Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCF PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Exclusion Fencing Reduces Cattle s Impact and Restores Creek
Waterbodv Improved A9ricultural Practices and land development along Cherokee
' """""> '" - • Creek contributed to increasing stream siltation, prompting
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to add a 20.8-mile
long segment of the creek to Tennessee's Clean Water Act section 303(d) list of impaired
waters. Project partners implemented agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that
reduced siltation and improved water quality. TDEC removed Cherokee Creek from the
state's 303(d) list in 2008.
Problem
Project Highlights
Cherokee Creek is in eastern Tennessee's rural
Washington County. In 2000 TDEC performed a
biological reconnaissance (biorecon) survey for the
creek at mile 2.1 near Highway 81. Biorecon is one
tool used to recognize stream impairment as judged
by species richness measures, emphasizing the
presence or absence of indicator organisms without
regard to relative abundance. The biorecon survey
documented poor scores, prompting
TDEC to place a 20.8-mile segment
of upper Cherokee Creek (from its
headwaters to a point near Cherokee
Road) on Tennessee's section 303(d)
list in 2002. TDEC identified grazing
practices and land development as
the primary sources of sediment pol-
lution that caused a loss of biological
integrity. TDEC completed a total
maximum daily load (TMDL) for
siltation and habitat alteration for the
Nolichucky River watershed, which
includes Cherokee Creek. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
approved the TMDL on February 26,
2008.
Project partners installed agricultural BMPs along
the impaired segment of Cherokee Creek in 2006 to
reduce erosion. They built fences to exclude cattle
from the creek and installed a pipeline to carry
water to a new alternative watering tank (Figure 1).
Funding from Tennessee's Agricultural Resources
Conservation Fund helped pay for the BMPs.
Figure 1. Example of an alternative watering tank.
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Results
Implementing agricultural BMPs had reduced silt-
ation and improved habitat, allowing macroinverte-
brate populations to rise. In 2005 TDEC established
Semi-Quantitative Single Habitat Assessment
(SQSH) stations at mile 1.0 (Taylor Bridge Road)
and at mile 2.5 (Charlie Parker Road). Similar to the
biorecon, the SQSH assessment is a tool used to
recognize stream impairment as judged by species
richness measures, emphasizing the presence or
absence of indicator organisms without regard to
relative abundance. The principal metrics used are
the total macroinvertebrate families (or genera)
and the number of families of mayflies, stone-
flies and caddisflies (EPT). At mile 1.0, the SQSH
documented 9 EPT genera and 31 total genera.
The SQSH scored 38 out of 42 on the Tennessee
Macroinvertebrate Index. At mile 2.5, the SQSH
documented 9 EPT genera and 23 total genera for
a score of 36 out of 42. On the basis of the SQHS
data, TDEC removed the 20.8-mile segment of
Cherokee Creek from Tennessee's 2008 Clean
Water Act section 303(d) list for siltation (Figure 2).
Partners and Funding
Staff from Washington County Soil Conservation
District worked closely with landowners to iden-
tify and implement BMPs. This project received
cost-share funds from Tennessee Agricultural
Resources Conservation Fund. From 2003 to 2008,
the Tennessee Agricultural Resources Conservation
Fund provided $1,980 with an additional match of
$661 from local landowners.
BMPs installed along Cherokee Creek in Washington County, Tennessee
TN06010108536-2000
Legend
A BMPs along Cherokee Creek
Cherokee
Q^ Cherokee Creek WS
L17J Tennessee Counties
ID NRCSCode
1 614
2 516
Practice
Watering Facility
Pipeline
Size of Project
1 Tank
600 feet
County
Washington
Washington
HUC8
6010108
6010108
Streamname
Cherokee Creek
Cherokee Creek
TN Dept of Agricultui
Cherokee Creek segments
are delisted for Pasture Graz
and Land Development, 20.S
Figure 2. Map showing the previously impaired portion of Cherokee
Creek and the locations of BMPs installed.
I
55
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
"fc Office of Water
g Washington, DC
EPA841-F-09-001K
June 2009
For additional information contact:
Sam Marshall
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Sam.Marshall@tn.gov
615-837-5306
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