Known Pollutants and Biological Indicators in the Dry Creek Watershed

1. Known Pollutants and Biological Indicators in the Dry Creek Watershed Nutrient Data, 2006 Biological Indicators, 2006 (DC-01 is at Nichols Branch, DC-03 is at HWY 519) Licking River Watershed Watch Data 2006 Definitions Conductivity is a measure of dissolved minerals and charged pollutant particles in water. Pure water does not conduct electricity. But as the amount of dissolved minerals and charged pollutants in water increases, so does the conductivity. Non-Point Source (NPS) pollution comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by water moving over and through the ground. The water picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. Pollution is a contamination of a habitat with substances which make it less favorable for organisms. TSS is an abbreviation for total suspended solids. This is the amount of sediment and other tiny particles that is “stirred up” in a moving body of water. Increases in sulfate along with the increase in conductivity further suggest that the sediment concentration, from erosion, is increasing in Dry Creek. Biological Indicators (DO, pH, and Temp) The concentration of phosphate decreases downstream. This indicates that the water is getting less polluted from septic systems we move downstream. The nitrate concentration, which is decreasing, supports this hypothesis. • This chart shows: • how temperature increases as the water moves downstream. This is a result of the lack of tree cover. • The increase in temperature causes a decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which decreases the amount and type of organisms that can survive. • Higher conductivity measurements indicate higher levels of dissolved minerals, charged particles, and sediment. • The pH readings fall within expected levels set by the Kentucky Division of Water. Notice how dissolved oxygen (DO mg/L) increases as temperature decreases. Cold water holds more oxygen, which is why trout like cold water stream. Tree cover is essential to maintaining cooler temperatures for fish and macroinvertebrates. This data was collected by a volunteer sampler where Dry Creek flows under Highway 519. Other data collected by the volunteer was conductivity. Increasing ammonium levels, which is often associated with animal (including human) waste, indicates that there is an increase in animal waste as we move downstream. HOW DO SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS ENTER WATERWAYS? Best Management Practices (BMPs) Photos showing bare land with obvious signs of erosion Photos showing mass wasting on the creek banks Best Management Practices (BMPs) are techniques used to control storm water runoff, sediment, and soil stabilization, as well as manage decisions to reduce nonpoint source pollution. The EPA defines a BMP as a "technique, measure or structural control that is used for a given set of conditions to manage the quantity and improve the quality of storm water runoff in the most cost-effective manner.“ BMPs come in many forms and can be simple things that a home/land owner can implement with little or no cost. Examples of BMPs are rain gardens, leaving a riparian zone (vegetated strip near streams) of at least 18 meters (59 feet), keeping construction away from creeks, and planting trees (especially on or near creek banks). Other BMPs can be more expensive. Examples of these include installation of sewer infrastructure, re-routing of round ways, constructing bridges, and contouring stream banks. • Influx of sediment and nutrients is often linked. • Sediment enters waterways when land is disturbed (vegetation is removed) and when streams are modified (e.g., straightened). • Sediment often fills parts of channels, which decreases the amount of water the channel can carry without flooding. • Sediment destroys habitat for organisms by filling the spaces between gravel. • Nutrients increase with sediment influx since nutrients “cling” to soil particles that end up in streams. • Nutrients also enter waterways directly as water flows over lawns, pasture, or cropland. • Nutrients enter streams as groundwater contaminated by failed or improperly constructed septic systems. • Photos to the left show examples of disturbed land. Gullies (top left) from soil erosion represent a loss of top soil. The bare slope (center left) is prone to more erosion. Erosion and slumping is undermining a tree that will soon topple (bottom left) • Slumping and erosion along sections the Dry Creek stream bank (top and bottom right), an all too common sight. Flooding and channel straightening by humans make matters worse by increasing water velocity. Measurement of sediment concentration in Dry Creek is in its early stages. An example of BMP implementation to stabilize stream banks from a project on Dry Creek, Colorado Project designed and constructed by Queen of the River Consultants, Longmont, CO 303-651-2514 Summer 2000 -- An outside bend of Trout Creek on beat #3 after machine installation of rock vanes, transplanted willows and willow/sedge mats. Decreased width/depth and pool/riffle ratios are evident. Spring 1999 -- An outside bend of Trout Creek on beat #3. This area exhibits vertical eroded banks, poor width/depth ratio and poor riffle/pool ratio. Contacts April Haight, Director Katie Holmes, Watershed Program MSU Environmental Education Center Kentucky Waterways Alliance LC 101A, IRAPP 222 Bakery Square Morehead, KY 40351 Louisville, KY 40206 (606) 783-2455 (502) 589-8008 This project is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency under 319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the KentuckyDivision of Water to the Kentucky Waterways Alliance (Grant # C9994861-04).