Section 319
NUNPUINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Installing Best Management Practices and Educating Stakeholders
Improves Water Quality in the Enoree River Watershed
A/ t h H' I H Agricultural practices and failing septic systems contributed high
VVaterDOaieS improved |eve|s of feca| C0|iform (FC) bacteria to South Carolina's Enoree
River watershed. Data showed that numerous sites in the watershed failed to meet water quality
standards. As a result, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)
added six sites to the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list (five sites in 1998 and one site in 2002)
for FC bacteria impairment. Landowners installed numerous BMPs and replaced failing septic systems.
Bacteria levels have dropped at all six sites. Assessments for the 2014 CWA section 303(d) list showed
that two of the sites, B-024 and B-231, now meet water quality standards for FC bacteria and fully
support their recreational use.
Problem
The 731.3-square-mile Enoree River watershed
drains portion of Greenville, Spartanburg, Union,
Laurens and Newberry counties in northwest South
Carolina. Monitoring data collected in the 1990s
indicated that numerous sites in the Enoree River
watershed (at monitoring stations BE-024, B-231,
B-053, B-246 and B-072) did not meet water quality
standards for FC bacteria; as a result, these were
listed on the state's CWA section 303(d) list of
impaired waters for not supporting their primary
contact recreation designated used (Figure 1).
Station B-041 was added to the impaired waters list
in 2002. SCDHEC suspected that the primary bacte-
ria sources affecting these stations included runoff
from grazing pastures, improper land application of
animal wastes, livestock operations, livestock with
access to waterbodies, failing septic systems and
urban runoff.
The water quality standard for FC bacteria requires
that FC levels will not exceed a geometric mean of
200 colony-forming units (CFU)/100 milliliters (ml),
based on five consecutive samples during any
30-day period; nor will more than 10 percent of
the total samples during any 30-day period exceed
400 CFU/ml.
SCDHEC re-assessed the Enoree River watershed
stations for the state's 2002 CWA section 303(d)
water quality assessment. At that time, none met the
second part of the water quality standard (Table 1).
The violation rate must be less than 10 percent for
the water to be considered unimpaired. SCDHEC
developed a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for FC
bacteria in the Enoree River watershed in 2004.
% USGS StreamflowGage
Water Quality Site
u Impaired
$ Standard Attained
/\y Stream
rn MS4
County Boundary
Populated Place
I I Enoree River Basin
Figure 1. Many sites in the Enoree River watershed are impaired
for fecal coliform. Yellow boxes indicate the sites detailed in this
success story.
Project Highlights
Partners implemented a CWA section 319-funded
Enoree River TMDL implementation project in 2006
in the lower Enoree River watershed. The imple-
mentation project area includes portions of Laurens,
Spartanburg and Union counties and encompasses
approximately 195,417 acres.
Project partners focused on recruiting livestock
farmers to develop farm plans and implement BMPs
to reduce FC bacteria loading from animal waste.
During the 3-year project period, local landowners
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Table 1. Enoree River Watershed Monitoring Station
CWA Section 303(d) Assessment Data
Station
ID
BE-024
B-231
B-041
B-053
B-246
B-072
Station Location
Enoree River at
US 221
Beards Fork
Creek at US
276
Enoree River at
SC49
Enoree River at
SC72, 121, and
US 176
Beaver dam
Creek at
S-30-97
Duncan Creek
at US 176
Year First
Listed as
Impaired
forFC
1998
1998
2002
1998
1998
1998
Percent of Samples Exceeding
Water Quality Standards
(<10% = not impaired, >10%<25% = partial
support, >25% = impaired)
2002303(d)
Assessment1
17% (2008)
21%
20%
33%
58%
56%
2014303(d)
Assessment
3%
0%
14%
11%
22%
24%
Based on FC bacteria collected 1996-2000 (except station BE-024 assessment,
which was based on 2008 data).
installed the numerous BMPs with the assistance
and technical expertise of U.S. Department of
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
(USDA NRCS) personnel using CWA section 319
grant funds. BMPs included installing 29,577 feet
of fence that excluded livestock from streams;
adding 40,554 square feet of heavy-use area
around water tanks, or for stream crossings using
geo-textile fabric, geo-web and crusher run gravel;
and developing alternative water sources, which
required installation of 8,850 feet of waterline with
11 concrete water tanks, one water well, four water
taps, one pond ramp, two stream ramps and two
stream crossings (Figure 2). In addition, nine failing
septic systems were repaired.
Through local community organizations (non-
profit organizations, churches, etc.), the Clemson
University Cooperative Extension shared information
with homeowners about septic system maintenance
needs and cost-share opportunities for septic
system repairs. In addition, Extension reviewed exist-
ing aerial photographs and maps of septic system
pump-out occurrences, and worked with septic
pumping contractors to identify potential failing sep-
tic systems and high-risk communities. Extension
agents worked with the Enoree River Educational
Board to implement education and outreach pro-
grams, including the 4-H20 Pontoon Classroom/River
Adventure, storm drain stenciling and Adopt-A-River.
Figure 2. This stream crossing protects the stream
bed while offering cattle access for drinking.
Results
SCDHEC collected data and re-assessed the Enoree
River watershed stations for the state's 2014 CWA
section 303(d) water quality assessment (see Table
1). All stations show water quality improvement.
Two of the stations, BE-024 (Enoree River at US 221)
and B-231 (Beards Fork, Creek at US 276) now meet
water quality standards and are classified as fully
supporting (not impaired) for recreational use.
Data show that the water quality standard viola-
tion rates at four other Enoree River watershed
stations (B-041, B-053, B-246 and B-072) have
declined. These stations are now listed as partially
supporting their primary contact recreation desig-
nated use. These waters will remain on the state's
list of impaired waters until the rates fall below
10 percent.
Partners and Funding
Numerous partners provided technical and financial
support for planning and implementing the Enoree
RiverTMDL watershed project. SCDHEC provided
$255,593 in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CWA section 319 grant funds and provided project
oversight. Numerous partners provided technical
support and other in-kind services (worth $85,682),
including Clemson University Extension (project
management); USDA NRCS; the Spartanburg,
Laurens and Union soil and water conservation
districts; and the Spartanburg, Laurens and Union
Cattlemen's Associations. Landowners contributed
$104,939 in cash and in-kind services to install
BMPs.
I
30
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-15-001E
January 2015
For additional information contact:
Delaney Faircloth, Nonpoint Source Coordinator
South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control
fairclds@dhec.sc.gov • 803-898-1904
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