficiency:
•	Side-inlet flood irrigation of rice, which allows water to be applied to each basin
independent of the water levels in other basins. Water is delivered to each basin
through a pipeline or an irrigation canal. The system can be set so that all basins fill
at the same time.
•	Surge-furrow irrigation for crops, which is used to improve the uniformity of water
entering the soil down a row in a furrow irrigation system. Water is introduced to one
area of the irrigated field for a certain duration, then switched to a different irrigated
area, then returned to the original area. Switching back and forth is continued until
the entire length of the furrow is watered. By pulsing, or surging, the water advances
down the furrow faster than it would with the constant flow in a conventional furrow
irrigation system. By decreasing the time needed to advance to the end of the furrow,
deep percolation is reduced. This is particularly true in coarse-textured soils. Surge
valves are-required to automatically-switch the irrigation water.
•	Furrow flow rate uniformity improvements for row crops, which will enable furrow
irrigation systems using lay-flat irrigation tubing to apply water uniformly to
individual furrows as needed. In this recently developed technology, a computer
program calculates the needed gradient of the crown end of a field to match energy
losses within the pipeline to equalize furrow flow streams. The program selects hole
sizes to help make existing systems operate more efficiently. Uniform furrow flow
streams result in water conservation (from 1 to 10 inches per acre per year), reduced
potential of surface water contamination through reduced irrigation tail water (from 1
to 6 inches per acre per year), and increased yields. Roughly 200,000 acres could be
furrow-irrigated each year using the lay-flat irrigation tubing system.

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Improving the efficiency of irrigation systems would reduce water loss due to deep
percolation and runoff. Consequently, it would reduce the amount of water and
agricultural chemicals entering groundwater and surface draining systems.
The three methods to be demonstrated were relatively unknown to Missouri
farmers. The benefits of the side-inlet and surge-irrigation methods are well documented,
and both methods are commonly used in other irrigated areas of the United States. The
furrow flow uniformity improvement demonstration used technology recently developed
in Missouri. It is especially important to southeast Missouri irrigators because it pertains
to the use of lay-flat irrigation tubing. A higher percentage of southeast Missouri
irrigators use lay-flat tubing than irrigators in any other irrigated area of the country.
Water savings and simpler management
For the eight side-inlet rice irrigation sites installed, the composite water savings
consistently ranged from 30 percent to 50 percent on the fields. Another benefit of the
side-inlet system expressed by producers was the simpler management. The producer
believed that with side-inlet irrigation they experienced less wear on their levees, used
fewer gates, did not have to adjust gates, and did not have to guess when to end their
irrigation. Consequently, they had more time to take better care of their fields. Even
without the water savings, producers felt the management aspect of the side inlet made it
worthwhile to install.
For the six surge-valve/furrow-flow irrigation improvement sites, the surge
systems averaged between 20 percent to 30 percent reduction in water use per irrigation,
depending on soil type and system flow rate. The producers indicated they could also see
a definite reduction in the pump times on their fields using the irrigation water
management plans. In addition, they saw even application of water across their field as a
benefit. In the case of soybeans, some farmers noted they did not see the damage that
had previously occurred in oversaturated portions of their fields.
This project was also successful in transferring information after the completion
of the demonstrations. At the time the project was proposed, there were few, if any,
known producers in southeast Missouri using the side-inlet method of irrigating rice, as
well as very limited use of surge/furrow-flow improvement systems. As of 2000 it is
estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 acres of rice are being irrigated using the side-inlet
method. Since the project's inception, an estimated 80,000 acres of irrigation water
management have been put into practice, including 20,000 to 30,000 acres of surge
irrigation. By comparison, in 1995 furrow flow improvement plans were used on fewer
than 1,000 acres, surge irrigation plans were used on fewer than 100 acres, and there were
no side-inlet rice irrigation plans.
These field-scale demonstrations were critical in establishing credibility among
area producers and gaining their acceptance of the applicability of the BMPs. Equally
important, the concentrated efforts of informing and educating producers about the
successes of the project ensured continued use of these practices even after the project
was completed.

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Contact Information: Steve Welker, RC&D Coordinator, steve.walker@mo.usda.gov;
John Hester, Team Leader, john.hester@mo.usda.gov; Bootheel Resource Conservation
and Development Council, Inc., 18450 Ridgeview Lane, Dexter, MO 63841,573-624-
5939
Project Location: six counties in the Missouri Bootheel
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (crop fields), poor irrigation efficiency
Primary NPS Pollutant: nutrients, pesticides
Remediation/Project Activities: irrigation practices
Results: 20 percent to 50 percent water savings
'"Submitted by Becky Shannon and Tod Hudson, Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Upper Niangua Grazing Demonstration Project:
Counties Unite to Start Demonstration Farms

Recipe for Success in Missouri
Ingredient
Amount
- Farms
Seven
- Cattle
Match to forages
- Fencing
Enough to split each farm into eight or

more paddocks
- Watering pipe
Enough to carry water to all paddocks
- Watering troughs
Enough to supply cool, clean water to

cattle in each paddock
- Forages
Large variety of dense, palatable, high-

quality grasses and legumes
-Manure
Distributed evenly in all paddocks
- Landowners
Seven progressive, open-minded

fanners
Carefully split each farm into paddocks (pasture subdivisions) with the fencing.
Insert watering troughs into each paddock, and connect them with pipeline. Keep
cattle on one paddock at a
time, rotating based on forage growth and availability.
The variety of forages will increase the longer you cook this mixture. Let it rain on
the mixture to moisten evenly. Ask the seven farmers to open the meal to anyone
interested and share at "Pasture Walk" gatherings and workshops.
DELICIOUS! (And guess what? Everyone wants the recipe!)
The Upper Niangua watershed encompasses 217,000 acres in Webster, Dallas,
and Laclede Counties in southwest Missouri. Dairy and beef operations, with an
emphasis on forage production, constitute a large component of the agriculture in the
watershed. Through support of section 319 funding obtained through Southwest
Missouri Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), seven landowners from
these three counties implemented management-intensive grazing systems to better
manage their cattle, manure, and pastures. The project was funded from March 1,1994,
through December 31,1999.
The objectives of the Upper Niangua Grazing Demonstration Project included the
following:
•	Demonstrate best management practices for pastures and use of animal waste to
prevent nonpoint source pollution.
•	Inform local and regional landowners of the economic and ecological benefits of
proper pasture management.

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• Demonstrate riparian corridor protection as a part of the total farm system.
Implementing resource management systems
Seven livestock/dairy operations were selected to participate as model sites to
demonstrate the effectiveness of grazing best management practices. Each producer was
required to implement a total resource management system, and incentive payments were
provided for participation.
Management-intensive grazing systems were installed and customized to each
producer's operation. Management-intensive grazing is a goal-driven approach to
grazing management, characterized by balancing animal demand with forage supply
through the grazing season and allocating available forage based on the animal's
requirements. Underlying the approach is a basic understanding of how soil, water,
plants, and animals interact with each other as influenced by climatic conditions and
management decisions. The four goals used in implementing a management-intensive
grazing plan for each participant included financial or economic considerations,
environmental concerns, lifestyle, and production goals.
Workshops were held at these demonstration farms in the spring and fall to
provide training to landowners and agency personnel working in the region. Highlighted
were sessions on plant growth, plant management, soil fertility, species selection,
livestock needs, water development, and other aspects of the management-intensive
grazing system necessary to derive the economic and environmental benefits of
participating. In addition, monthly Pasture Walks proved to the "Show Me" Missouri
farmers the value of these systems.
The University of Missouri Extension Service also published a valuable manual
for dairy fanners called the Missouri Grazing Dairy Manual. The manual covers all
aspects of pasture-based dairying in Missouri, including managing nutrients from manure
and inorganic sources in pastures. The manual documents how the amount of phosphorus
added to a stream when a cow defecates directly into—just once —can be the same as
the amount of phosphorus that runs off an acre of pasture in a single rain runoff event.
The final chapter in the manual highlights the economics of the pasture-based
dairy. Missouri is fortunate to have at least 8 months during which pastures can be
grazed. The diversification of pasture species that results from rotational grazing
provides high-quality forage throughout that long grazing season. High-quality forages
mean greater milk production, which in turn provides greater returns to the producer.
Results of pasture management
The producers in this project saved an average of $1 per cow per day by using
pasture management practices. They also decreased labor because of the reduced time
needed for harvesting forages and handling waste. This was evident to the landowners
from Dallas County. The landowners with the management-intensive grazing systems
were able to extend their grazing season and wait up to 2 months longer before feeding
supplemental hay than some of their neighbors during an extensive period of drought.

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Through this demonstration project, managed grazing strategies and riparian
corridor protection reduced the quantity and improved the quality of the farmland runoff.
As noted in the dairy manual, dairy cows excrete 70 percent of the nitrogen, 60 percent of
the phosphorus, and 80 percent of the potassium they consume in their diets. In grazing
systems, the nutrients that have been consumed are returned to the pasture through
manure and then taken up again by the forage. This cycling of nutrients leads to a lower
runoff of nutrients from pasture systems because fewer nutrients are imported to the
pasture by heavy concentrate, or hay feeding. A greater number of rotations in a grazing
system provides for more evenly distributed manure, so nutrients are not concentrated in
only a few spots.
The demonstration project protected ground cover and provided more efficient
forage production. The manual provided information showing that forages managed in
grazing dairy systems in Missouri were of very high quality, with an average crude
protein content of 21 percent from April through December. These forages also furnish
vigorous ground cover, which helps reduce erosion and runoff compared to
conventionally grazed pastures. Legume growth and reseeding are enhanced because of
longer recovery periods for pastures in a rotation. The legumes can "fix" nitrogen in the
soil so that less nitrogen needs to be applied to pastures. Water infiltration is increased
because of improved soil structure, which reduces runoff. In addition, the extensive root
system of healthy forages decreases the potential for leaching by trapping particles and
by taking up water.
The Upper Niangua Grazing Demonstration was a success. This demonstration
project had numerous partners: funding was provided by an Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; the USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Missouri Outreach and Extension,
Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Laclede SWCD, Webster
SWCD, and Missouri Department of Conservation provided technical assistance.
The ongoing impact of the project in this Ozark region of Missouri, known for its
clear lakes and streams, will be felt by all those who enjoy this area—visitors and
residents alike.
Contact Information: Rita Mueller, Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and
Development (RC&D); 283 U.S. Highway 60 West, Republic, MO 65738,417-732-
6485, rita.mueller@mo.usda.eov
Project Location: Webster, Dallas, and Laclede Counties, Missouri
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dairy/beef operations)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: pasture management practices, rotational grazing
systems; fanner education (workshops, manuals)
Results: average savings of $1/cow/day, reduced labor, less erosion and contaminated
runoff
~Submitted by Becky Shannon and Colleen Meredith, Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

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Careless Creek Watershed Project: Sediment
Delivery Reduced by 25 Percent
Local initiative and voluntary participation contributed to the success of the
Careless Creek Watershed Project. Careless Creek is a 100-mile-long tributary to the
Musselshell River in central Montana. Agriculture is the main economic activity and land
use in the 500,000-acre watershed. About a quarter of the land in the stream corridor is
irrigated; the rest is mostly forest and rangeland.
Lower Careless Creek was classified as "moderately to severely impaired" in the
1988 state water quality assessment. Sediment and salts from return irrigation flows and
other agricultural activities were the main pollutants. Artificially high summer flows were
causing severe streambank erosion.
Broad-based collaboration
Local landowners, working with the Lower Musselshell Conservation District, began
a process to address local resource concerns. In 1990 a 319-funded study led to the
formation of a local steering committee. The steering committee brought together a broad
coalition of private landowners and water users; federal, state, and local agencies; and
private organizations to address resource concerns in the watershed. Collaborators
include the Lower Musselshell Conservation District; Musselshell and Golden Valley
County commissions; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Deadman's Basin
Water Users Association; Upper Musselshell Water Users Association; U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation; Montana Watercourse; Deadman's Basin Cabin Owners Association;
Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation, and Department of Agriculture; local schools; and the Montana
Conservation Corps.
The steering committee developed a number of restoration goals for Careless Creek,
including the following:
•	Reduce artificial flows down Careless Creek.
•	Reduce streambank and channel erosion on the lower 7 miles of Careless Creek.
•	Apply voluntary BMPs in the watershed above Deadman's Reservoir.
•	Improve native fisheries in the lower watershed.
•	Establish weed control plans for the watershed.
•	Restore Franklin Lake to a wetland.
Remediation approaches
Local buy-in was crucial to the project's success. Complex resource issues,
involving water rights and allocations, had the potential to create conflict within the
community. The watershed committee emphasized a nonregulatory, collaborative
approach that attracted the participation of a majority of landowners and interest groups,
litigation discharges to Careless Creek were voluntarily limited to 100 cubic feet per

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second. This flow reduction was made possible by infrastructure improvements to the
water delivery system.
A number of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) were also
implemented, including the installation of 56,000 feet of fencing to manage livestock
grazing in critical areas and the installation of a 15,195-foot pipe and two tanks to
provide off-stream livestock watering.
Measurable results
At the outset the watershed group established a tracking program to monitor
implementation. As of summer 2000, the project had resulted in the restoration of 37,000
feet of streambank and a 19 percent increase in riparian habitat. Fifty-four percent of the
stream corridor is no longer eroding. So far, prescribed grazing practices have improved
rangeland management on 18,000 acres. These restoration activities have reduced
sediment delivery to the Musselshell River by 25 percent.
The comprehensive monitoring plan uses a combination of water chemistry
analyses, biological indicators, and physical habitat evaluations to measure progress. One
indication of progress is obvious: fish populations have rebounded in the first 5 years of
the project.
Phase II
To further reduce nutrient and sediment delivery in Careless Creek and the
Musselshell River, 319 funds are being used to restore another 14,632 feet of degraded
streambank by improving livestock waste systems, moving corrals off the creek,
developing alternative livestock watering systems (solar pumps), excluding livestock
from damaged riparian areas, and continuing to plant willows and grass. Other
contributors are the Montana Renewable Resources Grant and Loan Program, the
Deadman's Basin Water Users Association, and the Department of Natural Resources
and Conservation.
Widespread recognition of success
In 1995 the steering committee organized a "Know Your Watershed" workshop,
which marked the beginning of the committee's outreach and education program. The
project's bimonthly newsletter~Cafeless Creek Country, won a state award for
excellence. Other components of the outreach program have included outdoor classrooms
and watershed tours.
Governor Racicot and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council recognized this
collaborative effort last summer with a Montana Watershed Stewardship Award. In
November 2001 the project will receive a CF Industries National Watershed Award.
Contact Information: Alice Wolff, Lower Musselshell Conservation District, 406-323-
2103 (Ext. 101), alicewolff@mt.nacdnet.org; Carole Mackin, Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, 406-444-7425, cmackin@state.mt.us
Project Location: Careless Creek, Montana

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Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (including fencing, rangeland
management), reduced irrigation discharges
Results: 19 percent increase in riparian habitat, 25 percent reduction in sediment delivery
""Submitted by Jim Bauermeister, Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

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Restoration in Muddy Creek:
Will a Name Change Be Needed?
Muddy Creek was aptly named. Until recently, the small tributary was carrying
200,000 tons of sediment a year into the Sun River west of Great Falls, Montana.
Irrigation return flows were increasing the normal seasonal stream flow tenfold and
scouring a deep, steep-banked gully. Muddy Creek had the dubious distinction of being
the most polluted stream in Montana. The creek drains about 314 square miles of
farmland, and agriculture—both livestock grazing and crop production—was the primary
contributor of nonpoint source pollutants.
Supported by 319 funding, local landowners, conservation districts, and other
partners formed the Muddy Creek Task Force in 1994. By 1998 the Task Force had
achieved three of the four goals it had established at the outset:
•	Goal 1: Reestablish riparian vegetation. Watershed cooperators improved
grazing management on 8 miles of stream corridor, installed 44,000 feet of
riparian fencing, established six off-stream livestock watering systems, planted
more than 8,000 willows and other trees and shrubs, and reestablished native
grasses in riparian and upland zones.
•	Goal 2: Reduce irrigation return flows. A public education effort that included
brochures, newsletters, a video and slide show, a project display board, numerous
watershed tours, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation progress reports contributed to a
35 percent reduction in irrigation return flows. Most of the reduction was
achieved by increasing irrigation efficiency.
•	Goal 3: Reduce sediment delivery to the Sun River and Missouri River.
More than 400 barbs were installed to reduce bank erosion, and 13 drop structures
were built to slow flows and stop headcutting. Reduced sedimentation is also a
product of the first two goals—reestablishing riparian vegetation and reducing
irrigation flows. The original goal was to reduce sedimentation by 75 percent in 5
years; the project did it in 4 years.
•	Goal 4: Improve fisheries in the Sun River watershed. Although it is too soon
to adequately document an improved fishery, anglers have noted that the
improved water quality is allowing fish to migrate back to Muddy Creek.
And there are other documented improvements—increased waterfowl and wildlife
habitats from improved riparian areas, reduction of flood potential, reduced cost for
maintaining roads and railroads, and a reduction of land loss by several landowners along
Muddy Creek.
Duplicating success in the Sun River watershed
The Muddy Creek Task Force's successes were contagious. Soon groups were
working throughout the Sun River watershed. In 1996 the Sun River Project received a
319 grant of $198,140 to continue work on the Muddy Creek Project, complete a
comprehensive resource inventory of the Sun River watershed, and enhance the water

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quantity and quality of the Sun River. This project funded stream work on 8,000 feet of
Mill Creek, 4,000 feet of the Sun River, and 4,000 feet of Duck Creek. Supplemental
319 funding from the 1999 Clean Water Action Plan helped fund restoration work on
several segments of Elk Creek, another tributary to the Sun. By 1999 the in-kind
contributions of the various partners had exceeded $2 million.
The Sun River Project is now in its third phase. A $135,480 section 319 grant is
targeted at reducing erosion and irrigation return flows on the Sun River and its
tributaries. The project is continuing to restore riparian habitat and promote the
implementation of best management practices (BMPs).
Broad-based partnerships
The Sun River Project is known for its broad-based cooperation. Participating
entities include Cascade County, Teton County, and Lewis and Clark County
conservation districts; the Muddy Creek and Willow Creek task forces; U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.
Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey;
Montana Departments of Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Conservation,
Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Agriculture, and Bureau of Mines and Geology;
Greenfields and Fort Shaw irrigation districts; Medicine River Canoe Club, Missouri
River Flyfishers, Audubon Chapter, Russell Country Sportsman Association; and many
others.
The Sun River Project has won numerous awards, such as the Montana Watershed
Coordinating Council's Watershed Stewardship Award, Clean Water Action Plan's
Showcase Award, and CF Industries' National Watershed Award.
Contact Information: Alan Rollo, Sun River Project, 406-727-4437, arollo@mcn.net; Jim
Bauermeister, Department of Environmental Quality, 406-444-6771,
jbauermeister @ state.mt.us.
Project Location: Muddy Creek, Montana
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, irrigation return flows
Primary NPS Pollutant: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (including grazing management),
increased irrigation efficiency, reestablishing riparian vegetation
Results: 75 percent reduced sediment delivery
'"Submitted by Jim Bauermeister, Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

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Restoring Little Porcupine Creek: Alternative
Water Sources and Grazing Rotation
Help to Restore Stream
Several years ago Little Porcupine Creek was listed as the most impaired water
body on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana. The area was broken
into two pastures, and the stream was being used as the only source of water. It was
heavily used by cattle, which congregated along this source of water and shade.
In 1998 the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation received
319 funding to embark on a 13,000-acre restoration effort in the watershed. The tribes
also collaborated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to obtain technical
assistance, as well as financial support through the Environmental Quality Incentive
Program (EQIP).
Part of the project focused on helping vegetation to recover through increased
fencing to promote better rotation of cattle grazing. Where only 2 pastures had
previously been, extensive fencing broke the area into 17 pastures, allowing the Tribal
Ranch Manager to use a deferred rotation grazing system to move cattle through each
pasture twice a year.
NRCS engineers helped to design new pipeline routes to provide alternative
sources of drinking water for the cattle to decrease the cattle's visits (and ensuing
damage) to the stream. Indian contractors then installed more than 14 miles of water
pipeline, allowing access to watering tanks in each pasture.
The project was recently completed, and monitoring will provide information on
its effects within a year. Studies of the vegetative growth in the project area will be
conducted, as well as continued macroinvertebrate monitoring and studies of the physical
characteristics of the stream itself.
Contact information: Debi Madison, Environmental Director, Fort Peck Tribes, 406-768-
5155 (ext. 399)
*Submitted by Barbara Burkland, EPA Region 8.

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Walnut Creek Lake Project:
Partnership Drives Watershed Protection
The Walnut Creek Lake and Recreation Area, near Papillion, Nebraska, represents a new
approach to reservoir development. Walnut Creek Lake planners, aware that Omaha area lakes
suffer from excess sediment and nutrients, set out to prevent those problems from the start. The
project partners were the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, the City of Papillion,
Sarpy County, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, USDA's Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Game and Parks Commission, and Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ).
An initial accomplishment was the creation of a 15-member Clean Lakes Community
Council consisting of area farmers, residents, and other private citizens. The Council's mission
was to develop management goals for the lake watershed that would serve the needs and desires
of the community and protect the lake from polluted runoff. The Council quickly established
itself as the driving force for the project.
Innovative approaches to protecting watershed
The Walnut Creek watershed was entirely agricultural and enjoyed an unusually high
level of land treatment at the beginning of the project. The Council and project partners
recognized, however, that creation of a lake would quickly attract residential and commercial
development in the watershed and with it the excessive erosion characteristic of land
development. To guard against this threat, the Council drafted a special ordinance for the lake
watershed that requires a high level of erosion control on construction sites and provides for
higher penalties than usual for violators of the ordinance. The City of Papillion subsequently
adopted the ordinance within its jurisdiction of the lake's watershed. The practices required by
the ordinance provide the first barrier to keep sediment on the development site and out of the
lake.
Further protections were built into the design of the lake itself. The DEQ's Nonpoint
Source Pollution Management Program provided funding through section 319 for outreach and
installation of best management practices to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into the lake.
Islands and jetties dissipate wave action and prevent shoreline erosion, and sediment retention
basins intercept sediment before it reaches the lake. Shoreline plantings stabilize soils, break up
wave action, and provide food and habitat for aquatic organisms. Pallet stacks, tire reefs, and
brush piles placed in the bottom of the lake provide shelter for fish. Restrictions prevent boaters
from generating destructive wakes that erode shorelines and disturb aquatic wildlife. The cost of
installing these practices as preventive measures is a fraction of the cost of installing restorative
measures after a lake has suffered degradation.
Water quality improvements
The goal of the project partners and the Community Council was to create a model lake
designed to resist the pollutant pressures typical in eastern Nebraska and to meet or exceed its
design lifetime. Early water quality data suggest that goal will be achieved. Initial water

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transparency of 61 inches is expected to stabilize in the long term to about 28 inches, well above
the average of 22 inches for other area lakes. In-lake total phosphorus concentrations should
stabilize at 0.07 milligram per liter (mg/L) from the current 0.05 mg/L; other area lakes average
0.08 mg/L total phosphorus. Sediment basins and other erosion controls will limit lake volume
loss to 0.27 percent per year compared to the average 0.85 percent loss in other area lakes.
High water quality and habitat enhancements are expected to make Walnut Creek Lake
the premier fishery among the Omaha area lakes. An added bonus of the project is that it leaves
behind an energized group of watershed residents. The Clean Lakes Community Council is
dedicated to ensuring that protective measures remain in place to protect the lake from polluted
runoff.
DEQ has adopted a community-based approach to watershed planning for all nonpoint
source priority watersheds, based on the experience with the Walnut Creek project. Formation of
a Citizen Watershed Council to advise the agency's Technical Advisory Committee is a key
feature of the process. A manual is being developed to guide the project sponsor, Watershed
Council, and Technical Advisory Committee through the planning process. The process is being
initiated or implemented in two watersheds where new reservoirs are being constructed and in six
watersheds where reservoir renovations are planned or underway.
Contact Information: Elbert Traylor, Nebraska Deptartment of Environmental Quality, 1200 "N"
Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922,402-471-2585,
Elbert.Traylor@ndeq.state.ne.us
Project Location: Papillion, Nebraska
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, construction site runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediments, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: erosion control ordinance, sediment retention basins, streambank
stabilization
Results: decreased total phosphorus concentrations and sediment delivery, improved habitat
~Submitted by Elbert Traylor, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

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Wellhead Protection in Guide Rock: Village Closes
Abandoned Wells to Protect Water Supply
Guide Rock, like many small towns and villages, recently found itself facing concerns
about the community's environmental health. The south-central Nebraska village (1990
population 290) contacted the Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Nebraska
Environmental Partnerships (NEP) program to discuss its problems and concerns. NEP provided
Guide Rock with a grant so the village could complete a community assessment and identify
current or potential problems with its drinking water and wastewater systems.
The primary concern identified by the assessment was high nitrate levels in the village's
public water wells. The nitrate levels had started to increase gradually in 1995; by December
1997 they were above 10 parts per million, the maximum level of nitrates in drinking water
considered safe for all consumers of the water. In October 1999 nitrate levels were 10.4 and 9.4
in the village's two wells.
Source of contamination
Because of concerns about the nitrate levels, the NEP team assigned to work with Guide
Rock discussed the Wellhead Protection Area program with the village board. (The Wellhead
Protection Area program assists communities and other public water suppliers in preventing
contamination of their water supplies.) The board asked the DEQ's Ground Water Section to
proceed with drawing a wellhead protection area map for Guide Rock's public water supply
wells. A meeting was held for all village residents to discuss the proposed wellhead protection
area in 1998, and the village board passed an ordinance to designate the protection area.
"The village board is to be commended, as it has been very supportive of these efforts and
has been active in undertaking preventive activities," says M.J. Rose, Nebraska Environmental
Partnerships program coordinator. "In particular, the village board is committed to providing the
residents a good public water supply at the least possible cost to residents."
Staff of the Wellhead Protection Program identified abandoned wells as a probable major
source of the contamination of Guide Rock's water supply wells and recommended closing any
unused wells in the community and the wellhead protection area. Correctly plugging and
capping abandoned wells can eliminate a risk of contamination to the ground water aquifer. In
April 1999 the village board contacted the Lower Republican Natural Resources District
regarding the District's abandoned wells program, which provides up to 60 percent of the cost of
properly closing a well.
The village board then sought assistance from NEP for possible funding sources to assist
in closing wells. NEP helped the community secure a section 319 Small Projects Assistance
grant to develop a promotion campaign and pay the remaining 40 percent of closure costs. These
two funding sources enabled the village to pursue the proper closing of abandoned wells at no
cost to Guide Rock's residents.

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Successful enrollment in abandoned well program
Village board members and the village clerk conducted a survey of properties in Guide
Rock and the wellhead protection area to locate abandoned wells. Residents were given
information about the abandoned well program and were encouraged to attend a September 1999
public meeting to discuss the program. The Lower Republican NRD, DEQ, and a local well
driller presented information at the meeting. Residents had the opportunity to ask questions and
to sign up for the program. A total of 37 wells were signed up and have since been closed
through the program.
"Guide Rock's drinking water supply will be much safer," says Rose. "Numerous
potential sources of contamination have been eliminated. I'm glad that Nebraska Environmental
Partnerships was able to assist in this process. Since there are additional abandoned wells in the
village in need of proper closing, I hope that this initial success will encourage citizens to
volunteer other wells for the program in the future."
Contact Information: Jackie Stumpff, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 402-471-
3193
Project Location: Guide Rock, Nebraska
Primary Sources of Pollution: abandoned wells
Primary NPS Pollutants: nitrates
Remediation/Project Activities: plugging/capping abandoned wells
Results: closure of 37 abandoned wells, projected decrease in nitrate levels
~Submitted by Elbert Traylor and Tom Malmstrom, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

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Martin Slough Water Quality Enhancement Project:
Water Quality Improves in the
Upper Carson River Basin
The Carson River in Western Nevada is a river in trouble. Natural phenomena like
drought and flooding and human activities such as agriculture (irrigation return flows and
livestock grazing), hydrologic modifications (water diversions and channelization by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers during the 1960s), habitat modification (removal of riparian
vegetation), and urban runoff have contributed to degraded water quality, beneficial use
impairment, and highly unstable, easily erodible banks. The river is listed on Nevada's 303(d)
list for total phosphorus, suspended sediment, turbidity, and several metals. During the recent
high water years of 1995 and 1997, hundreds of acres of land along the river were washed away.
Not only were valuable land and riparian habitat lost, but the eroded material also degraded fish
habitat downstream.
The towns of Minden and Gardnerville are located side-by-side in the heart of Carson
Valley, Nevada, where ranching and associated irrigated agriculture dominate land use. The East
and West Forks of the Carson River meet in the southern portion of the valley to form the main
stem of the river. Scenic vistas surround the area: the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains rises to the west, and the Pinenut Mountains border the eastern side of the valley.
Through a public outreach process, Minden and Gardnerville have identified the Martin Slough
as an important amenity to their communities.
The Martin Slough is a partially man-made waterway that flows through both
communities before it joins the East Fork of the Carson River. Historically the slough was used
to deliver irrigation water and collect return flow. However, because of rapid urbanization over
the past decade, the Martin Slough has also become a conduit for increased amounts of urban
runoff. Water quality monitoring has shown elevated levels of nutrients, fecal coliforms,
suspended solids, and metals.
Joining forces to arrest runoff
In 1995 Minden and Gardnerville joined with the Douglas County Water Conveyance
Advisory Committee, Douglas County School District, and local landowners to develop a plan to
improve water quality, restore wetland and wildlife habitat, provide for ground water recharge
and storm water storage and treatment, provide for public education, and preserve an open-space
corridor through both communities.
The entire project consists of six phases. During Phase 1 of the project, completed in
September 1999, two wetland ponds were constructed in the upper slough to provide for water
treatment and sediment capture (Photos 1 and 2). Phase 2 was completed in April 2000 and
consisted of realigning the slough downstream of Phase 1 and installing a trash rack and
diversion structure. Phase 3 was completed in December 2000 and consisted of riparian
restoration through planting of native trees and shrubs to provide for cooler water temperatures

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and further enhance wildlife habitat. In addition, an access road to provide for maintenance,
water quality sampling, and flow monitoring was constructed. A flow-measuring device was
installed downstream of the ponds.
Continued water quality improvement
Water quality monitoring sites were established upstream and downstream of the
constructed wetland ponds. Preconstruction samples were collected from April through
September 1999 to establish a baseline from which to measure the effectiveness of the project.
Postconstruction sampling began in October 1999, and it is expected to continue for at least 10
years.
Current preliminary data suggest improved water quality and reductions in the levels of
fecal coliform bacteria, phosphorus, ammonia, and heavy metals (see Table 1). Other immediate
results of the project have been an increase in wildlife such as muskrat and deer in the area and a
variety of birds, including herons, geese, ducks, blackbirds, and swallows. As the photos
indicate, the results are aesthetically pleasing. Future phases will occur in the town of Minden
and include plans for public parks, bike trails, bank stabilization, riparian restoration, and
wildlife habitat enhancement.
Funding to date for Phases 1 and 2 includes $45,000 of section 319(h) funds and $86,745
in local matching funds.
Contact Information: Mary Kay Riedl, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nonpoint
Source Management Program, 775-687-4670 (ext. 3096), mriedl@ndep.carson-city.nv.us
Project Location: Upper Carson River Basin, Nevada
Primary Sources of Pollution: urbanization, agriculture
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria, suspended solids, metals
Restoration/Project Activities: constructed wetland ponds, realignment of slough downstream,
riparian bacteria restoration
Results: reductions in fecal coliform bacteria, phosphorus, ammonia, and heavy metals;
improved wildlife habitat
~Submitted by: Mary Kay Riedl, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

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Middle Carson River Restoration Project:
Bioengineering Used to Restore Unstable Banks
In 1995 a group of ranchers and other concerned local citizens living along the Middle
Carson River near Dayton, Nevada, formed the Middle Carson River Coordinated Resource
Management Planning Committee to find ways to manage and restore the river. The effort was
spearheaded by the Dayton Valley Conservation District (DVCD), with the support and
cooperation of numerous community groups and agencies, including the Carson Water
Subconservancy District, Western Nevada Resource Conservation and Development, Natural
Resources Conservation Service, and Lyon County. In 1996 the DVCD hired Kevin Piper as
watershed coordinator.
The strength of the Middle Carson group is their ability to work together to implement
"on-the-ground" projects. Under Piper's leadership, several bank stabilization projects have been
completed, and the group supports education and outreach programs in coordination with local
schools.
Restoring streambanks with bioengineering
Bioengineering, which uses vegetative techniques in addition to "hard" structures such as
riprap, is the cornerstone of the bank restoration projects. Work began on the Glancy property
near Dayton in 1998, with the construction of five stream barbs to redirect flow away from the
unstable banks. The quiescent areas behind the structures collect sediment and allow natural
regeneration of native vegetation. Several vegetative treatments, including brush mattress
layering, brush trenches, juniper revetments, willow clump planting, and seeding, were used to
provide bank stability, reduce erosion, trap sediment, provide shading, encourage natural plant
growth, and restore wildlife habitat.
Improvements documented by monitoring
A long-term monitoring program is being implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of
the best management practices. Activities include aerial photography; annual survey of channel
cross sections to determine the degree of accretion/degradation; monitoring ofvegetation growth
to assess changes in habitat; analysis of soil characteristics to document particle size, erodibility,
and sediment transport potential; and hydraulic modeling to determine water surface elevations at
specific recurrence intervals.
Monitoring conducted 9 months after project completion showed an average of 74
percent cover on all vegetative treatments, with about 35 percent regeneration of the willow
clumps. A topographical survey indicated deposition of about 430 cubic yards of sediment
between the stream barbs. Although sediment buried the lower half of many of the vegetative
treatments, it provided a medium for natural cottonwood seeding. Channel cross sections showed
that the low-flow channel has moved away from the bendway, suggesting the stream barbs are
functioning as designed to deflect higher stream flow away from the bank.
As part of the public education component, bimonthly water quality monitoring of the

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Middle Carson River is conducted with the help of the River Wranglers. This volunteer group,
coordinated by Lyon County teacher Linda Conlin, works with local schools to educate students
about river and lake ecology. Students measure dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity in the field.
Macroinvertebrate samples are collected and transported back to school, where students identify
the number of mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, worms, and other aquatic organisms.
In July 2000 Kevin Piper and the Middle Carson River Coordinated Resource
Management Group received the Wendell McCurry Excellence in Water Quality Award. The
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection established this award to recognize individuals,
firms, organizations, and governmental entities that have made significant contributions to
improving the quality of Nevada's water resources.
Funding to date includes approximately $30,000 of section 319(h) funds and $30,000
in local matching funds.
Contact Information: Jean Stone, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nonpoint
Source Management Program, 775-687-4670 (ext. 3090), jstone@ndep.carson-city.nv.us.
Project Location: Middle Carson River, Nevada
Primary Sources of Pollution: unstable stream banks, erosion
Primary Nonpoint Source Pollutant: sediment
Restoration/Project Activities: bank stabilization through vegetative treatment and redirection of
flow away from unstable banks
Results: 74 percent average cover on all vegetative treatments, 35 percent regeneration of willow
clumps, 430 cubic yards of sediment deposition between stream barbs
~Submitted by Mary Kay Riedl, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

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Chocorua Lake Project: BMPs Reduce
Phosphorus by 82 Percent*
The Chocorua Lake Association (CLA) has been monitoring Chocorua Lake for
more than 20 years. Recent trends showing declining water clarity prompted the CLA to
request designation of the watershed as "Category I," needing restoration. Working with
the Carroll County Conservation District, the North Country Resource Conservation and
Development Area, Inc., and Natural Resources Conservation Service, a 319 project was
developed and the New Hampshire Department of Enviromental Services awarded grant
funds in April 2000.
The Chocorua Lake watershed is 13.2 square miles in extent and well protected
except for a few vulnerable areas. The south side of Mount Chocorua is managed by the
U.S. Forest Service as a scenic view area. This management decision helped maintain
more than half of the watershed as uncut forest. As a result of work begun in 1969 by the
Chocorua Lake Conservation Foundation, about 95 percent of the land in the watershed is
protected by conservation easements written into the property deeds of about 60
landowners. These easements have preserved woodland buffers all around the lake,
except for a portion of the Route 16 highway corridor. The easements also require
setbacks for housing and septic systems, beyond state regulation, and low-density
housing. North of the lake are conservation lands owned by The Nature Conservancy and
the Chocorua Lake Conservation Foundation. There are also several large wetlands in
the watershed that act as natural filters to help treat the water before it enters the lake.
Although the lake is protected in most areas of its watershed, it is a fragile lake. The lake
has a maximum depth of 29 feet and an average depth of 12 feet. Because the lake is so
shallow, sunlight reaches most of the water column. Even low concentrations of
nutrients are readily available to algae and other plant life.
The CLA participates in the University of New Hampshire's Lakes Lay
Monitoring Program, which determined that 15 percent of phosphorus input to the lake
was coming from direct runoff from Route 16, a heavily traveled tourist road adjacent to
the lake. Watershed surveys found several eroded ditches adjacent to Route 16 and
across land providing beach access to the lake owned by the Chocorua Lake
Conservation Foundation and the Town of Tamworth. In addition to the water quality
problems, the CLA was interested in addressing traffic safety and noise problems caused
by the highway.
Route 16 has grown enormously since it began as a dirt road next to the lake in
the 1890s. In the early 1900s the road was tarred but left very close to the lake. In the
1950s the road was widened, straightened, and moved slightly away from the lake.
However, Route 16 still runs close to the lake for about 1 mile. The width and length of
this impermeable surface next to the lake play a doubly negative role. First, the road's
surface collects particulates from partially burned gas and diesel fuel, oil, and sand and
salt. These residues typically contain high amounts of phosphorous, which get diluted

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and flushed into the lake. Second, during spring runoff and storm events, runoff from the
impermeable surface creates surges of water, which flow to the ditches and culverts.
High volumes and velocities of runoff scour the soil, adding to the phosphorous loading
of the lake. Neither the highway residues nor the eroded soil have time to settle and filter
before entering the lake.
The groups mentioned previously, along with the New Hampshire Department of
Transportation and the Town of Tamworth, initiated the "Berms and Swales Project."
The best management practices (BMPs) installed include a system of berms, swales, and
settling and filtering basins to control runoff, improve safety, and reduce noise.
BMP performance
Installation of the BMPs was completed on September 5,2000. Since then the
BMPs have been performing to design specifications. Water quality monitoring has
shown an 82 percent reduction in phosphorus entering the lake. The CLA continues to
monitor the BMPs, and the project team is now beginning Phase II of the Chocorua Lake
project, which will address additional phosphorus sources in the watershed. The success
of the project is mainly the result of the resources and energy brought to it by the
numerous project partners. The project team hopes to formalize one aspect of the project
in a Memorandum of Agreement drafted between the CLA and the New Hampshire
Department of Transportation. The CLA will inspect the BMPs and report on their
condition annually to DOT so that long-term maintenance can be planned. DOT will
invite CLA's participation in planning future highway improvements in the Chocorua
Lake watershed.
Contact Information: Rick DeMark, North County RC&D Area Council, 719 North Main
Street, Room 220, Laconia, NH 03246-2772, 603-527-2093; rdemark@nh.usda.gov
Project Location: Carroll County, New Hampshire
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff, eroded ditches
Primary NPS Pollutants: phosphorus, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: installed system of berms, swales, settling and filtering
basins
Results: 82 percent reduction in phosphorus
""Submitted by Eric Williams, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

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New Hampshire 1
Lake Opechee Watershed Project: City-State
Partnership Takes on Multiple Pollutants
Lake Opechee has a very high use and visibility in the city of Laconia. The
watershed is one of the city's smallest but most urbanized watersheds, with the heavily
developed Lakeport and Union Avenue to the southeast, the fringes of downtown to the
south, and residential development surrounding most of the westerly, northern, and
easterly sides of the lake. The city's principal beach and recreation complex, Opechee
Park, is located on the south westerly shore of this water body, and one of the city's best
public beaches, Bond Beach, is located on its northeasterly shore.
Lake Opechee suffered from multiple nonpoint sources of pollution related to the
use of land in the public domain. Opechee Cove is a particularly sensitive area in the
lake because very little exchange or flushing takes place. Storm water discharge from
adjacent streets, as well as several boat launching ramps around Lake Opechee, had been
identified as contributing significant sediment and urban runoff to the lake. The city's
uncovered sand and salt storage facility, as well as a nearby private parcel used as a snow
dump site, were also significant contributors of pollutants to Lake Opechee.
These sources were determined to contribute significant pollutant loads to the lake
and the connecting Winnipesaukee River system, including salt, fertilizer, phosphorus,
sediment, and the wide gamut of pollutants contained in urban runoff, such as oil and
grease, heavy metals, bacteria, phosphorus and nitrogen. In addition, boat trailers would
become mired in the ramps, which had inadequate base preparation, thus stirring up large
quantities of bottom sediment.
Multifaceted project
To address these issues, in 1996 the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services initiated a 3-year project with die City of Laconia.
To provide overland treatment before storm water entered the lake, the city
implemented diversion and swale improvements, creating a 0.5-acre wetland in Opechee
Cove to treat and settle out pollutants before the storm water entered the lake. The city
also wanted to prevent runoff and sediment from leaving the boat-launching ramps and
discharging into the lake. To accomplish this, the city selected two boat-launching ramps
to test the construction and maintenance of innovative best management practices
(BMPs). The city installed a prefabricated mat and cellular block system as part of each
ramp. Vegetated swales and diversions were also installed along the lake edge of the
boat-launching parking lot to prevent runoff from discharging directly into the lake.
To prevent the direct overland flow of sand and salt from the public works yard to
the lake, the city installed a vegetated buffer strip along the shore, regraded the public
works yard surface away from the lake, installed a sediment basin to trap salt brine and
sediment from the work bays, and guttered all building outlets to a newly installed catch

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basin. To prevent runoff of salt- and sediment-laden snowmelt from directly entering
Lake Opechee, the city constructed a berm with a 25-foot setback from the lake and
regraded the site such that runoff flows away from the lake at the city's snow storage
facility. The city also constructed a 150-foot-long sediment basin along the toe of the
berm to trap any sediment before it was discharged into the lake.
Successful as project and as learning experience
Officials from the City of Laconia expressed that this project has been a great
learning experience for them, from the design issues to the construction and maintenance
of each BMP. The project involved five different city departments working together to
meet the water quality goals. The design and implementation process raised the city's
awareness of the water quality and land use issues that face the community. The city has
also expressed how pleased they are with the physical outcomes of the project, including
the bioengineered wetland in Opechee Cove and the resulting modern boat ramps.
Contact Information: Amanda Simpson, Director, Planning and Community
Development, City of Laconia, 45 Beacon Street, E, Laconia, NH 03246, 603-527-1264,
simpsona@city.laconia.nh.us
Project Location: Laconia, New Hampshire
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, salt, phosphorus, oil and grease, heavy metals,
bacteria, nitrogen
Remediation/Project Activities: bioengineered wetland,redesigned boat-launching ramps,
vegetated buffers, sediment basins,regarding surface away from lake
Results: reduced sediment; monitoring in progress
~Submitted by Eric Williams, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

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Restoration of Strawbridge Lake:
Volunteers Assist in Stabilizing Shoreline and
Constructing Wetlands
The Strawbridge Lake watershed comprises 12.6 square miles and encompasses
portions of Moorestown, Mount Laurel, and Evesham Townships. Strawbridge Lake is
surrounded by a park widely used by residents of Burlington and Camden Counties for
activities like walking, biking, picnicking, fishing, and ice-skating. In addition to having
a highly eroded shoreline, the lake receives numerous storm water discharges from the
surrounding residential and commercial areas, as well as directly from State Route 38.
The lake itself has been listed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP) as a water quality-limited water body. Sedimentation, elevated
phosphorus, heavy macrophyte growth, and chlordane in fish tissue were identified as the
water quality impairments at Strawbridge Lake.
Multiagency cooperation
NJDEP's NPS Grant Program provided 319 funding to help restore Strawbridge
Lake in Moorestown, Burlington County. Additional funds were secured from the
Township of Moorestown and the Eastgate Mitigation Fund, under the jurisdiction of the
New Jersey Natural Lands Trust. Other cooperating entities included Omni
Environmental Corporation and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. In addition to the
local schools, volunteers from AmeriCorps, Save the Environment of Moorestown
(STEM), Moorestown Environmental Advisory Committee, and Strawbridge Lake
Association assisted with the rehabilitation. Because of the efforts of these volunteers,
about 80 percent of the 319 grant funds resulted in on-the-ground improvements.
More than 4,000 feet of eroding shoreline were stabilized using soil
bioengineering techniques, which created a vegetative buffer, along with a "no mowing
zone," along the lake's edge. The buffer ranged in width from 10 to 20 feet. Easy access
areas, which were interspersed throughout the project, were created along the shoreline
using red gravel bordered by large, flat stones. A total of 240 linear feet of shoreline was
treated in this manner.
In addition to the shoreline restoration, biofilter wetlands (pocket wetlands) were
constructed in the park area to treat seven storm water discharges into the lake. Four
outfall structures were discharged into two pocket wetlands retrofitted to filter pollutants
from the storm water. The last of these pocket wetlands was completed in November
1999. Three of the discharges to the wetlands were retrofitted with sedimentation
chambers to remove coarse sediment from the runoff from Route 38 before discharging
the runoff to the lake. Volunteers participated in planting the biofilter wetland and
installing the shoreline stabilization and vegetative buffer.

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A model project
The Strawbridge Lake project is believed to be a great success. Other
communities have used this project as a model. The project not only had enhanced the
natural beauty of the lake and the surrounding park area for future generations but also
has significantly improved the water quality of the Lake.
Contact Information: Christopher Obropta, Omni Environmental Corporation, Research
Park, 321 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540-1515, 609-924-8821 (ext. 17)
Project Location: Moorestown (Burlington County), New Jersey
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, phosphorus, heavy macrophyte growth, and chlordane
in fish tissue
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank restoration, construction of biofilter wetlands
Results: more than 4,000 feet of streambank stabilized, monitoring in progress
* Information for this success story was gleaned from NJDEP's Watershed Focus (Summer 2000).
Submitted by Liz Semple, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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New Jersey 1
The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Restoration Project: Streamwatch Volunteers
Monitor Success of Restoration Efforts
Large-scale development is occurring at an accelerated rate in New Jersey's Stony
Brook-Millstone watershed. As a result, runoff is passing over more areas of impervious
surfaces. The increased flows during rain events are scouring streambanks, contributing
sediment downstream, which clogs New Jersey's waterways, chokes aquatic life, and
restricts plant growth by blocking sunlight.
Recognizing the impacts of urbanization in their watershed, the Stony Brook-
Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA) developed a 4-year project that involves
general watershed restoration and reforestation projects with the main goal of stabilizing
streambanks for erosion and sediment pollution control on various tributaries in the Stony
Brook-Millstone watershed. The key to their current success is stakeholder and citizen
involvement.
Three major activites
The project primarily focused on three activities to protect stream corridors:
streambank restoration, bioengineering techniques, and reforestation. Training sessions in
bioengineering and reforestation methods were offered to the public. The SBMWA also
identified and convened stakeholders to ensure the success of the project. To determine
whether the projects were successful, StreamWatch, SBWMA's volunteer monitoring
program, will monitor the water quality at the restoration sites. StreamWatch volunteers
chemically, biologically, and visually assess the environmental health of streams.
SBMWA also held educational sessions on what makes a stream healthy, the
value of riparian corridors, and the role of trees in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
After this project, data gathered from Stream Watch will be evaluated and compared to
previously collected data to determine the effectiveness of all these efforts.
Exciting results
From 1997 to 2000, more than 800 linear feet of streambank was restored, some
1,000 square feet of lakeside hydric soils were planted, and 10.4 acres of land was
reforested. The long-term educational benefits to the more than 1,200 volunteers who
have participated in these efforts have been tremendous. Many groups return year after
year to contribute to the project's success, as well as to observe days like Arbor Day,
Earth Day, and Make a Difference Day.
With 2 years left on the project, the SBMWA is very excited about the success of
these restorations. Severely eroding banks were regraded, revegetated, and stabilized to
prevent additional sediment from entering the waterways. A new forest was planted,
creating habitat and protecting the stream that runs through the former farm field. More

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important, volunteers and community representatives feel empowered by their ability to
improve their environment.
Contact Information: Steven Yergeau, Stony-Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, 31
Titus Mill Road, Pennington, NJ 08534,609-737-3735, svergeau@thewatershed.org
Project Location: Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Monmouth Counties,
New Jersey
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank restoration (bioengineering techniques and
reforestation)
Results: more than 800 linear feet of streambank restored, more than 10 acres of land
reforested, monitoring in progress
~Information for this success story was gleaned from New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection's Watershed Focus (Summer 2000). Submitted by Liz Semple and Mike Haberland, New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection.

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Lower Bitter Creek Restoration Project:
Sediment Lands Reduced by Implementing BMPs
Bitter Creek is a perennial-to-intermittent stream that flows into the Red River, a
major tributary of the upper Rio Grande system, in northern Taos County, New Mexico.
The Bitter Creek subwatershed occurs immediately northeast of the town of Red River.
Nonpoint source pollution, primarily from heavy sediment delivery, was identified as a
significant contributor to water quality impairment of the Red River.
An interagency cooperative pollution prevention project was initiated with the
Carson National Forest (CNF) Supervisor's Office, the Questa Ranger District (QRD),
and the Town of Red River, with participation from local watershed residents. The
project was designed to improve degraded stream channel conditions, correct road
construction and maintenance practices, remedy illegal refuse disposal, and arrest the
rapidly developing headcut impacts. The project also attempted to address the area's
altered and mineralized volcanic geology input by mitigating the effects of unchecked
erosion from a landslide/debris flow system overlooking the local Forest Service road and
the Bitter Creek channel.
Arresting impacts of sediment delivery through BMPs
A number of best management practices (BMPs) were designed to reduce the
impacts of turbidity and sediment delivery (with potential for heavy metal loading) in the
watershed. A series of road drainage outlets and diversions were constructed to modify
and improve drainage along the local forest system road. These outlets reduce the
tendency for precipitation or snowmelt runoff to be confined to channelized road
segments before accessing degraded slopes via deep headcuts. Highly turbid road and
headcut runoff is therefore prevented from delivering sediment directly to Bitter Creek.
In a particularly erodable stream segment known as "the Logjam," a set of energy
dissipation and sediment aggradation measures have provided streambank and bed
stability. The Town of Red River also constructed a series of in-channel sediment
retention basins to slow flow, settle out suspended sediment, and allow channel bottom
and floodplain aggradation.—This approach aids in the development-of a riparian plant
community, creating an improved local habitat.
At the suggestion of the local residents, a sediment and runoff retention basin was
constructed in the Bitter Creek Debris Flow. The Debris Flow is a surface feature formed
by the accumulation of landslide debris running off the Bitter Creek Scar's
hydrothermally altered volcanic breccia that forms a high ridge overlooking the region.
The favorable performance of the basin minimized the effects of outflow and runout for
four large runoff events during 1999—2000, holding back most of the materials that
would previously have affected the local road and restricted access into the Bitter Creek
channel. This BMP implementation effort represents a temporary fix, and annual
maintenance is necessary for this basin to continue to function. Convincing an agency or

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the local residents to take ownership of the BMP measure remains a target for this 319
project.
This project succeeded in identifying and mitigating a variety of nonpoint source
impacts and in demonstrating effective approaches that land management agencies or
local residents can adopt and maintain as they seek to preserve their environment and
minimize the area's downstream effects. A series of measures were successfully
implemented to reduce and control runoff from the roads and slope headcuts. The
construction of in-channel revetments is aimed at long-term reduction of sediment loads
from the stream system. Overall, the targeted decrease in turbidity of the flow that Bitter
Creek delivers to its confluence with the Red River is being realized (see table 1).
Lasting success at Bitter Creek, the Red River, and the Upper Rio Grande will require at
least some level of continued monitoring and maintenance.
Table 1. Turbidity Sampling
mmymapMgmmm
hkuuhHR
Pre-or- •-
Turbidity
<*< • ~ & - A \ J, , * v 4 * v ' *" - s ¦"
Location
Date
post BMP ?
- Reading
Remarks
BC e RR confl.
9/13/1988
Pre
110 ntu

¦
4/29/1992
Pre
125 ntu

-Upper B. Cr.
7/24/1992
Pre
1.33 ntu
Headwaters
BCaboveTwoLakes
8/31/1994
Pre
24.7 ntu
Turb. measured above Two Lakes and debris flow reach.
B.C.above RR
8/31/1994
Pre
1000 ntu
Heavy rain event and rnnoff mobilizing abundant sediment.
Below gravel pits
4/6/1999
Pre
21.7 ntu

Below "Logjam*
4/22/1999
Pre
19.5 ntu

ToRR culvert
4/22/1999
Pre
42 ntu
Turb.sampled during local gravel sorting/hauling activities.
BC above RR confl.
5/10/1999
Pre
231 ntu
Spring, 1999 TMDL
¦
5/11/1999
Pre
85.2 ntu
¦
	 		
5/12/1999
Pre
40.3 ntu
¦
¦
5/13/1999
Pre
48.3 ntu
¦
Mid-May through August, 1999: : 319 Project Implementation Effects Begin To Show ...'
Below Scar Creek
5/21/1999
Post
15.1 ntu
High flow (bankfull conditions thru ToRR)
"Logjam"
»
Post
16.8 ntu
n
BC/RR confl.
M
Post
112.5 ntu
High flows mobilize sed.from gravel pits (clean upstream).
BC above Logjam
5/26/1999
Post
12 ntu
Low flow conditions resumed
Above gravel pits
m
Post
13 ntu

Below gravel pits
m
Post
24.7 ntu
Gravel operations continue to impact stream flow.
BC above RR confl. ,
8/17/1999
Post
15.5 ntu
Summer, 1999 TMDL
rj •
8/18/1999
Post
6.91 ntu
H
BC above RR confl. -
10/25/1999
Post
15 ntu
Fall, 1999 TMDL
k. ¦ ' i
10/26/1999
Post
15.3 ntu
U
¦
10/27/1999
Post
8.34 ntu
it

10/27/1999
Post
16 ntu
a
¦ Above TofRRbasins-
5/21/2000
Post
88.3 ntu
Flow entering TofRR basins from upstream.
. Betow ToRR basins .
5/21/2000
Post
8.1 ntu
Settled base flow exitinq sediment basins.
Contact Information: Michael W. Coleman, New Mexico Environment Department, P.O.
Box 26110, Santa Fe, NM 87502,505-827-0505, michael_coleman@nmenv.state.nm.us
Project Location: Taos County, New Mexico
Primary Sources of Pollution: degraded stream channel conditions, road construction
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: road drainage improvements/outlets, construction of
sediment retention basins
Results: reduced sediment delivery, turbidity readings
""Submitted by Peter Monahan, New Mexico Environment Department.

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Valle Grande Grass Bank Water Quality
Improvement Project: Success Breeds More
Success
Grasslands and meadows in northern New Mexico have been experiencing
continued decline because of the combined effects of fire suppression and historical
grazing. The loss of grass communities has diminished ecological diversity in the
regional landscape and has contributed directly to high rates of soil erosion and
consequent nonpoint source pollution throughout the region. It has also eroded the
viability of northern New Mexico's small-scale Hispanic ranching community, which
depends on the use of public lands throughout the region.
Nearly all of the ecological communities that support grazing in northern New
Mexico depend on recurrent low-intensity fire to arrest the encroachment of trees and
shrubs. It follows that a central challenge in restoring grassland diversity and
productivity is to restore fire to its natural role in structuring and renewing the regional
landscape. Simply removing cattle from public lands will not restore environmental
diversity and health because it will not bring the keystone process of fire back into the
landscape.
Rise of the grass bank program
In 1996 The Conservation Fund (TCF), with the assistance of the Forest Service,
studied the feasibility of establishing a public land grass bank in northern New Mexico.
In 1997 the study led to the formation of a steering committee composed of
representatives from the Forest Service, the Cooperative Extension Service, the Northern
New Mexico Stockmen's Association, and The Conservation Fund. In August 1997,
TCF acquired 240 acres of land on Rowe Mesa, south of the town of Pecos in San Miguel
County, renaming it the Valle Grande Ranch. Purchase of the land qualified TCF to
become the sole grazing permittee of the adjacent 36,000-acre Valle Grande grazing
allotment within the Santa Fe National Forest.
- -The grass-bank program allows participants (selected.by the supervisor of the
Santa Fe National Forest based on the steering committee's recommendation) to have
cattle delivered to the Valle Grande allotment and placed in the care of a full-time
cowboy and range rider provided by TCF. By placing their cattle on the grass bank,
participating permittees rest their "home" allotments, allowing their pastures, for
instance, to grow a crop of grass that will fuel a prescribed fire. Participation in the grass
bank usually lasts several growing seasons, allowing desired vegetation to become
resilient following restoration treatments.
The first cattle arrived on the Valle Grande Grass Bank in March 1998. By mid-
summer, the ranch held 264 cows from four allotments. Gradually, the reputation of the
grass bank grew. By January 1999, the steering committee had received applications
from seven allotments requesting three times the amount of grazing that was actually

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available. During the summer of 1999, 346 cows and their calves, belonging to 19
permittees from three allotments, grazed on the Valle Grande Grass Bank.
Land treatment projects: a significant component
In fiscal year 2000, funding from the 319 program helped to support a composite
of land treatment projects involving six grazing allotments and five New Mexico
watersheds throughout the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. The unifying purpose
is to obtain improved grazing management and ecological restoration that will produce
healthy watersheds and reduce nonpoint sources across a wide spectrum of northern New
Mexico. Success on these allotments will ensure that permittees on other allotments will
want to participate in the Valle Grande Grass Bank program or similar programs at a
future date across a broad spectrum of watersheds.
Land treatment projects generally involve burning and thinning to reduce tree and
brush densities and to increase effective vegetation ground cover, thus reducing soil
erosion and off-site sedimentation and turbidity. Grass bank resting is also necessary to
ensure maximum fine fuels prior to burns and to provide rest for establishing seedlings on
projects that involve disturbed soil. Road projects are also implemented to improve
drainage and appropriate channel crossings, and in some cases might also include closure.
Ultimately, 5,800 acres will be burned, 1,475 acres will be thinned, 6 miles of fencing
will be constructed, and 5 miles of road will be treated.
Contact Information: Jerry Elson, The Conservation Fund, 505-473-0526,
jelsonl @juno.com; Charles Jankiewicz, USDA Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest,
505-438-7828, cjankiewicz@fs.fed.us; Steven Miranda, Carson National Forest, 505-
587-2255, smiranda@fs.fed.us; Abe Franklin, New Mexico Environment Department,
505-827-2793, abraham_franklin@nmenv.state.nm.us
Project Location: San Miguel County, New Mexico
Primary Sources of Pollution: grazing, fire suppression, roads
Primary NPS Pollutant: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: establishment of public land grass bank program,
prescribed burning/thinning
Projected results: reduced erosion, improved grasslands/ecological diversity
~Information for this success story was gleaned from FY 2000 Work Plan, Valle Grande Grass Bank Water
Quality Improvement Projects: A Composite of Projects Within the Valle Grande Grass Bank Program.
Submitted by Peter Monahan, New Mexico Environment Department.

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Keuka Lake Watershed: Grape Growers
Implement Soil Conservation Practices
The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets selected Keuka Lake as a
pilot watershed to test some of the new AEM concepts developed under "Whole Farm
Planning" efforts under way elsewhere in the state. Keuka Lake is an outstanding natural
and cultural resource, as well as a primary drinking water source for more than 20,000
people. The surrounding watershed, encompassing 99,700 acres of land that drains into
the lake, supports a diverse and thriving agricultural community of about 34,000 acres of
dairy/livestock, vegetable/cash crops, grapes, and fruit trees. Vineyards occupy one-
quarter of this acreage. Grape production in the Finger Lakes area directly contributes
$15 million per year to the regional economy, and associated services and tourism
contribute even more to the local economy.
Soil and water conservation practices for vineyards
Grape growers have a history of good land stewardship and recognize the benefits
of conservation practices for both environmental and economic reasons. Through the
AEM program, grape growers are implementing a number of soil conservation practices
to prevent contamination of lake water by soil, fertilizers, and pesticide residues.
Diversion ditches are being constructed to collect water from slopes and divert it away
from the vineyards and into natural drainageways; buffer strips are being added around
the perimeters of vineyards; and alternative vineyard planting layouts and vineyard floor
management options (including no-till seeding of row middles) are being implemented.
Grape growers are also adjusting their fertilizer and pesticide application practices
through the AEM program. Practices used to manage fertilizer use with grapes include
soil and petiole (stem) tests (to avoid deficiencies and excesses of nutrients needed for
efficient production) and split nitrogen applications (with revised timing periods for
fertilizer applications). Growers are also using a variety of techniques under the umbrella
of Integrated Pest Management to efficiently use pesticides only when they are
economically justified: insect scouting is being conducted, resulting in revised spray
schedules; disease forecasting is helping to define critical periods for applying fungicides
to control diseases; and canopy management, which reduces shading, is resulting in better
penetration of spray materials while enhancing the development of desirable flavors that
contribute to wine quality.
Promising results
Soil conservation practices are yielding both environmental and economic
benefits for grape growers. The construction of diversion ditches is reducing the amount
of water running through vineyards by up to 80 percent. Using an alternative vineyard
layout—planting vineyards so that the rows run across the slope rather than up and down
the slope—is reducing erosion by up to 50 percent. Alternative floor management
options, such as applying straw mulch to row middles, can directly increase yields by up
to 20 percent on some sites.

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Efficient use of fertilizer and pesticide inputs directly improves the bottom line.
For a 100-acre vineyard operation, each spray applied to the vineyard represents an
investment of $2,000 to $3,000—ample motivation for avoiding "recreational spraying."
Revised spraying practices are resulting in documented reductions in the average number
of insecticides applied, from three to four per year in the 1980s to an average of 1.3 per
year in the most recent USDA survey of New York grape growers.
Continued innovation by area growers and researchers will be a key factor in
maintaining the economic viability of the industry and protecting soil and water quality in
the Keuka Lake watershed.
Contact Information: Lester Travis, District Manager, Yates County Soil and Water
Conservation District, 110 Court Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527,315-536-5188,
vcswcd @ linknv.com
Project Location: Yates and Steuben Counties, New York
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (animal operations, vineyards, croplands)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: soil conservation practices, revised fertilizer and
pesticide management practices
Results: reduced erosion, increased crop yields
Information for this success story was gleaned from Agricultural Environmental
Management Report (2000) and the Keuka Lake Association web site at
http://www.keukalakeassoc.org/. Submitted by Lester Travis, Yates County Soil and
Water Conservation District, and Barbara Silvestri, New York State Soil and Water
Conservation Committee.

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Wappingers Creek Watershed:
AEM Plays a Vital Role
The Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program has put New York
State in the forefront of a national effort to help farmers identify and address agricultural
nonpoint source pollution. New York's AEM program is a statewide voluntary,
incentive-based program. It provides cost sharing and educational/technical assistance
for the development and implementation of agricultural plans that enable farmers to
remain good stewards of the land, maintain economic viability of the farm operation, and
comply with federal, state, and local regulations relating to water quality and other
environmental concerns. (See special feature section on Innovative State Programs for
more information on New York's AEM program.)
In 1996 the Dutchess County Soil andWater Conservation District (SWCD) took
the lead in organizing partners at the local level to initiate the AEM process in the
Wappingers Creek watershed. Contained entirely within Dutchess County, the
Wappingers Creek watershed drains 134,900 acres into Wappingers Lake. Some 30,000
acres is agricultural land, consisting of 108 agriculture enterprises, primarily concentrated
in the northern portion of the watershed. A broad diversity of agriculture is represented,
ranging from traditional animal operations to vineyards and specialty cash crops.
All 108 agricultural operations in the watershed elected to participate in the AEM
program. The process involves farm inventory and assessment, planning,
implementation, and evaluation. An array of nutrient management practices were
implemented on more than 3,000 acres of agricultural land, covering a diversity of
operations including crop farms, horse operations, and tree farms. Strip cropping
techniques, in which alternating strips of different crops are planted in the same field,
were used to minimize wind and water erosion.
Soil and manure were tested to assess the nutrient levels so that proper application
rates could be determined. In partnership with USDA's Conservation Reserve Program,
fences and alternative watering systems were constructed to eliminate cattle access to
surface waters. Stream crossings were constructed to prevent damage to the waterbody
from equipment and cattle, and rotational grazing systems were tested. Integrated Pest
Management practices were used, providing the dual benefits of reducing production
costs and increasing environmental protection.
Of the 38 farms reaching the planning level, 50 percent haVe completed
implementation of best management practices (BMPs), resulting in a significant
reduction in agriculture-related nonpoint source pollution entering Wappingers Creek.
The AEM process has provided an inventory that has enhanced the Dutchess County
Farmland Protection Program, helping to preserve agricultural enterprises in the
headwaters of the creek.

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Keeping farms viable is important for the environmental health of the watershed.
As development pressure increases in Dutchess County, AEM continues to play a vital
role in maintaining the county's agricultural heritage.
Contact Information: Ed Hoxsie, Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District,
845-677-8011, ed@nvmillbroo.fsc.usda. gov
Project Location: Dutchess County, New York
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (animal operations, vineyards, croplands)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: nutrient management practices, Integrated Pest
Management
Results: BMPs on more than 3,000 acres
~Information for this success
Report (2001), submitted by
story was gleaned from the draft Agricultural Environmental Management
Barbara Silvestri, New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.

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Edenton Storm Water Wetland Project:
Nitrogen Loading Reduced by Wetland Systems
In northeastern North Carolina, excess rainfall is typically removed from
developed areas by an existing network of field ditches and canals, often bypassing
natural riparian areas before entering creeks and streams. As a result, the nutrients and
sediment in storm water are often carried directly to the nutrient-sensitive river and
estuarine waters.
Project
In an effort to control water flow and improve water quality, constructed wetlands
were installed to intercept two ditches draining approximately 600 acres of a surrounding
agricultural and urban watershed in the town of Edenton, North Carolina. The drainage
area included a hospital, a shopping center, residential areas, and several hundred acres of
agricultural land. In addition to the two inlet ditches, one small side ditch, several tile
drains, and possible groundwater movement also contributed to the wetland.
The wetland systems are considered "constructed" wetlands because the natural
relief or lack of relief is not conductive to effective implementation of a traditional
riparian system. Wetlands were created in existing drainage canals by installing water
control structures and planting several native wetland species.
Educational opportunities were also provided for school groups, scout troops, and
civic groups. Two field days, four educational meetings, and one training workshop for
agency personnel and consultants were held.
Results
The project demonstrated that wetlands with small wetland/watershed area ratios
can provide significant water quality benefits for nitrogen, although phosphorus
increased. Monitoring and data collection at this site were conducted from 1996 to 1999.
-The-integration of grab-and automatic sampling schemes resulted in more than 1,000
water quality samples. Concentrations of all forms of nitrogen were reduced significantly
between the inlets and the wetland outlet over the evaluation period. The highest drop in
concentrations was achieved for NO3-N (60 percent), with lower declines for NH4-N (33
percent) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) (9.5 percent) levels. Total nitrogen
concentrations were 20 percent lower at the wetland outlet.
Phosphorus levels increased 55 percent between the inlets and the outlet. The
liberation of phosphorus bound in the wetland substrate and organic matter apparently
negated any sorption or uptake occurring within the wetland. At some point in the future,
phosphorus equilibrium might be reached, leading to no net increase at the outlet. Thus
far, however, no decline has been observed.

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Nitrate and ammonium nitrogen concentrations dropped as much through the
wetland during the dormant months as during the growing season. TKN concentrations
were lowered only during the winter months. The increase in phosphorus concentrations
between wetland inlets and the outlet observed was significantly larger during the
summer months than in the dormant periods.
Public acceptance of the project was excellent, attributed to the pleasing aesthetics
of the sites. A variety of wildlife continues to flourish in the wetland.
Contact Information: Rodney Johnson, Albemarle RC&D, 412 West Queen Street,
Edenton, NC 27932,252-482-7437; Kristopher Bass and Dr. Robert Evans, North
Carolina State University (principal researchers)
Project Location: Chowan and Dare Counties, North Carolina
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetlands
Results: 33 percent reduction in ammonia nitrogen, 60 percent reduction in nitrate
nitrogen, 9.5 percent reduction in TKN, 20 percent reduction in total nitrogen, 55 percent
increase in total phosphorus
~Information for this success story was gleaned from U.S. EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program
website at www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm. For more information on the project, go to
www.bae.ncsu.edu/research/evans_web/etd/klbass.pdf. Submitted by Alan Clark, North Carolina Division
of Water Quality.

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North Cardinal
Goose Creek Urban Stream
Rehabilitation Project: Ecosystem Protection
Practices Installed in Low-Income Neighborhood
Goose Creek is the major stream draining east-central Durham, North Carolina.
The creek is a tributary of Ellerbe Creek, identified in the 1993 and 1998 Neuse River
Basin Management Plans as not supportive of its intended uses. The watershed is in an
old, well-established low-income neighborhood with little opportunity for landscape
modification to alter runoff quantity or quality.
The channel was extremely degraded with hardened channel control structures,
including concrete fiber fill lining and vertical rock wall channel banks. The hardened
urban flow channels were extremely conducive to carrying large quantities of sediment at
a veiy high velocity.
Three-phase creek restoration
Restoration of Goose Creek involved the installation of ecosystem protection
practices, or EPPs (stream rehabilitation), to reduce sediment, reduce thermal fluctuation,
and increase dissolved oxygen. Recommended EPPs were derived from typical stream
restoration techniques and modified for the Goose Creek system. The project was
designed to rehabilitate more than 2,100 feet of the stream, in three continuous treatment
phases.
Phase I included the installation of 25 log structures in an 884-foot-long concrete-
lined fiber fill channel. The concrete-lined channel provided no water quality protection
or vegetation to reduce flow. The log structures provided channels to break up storm flow
energy; variety of flow allows for deposit behind the logs and storage of sediment. This
phase of the project included the addition of soil and planting of wetland vegetation to
provide shade and some nutrient uptake in the cement-lined area. A group of volunteers
planted wetland and willow plants along a 600-foot reach of the project.
Phase II of the project, which was 700 feet long, occurred in a public park but was
constrained by vertical rock walls on both sides. Four rock cross veins were installed to
break up energy and increase dissolved oxygen in this low-gradient channel. The cross
veins reduce stress on the rock walls by transferring flow toward the center of the
channel.
Phase m of the project was to involve a section of the stream that runs through an
industrial and commercial area. This phase was not completed within the scope of the
319 grant primarily because of the need to perform underground soil remediation at an
industrial site. However, this phase has received funding from the North Carolina Clean
Water Management Trust Fund and is projected to be completed after the soil

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remediation is performed, possibly by the end of 2001.
Meeting the challenge
Phases I and II of the project were completed in February of 1999. The education
phase of the project, which is coordinated through the Durham Soil and Water
Conservation District Office, is ongoing.
The project is unique in that it has employed stream restoration techniques in an
extremely constrained situation to create a sustainable creek ecosystem. The term
"ecosystem protection practice" is appropriate, considering the initial channel condition.
Installation of these practices through an elementary school and public park will increase
education opportunities in this low-income neighborhood. The enhancements will
improve public perception about the stream and potentially reduce litter and other
pollutants to the system.
Contact Information: Edward Culberson, District Administrator, Durham Soil and Water
Conservation District, 721 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701,919-560-0558; Angela
Jessup, USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service, 600 West Innes Street, Salisbury,
NC 28114
Project Location: Durham County, North Carolina
Primary Sources of Pollution: degraded channel
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: ecosystem protection practices (stream rehabilitation)
Results: revegetation of 600-foot reach, flow-reducing structures installed along 1,584
feet of streambank
~Information for this success story was gleaned from U.S. EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web
site at http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm. Submitted by Alan Clark, North
Carolina Division of Water Quality.

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Streambank Restoration at Bradley and
Standingdeer Campgrounds: An Innovative
Solution Solves a Common Problem
The Cherokee Indian Reservation in the southern Appalachian Mountains of
western North Carolina comprises some 56,000 acres. The topography of much of the
reservation land consists of very steep slopes and narrow valleys. In this area, soils are
thin and generally highly erodible. Siltation is the primary cause of impairment of tribal
waters. Major sources of siltation have resulted from past logging practices, gravel
mining, road construction, housing construction, landfill, and other development
activities. The rock/gravel mined area of Soco Creek has been designated a priority area
for streambank restoration and reduction of nonpoint source pollution.
Sites on Soco Creek and the Oconaluftee River have undergone streambank
restoration by stabilization techniques. Two sites where streambank restorations have
been completed are Bradley Campground and Standingdeer Campground. At these sites,
erosion from overland flow had resulted from land disturbance due to the high level of
foot traffic by campers. A large part of the problem was campers creating foot paths and
removing riparian vegetation on streambanks, leaving the banks vulnerable to erosion
during storm events.
The objective of the project was to reduce erosion from overland flow and from
streambank failure as the streams undercut their banks at both Bradley and Standingdeer
Campgrounds. Components of the project were designed to restrict camper access down
erodible streambanks and redirect access down nonerodible steps.
An innovative solution
To reduce erosion, native riparian trees and shrubs were planted, along with grass
seeding, and coconut erosion control fabric was installed to hold the soil in place until the
vegetation was established, hi addition to the benefits of holding soil in place, the
vegetation will eventually grow into a barrier that restricts campers' movement down the
streambanks. Using a method developed by Dave Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology
(Pagosa Springs, Colorado), access to the stream was provided by making a modification
to rock vanes. Without compromising the hydraulic design of the rock vanes, they were
extended approximately 3 feet above their normal design elevation to the top of the
streambank, which is the level of the rest of the campground. The purpose of extending
the vanes was to make solid rock (boulder) stair steps that serve as access points for
campers to enter the stream corridor.
In this project, revegetation and rock vane construction were successfully
employed for streambank restoration. Revegetation solved the erosion problem from
overland storm flow, while construction of rock vanes addressed undercutting of the
streambanks. The constructed vanes slow floodwater velocities near the banks and deflect

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high-velocity water toward the channel center to replicate conditions in healthy natural
channels.
Contact Information: Dannie Childers, Environmental Planner, Tribal Environmental
Office, P.O. Box 455, Cherokee, NC 28719,828-497-3814
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
at http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Cottonwood Creek Watershed:
Project Is Success in the Works
Lake LaMoure, constructed in 1973, is a 500-acre reservoir on Cottonwood Creek in
southeastern North Dakota. The reservoir's watershed encompasses some 107,000 acres, and
agricultural production (crops and livestock) is the primary land use in the watershed.
Swimming, boating, and fishing are the main recreational uses of the reservoir. Local residents,
however, were becoming increasingly concerned about the deteriorating recreational
opportunities at the lake. Of particular concern were the frequent algae blooms in mid- to late
summer and a fish community dominated by rough fish such as carp and bullheads.
The LaMoure County Soil Conservation District (SCD) initiated an assessment of the
Lake LaMoure watershed in 1995 to evaluate the relationship between land management and
degrading water quality. Assessment activities included measuring water quality and quantity in
the creek and lake and taking an inventory of current land use practices in the watershed. The
SCD was able to determine that the recreational use impairments in Lake LaMoure were
primarily associated with nonpoint source pollutants from agricultural lands, including nutrients
(nitrogen and phosphorus) and suspended solids. Potential pollutant sources included
excessively tilled croplands, overgrazed rangeland, and livestock winter feeding areas.
Resuspended sediments and nutrients resulting from an excessive carp population were a
possible factor contributing to the declining recreational use of the reservoir.
Improving agricultural land management practices in the watershed
As a result of the assessment, the SCD identified targeted conservation planning
assistance along with voluntary implementation of BMPs. This approach was initiated in 1996
with the development of a watershed project implementation plan (PIP) that identified beneficial
use improvement and pollutant reduction goals, specific activities for accomplishing the goals,
and a process for evaluating progress. EPA granted the Cottonwood Creek Watershed PIP
section 319 funding approval in January 1997 ($301,071), and the project was initiated in March
1997. Subsequent section 319 funding ($617,249) was also awarded to the project in 1999 to
support expanded efforts.
The primary goal of the Cottonwood Creek watershed project is to improve the fishery
and recreational use of Lake LaMoure by improving agricultural land management practices in
the watershed. Land use improvement objectives include installing 12 livestock waste
management facilities and implementing conservation plans on more than 50 percent of the
acreage in the watershed. Target concentrations by the end of the project include a mean annual
phosphorus concentration of 0.20 mg/L at the inlet and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations
that remain below 200 colonies/100 mL.
Early success beyond expectations
During the first 3 years, the project focused on the promotion and installation of BMPs
that reduce nutrient inputs and maintain crop residue cover on croplands after spring seeding.
Particular emphasis was placed on the promotion of annual soil testing and the use of no-till or

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minimum tillage equipment. Through these efforts, the project has exceeded the SCD's original
expectations and is already well on the way to achieving its land management goals.
As of October 2000, conservation plans were being implemented on about one-fourth of
the agricultural lands in the watershed. The main practice scheduled under these conservation
plans is conservation tillage, which calls for maintaining more than 30 percent crop residue cover
on croplands after spring seeding. Nutrient and pesticide management practices are also being
implemented concurrently on many of the conservation acres to reduce chemical inputs. The
factors with the most influence on the widespread adoption of conservation tillage, nutrient
management, and other BMPs are a high level of producer participation, an expanded educational
effort, and targeted one-on-one planning assistance delivered by skilled project staff. Total
conservation tillage acres and other best management practices applied in the watershed, to date,
are as follows:
Conservation Tillage
Nutrient Management
Integrated Crop Management
Crop Residue Use
Cross Fencing/Planned Grazing
Hayland Planting
Tree Planting
Pesticide Management
Total Acres Affected
16,948.6 acres
9,413.6 acres
2,717.0 acres
2,246.2 acres
220.0 acres
874.9 acres
960.0 linear feet (Not included in acreage total)
2.454.2 acres
34,874.5 acres
Although the SCD continues to strive toward improved management on more than 50
percent of the cropland acres, they have also recently begun to direct more assistance and
attention toward livestock management to reduce water quality concerns (fecal coliform
concentrations) associated with livestock manure. To date, the efforts have resulted in the
installation of two livestock manure management facilities and the preliminary development of
several grazing plans. In addition, project staff are working with six other producers interested in
installing manure management facilities in 2001. When these systems are installed, the project
will be over halfway to its goal of installing 12 manure management facilities after just 2 years of
active implementation.
Continued monitoring of water quality benefits
Project progress and BMP benefits are being evaluated through water quality monitoring
at three sites on the creek. Data collected at each of these sites include stream stage and
discharge, and pollutant concentrations. The water quality variables being monitored are
nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), total suspended solids, and fecal coliform bacteria. Baseline
data was collected from 1995 to 1998 and water quality monitoring have been used to define
baseline conditions and reflect water quality conditions before project implementation. Water
quality data collected after 1999 will be used to document the cumulative benefits of BMPs
applied in the watershed because 1999 was the first year with a significant number of BMPs.
Although the project has realized quick progress toward its land management goals, the

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nature of the applied practices and size of the watershed make it very difficult to accurately
measure the water quality benefits associated with the practices over the short term. However, a
preliminary review of water quality data collected since 1997 does indicate that water quality
conditions might be starting to improve at some sampling sites in the watershed.
The most notable water quality trend that appears to be forming has been detected at the
monitoring site for the headwaters watershed. Although fluctuations in the concentrations are
still within the range of natural variability, it appears that the project might be having a positive
effect on total ammonia and nitrogen concentrations in the upper portion of the watershed.
However, examination of other water quality variables, such as fecal coliform bacteria, shows
mixed results. Consequently, an accurate evaluation of the Cottonwood Creek project after just 2
years of "targeted implementation" cannot be based on measured water quality trends.
A more accurate indicator during this early stage of the project is an evaluation of the
number of BMPs applied in the watershed. Based on this information, the Cottonwood Creek
project is achieving land management improvements in the watershed and can truly be
recognized as a "success in the works." Over the long term, as BMPs mature and additional
practices are installed, the water quality benefits of these land use changes will be tracked
through ongoing monitoring efforts and the data will be used to confirm and quantify the
anticipated success of the Cottonwood Creek project.
Contact Information: Bob Flath, LaMoure County Soil Conservation District, USDA Building,
211 South Main, Box 278, LaMoure, ND 58458-0278,701-883-5344, conserve@drservices.com
Project Location: LaMoure County, North Dakota
Primary Sources of Pollution: excessively tilled croplands, overgrazed rangeland, excessive carp
population
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), suspended solids
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (installing livestock waste management
facilities, rangeland grazing practices, implementation of conservation plans, use of low/no-till
equipment)
Results: agricultural practices implemented on more than 34,000 acres to date, positive trends in
total ammonia and nitrogen concentrations
~Submitted by Greg Sandness, North Dakota Department of Health.

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Red River Basin Riparian Project:
Turtle River Site Passes the Test
Over the past 50 years, most riparian areas in eastern North Dakota watersheds
have been mismanaged and degraded by activities like overgrazing, intensive agriculture,
and indiscriminate logging. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of the original forest
cover in many watersheds in eastern North Dakota has been cleared for agricultural use.
In addition, unmanaged grazing has damaged a significant portion of the remaining
riparian forests. Overgrazing, in combination with the 1987 to 1990 drought, left many
riparian areas in a weakened condition and susceptible to insects and diseases.
Initiated in 1994, the Red River Basin Riparian Project seeks to restore degraded
riparian corridors in the Red River Basin in North Dakota. An advisory committee with
representatives from several state and federal agencies advises the project on behalf of
the project's sponsor, the Red River Resource Conservation and Development Council
(RC&D). Healthy riparian corridors offer benefits for water quality, as well as flood
damage reduction and wildlife habitat.
The project sponsors plan to establish up to nine demonstration sites in the Red
River Basin, restoring at least 100 river miles during the 5-year project term. At one
demonstration site, the Turtle River site, the lack of woody vegetation had left the
streambank vulnerable to severe erosion. The situation was compounded by groundwater
seeps above the baseflow elevation of the river. Between 1978 and 1995, the river
migrated approximately 3.5 feet per year to the east until it was only 80 feet from the
county road. When the bioengineering project was initiated 1995, the site had a vertical
bank about 14 feet high.
Successful bioengineering practices
To stabilize the bank and stop further migration toward the road, several
bioengineering techniques were implemented. The first step was to create a stable slope
for the vegetation. The 14-foot vertical bank was reshaped to a 3:1 slope, using the waste
from the top as fill at the toe. Riprap was then installed along the toe to the bankfull
elevation. Bioengineering practices were installed as part of a workshop featuring the
Natural Resources Conservation Services' bioengineering team from Michigan. Willow
fascines and a brush mattress were installed along the 300-foot length to armor the bank
and to begin the revegetation process.
Passing the test
Serendipitously, the Turtle River project coincided with the biggest flood of the
century in the Red River valley, so it has sparked a new appreciation of river systems. It
has also been well positioned to offer solutions that recognize the characteristics of a
naturally stable river system.

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Although some maintenance was required each spring in 1996 and 1997, the
project bioengineering has survived both spring floods and a 17-inch rainstorm in July
2000. The lessons learned from experience at the Turtle River site include the following:
•	Soil/plant material contact is best provided by using water to place the soil over brush
mattresses and fascines. Sponsors used a power washer to wash in the soil placed by
the backhoe.
•	The loose fill used at the toe can be susceptible to erosion, especially in the first
season. The site appears to have responded well to the repair work, but adding
roughness to the toe would have helped. The use of root wads will be demonstrated
at the Sheyenne River site.
•	Deer and beaver find willow sprouts irresistible. It might be necessary to use
repellants in some cases. At the Turtle River site, time will tell whether the use by
animals was detrimental to survival.
Ripari an areas are crucial to the long-term protection and enhancement of the
streams, rivers, and lakes in eastern North Dakota. Well-managed riparian zones help
provide optimum food and habitat for stream communities, as well as serving as buffer
strips for controlling nonpoint source pollution. Used as a component of an integrated
management system (including nutrient management and erosion control), riparian
buffers can greatly benefit the quality of the state's surface water resources.
Contact Information: Linda Kingery, Riparian Project Manager, 701-352-3550
Project Location: Grand Forks County, North Dakota
Primary Sources of Pollution: streambank erosion
Primary NPS Pollutant: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: bioengineering practices (slope stabilization, installation
of riprap, revegetation)
Results: establishment of riparian vegetation that withstands flooding, reduced
sedimentation
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Quality Water Newsletter (Spring 1997),
http://www.health.state.nd.us/ndhd/pubs/wq/qw/v8n2/v8n2.htm. Submitted by Linda Kingery, Riparian
Project Manager, and Greg Sandness, North Dakota Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Coordinator.

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Stillwater River Watershed Protection Project: High
Local Interest Helps Launch Watershed Project
Since its inception in 1992, the Stillwater River Watershed Protection Project has been a
model for other projects in the development of watershed planning and implementation for the
control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. The project was originally proposed in 1988 as
a Hydrologic Unit project through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding for this
purpose was not granted, but local interest in a watershed project remained very high. With the
assistance of 604(b) funding, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission completed a
management plan for the project. The project was then launched with the support of a joint
board of supervisors drawn from the Darke county and Miami county Soil and Water
Conservation Districts.
To date, more than $2 million has been raised from external sources to help implement
the watershed plan. The sources include Ohio EPA's 319 Program, as well as several funding
programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, the joint board
entered into an agreement with Ohio EPA for a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF)
Program, that so far has provided $1.3 million in loans to 57 participants.
Emphasis on agricultural practices
Much emphasis has been placed on the installation of best management practices
(BMPS), identified in the project's management plan as key to success. Stream buffers of grass
and trees were established. Where necessary, exclusion fencing was installed with alternative
water sources for cattle. Nutrient management, including soil sampling for precision farming,
has been demonstrated. Additional cost-share incentives and Ohio EPA's linked deposit low-
interest loan program have resulted in the purchase of equipment for conservation tillage and
manure management.
Importance of outreach
Education programs in the watershed have included two canoe trips each year to acquaint
landowners, local officials, students, and others with the river and its environment. In addition to
quarterly newsletters, speaking engagements, and fair displays, two sites have been established
for annual field days. These sites include demonstrations of BMPS to protect water quality and
increase farm productivity. Additional annual field days have emphasized conservation tillage,
and a marked increase in its use has been documented in the watershed (Figures 1 and 2). A
wetland was also constructed at a county park to demonstrate its function and its importance to
water quality and wildlife. Annual conservation tours also have exposed people to the BMPS
installed as a result of the project.
Leveraging additional funding
An additional benefit is that this project has stimulated many other sources of funding for
use in the watershed. USDA committed Water Quality Incentives Project funds to three
subwatersheds, one of which has a large number of livestock operations, to improve manure

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handling and nutrient management through effective nutrient management planning. Ohio's
Department of Natural Resources has contributed grants for conservation easements (in
cooperation with local park districts), a manure nutrient management technician, a wildlife
technician, exclusion fencing for livestock, geographic information system (GIS) equipment and
training, and a watershed coordinator. To help ensure continuation of the project, the joint board
is pursuing incorporation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contact Information: Nikki Reese, 1117 South Towne Court, Greenville, OH 45331,937-548-
1752, nikki-reese@oh.nacdnet.org
Project Location: Darke and Miami counties, Ohio
Source of Problem: agriculture
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (buffers, fencing, alternate water sources,
conservation tillage, nutrient management), education and outreach
Results: increases in conservation tillage
~Submitted by Alicia Brown, EPA Region 5

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Toussaint River Incentive Improvement Program:
Buffer Project Becomes a
Model of Conservation Partnership
When the Great Black Swamp was drained in the late 1800s, northwest Ohio settlers
discovered very fertile soils that were capable of high-yield agricultural production. Today, with
an extensive system of artificial drainage in place, the region is a leader in grain and specialty
crop agriculture. Ohio's western Lake Erie watersheds devote 65 to 87 percent of their land use
to farming. Because of the geologic history of this area and the current land use, Lake Erie water
quality suffers from a large sediment and nutrient load from agricultural runoff.
Nationwide initiatives and funding programs to reduce nonpoint source pollution are
meeting with success in Ohio. With the introduction of the Lake Erie Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program (CREP) in 2000 and ongoing 319 and Conservation Reserve programs,
landowners have increased opportunities to receive incentives for implementing agricultural best
management practices that improve or protect water quality. The Toussaint River Incentive
Improvement Program is a watershed implementation project that has promoted buffer practices
along nearly three-fourths of the river's main stem.
The Toussaint River, in northwest Ohio, flows directly into Lake Erie between Toledo
and Port Clinton. A relatively small watershed, the Toussaint watershed covers about 90,000
acres and comprises portions of Wood, Sandusky, and Ottawa Counties. The main causes of
water quality impairment are habitat alteration (stream channelization and removal of riparian
vegetation), siltation, and nutrient enrichment due to the large agricultural land use in the
watershed.
Buffers are key to water quality protection
The Toussaint River project offered landowners along the 36-mile main stem of the river
an opportunity to earn money while at the same time helping the environment. Through a
_$275,00Q subgrant from Ohio EPA's 319 Program, financial incentives were available to
establish filter strips, set aside floodplain areas, and use conservation tillage practices along the
river corridor. The landowners were required to make a 5-year commitment to maintain these
conservation practices. Water quality assessments of the river were made both before practices
were put into place and after they were established. The goal of the program was to reduce
sediment and nutrient loadings into the Toussaint River and Lake Erie.
Success in the numbers
The success of any project can be found "in the numbers." Landowners along the
Toussaint River signed 57 contracts, more than 32.13 acres of filter strips were established, and
233.25 acres of floodplains were set aside and planted to grass. This means that a total of
142,213 linear feet of streamside land (nearly 27 miles of the 36-mile-long stream corridor) was
converted to conservation buffer practices that will improve water quality. Along with these

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improvements, participating farmers switched to conservation tillage farming methods on
1,431.21 acres adjoining the new buffers.
Although the original grant objective was to install 100 acres of filter strips and to set
aside 100 acres of floodplain, there was more landowner interest in the downstream reach of the
river where there is a lower gradient and a broad, flat floodplain. The grant was modified to
increase the maximum filter strip width to 200 feet in floodplain areas with alluvial soil types. It
is believed that the wider filter strips in these more extensively flooded areas will further control
erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and benefit water quality.
The Agricultural Runoff Action Group of the Maumee Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
sponsored this 319 grant. The RAP's objective is to restore the Lower Maumee River, one of 42
Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The Agricultural Runoff Action Group is a partnership of more
than one dozen agencies and private organizations that have contributed some $208,000 in local
and state matching funds to this project. Of particular note was the strong leadership and the
cooperation between Soil and Water Conservation District staff in the three counties, as well as
the donation of seed, equipment, and labor by local Pheasants Forever chapters to establish the
filter strips. The Agricultural Runoff Action Group was recently awarded a second 319 grant for
$300,000 to continue promoting these riparian conservation practices. The objectives of the
second phase include providing incentive payments for similar buffer and tillage practices along
the tributaries throughout the Toussaint River watershed.
With 22,500 miles of county ditches in Ohio and enough lineal footage of drain tile in
northwest Ohio reach to the moon, there is plenty of opportunity for watershed protection groups
to join the effort to establish riparian buffers, reduce soil erosion, and improve water quality.
Neighboring watersheds can look to the Toussaint River project for a model of conservation
partnership.
Contact Information: Kurt Erichsen, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, 419-
241-9155 (ext. 126), kurt@tmacog.org
Project Location: Wood, Sandusky, and Ottawa counties, Ohio
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, habitat alteration (stream channelization and removal
of riparian vegetation)
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: filter strips, set-aside floodplain areas, conservation tillage
practices
Results: established 142,213 linear feet of buffers, conservation tillage farming methods on
1431.21 acres
~Submitted by Alicia Brown, EPA Region 5.

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Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Wetlands:
A Sustainable Solution for
Abandoned Mine Problems
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major nonpoint source pollution concern in many
former mining regions. AMD is formed by the oxidizing action of air and water on
exposed sulfidic strata and is characterized by elevated concentrations of metals
(especially iron and aluminum), acidity, and sulfate. In Oklahoma, AMD impacts from
abandoned coal mining activities are most prevalent in the Gaines Creek watershed of
Pittsburg and Latimer Counties.
Traditional mine drainage treatment technologies are not viable options at
abandoned mines because of their laborious and cost-intensive nature. However, passive
treatment technologies that rely on natural biogeochemical and microbiological processes
to ameliorate AMD, such as treatment wetlands, often provide viable treatment
alternatives if enough land area is available.
In 1998, with support of a Clean Water Act section 319 grant provided by EPA
Region 6 and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, the University of Oklahoma
initiated a treatment wetlands demonstration project to improve the quality of
contaminated water at the #40 Gowen site. Of the dozen or more identified discharges in
the watershed, the Gowen site was identified as having the greatest impact on the stream
due to AMD. Drainage from the site affects Pitt Creek, a tributary to Gaines Creek,
which drains to Lake Eufaula. Both creeks are on the state's 303(d) list for metals and
pH violations related to surface mining.
Treatment technology
At the Gowen site, a Successive Alkalinity-Producing System-type wetland
treatment process was implemented. Treatment occurs in a four-cell system of
alternating vertical flow wetlands (VF) and surface flow aerobic ponds (SF). AMD is
sequentially treated by charging the waters with alkalinity in the first VF, then providing
near-optimum conditions for precipitating metals in the first SF. Alkalinity consumed by
metal hydrolysis in the first SF is recharged to the waters in the subsequent VF, thus
allowing further metals precipitation in the final SF.
The size of the AMD and the flow rate into the treatment cells were calculated
based on land availability, metals loading, and acidity. Because treatment of the entire
discharge with the land area available was not feasible the system was sized to
demonstrate effective treatment of only a portion of the flow. Based on contaminant
loadings of about 18,000 and 7,000 grams per day of acidity and iron and anticipated
removal rates of 30 to 40 grams per square meter per day of acidity from published data
and column studies, the system was designed with a surface area of approximately 750
square meters.

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All water flows through the treatment wetlands are gravity-driven. Only a portion
of the entire discharge (about 20 liters per minute) flows through the demonstration
project. Each VF includes three vertical sections. The top layer (standing water)
provides water head necessary to drive water through the underlying substrate. The
middle layer is designed to generate alkalinity by biotic and abiotic means. It consists of a
1-meter thick mixture of spent mushroom substrate, limestone, and hydrated fly ash. The
bottom layer is a gravel underdrain that acts as a highly permeable zone to transmit water
leaving the system through a network of drainage pipes. The treatment cells were planted
with native wetland vegetation.
Improvements in water quality
Chemical water quality and quantity and wildlife use have been monitored every
2 weeks for 2 years. Results indicate that the treatment wetlands have successfully
improved water quality to within applicable regulatory guidelines for more than 2 years.
Concentrations of iron, aluminum, and manganese have decreased significantly, and pH
and alkalinity concentrations have increased significantly. The final effluent of the
system has maintained a net alkaline condition (above 150 mg/L) with pH greater than 6.
Concentrations of trace metals were either near the detection limit at all sampling
locations (barium, cadmium, chromium, copper and lead) or retained completely by VF1
(nickel and zinc) to less than the detection limit. Examples of this improvement are
shown in Table 1.
In the vertical flow wetlands, alkalinity was produced by a combination of
processes, including limestone and fly ash dissolution and bacterial sulfate reduction, to
more than 250 mg/L. Final effluent concentrations were net alkaline on all sampling dates
(i.e., alkalinity was greater than mineral acidity plus proton acidity). If these acidity
removal rates are sustainable, the resulting design criteria could lead to considerable
savings in passive treatment system construction and land acquisition costs. Initial
effluent water quality characterization indicated the potential for leaching of substrate
nutrients and anions; however, none of the effluent samples since January 1999 have
been significantly different from inflows. Characterization of the substrate indicates that
substantial metal loads are being retained in the deep substrate and sequestered from the
environment. Metal fractionation demonstrates the probability of long-term treatment
success.
Several species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals use the site.
Biological assessments in the summer of 2000 indicated healthy populations of fish and
macroinvertebrates in three of the four cells. Macroinvertebrate community structure
indicates a trend from tolerant to less-tolerant species with flow through the wetland
system.
Duplication of success
The Gowen treatment wetlands demonstration project—the first and only
successful passive AMD treatment system in Oklahoma—represents a sustainable and
cost-effective solution for the devastating impacts of AMD on the environment.

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Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the project is the transferability of this
technology to other mining-impacted watersheds. Already, the Gowen treatment
wetland design is being applied to problems at the Tar Creek Superfund Site in Ottawa
County, Oklahoma, and is being investigated for application in several other watersheds
nationwide. The Tar Creek site is part of a former lead and zinc mining area and is
ranked number one on the National Priorities List. Coupled vertical flow wetland and
surface flow pond designs are applicable to these waters and represent the only
treatment methodology that has been considered viable for improvement and
restoration of the waters of Tar Creek.
The budget for the Gowen treatment wetlands demonstration project was
$125,000. Partners in the effort included The University of Oklahoma School of Civil
Engineering and Environmental Science, Oklahoma Conservation Commission's Water
Quality Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Latimer County Conservation
District, and landowners William Battles and Mindy Ledbetter. Local companies and
volunteers provided in-kind assistance or donations.
Contact Information: Robert W. Nairn, Ph.D., The University of Oklahoma, 405-325-'
3354, nairn@ou.edu; Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Water Quality Division, 405-
810-1002
Project Location: Pittsburg and Latimer counties, Oklahoma
Source of NPS Pollution: acid mine drainage, abandoned mines
NPS Pollutant: high concentrations of metals, acidity, and sulfate
Remediation: installation of treatment wetlands systems
Results: improved water quality (lower concentrations of metals, acidity removal);
increased populations of wildlife, fish, and macroinvertebrates
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Oklahoma's FY 1995 319(h) Task Report #800 (OCC
Task #71), (C9-996100-03-0), Use of Staged Wetlands for Mitigation of Acid Mine Drainage. Submitted
by Scott Stoodley, Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

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Poteau River Comprehensive
Watershed Management Program: Local
Involvement Ensures Program Sustainability
The Upper Poteau River, including Wister Lake and its tributaries, is identified among
Oklahoma's top priorities for nonpoint source control implementation in the state's section 319
Nonpoint Source Management Program. The river is cited as having impaired recreational and
drinking water uses; nutrients and sediment are the major Nonpoint Source concerns. The land
in the watershed is primarily agricultural and Forest Service land. Most of the agricultural land
consists of pastureland and poultry houses.
Using section 319 grant monies from EPA Region 6, along with state match dollars, the
Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), Oklahoma State Cooperative Extension Service,
OSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, LeFlore County Conservation
District, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Blacklands Research Center, Poteau
Valley Improvement Association, Lake Wister Advisory Association, residents of the Haw
Creek Valley Watershed, Lake Wister/Poteau River Steering Committee, and U.S. Geological
Survey worked in various capacities to calibrate and improve watershed models and implement
best management practices (BMPs) and educational programs to restore and protect the water
resources. The program incorporated all of the previous work in the Wister Lake/Poteau River
watershed, such as the Clean Lakes Phase I Project and 7 years' worth of model development.
One of the greatest successes of the program was the involvement of local residents and
organizations in implementing the various program components and ensuring that the program
will continue.
Watershed-wide Participation and Continuation of Program
Much of the project framework was created at a local level, making it easier to sustain
several components of the project beyond the original FY 1994 section 319 funding. The
steering committee, made up of representatives from the LeFlore County Conservation District,
LeFlore County Cooperative Extension, NRCS, Farm Service Agency, Oklahoma Forestry
Service, agricultural producers, local government and homeowners, and recreational interests,
met monthly throughout the project and continued to meet beyond the end of the project to
discuss details of the program, plan future efforts, and make decisions regarding demonstration
practices, their locations, and cost-share reimbursement percentages. Although practices were
demonstrated in a subwatershed (the Haw Creek area of the Blackfork of the Poteau River), the
remainder of the program was watershed-wide.
Of particular note are the activities the Conservation District has perpetuated beyond the
life of the project. During the project, the Conservation District and District Conservationist
secured 100 percent participation by the poultry producers in the demonstration area. They also
established test plots to demonstrate the effectiveness of various BMPS at reducing nutrient and
sediment runoff. They have continued to maintain these plots beyond the life of the project and
have established additional plots from new sources of funding to sustain the effort. The District

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also established a successful education program, partnering with the Cooperative Extension
Service and other groups, to inform citizens about the importance of water quality and methods
of conservation. This education program has continued and expanded beyond the life of the
project to include regular classes at the local college, a volunteer monitoring program, and
continued newspaper articles and education programs at schools. These continued activities are
geared toward expansion of the demonstrated practices outside the demonstration subwatershed.
Through their continued efforts, the Conservation District, NRCS, and other local
partners have illustrated their commitment towards solving water quality problems in the
watershed. In addition, the area is an EQIP priority area and the District and NRCS have
cooperated to target EQIP funds toward practices that benefit water quality. This commitment
has led to future projects to demonstrate BMPs throughout the remainder of the Poteau River and
Wister Lake watershed. An FY 2000 319(h) grant, along with state cost-share monies, is
devoted toward demonstrating BMPs throughout the watershed and achieving the river's
eventual support of beneficial uses and removal from the state's 303(d) list.
Providing a Platform to Improve the SWAT Model
Yet another result of the project was a modification to the Soil and Water Assessment
Tool, or SWAT (Arnold et al., 1993). SWAT is a basin-scale hydrologic/water quality model
developed to predict the effects of alternative river basin land use management decisions on
water, sediment, and chemical yields. SWAT operates on a daily time step and is capable of
simulating 100 or more years. The major components of the model are hydrology, weather,
erosion, soil temperature, crop growth, nutrients, pesticides, subsurface flow, and agricultural
management. SWAT offers distributed-parameter and continuous time simulation with flexible
watershed configuration, automatic irrigation and fertilization, interbasin water transfer, and lake
water quality simulation capabilities. It is widely used in the development of Total Maximum
Daily Loads (TMDLs).
Until now, in-stream nutrient dynamics were not considered in the SWAT model. This
meant that although the model did a good job predicting nutrient loading coming off land
surfaces, it ignored, the processes that affected the nutrients once they were in the stream. To
simulate the in-stream dynamics, the kinetic routines from an in-stream water quality model,
QUAL2E (Brown and Barnwell, 1987), were modified and incorporated into SWAT. The
Blacklands Research Institute in Temple, Texas, integrated QUAL2E kinetics into the SWAT
model. The resulting version of SWAT is now widely used in modeling basins and in TMDL
development.
Contact Information: Shanon Phillips, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, 5225 North Shartel,
Suite 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-6035, 405-810-1002, Shanonp@okcc.state.ok.us
Project Location: LeFlore County, Oklahoma
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (poultry industry, pasture maintenance), riparian
management
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: education, BMP implementation, watershed model development
Results: improved SWAT watershed model, sustained partnerships

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~Submitted by Shanon Phillips, Oklahoma Conservation Commission and Nikole Witt, EPA Region 6.

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The Spring Creek Project:
Streambanks Stabilized Through
Stream Restoration
Spring Creek, a tributary to Fort Gibson Lake, spans three northeast Oklahoma
counties—Delaware, Mayes, and Cherokee. Over the years, intensive logging, clearing,
and grazing in the watershed have resulted in bank erosion, contributing significantly to
the gravel load in the stream. Movement of this gravel (bedload) has accelerated bank
erosion, causing the stream to widen and become shallow. This channel instability has
resulted in excessive streambank migration, loss of fish habitat, and decreased
recreational benefit.
Fluvial geomorphology
Fluvial geomorphology is the study of the form or shape of stream channels as
they flow over the land. Recent work by Dave Rosgen of Wildlands Hydrology has
resulted in a stream classification scheme based on eight major variables. Rosgen's
method is useful in that a stream's stable configuration can be determined and classified
so that the disturbed stream can be restored to this form, using natural materials on-site.
A stream restored using these techniques is stable and efficient at transporting bedload
and flood flows. It is also aesthetically pleasing and provides better in-stream habitat for
aquatic life.
The project
Bank restoration was implemented on two reaches of Spring Creek (in Cherokee
County, Oklahoma) exhibiting highly accelerated bank erosion due to clearing for
increased hay production. Rosgen's method was used to classify the current state of the
segments and determine the channel configuration necessary to stabilize the bank. The
reaches were reshaped accordingly, and rock vanes, cross vanes, tree root-wads, logs, and
vegetation were strategically inserted to affect stream flow and preserve or supplement
habitat. Habitat and fish surveys were conducted before and after implementation to
assess the project's impact in these areas.
Significant impacts
In general, the project sites showed significant, positive changes from the pre-
implementation survey. Physically, water depth through the reaches almost doubled and
total area of eroding bank decreased by about 75 percent. A visit to the project site in
August 2001 showed the stream channel modifications still holding effectively. Rock
vanes had successfully diverted flow to the center of the channel, deepening pools and
controlling erosion on the outside of the steam bends. Stream channel stabilization was
apparent from the abundance of established tree saplings and other marginal vegetation.
Some of the most notable effects of the project were exhibited in the fish
community. Both project sites exhibited more species and markedly higher total numbers
of fish in the postimplementation survey (1.5 and 3.5 times the preimplementation

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numbers for downstream and upstream sites, respectively). The total number of pool
species (sunfish, chub, suckers) increased by at least 2.4 times the previous abundance in
both project reaches, reflecting the deepening and enlargement of pools and changes in
the overall stream channel shape. The size composition of this group indicated multiple
year classes, and young of year were found for all three species. Thus, it appears that the
slower flow regimes and increased habitat resulting from stabilization efforts combined
to affect overall reproduction of fish in this area of Spring Creek.
Certain beneficial uses also were restored or preserved in this area of the creek.
Bank instability and subsequent gravel input had shallowed many areas, limiting fishing
and swimming activities previously enjoyed. The upstream site has stabilized into a long
pool deep enough for swimming and fishing. Good numbers of catchable sportfish have
been noted in and around the rock vanes at the site.
An additional benefit has been the near cessation of channel movement through
the project reaches. In particular, channel migration that previously threatened an
important road through the property has been arrested through bank stabilization efforts.
Little to no movement was discernible during the August visit.
Contact Information: Jim Leach, Assistant Director, Oklahoma Conservation
Commission, 5225 North Shartel, Suite 102, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-6035
405-810-1039, jiml@okcc.state.ok.us
Project Location: Cherokee County, Oklahoma
Primary Sources of Pollution: streambank erosion, watershed disturbance
Primary NPS Pollutant, gravel, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: Rosgen classification and streambank stabilization
Results: streambank stabilized, improved fish community, stream meander
migration slowed
~Submitted by Greg Kloxin, Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

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Dawson Wetland Restoration Project:
Landowners and Wetlands Both Win
The Smith River Estuary has been modified over the years by a number of
projects that have diked and drained wetland areas in the estuary so they could be used
for livestock grazing. Levees, tidegates, and dredging were all common practices from
the 1900s to the 1960s.
The Dawson property near the mouth of the Smith River has been diked and used
for agricultural purposes since the early 20th century. Since the floods of 1996-1997,
however, the existing levee has been breached in three places, resulting in daily tidal
inundation of the property.
Wetland restoration and enhancement as the answer
The Umpqua Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) received a 319 grant
of $85,000 from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on August 25,1999,
to help with the Dawson Wetland Restoration Project. The landowners originally
contacted the Umpqua SWCD for assistance in repairing the dike, hoping to halt the
flooding of their property. Eventually, the project evolved into one that would protect
part of the property and return 30 acres to estuarine wetlands.
The landowners agreed to donate 30 acres of their 100-acre parcel to be restored
as wetlands, along with construction of a new levee to protect the remaining acreage for
their homestead and agricultural purposes. The Umpqua SWCD participated in
fundraising for the project and directs the project inspection and planting of vegetation on
the new levee. Additional partners, such as Ducks Unlimited, are providing project
management and engineering assistance.
In addition to restoring the 30 acres of estuarine wetland, the project also involved
enhancing the 50-acre Stowe Marsh, just upstream from the Dawson property and
managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The marsh contained a levee
with a break in it, and the project removed a large portion of the levee so that natural
floodplain function could be restored.
Project activities
The Dawson Wetland Restoration Project was divided into three phases. Phase I
of the project, completed in 1999, included installation of a tide gate, as well as
development of engineering plans and specifications. Phase n, completed in 2000,
included removal of two sections of the Stowe Marsh levee to enhance 50 acres of
estuarine wetlands, construction of the new Dawson levee, vegetation of the new levee
and adjacent disturbed areas with native plants, revegetation of borrow area, and
improvements to internal drainage on farmland inside the new levee.

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Scheduled for 2001, Phase III will remove the old failed levee on the Dawson
property, allowing the 30 acres outside the new levee to be returned to estuarine wetland
status. Title to the restored wetlands on the Dawson property outside the new levee will
be transferred to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Old fencing in the donated
wetlands will be removed. Plantings will be fortified in the borrow area, and all interior
drainage will be routed to the new tidegate. Fencing will be installed around the new
levee to restore livestock grazing to the Dawson ranch.
Additional benefits
Erosion Protection. The existing levee will be left in place for one winter to protect the
new structure from erosion. Plantings with native vegetation will be part of the
bioengineered plan to prevent erosion, making the use of riprap unnecessary. This
approach will also reduce future sedimentation into the river.
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration. Various salmonid species use estuaries as
incubation areas for feeding, rearing, and staging before they begin their ocean migration.
The Smith River estuary is already one of the most important areas in Oregon for
threatened coastal coho. The addition of 30 acres and the enhancement of 50 acres will
provide 80 acres of the habitat needed for these species and others. Waterfowl are also
expected to use the restored wetlands.
Restoration of Estuary Floodplain Function. One result of the extensive diking of the
Smith River system is that the river's transport capacity has increased, resulting in higher
river energy against the city of Reedsport's levee. This project will result in more water
storage capacity in estuarine wetlands, moderating the effects of flooding and reducing
the river's erosive energy.
Public-Private Collaboration. This project represents a win-win situation in which the
landowners benefit by increased protection of their homestead and the public benefits
from the enhanced ecological functions provided by the restored wetlands. This
collaborative approach respects the existing land use that provides the family's economic
base while at the same time recognizing and protecting the important public benefits from
returning a portion of the land to its former wetland status.
Contact Information: Bill Gates, Umpqua Soil and Water Conservation District, 541-
271-2611
Project Location: Douglas County, Oregon
Source of Problem: diked/drained wetlands, flooding
Remediation/Project Activities: tide gate installation, removal of levee and installation of
new dike, revegetation
Results: 30 acres of restored wetlands, decreased flooding and sedimentation, 80 acres of
restored habitat for wildlife

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~Information for this success story was gleaned from the Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality's
Watershed Improvement Project Bulletin: Dawson Wetland Restoration Project, Douglas County, Oregon.
Submitted by Ivan Camacho, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

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South Myrtle Creek Ditch Project: Removal of
Dam Benefits Aquatic Life
Historically, populations of cutthroat trout and coho salmon had journeyed
through the waters of South Myrtle Creek, which flows into the South Umpqua River in
Douglas County, Oregon. Since the early 20th century, however, some form of diversion
structure has been blocking South Myrtle Creek. In the 1960s, a concrete apron structure
with metal supports for planks was installed to raise the water level to provide water for
irrigation to adjacent and downstream landowners. During the summer, the structure
elevated water levels by 14 feet, diverting water into a 21/2-mile irrigation ditch. As a
result, South Myrtle Creek has been identified as having water quality problems from
flow modifications and high stream temperatures.
In 1998 one of the landowners initiated a project to restore flow and improve
water quality in South Myrtle Creek by removing the diversion dam and concrete apron,
converting from ditch irrigation to sprinkler irrigation to conserve water, revegetating the
denuded riparian area, and excluding livestock until the seedlings were well established.
That landowner, along with Water Resources and the Watershed Council, recruited all of
the other landowners who used water from the diversion, and they began to plan the
various aspects of the project.
The project was a collaborative effort of all of the landowners, who donated
services and supplies. In addition to 319 funds, funding was provided by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Bureau of Land
Management., the Natural Resources Conservation Service=s Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program, and two local foundations, the Joe Merchep Umpqua River
Foundation and the Douglas Timber Operations= Fisheries Enhancement Derby. In
addition, the Oregon Water Resources Department and Douglas County Watermaster
assisted with the project by examining water rights and helping to devise a plan whereby
2.5 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water is being returned to the stream.
Project Highlights and Successes
Increased Instream Flows. Using a jack hammer, acetylene torch, excavator,
loader, and dump truck, the structure was successfully removed. Because ditch irrigation
is the least efficient use of water because of losses from evaporation and leakage,
irrigation was switched to the more efficient sprinkler type, with individual pumps
drawing from the stream=s surface water. Water temperature has improved, and flows
have increased by 2.5 cfs during the summer. The restoration of the streambed to its
historical level allows passage of salmon and trout to the 10 miles of stream above the
dam for the first time in nearly a century, benefiting cutthroat trout, coho salmon, and
steelhead with additional habitat. In the winter of 2000 area landowners confirmed the

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project's success when they identified several coho upstream of the diversion site. Other
aquatic life will also benefit from the reconnection of the areas above and below the dam.
Riparian Restoration. Streambank restoration along the 2Vi -mile project site
consisted of planting the riparian area, which had not supported vegetation for a century
because of annual flooding from irrigation. To protect young seedlings from livestock,
the areas were fenced until the vegetation could become established. Establishing this
vegetation will contribute to the efforts to reduce stream temperature to levels that better
support cold-water fish.
Contact Information: Bob Kinyon, Umpqua Basin Watershed Council, 541-673-5756
Project Location: Douglas County, Oregon
Primary Sources of Pollution: withdrawals and diversions for irrigation, other changes to
stream channel
Primary NPS Pollutants: high stream temperature, flow modification
Remediation/Project Activities: removal of diversion dam and concrete apron,
conversion from ditch to sprinkler irrigation, revegetation of riparian area, livestock
exclusion
Results: additional 2.5 cfs water in stream, additional 10-mile passage for cutthroat trout,
coho salmon, and steelhead
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's
Watershed Improvement Project Bulletin: South Myrtle Creek Ditch Project, Douglas County, Oregon.
Project Completion Report by Bob Kinyon, Umpqua Basin Watershed Council, February 2001. Submitted
by Ivan Camacho, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

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Wet Meadow Restoration in the Upper Grande Ronde
Basin: Channel Restoration Brings Cooler Waters
The streams of the Grande Ronde Basin have historically provided a rich habitat for cold-
water fish such as rainbow trout, salmon, summer steelhead, and bull trout. However, cold-water
fish production has been declining since 1970 as a result of land use changes. Those changes
have reduced riparian vegetation by 75 percent and simplified in-stream habitat through grazing
practices and channel modifications. Stream temperatures have risen as riparian vegetation that
once shaded the streams has been lost, and higher temperatures in the stream have resulted in
reduced cold-water fish populations.
Restoring the channel to its natural pattern
In July 1997 the Oregon Department of Environment Quality used 319 funds to divert a
half-mile section of lower McCoy Creek from its channelized segment into the remnants of a
historical meandering wet meadow channel. The stream was treated by stabilizing and
revegetating riparian areas, restoring wet meadow conditions, and restoring old channels to allow
the stream to naturally meander.
Dramatic results
Response within the newly restored channel section was quick and dramatic. Existing
vegetation, particularly willows, grew quickly in the new riparian area. Beavers moved in and
succeeded in building dams, which created several large, deep pools and numerous smaller pools
for fish and waterfowl. Following the channel diversion in 1997, cooler temperatures were
measured within the boundaries of the restored reach. Compared to the temperature of the water
flowing into the restored section, maximum water temperatures measured in the middle of the
reach were 3.0 °C cooler in 1997 and 4.6 °C cooler in 1998. In 1998 water temperature measured
at the bottom of the reach was 0.9 °C cooler than the temperature measured at the top.
Cooling within the restored section can be attributed to the lower gradient and the deeper,
meandering channel, which allows more mixing with cool subsurface water. The shading of
surface waters by riparian vegetation also contributes to cooler temperatures. Further protection
from solar heating is provided by the increased depth and lower width-to-depth ratio in the river.
Early results of cooler water temperatures within the restored section are encouraging.
Contact Information: Mitch Wolgamott, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,
Pendleton Office, 700 SE Emigrant, Suite 330, Pendleton, OR 97801, 541 975-2120
Project Location: Upper Grande Ronde Basin, Oregon
Source of Problem: higher stream temperature
Remediation/Project Activities: channel restoration
Results: declining water temperature, increased riparian growth
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Grande Ronde Section 319 National Monitoring Program
Project, Temperature Monitoring Summary Report, 1993-1998 by Larry Whitney, Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality.

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Narrows Bioengineering Project: Cold Water
Fishery Restored Through Bioengineering
Conewago Creek, just north of Arendtsville in Adams County, Pennsylvania (commonly
referred to as "The Narrows" is considered one of the most scenic stream corridors in the
county. The creek is listed as a "high quality cold water fishery" and a wild trout stream
by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and is actively stocked by several local
private clubs.
A series of severe rain events in the summer and early fall of 1996 resulted in Adams
County's receiving more than 90 inches of rain, nearly 4 feet more than the county
average. As a result, two sections of Conewago Creek in The Narrows were heavily
damaged, resulting in severe streambank erosion. The damage to the upper of the two
sites was exacerbated by fallen trees, and the erosion on the lower section was the result
of bedload deposit coming primarily from the upper site. In the past 2 years, it has been
estimated that: more than 8,000 tons of soil has fallen into the creek from these two sites.
The stream banks were filling up pools, degrading the conditions necessary for fish to
thrive in the creek.
In 1998 the two sites on Conewago Creek were targeted for a streambank stabilization
project totaling 800 linear feet. Because of aesthetics and cost, the "standard" riprap
protection design was considered undesirable and bioengineering techniques were used
instead.
Stabilizing eroding slope
Work began on the project in 1999 and involved the installation of native rock and root
wads along the streambank. The existing site conditions included down or ready-to-fall
trees, which were used as root wads to help stabilize the toe of the bank. The goal was
for the root wads and rock to provide the large, heavy material necessary to stabilize the
toe of the eroding slope and prevent further undercutting. The steep bank was then
regraded to establish a more stable slope, using the gravel material removed from the
adjacent stream bank. This process "softened" this stream bank, allowing the stream to
"move" away from the newly stabilized banks.
The project also involved planting trees (donated by Adams County Trout Unlimited) and
grass to improve the aesthetics of the site and to further aid in stabilization. Nine
varieties of trees were planted; they were chosen based on the existing tree species
around the sites.
Stabilization success
The project was officially completed on March 27,1999. Natural succession is occurring
at the site as many seedlings are growing quite well. Deep pools are beginning to form,
particularly at the root wad structures. The root wads are providing excellent fish habitat,
and dozens of trout can now frequently be seen swimming near the root wads in the deep
pools that were created. Although the project has not yet been tested by extremely high

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water levels, small storm events have clearly not endangered the integrity of any of the
root wad structures.
Contact Information: Brian Sneeringer, Adams County Conservation District, 57 North
Fifth Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325,717-334-0636 (ext. 306), bsneeringer@acc.pa.net
Project Location: Adams County, Pennsylvania
Primary Sources of Pollution: streambank erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank stabilization (root wads, rocks, planting)
Results: 800 feet of stream bank stabilized, deep pools
~Information for this success story was gleaned from The Narrows Bioengineering Section 319 Grant
Project Proposal and The Narrows Bioengineering Section 319 Grant Project Final Report. Submitted by
Russell Wagner, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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Villanova's Storm Water Wetland Retrofit: BMP
Treats Runoff and Provides Research Site
Along the border between Montgomery and Delaware Counties in the southeast corner of
Pennsylvania lies a 41-acre urban watershed. The watershed consists of more than 16
acres of impervious surface, including Villanova University's parking, dormitories, office
buildings, railroads, highways, and housing areas. An existing storm water detention
basin on the university's property was targeted as an ideal site for a 319 retrofit project.
This basin had the potential to treat the runoff that forms the headwaters of a watershed
listed as medium priority on the state's degraded watershed list and to treat flows that
affect a high-priority stream segment on the state's section 303(d) list.
Project goals
The purpose of the 319 project was to make a storm water wetland out of the existing
detention basin, creating a water quality treatment facility. Water quality considerations
were not part of the original design. The existing storm water detention basin was
originally designed to reduce the increased peak flows coming from the university
campus. Runoff entered the basin through sheet flow from a large parking lot and
through two major pipes. The site had an existing 12-inch underdrain that quickly carried
the water through the basin, directly connecting the parking lots to the headwaters of a
small first-order stream. The site was designed to remain dry except during storm events,
but there was always some flow through the underdrain, supporting the concept that the
site was ideal for creating a storm water wetland.
One goal of the project was to prove that retrofitting could be accomplished easily on an
existing structure without violating the original design concept. The retrofit of the basin
therefore concentrated on small storms while not violating the original storm water peak
flow controls required by law.
The basin was redesigned by removing the underground pipes, moving earth to create a
meandering flow path, adding a sediment forebay, and modifying the structure outlet.
Wetland plantings also were made; plants were selected for diversity and based on their
ability to thrive at different inundation levels.
Low flows would now travel through the sediment forebay to give particles a chance to
settle out. Flows continue through a meandering wetland channel, maximizing contact
with the plants, and finally through a deeper pool and the outlet structure. The flow path
for larger storms would provide for the flow to go over a berm, preventing resuspension
of the sediments collected in the structure, thus using the original design for peak flow
management while avoiding damage to the low-flow components.
Multiple benefits
Because it is located on the university's property, this storm water wetland is not only
aiding in the reduction of pollutants for this headwater but also serving as a permanent
research and demonstration site. To date, hundreds of visitors have toured the site, and

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the site is being incorporated into a demonstration "theme park" of multiple BMPs
(including signage) on Villanova's property.
The wetland project was completed at the end of 2000, and the current plan is to wait a
year for the wetlands to mature before starting to collect water quality samples.
Hydrologic and hydraulic monitoring is already under way, and flowmeters and a rain
gage also have been installed to collect data. It is projected that total suspended solids
will be reduced by 70 percent, total phosphorus by 40 percent, total nitrogen by 20
percent, and lead by 75 percent.
Contact Information: Robert Traver, Associate Professor, Villanova University, 610-519-
7899, robert.traver@villanova.edu
Project Location: Montgomery and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, metals
Remediation/Project Activities: conversion of storm water detention basin to storm water
wetland
Results: monitoring in progress
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Conversion of an Urban Stormwater Detention Basin
to a Wetland Best Management Practice, Final Report (December 2000), and the project web page at
www87.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.traver (click "319 Stormwater Wetland Retrofit"). Submitted by
Russell Wagner, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

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Coastal Nonpoint Source Controls:
Executive Order Adopts Section 6217(g)
Management Measures an Official Policy
Puerto Rico is one of 29 U.S. states and territories with special programs and
responsibilities for protecting and managing important coastal resources. To address more
specifically the impacts of nonpoint source pollution on coastal water quality, Congress enacted
the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990. Section 6217 of the act requires
that each state with an approved coastal zone management program (including Puerto Rico)
develop a Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program and submit it to EPA and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for approval. Each program must provide for
the implementation of technical management measures (section 6217(g) measures) that address
major categories of nonpoint sources that impair or threaten coastal waters nationally, including
agricultural runoff; urban runoff; forestry runoff; marinas and recreational boating; and
channelization and channel modification, dams, and streambank and shoreline erosion.
On February 8, 1999, then Governor Pedro Rosello signed an executive order (OE-1999-
08) adopting the section 6217(g) management measures as official public policy throughout the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The order requires the creation of an Interagency Committee of
lead Commonwealth agencies to uphold the mandate for the implementation of the section
6217(g) management measures and to ensure compliance with the measures for the major
categories of nonpoint source pollution. The Committee is charged with developing and
implementing a plan for the control of nonpoint sources of pollution throughout Puerto Rico,
while adopting the section 6217(g) measures as "the official technical guidelines of the Plan."
The Committee is composed of representatives from various agencies in Puerto Rico,
such as the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources, the Regulations and Permits Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Soil
Conservation Districts, the Planning Board, the Agricultural Experiment Station and the
Agricultural Extension Service, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation and
Public Works, the Highway and Transportation Authority, the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority,
the Electric Power Authority, the Ports Authority, and any other government institution that the
Committee identifies as essential to developing and implementing the plan.
The executive order calls for all Committee member agencies to adopt the 6217(g)
measures and integrate them into their existing decision-making processes as soon as possible,
but not later than two years from the effective date of the order. This requirement applies to
direct agency activities and authorizations for other public and private activities. The order also
lists several specific legal and administrative mechanisms that the Commonwealth agencies must
use to demonstrate compliance with the measures. Finally, the order requires the Committee
members to jointly develop and implement the "public policies, plans, programs, or
organizational structures required" to ensure the effective implementation of the required
management measures. The Committee meets every month to review and coordinate agency

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efforts and track plan implementation. The Committee is also responsible for preparing a plan
implementation status report for the Governor by February 8, 2002.
The Committee was intricately involved in developing Puerto Rico's Coastal Nonpoint
Pollution Control Program, which contains detailed 5-year plans and a 15-year strategy to
implement the executive order. The executive order provides for adequate, enforceable policies
and mechanisms to ensure implementation of the section 6217(g) management measures. As a
result, on October 17, 2000, Puerto Rico received federal approval (from NOAA and EPA) for
the Commonwealth's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. The program is the first
among U.S. island territories to receive full federal approval and the fourth overall after
Maryland, Rhode Island, and California. Upon approval of its plan, Puerto Rico immediately
began to implement of the 6217(g) management measures in all public activities, including the
granting of authorizations or permits for public or private actions.
Contact Information: Raul Santini, Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources, P.O. Box 9066600, Puerta de Tierra, PR 00906-6600,787-724-2816
prczmp@caribe.net; Ruben Gonzalez, Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, P.O. Box
11488, Santurce, PR 00910-1488,787-767-8181, jcaagua@prtc.net
~Submitted by Katie Lynch, EPA Region 2.

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Curran Brook Sedimentation Pond: Multiple
Partners Construct Storm Water Control System
The Pawtucket Water Supply Board (PWSB) reservoir system in Rhode Island
serves the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls and the southern portion of the town of
Cumberland. The system serves some 110,000 customers. The PWSB's water resources
of both surface water and groundwater. The four surface water reservoirs—Diamond
Hill Reservoir, Arnold Mills Reservoir, Robin Hollow Pond, and Happy Hollow Pond—
are the major impoundments controlled by PWSB. The water treatment plant for PWSB
is located at the southern end of Happy Hollow Pond.
At the outset of the project, Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management's (RIDEM's) most recent assessment of the Happy Hollow Reservoir
determined that the reservoir was only partially supporting its designated use because of
high levels of nutrients, bacterial contaminants, siltation, and organic compounds, which
were most probably transmitted by runoff from the highly urbanized surroundings.
Bacterial pollution was later confirmed as part of a TMDL for Robin Hollow Pond.
Robin Hollow Pond, located in the lower portion of the Pawtucket Water Supply
watershed, feeds directly into Happy Hollow Pond, which is an EPA-designated
community water supply. Robin Hollow Pond receives runoff from the most urbanized
portion of the watershed. The urbanized area is to the west of the pond in the town of
Cumberland. The project focused on removing nutrients, bacterial contaminants, siltation,
and inorganic compounds from runoff in the urbanized watershed, thereby decreasing the
need for costly water purification treatments.
State-of-the-art storm water control system
The project consisted of designing, permitting, and building a state-of-the-art
storm water control system to replace an undersized and antiquated sediment pond. The
new system includes a sediment forebay, water quality pond, and artificially created
wetland to treat the storm water during wet weather events. Project partners included the
Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, PWSB, USDA's Soil Conservation Service
(now the Natural Resources Conservation Service), RIDEM, and EPA Region 1.
This project occurred in two phases. Phase 1 included design and permitting, and
Phase 2 completed the project with the construction.
Model project
The system was completed in October 1999. It has been featured in several field
reviews, including the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission's
2000 Annual Nonpoint Source Conference. PWSB has also been monitoring the system
to determine its effectiveness in removing the pollutants of concern.

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Contact Information: Jim Riordan, Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908,401-222-4700 (ext. 4421),
iriordan @doa.state.ri.us
Project Location: Cumberland, Rhode Island
Primary Source of Problem: urban storm water runoff
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, bacterial contaminants, siltation, organic compounds
Remediation/Project Activities: construction of storm water control system
Results: monitoring in progress
^Submitted by Jim Riordan, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

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Galilee Salt Marsh Restoration: Undersized
Culverts Replaced with Self-Regulating Gates
The coastal features of Southern Rhode Island provide a breathtaking variety of
special habitats. The Galilee Bird Sanctuary is a 128-acre coastal wetland complex owned
and managed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM),
Division of Fish and Wildlife. The sanctuary is east of the port of Galilee and is bounded
by the Galilee Escape Road to the north and Sand Hill Cove Road to the south.
Unfortunately, much the Galilee Salt Marsh has led a fractured existence. During
the 1950s unconfined dredge spoil from the Port of Galilee was deposited over portions
of the western side of the salt marsh where the Galilee Bird Sanctuary is located. This
disposal filled in a tidal channel that had been present in this location and significantly
altered the natural hydrology of the marsh.
During a 1954 hurricane, the extreme flooding of Sand Hill Cove Road trapped
the residents of Great Island. To prevent this from occurring again, the State Division of
Public Works constructed the Galilee Escape Road in 1956. Construction of the Escape
Road fragmented the previously continuous salt marsh, eliminating in the process about 7
acres of valuable marsh habitat. Restriction of tidal flushing transformed the once-
productive salt marsh into dense thickets of Phragmites and shrubs, causing reduction of
natural coastal wetland habitats for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, fish, and shellfish.
Self-regulating gates
The Galilee Salt Marsh Restoration Project was a multimillion-dollar effort with a
number of contributing partners, including the Rhode Island Department of
Transportation, Army Corp of Engineers, Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife,
RIDEM Fish and Wildlife, and other agencies, under the auspices of the Coastal America
Program.
Section 319 funding contributed to the restoration efforts with a $64,300 grant to
replace the undersized culverts and install self-regulating sluice and tide gates. The self-
regulating gates allow for minimum intervention and maintenance and were devised as an
alternative to more costly and operation-intensive electric gates. The gates operate using a
system of floats and balances that are precisely calibrated to close when water reaches a
preset level.
Impressive results
Marsh restoration was completed and dedicated October 1997. Results have been
strong. Phragmites was reduced by 68 percent at the completion of the 1999 growing
season, and height was reduced from 11 feet to 3.5 feet. Fish and wildlife populations
have responded to the restoration in dramatic fashion: finfish recolonized the tidal creeks
within days following opening of the tide gates. Waterfowl (duck and geese), including
the American black duck, use the restored marsh extensively for nesting and feeding and

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during migration. In total, approximately 84 acres of salt marsh habitats and 14 acres of
tidal creeks and ponds were restored.
Complete restoration is expected to take 10 years or more. The project has been an
enormous success, and the salt marsh has been designated a bird sanctuary. The project is
an excellent demonstration of collaboration among various branches of government.
Contact Information: Jim Riordan, RIDEM Office of Water Resources, 401-222-4700
(ext. 4421), iriordan@doa.state.ri.us: Brian Tefft, RIDEM Division Fish and Wildlife,
P.O. Box 218, West Kingston, RI02892,401-789-0281
Project Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island
Primary Source of Problem: filled tidal channel/salt marsh
Primary Impact: dense thickets of Phragmites/shrubs; reduction of wetland habitats for
migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, fish, and shellfish
Remediation/Project Activities: installation of self-regulating sluice and tide gates
Results: 68 percent reduction of Phragmites, restoration of 84 acres of salt marsh habitats
and 14 acres of tidal creeks and ponds
~Submitted by Jim Riordan, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

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Constructed Wetlands for Failing Septic Tanks:
New Technologies Solve an Old Problem
Failing septic systems can result in partially treated or untreated surface
wastewater containing fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients, causing nonpoint source
pollution in drainageways, streams, and lakes. Current technology resulting from a 3-year
study on nine constructed wetland systems conducted by Dr. Kevin White of the
University of South Alabama is being used in the design of constructed wetlands in South
Carolina.
The system consists of two shallow basins about 1 foot in depth and containing
gravel, which supports emergent vegetation. The first of the two cells is lined to prevent
seepage, while the second is unlined and acts as a disposal field. The water level is
maintained below the gravel surface, thus preventing odors, public exposure, and vector
problems. In an alternative design, a standard field drain system is used in place of the
second cell.
Encouraging results
Preliminary data collected by the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control (SCDHEC) between May 1999 and April 2000 on eight of these
systems constructed statewide show significant reductions in nutrients and bacteria as a
result of treatment. The monitoring shows an average 99 percent reduction in fecal
coliform bacteria, 86 percent in total suspended solids, 77 percent in BOD5, 39 percent in
total phosphorus, 59 percent in nitrate, and 35 percent in ammonia.
Education component
The East Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development Council is
managing the construction of 10 of these constructed wetland systems to replace failing
septic tank systems at homes in a watershed surrounding Lake Murray. This lake is a
large recreational impoundment in central South Carolina, where poor soil conditions and
steep slopes are causing some conventional systems to fail. A comprehensive technology
transfer program-will complemenHhe projectreducating citizens about-the benefits of the
management practice. The Ninety-Six District Resource Conservation and Development
Council is also conducting a similar project in Greenwood County.
Contact Information: Keith Cain, East Piedmont RCD Council, 414A South Congress
Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180, 803-635-2757, Keith.Cain@sc.usda.gov
Project Location: South Carolina
Primary Sources of Pollution: failing septic tanks
Primary NPS Pollutants: fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetland systems

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Results: reductions of 99 percent in fecal coliform bacteria, 86 percent in total suspended
solids, 77 percent in BOD5, 39 percent in total phosphorus, 59 percent in nitrate, 35
percent in ammonia
~Information for this success story was gleaned from EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site at
http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Stevens Creek Watershed Project: Demonstration
Sites Show Reductions in Fecal Coliform Bacteria
The Stevens Creek watershed is in Edgefield, McCormick, Greenwood, and
Saluda Counties, South Carolina. Historical water quality data indicate increasing trends
in fecal colifrom bacteria, turbidity, and total phosphorus and decreasing trends in
dissolved oxygen. Nonpoint source pollution is degrading the quality of water for
municipal water supply, contributing to deterioration of fisheries, reducing stream
channel capacities, and lowering the aesthetic values of the area. About 85 to 90 percent
of the water quality impacts in the Stevens Creek watershed are estimated to be caused by
agriculture.
Implementing best management practices
The goal of the Stevens Creek Watershed Project was to reduce sediment,
nutrients, and chemical runoff from confined and unconfined livestock operations. The
Edgefield Soil and Water Conservation District and Ninety-Six District Resource
Conservation and Development Council, Inc., implemented the project over a 3-year
period between May 1995 and July 1998. The project focused on using systems of best
management practices (BMPs) and whole farm planning and management as keys to the
sustainability of farming operations. The costs of the demonstrations were covered by
section 319 funds and the farmers on whose farms the demonstrations were located.
Two farms in the watershed were selected as demonstration sites—a dairy
operation and a poultry farm, both in close proximity to flowing streams. BMPs
implemented on the dairy farm included pasture grazing management, stream protection
by fencing off streambanks and providing alternative water sources for livestock, and
additional riparian vegetation (field borders and filter strips). Nutrient management, in
the form of dead bird composting, was the target BMP for the chicken farm. A waste
stacking shed was built into the ground behind the poultry houses, with minimal soil
disturbance. Both farms had BMPs implemented in June 1996.
Taking stock of improvements
Three-monitoring-stations were established for each farm, one upstream of the
BMP implementation, one downstream, and a control (reference) site. Baseline data
were collected from January 1996 through June 1996, and regular monitoring began in
July 1996 and continued for 2xh years (through January 1999).
Water quality sampling results indicated significant reductions in fecal coliform
bacteria at both the downstream poultry and dairy farm stations after BMP
implementation. Preimplementation sampling found fecal coliform bacteria levels for all
stations ranging from a low of 5 colonies per 100 mL to a high of more than 2 million
colonies per 100 mL; postimplementation results for all stations ranged from 2/100 mL to
58,000/100 mL. Nutrient management (dead bird composting) on the poultry farm
significantly reduced fecal coliform bacteria and total suspended solids concentrations
(both spatially and temporally). On the dairy farm, pasture grazing management and

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animal fencing did significantly reduce fecal coliform bacteria concentrations (spatially
and temporally), but they did not reduce total suspended solids concentrations at the
downstream station.
Contact Information: Doug Fabel, South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201-1708; 803-898-4222,
fabeldj @columb32.dhec.state.sc.us
Project Location: Edgefield, McCormick, Greenwood, and Saluda Counties, South
Carolina
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture
Primary NPS Pollutants: fecal coliform bacteria, sediment, phosphorus
Remediation/Project Activities: dairy farm BMPs (grazing management, fencing,
alternative water sources for livestock, riparian vegetation establishment), nutrient
management for poultry farm
Results: reductions in fecal coliform bacteria
¦"Information for this success story was gleaned (in part) from The Stevens Creek Watershed Project
(Technical Report No. 010-99), December 1999. Submitted by Doug Fabel, South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control.

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Big Stone Lake Restoration Project: Better Water
Quality Improves Fisheries, Recreation
Big Stone Lake is on the border between South Dakota and Minnesota. The lake occupies
the valley of a glacial river that once drained historic Lake Aggasiz. The surface area of the lake
is 12,610 acres, and the lake extends southward for 26 miles from Browns Valley, Minnesota, to
Ortonville, Minnesota, and Big Stone City, South Dakota.
Big Stone Lake and its fishery are the primary feature for Big Stone Lake State Park,
Hartford Beach State Park, and several resorts. The lake is also an important recreational
attraction for Ortonville, Big Stone City, and surrounding communities. The fishery of the lake
has the potential to contribute substantially to local and state economies. Historically, the fishery
has been managed primarily for walleye, with a secondary emphasis on yellow perch, bluegill,
black crappie, northern pike, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. In samples taken in 1971
through 1985, Walleye abundance, as measured by average gill net catch rates, was near the low
end of the "normal" range for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.
Agricultural, domestic, and municipal pollution have degraded fish habitat, reduced
recreational opportunities, reduced the aesthetic quality of the lake, and increased the likelihood
of more direct effects on the fisheries in the form of fish kills. Drainage and land use changes in
the lake's watershed have contributed to increased sedimentation, nutrient loading, changes in
tributary flows, increases in water level fluctuations, and direct destruction of aquatic habitats.
Big Stone Lake partners
In the early 1980s citizens of South Dakota and Minnesota requested assistance from both
states and EPA to begin an effort to restore Big Stone Lake. The primary concerns were poor
water quality, excessive algae blooms, sedimentation, rooted aquatic vegetation, and reduced
recreation potential.
A series of EPA section 314 and section 319 grants, beginning in 1983, have provided
funding for lake and watershed restoration projects; the most recent 319 funding was awarded in
1996 and 1999. Currently, USDA and Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding is also
being used to implement additional conservation practices in Roberts and Marshall counties. The
key partners in the Big Stone Lake Restoration Project are watershed landowners; lake residents;
local counties, conservation districts, and municipalities; Upper Minnesota River Watershed
District; Citizens for Big Stone Lake; South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural
Resources; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; EPA; Natural Resources Conservation Service;
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Restoration project
Various conservation and restoration practices have been implemented through the Big
Stone Lake Restoration Project. Conservation practices in the lake's watershed include the
installation of more than 50 animal waste management systems, no-till planting of crops,
construction of multiple-use wetlands, grassed waterways through cropland fields, stream buffer
strips, streambank stabilization, and implementation of the USDA Conservation Reserve

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Program. In addition, six municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the watershed have been
upgraded.
Restoration practices implemented at the lake include access road erosion control,
shoreline stabilization, and upgraded wastewater treatment. In addition, a new lake outlet control
structure and debris barrier were constructed at the south end of the lake. The main purpose of
the structure is to divert the majority of flow from the Whetstone River away from Big Stone
Lake. The Whetstone River was diverted into the lake in the 1930s to augment lake levels, but
the diversion resulted in excessive nutrients and sediment being deposited in the lake. The new
control structure diverts these contaminants away from the lake in accordance with the original
river flow pattern.
Improved water quality and recreational use
The results of the Big Stone Lake Restoration Project are beginning to be realized in
improved water quality. Water sampling results have shown a gradual but steady improvement
in recent years. The trophic status of the lake has changed from hypereutrophic (extremely
nutrient-rich) to eutrophic (nutrient-rich). As a result, algae blooms are less extensive and
shorter in duration.
The fisheries of the lake also have improved to the point that a national walleye circuit
fishing tournament is held annually at Big Stone Lake. Attendance records at Big Stone Lake
State Park on the Minnesota side and Hartford Beach State Park on the South Dakota side have
documented substantial increases in recreational use of the lake, as shown in the accompanying
table. Comments made by lake residents indicate appreciation of the water quality improvement
that has occurred to date.
Attendance at State Parks on Big Stone Lake
(Attendance increases correlate with improvements in water quality)
Year
Big Stone Lake State Park (MN)
Hartford Beach State Park (SD)
1986 to 1993 (avg.)
11,000 to 13,000
57,000 to 59,000
1994
15,500
55,000
1995
18,500
66,336
1996
25,000
61,994
1997
28,500
66,375
1998
33,700
72,000
1999
36,559
77,226
Contact Information: Jason Rehn, Roberts County, P.O. Box 128, Sisseton, SD, 57262-1523,
605-698-3923.
Project Location: Big Stone Lake, South Dakota
Primary Sources of Pollution: agricultural, domestic, and municipal pollution; drainage and land
use changes
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment; nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs, including animal waste management systems,
no-till planting, buffers; construction of lake outlet control structure and debris barrier

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Results: change of lake status from hypereutrophic to eutrophic, shorter algae blooms, increased
state park attendance and recreational use of lake
~Submitted by Duane Murphy, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

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Management-Intensive Grazing Project:
Rotational Grazing Reduces
Erosion, Increases Profits
Farmers, ranchers, and all landowners who manage grasslands in South Dakota
face the dual challenges of running a profitable business and sustaining a quality
grassland environment. Through the Management-Intensive Grazing Systems Project,
initiated in July 1999 with support of 319 funding, South Dakota grassland managers,
grassland and livestock organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies are working
together to design, implement, and monitor six "management-intensive" grazing systems
in South Dakota.
The "management-intensive" grazing method focuses on a high (intensive) level
of management; the term does not mean that the grassland vegetation is grazed intensely
(short). Management-intensive grazing systems often involve 15 or more pastures and
short 2- or 3 -day grazing periods. Information learned from the on-ranch demonstrations
and from other producers using this method is shared with other grassland managers,
researchers, agency specialists, and the public.
Site example
In 2000 Mark Sip of Geddes, South Dakota, began to use a 205-acre
management-intensive grazing system for his pastures. The pastures were divided into
10 paddocks, ranging from 17 to 27 acres in size, with a stocking rate of 1.0 animal unit
months per acre. This is a safe stocking rate under normal conditions using continuous
season-long stocking.
Livestock water is supplied to the pastures by a buried pipeline using rural water
as the water source. An aboveground pipeline serves as a distribution system to the 10
paddocks. All division fences consist of polywire and temporary fiberglass posts.
Several of the paddocks use a narrow lane to access the water tank. The fences are
moved as the cattle are rotated to fresh grass.
The entire area supports a plant community composed of a mixture of cool season
and warm season native plants. Cool season plants dominate the pastures. It is projected
that the warm season native plants will benefit from the rests provided and will begin to
increase. This would provide a higher-quality diet to the livestock during the hot summer
months.
Benefits realized
The environmental benefits offered by management-intensive grazing include
improved grassland vegetation and streambank protection, resulting in significant
reductions of water runoff that carries nutrients and sediment.

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Increased farm or ranch profit also results from management-intensive grazing.
Mr. Sip estimates that although the initial cost of establishing a rotational grazing
program in his pastures was approximately $1,560, the rotational grazing theoretically
increased his revenue by $4,680. Not only are farms capable of increasing their stocking
rates but they also can better stockpile grass for winter grazing, which reduces the need to
feed hay and lowers total feed costs.
Contact Information: John Deppe, Coordinator, Lower James RC&D, 1820 North
Kimball, Mitchell, SD 57301,605-996-1031
Project Location: Geddes, South Dakota
Primary Source of Pollution: cattle grazing
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: management-intensive grazing
Results: reduced erosion (decreases sediment/nutrients into water), increased farm profit
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the South Dakota Association of Conservation
Districts' web site at www.sd.nacdnet.org/grazing/index.html.

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Ghost River Land Acquisition Project: River
Protected by Restoring Forested Wetlands
The Ghost River region of the Wolf River is part of the larger Wolf River
Conservation Initiative. The Wolf River is an unchannelized river in west Tennessee
extending from the Mississippi-Tennessee state line in Fayette County to Memphis,
where it becomes channeled in Shelby County. The Ghost River section begins at the
bridge at LaGrange and continues to Bateman's bridge approximately 10 miles to the
west. This section of the Wolf River features a meandering river channel, a swamp forest
where the river channel is braided, and an open swamp lake. The banks and parts of the
river are forested, which provides significant wildlife value. The overall water quality is
considered good because the river supports many species of filter-feeding mussels.
The significance of the Ghost River region relates to its unaltered channel, which
supports important forest communities in need of protection. These communities are bald
cypress, water tupelo, and bottomland hardwood forests. The Wolf River has numerous
recreational uses that are compatible with natural area preservation. They include
hunting, fishing, canoeing, birding, and other nature appreciation activities. Education
and research are encouraged and might be important parts of the management to restore
bottomland hardwood forests and buffer areas.
Increasingly, land along the Wolf River is being cleared of natural bottomland
hardwoods and other wetland vegetation. Much of the watershed is under agricultural
production, which contributes significantly to increased sedimentation in the river and
loss of riparian and wetland habitats. In many places along the Wolf River, cattle access
the river and associated wetlands, causing additional erosion. Primary threats to the river
include forest fragmentation and erosion from logging, channelization, contamination and
erosion from agricultural use, pollution caused by dumping, and urban sprawl. There are
also other threats, such as noise and toxic pollution from motor boat use in the swamp
lake, off-road vehicle use, and the introduction and spread of invasive exotic species. Any
use of invasive exotic plant species in food plots in the adjacent Wildlife Management
Area could pose a threat.
A three-phase project
The Ghost River Initiative sought to prevent these threats to the Ghost River
section of the Wolf River by acquiring land and establishing conservation easements to
protect and enhance water quality. The tracts identified for acquisition flood annually
and have a high potential for wetland and riparian habitat restoration with associated
water quality improvement.
To accomplish riparian habitat conservation and wetland habitat restoration on the
Ghost River, a three-phase project was developed. First, property would be purchased.
Second, with cooperating organizations, a plan would be developed for thorough
restoration of the tracts, including riparian reforestation, wetland restoration, and cattle

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exclusion. The third phase would involve implementation of the restoration work in
association with cooperating organizations. Support for this project included $250,000 in
319 funding, plus $284,755 in match.
Results and other efforts
More than 1,500 acres have been purchased in the Ghost River section for long-
term conservation of the riparian and wetland habitats. These properties are, for the most
part, adjacent to one another. The Ghost River Initiative represents one of many
conservation projects under way to protect the Wolf River. Other efforts continue to
protect the area through acquisition, conservation easements, registry agreements, or
other forms of cooperative management agreements.
Management and restoration plans for the area are currently under development.
Subject to other funding, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation,
Division of Natural Heritage, will complete a biodiversity field review of the properties
to use in the development of a comprehensive management and restoration plan.
The restoration of bottomland hardwood forested wetlands is important in
Tennessee because of the decline in this category of wetland habitats. Efforts will
continue to ensure that this unique river system is preserved in its natural state for future
generations of Tennesseans to enjoy.
Contact Information: Reggie Reeves, Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation, Division of Natural Heritage, 8th Floor, L&C Tower, Nashville, TN
37024,615-532-0434
Project Location: Grand Junction, Tennessee
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, logging, channelization
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetlands
Results: acquisition of more than 1,500 acres
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
at http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Using Constructed Wetlands to Clean Up
Pesticides: Container Nurseries Will Benefit from
Successful Pilot-Scale Study
Container nurseries account for an increasing share of total nurseries in Middle
Tennessee. The nursery industry is concentrated in that part of Tennessee and ranks in the
top 10 agricultural industries in the state each year. Container nurseries traditionally
apply large amounts of pesticides and nutrients to the nursery crops, which are
susceptible to runoff into surface waters. Collection ponds have been used with some
limited success but pesticide or nutrient residues can concentrate in the ponds because
little if any treatment to remove harmful substances is used.
Although constructed wetlands have not been evaluated for use in container
nurseries, Tennessee Technology University's (TTU) Water Center has used such
wetlands to treat the town of Baxter's wastewater, and the wetlands have been operating
successfully for several years. This site was ideal for incorporation of a container nursery
to demonstrate constructed wetland treatments since the nursery was in place and
operational.
Project goals
The primary goal of the project was to demonstrate constructed wetlands as a
cost-effective best management practice (BMP) to reduce pesticide and nutrient runoff
and to purify water in container nurseries. The specific objectives were to (1) determine
removal rates of simazine, metolachlor, nitrogen, and phosphorus from container nursery
runoff using constructed wetland cells; (2) determine the effect of vegetation (soft-stem
bulrush), flow, depth, and aspect of constructed wetlands on herbicide and nutrient
removal; and (3) design and install a pilot-scale, subsurface-flow gravel constructed
wetland at a container nursery grower's site for removal of herbicides and nutrients and
for demonstration to growers and other interested parties.
In the spring and summer of 1998 and 1999, a field study was conducted at the
Baxter, Tennessee, wastewater treatment plant, where constructed wetland cells have
been studied since 1992. A 450-square-meter container nursery with overhead irrigation
was built on-site. Water runoff from the container nursery was pumped into 14 gravel
subsurface-flow constructed wetland cells. Bulrush (Scirpus validus) was grown in seven
of the cells, and seven cells had no plants. The wetland cells were either 30 or 45
centimeters in depth.-Three loading rates of runoff water containing herbicides and
nutrients were added, corresponding to hydraulic retention times of 2 to 21 days. The
removal of herbicides (simazine and metolachlor) and nutrients (nitrogen and
phosphorus) in each of the constructed wetland cells was calculated and correlated with
bulrush vegetation, loading rates, depth of cell, and hydraulic retention time.

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Promising results
Constructed wetland cells with plants removed significantly more simazine,
nitrogen, and phosphorus than cells without plants. Cells with plants rempved more
metolachlor at 2- to 8-day retention times, but at higher water retention times there was
no difference. Nitrogen removal was greater in the cells 45 cm deep (89 percent) than in
the cells 30 cm deep (76 percent). Depth did not affect herbicide or phosphorus removal.
Removal of simazine ranged from 57 to 96 percent, and metolachlor removal ranged
from 18 to 95 percent of that applied; no significant difference in removal was seen
between the first year and second year of the project. In constructed wetland cells with
plants, about 60 to 65 percent of herbicides were removed at the high loading rate, which
was equivalent to a 2- or 3-day hydraulic retention time. Increasing the retention time to 8
or more days improved herbicide removals to above 80 percent in the cells with plants.
Nitrogen removal was greater than 90 percent in all vegetated cells. Phosphate removal
was greater than 85 percent in all vegetated cells except one cell, which had the shortest
retention time.
A newly constructed wetland might require some time for plants to become
established, thus affecting removal efficiencies. The system at Baxter was a mature
system, with wetland bulrush plants established since 1992 and plant densities greater
than 300 stems per square meter. A pilot, subsurface-flow gravel constructed wetland has
been installed at a nursery in Smithville, Tennessee, and is being evaluated for operation,
maintenance, and removal efficiencies. A workshop and demonstration of the
constructed wetland took place on October 24,2000, at the Pirtle's Nursery site. There
was a good turnout of nursery growers, and many of the growers showed a high interest
in the technology.
Contact Information: Dr. Kim Stearman, Tennessee Technological University, Water
Resources, Box 5033, Cookeville, TN 38505,931-372-3528; gkstearman@tntech.edu
Project Location: Baxter, Tennessee
Primary Sources of Pollution: container nurseries
Primary NPS Pollutants: pesticides, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: constructed wetland
Results: removal rates greater than 80 percent for herbicide, 90 percent for nitrogen, and
85 percent for phosphate
~Information for this success story was gleaned from the EPA Region 4 Nonpoint Source Program web site
at http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/nps/projects/index.htm.

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Atrazine Problems in the Lake Aquilla and Marlin
City Lake System: Farmers Take a Proactive Stance
Increasing levels of atrazine, a herbicide, in the water supply caused concern among local
citizens in the Lake Aquilla and Marlin City Lake system area of Texas. Atrazine levels
exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) at Lake Aquilla, and the development of a
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was imminent. The presence of atrazine in the water
supply was attributed to storm water runoff from agricultural areas in the rural community.
Response of the locals
Local farmers took a proactive stance in response to this water quality issue by forming
the Producers' Atrazine Action Committee. The primary goal of the Committee was to reduce
the presence of atrazine in water supplies by encouraging producers to use the most
economically feasible management practices conducive to the reduction of atrazine-
contaminated runoff. They developed a list of recommended best management practices (BMPs)
for the watershed and had meetings with pesticide dealerships to increase awareness at the
chemical supply level. The Committee developed a questionaire to document adoption of BMPs
over time and administered it randomly in the watershed.
The Stakeholders Group and Producers' Atrazine Action Committee sponsored a public
meeting in December, featuring different speakers on water quality topics and pesticide
applicator training. Farmers began to implement various BMPs from the list developed and
recommended by the Committee, some of which included observing more setback area and
incorporating atrazine into the soil to reduce herbicide runoff. Adoption of incorporation has
been estimated at 33 percent for this year, and full adoption is expected within the next 3 years.
Role of education and outreach
Success could not have been achieved without strong, locally organized education and
outreach efforts. As a result of such efforts, Lake Aquilla has had eight consecutive quarters
without a violation of the atrazine MCL.
The Producers Atrazine Action Committee also targeted groundwater quality awareness,
secondary to atrazine reduction, in their public outreach and education campaign. The
committee promoted well-water testing through the TEX*A*Syst program and recommended
that wells be tested for atrazine, bacteria, and nutrients. Many well owners were able to learn
about well water disinfection processes, testing, filters, and protection of ground water quality.
As a result, 28 wells in the county have been tested for bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, sulfates,
phosphates, and atrazine.
Contact Information: Donna Long, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, 311 North
5th , P.O. Box 658, Temple, TX 76503,254-774-6044
Project Location: Hillsboro and Marlin, Texas
Primary Sources of Pollution: pesticides
Primary NPS Pollutant: atrazine

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Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs, information and education on pesticide
application
Results: atrazine levels below MCL in Lake Aquilla

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On-Farm Composting of Dairy Cattle Solid Waste:
Protecting Water Quality While Producing a Salable
Product
A section 319 grant was awarded to Texas A&M University-Commerce to initiate a
cattle solid waste composting demonstration project on a 400-cow freestall dairy. The outcome
of this demonstration resulted in the conversion of solid animal waste into a value-added product
suitable for high-end wholesale or retail markets. This product could be marketed bulk for use in
field, landscape, or nursery applications or could be bagged for retail sales to the homeowner
market. Potential buyers of the compost include landscapers, commercial nurseries, home and
garden centers, greenhouses, homeowners, farmers, golf courses, cemeteries, public water works
departments, road and highway contractors, schools, parks, turf growers, and developers.
Advantages of in-vessel techniques
In-vessel composting has many advantages over other composting techniques. The need
to transport raw materials on public roads to a centralized composting facility is eliminated when
animal waste is retained for on-farm composting. Rapid completion of the composting process,
through in-vessel composting, results in product stabilization/sanitation within 3 to 4 days during
any season of the year. Raw waste material remains isolated from the environment until the
process is complete, and the site manager has precise control of moisture, temperature, and
aeration during the composting process, regardless of ambient weather conditions. Another
advantage is that raw waste loses all offensive odors within 12 hours of start-up. The resulting
composted product is of superior quality and suitable for high-end wholesale or retail markets.
Water quality and economic advantages
Water quality advantages followed as a result of 8,000 pounds of nitrogen and 3,000
pounds each of phosphorus and potassium being annually relocated and beneficially used in low-
risk areas. This demonstration project also yielded a market price of $20.00 per cubic yard
(bulk) for the compost. Sale of the compost provided the dairyman a total income of $43,800,
which resulted in an annual net income of $20,150.
Demonstrations have also_shown_that_.this product can be substituted unilaterally for
imported Canadian sphagnum peat moss in many applications, including use as an alternative
plant growing medium in greenhouses and as an organic soil amendment in the landscape.
Contact Information: Donna Long, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, 311 North
5th, P.O. Box 658, Temple, TX 76503,254-774-6044
Project Location: Commerce, Texas (composting); Anderson/Houston SWCD, Palestine, Texas
(marketing)
Primary Sources of Pollution: dairy cattle solid waste
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: on-farm composting of solid waste
Results: exporting pollutants off-site, economic gains

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Little Bear River Project: Voluntary Approaches
Yield Success
The Little Bear River watershed in Cache County, Utah, is listed as a high-
priority watershed that is being adversely affected by nonpoint source pollution. The
watershed covers 196,432 acres. Land use is approximately 70 percent range/forest, 19
percent irrigated cropland, 7 percent dry cropland, and 4 percent other. Land ownership
is 85 percent private, 11 percent national forests, and 4 percent state lands.
In 1990 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided funding through
the Hydrologic Unit Area Water Quality Program, giving birth to the Little Bear River
Project. The Little Bear River Steering Committee was formed to provide local
leadership and oversight of the watershed planning project. A technical advisory
committee consisting of local, state, and federal resource agencies and representatives
from Utah State University was formed to assist the Little Bear River Steering
Committee with the watershed assessment. The technical advisory committee completed
a watershed assessment in 1992.
The watershed assessment identified high sediment loads from eroded stream
banks, as well as high nutrient and coliform loads from numerous animal feeding
operations. Cropland and pastures were also found to be significant sources of nutrients
in the Little Bear River watershed. Having identified the major causes of nonpoint
source pollution in the watershed, the local steering and technical advisory committees
developed the following project objectives:
•	Reduce erosion from streambanks and rangeland in critical areas.
•	Reduce nutrient and sediment loading from cropland, pasture, animal feeding
operations, and rangeland.
•	Inform and educate landowners within the project boundary and the public of the
need to improve and maintain water quality in the Little Bear River watershed.
•	Monitor the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) and evaluate the
benefits of water quality improvements.
Promoting voluntary approaches in the watershed
The overall project goal was to encourage landowners to implement conservation
practices and BMPs voluntarily to improve the quality of water in the Little Bear River
watershed. To make the voluntary approach successful, a diverse group of partners were
invited to provide guidance and input into project priorities and activities. To date, more
than 100 landowners have participated in the project. An important component of the
project is the citizen volunteers. Local community groups have donated more than 3,000
hours to various projects.

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In the early stages, watershed restoration focused on stream channel and bank
restoration and on grazing land improvements. In 1994 more emphasis was placed on
improving animal waste management systems. By 1998,36 animal waste management
systems had been designed, and they are currently in various stages of completion and
implementation. From 1991 to 1996, $1,507,000 in section 319 funding was allocated to
the watershed effort.
Measurable improvements in water quality
Currently, 6 years after the initial watershed restoration efforts, measurable
improvements in water quality are being documented. There is a downward trend in total
phosphorus concentrations in the watershed. As more animal waste management systems
and BMPs are implemented, the downward trend is expected to continue. A Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been developed, and further reductions in
nutrient loadings will continue once the plan is implemented. The TMDL will target and
reduce point source loads of phosphorus. By measuring the reduction of total phosphorus
from point sources, the reduction of nonpoint source pollution can be determined to
assess the success of the 319-funded projects.
Implementing BMPs throughout the watershed is also benefiting the aquatic
community. In some reaches of the watershed, meanders have been restored in the
stream channel. This work, and other structural work to control bank erosion, has
improved habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms. Angler use has increased in the
watershed, and this success has piqued the interest of other landowners in participating in
the program.
Contact Information: Jon Hardman, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1860
North 100 East, North Logan, UT 84341; 435-753-5616 (ext. 25),
jhardman @ utnorthlog.fsc.usda.gov
Project Location: Cache County, Utah
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (croplands, pasture, animal feeding operations)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediments, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: stream channel and bank restoration, grazing land
improvements, animal waste management systems
Results: reduced concentrations of total phosphorus, improved habitat for fish and other
aquatic organisms
~Submitted by Jack Wilbur, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

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Success in the Chalk Creek Watershed:
Reduced Phosphorus, Enhanced Habitat Result
The Chalk Creek watershed in Summit County, Utah, encompasses 173,000 acres.
Roughly 123,500 acres is rangeland, 2,000 acres is used as cropland, and 44,000 acres is
forested. The watershed is 100 percent privately owned. Chalk Creek is a major
tributary and source of sediment and nutrients to the Weber River, which supplies
drinking water to Ogden, Utah, and other Wasatch Front communities.
Because Chalk Creek is an important water source and a recreational fishery, an
intensive water quality assessment was conducted in 1990 to identify sediment and
nutrient sources in the Chalk Creek watershed. The results of the watershed assessment
indicated that the creek was impaired because of habitat alteration and sediment. The
total phosphorus level was also above the Utah State Division of Water Quality
Standards' indicator value for the beneficial use designation of a cold water fishery. Utah
officially placed the stream on its 303(d) list of impaired waters. EPA approved the Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan in 1997. Between 1991 and 1999, $1,673,000 in
section 319 funding was allocated to the watershed effort.
High local support for restoring watershed
In 1991 the local soil conservation district, landowners, water users, and resource
managers initiated the Chalk Creek Nonpoint Source Water Quality Project to address the
water quality impairment of Chalk Creek. By 1994 a coordinated watershed resource
plan had been developed and a technical advisory committee, composed of local, state,
and federal agencies, private individuals, and groups, had been formed to assist the local
steering committee.
The primary goal of the Chalk Creek Nonpoint Source Water Quality Project was
to reduce erosion and sedimentation entering the creek. Methods identified to reduce
erosion in Chalk Creek were stabilization of streambanks, restoration of riparian
vegetation, and improved rangeland vegetation to reduce overland runoff.
There was a high level of landowner support in the Chalk Creek watershed. By
1997 many of the 100 major watershed landowners, working with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and other agencies, had begun designing resource management
system plans and restoration projects. A typical Chalk Creek restoration project consists
of fencing off the riparian zone on one or both sides of the creek, followed by
implementing a rotational grazing management plan. Some projects address eroding
banks by installing stream barbs or meanders in stream reaches that were historically
straightened. Most restoration projects on Chalk Creek include planting willows at
degraded sites. The most successful projects have natural willow regeneration on newly
created floodplain deposition zones. Table 1 summarizes the BMPs that have been
implemented in various projects in the Chalk Creek watershed.

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The payoff: reduced phosphorus in watershed
The landowner's cooperation and implementation of restoration projects have
reduced the concentrations of total phosphorus in Chalk Creek. Results from water
quality monitoring indicate that total phosphorus concentrations in Chalk Creek are lower
for the time period of 1990 to 1999 than for the time period of 1978 to 1989 (Figure 1).
It is expected that total phosphorus concentrations will further decrease as more
restoration projects are completed and landowner resource management systems are
implemented.
Implementing best management practices (BMPs) throughout the watershed has
enhanced the aquatic community, with emphasis on the fishery populations. Reduced
sediment from eroding banks and riparian areas has improved fish spawning and
macroinvertebrate habitat. Placeing willow plantings and adding in-stream log and rock
features as flow-directing structures have provided fish resting habitat in addition to bank
stability. As more BMPs are implemented throughout the watershed, the benefits to
water quality and the aquatic community will continue to increase. A noteworthy
indicator of success is the presence of a population of pure strain Bonneville cutthroat
trout in the watershed.
Table 1. Best management practices implemented in the Chalk Creek watershed
Best Management Practice
Amount Completed
Brush management
1,479 acres
Riparian fencing
13,128 feet
Rangeland fencing
8,842 feet
Stock watering
3 units
Stream bank protection
3,801 feet
Stream bank vegetation
3,652 feet
Stream channel stabilization
8,655 feet
Prescribed grazing
15,443 acres
Sprinkler irrigation systems
1,118 acres

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Chalk Creek at Highway 189 in Coalville
0 1978-1989
0 1990-1999
1978-1989
y = 0.037x + 0.0813
R2 = 0.529'
Oq
00
S* 0.6 -
1990-1999
y = 0.0327x + 0.0385
R2 = 0.513, n=103
0.4 -
0.2 -
0.0
15 3 i 20
Discharge (m sec )
10
5
25
30
0
Figure 1. Total phosphorus concentrations in Chalk Creek
Contact Information: Shane Green, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 435-336-
5853
Project Location: Summit County, Utah
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture, erosion
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediments, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: fencing, prescribed grazing, revegetation, stream channel
stabilization, sprinkler irrigation systems
Results: reduced concentrations of total phosphorus, enhanced aquatic community
~Submitted by Jack Wilbur, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

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Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Partnership: Alternative
Treatment Systems Prevent Contamination of
Coastal Waters
Preservation of coastal water quality is critical in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where
tourism is the main industry. Public sewer systems do not extend throughout the islands,
and there is a large dependency on conventional septic tank/seepage pit systems.
Unfortunately, the hilly terrain of the islands, the shallow soils, and in many instances the
dense residential development are factors that contribute to the failure of conventional
systems and subsequent discharge of improperly treated waste.
The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR),
through a study conducted by Kimball-Chase, documented that a major source of
contamination of beaches and other coastal areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is failing
septic systems. These widely used units are failing because they lack the 2 to 3 feet of
pervious soil through which effluent should pass to be properly treated.
An innovative solution
To remedy this problem, DPNR and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI)
entered into a partnership. DPNR asked the public for proposals for the design and
installation of affordable alternative systems that would treat residential wastewater using
nonmechanical means and would require minimal maintenance. Two of the designs
submitted were selected, and the systems were installed at two residences where
conventional systems had failed to meet treatment needs. The new systems used a series
of closed cells filled with gravel and soil in which plants with high water uptake rates
were planted. In addition, the systems blended in with the topography of the sites and
were installed in such a way that they enhanced the appearance of the properties.
DPNR observed the installation of the systems, and UVI closely monitored their
performance for a 6-month period following their installation. Plants thrived in the
-systems, and it was interesting to note that at one site exotic flowers fared better than
anywhere else on the island. No discharge of effluent from the systems, odor, or any
other unpleasant effects were recognized at either site. Effluent quality was found to
improve as it passed through the systems. Most significantly, because no discharge was
ever noted, the surrounding environment was never threatened.
The pilot alternative systems for treatment of residential wastewater have a high
potential for reducing the pollution threat to the fragile coastal ecosystems of the Virgin
Islands. Thus far, they have proven to be affordable to install, effective, and easy to
maintain. The systems are being closely monitored to assess their performance over an
extended period.
Because of the high public interest in these systems, DPNR has developed a
handbook available to the public to guide in their design, construction, and use. DPNR is

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also proposing regulations that would permit use of these systems in areas where
sensitive environmental factors preclude the installation of conventional septic tank
systems. The innovative systems have the potential to maintain high environmental
quality for present and future generations in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Contact Information: Syed A. Syedali, Environmental Engineer, Department of Planning
and Natural Resources, 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted, VI 00840-4474, 340-778-2994
ssyeda@viaccess.net
Project Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
Primary Sources of Pollution: failing septic systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: nutrients, pathogens
Remediation/Project Activities: alternative treatment systems installed
Results: effectively controlled discharge
~Submitted by Donna Somboonlakana, EPA Region 2.

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Cabin Branch Mine Orphaned Land Project:
Flora and Fauna Benefit from Mine Reclamation
Virginia's Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Management Program has long
recognized the need to improve surface and ground water quality by reducing nonpoint
source pollution associated with abandoned and orphaned mineral mines. Virginia's
Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Soil and Water (VDCRSW),
which administers the NPS program, recently had the unique opportunity to partner with
the Virginia Department of Mining, Minerals and Energy's (VDMME) Orphaned Lands
Program to support several innovative reclamation projects in order to achieve improved
surface and water quality.
From 1890 to the early 1920s, Cabin Branch Mine operated at a site along
Quantico Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, in Prince William County, Virginia.
Large by Virginia standards, the mine had 200 to 300 people working aboveground and
up to 2,400 feet belowground at any given time, excavating pyrite for use in the
production of sulfuric acid.
In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps obtained the abandoned mine and its
surrounding land, and it is now part of Prince William Forest Park. The park's 18,633
acres cover a major portion of the Quantico Creek watershed and contain one of the few
remaining piedmont forest ecosystems in the National Park System. The area had been
heavily farmed for tobacco since colonial times, leaving the soil degraded and subject to
intense erosion. Since the area was acquired by the National Park Service, the native
forest has been allowed to reclaim the overfarmed and exhausted landscape. However,
the area incorporating the mine site was not able to revegetate naturally because highly
acidic mine tailings were inhibiting growth.
Water quality in Quantico Creek just downstream was severely compromised
because of the acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination. During rain and storm
events, surface water mobilized and carried oxidized sulphur compounds and acidic
material into the creek. The resulting impacts on the water quality of the creek were low
pH, high conductivity, and significant sediment loading.
Multiple funding sources
After years of coordination between the National Park Service (NPS), Geologic
Resources Division; NPS, Water Resources Division; Virginia Department of Mines,
Minerals and Energy; and the natural resources staff at Prince William Forest Park, the
Cabin Branch Mine site was reclaimed in 1995. In addition to section 319 funding,
support was provided through a grant from the National Park Service's Water Resources
Division, and the balance was covered by Virginia's Orphaned Land Program
administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy's Division of
Mineral Mining.

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The primary goal of the Cabin Branch Mine Orphaned Land Project was to
improve the water quality of the downstream reach of Quantico Creek contaminated by
acid drainage and heavy metals. Additional goals included making the site safer for park
visitors and restoring native vegetation. Reclamation plans included diverting storm
water away from the mine site to limit acidification of off-site storm waters, sealing all
shafts so surface water would not enter mine workings or groundwater, covering mine
spoil materials with a good soil medium, and revegetating all disturbed areas with
tolerant grasses and legume species. All of these actions were designed to reduce acid
mine drainage discharges, thereby reducing heavy metal concentrations in the surface
waters.
Benefits to water quality and aquatic life
Water chemistry monitoring of Quantico Creek was conducted before and after
reclamation of the Cabin Branch Mine site to quantify the success of the reclamation
project. Initial water sampling taken after reclamation activities were completed showed
a marked decrease in the presence of heavy metal contamination in Quantico Creek. A 2-
year monitoring program conducted by George Mason University (Table 1) recently
confirmed that levels of copper, zinc, and iron in the stream have been appreciably
reduced since project completion; sulfate levels and conductance have also improved. In
addition, remotely sensed images taken by the US Army Corps of Engineers before and
after reclamation visually illustrate the elimination of acid materials from the creek itself.
The George Mason study also included fish and invertebrate sampling of the stream. The
fish community in the downstream reach has increased in both number of taxa and
number of individuals since the project was completed. Results of invertebrate
monitoring are inconclusive because of large population fluctuations during the
monitoring period.
The park's resource management staff also teamed up with United States
Geological Servey (USGS) staff to initiate a monitoring and research study to investigate
the effects of storm water retention ponds, created during the reclamation project in order
to minimize acid mine drainage from the site, on breeding amphibians. Although low pH
levels and heavy metal concentrations in the surface water retention ponds have been
shown to negatively affect amphibian reproduction, results of this study confirm that the
ponds are doing what they were designed to do—trap contaminants from surface mine
drainage and keep it from reaching Quantico Creek.
The public outreach activities integral to the project continue to be a success.
Community involvement was high, and at the end of the project 150 volunteers gathered
at the reclamation site to plant 5,000 native trees and shrubs. This effort will help further
stabilize the streambank and assist in restoring of the native forest to previously bare
ground.

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Table 1. Water Quality Data Pre- and Post-Reclamation, Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine
Element Pre-Reclamation Concentration Post-Reclamation Concentration
	(Average)	
Copper	0.06 mg/1	0.0010-0.012 mg/1
Iron	0.49 mg/1	0.18-1.20 mg/1
Sulfate	590.0 mg/1	10.0-30.0 mg/1
Zinc	0.32 mg/1	0.05-0.12 mg/1
Contact Information: Carol Pollio, Chief, Division of Resource Management, 18100 Park
Headquarters Road, Triangle, VA, 22172,703-221-4322, Carol_pollio@nps.gov
Project Location: Prince William County, Virginia
Primary Sources of Pollution: acid mine drainage overfarming
Primary NPS Pollutants: heavy metal concentrations, low pH, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: storm water diversion from mine site, dredging spoil
materials, sealing shafts, covering mine spoil, revegetation
Results: decrease in heavy metals (copper, zinc, and iron), decrease in sulfate levels,
improvements in fish community
~Submitted by Rick Hill, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

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Toncrae Orphaned Mine Project:
Mine Site Reclamation Increases Species Diversity
The Toncrae Mine in southern Floyd County operated as a copper mine
intermittently from the late 1700s to 1947. The abandoned mine had severely degraded
East Prong Creek with acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination. Barren mine
tailings, underground seeps, open mine shafts, and old ore processing areas contributed to
the deposition of large concentrations of heavy metals into the creek, a tributary of the
Little River. At one bog site where acid was made, copper was measured at levels
thousands of times greater than the limits set by EPA. In addition, upland areas
surrounding the mine were barren of vegetation because of contaminated and
inhospitable soil conditions. Reclamation of the Toncrae Mine site was considered a high
priority because of the excessive pollutant levels, the numerous open mine shafts, and
perhaps most important, the high potential for successful recovery of the site.
Innovative solutions
Beginning in 1993 Phase I of the reclamation included diverting unpolluted
waters away from the mine site to limit effluent discharge, sealing all mine shafts,
regrading mine spoil materials, constructing wetlands to treat mine seepage, and
revegetating all disturbed areas with tolerant grasses and legume species. Sixteen shafts
were capped and sealed, and mine markers were installed.
An innovative wetland system was also designed to naturally filter out the heavy
metals before they reached the surface waters of East Prong Creek. Contaminated
discharge from 16 shafts and 6 spoils dumps is routed through 6 cells of constructed
wetland, 5 of which filtered the drainage through bark and straw mulch, and then
limestone, before discharging into the next cell. Within the cells anaerobic sulfate-
reducing bacteria remove toxic heavy metals, while cattails, reeds, and other wetland
plant species also contribute to metal uptake, providing a future source of nutrients for
the bacteria. The treated water is finally discharged into East Prong Creek.
Phase II of the Toncrae Mine Orphaned Mine Land Project was initiated in 1997
in response to continued chemical monitoring of the constructed wetlands. Monitoring
results indicated that two of the wetland cells were not functioning as well as desired in
the winter months. The goal of Phase II was to reconfigure the wetland design to
increase detention time and improve performance. This phase of the project also
included continued chemical monitoring to quantify success.
The reconfiguration of the constructed wetlands was required because the
drainage was being oxygenated too rapidly in the winter months because of higher-than-
expected flows, combined with cooler temperatures. The rapid oxygenation led to the
system being unable to maintain the anaerobic conditions required by the sulfate reducing
bacteria to adequately break down the metals in solution. The first step of Phase II
involved increasing the size of the two problem cells. The effect was to create one large

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wetland cell from the previous two, thereby increasing detention time and the overall
time the drainage remains in an anaerobic state. Next, another much larger wetland cell
was constructed below the existing cells to further increase detention time. Finally, an
anoxic drain was installed to reduce oxygen levels entering the system and assist the
wetlands in functioning in an anaerobic state.
Successful results
Invertebrate sampling conducted before reclamation showed the invertebrate
population of East Prong Creek to be severely affected below the Toncrae Mine site.
Both the number of species and the total number of organisms were significantly lower
than those recorded at a reference site located upstream from the mine and its toxic
effluent (Figure 1). After project completion, copper levels were appreciably reduced:
copper concentrations ranged from 9 to 32 (ig/L before the project and between 0.1 and 14
(Xg/L after the project. The invertebrate community showed signs of a rapid recovery.
Within months of project completion, both the number of invertebrate taxa and the
number of individuals were approaching reference site conditions.
Monitoring for Phase II continued through 1998. Chemical monitoring of the
wetlands indicated that since reconfiguration, the wetlands are successfully removing
metals, even in the cool temperatures of fall and winter.
The success of this project led the Virginia Wildlife Federation to award its 1995
Mineral Conservationist of the Year Award to the Virginia Department of Mines,
Minerals, and Energy's Division of Mineral Mining. The award was granted for the
successful rehabilitation of the Toncrae Mine Site and East Prong Creek. The nomination
for the award notes that "the creek now has a healthy animal life with growing diversity,
and the revegetated land surface is now a camping and picnic ground."
The long-range goal of the Toncrae Mine Orphaned Land Project was a return of
the native brook trout to the contaminated stream section below the mine site. According
to residents, no fish had been seen in the contaminated section of East Prong stream in
years. Biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF)
confirmed that although brook trout did inhabit the stream above the Toncrae Mine site
they did not occur downstream of the site. However, recent surveys conducted by
VDGIF fisheries biologists verify that since reclamation was completed, brook trout have
successfully moved into East Prong Creek below the abandoned mine site.

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1200
1000
aoo
May-94
Jun-84
Aug-94
Sampling Data
Figure 1. Total number of organisms collected at five sites in East Prong Creek before (Mar 94 and May 94), arid after
(July 94 and September 94) reclamation activities were compteta. Site 1 is a reference sits upstream of the Toncrae
mine site; S2 to S5 are downstream of the mis*. Prior to the wetlands becoming operational, the sites downstream of
the mine showed an appreciable decrease in number of individuals sampled compared to the upstream site. After the
wetlands became operational, however, the invertebrate communities appeared to have recovered quite wail, becoming
very similar to the upstream reference site.
Contact Information: Allen Bishop, Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, P.O.
Box 3727, Charlottesville, VA 22903, 804-951-6317, dab@mme.state.va.us
Project Location: Floyd County, Virginia
Primary Sources of Pollution: acid mine drainage
Primary NPS Pollutants: heavy metal concentrations (copper)
Remediation/Project Activities: diversion of water from mine site, sealing of all mine
shafts, regrading mine spoil materials, constructed wetlands
Results: reduced copper levels, improved invertebrate community, reestablishment of
native brook trout
¦"Submitted by Rick Hill, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

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Flow Restoration Below
Hydroelectric Facilities: Relicensing Offers
Opportunity to Increase Stream Flows
The impacts of hydroelectric development on Vermont streams were documented
in a 1988 report titled Hydropower in Vermont: An Assessment of Environmental
Problems and Opportunities, the first comprehensive environmental study of Vermont's
62 older hydroelectric projects. Artificial regulation of natural stream flows and the lack
of adequate minimum stream flows at these sites were found to have reduced to a large
extent the success of the state's initiatives to restore the beneficial uses and values for
which the affected waters are managed. Slightly more than three-fourths of the
hydroelectric projects studied were found to be adversely affecting the streams on which
they were located. The substantial advances being made to clean up Vermont's rivers
were being stymied by this flow regulation problem.
The project
Since 1991 Vermont has used section 319 funding to support the Department of
Environmental Conservation's (DEC) participation in the process of relicensing
hydroelectric projects (under Clean Water Act section 401 authority). In doing so, DEC
has developed positions on relicensing applications, influencing the preparation of
conditions for future operation of the facilities to support desired multiple uses of the
affected waters. Activities have also included evaluating the regulation of reservoir
levels and downstream flows as related to the support of recreational uses, aquatic
habitat, and aesthetics, as well as erosion of reservoir/impoundment shorelines and
downstream riverbanks.
Site-specific successes
Given the technical and social complexities of relicensing, and in spite of several
appeal proceedings, numerous accomplishments are a direct result of the focus provided
by section 319. A few key examples illustrate these accomplishments:
•	The Clyde River Project was denied certification because of a project dam that
degrades habitat and impedes migration of landlocked salmon from Lake
Memphremagog. DEC subsequently worked with several parties to complete dam
removal and restore this reach of the river, which was accomplished in 1996.
•	Projects occurring in the Passumpsic, Black, and Ottauquechee Rivers (Connecticut
River Drainage) were relicensed subject to a "run-of-river conversion," requiring
inclusion of special recreation and landscaping plans, bypass flows, and downstream
fish passage.
•	The Center Rutland Project (Otter Creek, Lake Champlain Drainage) was relicensed
after issuance of a water quality certification. The project is now being operated
under a new flow management plan that includes spillage to improve bypass habitat,
aesthetics, and dissolved oxygen concentrations in Rutland's wastewater management
zone.

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Expected results
Expected benefits from this nonpoint source implementation strategy include
improved aquatic habitat; increased wastewater assimilative capacity; enhanced
recreational uses for swimming, fishing, and boating; elevated dissolved oxygen levels;
and reduced turbidity and suspended sediment.
Contact Information: Jeff Cueto, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Water Quality
Division, Building 10 North, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671, 802-241-
3770, jeffc@dec.anr.state.vt.us
Project Location: Vermont
Primary Sources of Pollution: hydroelectric development
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: reviewing/commenting on relicensing applications
Results: improved aquatic habitat; increased wastewater assimilative capacity; enhanced
recreational use for swimming, fishing, and boating; elevated dissolved oxygen levels;
reduced turbidity and suspended sediment
~Submitted by Rick Hopkins, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

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Lake Champlain Basin
Watershed Project: Significant Pollutant
Reductions Achieved
Lake Champlain, the nation's sixth largest freshwater lake, is undergoing cultural
eutrophication due to excessive phosphorus loads. About 71 percent of the lake's
average annual phosphorus load of 647 metric tonnes comes from nonpoint sources, and
two-thirds of this load is estimated to come from agricultural land in the basin.
Over the past several decades, efforts to reduce agricultural nonpoint source
pollution in Vermont have focused on improving animal waste management in the state's
predominantly dairy agriculture. Construction of manure storage structures, barnyard
runoff management, and adoption of waste utilization plans to avoid winter spreading of
manure have been widely encouraged under a variety of federal and state cost-share and
technical assistance programs. However, dairy cows traditionally spend half of the year
away from the barn on pasture, and impacts on water quality from livestock grazing have
not been addressed in previous nonpoint source reduction programs. Free access to
streams and streambanks by livestock is commonplace in Vermont. Direct deposition of
waste into streams, destruction of riparian vegetation, and trampling of streambanks and
streambeds all represent important sources of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria to surface
waters in Vermont.
Paired watershed study
The Lake Champlain Basin Watershed Project was initiated in 1994 to evaluate
the effectiveness of grazing management, livestock exclusion, and streambank protection
as tools for controlling nonpoint source pollution in small agricultural watersheds. The
project used a paired watershed design, using two treatment watersheds and a control
watershed, to track changes over a 7-year period. Contributing partners included
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Franklin County Natural Resource Conservation District, and participating watershed
agricultural landowners.
In 1997, following a 3-year monitoring/calibration period, a number of land
treatments were applied throughout the Samsonville Brook and Godin Brook watersheds.
The treatment included livestock exclusion fencing, alternative water supplies, armored
or bridged livestock stream crossings, and bioengineering streambank stabilization
practices (with brushrolls, tree revetments, and willow plantings).
Maintenance was not a major problem for the treatments; only normal fence
maintenance was required. Water supply was an obvious concern following livestock
exclusion from stream reaches, but the project was fortunate in that alternative supplies
could be exploited relatively simply at all sites. In a limited way, the project
demonstrated some success in using pasture pumps to provide water for beef cattle, but
water for dairy cows is a serious operational issue to be considered in future applications.

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The bioengineering installations appeared to work well, as demonstrated by rapid
and strong growth of planted willows and native riparian zone vegetation throughout the
treatment period. Brushrolls survived high flows very well and appeared to perform their
function of trapping sediment, supporting new vegetation growth, and protecting
streambanks.
Confirmed pollutant reduction
Three years of post-treatment monitoring was completed in November 2000. The
final results confirm significant reductions in phosphorus, nitrogen, suspended solids, and
indicator bacteria in response to treatment (see Table 1). Biomonitoring data also
suggested improvements in the macroinvertebrate community, particularly due to riparian
zone protection. Although no significant improvements in fish assemblages were
observed, physical habitat improvements were noted in the treated sections of both
Samsonville Brook and Godin Brook. Overall, the project was successful in
demonstrating that practical, low-technology, low-cost practices can yield significant
improvements in water quality.
Table 1. Average documented pollutant reductions over 3 post-treatment years in
Samsonville Brook
Total phosphorus	-15%
Total kjeldahl nitrogen	-12%
Total suspended solids	-34%
Total phosphorus export	-49%
Total kjeldahl nitrogen export	-38%
Total suspended solids export	-28%
E. coli	-29%
Fecal coliform	-38%
Fecal strep.	-40%
Conductance	-11%
Temperature	-6%
Contact Information: Rick Hopkins, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Water
Quality Division, Building 10 North, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671, 802-
241-3770, rickh@dec.anr.state.vt.us
Project Location: Franklin County, Vermont
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (dairy)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: livestock exclusion fencing, alternative water supplies,
armored or bridged livestock stream crossings, bioengineering streambank stabilization
practices
Results: reductions in phosphorus, nitrogen, suspended solids, and indicator bacteria;
improved macroinvertebrate community
~Submitted by Rick Hopkins, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

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Best Management Practices on
Model Horse Farms: Farm Plan Management
Reduces Nutrients and Sediment
Implementation and Evaluation of Livestock Water Quality BMPs on Model
Horse Farms was a joint project between the King County Water and Land Resources
Division (formerly Surface Water Management) and the King County Conservation
District. King County has nearly 9,000 farms, housing between 30,000 and 40,000
horses. Some 600 of those farms are near Class 1 and 2 streams, and even more have
drainage systems that flow to nearby streams, lakes, or wetlands. The primary goal of the
project, which received $85,000 in 319 grant funding for the years 1995 to 1998, was to
promote education and technical assistance to horse and farm owners with the Model
Farm Project.
Model farms were selected in 11 watersheds throughout the county, and farm
plans were implemented on 12 different sites. Farms were selected based in part on their
ability to function as an education site and the owner's experience and interest in
providing a role model for other horse and farm owners. Also, geographic location,
potential for improvement, and the owner's willingness to implement and maintain the
elements of the farm plan were important factors.
Education and technical assistance on model farms
For the 12 farms selected, costs for materials and labor associated with
implementation were funded through a cost share, and the farm plan expenses were
covered by funds from the farm owner and the 319 grant. Cost-shared farm plan
elements included materials for composting facilities, fencing, pasture and hay land
planting, and paddock areas.
Education concentrated on encouraging implementation of four BMPs—pasture
management, manure management, mud management, and wildlife enhancement,
including stream corridor management. Between 1995 and 1998, a series of education
and outreach activities took-place, including 10 tours, 13 education sessions, 12 outreach
events, farm-related events, and presentations. They reached more than 5,000 horse and
small farm owners in King County.
Real results
Support, encouragement, and a sustainable connection with the farmers were
critical and resulted in full implementation of the farm plan BMPs on each of the 12
farms. The education activities not only promoted proper management practices but also
developed a sense of stewardship for aquatic resources in the respective basins. But the
clear results stem from the post-BMP implementation assessment.
The two BMPs chosen for assessment purposes were use of wood waste as a
winter paddock footing material and use of grass filter strips for the treatment of surface

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runoff from winter paddocks. There was a reduction in pollutant concentrations after
BMP implementation for all nutrients monitored except nitrite/nitrate/nitrogen. Despite
this increase, consideration of the dissolved oxygen concentration after BMP
implementation indicates that toxic nitrite levels would be unlikely because nitrite is
rapidly broken down to nontoxic nitrate when a high dissolved oxygen content is present.
Reductions in all other measured nutrients ranged from 35 to 85 percent.
Contact Information: Heidi Wachter, King County Department of Natural Resources,
Water and Land Development Division, hwachter@u.washington.edu
Project Location: King County, Washington
Primary Sources of Pollution: horse farms
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients
Remediation/Project Activities: farm plan management: pasture management, manure
management, mud management, wildlife enhancement, stream corridor management
Results: 84 percent decrease in TSS from grass filter strips, 35 to 85 percent nutrient
reductions from paddocks
""Information for this success story was gleaned from Year 2000 Report on Activities to Implement
Washington State's Water Quality Plan to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution, March 2001. Submitted by
Gabrielle Kirouac, Washington State Department of Ecology.

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A Moo-ving Approach to
Dairy Waste Management: Fecal Coliform
Pollution Reduced in Whatcom County
The goal of the Watershed-Based Approach to Dairy Waste Management is to
lower dairy-related levels of fecal coliform bacteria and other manure-associated
contaminants in a watershed without alienating the dairy industry. The project, which is
coordinated by the Washington State Department of Ecology, has received $90,000 in
319 funding for the past 3 years to improve water quality. The project has focused on
Whatcom County in the northwest corner of the state, which borders British Columbia.
To fully grasp the nature of the problem, consider that every adult milk cow produces the
equivalent waste of 22 humans. There are some 69,000 cows (or the equivalent of 1.5
million people) in Whatcom County. This figure does not even account for the stock
(about 30,000 cows) used to replace older, non-milk-producing cows.
Monitoring for effective refocusing on problem areas
The Department of Ecology partnered with the Northwest Indian College to
monitor fecal coliform levels on a bimonthly basis. In addition to the inspections of the
state's dairy farms that are required by law, the consistent monitoring data collected by
the college for this and other 319-funded projects have helped determine which subbasin
tributaries have the highest levels of fecal coliform loading. Subsequently, reinspections
are being conducted in those areas to determine whether the pollution is related to nearby
dairies. Then the detected problems can be corrected. The fecal data collected by the
Northwest Indian College are posted on the college's web site and cover all the subbasin
tributaries of the Nooksack River, as well as sites in the Drayton Harbor/Portage Bay
areas. The web site is at www.nwic.edu.
Farm plans and agreements
Once the basins with the highest loading have been determined, the Department
of Ecology inspects the area farmers' milking facilities, as well as all of the off-site
replacement stock operations. Most of the problems have been found on the off-site
-locations because farmers-typically-do-not invest as much.time, attention, or money in
those locations as they do in their primary milking facilities. Outreach and education are
vital, and farmers are referred to the Whatcom County Conservation District for farm
planning and technical assistance. These referrals, together with education and outreach,
have encouraged farmers all over the county to implement BMPs such as long-term waste
storage facilities, manure solids separators, rainwater gutters and downspouts, agronomic
manure field applicator schedules, and fencing to keep livestock out of streams.
Although the Department of Ecology's goal is to increase compliance rather than
to impose penalties, about $200,000 in fines have been imposed on roughly 4 percent of
the dairy farmers in the county. Notices of Correction, an informal non-penalty means of
enforcement for potential discharge problems, are used amply. The Department of

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Ecology issued about 75 notices as preventive solutions between July 1998 and June
2000.
As an additional measure, the Department of Ecology has recently signed an
agreement with the Governor's office. This new agreement calls for a 15 percent per year
reduction in the fecal coliform loads as compared with the loads reported by the
Department of Ecology's 1996 to 1998 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) fecal
coliform monitoring study.
Real results
Although much work remains to be completed in terms of controlling nonpoint
sources of contamination on dairy farms in Whatcom County, the current dairy inspection
program has brought unprecedented change in the way dairy farmers operate their farms.
The Department of Ecology's new approach to relationships with dairy farmers,
particularly concerning the implementation of BMPs, is still enforcement-oriented but
has also struck a good balance with education and outreach. Fair but firm enforcement,
both formal and informal, has helped break down the image of the enforcing agency as an
enemy.
Upgrades to control pollution to date have been completed through partnerships
established between the Department of Ecology, the Whatcom Conservation District, and
the Whatcom County office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. By working
together, the partners have achieved impressive results. As of the last quarter of 1999,
fecal coliform loads in the Bertrand/Fishtrap Creek subbasin were down 21 percent, and
they are expected to drop further during the fall.
Contact Information: Mak Kaufman, Bellingham Field Office of the Department of
Ecology, 360-738-6248
Project Location: Whatcom County, Washington
Primary Sources of Pollution: dairy farms
Primary NPS Pollutants: fecal coliform bacteria and other manure-associated
contaminants
Remediation/Project Activities: dairy farmer outreach/education, BMPs to control
manure, fencing
Results: fecal coliform loads down 21 percent
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Year 2000 Report on Activities to Implement
Washington State's Water Quality Plan to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution, March 2001. Submitted by
Gabrielle Kirouac, Washington State Department of Ecology.

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Sediment Reduction in Yakima River Basin:
People Become Stewards of Their Own Watershed
Since 1994 the Yakima Conservation District and Department of Ecology, along
with many other groups, have been working to reduce sediment in the Yakima River
Basin in eastern Washington State, including the Moxee Drain, Granger Drain, and
Sulpher Creek Drain. The primary problem has been furrow irrigation, primarily on hops
farms. The method of irrigation is notorious for causing sediment flow and also for
introducing poisonous pesticides like DDT into the water. In 1994 furrowed irrigation
was delivering 100 tons of sediment and pesticides per acre into the water each year.
There are about 19,000 acres of irrigated land in the watershed.
In late 1993 the North Yakima Conservation District received 319 funding, and in
1996-1997, the South Yakima Conservation District also received 319 funding to work
on the problem from the south. In the past several years, the Department of Ecology has
begun to work on Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) on the Yakima River
watershed in its entirety. By 1997 a 30 percent reduction in sediment load had been
achieved in the Moxee Drain alone, and drip irrigation had been implemented on more
than 2,000 acres of farmland.
Sulphur Creek progress
Sulphur Creek is a tributary of the Yakima River and one of the three major
irrigation return flows in the Yakima Valley. It receives runoff from about 41,500 acres
of irrigated agricultural land in the Sulphur Creek Basin. In 1997 the South Yakima
Conservation District received 319 funding to implement best management practices
(BMPs) in two subbasins of the watershed. Thirty farmers applied for technical and
financial assistance in implementing these practices, and 16 of the proposals (covering
679 acres) were accepted.
The primary method used to reduce sediment loads due to furrow irrigation is
implementing more efficient drip irrigation methods, such as sprinklers. Site-specific
BMPs were designed with the individual landowners. In one case, the demonstration
-included application of polyacrylamide (PAM) through a central pivot irrigation system.
PAM is a coagulating agent that when used in irrigation causes better soil saturation and
less runoff in the fields. The combination of these two management practices was new in
this area.
Monitoring was conducted to measure the effects of installing the BMPs.
Samples were collected at about 15 sites in the two subbasins from June 1997 through
October 1999. One subbasin registered a decrease in total suspended solids (TSS) of 86
percent, and the other subbasin showed a decrease of 56 percent.
The big picture
One of the primary goals of these combined 319-funded projects was to provide
education and outreach to local groups and individual farmers to inspire people to

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become involved in their watershed. When people become stewards of their watershed,
they begin to take responsibility for restoring and protecting it. In the past few years,
stewardship of this watershed has become a vital interest of local irrigation districts and
individual farmers.
In fact, education and outreach using demonstrated BMPs funded by 319 grants
have been so successful that the irrigation districts have joined together on their own,
forming a joint interest group called Roza-Sunnyside Board of Joint Control (RSBOJC).
Taking responsibility for water quality themselves, they have applied for State Revolving
Fund loan money. As an indirect result of 319 outreach and education, the RSBOJC
succeeded in obtaining $10 million in loans to improve water quality in the watershed.
Because of the RSBOJC's outstanding efforts, in 1998 Washington's Governor, Gary
Locke, presented the board an award for Environmental Excellence.
This phenomenal stewardship shows in the recovery effort. The Department of
Ecology recently initiated its TMDL program to reduce pollutant loads in waters across
Washington. For example, one of the Yakima TMDL goals was to reduce turbidity to
below 25 ntu (turbidity units) by the end of 2002. Thanks to earlier 319 projects and to
RSBOJC's current efforts, that goal has already been reached this year in the majority of
drains. Additionally, the Department of Ecology reports that as a result of RSBOJC's
stewardship efforts, there has been no need to write an enforcement order in more than a
year.
Contact Information: Marie Zuroske, South Yakima Conservation District, 509-837-
7911
Project Location: Yakima River Basin, Washington
Primary Sources of Pollution: furrow irrigation in agricultural fields
Primary Nonpoint Source Pollutants: sediment
Remediation Activities: conversion to sprinklers and drip irrigation, other sediment
reduction practices (PAM application)
Results: 30 percent reduction in sediment load in the Moxee Drain, decrease in total
suspended solids (86 percent in subbasin 10 and 56 percent in subbasin 5)
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Year 2000 Report on Activities to Implement
Washington State's Water Quality Plan to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution, March 2001. Submitted by
Gabrielle Kirouac, Washington State Department of Ecology.

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West Virginia 1
The North Fork Project:
85 Percent of Farmers Adopt BMPs
The North Fork watershed is mainly in Pendleton and Grant Counties in West
Virginia, with a portion of the watershed in Highland County, Virginia. The watershed is
predominantly forested, and agriculture is the second dominant land use. High levels of
bacteria are adversely affecting the North Fork, resulting in the development of a Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that calls for a 35 percent reduction of fecal coliform
bacteria.
In March 2000 the North Fork Watershed Association launched a 319 project to
address sediment and bacteria problems associated with past timbering, streambank
erosion, agriculture, and roads. Partners in the development of the plan included the
Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District, West Virginia Soil Conservation Agency,
West Virginia University Extension Service, West Virginia Division of Environmental
Protection, West Virginia Division of Forestry, West Virginia Division of Highways,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Trout Unlimited. The West
Virginia Agriculture Water Quality Loan Program, funded through the West Virginia
Department of Environmental Protection Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund,
complemented funding available to landowners to finance BMP installation, available at
a 2 percent interest rate.
Implementing the project
To date, 10 agricultural projects have been approved, implementing a range of
best management practices (BMPs), including critical area planting, streambank fencing,
and feedlot relocation. As a result of this project, about 340 acres will be under nutrient
management plans.

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In cooperation with West Virginia Division of Forestry, educational workshops
will be held to educate landowners and persons in the forestry industry on conservation
practices. West Virginia foresters will develop forestry plans to promote conservation
and use of BMPs. Another component of the North Fork Project involves working in
cooperation with the state's Division of Highways to implement a variety of conservation
activities, such as the construction of a mortality composter, a poultry litter seeding
demonstration, and a sediment erosion workshop for DOH employees.
Promising results
Farmers in the watershed have been extremely receptive: 85 percent have
participated in BMP implementation.
Future projects will emphasize wetland and riparian corridor restoration.
Working in cooperation with Trout Unlimited, natural stream channel design technology
will be implemented. An educational display is planned for the National Forest Service
Visitors Center at Seneca Rocks in the North Fork watershed. Educational programs for
landowners on stream channel protection and maintenance are planned, and the water
quality monitoring being provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture will
continue.
Contact Information: Lyle Bennett, NPS Program Manager, Office of Water Resources,
1201 Greenbrier Street, Charleston, WV 25311, 304-558-2108,
lbennett@mail.state.wv.us
Project Location: Pendleton and Grant Counties, West Virginia
Primary Sources of Pollution: timbering, streambank erosion, agriculture, roads
Primary NPS Pollutants: bacteria, sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: critical area planting, streambank fencing, feedlot
relocation, nutrient management plans
Results: 340 acres under nutrient management plans, 85 percent participation

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*Submitted by Leo Essenthier, EPA Region 3.

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West Virginia2
Spring Creek Restoration Project:
New Project Well Received by Landowners
Spring Creek is a 54,350-acre watershed in northern Roane County and southern
Wirt County in West Virginia. Spring Creek drains into the Little Kanawha River
watershed. A mix of activities affect the water quality of the creek, including oil and gas
extraction, construction, agriculture, forestry, public and private roads, urban runoff, solid
waste, and home septic systems. The primary nonpoint source pollutants of concern in
Spring Creek are iron, aluminum, and fecal coliform bacteria.
Getting started
The Spring Creek Watershed Project, which began in 2000, has been very well
received by the landowners in the watershed. To date, five agricultural projects are being
implemented in the Spring Creek watershed. The West Virginia Agriculture Water
Quality Loan Program, funded through the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund, complemented funding available to
landowners to finance BMP installation, available at a 2 percent interest rate.
Project efforts include a streambank stabilization project using natural stream
channel design technology and several educational activities covering solid waste,
agriculture best management practices, and forestry and logging practices. Pesticide
surveys were also distributed to the 1,800 residents who use private wells as their primary
source of drinking water, resulting in free well water tests for those who identified
pesticides on their facility. Future plans include a logging road construction
demonstration project, as well as a demonstration septic system. The West Virginia
Department of Agriculture is conducting ongoing monitoring, and all information related
to the project is being stored in a geographic information system database for visual
display.

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Anticipated results
Annual erosion from pastures and roads is projected to decrease by some 16,000
tons, resulting in cleaner drinking water for the town of Spencer and other communities
downstream. Indirect results expected include sustained productivity of pastures,
hayland, and woodland; increased farm income; better utilization of farm manure and
balance of nutrients for plant growth; better distribution of grazing due to improved water
systems; and improved animal performance of 1,500 beef cows as a result of improved
quality of forage from proper grazing management.
Contact Information: Lyle Bennett, NPS Program Manager, Office of Water Resources,
1201 Greenbrier Street, Charleston, WV 25311, 304-558-2108,
lbennett@mail.state.wv.us
Project Location: Roane and Wirt Counties, West Virginia
Primary Sources of Pollution: oil and gas extraction, construction, agriculture, forestry,
public and private roads, urban runoff, solid waste, home septic systems
Primary NPS Pollutants: iron, aluminum, fecal coliform bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: streambank stabilization, outreach and education
Results: projected decrease of 16,000 tons of sediment
~Submitted by Leo Essenthier, EPA Region 3.

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Otter Creek Project:
319 National Monitoring Program Goals Met
The largely agricultural, 7,040-acre Otter Creek watershed drains to Lake
Michigan via the Sheboygan River. Biological monitoring in the watershed has shown
that the fish community lacks fishable numbers of warmwater sport fish, largely because
of inadequate fish habitat and polluted water. Dissolved oxygen concentrations
occasionally drop below Wisconsin's state standard of 5.0 milligrams per liter. In
addition, bacteria levels exceed the state's recreational standard of 400 fecal coliforms
per 100 milliliters in many samples.
Achieving program goals
Modeling and field inventories have identified critical areas needing treatment to
achieve the National Monitoring Program's project goals of improving the fishery,
restoring the endangered striped shiner in Otter Creek, improving recreational uses by
reducing bacteria levels, reducing pollutant loadings to the Sheboygan River and Lake
Michigan, and restoring riparian vegetation.
Improved management of barnyard runoff and manure, nutrient management and
reduced tillage on cropland, and shoreline and streambank stabilization are all being
implemented to control sources of phosphorus, sediment, bacteria, and streambank
erosion in the watershed. Best management practices (BMPs) installed on dairy farms
include rainwater diversions, concrete loafing areas, filter screens to trap large solids in
runoff, and grassed filter strips for treating runoff.
Paired watershed and upstream/downstream monitoring studies covering eight
monitoring sites are used to evaluate the benefits of the BMPs. Monitoring sites are
located above and below a dairy with barnyard and streambank stabilization BMPs.
Habitat, fish, and macroinvertebrates are being sampled each year during the summer.
Water chemistry is tracked through analysis of 30 weekly samples collected each year
from April to October at the paired watershed and upstream/downstream sites. Runoff
events are also sampled at the upstream/downstream sites and at the single downstream
station site at the outlet of Otter Creek.
Key successes
To reduce upland soil erosion, more than 8,100 feet of streambank fencing was
installed and a significant change in cropping practices was made. In the treatment
watershed, 2 years of post-BMP monitoring data indicate that the system of BMPs was
responsible for reductions in suspended solids (81 percent), total phosphorus (88
percent), ammonia nitrogen (97 percent), BOD (80 percent), and fecal coliforms (84
percent).
Contact Information: Russell Rasmussen, Department of Natural Resources, 101 South
Webster Street, Madison, WI 53707, 608-267-7651, rasmur@dnr.state.wi.us.

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Project Location: Otter Creek watershed, Wisconsin
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (croplands, dairy farms)
Primary NFS Pollutants: phosphorus, sediment, bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: BMPs to control barnyard runoff and manure, nutrient
management and reduced tillage on cropland, shoreline and streambank stabilization
Results: more than 8,100 feet of streambank fencing; reductions in suspended solids (81
percent), total phosphorus (88 percent), ammonia nitrogen (97 percent), BOD (80
percent), and fecal coliforms (84 percent)
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Lombardo, L.A., G.L. Grabos, J. Spooncr, D.E. Line,
D.L. Osmond, and G.D. Jennings. 2000. Section 319 Nonpoint Source National Monitoring Program
Successes and Recommendations. NCSU Water Quality Group, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Department, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Submitted by Tom Davenport, EPA Region 5.

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Success in Spring Creek Watershed:
Natural Reproduction of Trout
Confirms Water Quality Improvement
A medium-gradient (16 feet/mile) trout stream, Spring Creek drains about 6
square miles (3,500 acres) of Rock County farmland in the Southeastern Wisconsin Till
Plains Eco-region. Spring Creek is one of only three managed cold-water fisheries in
Rock County.. Although Spring Creek had been capable of supporting stocked trout
during the fishing seasons, it had been unable to provide habitat or water quality suitable
for trout survival throughout the year. Because the waters of Spring Creek did not
support natural trout reproduction, annual stocking of legal-size fish was required to
provide a sport fishery.
The major land use in the Spring Creek watershed is cropland (83 percent), but
land uses also include grass and wood (6 percent), wetlands (5 percent), developed (3
percent), and some pasture (3 percent). Excessive amounts of sediment, nutrients, and
bacteria degrade the creek's water quality, causing unbalanced fish communities with
depressed populations and limited diversity. The upland sediment delivery in the
watershed is 3,241 tons per year, or 92 percent of the entire watershed load, and cropland
is the major sediment source in the watershed. Manure runoff from five animal lots
created additional problems by contributing more than 500 pounds of phosphorus
annually into the watershed. The headwaters of the stream had also lost much of its
original habitat to channelization.
In 1991 Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources selected Spring Creek as a
"priority watershed management area" to restore stream habitat so that trout could
reproduce naturally in its waters. Spring Creek was selected as one of five evaluation
watersheds for a 7-year study to examine the responses of stream physical habitat, fish,
and macroinvertebrates to watershed-scale best management practices (BMPs).
Watershed-scale response
Between 1994 and 1999, Wisconsin implemented a number of watershed-scale
BMPs to help reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Spring Creek watershed. By 1999
implemented BMPs included barnyard runoff and roof runoff management practices
(diverting runoff away from animal waste); 1,600 feet of shoreline fencing; 289 acres of
contour farming; reduced tillage (297 acres long rotation, 1,486 acres short rotation); 513
acres using conservation crop sequence; 24 acres of strip crop; critical area stabilization
of 2 acres; and wetland preservation easements on 1.6 acres.
Confirming success with natural reproduction of trout
Wisconsin assessed stream habitat, fish and macroinvertebrates, and streambank
erosion throughout Spring Creek at various times from 1993 through 1999, using two
reference streams to effectively determine the effects of BMPs applied in the watershed.
Sampling results indicated that upland and riparian BMP installations have significantly

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improved overall stream habitat quality, bank stability, in-stream cover for fish, and catch
of all fishes. These improvements were more apparent at stream segments with
streambank fencing than at segments without bank fencing.
Trout populations in Spring Creek improved after BMP installation. The first-
ever catch of young-of-the-year trout in 1999 indicated that Spring Creek has gained the
ability to partially sustain its trout population through natural reproduction. Fish
abundance also increased after BMP implementation, including a significant increase in
the number .of cool- and cold-water fishes.
Contact Information: Norm Tadt, Rock County Land Conservation Department, 440
North U.S. Highway 14, Janesville, WI 53546, 608-754-6617, ntadt@co.rock.wi.us
Project Location: Union Township (Rock County), Wisconsin
Primary Sources of Pollution: agriculture (crop farming, heavily pastured areas, manure
runoff)
Primary NPS Pollutants: sediment, nutrients, bacteria
Remediation/Project Activities: agricultural BMPs (barnyard runoff management,
shoreline fencing, contour farming, reduced tillage, conservation crop sequence, strip
crop, and critical area stabilization)
Results: improved stream habitat, bank stability, in-stream cover, and fish communities
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Responses of Stream Habitat, Macroinvertebrate, and
Fish to Watershed BMPs: Lessons From Wisconsin, by Lizhu Wang, John Lyons, Paul Kanehl, David
Marshall, and Michael Sorge, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Watershed Management 2000
Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Also see the EPA Region 5 web site at
www.epa.gov/r5water/wshednps/sc_watershed.htm. Submitted by Russ Rassmussen, Chief, Runoff
Management Section, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

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Wyoming 2
Jackson Hole Rodeo Grounds Snow Storage Site: Filtration System
Reduces Urban Storm Water Runoff
Flat Creek is in the Upper Snake River watershed. Upstream of the town of Jackson,
within the National Elk Refuge, the creek is a class 1 trout stream. Historically, Flat Creek has
provided diverse recreational opportunities and aesthetic value to the residents and visitors of
Jackson as it meanders through the community. For many years, however, it has become
increasingly apparent that once the creek enters the town, fish habitat quality is significantly .
diminished.
In response to these concerns, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and
Jorgensen Engineering completed a water quality assessment of Flat Creek in 1982. The study
revealed a number of factors affecting water quality, including increased impervious surface area,
increased traffic volume, and land uses resulting in concentrations of heavy metals, oils, and
suspended solids. The study also found that urban storm water was adversely affecting Flat
Creek.
In 1994 the Teton County Conservation District (TCCD), in cooperation with the Town
of Jackson, conducted a thorough investigation of nonpoint source pollutants affecting Flat
Creek. This comprehensive program, which included permanent monitoring stations in key areas,
identified the snow storage area at the rodeo grounds as a significant source of nonpoint source
pollutants.
The TCDD, Town of Jackson, and Nelson Engineering prepared a grant proposal for
installation of a commercially available storm water filtration system and submitted it to the
Wyoming Nonpoint Source Task Force. The project was approved for funding in the amount of
$32,735 in fall 1997.
In the course of determining the necessary sizing of the filtration unit, snowmelt runoff

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samples were collected and analyzed. This analysis revealed that the sediment load in the runoff
would exceed the capacity of existing commercial units and require excessive maintenance.
Given these findings, a surrogate filtration system was designed by the Town Engineer and
Nelson Engineering. The new design lowered the project cost to $14,824, resulting in a savings
of 50 percent over the cost of the commercial unit. Because of the experimental nature of the new
design, an amendment to the grant proposal was sought and approved. The project was installed
in fall 1998 and evaluated for effectiveness in spring 1999.
Project details
The Jackson Hole Rodeo Grounds cover 6.2 acres, with a 1 percent southwesterly slope.
Snow removed from the streets of Jackson is stored on the western half of the lot. To improve
drainage to the southwest corner of the site, where the filtration system is installed, the snow
storage area was graded. In the immediate area surrounding the filtration system, a shallow
detention basin was cut to provide a settling area for particulates prior to entering the filtration
system.
The primary filter installed by the Town of Jackson is composed of 2-inch-diameter
washed rock and a nonwoven geotextile fabric. Particles from runoff, 0.0059 inch or greater, are
trapped and held in the top surface of the fabric in the gravels. The filtered runoff is collected in
a 6-foot-diameter perforated manhole and then conveyed to a catch basin sediment trap that
provides additional sediment removal and storage in a sump-type facility. Runoff is then passed
to the storm water collection system. The perforated manhole has 4 feet of effective depth with
1.5-inch perforations at 8-inch centers; the immediate filtering surface is 484 square feet (22 feet
by 22 feet).
A winning combination
During the winter of 1998-999, roughly 120,000 cubic yards of snow from the streets of
Jackson was stockpiled at the rodeo grounds. Storm water runoff samples collected during the
spring runoff period were inconclusive, so Nelson Engineering was contracted to evaluate the
system's effectiveness. The investigation found that the three-phase rodeo ground filtration

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system was effective in removing gross pollutants 0.0059 inch and larger. There was no
evidence of sediment in the bypass, so the geotextile fabric was not replaced for the 2000 runoff
season.
The design combination of sediment basin, geofabric, washed rock filtration, and sump
for bypass flows was successful in removing particulates and can be used in areas of limited
space. This application can be used with favorable results in urban areas where sediments are a
storm water concern. The only modification to the system being considered is the use of filter
fabric with a smaller sieve size.
Contact Information: Brian Lovett, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, 122 West
25th Street, Herschler Building, 4th Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-5622,
blovet@state.wy.us
Project Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Primary Sources of Pollution: urban storm water runoff, runoff from snow storage area
Primary NPS Pollutant: heavy metals, oils, suspended solids
Remediation/Project Activities: installed storm water filtration system
Results: successful removal of storm water particulates
~Submitted by Brian Lovett and Steve Bubnick, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

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Wyoming 1
Muddy Creek Coordinated
Resource Management Project: Cattle Ranches and
Trout Streams Can Coexist
The Muddy Creek Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) project is one of the
original national "Seeking Common Ground" demonstration projects. It encompasses nearly
300,000 acres of mixed federal, state, and private lands in Carbon County, Wyoming. Using the
philosophy of ecosystem management on a watershed basis, the CRM process was initiated by
the local conservation district to get all affected interests in the watershed working on consensus
management of the natural resources in the project area. To date, more than 25 members
representing private landowners, federal, state, and local agencies, environmental and
conservation organizations, industry, and the public at large are working on the project.
Many conservation and land management tools have been implemented to restore,
enhance, and maintain the abundant natural resources in the area while maintaining the economic
stability and cultural heritage of the people on the land. The ecosystem management philosophy
has dictated that before any action is taken or management practice implemented, all impacts and
users of the area must be addressed. It is because of this philosophy and spirit of cooperation that
the wildlife, livestock, and all the associated natural resources in the watershed have shown
improvement since the project began. A comment from Millecent Sanger, whose family has been
in the area since the 1930s, sums up the progress made: "I have never seen the water as clear and
clean as it is now."
The CRM project contains several grazing allotments established when the Bureau of
Land Management first began to permit grazing on federal lands. The following are some
examples of the cooperation among people and the coordination of management practices
implemented on grazing allotments that have contributed to the success of the Muddy Creek
CRM project.
Doty Mountain Allotment
"Getting to know the land, building relationships through communication, earning the
trust so that people can identify their common ground and work together to achieve success" is
what the CRM process means to Ray Weber of the Doty Mountain Allotment. Weber believes
that "it takes commitment to not just work hard but to deal with the many diverse people and
their interests" to make successful improvements on the land. In this case, just a simple change
from spring to fall grazing was the solution. "What this CRM group and many others have found
out is that our 'common ground' is much greater than our differences," Weber says, "so, let's set
our differences aside for the moment and work together to be successful."
Grizzly and Daly Allotments
Other types of changes in grazing practices have been implemented throughout the

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project area. For example, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) purchased the
base property of the Grizzly and Daly Allotments and designated it as part of a wildlife and
livestock demonstration project. Historical use of these allotments was season-long grazing by
cattle and sheep. Once the WGFD took ownership of the Grizzly Allotment, it implemented a
short-duration grazing season. Each of the eight pastures was grazed for 7 to 21 days rather than
the usual 60 to 90 days. This type of management promotes recovery of healthy riparian areas by
giving plants plenty of time to grow.
But simply moving to a short-duration grazing rotation wasn't good enough for Jim Chant
of the Desert Cattle Company. As the lessee of the Grizzly and Daly allotments, Chant has
shown a strong commitment to improving the resources and proving that wildlife and cattle can
coexist beneficially. He and two full-time cowboys implement the WGFD's short-duration
grazing season by herding the cattle out of the riparian areas and onto the uplands each afternoon.
Not only does this approach improve utilization within each pasture, but it also reduces time
spent in the lush riparian zones. In addition, improvements to facilitate livestock management
such as spring developments, off-site watering, electric fencing (much of it solar-powered), high-
tension fencing, and vegetation management are ongoing. A primary goal of the CRM group is
to reintroduce the Colorado River cutthroat trout into Muddy Creek, whose headwaters are in the
Grizzly allotment. Once these upper portions of the watershed are in proper condition, trout will
thrive. Chant says he wants to be the first rancher to run cattle next to a Colorado cutthroat trout
stream, "to show it can be done."
Prescribed burning has proved extremely beneficial for livestock, wildlife, and vegetation
communities in the Muddy Creek drainage. Burning upland areas allows sagebrush seedlings to
sprout, thereby creating a more diverse age class of sagebrush. Also, the livestock are enticed
away from the riparian areas to graze on the more desirable grasses produced by the burning.
Fire removes the sagebrush competition so that aspen can expand its area in both riparian and
upland sites. After burning, regrowth occurs quickly, and within a few years a larger, healthier
community emerges.
Sulphur Springs Allotment
The Sulphur Springs grazing allotment is managed by Millicent and Kathryn Sanger, a
mother and daughter whose family has used this area since the 1930s. It was one of the first
allotments for which management plans were developed in conjunction with the Bureau of Land
Management during the 1960s. The various pastures in the allotment are used to control grazing
time and use. This approach allows the Sangers to congregate the cattle in smaller areas,
resulting in improved conception rates, easier management of the cattle, and overall increased
beef production. Plant cover on the streambanks increased from only 5 percent in 1989 to more
than 90 percent in 1995. Most of this change occurred after pasture fencing and managed grazing
rotation were implemented. The Sangers appreciate how the land looks when they leave in the
fall, knowing there is plenty of forage left for the elk and mule deer indigenous to the area.
Working together to be successful
Using various conversation and land management tools, a coalition of government agencies,

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private organizations, and individuals are making a difference in Carbon County. Their
cooperative effort has resulted in benefits for waters, wildlife, and cattle ranches alike.
Contact Informaton: Brian Lovett, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, 122 West
25th Street, Herschler Building, 4th Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-5622
blovet @ state, wy.us
Project Location: Carbon County, Wyoming
Primary Sources of Pollution: erosion from heavy grazing
Primary NPS Pollutant: sediment
Remediation/Project Activities: revised grazing management practices (short-duration grazing
rotation), livestock management (off-site watering, electric fencing, vegetation management),
prescribed burning
Results: increase in plant cover trends on streambanks (documented from 5 percent in 1989 to
over 90 percent in 1995 in the Sulphur Springs allotment), easier cattle management, increased
beef production
~Submitted by Steve Bubnick, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

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Special Feature Section: State Funding Programs
States are increasingly moving beyond section 319 funding to support and sustain
their nonpoirit source management programs. States are using many different
mechanisms to fund their nonpoint source activities, including bond initiatives, low-
interest loan programs, grants, and land acquisition programs. States are also increasing
private sector involvement in program implementation so that they can progressively
decrease their current reliance on government funds to support implementation of
nonpoint source best management practices. This section highlights a variety of such
programs that states are administering, beyond the 319 match, to address the effects of
nonpoint source pollution.

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States With Significant Funding Beyond 319 Match
Note: For stories in this section that do not contain a specific citation, information for the story was gleaned from the
state's referenced web site.
California's Water Bond Program
In March 2000 California voters approved Proposition 13, the Costa-Machado Water Act
of 2000 (2000 Water Bond), authorizing the state to sell $1.97 billion in general obligation bonds
to support safe drinking water, flood protection, and water reliability projects throughout the
state. The budget authorizes $468 million specifically for watershed protection, dedicating
$90 million of this to implementing watershed management plans (to reduce flooding, control
erosion, improve water quality, improve aquatic and terrestrial species habitats, restore native
vegetation and riparian zones, and restore beneficial uses of water) and $95 million of this to
river parkway acquisition and riparian habitat restoration. The budget authorizes $30.5 million
specifically to the State Revolving Fund Loan Subaccount for the purposes of providing loans
pursuant to the Clean Water Act. In addition, the budget specifically authorizes $100 million for
nonpoint source pollution control activities and $90 million for coastal nonpoint control activities
over the next several years.
v
For the money specifically authorized for nonpoint source activities, grants of up to
$5 million (per project) may be awarded to local public agencies or nonprofit organizations
formed by landowners to prepare and implement local nonpoint source plans. Projects must use
best management practices (BMPs) or management measures and must demonstrate a capability
to sustain water quality benefits for a period of 20 years. Categories of nonpoint source pollution
addressed by projects may include, but are not limited to, silviculture, agriculture, urban runoff,
mining, hydromodification, grazing, on-site disposal systems, boatyards and marinas, and animal
feeding operations. Projects to address nonpoint source pollution may include, but are not
limited to, wildf ire management, installation of vegetative systems to filter or retard pollutant
loading, incentive programs or large-scale demonstration programs to reduce commercial
reliance on polluting substances or to increase acceptance of alternative methods and materials,
and engineered f eatures to minimize impacts of nonpoint source pollution. Projects must have
defined water quality or beneficial use goals.
For more information on California's Water Bond Program, see
www.swrcb.ca.gov/prop 13/index.html.

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California's Loan Programs*
The California State Board administers two funds that provide loans to help private
parties control nonpoint sources of pollution: the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Program
and the more recent Agricultural Drain Management Program (ADMP) created by Proposition
204 in 1996. Most of the SRF dollars (up to $100 million) come from the federal government.
The state matches the federal contribution on an 80 percent federal/20 percent state basis. In
addition to the SRF, $27.5 million was made available to the ADMP with the passage of
Proposition 204 in 1996. Of this amount, $5 million has been obligated for dairy waste
management. Dollars from previous SRF loans that have been repaid are also available to make
new loans.
Merced County is an example of the local beneficiaries of California's loan programs.
The county has borrowed $10 million from the SRF Loan Program and $5 million from the
ADMP to make loans to Merced County dairies through a county-administered mini-loan
program. The loans may be used to reduce drainage runoff, which is high in nitrates and salinity
and currently threatens the quality of the county's groundwater and surface waters. Most of the
money is expected to be used to install structural improvements for animal waste source control.
The county will also use a portion of the funds to provide a public education and outreach
program to educate dairymen, as well as to establish criteria for evaluating problem dairies and to
develop solutions to control animal waste. The dairy industry is growing in Merced County, and
the county's goal is to ensure that dairies under its jurisdiction are properly operated so that they
comply with county, state, and federal laws.
~Information for this story was gleaned from Opportunity, Responsibility, Accountability, California Environmental
Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board.
Florida Forever Program
The 2-year effort to enact a successor to the Preservation 2000 Program, which had
acquired 1 million acres and was successful in saving many of Florida's beaches, rivers, bays,
forests, coral reefs, and estuaries, culminated in the passage of the Florida Forever bill on April
30, 1999. While devoting major resources toward land acquisition, Florida Forever also
recognizes and refocuses on Florida's water resource needs. The bill devotes 24 percent of funds
to urban efforts, recognizing both the need for greater environmental protection and the need for
more recreation space in urban areas. A significant feature is the creation of Florida's first-ever
land acquisition advisory committee. This committee will clearly focus on measurable goals and
invest taxpayer funds wisely to develop measurable statewide objectives for Florida Forever.
Florida Forever created a 10-year, $3 billion program. The state will receive about $300
million each year through a bond program. The funds will be portioned among the Department
of Environmental Protection (with 35 percent of the funds for acquisition programs, 1.5 percent
for recreation and parks, and 1.5 percent for greenways and trails); the Water Management
Districts (35 percent); the Department of Community Affairs, Florida Communities Trust (24
percent); the new Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (1.5 percent); and the
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry (1.5 percent).

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For more information on the Florida Forever program, see
www.dca.state.fl.us/ffct/florida_forever_program.htm.
Georgia's Greenspace Program
The Georgia Greenspace Program was signed into law on April 16,2000, by Governor
Roy Barnes. The program is a voluntary, noncompetitive, county-based program. It provides for
awards of formula grants to eligible counties if they develop and implement plans to permanently
protect at least 20 percent of the county's geographic area as natural, undeveloped greenspace
that furthers one or more of the nine stated goals of the program. Five of the goals address water-
quality protection, including flood protection; wetland protection; reduction of erosion;
protection of riparian buffers; and water quality protection for rivers, streams, and lakes.
For fiscal year 2001, $30 million has been appropriated for the program. Counties are not
required to provide matching funds, but they must commit to providing adequate stewardship of
the lands once acquired.
For more information on Georgia's Greenspace Program, see
www.ganet.org/dnr/greenspace/index.html.
Iowa's Water Quality Initiative*
Iowa's new Water Quality Initiative (2000) provides $11.2 million per year for a number
of water quality improvement projects throughout the state. Highlights of the Initiative include
financial incentives to install conservation buffers, conduct water quality monitoring, and support
local watershed protection projects.
The Initiative provides $1.5 million to accelerate the implementation of the Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) through soil and water conservation district field offices. Through the
CRP program, farmers receive payments from USDA to establish riparian buffers, grassed
waterways, contour buffer strips, field borders, and other buffers on private farmlands. The
buffer initiative will provide funding for additional field office staff to prepare materials, contact
prospective participants, and process applications. Local government and private, nonprofit
organizations are being challenged to provide matching funds to further leverage the initiative.
Funds are also being used to provide $100/acre sign-up bonus payments for eligible practices of
contour buffer strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, and cross wind trap strips. The first-year
goal is to enroll an additional 100,000 acres in the continuous-sign-up Conservation Reserve
Program.
The Initiative also provides $1.9 million to conduct an ongoing assessment of Iowa's
rivers and streams, lakes, groundwater, beaches, wetlands, and precipitation. In addition, the
program focuses on public education on water quality issues, and encourages participation in
volunteer water quality monitoring. Two years ago, only $120,000 from federal sources was
being spent on water monitoring in Iowa.

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The Initiative provides $2.7 million to develop and encourage integrated approaches to
address multiobjective water quality protection, flood control, erosion control, recreation,
wildlife habitat, £ind other resource protection issues. Funding is provided for watershed
solutions to water quality and water management problems that affect local communities, the
state, and the country. The first year goal is to financially support more than 20 local watershed
protection projects that are providing improved flood protection and erosion control and are
beginning to address the water quality problems of the state's impaired waters. Assistance will
be provided to local communities and Soil and Water Conservation Districts for th6 development
of water quality projects and funding applications. The Watershed Task Force will complete its
study of Iowa watershed protection efforts and will report (with recommendations) on the status
of watershed protection needs, program capacity, and local initiatives.
The Initiative provides financial incentives for many other programs, including $600,000
for septic system renovations (to match $2.4 million from the State Revolving Fund); $2 million
in financial incentives to install soil conservation practices on private farmlands (with 5 percent
directed to lands in the watersheds of high priority, publicly owned lakes in the state); $372,000
to develop improved/new water quality standards and assessment techniques; $1.5 million to
restore or construct wetlands to intercept tile runoff from agricultural lands; $153,000 to develop
an efficient Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program; $200,000 to educate local floodplain
managers; $250,000 to review and issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permits; $850,000 for demonstrations of integrated farm and livestock management;
$70,000 to support the Department of Natural Resources' volunteer programs; and $195,000 to
provide geographic information system (GIS) data to local watershed groups.
~Information for this success story was gleaned from The Iowa Water Quality Initiative: Better Water for a Better
Iowa, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (August 2000).
Maine's Funding Programs*
In 2000 the Maine Department of Agriculture used a $2.5 million state general fund
appropriation to establish the Nutrient Management Grant Program, a cost share program to help
producers construct manure-handling facilities to comply with the state's Nutrient Management
Law.
In 2000 Maine also established the Watershed Improvement Financial Assistance
Partnership. It provides financial assistance to help state Soil and Water Conservation Districts
conduct nonpoint water pollution control projects to restore or protect lakes, streams, or coastal
waters that are polluted or considered threatened. The funding is from the Environmental
Protection Agency ($240,000), administered by the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection (MDEP), and the State of Maine general fund ($160,000), administered by the Maine
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources. EPA-New England and the Maine
Association of Conservation Districts are cooperating partners. Maine's 16 Districts joined
together to form four watershed regions for this program. Annually each region is eligible to
receive a grant of $100,000.
MDEP and Agriculture established the Nutrient Management Loan program in 1999.

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Loans are available through the Financial Authority of Maine. These loans have an effective
interest rate of 4 percent the first year and 3 percent each year thereafter for up to 20 years. They
may be used for building storage and handling facilities for manure and milk room wastes,
including equipment that is used solely for handling waste. In 1999 MDEP also issued $500,000
grants of state bond funds for watershed projects under the Priority Watershed Protection Grants
Program.
In 1998 the Maine Department of Transportation established the Surface Water Quality
Protection Program to help reduce polluted runoff from highways. The program uses federal
Transportation Equity Act funds (about $200,000 per year). The projects funded usually involve
reconstruction of highway drainage systems to reduce sediment discharges to waters.
The state legislature initiated the Maine Overboard Discharge Program in 1989 to help
fund replacement systems that would eliminate licensed overboard discharges in certain areas.
Licensed overboard discharges are treated discharges, to surface bodies of water, of domestic
pollutants not conveyed to a municipal or quasi-municipal wastewater treatment facility. High
priority is given to shellfish areas that could be opened for harvesting if the licensed overboard
discharges were eliminated. The state share of funding for projects in this grant program comes
from bond issues approved by the voters. Since 1989, $4.5 million has be used.
The Small Community Grant Program is a water pollution control program administered
by MDEP. Funding levels range from $0.5 million to $1.0 million per year, and a state bond is
used to fund the program. The goals are to improve water quality, protect public health, and
reopen shellfishing areas that are affected by wastewater discharges. The program may provide
financial and technical assistance in solving wastewater disposal problems in unsewered areas.
For qualifying systems, grants for 25 percent to 100 percent of the replacement costs for a year-
round residence, 25 percent to 50 percent for a business, and 25 percent to 50 percent for a
seasonal or second home are available.
~Submitted by Nonn Marcotte, Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
Clean Michigan Initiative
In 1998 Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved the Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI),
authorizing $675 million in state bonds to finance environmental and natural resources protection
programs.
A large portion of the CMI ($50 million) has been earmarked for Nonpoint Source
Pollution Control grants. These grant funds can be used to implement the physical
improvements, such as structural and vegetative best management practices, in approved
watershed management plans. The Nonpoint Source Pollution Control grants are budgeted at
$7 million per year through 2006. An additional $90 million has been allocated to the Clean
Water Fund to implement a comprehensive water quality monitoring program in the state. That
fund will also be used to protect high-quality waters, eliminate illicit connections to storm drains,
address failing on-site septic systems, plug abandoned wells, implement storm water

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management activities, implement recommendations found in Remedial Action Plans and
Lakewide Management Plans, and implement agricultural best management practices in targeted
watersheds.
For example, $5 million of the Clean Water Fund will be used to provide funding as state
match for the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which will
implement practices on agricultural lands to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. The state
of Michigan applied for a CREP grant of $126 million, with a total state match of $25.75 million.
The practices to be implemented include 60,000 acres of riparian buffer strips, filter strips, field
windbreaks, and wetland restoration, as well as 20,000 acres of wetland restoration, shallow
water areas for wildlife, permanent native grasses, and permanent introduced grasses/legumes.
The CMI grants are available to local units of government and nonprofit organizations.
Watershed management plans are approved by the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality are often developed by local agencies with federal Clean Water Act support.
For more information on the Clean Michigan Initiative, see
www.deq.state.mi.us/exec/cmi/cmiimp.html.
Minnesota's Clean Water Partnership Program
Minnesota's Clean Water Partnership (CWP) was created in 1987 to address pollution
associated with runoff from agricultural and urban areas. The program provides local
governments with resources to protect and improve lakes, streams, and groundwater. Financial
assistance available through the program falls into two categories: grants and low-interest loans.
Grants are available for up to 50 percent of project costs; loans may be used for only the project
implementation phase and may cover the entire cost of implementation or supplement a grant.
The implementation phase involves putting in place best management practices such as
sedimentation ponds, manure management, conservation tillage, terraces, new ordinances,
wetland restoration, fertilizer management, education, or other methods designed to reduce
nonpoint source pollution.
During tine 1999 application cycle for financial assistance, the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency awarded $2,370,107 in grants and $5,778,524 in loans. Through 11 application
cycles, more than $30 million of state, federal, and local funds have been allocated to protect and
improve lakes, streams, groundwater, wellhead areas, and wetlands.
For more information on Minnesota's Clean Water Partnership Program, see
www.pca.state.mn.us/water/cwpartner.html.
Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program*
The Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Program, created in 1986, has two primary
components: RIM and RIM Reserve. The RIM Program focuses on improving fish and wildlife
habitat on public lands, and the RIM Reserve Program focuses on acquiring easements on private

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land.
The RIM Reserve Program protects water quality, reduces soil erosion, and enhances fish
and wildlife habitat by retiring marginal lands from agricultural production and restoring
previously drained wetlands. The owners of these lands are paid a percentage of the assessed
value of their land to voluntarily enroll it in a conservation easement. A variety of land types are
eligible, including drained wetlands, riparian agricultural lands, erodible cropland, pastured
hillsides, and sensitive groundwater areas. Since the program began in 1986, landowners have
enrolled about 2,400 easements, covering 83,000 acres.
The RIM Reserve Program has helped to leverage significant outside dollars for
conservation in Minnesota. Under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the
federal government will provide Minnesota landowners with up to $163 million to retire land in
the Minnesota Ri ver valley. This money must be matched by $70 million in state funding. By
combining a federal Conservation Reserve Program contract with a RIM Reserve easement, this
funding will retire approximately 100,000 acres and more than double the amount of acreage
currently enrolled in RIM Reserve.
The RIM Reserve/Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) partnership is another
state/federalAocal partnership that provides Minnesota with an opportunity to leverage federal
dollars to increase conservation easement enrollment. Under the partnership, drained wetlands
are enrolled and restored by combining WRP's 30-year easement option with a perpetual RIM
Reserve easement. About 6,208 acres of RIM Reserve/WRP easements have been enrolled since
the program began in 1997, costing about $5 million in federal dollars and $2.8 million in state
dollars.
For more information on Minnesota's RIM Reserve Program, see
www.bwsr.state.mn.us/programs/major/rim.html.
~Information for this success story was gleaned from The RIM Program Annual Report (January 2000).
New Hampshire's Water Supply Land Conservation Grant Program
In spring 2000 the New Hampshire legislature created the Water Supply Land
Conservation Grant Program. Under the program, the New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services (DES) provides grants to municipal or nonprofit water suppliers for the
purchase of land or conservation easements critical to the quality of their water. These water
supply lands must be within the source water protection areas for existing or planned public
drinking water sources. DES has $1.5 million available for grants during the first year of the
program.
The state grants must be matched by 75 percent from local sources. These match sources
can include donated land or easements that also lie within the source water protection area,
public funds, transaction expenses, or private funds. A low-interest loan fund is also available
from DES to help communities finance some or all of the match.

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For more information on New Hampshire's Water Supply Land Conservation Grant
Program, see www.des.state.nh.us/dwspp/ws_landgrant.htm.
New Jersey's Funding Programs
Over the past several years, the New Jersey legislature has appropriated $5.3 million to
the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Agriculture for
technical and financial assistance grants to farmers who develop and implement conservation
plans that incorporate agricultural best management practices to control nonpoint source
pollution. Direct state cost share funding assistance is pooled with federal Environmental
Quality Incentives Program cost share funds and made available to farmers based on potential
environmental benefit.
In June 1999, New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman signed the Garden State
Preservation Tru st Act, which will allow the state to preserve 1 million acres of open space over
the next 10 years (by 2010). In 1998 New Jersey residents voted to amended the New Jersey
constitution to provide a stable source of funding to acquire and preserve open space, farmland,
and historic sites around the state. The amendment dedicates $98 million annually for 10 years
to preservation efforts and authorizes the issuance of up to $1 billion in revenue bonds. For more
information on the Garden State Preservation Trust Act, see
www.state.nj.us/dep/greenacres/preservation.htm.
New Jersey's DEP has received $5 million each fiscal year from State Corporate Business
Tax receipts to implement watershed management and nonpoint source pollution control. Funds
for nonpoint source and watershed activities have been increased to include $600,000 for each of
the 20 Watershed Management Areas for a 4-year watershed planning process. For more
information on New Jersey's Corporate Business Tax, see
www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/financial.htm.
New Jersey's DEP awarded $1.8 million in grant funds on April 17, 2001, for the
development of regional storm water management planning in four counties. Storm water plans
to improve streams and water quality will be developed for five priority watersheds: the Upper
Maurice River in Gloucester County, the Smithville Drainage in Atlantic County, part of the
Rancocas watershed in Burlington County, and Masons Creek and Little Creek both tributaries to
the Cooper River. Additional grants totaling $740,000 are being awarded for storm water
planning in the Shrewsbury and Cohansey watersheds. These funds are from the 1989 Storm
water and Combined Sewer Overflow Bond Act.
New Jersey's draft 2002 budget includes an additional $15 million allocated from the
Water Quality Remediation Fund for nonpoint source projects, as well as a portion of an
additional $15 million for grants to homeowners with individual septic systems for connection to
a sanitary sewer system when septic systems cause contamination of a water supply.

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New York's Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act
New York's 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act devoted $1.75 billion to protect and
restore the state's environment. Of that amount, $790 million in funding is devoted to clean
water projects to help carry out existing management plans for major water resources. Funds are
available for municipal wastewater treatment improvement, pollution prevention, agricultural
and nonagricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, and aquatic habitat restoration.
Significant support is available to acquire open space that protects water resources, acquire
public parklands,, and protect farmland. Funding is also available to help small businesses
protect the environment, help small municipalities address flood control, and improve the safety
of dams throughout New York.
The Bond Act also specifically devotes $355 million for safe drinking water projects.
These funds include $265 million for a revolving loan fund and $90 million for state assistance
payments to economically distressed water systems upgrading their drinking water facilities.
For more information on New York's Clean Water Bond Act, see
www.dec.state.ny.us/website/bondact/index.html.
North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund
In 1996 North Carolina's General Assembly established the Clean Water Management
Trust Fund (CWMTF) to help finance projects that specifically address water pollution problems
and focus on upgrading surface waters, eliminating pollution, and protecting and conserving
unpolluted surface waters, including urban drinking water supplies. Moneys from the CWMTF
may be used to acquire land or easements for riparian buffers and watersheds; to restore
wetlands, buffers, and watershed lands; to repair failing wastewater treatment systems; and to
improve storm water controls and management practices.
At the end of each fiscal year, 6.5 percent of the unreserved credit balance in North
Carolina's General Fund (or a minimum of $30 million) will go into the CWMTF. In 2000 the
Board of Trustees approved 59 grants for a total of $49.8 million. The Board has approved 234
grants for a total of $211 million since 1997. CWMTF grants have leveraged at least $60 million
in other private and public funds. The CWMTF's $40 million investment in the Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program will leverage $221 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture
funds and $10 million in other funds over the next 6 years. The 2000 session of the General
Assembly committed to appropriate $40 million to CWMTF in FY 2001-02, $70 million in FY
2002-03, and $100 million in FY 2003-04 and subsequent years.
The CWMTF has helped to protect 1,560 miles of riparian buffers and preserve 134,673
acres of land. The CWMTF has assisted 60 local governments with wastewater improvements,
funded 45 restoration projects, and funded 16 storm water projects.
For more information on North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund, see
www.cwmtf.net.

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Clean Ohio Fund
On November 7, 2000, Ohio voters passed Issue 1, a $400 million statewide ballot
initiative that will help support brownfields restoration, farmland preservation, stream and
watershed restoration and protection, open space conservation, and outdoor recreation.
In January 2001 Ohio's Governor Bob Taft released the Clean Ohio Fund Implementation
White Paper, detailing his vision regarding the administration of the fund. The administration
proposes to set aside $25 million for a pilot program to purchase agricultural easements on
valuable agricultural land. A total of $50 million will be available over the program's initial 4
years to protect high-quality streams and restore impaired water resources through protection of
habitat along Ohio streams. Eligible projects will include the purchase of easements or fee
simple interest in land to protect and restore streams and forested riparian corridors. Funding
will also support projects that protect or restore natural stream channel functions, floodplains,
and riparian corridors (for example, removal of dams that are no longer needed, provisions for
fish passage, protection and restoration of natural flow regimes, or restoration of floodplains and
associated wetlands).
In addition, the Clean Ohio Fund will set aside $175 million for brownfields restoration,
$100 million for green spaces, and $25 million each for developing recreational trails and
cleaning up threats to public health.
For more information on the Clean Ohio Fund, see www.dnr.state.oh.us/cleanohiofund.
Oregon's Watershed Restoration Grants
Oregon's Watershed Enhancement Board administers Watershed Restoration Grants for
numerous activities, including watershed restoration and enhancement, watershed assessment and
monitoring, watershed education and outreach, land and water acquisition, and watershed council
support. Grants are used to fund on-the-ground watershed management projects such as planting
along streambanks to slow erosion, developing off-stream livestock watering facilities or fencing
stream areas to restore riparian function, controlling upland vegetation to encourage the growth
of native grasses, reseeding old logging roads, restoring or enhancing natural wetlands,
improving fish habitat, removing or replacing ineffective culverts, and purchasing conservation
easements or leasing water rights.
The funds for these grants come from a voter-approved ballot measure that designates 7.5
percent of lottery proceeds for watershed restoration and protection. In January 2001 alone, the
Watershed Enhancement Board awarded nearly $10 million in watershed improvement grants to
watershed action groups around the state.
For more information on Oregon's Watershed Restoration Grants, see
www.oweb.state.or.us.

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Pennsylvania's Growing Greener Program*
In December 1999 Governor Tom Ridge signed Pennsylvania's Growing Greener
program into law, providing nearly $650 million over 5 years to address the state's most pressing
environmental challenges. Funds provided by Growing Greener will be split among four state
agencies on an annual basis: Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of
Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture, and Pennsylvania Infrastructure
Investment Authority. These agencies will direct Growing Greener funding to protect open
space, clean up abandoned mines, restore watersheds, and provide new and upgraded water and
sewer systems, among other projects.
The first year of Pennsylvania's Growing Greener grant program has been very
successful. Growing Greener grants have led to 55 watershed assessment and protection plans
and 85 restoration/demonstration projects being implemented. Projects facilitating 58
environmental education projects and the organization of 21 watershed groups have also been set
in motion.
With the help of Growing Greener funds, 3,603 acres of wetlands and 117 miles of
riparian buffers are being restored. In addition, 279 miles of streams affected by acid mine
drainage are being cleaned up, nearly 800 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed,
and 43 miles of stream improvement structures are being built. Growing Greener has also
enabled Pennsylvania to eliminate its backlog of mine reclamation and oil and gas well plugging
projects. As a re sult, an additional 612 acres of abandoned mine lands are being reclaimed and
more than 134 abandoned oil and gas wells are being plugged.
Grant recipients took the initiative to seek out other sources of funding to build on their
Growing Greener grants. Nearly $45 million in matching funds supplemented the
Commonwealth's investment. Match money was received in the form of cash, volunteer time, or
donations of equipment or materials.
For more information on Pennsylvania's Growing Greener program, see
www.dep.state.pa.us/growgreen.
~Submitted by Russ Wagner, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
South Dakota's Water and Waste Funding Program
South Dakota's Water and Waste Funding Program administers several funding programs
for water, wastewater, and solid waste projects. Programs available through Water and Waste
Funding include the Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, which provides grants
and loans for community water, wastewater, and watershed projects ($2.5 million to $3.0 million
annually); the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which provides low-interest loans for
wastewater, storm sewer, and nonpoint source projects ($7.5 million annually); the Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund program, which provides low-interest loans for drinking water
projects ($8 million to $10 million annually); and the State Water Resources Management

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System, which provides grants and loans for major projects that have been designated by the state
legislature as preferred priority objectives for water resources development and management in
South Dakota ($1.3 million annually).
For more information on South Dakota's Water and Waste Funding Program, see
www.state.sd.us/denr/DFTA/WRAP/WRAP.htm.
South Dakota's State Water Resources Management System Grant1"
South Dakota's 1999 legislature appropriated a $525,000 grant under the State Water
Resources Management System to the Bad River Water Restoration Project. The money will be
used to help reduce sedimentation rates in the lower Bad River watershed. Activities being
funded include grazing deferment payments to landowners, cross fencing, water distribution
systems, and range reseeding. Most riparian areas will go into a 2- or 3-year deferment during
which they will be free of grazing and will then be put into a grazing management program in
which vegetation can be manipulated.
~Information for this story was gleaned from the Pierre Capital Journal (December 18,2000). Submitted by Duane
Murphy, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Vermont's Funding Programs*
Agricultural BMP cost-share program
In 1996 the Vermont legislature created a program that provides financial assistance to
Vermont farmers in support of voluntary implementation of best management practices (BMPs)
on farms. This program has provided a unique opportunity to combine state funds with federal
USDA funds on many projects, thereby reducing the farmer's share of project costs to as little as
15 percent. Since the program', the legislature has gradually increased annual funding levels
from $250,000 to the current $1.2 million. In total, $3.9 million has now been earmarked for this
program, with $2.7 million committed to build 737 BMP projects on 388 farms. This year's
fiscal year 2001 allocation of $1.2 million is currently being committed to farm projects. The
most common BMPs funded through the program to date have been systems to store manure,
manage barnyard runoff, and treat milkhouse effluent. Using a phosphorus crediting procedure
for each BMP, the state estimates that the practices funded thus far will reduce annual
phosphorus loading to watercourses by about 31,900 pounds. The loading estimates provide one
means for the state to track progress toward phosphorus reduction goals in key water bodies such
as Lake Champlain.
The Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets administers the program in close
coordination with USDA cost-share programs. BMP systems eligible for state cost share dollars
must meet design standards and specifications established by the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service. A system must be operated and maintained for its design life (typically at
least 10 years) according to a plan that includes strict provisions for nutrient management and
system upkeep.
Contact information: Phil Benedict (phil@agr.state.vt.us) or Jeff Cook (cookie@agr.state.vt.us)

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at the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets, 802-828-2431
Vermont Better Backroads Grants Program
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation initiated a small grants program
for correcting erosion and drainage problems along the state's backroads in 1997 using a small
amount (about $20,000) of section 319 funding. Approximately 81 percent of Vermont's road
miles are maintained by municipalities, and most of these roads are gravel roads. The goal of
Vermont's Better Backroads Program is to promote the use of erosion control and maintenance
techniques that save money while protecting and enhancing Vermont's lakes and streams. The
program has been so successful that the Vermont General Assembly voted to more than triple its
size in 1999 by adding $48,000 in state appropriations. Grants are awarded to towns and local
organizations for erosion control measures not already required by town, state, or federal
regulations. The 20 projects funded this year range from the installation of rock-lined ditches
and diversion berms to culvert repairs and streambank stabilization. A portion of the funds is
made available for road inventories, problem prioritizing, and capital budget planning to
incorporate erosion control into ongoing town road maintenance.
Contact information: Susan Warren, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, 802-241-3794,
susan. warren @ anrmail.anr.state. vt.us.
Vermont Watershed Fund
The Vermont Watershed Fund was established with funds from the sale of a special
conservation license plate, authorized by the state legislature in 1996. The plates first became
available in April 1997, and more than 9,000 were sold by fall 1999. Revenues for projects
supported by the fund are raised by an additional $20 per year motor vehicle registration fee for
each plate. The proceeds from plate sales are divided between the Vermont Watershed
Management Fund and the Nongame Wildlife Fund.
The Watershed Fund, administered by Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources, supports
watershed projects that protect, restore, or enhance Vermont's watershed resources. The funds
are granted to community-based watershed organizations through the Vermont Watershed Grants
Program. A wide range of projects are eligible for funding, including monitoring, outreach, land
acquisition, recreational enhancement, and pollution prevention. A wide range of projects were
funded in 1998 and 1999, including mine remediation, lake watershed surveys, river
stabilization, and integrated crop management in a small watershed. Funds available for the
watershed grants program have grown steadily from $16,000 in 1998 to $45,000 in 2000.
Although modest in size, the program already has produced many successful results. It fills a
critical gap in statewide funding sources for watershed-based projects.
Contact information: Susan Warren, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, 802-241-3794,
susan. warren @ anrmail.anr.state. vt.us.
~Submitted by Eric Perkins, EPA Region 1.

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For more information on Washington's water quality funding programs, see
ww w.ecy. wa. go v/programs/wq/funding.
Wisconsin's Grant Programs for Runoff Management
Wisconsin's Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Abatement Program provides grants
averaging $20 million per year in both urban and rural watersheds selected for priority watershed
projects. In 1997 and 1998 the Wisconsin legislature created two new grant programs to address
the effects of polluted runoff. The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program
provides up to $150,000 to rural and urban governmental units to control polluted runoff from
urban and rural sites. The Urban Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Grant Program focuses on
financial assistance for projects in urban areas, providing up to 70 percent of technical assistance.
For more information on Wisconsin's grant programs for polluted runoff management,
see www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/nps/npsprogram.html.
State Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs
State Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREP) address important local
conservation concerns by combining USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with state
technical and funding assistance. CRP is administered by the USDA's Farm Service Agency,
which protects fragile farmland by assisting owners and operators in conserving and improving
soil, water, and wildlife resources. This is done by converting highly erodible and other
environmentally sensitive acreage normally devoted to the production of agricultural
commodities to a long-term approved cover. Participants enroll contracts for 10 to 15 years and,
in some cases, easements, in exchange for annual rental payments and cost share assistance for
installing certain conservation practices.
At least 14 states have approved CREP agreements in place, and at least an additional 8
states have CREP proposals under review. Many states are contributing significant amounts of
funding to CREP. For example, Oregon provides $50 million (along with $200 million from
USDA); North Carolina, $54 million (with $221 million from USDA); Pennsylvania, $77
million (with $137 million from USDA).
States are also enrolling large tracts of land in the CREP. For example, Ulinois's $250
million CREP can have up to 232,000 acres continuously enrolled in the CRP through 2002.
Goals of the program include reducing total sediment loading to the Illinois River by 20 percent;
reducing phosphorus and nitrogen loading to the Illinois River by 10 percent; increasing
populations of waterfowl, shorebirds, and state and federally listed species by 15 percent within
the project area; and increasing native fish and mussel stocks by 10 percent in the lower reaches
of the Illinois River.
For more information on State Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs, see
www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crep/crepstates.htm.

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Clean Water State Revolving Fund Programs
Under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, EPA provides grants or
"seed money" to .ill 50 states and Puerto Rico to capitalize state loan funds. The states, in turn,
make loans to communities, individuals, and others for high-priority water quality activities. As
money is paid back into the revolving fund, new loans are made to other recipients that need help
in maintaining the quality of their water. Currently, the program has more than $27 billion in
assets.
The CWSRF program allows states the flexibility to provide funding for projects that will
address their highest-priority needs. Although the CWSRF has traditionally been used to build or
improve wastewater treatment plants, eligible nonpoint source projects include virtually any
activity that a state has identified in its nonpoint source management plan. Loans can be used for
control of agricultural runoff, conservation tillage and other projects to address soil erosion,
development of streambank buffer zones, and wetland protection and restoration. Twenty-eight
states have funded more than $1 billion of such nonpoint source and estuary projects through
2000. A majority (54 percent) of these projects are to correct failing septic systems, and a large
portion of projects (34 percent) are for agricultural best management practices (for cropland and
animal waste).
For more information on the CWSRF program, see www.epa.gov/owm/cwsrf.htm.

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Special Feature Section: Innovative State Programs
States are implementing a wide variety of innovative programs to help them
achieve their nonpoint source program goals. This special feature section highlights six
especially innovative state programs. Some programs feature regulatory components
(e.g., Hawaii's erosion and sediment control project, Massachusetts' storm water utility
program, and Idaho's dairy pollution initiative), whereas others highlight the
nonregulatory, voluntary adoption of nonpoint source best management practices (e.g.,
New York's Agricultural Environmental Management Program, California's BIOS
Program, and South Carolina's Forestry Best Management Practice Compliance
Program). These programs all have in common a wide network of partners and funding
sources, some beyond 319 entirely (e.g., Idaho's diary pollution initiative). This section
also highlights a compilation of statewide Clean Marinas Programs that are fast becoming
a popular way of promoting environmentally responsible marina and boating practices
across the nation.

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California's BIOS Program:
Growers Adopt Whole-System Management
Approach to Reduce Pesticide Use
The Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project is a community-
based pollution prevention program that uses biological methods to replace chemical
farming practices. It was started in 1993 to help California almond growers and other
farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic pesticides. Already reported as a success in
Section 319 Success Stories: Volume 7/(1997), the program continues to expand and
attract new funding sources in addition to 319 funding.
The program was designed to address the problems caused by the pesticide
diazanon, which is applied as a dormant spray during the winter as a routine almond
production practice. During heavy rainstorms, the pesticide flows into surface irrigation
systems, creeks, and streams and eventually into the major rivers of the San Joaquin
Valley, the Delta, and San Francisco Bay. Diazanon is an organophosphate that the
National Academy of Science has recommended be present only at concentrations below
9 nanograms per liter. It was being found at more than 1,000 ng/L in some runoff pulses.
How the program works
In 1995 the Central Valley Regional Board and the State Board joined the
University of California, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), EPA, and
numerous private foundations (which were already supporting the BIOS program) to
expand the program in Merced and Stanislaus Counties, where diazanon was causing
water quality problems.
BIOS participation begins with a customized management plan for each farmer
who enrolls a new block of acreage (typically 20 to 30 acres) under BIOS management.
Participating growers adopt a whole-system management approach that 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. Finally, it relies on monitoring and observation to determine if and when the least
harmful chemical should be applied.
The pl an is developed with the help of a BIOS Management Team that includes a
local farm advisor, university researchers, local experienced participant farmers, and a
Pesticide Control Advisor with extensive experience in helping almond farmers reduce
their reliance on diazanon and other farm chemicals. Follow-up support continues with
technical support, consultation with members of the management team, local educational
events like field days and workshops, and technical publications. A comprehensive
monitoring program is also integral to each BIOS project.

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Encouraging results
According to the Community of Alliance with Family Farmers Foundation
(CAFF), 98 piercent of the growers who joined the expansion program completely
eliminated the use of diazanon. The pollution prevention methods BIOS teaches have
influenced not only the 90 growers officially enrolled in the program but also many more
growers who have introduced at least some of the BIOS practices in their orchards. A
long-time Pesticide Control Advisor in Merced County estimates that at least 60 percent
of the county 's almond growers are cutting back on pesticides and using some form of
biological management that they weren't using before the BIOS program began.
Looking toward the future
As with all innovative programs, the time comes when subsidized start-up funds
are no longer available and programs must continue on their own. Direct BIOS
management is provided for 3 years; then a transition period begins. From the outset of
the BIOS program, the concept was to develop the capability of local organizations to
lead BIOS activities and to create a structure that sustains the BIOS presence even after
CAFF no longer plays the coordinating role.
In Merced and Stanislaus Counties, the BIOS program is successfully making that
transition with the help of two local Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs). The
current work with the East Merced RCD and the East Stanislaus RCD is designed not
only to transfer BIOS outreach and activities to local control but also to create and
document a model for other BIOS projects.
East Merced RCD has already hired a coordinator to take over the BIOS project in
that area. Coordinating a BIOS project takes an array of skills—event planning and
production, project planning, and group facilitation—and a background in agriculture,
including knowledge of agronomy and pest management. Also necessary are skills in
database management, newsletter publication, and media outreach. To facilitate the
transition, a Transition Coordinator from the BIOS program is mentoring the new East
Merced RCD coordinator. As part of the mentor training, the RCD coordinator will meet
the network of growers, researchers, extensionists, government representatives (including
State and Regional Board representatives), and industry leaders with whom CAFF has
established relationships through the BIOS program.
In addition, a Transition Advisory Team (TAT) has been established to guide the
RCD program much as the current management teams now do for BIOS projects.
Through the TAT, the RCD program will remain connected to the communities of
growers, educators, agency personnel, and agricultural consultants that team members
represent. Over the coming year, new possibilities for program activities and funding
sources will be identified and prioritized and BIOS activities will continue to evolve.
Growers are being consulted regarding the activities most important to them—the
activities they most want to see continued and the new subject areas into which they
would like to see BIOS activities expand.

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Contact Information: Claire Murray, (530) 756-8518 (ext. 15).
""Information for this success story was gleaned from Opportunity, Responsibility, Accountability,
California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board.

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Creating a Storm Water Utility in Chicopee,
Massachusetts: Project Praised as Outstanding
Planning Project
The importance of storm water management in Massachusetts will undoubtedly
increase in the coming years as Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) storm water management program goes into effect, requiring communities
to take action to reduce pollution coming from storm water. The number of Massachusetts
communities covered by NPDES storm water permits will dramatically increase from 2 to 191
when Phase II becomes effective.
In 1997 the Massachusetts Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the City of
Chicopee, Massachusetts, received 319 funding to investigate the feasibility of creating a
storm water utility. Like electric and water utilities, storm water utilities collect fees from
residents to pay for a "product." The product offered by storm water utilities is storm water
management to control or eliminate water pollution, erosion, and flooding.
Researching the legal framework
One of the first steps was to research existing utilities around the country to identify
key issues. To effectively present the information developed to the public, it was neatly
packaged into a "how-to" kit. The kit includes the research on storm water utilities across the
country, summarized inan easydto-read format for both a professional audience (briefing
papers) and the public (graphical summaries). The first 500 copies of the how-to kit were in
high demand. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is now producing
1,000 additional copies in anticipation of the interest in storm water management techniques
that will accompany Phase II of the NPDES storm water permit program.
A critical part of the project also included reviewing Massachusetts' laws to determine
the legality of creating storm water utilities. All Massachusetts laws and regulations

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system. Second, the city expects that over time, large storm water generators will begin to
invest in best management practices and remediation measures to treat their storm water in
order to reduce their storm water management fee, thus reducing the amount of storm water
pollution being generated.
Chicopee's storm water management fee has been in place since December 1998. In
the first year, the city raised some $400,000 for storm water management; by the third year,
revenues had increased to $550,000. To date, the money has been used for activities such as
stepping up cleaning of catch basins, purchasing a catch basin cleaning truck, grouting joints
in the sewer system to stop leakage and inflow, stenciling storm drains, and cleaning sewer
lines. Chicopee has also used the funds to leverage additional state loan funding for a
$5 million sewer separation project.
A model of success
In fall 2000 the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the City of Chicopee were
jointly awarded the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association's
Outstanding Planning Project Award. The how-to kit and Chicopee's storm water
management pilot have been widely presented as successful models, and interest in replicating
these concepts in other municipalities has been high. The City of Holyoke, another old
industrial community in western Massachusetts, is now actively working to develop a similar
storm water management program.
The most obvious short-term results of this project are the production of a successful
model to create storm water utilities (or, at a minimum, a fee-based storm water management
program) and Chicopee's successful piloting of this type of program in Massachusetts. The
fully researched., piloted example of how a municipal storm water management program can
be developed and funded within the context of Massachusetts's laws, climate, and geography
is a valuable tool that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection can now
present as an option for Phase II communities.

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Contact Information: Jane Peirce, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
627 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608,508-767-2792; Jane.Peirce@state.ma.us
~Submitted by Elizabeth McCann, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

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North Dakota Innovation
Eco-Ed Camps: Thousands of Students Have Fun
While Learning
Can you imagine taking 100 sixth-grade students camping overnight and having
no problems finding adult volunteers to come along? Students are expected to play in the
mud, chew on wildflower roots, canoe in the creek, locate and identify things like deer
and bird droppings, and get utterly dirty and wet. And they love it!
Nine years ago, the Barnes County Soil Conservation District (SCD) began a
program using an EPA section 319 grant as the basis for improving the format of the
county's conservation tour. Five topics of study were identified, and every Eco-Ed Camp
must address them — prairie/grasslands, soils, wetlands, woodlands, and water quality.
All of the subjects are covered in relation to water and its importance. A session on water
safety is also required before the students may canoe.
In addition to the required material, the camps feature scavenger hunts, canoeing,
Native American presentations, live birds like eagles and falcons, live bugs (cockroaches,
spiders, and others), characters like Teddy Roosevelt and Sam Ting, artifacts, mountain
men, campfires and guitar sing-a-longs, nature walks, flint fires, water relays, recycling
demonstrations, and more.
The schedule has been revised to accommodate 1-day tours; however, most
students, teachers, and chaperones prefer the 2-day format if facilities are available. The
longer format provides students with a diversified, hands-on learning experience.
Students are immediately able to relate the five topics to the environment as they function
in it. Teachers use the material and experiences as a basis for their earth science classes
when they return to their classrooms.
In 1997 the Barnes County SCD received additional section 319 funding to
develop Eco-Ed Camps in coordination with any SCD in North Dakota. This effort is
referred to as the Statewide Eco-Ed Program. It was projected that 20 to 25 camps would
be developed within the first 5 years of the grant. In the first season (fall 1997), 11 new
counties joined the program (conducting eight 1-day tours and three 2-day camps). A
total of 1,418 students, about 200 parents and chaperones, and 65 classroom teachers
participated.
In the 9 years Barnes County has conducted the Eco-Ed Camps, more than 2,000
Barnes County students have attended the camps. Those first alumni are now 20 years
old and living in all parts of the country. It is gratifying to know these young adults have
the education to understand ecology and the importance of water quality.
To date some 12,000 students have attended an Eco-Ed tour or camp in North
Dakota. As one former student put it, "I had so much fun at camp that I was surprised
that I actually learned something!"

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Contact Information: Greg Sandness, North Dakota NPS Pollution Management
Coordinator, '701-328-5232
information for this success story was gleaned from North Dakota Department of
Health, Quality Water Newsletter, Vol 8, No. 4 (Fall 1997).

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Idaho's Dairy Pollution Prevention Initiative: Unique
Program Eliminates Direct Dairy Discharge
The Idaho Dairy Pollution Prevention Initiative is an unusual public-private
partnership formed to resolve major environmental problems not adequately addressed by
the federal and state environmental agencies that traditionally regulate such problems.
The partnership is an alliance among two federal and two state agencies, an industry
group, and a state university.
In 1995 it was determined that 280 Idaho dairies (about one-fourth of the total
number) were discharging untreated animal and dairy process waste to roadside ditches,
streams, and ground water. Dairy waste discharges are typically high in levels of
Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium. When ingested, these
microorganisms can cause illness and death. Some water bodies that had been receiving
dairy waste discharges were also used for human contact sports and drinking water .
sources. No known outbreaks of disease can be attributed directly to discharges from
Idaho dairies; however, fish kills have been recorded on several occasions.
Before the Daily Initiative, dairy waste control efforts by EPA and the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) were somewhat misdirected and only
marginally effective. EPA regulations generally restrict coverage to only those dairies
with more than 200 cows. Most (approximately 70 percent) of the 280 dairies discovered
discharging, fell beneath this 200-cow cutoff. Unless a complaint was filed, it was quite
possible for discharges from the smaller dairies to go undetected by EPA and IDEQ.
Dairy MOU partners
The Idaho Dairy Pollution Prevention Memorandum of Understanding (Dairy
MOU) was signed in October 1995. It assigned the Idaho State Department of
Agriculture (ISDA) the lead role of interacting directly with the dairy industry to address
the concerns of IDEQ and EPA. A set of guidelines and criteria were jointly conceived.
Under the Dairy MOU, EPA and IDEQ agreed to train ISDA inspectors and
support the ISDA in circumstances of major environmental or public health risk, and the
Idaho Dairy Association (IDA) agreed to contact and inform the industry, promote the
program, and educate IDA members about the values of environmental stewardship along
with production capacity. To establish this innovative program's credibility and to build
public confidence, all parties decided to review the program annually in a public forum
and make the results available to interested parties.
Though not signatory parties to the Dairy MOU, the National Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Idaho Extension Service are
considered partners, in that they played key roles in developing and implementing the
Idaho Dairy Initiative.

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A model for other states
Because of the success of the Idaho Dairy Initiative, several states and industry
groups are considering adopting similar approaches. States considering the Initiative as a
model include Oregon, Georgia, Ohio, Minnesota, and Florida.
In August 1998 Vice President A1 Gore's "Hammer Award" for reinventing
government was presented to each of the signatory parties of the Idaho Dairy MOU, to
the University of Idaho Extension Service, and to nine individuals who were key
contributors to the successful negotiation of the MOU. In early 1999 EPA awarded
Silver Medals to the EPA employees who had contributed significantly to the
development and the implementation of the MOU. Most recently, the Dairy Initiative has
been named as a semifinalist in the Innovations in American Government Award,
sponsored by the Institute for Government Innovation at the Harvard University's John F.
Kennedy School of Government.
Contact Information: Marv Patten, Dairy Bureau Chief, Department of Agriculture
(ISDA), 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83701,208-332-8550,
mpatten@agri.state.id.us; Bub Loiselle, Manager, NPDES Compliance Unit, U.S. EPA,
Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101,206-553-6901, loiselle.bub@epa.gov
¦"Information for this success story was gleaned from The Idaho Dairy Pollution Prevention Initiative,
Innovations in American Government 2001 Semifinalist Application, April 2001. Submitted by Gary
Voerman and Warren McFall, EPA Region 10.

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Mauii County Erosion and Sediment Control
Training Project: Workshops Explain Ordinance,
Teach BMP Installation
Hawaii's Maui County includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai and thus
many different watersheds that are diverse in geophysical features, soil types, rainfall, and
coastal water uses. The State Department of Health lists the waters of West Maui,
Kahului Harbor, and the South Molokai shoreline as water quality-limited segments
because they often exceed nutrient and turbidity standards. Construction and grading
projects were identified as the primary source of water quality problems.
Maui County's grading ordinance, last revised in 1975, did not specifically require
the installation of best management practices (BMPs) to control erosion and
sedimentation and did not require the posting of performance bonds for large projects. In
addition, much grading work was unregulated because of exemptions in the grading
ordinance for certain types of grading activities. Thus, construction and grading activities
resulted in soil erosion, causing sediment and other pollutants to enter receiving water
bodies. The Maui County grading ordinance needed to be revised.
Revising Maui County's grading ordinance
With support of 319 funding, a revised grading ordinance was developed to
require erosion and sediment control BMPs for all construction projects, including minor
work that does not require a permit. The County Council adopted this revised grading
ordinance on August 10,1998.
The revised ordinance met federal guidance under the Coastal Zone Act
Reauthorization Amendments of 1990. The provisions of the grading ordinance before
and after the revision are summarized in Table 1. The major changes are the following:
• All projects, even those that do not require grading permits, must use BMPs to
control erosion, sedimentation, and dust to the maximum extent practicable.

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*Submitted by Denis Lau, P.E., Chief, Clean Water Branch, State of Hawaii, Department
of Health.
l

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New York's Agricultural Environmental
Management Program: Incentive-based Program
Helps Farmers Meet Tough Standards
The Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program has put New York
State in the forefront of a national effort to help farmers identify and address agricultural
nonpoint source pollution. New York's AEM Program is a statewide voluntary,
incentive-based program that helps all farmers operate environmentally sound and
economically viable businesses. The AEM Program provides cost sharing and
educational and technical assistance for developing and implementing agricultural plans.
The plans enable farmers of operations of all sizes to remain good stewards of the land,
maintain the economic viability of the farm operation, and comply with federal, state, and
local regulations relating to water quality and other environmental concerns.
The AEM partnership of state, federal, and local agencies, conservation
representatives, private sector businesses, and farmers has been recognized and bolstered
by AEM legislation proposed by Governor Pataki and passed by the state's Senate and
Assembly in June 2000. On August 24,2000, Governor Pataki signed the AEM Bill into
law, codifying the program to help New York's agricultural community in its stewardship
of the state's soil and water resources.
The partnership operates at both the state and local levels. The New York State
Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Soil and Water
Conservation Committee provide leadership at the state level, while Soil and Water
Conservation Districts (SWCDs) provide local leadership. The flexibility of the AEM
Program allows the partners to address both statewide and specific local water quality
needs. The local delivery of AEM, along with state funding support, has resulted in
participation approaching 8000 farms statewide.
AEM funding
The AEM Program is funded by a mixture of section 319 money and grants from
the state's 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and the State Environmental Protection
Fund. The ability of farmers to access funding through SWCDs has been a driving factor
in farmers' acceptance of and participation in the AEM Program. Governor Pataki, with
the assistance of the state's Soil and Water Conservation Committee, awarded about $6.3
million in 2000 from the state's Environmental Protection Fund and Clean Water/Clean
Air Bond Act for planning and implementing best management practices (BMPs) to
prevent or reduce nonpoint source pollution to water bodies. Through fiscal year 1998, a
total of $1,863,660 in Section 319 money has been used to develop and promote the
program in New York's agricultural community. In 2000 the total allocation from state
funding sources stood at $20.4 million, with funding showing a consistent trend upward.

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New York's response to tougher standards
While many states have implemented agricultural regulations as a result of
tougher federal water quality standards, New York has responded with the voluntary,
incentive-based AEM Program. AEM offers farmers a way to comply with regulatory
requirements, advance the state's water quality objectives, and meet business objectives
on the farm at the same time. The concepts, partnerships, and materials that constitute
AEM grew from many sources, including watershed projects and the national
Farm*A*Syst program.
The AEM program begins with the farmer expressing an interest in the program.
After that, there are five tiers to be completed. Under Tier I, a short questionnaire
surveys the farmer's current activities and future plans and begins to identify potential
environmental concerns. Tier II involves completing worksheets that document current
environmental stewardship while identifying and prioritizing environmental concerns.
Tier HI involves the development of a conservation plan, which is directly tailored
toward the goals for the individual farm. This plan is mutually developed by the AEM
Coordinator, the farmer, and several members of the cooperating agency staff. Under
Tier IV, agricultural agencies and consultants provide the farmers with technical,
educational, and financial assistance to implement BMPs on the farm, using Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) standards and guidance from professional
engineers. The last tier includes ongoing evaluations to ensure that AEM helps protect
both the environment and the viability of farm businesses.
AEM provides a mechanism for all sizes and types of farms to meet the
requirements of various state and federal environmental laws and regulations within the
unique limitations of each farm's resource base. For example, the AEM Program is
helping farmers meet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
permit requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). As a response
to federal requirements, the state has developed a general permit for certain large
livestock farms. As a result, more than 600 CAFOs have filed Notices of Intent to
comply with the DEC permit requirements.
To meet an increasing workload, the AEM Steering Committee adopted a
certification process in conjunction with NRCS to get qualified AEM planners into the
field. Certification assures environmental regulators, producers, and the public of quality
work in AEM. The program has now trained 104 persons from the public and private
sectors in the development of comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs). To
date, seven planners have been certified, resulting in the completion of CNMPs for 33
farms.
Looking ahead
Agriculture is a multibillion-dollar business in New York State, and the AEM
Program works to keep all of the state's farms environmentally sound and economically
viable. Ever/ farm is valuable for what it contributes to the economy, the environment,
and the beauty of New York State, and AEM is strengthening this legacy for the future.
We all depend on clean drinking water and wholesome food for our existence. With

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sufficient support and assistance, through Agricultural Environmental Management, New
York State's farm families will provide both of these.
Contact Information: Barbara Silvestri, New York State Soil and Water Conservation
Committee, 1 Winners Circle, Albany, NY 12235,518-457-3738, silvestrb@nysnet.net
~Information for this success story was gleaned from Agricultural Environmental Management Report
(2000) and (2001). Submitted by Gerard Chartier, New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation and Barbara Silvestri, New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.

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South Carolina Forestry BMP Compliance Program:
Proactive Strategy Raises BMP Compliance Rate
In South Carolina, as well as in most other states with large tracts of forested land where
timber is harvested, nonpoint source runoff due to the lack of proper practices can be a threat to
water quality. To address this situation, the South Carolina Forestry Commission adopted a set
of silvicultural best management practices (BMPs) and published South Carolina's Best
Management Practices for Forestry in 1994. To ensure compliance with the BMPs, the
Commission focuses on a proactive strategy for preventing nonpoint source pollution, using a
multipronged approach.
One component of the program provides voluntary courtesy BMP exams to forest
landowners, foresters, and forestry operators. Specially trained Forestry BMP Specialists, located
in each of the SCFC's three regions, conduct these exams. About 500 harvesting operations were
evaluated during fiscal year 2000. Ongoing forestry operations are located through regular flights
over high-priority watersheds, through voluntary notification, and through response to
complaints. Courtesy BMP exams are then offered to the landowner, forester, and logging
contractor. Based on the exam results, site-specific recommendations regarding BMP
implementation are provided. Recommendations may include streamside management zones,
forest road construction, stream crossing design and location, harvesting systems, and site
preparation techniques. Where damage has already occurred, recommendations for mitigating the
damage are offered.
After the harvesting operation is completed, a final on-site inspection is conducted to
determine whether the appropriate BMPs were implemented. BMP compliance is significantly
higher—98 percent according to a 1999 statistical survey—on sites where a courtesy BMP exam
has been conducted. A monthly summary report of completed courtesy BMP exams is provided
to the state water quality agency and to timber buyers. The report identifies loggers who failed to
implement the appropriate water quality BMPs. Failure to implement BMPs might negatively
influence a forest industry company's decision to purchase forest products and services from the
logger. The threat of being on "the list" has proven to be a real incentive to loggers to implement
appropriate BMPs. In addition, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Contfolrthe state's"water quality agency, may initiate enforcement action based on the referral.
Another component of the program is education. Forestry BMP Specialists conduct BMP
training throughout the state. Educational programs are tailored to the unique operating
conditions in each physiographic region. More than 1,800 loggers, landowners, foresters, and
forestry operators have attended the Timber Operating Professional (TOP) Logger course since
its inception in 1995. The program is produced in cooperation with the South Carolina Forestry
Association. In addition, short courses on site preparation, forest road construction, and other
topics are offered annually. BMP educational presentations are given throughout the year to
forest landowner associations, forestry clubs, civic groups, environmental groups, and other
interested parties.

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This innovative program has proven to be very effective in increasing the BMP
compliance rate statewide. Surveys conducted over the past 10 years show that a statistically
valid increase in forestry-related BMP compliance on harvesting sites has occurred. In fact, the
compliance rate rose from 84.5 percent in 1989 to 91.5 percent in 1999. Compliance with site
preparation BMPs was 86.4 percent in 1996 and rose to 98 percent in the second evaluation,
completed in the spring of 1999.
BMP compliance monitoring continues. During FY 2000, the SCFC initiated an
additional monitoring cycle of harvesting and site preparation BMP compliance, consisting of
(1) initial site location and harvest monitoring and (2) the initial site preparation compliance
evaluation.
Contact Information: Daryl Jones, South Carolina Forestry Commission, 803-896-8817,
djones @forestry.state.sc.us
~Submitted by Doug Fabel, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

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Statewide Clean Marina Programs
Many states across the nation are designing voluntary programs to address a broad
range of issues related to the environmental impacts of marina operations. These "Clean
Marina Programs" provide information, guidance, and technical assistance to marinas,
local governments, and recreational boaters on how to minimize their impacts on water
quality and coastal resources. To reduce adverse impacts, states are promoting voluntary
adoption of best management practices (BMPs) cited in the states' clean marina
guidebooks, establishing some type of recognition or awards program for participation in
the program and adoption of these practices, and providing outreach activities to further
promote environmentally responsible marina and boating practices. A few examples of
such programs follow.
Maryland's Clean Marina Initiative
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources developed the state's Clean
Marina Initiative, and EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and
the state of Maryland provided financial support. The Initiative distributes a
comprehensive pollution prevention guidebook for marinas with advice on topics like
marina design and maintenance, storm water management, vessel maintenance and
repair, sewage handling, waste containment and disposal, and more. The guidebook is
written for managers of full-service marinas with boatyards, but it is equally applicable to
marinas with limited services, independent boatyards, and marine contractors.
Marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs that adopt a significant proportion of the
BMPs suggested in the guidebook will be recognized as "Maryland Clean Marinas."
They will receive a certificate acknowledging their environmentally responsible actions,
authorization to use the Maryland Clean Marina logo on their letterhead and in their
advertising, a flag to fly from their property, and promotion by the Clean Marina
Initiative in publications, on the World Wide Web, and at public events.
For more information on Maryland's Clean Marina Initiative, see
www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina.
Virginia's Clean Marina Program
On January 12, 2001, Virginia's Clean Marina Program was launched as an
implementation element of the Virginia Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program,
supporting compliance with section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization
Amendments of 1990. Virginia has established a Marina Technical Advisory Program to
work with marinas to achieve voluntary designation as a "Virginia Clean Marina" by
following a series of steps. The first step involves a pledge by a marina operator to work
toward becoming a Virginia Clean Marina. Second, the marina operator conducts a self-
assessment using an evaluation checklist that contain criteria taken directly from
Virginia's Clean Marina Guidebook of marina BMPs. After the checklist is complete,
the operator requests a formal site visit from the Marina Technical and Environmental

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Advisory Committee to confirm the adequate assessment scores. Once scores are
confirmed, the Committee recommends a Clean Marina designation. Designated
facilities report annually to retain their designation, and they are encouraged to consider
additional projects that prevent pollution.
For more information on Virginia's Clean Marina Program, see
www.deq.state.va.us/vacleanmarina.
North Carolina's Clean Marina Program
North Carolina's Clean Marina Program was developed by the National Marine
Environmental Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to clean up
waterways for better recreational boating. The program was initiated in July 2000 as a
joint project between the North Carolina Marine Trades Services and the North Carolina
Division of Coastal Management. As in Maryland and Virginia programs, marina owners
are asked to voluntarily complete an evaluation form to determine their use of specific
BMPs. If a marina meets the criteria, it is eligible to fly the Clean Marina flag and use
the logo in its advertisements. Through the promotion, boaters are able to identify
marinas that care about the cleanliness of area waterways.
For more information on North Carolina's Clean Marina Program, see
www.ncmta.com/Regulatory/CleanMarineIndex.htm.
Other state marina programs
Many other states are also developing their own Clean Marina Programs. Other
programs include the Clean Texas Marina Program (see www.cleanmarinas.org);
Florida's Clean Marina Program (see www.dep.state.fl.us/law/bosp/grants/clean_marina);
and the Tennessee Valley Authority's Clean Marina Initiative (see
www.tva.gov/environment/water/boating.htm. Many other states have or are initiating
their own versions of the Clean Marina Program.

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Special Feature Section: Information and Education Programs
All states recognize that strong information and education programs are critical to
achieving their nonpoint source program goals. This special feature section highlights
nine especially innovative state information and education programs, focusing on
programs that bring technical assistance tailored to the locality (e.g., Rhode Island's
onsite wastewater training center, Florida's Yards & Neighborhood program, California's
voluntary rangeland management program, and Connecticut's NEMO program) and
programs that incorporate an education component geared toward kids (e.g., Wyoming's
stream monitoring program, Illinois's Salt Creek Wilderness, and North Dakota's Eco-
Camp), as well as the more traditional information and education programs (e.g.,
Wisconsin's Water Action Volunteers and Colorado's media campaign). These programs
all have in common a wide network of partners and funding sources, as well as a
creatively packaged approach.

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Colorado Water Protection Project: League of Women
Voters Guides Extensive Urban NPS Campaign
"Crystal clear" and "sparkling blue" are common media references to Colorado's
waters. Citizens throughout the state have been hearing another water message, though,
through a special outreach crusade. The message shares how an average homeowner can
actively protect and avoid polluting Colorado's waters.
The League of Women Voters' Colorado Education Fund is reaching the state with
this message through the Colorado Water Protection Project, supported in part through
319 funding. The project seeks to raise citizens' awareness of the need for more
preventative approaches for emerging water issues. Because most of Colorado's
population is urban, three information areas were identified for emphasis: home fertilizer
and pesticide use, pet waste, and do-it-yourself auto maintenance.
The media campaign kicked off with a 30-second television message that aired
statewide for a 10-day period in spring 1999. About 90 percent of potential Colorado
viewers were reached with the television products. The campaign was broadened with
the concurrent release of information through newspaper articles, eye-catching local bus
advertisements, and pollution prevention pamphlets that were distributed statewide.
Project partners include a diverse representation of private and government entities.
Nearly 40 representatives serve on the project's technical committee, and 16
organizations have contributed funds and services.
Surveys conducted before implementing the project found that less than 50 percent of
the respondents knew that storm water runs into local rivers, streams, and lakes untreated
by municipal treatment facilities. A majority did not realize household-generated
polluted runoff was a significant contributor to water pollution. More than 25 percent did
not think household-generated polluted runoff was a local community concern or had an
impact on their quality of life. Twenty percent did not think a person could make a
difference by preventing pollution in his or her household.
Lack of information and inconvenience were noted as barriers to changing behavior.
Television and newspapers were found to be best means to convey needed information.
Health concerns, drinking water protection, and environmental quality for future
generations were the main motivation factors for changing behavior.
Post-project survey results showed that respondents have been affected by the
project's efforts. Two project goals were met—greater awareness of what household-
generated polluted runoff is and increased understanding that individuals can make a
difference. Less success was realized in meeting the goal of increasing people's
understanding of how polluted runoff enters local rivers, lakes, and streams.

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Information Contact: Cynthia Petersen, Project Manager, Colorado Water Protection
Project, 303-861-5195
""Information for this success story was gleaned from Colorado Extensive Urban
Nonpoint Source Pollution Campaign, by Randy Ristau, Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment, EPA Region 8 Natural News (EPA 908-F-00-009), Fall 2000.
Submitted by Laurie Fisher, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

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Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program: More
than 1.2 Million Persons Reached
The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FY&N) Program was developed to address
the serious problems of pollution and disappearing habitats by enlisting homeowners in
the battle to save the natural environment. The program provides educational and
outreach activities directed at the community to help residents reduce pollution and
enhance their environment by improving home and landscape management. The program
is being implemented statewide, using the University of Florida County Extension
Service anci other local, regional, state, federal, and nongovernmental agencies as
partners.
FY&N encourages "Florida Friendly" yards and landscapes by promoting basic
landscaping principles to homeowners: water efficiently; mulch; recycle; select the least
toxic pest control measures; put the right plant in the right spot; fertilize only when
necessary; provide food, water, and shelter for wildlife; protect surface water bodies; and
minimize storm water runoff. Other stakeholders targeted by this program include the
landscape, turf, and nursery industry; property developers and builders; water resource
managers; and youth.
An FY&N project in a neighborhood near the Indian River Lagoon was the basis
for initiating the statewide FY&N Program. Residents in neighborhoods near the lagoon
were provided educational information through pamphlets, presentations, workshops, and
on-site workdays on how household activities might affect the water quality of the
lagoon. Each household received information on methods for reducing nonpoint source
pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, solid waste, freshwater flow, and on-site water
retention. The program focused on alternative pesticide/fertilizer use and frequency of
application, and on landscape maintenance and design. Demonstration landscapes were
placed at hi ghly visible locations throughout the six-county area to promote the program's
concepts.
The project resulted in the training of 128 volunteer Florida Yard Advisors
—through the Master Gardener program; the advisors provide technical assistance to area
property owners. More than 10,000 residents were reached directly at 830 workshops. It
is estimated that more than 1.2 million persons were informed about the program through
radio and television broadcasts, newspaper articles, and exhibits. Thirteen demonstration
landscapes were installed throughout the region as examples of FY&N practices. More
than 600 homeowners participated in the program, and 404 completed pre/post surveys
that helped measure the project's effectiveness. For adopting a sufficient number of
recommended practices, 330 properties were certified as Florida Yards. Efficient
watering and irrigation practices were adopted by 45 percent of the program participants,
and 32 percent adopted Florida Friendly landscape management practices.

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The FY&N program is active in 21 different counties, and expansion plans have
been developed to include all the other counties in Florida. To find out more about the
FY&B program, visit the FY&N web site at http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn.
Contact Information: Christine Kelly-Begazo, State Coordinator, FY&N Program,
ckelly@mail.ifas.ufl.edu; or contact the statewide office at 352-392-7938.

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X	A*
Water Wise Award Winning Yard
Water Wise Award Winning Yard

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Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO):
Successful Project Used as Model Nationwide
NEMO is an educational program for land use decision makers that addresses the
relationship between land use and natural resource protection, with a focus on water
resources. The NEMO project was created in 1991 by the University of Connecticut
Cooperative Extension Service (Uconn/CES), in partnership with the Department of
Natural Resources Management and Engineering and the Connecticut Sea Grant
Program. NEMO receives funding from a number of federal and state agencies; major
funding is provided by the USDA/Cooperative Research, Education, and Extension
Service Water Quality Program, the University of Connecticut, the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
NEMO helps communities to better protect their natural resources while charting
the future course of their towns. The project uses advanced technologies—geographic
information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and the Internet—to create effective
education programs. NEMO presentations, publications, and Web-based services form
an integrated package of information centered around the theme of natural resource-based
planning. The presentations help explain the links between land use, water quality, and
community character. The project also offers follow-up presentations and materials to
help communities move forward on the two major aspects of natural resource-based
planning, namely, planning for areas to be preserved and planning for developed or
developing areas.
A Connecticut success story
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) estimates
that about one-third of the state's rivers and streams and three-quarters of the state's
portion of Long Island Sound are impaired, primarily because of nonpoint source
pollution from urban and suburban areas and construction sites. Nonpoint source
pollution is generated by land use, and most land use decisions in Connecticut are made
at the local level by municipal officials and private landowners. Federal and state
nonpoint source laws and programs established over the past 30 years have created a
growing need for local officials to be more knowledgeable about the causes, effects, and
management of polluted runoff. With 169 municipalities in Connecticut, the large
number of local officials and the continual turnover of volunteer commissioners present a
challenge to those who want to educate land use decision-makers.
In 1997 CT DEP awarded section 319 grant funds to NEMO to expand its
program to provide technical assistance for local officials. During the first year, NEMO
delivered its basic presentation through a series of 10 regional workshops. More than
120 of the state's 169 municipalities were represented at the workshops, and many
participants contacted NEMO to schedule follow-up meetings on specific issues or
concerns. Each municipality also received a map set (watersheds and land cover) to help
educate local officials and facilitate nonpoint source management at the local level. In

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1998 and 1999 NEMO conducted regional workshops to teach local officials how to
manage nonpoint source pollution by addressing imperviousness through their land use
planning and regulatory authorities. Over the past 2 years, although still conducting
regional workshops that focus on new land use commissioners, the project has moved to
a more intensive approach, selecting on a competitive basis five communities per year to
enter the "Municipal Program." In this educational model, each community is charged
with listing specific goals, creating a NEMO committee made up of representatives from
all the land use boards and commissions and other interested parties, and designating a
chief NEMO contact to facilitate the progress.
Proven results
After 8 years of the NEMO Project, there is concrete evidence that Connecticut
municipalities are giving greater consideration to water quality in their land use planning
and regulatory programs than in years past. Two such examples are highlighted below.
As a result of NEMO's Eightmile River Watershed Project, the towns of Lyme,
East Haddarn, and Salem signed the "Eightmile River Watershed Conservation
Compact," which commits the towns to work together to protect natural resources from
new development. Since the signing, the three towns, local land trusts, and The Nature
Conservancy have protected more than 1,800 acres of open space in the watershed. In
addition, UConn/CES foresters have worked with landowners to develop forest
stewardship plans on almost 500 acres and provided information that is being used to
manage another 2,500 acres of forestland. The project was also instrumental in helping
to build a fish ladder to restore access to upstream habitat for alewives and blueback
herring for the first time since the early 1700s.
As one of NEMO's original pilot projects, the suburban coastal municipality of
Old Saybrook has a long-term relationship with the project that has resulted in a
progression of positive impacts that continues to broaden in scope. The Zoning
Commission reduced the number of required parking spaces in several site plans to
reduce the amount of impervious surface where it could be demonstrated that fewer cars
were likely. Associated landscaping regulations were revised to require the breaking up
of "seas of asphalt" through the use of landscaped islands and buffers. The Conservation
Commission revised the town's Conservation Plan to include a recommendation on
controlling nonpoint source pollution and recently completed a natural resources
inventory for the town. The Board of Selectmen prepared a Policy Statement that
includes alternative design and construction standards and vegetative storm water
management practices that were incorporated directly from NEMO Project design
principles and are in keeping with Phase II storm water permit requirements.
Future of NEMO
Based on the success of the first several years of this partnership, CT DEP
anticipates continuing its section 319 funding support for NEMO and now considers
NEMO an integral part of the state's Nonpoint Source Management Program. In 2001
NEMO is continuing its Municipal Program, as well as impervious surface research.

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The UConn NEMO Project is the coordinating center for the National NEMO
Network, a growing network of projects around the country adapted from the Connecticut
project. As; a result of NEMO's success in Connecticut, 34 other states have established
or are planning to establish technical assistance programs based on the NEMO model.
Contact Information: Laurie Giannotti, Connecticut NEMO Coordinator, Middlesex
County Extension Center, 1066 Saybrook Road, P.O. Box 70, Haddam, CT 06438-0070,
860-345-4511; John Rozum, NEMO National Network Coordinator, 860-345-4511,
jrozum@canr.uconn.edu. Visit the NEMO website at http://nemo.uconn.edu.
*Information for this success story was gleaned (in part) from Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection web site at http://dep.state.ct.us/wtr. Submitted by Mel Cote,
EPA Region 1, and Laurie Giannotti, UConn Cooperative Extension System.

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The Salt Creek Wilderness: Zoo Offers
Interactive Environmental Learning Experience
The western section of Brookfield Zoo is called Salt Creek Wilderness. It
includes a quarter-mile hiking trail, the 4-acre Indian Lake, and a new 1-acre
demonstration wetland called Dragonfly Marsh. This 10-acre wooded area focuses on
native Illinois plants and animals and provides naturalistic experiences for many of the
zoo's 2 million annual visitors.
Staff from Brookfield Zoo, Illinois EPA, US EPA Region 5, and the Northeastern
Illinois Planning Commission created the unique educational interpretive experience.
The first goal was to develop a "big idea" that would serve as the underlying theme for all
of the experiences in the Salt Creek Wilderness. The big idea is "Healthy urban
watersheds must be managed to provide clean water resources essential for diverse plant
and animal habitat."
Key concepts were developed to support the big idea, including the role people
must play in managing natural systems, the definition and importance of biodiversity, the
impacts of nonpoint source pollution, and appreciation and conservation of natural areas.
Next came the development of statements and interactive mechanisms for conveying
these ideas, especially concepts like nonpoint source pollution and watersheds. These
concepts were translated into graphic signs and interactive devices. The zoo plans to do a
summational evaluation in 2001 to quantify the effectiveness of the messages and the
usage of each element.
Dragonfly Marsh consists of two deep pools, an emergent aquatic area, sedge
meadow, wet prairie, and prairie. In addition, more than 12,000 individual plants,
including flowers, grasses, sedges, and bulrushes, have been planted in the marsh. To
create the wetland, two soil scientists from the Natural Resources Conservation Service
surveyed the area to determine the soil suitability and design the wetland. The area was
excavated and graded. Water is pumped from Indian Lake into the pools and then
allowed to flow and percolate through the soils back to the lake.
An 85-foot boardwalk, constructed of wood from tropical ipe trees, overlooks the
wetland. Lining the boardwalk's railing are about 250 color illustrations that identify the
plants, mammals, fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians that can be found in
northeastern Ulinois's woodlands, prairies, and wetlands. At the end of the boardwalk is
the Biodiversity Gallery, a 30-foot by 30-foot covered shelter. A collage of signs
communicates the importance of biodiversity and explains why people should work to
protect it. In the gallery, children can also learn about biodiversity by reading the giant
storybook The Adventures of Duncan the Dragonfly. The children's story details the life
cycle of a dragonfly and introduces a number of the animals that share the dragonfly's
habitat.

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Several strategies are necessary to manage the wetland and allow new growth to
develop fully. Surrounding the wetland, 850 feet of 7V2-foot-high fencing prevents deer
from trampling and eating the plants. In addition, a grid of black nylon rope with white
flags is stretched across the entire site to discourage geese from landing and destroying
the vegetation.
This; project began in July 1996 and culminated with a celebration on August 14
and 15, 1999, highlighting the Indian Lake and Dragonfly Marsh interactive exhibits.
Salt Creek Wilderness is a tremendous educational tool that encourages zoo guests to
explore and understand the complex relationships among water, plants, and wildlife. It
also gives people knowledge of nonpoint source pollution and how to reduce it in their
local environments.
Contact Information: Barb Lieberoff, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, P.O.
Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276, 217-782-3362, epall03@epa.state.il.us
~Submitted by Barb Lieberoff, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

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Ranch Water Quality Planning: Voluntary
Rangeland Management Eases Impacts
on California Watershed
There are more than 40 million acres of rangeland in California, half of which is in
private ownership and provides 90 percent of the forage base. Most of this acreage is located at
strategic mid-level elevations, between California's upper elevations and urban and agricultural
uses in valley and coastal areas. More than 9,000 miles of waterways drain the area. California's
major water supply reservoirs are located on rangeland, and eight of the state's major drainage
basins are dominated by commonly grazed vegetation.
Streams that once could depend on riparian vegetation to keep them cool and clean have
become degraded. Their riparian vegetation has been stripped, their trampled banks are
collapsing, and their temperatures are rising. The water quality problems include nutrients and
pathogens, erosion and sedimentation. Some of the more serious impacts have threatened the
state's drinking water supply with bacterial contamination and caused significant declines in the
state's coldwater salmon and steelhead trout fishery.
With partial funding through 319 grants, University of California Cooperative Extension,
in cooperation with the California Cattlemen's Association and others, has developed and is
presenting a voluntary Ranch Water Quality Planning Short Course. In the course, ranchers
receive information to assist them in making an assessment of nonpoint source pollution on their
land and to help them determine the extent to which their operation might be causing the
problem. The program is voluntary, and individual ranchers at their own discretion, may or may
not use outside technical assistance.
Various materials are provided to help the ranchers: aerial photographs and maps of their
lands; monitoring strategies, including photo-point monitoring and residual ground covering
monitoring; and informative, easy-to-understand, one-page information sheets on a variety of
pertinent topics that provide the basic kinds of information needed to understand the ecological
relationships among rain, soil, plants, grazing animals, and water quality.
If a rancher decides that few or no changes need to be made in the ranch operation, a short
Letter of Intent declaring the finding is to be written to become a part of the personal ranch
record. If problems are identified that the rancher determines result from the operation, the
rancher is encouraged to complete a Rangeland Water Quality Management Plan. The plan is
done at the discretion of the rancher. If done, the plan indicates the structural and operational
changes the rancher intends to implement to eliminate polluted runoff from the land. The plan
becomes a part of the personal ranch record, and local Natural Resources Conservation Service
representatives are available to offer technical and financial assistance if the rancher chooses to
use their services.
In the first year of program operation, about 100 ranchers, who own or manage some

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400,000 acres of ranchland, enrolled for Ranch Water Quality Planning Short Courses. Since
September 1997 plans have been completed for approximately 475,000 acres along the coast and
in the San Joaquin Valley and foothills. The State Water Resources Control Board and the
Regional Water Quality Control Boards are committed to this approach and continue to support
the program with section 319 funds and staff participation. Cooperative Extension routinely
schedules addit ional courses throughout California.
Contact Information: Chris Chaloupka, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Unit, State Water
Resources Control Board, 916-657-0703, chalc@dwq.swrcb.ca.gov; Mel George, University of
California Cooperative Extension — Davis, 530-752-1720, mrgeorge@ucdavis.edu
~Information for this success story was gleaned from "Opportunity, Responsibility, Accountability," California
Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board.

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Stream Monitoring Network with Wyoming Schools:
Trained Teams Initiate, Expand School Monitoring
Programs
Beginning in March 1993, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality used a
319 grant to fund Teton Science School to conduct a 3-year statewide education and monitoring
program with secondary school teachers and Conservation District personnel teams. The
program used the Monitoring Wyoming's Water Quality curriculum developed by Teton Science
School to train the teams on water quality monitoring and also distributed an extensive water
quality monitoring kit to each of the teams. By December 1995,22 teacher/Conservation District
teams had been trained and had established annual testing sites throughout Wyoming.
In the summers of 1993,1994, and 1995, the Teton Science School conducted training
workshops in monitoring protocol, reporting guidelines, and the use the water quality monitoring
kits. The three week-long workshops trained 47 teachers and 23 Conservation District personnel.
By spring 1996, 56 rivers or streams were being monitored annually on 109 sites. The school
estimates that 1,175 students are involved in the monitoring programs.
The real success of the program is the many instances where teams participating in the
monitoring workshop have enhanced or expanded the monitoring programs in their communities.
Teams working on the Tongue River in Sheridan and on the Upper North Platte River in
Saratoga, for example, have expanded their monitoring efforts to include long-term intensive
watershed assessment projects. Students and teachers from Lander High School have adopted a
site on Squaw Creek and are now involved in a long-term habitat improvement project. The

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monitoring training has allowed Pinedale Middle School to establish several long-term
monitoring projects, which they have integrated into their science curriculum. Teachers from the
Jackson School District are working with the local Conservation District to create a monitoring
program for elementary school students, and their efforts have already reached more than 75
elementary school children.
The success of the 3-year education and monitoring program is evident in the
commitment of participants, the data submitted, and the positive feedback from all those
involved in the project. Teton Science School has recently received numerous requests from
educators throughout the state to conduct more workshops on water quality issues. To meet the
demand and continue the success of the program, Teton Science School has applied for and
received a 319 grant for 2001 to conduct two week-long workshops for Wyoming teachers on
nonpoint sources pollution.
Contact Information: Brian Lovett, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, 122 West
25th Street, Herschler Building, 4th Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-5622,
blovet @ state, wy.us
~Submitted by Steve Bubnick, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

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Water Action Volunteers: WAC and Its Partners
Make a Difference in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Water Action Volunteers (WAV) program has continued to grow and
flourish since it was last highlighted in Section 319 Success Stories: Volume II. This
statewide program, funded by a combination of 319 and University of Wisconsin
Extension money, provides educational opportunities, materials, and assistance to
individuals and groups interested in caring for streams and rivers. Three major WAV
activities are storm drain stenciling, river cleanup, and river/stream monitoring.
Storm drain stenciling
Painting a message next to storm drain inlets has become the water quality
hallmark for about 100 Wisconsin communities. In the past 5 years, more than 3,400
volunteers, armed with spray paint and a lot of enthusiasm, have stenciled nearly 9,000
storm drains with the message "Dump No Waste—Drains to River [or Lake or Stream]."
The volunteers announce their event with educational door hangers that describe storm
water pollution and ways to curb its effects. The stencils and door hangers are also
available in Spanish. The success of this effort is the result of the many county, UW-
Extension, and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) local offices that have worked
closely with the WAV program to distribute or loan supplies to local volunteers.
WAV conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of stonn drain stenciling. The
results show that the stenciled messages do leave an impression on people who have seen
them, successfully influencing their awareness of basic storm water facts such as storm
drain destinations. The degree of influence of a stenciled message on a person's behavior
is less apparent. The brief message might be too general; it does not contain specific
information to connect specific actions to storm water concerns. The strength of this
message is that it can be a catalyst, or an additive to reinforce existing storm water
educational programs. Stenciling storm drains might best be used as a positive message
for those already using environmentally friendly practices.
River cleanup
Each year, WAV coordinates a statewide river cleanup program. In the past 5
years, more than 11,000 volunteers have collected 2,550 bags plus another 80 tons of
garbage from nearly 500 miles of shoreline. The cooperative efforts between WAV and
several environmental and outdoor groups and county land conservation departments
made the great success of this effort possible.
River and stream monitoring
WAV has also launched a program to allow citizens to monitor the health of their
local rivers and streams. The program supports data sharing for educational purposes;
provides a network for volunteer groups, individuals, and schools to interact; provides
support to civic, conservation, and environmental groups; and helps increase linkages
between volunteer monitoring efforts and public resource protection programs. The
program was designed so that sampling parameters would be common among sampling

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groups and easy to measure and would well represent stream health over time. The
monitoring protocols require equipment that is easily obtained and affordable, and the
parameters are those safe to monitor.
Five: parameters that are currently part of the program are temperature, turbidity,
dissolved oxygen, habitat, and biotic community health (assessed using a
macroinverfebrate biotic index). A sixth parameter, flow, will be added in the coming
months.
At least 10 groups are using WAV protocols, and several groups are considering
beginning monitoring programs. The current groups are monitoring between 1 and 25
sites and in most cases have 1 to 20 volunteers. The groups are generally citizen-based,
but some schools use WAV protocols to sample during the spring and fall months. Local
monitoring groups are working with DNR biologists, interest groups (such as Trout
Unlimited), watershed associations, county and municipal offices, and local schools.
Most groups hold training sessions during the spring for new monitors, and some offer
troubleshooting/support meetings during the sampling season.
Many of the monitoring groups interact with Watershed Education Resource
Centers. There are 13 such centers across the state. The centers are designed to make
watershed-focused resources available to civic organizations, clubs, schools, and
individuals at little or no cost. Monitoring and stenciling equipment, as well as
instructional guides, videos, and keys, are available to be borrowed.
The newest addition to the WAV monitoring program is a Web-based database.
The database will provide an opportunity for volunteers to view and subsequently analyze
data from their stream or other streams in the state that are being monitored by WAV
volunteers. It is currently being tested by two volunteer groups and should be ready for
use in spring 2002.
In the meantime, look for information about stenciling and monitoring (including
access to the database, downloadable fact and data sheets for monitoring, and reporting
forms for stenciling or cleanup projects) to appear soon at the WAV web site at
http://clean-water.uwex.edu.

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Publications and Educational Materials
•	Water Action Volunteers. Make WAVes for Action: Introductory Activity Packet. Hands-on
stream and river action projects for Wisconsin. 1998, updated spring 2001.
•	Community Water Education and Action Opportunities for Youth and Adult. Brochure.
1998. Now available online at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/bureau/education/reslst.htm
•	Storm Drain Stenciling, Impacts on Urban Water Quality (Winter 1999).
•	Volunteer Monitoring Fact Sheet Series (6). 1998, updated 2001.
•	The WAV web site: http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/.
•	Monitoring data sheets.
•	Wacky, Wonderful, Water Critters. Booklet.
•	Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River.
•	Key to Life in the Pond.
•	Biotic Index poster.
Contact Information: Kris Stepenuck, Water Action Volunteer Coordinator, DNR, WT/2,
101 South Webster, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI53707, 608-264-8948,
stepek@dnr.state.wi.us
~Submitted by Carol Holden, NPS Education Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources				

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