Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SOGGESS STORY
Planting Trees and Upgrading Septic Systems Decreases Bacteria
in Indian Run
Waterbody Improved ™d feca'coliform levelf'"lndia" Run prompted the
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
to add the waterbody to the state's Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list of impaired
waters in 2008. Further investigations and source tracking showed that the elevated fecal
coliform levels were due in part to failing or inadequate home septic systems and runoff
from agricultural, urban, and residential areas. Pumping and upgrading septic systems,
planting trees, and conducting outreach decreased fecal coliform levels in Indian Run. As
a result, DEP removed the stream from the state's 2012 CWA section 303(d) list for fecal
coliform impairment.
Problem
Indian Run is within the Sleepy Creek watershed in
eastern West Virginia. It flows east from Cacapon
Lake in Cacapon State Park, under a highway,
through a residential area, and into Sleepy Creek
near several agricultural fields (Figure 1). Indian
Run has two major tributaries, South Fork Indian
Run and North Fork Indian Run, both of which are
entirely within Cacapon State Park. The mainstem
of Indian Run is 2 miles long. The watershed is
largely forested in its upper reaches but is more
developed downstream with some residential and
agriculture (pasture and cropland) areas. Cacapon
State Park's recreational amenities draw thousands
of visitors annually.
Failing or inadequate septic systems and pollutant
loading associated with agricultural and residential
runoff contributed to Indian Run's impairment for
fecal coliform bacteria. DEP collected 13 samples
on Indian Run 0.6 mile upstream from the mouth
between August 2003 and June 2004. Bacteria
levels in three of the 13 samples were greater than
400 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters
(ml). To meet West Virginia's water quality stan-
dards, bacteria levels in a geometric mean of five
or more samples collected within 30 days must be
less than 200 cfu/100 ml and no more than 10 per-
cent of the samples collected at a site may exceed
400 cfu/100 ml.
In 2008 DEP added Indian Run to West Virginia's
CWA section 303(d) list of impaired waters for fecal
Indian Run Projects
A
1.2
B
Scale: 1:30,927
Legend
WV Roads
Tree Plantings
• Septic Pump
Septic Upgrade
Indian Run Subwatershed
Indian Run
North Fork of Indian Run
South Fork of Indian Run
Sleepy Creek
Figure 1. Stakeholders planted trees and pumped out and
upgraded septic systems in the Indian Run subwatershed.
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coliform bacteria. DEP prepared a total maximum
daily load (TMDL) for fecal coliform in Sleepy Creek
that same year. According to the TMDL, nonpoint
source pollution—especially from leaking septic
systems—accounted for the majority of the fecal
coliform bacteria. At the time the TMDL was
developed, DEP estimated that 6,400 homes in
the Sleepy Creek watershed were served by septic
tanks, approximately 900 of which were failing.
Project Highlights
As part of the overall Sleepy Creek project, water-
shed partners completed several projects in the
Indian Run subwatershed between 2008 and
2011, including planting trees and pumping and
upgrading septic systems. The Morgan County
Health Department (MCHD) conducted the sep-
tic portions of this program in the priority areas.
Septic upgrades took place mostly in agricultural
homes in the lower portion of the subwatershed.
In October 2010, 68 volunteers planted 520 trees
in the Cacapon East and South Subdivisions. The
tree planting project aims to restore the native tree
population in this area, which has suffered greatly
from the invasive emerald ash borer. The trees will
also help reduce and manage stormwater runoff.
Figure 1 shows the location of the restoration activi-
ties within the Indian Run subwatershed. In addition
to the CWA section 319-funded activities, Cacapon
State Park upgraded several sewage systems and
made other improvements around the park.
Results
The Cacapon Institute conducted monthly sampling
from March through September 2010 near the
mouth of Indian Run. Based on their results, which
showed that the stream was meeting standards,
the Sleepy Creek Project Team decided to continue
sampling for an additional 12 months. During that
time frame, Indian Run fully complied with water
quality standards, indicating that the cause of
the fecal coliform bacteria impairment had been
addressed. As a result, DEP de-listed Indian Run
for its fecal coliform impairment in 2012. Anecdotal
benthic evidence supports the fecal coliform reduc-
tion. Benthic communities in the lower portion of
Indian Run and just downstream of its confluence
with Sleepy Creek show fewer pollution-tolerant
organisms (e.g., Simulidae, Chironomidae). Indian
Run now fully attains its primary contact recreation
designated use.
Figure 2. Volunteer monitors collect benthic
macroinvertebrate samples near the mouth of Indian Run
during a DEP-led workshop in 2006.
Partners and Funding
The West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA)
oversaw grant implementation and provided
technical assistance. DEP assisted with education,
outreach, and monitoring in the watershed (Figure
2). The Eastern Panhandle Conservation District
administered grant funding and implemented
education and outreach within the watershed. The
West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the
Cacapon Institute performed water quality moni-
toring, assisted by the Sleepy Creek Watershed
Association (SCWA). West Virginia Division of
Forestry, WVCA, SCWA, and landowners played
critical roles in implementing the tree planting
project. MCHD provided outreach to the public
regarding septic systems. Some of the work per-
formed was funded by a CWA section 319 Sleepy
Creek watershed project grant of $292,550 from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a
state match of $195,036. The cost of the Indian
Run portion of the overall Sleepy Creek restoration
effort totaled approximately $45,000. CWA section
319 funds were used to supplement the cost of the
septic repairs, pumping, and monitoring—about
$16,000. West Virginia Division of Forestry, WVCA,
MCHD, the Cacapon Institute, and volunteers sup-
ported the remaining efforts in this subwatershed,
including outreach and education, tree planting, a
few septic system percolation tests, and additional
monitoring.
UJ
O
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-14-001CC
May 2014
For additional information contact:
Suzy Lucas
West Virginia Conservation Agency
304-539-2682 • rlucas@wvca.us
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