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NONPOINT SOIREE SICEESS STORY
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Monoslope Barn and Grazing Management Improve Bacteria Levels
in Pierre Creek
WaterbochI Improved Bacteria from agricultural rionpoint source pollution degraded
Pierre Creek in Hanson County, South Dakota. As a result, the
South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) placed Pierre Creek on
South Dakota's 2010 Clean Water Act (CWA) section 303(d) list due to an Escherichia coli bacteria
impairment. Natural resource agency partners collaborated to implement riparian restoration and
grazing management and to install of one of the first monoslope barns in South Dakota. Bacteria
levels declined after these improvements, and DENR reclassified Pierre Creek in 2020 as meeting
its beneficial uses for limited contact recreation and removed it from South Dakota's CWA section
303(d) list.
Problem
Pierre Creek drains 78 square miles of land before
merging with the James River in Hanson County
(Figure 1). The impaired segment of Pierre Creek also
flows through Lake Hanson, a shallow, 60-acre recre-
ational reservoir near the town of Alexandria. Pierre
Creek receives runoff from agricultural operations, as
its watershed is composed of 54% cropland and 37%
pastures/hay ground. To meet water quality standards
for E. coli, no sample can exceed 1,178 colony-forming
units per 100 milliliters (cfu/100 mL), and during a
30-day period the geometric mean of a minimum of
five samples must not exceed 630 cfu/100 mL.
Pierre Creek impairments were identified during the
Lake Hanson Watershed Assessment (2001-2002)
and the Lower James River Watershed Assessment
(2006-2007) projects. As a result, DENR added Pierre
Creek to the state's iist of impaired waters in 2010
for failure to attain beneficial uses for limited contact
recreation due to elevated E. coli numbers. In 2011,
a total maximum dally load (TMDL) was completed
for Pierre Creek. The sources determined to have the
most impact on E. coli levels were livestock feeding
areas and lots, as well as livestock grazing areas with
direct access to the stream.
Both the Lake Hanson Watershed Assessment Final
Report and the Pierre Creek E. coli TMDL document
recommended improving animal feeding operations,
improving grazing management along the stream
corridor and excluding livestock from accessing the
stream. A septic system survey was also completed
during the Lake Hanson Watershed Assessment
because there are several residences around the lake
that could have been sources of bacteria.

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A load reduction was calculated for the
Pierre Creek E. coll TMDL. During high flows,
a 73% reduction was needed to meet the
water quality standards. Also, in the mid
flow and base flow zones in Pierre Creek,
reductions of 43% and 63%, respectively,
were needed to meet the water quality
standard.
Story Highlights
Watershed partners implemented a variety
of best management practices (BMPs),
including agricultural waste systems, grazing
management, and riparian restoration and
protection (Figure 2). In 2014, a 433-foot
long monoslope barn was installed over an
open lot to reduce the amount of polluted
runoff from livestock. A monoslope barn
is designed with a roof with a single slant to
one side. The monoslope barn is oriented
from east to west with the slanted roof lower
on the north side and higher on the south side. The
orientation is beneficial because it takes advantage of
shade and airflow through the barn in the summer and
captures more warmth from sunlight during the winter
months. The monoslope barn was designed to house
999 cows and includes a 12-foot deep pit to store a
year's worth of manure from the cattle. The manure
will be used as fertilizer on fields close to the facility.
Figure 2. BMPs installed included (clockwise from the top left): a
monoslope barn, temporary fencing, portable water sources and
grazing management.
had exceedances in 12 of 41 samples (29%). Sampling
following implementation of BMPs had exceedances
in 2 of 51 samples (4%). According to STEPL modeling,
BMP implementation also reduced loadings of nitrogen
by 23,266 pounds, phosphorus by 8,809 pounds, and
sediment by 768 tons for Pierre Creek.
Partners and Funding
Along with the monoslope barn, almost 550 acres of
riparian restoration/protection and over 1,800 acres
of grazing management have been implemented in
the watershed (see Figure 1 for BMP locations). One
example of grazing management included working
with a producer to implement the use of a portable
offsite watering system and temporary fencing to
maximize grazing potential. These practices reduced
the access and amount of time livestock could be in
riparian areas and improved the grazing throughout the
watershed, while also increasing biodiversity, increas-
ing water infiltration and reducing surface runoff.
Results
As of 2020, Pierre Creek E. coli levels no longer
violate water quality standards, and Pierre Creek
was removed from the CWA section 303(d) list of
impaired waters. Sampling prior to implementation
CWA section 319 funds were used for agricultural
waste systems, riparian restoration and grazing
management practices. Through several project
segments and over 15 years of implementation, CWA
section 319 funds contributed $257,772 toward BMPs.
Other federal sources, including the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Environmental Quality Incentives
Program, provided $202,700 to support BMPs. Local
sources, including landowners, Hanson County
Conservation District, Lake Hanson Association,
and the James River Water Development District
contributed $1,018,386. The local project sponsor
has included the Hanson County Conservation District
and is currently the James River Water Development
District. Other local partners include participating
landowners and the city of Alexandria. State partners
include South Dakota DENR. Federal partners include
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
&
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA 841-F-20-0Q1TT
December 2020
For additional information contact:
Kristopher Dozark
South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
605-773-4254 • kris.dozark@state.sd.us

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