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Section 319
NDNPDINT SDURCF PROGRAM SUCCESS STDRY
Reducing the Impacts of Cattle Grazing Improved Water Quality
WatPrbndv Irnnrnvpd P°"u1:ec' runoff from pasture-grazing cattle and erosion
of sensitive pastureland degraded the water quality of
Cripple Creek. This led to the listing of a 7.7-mile segment of Cripple Creek as impaired in
2002. Several best management practices (BMPs) were implemented, including pasture
renovation, grassed waterways, and a livestock watering facility. This resulted in water
quality improvements of the 7.7-mile segment of Cripple Creek and its removal from the
2004 list of impaired waters.
Problem
Cripple Creek is located in the East Stones
River Watershed in Rutherford County,
Ecoregion 71i. The creek was listed as
impaired on the 2002 303(d) list for siltation,
which is a common pollutant of surface
waters. Siltation can cause significant eco-
nomic impacts such as increased water
treatment costs, loss of storage capacity in
reservoirs, direct impacts to navigation, and
the increased possibility of flooding. The state
identified pasture grazing as the major source
of impairment. A siltation total maximum
daily load (TMDL) was established in 2002 by
Tennessee's Department of Environment and
Conservation for Cripple Creek.
Cripple Creek was listed for not meeting the
state water quality standard for siltation in
order to fully support its designated benefi-
cial use offish and aquatic life. The standard
states that there shall be no distinctly visible
solids, scum, foam, oily slick, or the formation
of slimes, bottom deposits or sludge banks of
such size or character that may be detrimental
to fish and aquatic life.
Project Highlights
Fourteen BMPs were implemented by the
Rutherford County Soil Conservation District
from 1999 to 2003 in the East Stones Fork
River Watershed. Over 157 acres were reno-
vated as a result of replanting pasture lands
and the implementation of grassed waterways
(Figure 1). Grassed waterways are graded
natural structures that improve water quality
by conveying runoff without causing flooding
or erosion, and help to reduce gully erosion.
In addition, an alternative livestock watering
facility was implemented to provide acces-
sible water for livestock. The watering facility
has several positive effects: 1) it protects and
enhances vegetative cover through proper
distribution of grazing, 2) it provides erosion
control through better grassland management,
and 3) it protects Cripple Creek and other water
supplies from contamination by providing
livestock with alternative access to water.
Results
Using EPA's rapid bioassessment protocol III
(RBPIII), state biologists calculated a biological
reconnaissance (biorecon) score for Cripple
Creek, which is used to measure compli-
ance with the state water quality standard for
siltation. Biorecon is one tool used to recognize
stream impairment as judged by species rich-
ness measures, emphasizing the presence or
absence of indicator organisms without regard
to relative abundance. The biorecon index is
scored on a scale from 1 - 15. A score less
than 5 is regarded as very poor. A score over 10
is considered good. The principal metrics used
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ID
5746
5760
5761
5764
5795
7600
5825
COUNTY
Rutherford
Rutherford
Rutherford
Rutherford
Rutherford
Rutherford
HUC
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
5130203
Cripple Creek, Rutherford County in the East Fork
Stones River Watershed, 05130203
Rutherford County
2004 fish & aquatic life
stream attainment
Fully Supports
Not Supporting
Not Assessed
Dry
BMPs Installed 1999-2003
I East Fork Stones River Watershed, 051302030104 X
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, August 2006
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STREAM
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek
PRACTICE
NAME
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Pasture/Hay Planting
Grassed Waterway
NRCS
CODE
614
512
512
512
512
512
512
412
412
512
512
512
512
412
2001
2001
2001
2002
2003
are the total macroinvertebrate families (or
genera), the number of families (or genera) of
mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies (EPT), and
the number of pollution intolerant families (or
genera) found in a stream. The biorecon results
for Cripple Creek indicated 8 EPT families, 3
pollutant intolerant taxa, and 20 total families.
Using the scoring system for biorecons, this
stream scored a 15. The stream got a habitat
Figure 1. Map of Implemented BMPs. Table (left)
is a list of implemented BMPs.
score of 146, which is better than the estab-
lished habitat goal for this ecoregion. Water
quality standards were also met at a chemical
station located on the creek at mile 0.4, result-
ing in the delisting of Cripple Creek from the
2004 303(d) list. ~
Partners and Funding
The Rutherford County Soil Conservation
District helped implement the BMPs with
section 319 funding. $7,143 of section 319
funding was matched with $3,146.86 in local
contributions. The Tennessee Agricultural
Resources Conservation Fund (ARCF) provided
an additional $9,341.02, $3,699.22 of which
was locally matched.
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111
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Off ice of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-07-001V
September 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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