ENVIRONMENTAL PROTITTION \(,\\( Y
OFFICE OF IMOKII;M
REPORT ON
REMOTE SENSING MAJOR WATERWAYS
MEMPHISJENNESSEE VICINITY
NATIONAL FIELD INVESTIGATIONS C E NTE R-DE N V E R
DENVER.COLORADO
APRIL 1972
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
REMOTE SENSING REPORT
MAJOR WATERWAYS
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE VICINITY
Prepared By
National Field Investigations Center - Denver
Denver, Colorado
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REMOTE SENSING REPORT
MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE VICINITY
FEBRUARY 1972
INTRODUCTION
In accordance with the Memphis study plan, an aerial reconnaissance
mission was carried out over selected waterways in the Memphis, Tennessee
vicinity on the 7th of January, 1972. A Remote Sensing Report was issued
covering this mission.
On 17 February 1972, a second reconnaissance mission was flown
over Memphis. The timing of this second mission coincided with the field
operations of a ground survey team studying the five waterways constituting
the target area. These waterways were as follows:
(a) Nonconnah Creek - From a point approximately four miles
east of the intersection of Mt. Moniah Road and Inter-
state 240 downstream of its outflow into McKellar Lake.
(b) Wolf River - From a point approximately true north of Collier-
ville, Tennessee, to its confluence with the Mississippi River.
(c) Loosahatchie River - From a point approximately due south of
Millington, Tennessee, to its confluence with the Mississippi
River.
(d) McKellar Lake - In its entirety.
(e) Mississippi River - From a point adjacent to Beef Island down-
stream approximately to the Tennessee/Mississippi State Line.
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MISSION PURPOSE
The expressed purpose of this reconnaissance mission was to provide
the following capabilities:
(a) Appraise the ground survey team of the current status of the
suspected outfalls detected in the imagery from the first
reconnaissance mission.
(b) Locate any industrial or public outfalls that were not detected
in the imagery from the previous mission.
CHRONOLOGICAL DATA
The flight parameters of this mission are as follows:
(a) Time over target - 1100-1300 hours CST in which the entire
reconnaissance task was fulfilled.
(b) Flight Altitude
1. Photographic imagery was recorded at 3,000 AGL (above
ground level) providing a scale of 1:6,000.
2. Infrared Line Scanner (explained in the Aircraft Sensor
Section) imagery was recorded at 1,000 feet AGL at a scale
of 1:10,500.
AIRCRAFT SENSOR DATA
The reconnaissance data were recorded aboard two high performance
aircraft. These aircraft contained three framing cameras and an Infrared
Line Scanner (IRLS). All cameras were mounted in the tri-vertical array,
i.e., mounted in their respective vertical positions coincident with the
nadir of the aircraft. Each of the cameras was uploaded with different
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film/optical filter combinations. They were capable of recording the
presence of optical energy within the following bands of the optical
spectrum:
(a) Near ultraviolet, resulting in a 4.5" X 4.5" negative-Kodak
2475 recording film with a Wratten 47A gelatin optical filter.
(b) Visible region of the optical spectrum, resulting in a true
color 4.5" X 4.5" positive aerographic ektachrome transparency-
Kodak S0-397 aerographic ektachrome film with a Wratten
HF-3/HF-5 optical filter combination.
(c) Near Infrared region of the optical spectrum which was overlapped
with a portion of the visible spectrum (red, orange), resulting
in an aerographic ektachrome 4.5" X 4.5" false color (rendition)
transparency - Kodak 2443 aerographic film with a Wratten 16
gelatin optical filter.
The viewing angle of each camera was 41° about the aircraft's nadir
as shown below:
AIRCRAFT
ALTITUDE
GROUND LEVEL
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The IRLS is a cryogenic device (optical and electronic) capable of
detecting passive electromagnetic energy resulting from target thermal
emissions in the infrared band from 8 to 14 microns (1 micron=10 meters)
It has a cross-track scan angle of 120° about the aircraft's nadir, as
shown below:
T
AIRCRAFT
ALTITUDE
I
MOUND LEVEL
The true color photographic technique served as a real-world color
basis for the photo interpretation of the imagery obtained during this mission,
The ultraviolet near infrared photographic media and the IRLS pro-
vided further refinements in the positive detection, location and iden-
tification of all outfalls and dispersion patterns detected in the res-
pective target areas. The ultraviolet photography has been used exten-
sively in the detection of oil present on fresh and salt water. The false
color infrared film was used for the isolation of shrouded or masked (due
to color likeness or foliage) waterways and provided detailed information
on outfall dispersion patterns (due to wider color separation in the false
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color rendition). It provided information regarding relative turbidity/DO
levels in addition to biological growth detection and identification.
DESCRIPTION OF DATA REDUCTION
An immediate interpretation report from the airborne reconnaissance
data was transmitted by telecon to the Chief of the Ground Survey party
on 22 February 1972. A more detailed interpretation report is presented
in the following paragraphs as identified by the specific waterways.
Only those outfalls and drainage ditches which were apparent discharge
media,-are listed. Each location is identified, by its specific number,
on the maps given in Appendix A.
NONCONNAH CREEK
The-water volume in Nonconnah Creek was considerably lower than
when the previous mission (7 January 1972) was flown.
1. A small stream enters Nonconnah Creek on the southern bank
approximately 400 yards upstream of the first railroad bridge
above McKellar Lake. The dark green plume from this stream
maintained its identity for at least 70 feet downstream as
it followed the southern bank of the creek.
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2. A large storm drain outlet was located on the northern shore
of Nonconnah Creek approximately 360 feet downstream from the
Third Street bridge. The discharge from this drain was dark
green in color. It followed the northern shore of Nonconnah
Creek downstream for approximately 350 feet. The volume of the
discharge was not large.
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3. There was a drainage ditch located on Nonconnah Creek's
southern bank approximately 440 feet upstream of the second
railroad bridge. There was no discharge from this creek at
the time of flight.
4. Cane Creek flows into Nonconnah Creek, from the north,
approximately 1,000 yards upstream from the third railroad
bridge that crosses the latter creek above McKellar Lake. The
water flowing from Cane Creek into Nonconnah Creek displayed
a greenish-gray color at the time of flight. This color
usually indicates the presence of untreated sewage. The dis-
charges from Cane Creek could be traced about 300 feet down-
stream along the northern bank of Nonconnah Creek before com-
plete dispersal had been achieved.
5. On the northern bank of Nonconnah Creek approximately 1,200
feet downstream from the Highway 55 bridge was a drainage
ditch exit. There was very little water, which appeared dark
brown in color, in this ditch. There were traces of discoloration
in the Nonconnah Creek waters adjacent to the ditch exit.
6. Another drainage ditch was located on the southern bank of
Nonconnah Creek and 70 feet downstream from the Highway 55 bridge.
The flow of water from this ditch into Nonconnah Creek at the
time of flight was small, exhibiting no apparent discoloration.
7. It is noteworthy to mention that a drainage ditch, located
immediately below a diking weir on the northern bank of Nonconnah
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Creek approximately 1,700 yards upstream of the Belleview
Boulevard bridge, would most possibly serve as a drainage
conduit for the storm sewers in this area during high-water
conditions. There was no outfall present at the time of flight.
8. A storm drainage outlet, positioned 1,200 yards downstream from
the Holly Ford Road bridge, was connected to a feeder drainage
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ditch from a small industrial area that contained open storage
of dump truck loads of material or refuse. At the time of
flight, no discharge from this area was detected.
9. Approximately 1,400 feet upstream of the Airways Road bridge
a drainage ditch cuts the northern bank of Nonconnah Creek.
This drainage ditch serviced the area north of Highway 240.
At the time of imaging, the flow of water in this ditch was
minimal and no discoloration was noted in Nonconnah Creek.
10. Another open drainage ditch cuts the northern bank of Nonconnah
Creek 350 feet downstream from the Lamar Avenue bridge. The
flow of water was negligible and no discoloration was noted.
11. An open drainage ditch, located 250 feet upstream of the Lamar
Avenue bridge on the northern bank of Nonconnah Creek, contained
water whose turbidity was greater than that of the Creek.
There was a small discharge of this water, which dispersed
quickly, into the creek.
12. On the norchern bank, midway between the Lamar Bridge and the
Get Well bridge, was another open drainage ditch with the dis-
charge having a greater turbidity than that of Nonconnah Creek.
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8
There were numerous drainage ditches and storm drains that were not
listed in this section of the report because there was no water present
in them at the time of flight, and as a result, no constructive evaluations
could be made regarding their functional use.
WOLF RIVER
Only those discharge media that appeared to be introducing foreign
substances into the Wolf River waters are listed herein.
13. Tree shadows mask an area downstream from the river's southern
bank from the single track Illinois Central railroad bridge,
that was immediately upstream of the Thomas Street bridge.
Approximately 130 feet downstream from the R.R. bridge, along
the southern bank of the river, a greenish colored substance
of considerable volume was readily seen. As this substance
follows the current downstream, it tends to maintain its
surface identity with little dispersion. For the most part,
the furthest point downstream that this substance could be
seen was 1,300 feet from the confluence of the Mississippi and
Wolf Rivers. Traces of the. substance were found at the confluence
of the two rivers but in no significant concentrations. The
imagery also indicated that this discharge contained significant
amounts of chlorophyll.
14. Cypress Creek enters the south bank of Wolf River 2,200 feet
downstream from the Watkins Street bridge. The water in Cypress
Creek was more turbid than that in Wolf River. The outflow from
Cypress Creek appeared to be small and dissipated rapidly into
the river.
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15. A small stream 45 feet wide on the southern bank and approxi-
mately 930 yards upstream of the Illinois Central double
track railroad bridge contained very turbid water. The dis-
charge into Wolf River was minimal.
16. The discharge from Harrison Creek was a lighter green color
than the water of Wolf River and was completely dispersed
within 35 feet after entering the River.
17. Fletcher Creek entered the northern bank of Wolf River approxi-
mately 650 yards downstream from Highways 70/79 bridge. The
water from Fletcher Creek appeared slightly lighter in color
than the yellowish-brown waters of Wolf River. The waters were
mixing rapidly and there was no plume of any significance.
LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER
Only that portion of the river immediately downstream of Todd Creek
was photographed. In this area, the river is very turbid exhibiting a
yellowish-brown color nearly identical to that of Wolf River. The color
hue was constant over the section of the river covered.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER (MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE)
In this section of the report, only the eastern or Tennessee bank
of the Mississippi River will be discussed.
18. The volume of yellowish-brown turbid water from the Loosahat-
chie River was considerably less than that seen in previous
aerial coverage of this area. The dispersal pattern of the
Loosahatchie water appeared to drift out and upstream in the
Mississippi River for a distance of approximately 1,200 feet
where it achieved nearly complete dispersal (see Figure 1).
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APPROXIMATE SCALE
1: 4,400
LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER
OUTFLOW FROM
LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER
Figure 1 Loosahalchic River and Interceptor
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19. The Loosahatchie Interceptor discharge plume penetrated into
the Mississippi River 80 feet from the eastern bank. It had
completely dispersed within 125 feet from the outfall.
20. Approximately 1,450 feet downstream from the Loosahatchie
River was a ditch carrying a very dark, almost black, liquid
which was discharging into the Mississippi River. The plume
from this outflow extended 30 feet out into the River from
the eastern bank and paralleled the east bank of the Mississippi
for at least 1,000 feet before dispersing completely.
21. The Wolf (sewage) Interceptor was observed 5,300 feet upstream
from the mouth of Wolf River. The substance, being discharged
into the Mississippi River, was a very dark brown color. The
outfall plume followed the River's eastern bank downstream
approximately 3,000 feet before complete dispersion was achieved
(Figure 2). The outfall's deepest penetration into the River
was 100 feet from the eastern bank. The thermal imagery indicated
that this outfall was somewhat warmer than the ambient tempera-
ture of the Mississippi River.
22. The yellowish-brown outflow from Wolf River was not as pronounced
as that displayed in the previous flight's coverage. The water
from Wolf River penetrated into the Mississippi River for approxi-
mately 100 feet from the eastern bank and paralleled the eastern
bank of the Mississippi River finally dispersing within approxi-
mately 800 feet.
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WOLF INTERCEPTOR
AND OUTFLOW PLUME
V
'X
APPROXIMATE SCALE
1: 4,400
Fifrure2 Wolf Inlcrcntor and Outflow Phinie
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23. The outflow, from the pumping station between Front Street
and Wolf River lagoon, was lighter in color than the water in
the lagoon. The thermal imagery indicated that this outflow
was warmer than the lagoon's water. The outfall plume maintained
its identity for approximately 400 feet as it traveled northward
in the lagoon.
24. A drainage ditch, located 3,300 feet downstream from the Crump
Boulevard bridge, was discharging a very dary brown (most domin-
ant color) substance. This substance was entering the River
very slowly. This ditch was 36 feet wide and positioned immed-
iately below a tank farm with unloading dock facilities. A line
of barges 25 feet from shore contained the outflow from this
ditch to the river bank area.
25. Approximately 100 feet downstream from the drainage ditch
mentioned in 24, was a small cove. Floating on the surface of
this cove was a white viscous substance covering an area 90 feet x
25 feet. The row of barges, tied up approximately 25 feet from
the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, was containing this
white substance along the Mississippi River bank and not allowing
it to disperse.
26. The Nonconnah interceptor, located on the Mississippi River's
eastern bank 3,500 feet downstream from the mouth of Tennessee
Chute (from McKellar Lake), was discharging a greenish-gray
substance at the time of flight. This discharge was penetrating
the Mississippi River waters approximately 80 yards from the
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eastern bank and flowed downstream achieving nearly complete
dispersion within 3,000 feet from the mouth of the interceptor
conduit. The thermal imagery indicated that this outfall was
significantly warmer than the ambient temperature of the re-
ceiving water. Approximately 1,350 feet upstream from the
Mississippi River and on the southern bank of the Nonconnah
interceptor conduit was a discharge pipe at least six feet in
diameter that was discharging the greenish-gray substance into
the interceptor chute (Figure 3). The substance appeared to
be untreated domestic sewage.
MCKELLAR LAKE (TENNESSEE CHUTE)
27. There was a small drainage ditch at the northern end of
McKellar Lake that had a small outflow into the Lake. No
discoloration was apparent.
28. On the eastern shore of the Harbor Channel, an outfall was seen
on the waterfront of an area containing some petroleum storage
tanks. At the time of imaging the outfall was above the water
level in the Harbor Channel. This outfall appeared to be a
pipe, approximately three feet in diameter, discharging a fluid
into the Harbor Channel. The thermal imagery indicated that
the contents of this outfall were warmer than the ambient tempera-
ture of the Channel. In the photographic imagery the plume from
this outfall could be seen for approximately 400 feet as it
flowed in a generally northeast direction. The deepest pene-
tration of this plume into the Channel was 300 feet from shore
(see Figure 4)
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MISSISSIPPI
RIVER FLOW
APPROXIMATE SCALE
1:4,503
Figure 3. Noncoanah Interceptor
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SCALE 1:24,000
4B) SCALE 1:4,500
OUTFALL
HARBOR CHANNEL
4 STORAGE
TANKS
© ©
e ©
®° 16 STORAGE
o ©
eo TANKS
© O"
o e
Fitfiire 4-Outfall OK Harbor Channel
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SUMMARY;
The 28 outfalls and drainage ditches, listed in this report, were
identified in the airborne imagery recorded on 17 February 1972. At the
time of imaging, these 28 sites showed sufficient indications that they
were or had the potential of introducing polluted effluence into the
five waterways covered in this report. The most significant effluent
in the area appeared to be that of nearly raw sewage. Numerous ditches
through out the target area appeared to serve only as natural drainage.
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