^tDsrx '&>) NONPOINTSOIREESICCESSSTORY Update v™r „ *L pro^° Agricultural BMPs Reduce the Impact of Cattle Grazing in Lick Creek Update Overview This Nonpoirit Source Success Story Update highlights the removal of a second impairment (pathogens) from Lick Creek, a tributary of Spring Creek. In 1998 Spring Creek and its tributaries were added to the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list for impairment by organic enrichment/dissolved oxygen and siltation. In 2002 Lick Creek was listed individually as impaired by pathogens and other habitat alterations due to livestock. Lick Creek's habitat impairment was removed in 2006 (for more details, see the September 2007 Success Story, Agricultural BMPs Reduce the Impact of Cattle Grazing and Improve Quality of Creek's Habitat). Landowners have installed multiple best management practices (BMPs) since 2012. Because data show that Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels now comply with water quality standards (WQS), Tennessee removed the pathogen impairment from Lick Creek in 2018. Problem Livestock accessing the stream led to impairment of aquatic habitat and contributed pathogens to Lick Creek in Marshall and Rutherford counties. Although the habitat impairment was removed from Lick Creek in 2006, bacteria levels remained high. Analysis of individual E. coli samples in 2011 showed amounts up to 1,414 coiony forming units (CFUs) per 100 milliliters (ml), which exceeded the instantaneous WQS of 941 CFUs/100 mL. Story Highlights In 2012 the Marshall County Soil Conservation District (SCD) received a CWA section 319 grant to install BMPs in the Spring Creek watershed. Using these funds, the SCD helped landowners install a total of 42 BMPs within the Lick Creek sub-basin, including fences, pipelines and alternative watering systems, heavy use areas, and a stream crossing. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund (ARCF) program supported installation of an additional 16 BMPs, including fencing, heavy use areas, and forage planting (Figure 1). Results In 2014-2015, all 10 samples collected from Lick Creek met the instanta- neous WQS. State WQS for £ coli also require that the geometric mean R8ure 1 BMPs in the Uck Creek sub-basin, of at least five samples not exceed 126 CFUs/100 mL. In 2014-2015, the geometric means of two sets each (10 total samples) met the WQS (111 CFUs/100 mL and 90 CFUs/100 mL, respectively). As a result, removed from Tennessee's impaired waters list in 2018 for pathogens. Lick Creek now fully supports all Total Expenditures (Cost-Share) 580,740 s o n LEGEND County Boundaries Lick Creek Lick Creek Sub Spring Creek Watershed $ 319 Practices ^ ARCF Practices TDEC 2018 Assessment Supporting Not Assessed TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ¦ NONPOINT SOURCE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE LICK CREEK (06040002047-0300) SUB-BASIN of five samples Lick Creek was designated uses. Partners and Funding Marshall County SCD received a 2012 CWA section 319 grant totaling $370,000 for work in the Spring Creek watershed; approximately $80,740 was provided as cost share for projects within the Lick Creek sub-basin. To date, Tennessee's ARCF has contributed $2.6,546 in incentive payments for BMPs in the sub-basin. Marshall County SCD key partners included the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Marshall County government. Update: July 2019 EPA 841-F-19-001S U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Washington, DC For additional information contact: Sam Marshall Tennessee Department of Agriculture ------- |