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T&Z I NONPOINT SOURCE SUCCESS STORY
A 4 4
Nutrient and Sediment Loadings are Reduced irough Cooperative
Efforts to Improve Hester Creek
Waterbody Improvsd Agricultural land use contributed to nutrient enrichment and
habitat degradation on Hester Creek. Fish Index of Biotic Integrity
(IBI) data collected by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1994-1995 were used to place
the entire 7.27-mile reach of Hester Creek on the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list of
impaired waters in 1998 for nutrients. Implementing best management practices (BMPs) resulted
in decreased siltation and nutrient runoff, increased dissolved oxygen (DO), and improved biological
and in-stream aquatic habitat conditions. Based on the instream total phosphorus and total
nitrogen values, chlorophyll-o values, DO concentrations, and biological assessments, the Alabama
Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) removed Hester Creek from the 2012 CWA
section 303(d) list for nutrient overenrichment and turbidity.
Problem
Hester Creek (AL06030002-0303-500) drains an
approximately 39-square mile area within the
Mountain Fork subwatershed in Madison County,
Alabama, northeast of the city of Huntsviile within the
larger Flint River watershed In the Tennessee River
Basin (Figure 1). The Mountain Fork subwatershed
contains approximately 41,639 acres of pasture, row
crop, and forestland, with some residential areas.
Cattle farms are located throughout the watershed on
highly erodible soils and with 2 to 6 percent slopes.
The southwest part of the watershed is under pres-
sure from development related to urban sprawl. The
stream segment begins in Eiora, Tennessee, and flows
southwest into Alabama.
In 1999 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a
three-year study as part of the Lower Tennessee Basin
Survey. Fish sampling was rated as "poor/fair" and
habitat was characterized by a narrow riparian corridor
and streambank instability. Moderate deposition of
sediment in the stream and some channelization were
noted. Nutrient enrichment and habitat degradation
were also noted as negatively impacting the creek. In
2004 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) sampled
Hester Creek, which received a "poor" fish rating and
a "fair" benthic rating. TVA noted that siltation was
problematic. The 2006 CWA section 303(d) list added
turbidity from land development/agriculture to the
Figure 1. Hester Creek is within the Mountain Fork
watershed in the Tennessee River Basin.
Hester Creek listing based on the 1999 USGS water
monitoring results.
Story Highlights
The entire Flint River watershed was first addressed
with CWA section 319(h) funding from 2000 to 2005 in
cooperation with the Madison County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD). Community stakeholder
meetings, Alabama Water Watch volunteer monitoring
training, and other workshops helped to communi-
cate the project goals. Agricultural practices installed
included cover crops, conservation tillage, terracing
itidoon County
Madison County

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and waterway systems, sediment basins, cropland con-
version, and livestock stream crossings, fencing, alter-
native watering sources, and rotational grazing. A CWA
section 319(h)-funded streamside zone management
project was also implemented in the Hester Creek
drainage area during this period in cooperation with
Alabama A&M University. Approximately 12,500 feet
of stream channel stabilization and 14 acres of riparian
buffer were installed.
In 2005 Madison County adopted subdivision ordi-
nances and stormwater oversight to help with the
increased urban runoff to Hester Creek and other
Mint River subwatersheds due to the growth of
Huntsvilie. Subsequently, Hester Creek was added to
the CWA section 303(d) list for turbidity from agri-
culture and land development in 2006. The Hester
Creek/Mountain Fork Watershed Management Plan
was completed in 2007 by the Flint River Watershed
Coordinator with assistance from ADEM, the Madison
SWCD, and the TVA resource stewardship staff.
Two phases of the Hester Creek/Mountain Fork
Watershed Project (2009-2013) were funded through
a CWA section 319(h) grant in cooperation with
the Madison County SWCD and ADEM. Agricultural
practices implemented to address cropland sources
of nutrients and sediment included cover crops,
conservation tillage, conservation cover, terracing,
and cropland conversion to permanent vegetation
(Figure 2). Education and outreach activities included
U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency
and Flint River Conservation Association newsletter
articles, local watershed advisory meetings, Flint River
weekend canoe cleanups, annual earth day events,
and various homeowner association presentations.
Results
In 2009 ADEM collected chemical, physical and biologi-
cal data on Hester Creek at stations HESM--1, HESM-2
and HESM-3 in an effort to more fully evaluate existing
conditions. Based on the 2009 sampling, nutrient
concentrations and chlorophyll-o concentrations were
relatively the same as, or well below, the ecorefer-
ence level concentrations. In August 2010 diurnal DO
data were also collected. DO concentrations at these
stations remained within normal levels during the
sampling events, ranging between 5.3 and 9.0 mil-
ligrams per liter (mg/L). Also, pH levels were normal,
ranging between 7 and 8, further providing evidence
that Hester Creek is not impaired for nutrients.
Bi©assessment results indicated the macroinvertebrate
and the fish community to be in "fair" condition. Based
on the instream total phosphorus and total nitrogen
values, chlorophyll-o values, DO concentrations, and
biological assessments, ADEM removed Hester Creek
from the CWA section 303(d) list for nutrient overen-
richment and turbidity in 2012.
Partners and Funding
The Flint River Coordinator was partially funded
through a partnership with the Flint River Conservation
Association, the city of Huntsville, Huntsvi lie Utilities,
TVA, Alabama A&M University, ADEM and the Madison
County SWCD. Additional partners on the watershed
advisory committee were the Tennessee River Basin
Clean Water Partnership, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USGS, the Madison County
Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama, and the
Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments. The
Hester Creek implementation measures were primar-
ily funded through four CWA section 319(h) grants
from fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2010, which
provided $496,259 in federal funding. The Madison
County SWCD, farmers, landowners, volunteers, and
other partners provided approximately $488,627 in
nonfederal match.
F igure 2. Erosion control blankets were used to
stabilize eroded cropland, preventing sediment and
nutrients from washing into the creek.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
W .1
^ EPA 841-F-18-001Q
PROt^° September 2018
For additional information contact:
Sam Sandlin
Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District
256-532-1692 • Sam.Sandlin@al.nacdnet.net
Alabama Nonpoint Source Management Program
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
334-260-4501 • NPSmail@adem.alabama.gov

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