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Section 319
NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY
Verfrurnt
Logging Management Restores Joiner Brook Segment
Waterbodv Improved Erosion and sediment runoff from P°or|y managed logging
' ^	operations degraded the biological communities in a tributary
to Vermont's Joiner Brook. As a result, Vermont placed the stream on its Clean Water Act
(CWA) section 303(d) list for aquatic life use impairments because of excessive sediment.
Implementing Vermont's acceptable management practices for logging operations and the
subsequent cessation of logging in the watershed brought the stream into compliance with
Vermont's water quality standards. Vermont removed the stream from its CWA section
303(d) list in 2010.
Problem
The unnamed tributary to Joiner Brook is a 1,3-mile-
iong stream in north-central Vermont that drains
a forested watershed south of the Bolton Valley
Ski Resort in the Town of Bolton. Joiner Brook
(Figure 1) feeds into the Winooski River, a large
river that ultimately empties into Lake Champlain.
The tributary watershed is steeply sloped, with
the headwaters at an elevation of 2,200 feet and
the junction with Joiner Brook occurring at 840
feet. The Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation (VTDEC) has classified the stream as
a Class B water—a designation defined as "suitable
for bathing and recreation, irrigation and agricul-
tural uses; aquatic biota sustained by high quality
habitat; good aesthetic value; acceptable for public
water supply with filtration and disinfection."
VTDEC monitored macroinvertebrates in the
stream using several different techniques, includ-
ing the EPT index (short for the macroinvertebrate
order names Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and
Trichoptera). The index is a measure of the number
and types of pollution-sensitive, aquatic insects
inhabiting a waterbody. Streams with a high
EPT value contain a greater richness (diversity)
of pollution-sensitive aquatic insects, indicating
higher water quality. In addition, VTDEC measured
macroinvertebrate densities—a general indicator of
aquatic life viability and productivity—and a variety
of other aquatic health indicators. VTDEC also mea-
sures the extent of stream embeddedness, or the
amount of fine sediment filling in cracks between
stones along the stream bottom. Embeddedness is
a key indicator of habitat conditions.
Biological monitoring found that the stream did not
fully meet Vermont's Class B water quality standards

Joiner Brook

\ Watershed
VT

Figure 1. Joiner
Brook is in Vermont's
Winsooki River
watershed.
for aquatic life support in 1997. The stream had low
EPT values and low macroinvertebrate densities.
In addition, stream embeddedness was very high.
As a result, Vermont placed the stream on its CWA
section 303(d) list of impaired waters in 1998. VTDEC
attributed the impairment to sediment entering the
stream from logging roads (during and after construc-
tion) and mobilization of soil following tree removal.
The sediment smothered benthic (bottom dwelling
insect) habitat in the streams.
Project Highlights
Major logging operations occurred in the watershed
in 1997. Sediment eroded from logging roads and
other disturbed areas was transported in stormwater
runoff to the streams. In addition, some parts of the
watershed were clear-cut, resulting in substantial
erosion of soil from the steep terrain. Toward the
end of the logging operation, the logging company
implemented sediment control practices consistent

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with Vermont's Acceptable Management Practices
for logging operations. These practices included
stabilizing ditches along logging roads, installing
waterbars to dissipate flows along the roads, and
adding silt fences and hay bales to reduce sediment
transport to the streams.
Results
Implementing logging erosion management
practices helped to control sediment transported
from a temporary logging operation. Cessation of
the logging operation in 1998 allowed the remain-
ing damaged areas of the watershed to revegetate
naturally. Biomonitoring data collected in 2006 and
2008 show that biological integrity has improved
as a result (Table 1). Data show that the Joiner
Table 1. Joiner Brook Tributary Biomonitoring and
Embeddedness Results (1997-2008)
Sampling
site
Date
Assessment
Rating
EPT
Index
Macroinvertebrate
Density
(Individuals/
Square Meter)
Embeddedness
O
O ^
~5 o
10/20/1997
Fair
15
208
Poor
(> 75%)
CD
CD ~
.£ E
O
—3
10/25/2008
Good-Fair
23
729
Very Good
(5-25%)
o —
o
10/20/1997
Poor
14
160
Poor
(> 75%)
CD °
L- (D
CD —
.£ E
O
—3
10/5/2000
Fair
16
257
Good
(25-50%)
9/11/2006
Good-Fair
17.5
286
Very Good
(5-25%)
Class B Guideline
> 16.0
>300
N/A
Brook tributary experienced substantial increases
in macroinvertebrate density and EPT richness
between the 1997 and 2006/2008 sample dates.
Embeddedness has also declined dramatically. As
a result, VTDEC assigned both monitored sections
of the Joiner Brook tributary a rating of "good-fair"
in 2006 and 2008. While the density fell just below
Vermont's Class B guideline, the guidelines for all
other indices were met, and the state's "weight of
evidence" assessment led to the overall "good-fair"
rating. This rating complies with Vermont's water
quality standards.
The data indicate that the remediation practices and
subsequent re-growth of the forest canopy reduced
sediment delivery to the streams, improved stream
habitat and allowed the stream to meet Vermont
water quality by 2006. As a result, the state
removed the Joiner Brook tributary from its CWA
section 303(d) list in 2010. The stream is scheduled
to be monitored again in 2013.
Partners and Funding
A few key partners worked to minimize the erosion
caused by logging in the Joiner Brook watershed.
VTDEC staff conducted site bioassessments and
aquatic studies. Vermont Department of Forests,
Parks and Recreation provided oversight and
technical assistance to the state's logging contrac-
tor to ensure proper implementation of Vermont's
accepted management practices for logging opera-
tions. Approximately $3,000 in CWA section 319
funds supported stream monitoring work by VTDEC
Note: Values in red indicate non-compliance.
£
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841 -F-11 -001J J
September 2011
For additional information contact:
Eric Perkins
EPA Region 1
617-918-1602 • perkins.eric@epa.gov
Steve Fiske
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
802-242-1378 • steve.fiske@state.vt.us

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