Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Livestock Management Restores Waterbody
WatPrhnHv Imnrn\/Prl Polluted runoff from pasture-grazing cattle caused abnormal
VVdlWIUUUy IplUVWU Escherjchja co// counts in Hinds Creek, which led to 8.9 miles of the
stream being listed on the state's 303(d) list in 2002 and 2004.
Using section 319 funding, farmers installed a number of BMPs on pastureland adjoining the creek. The
practices included pasture and hay planting, fencing, streambank protection, and separate watering struc-
tures. The farmers' action allowed the Hinds Creek segment to be removed from the 2006 303(d) list.
Problem
Hinds Creek is in the Lower Clinch watershed
in eastern Tennessee, a primarily rural water-
shed with approximately 75 percent forest
and 15 percent agriculture. Hinds Creek was
listed as impaired on the state's 2002 and 2004
303(d) lists due to high E. coli colony counts
and in-stream concentrations. Polluted runoff
carrying fecal matter and pathogens from
pasture-grazing livestock was the source of
this pollution.
Hinds Creek has multiple designated use
classifications, including fish and aquatic life,
livestock watering and wildlife, irrigation, and
recreation. Monitoring along Hinds Creek
between 1999 and 2004 found that the creek
was fully supporting all designated uses
except recreation. Analysis results for indi-
vidual samples collected by the state were in
violation of the state-established water quality
criteria for E. coli. The Tennessee water quality
standards state that the concentration of the
E. coli group in any individual sample must not
exceed either (a) 487 cfu/100 mL for lakes,
reservoirs, State Scenic Rivers, or Tier II or III
waterbodies or (b) 941 cfu/100 mL for all other
waterbodies. Hinds Creek is in the latter
category.
A TMDL for pathogens in the Lower Clinch
watershed, established in 2005 by the
Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation, specified a 49.5 percent reduc-
tion in pathogen loading into Hinds Creek.
Before the project, high flows during storm events caused
increased erosion.
Project Highlights
Local Soil and Water Conservation District
offices in Anderson and Union counties
administered the CWA section 319 funding to
allocate funding assistance to local landown-
ers. Using a combination of 319 funding and
state funds from the Agricultural Resources
Conservation Fund (ARCF), they worked with
local landowners to promote and install man-
agement practices and structures that would
reduce pathogen runoff into Hinds Creek and
improve landowners' operations.
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Installed fencing with stream buffer on left.
The BMPs installed included (1) pasture seed-
ing and riparian zone planting along Hinds
Creek and tributaries; (2) stabilization of heavy-
use areas using gravel and geotextile fabric;
(3) installation of alternative watering facilities,
such as tanks, troughs, and ponds fed by pipe-
lines to keep livestock out of streams; and (4)
alternative access roads to help combat further
erosion.
Pasture and riparian critical areas were seeded
with a selection of grasses that were accept-
able to livestock and beneficial for proper soil
drainage in the area. Problem weed and thistle
species were replaced with balanced and
native foliage to improve water quality, con-
serve soil, and increase carbon sequestration.
Local Soil and Water Conservation District
agents advised landowners on the technical
design and specifications of the BMPs, and
they provided oversight and expertise during
the installation process. Landowners partici-
pated voluntarily, partially providing labor and
funds for the BMPs. The BMPs were installed
beginning in 2000, and continue to be installed
to help continue to meet the load reduction
allocations in the 2005 TMDL.
The Hinds Creek Watershed Partnership, a
group composed of federal, state, and local
partners, is focused on improving water
quality and community awareness of water
quality issues in Hinds Creek. The Partnership
is part of a cooperative water quality monitor-
ing project with the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation and the
Tennessee Valley Authority that aims to pro-
duce comprehensive watershed assessments.
Gathering information regarding the health of
the watershed will help in prioritizing areas of
work.
Results
Recent monitoring in Hinds Creek showed
E.coli values below the individual sample stan-
dard of 941 cfu/mL. Hinds Creek is no longer
considered impaired for any of the four des-
ignated uses, including recreation. Therefore,
the 8.9 total miles previously listed as impaired
were not included on the 2006 303(d) list.
Partners and Funding
Since 2001 Hinds Creek has benefited from
$39,246.41 of Clean Water Act section 319
funding (including additional matching funds,
a total of $57,695.17 was spent). In addition,
$30,840.35 was provided by the Tennessee
ARCF. Key partners in this effort include the
Anderson County and Union County Soil
Conservation Districts, whose agents pro-
vided technical expertise and labor hours.
Landowners in the Lower Clinch watershed
contributed in-kind labor hours and some
funding.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Off ice of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-07-001L
July 2007
For additional information contact:
Sam Marshall
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
615-837-5306
Sa m. Marsha II ©state .tn. us
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