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Rob Breeding Bolin Creek: Healing Our Local Waterways

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This document discusses studies of the Bolin and Morgan Creek watersheds in North Carolina. It outlines the goals of assessing stream health, identifying water quality and habitat stressors, and finding sources of pollution. Biological and water quality sampling methods are described, including the collection of insects, fish, algae, and water samples. The results found some concerns like low dissolved oxygen, metals like copper, and pesticides, but nutrients were generally okay. Assessments also identified needs like erosion control and riparian buffer restoration. Ongoing monitoring is recommended to track long term trends in stream health.

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Our Local Streams, Bolin & Morgan Creeks Can We Heal Our Local Waterways? Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner February 11, 2012
Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies Can We Heal Our Local Waterways? Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner February 11, 2012
Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies
Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
Insect Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS ? Mayflies ? Stoneflies ? Caddisflies ? Midges
Insect Sampling ? Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary ? Detailed interpretation can suggest likely stressors ? Potential for long-term water quality trend assessment
What We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­
What Else We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­
Fish Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS Johnny Darter ?Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species ?Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores
Fish Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS ?Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species Redfin Pickerel ?Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores White Shiner
Fish Sampling ? Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary ? Detailed interpretation can suggest stressors and can indicate post-project improvement ? Potential for trend assessment
What We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­ ?Piscivores present ?Omnivores present in moderate numbers ?Insectivores predominant at all sampling sites
Water Quality Sampling METHODS ? Collect field samples ? Analyze in laboratory ? Compare concentrations to benchmarks and references
Water Quality Sampling METHODS ? Storm water & baseflow ? Wide array of chemicals and classes
Water Quality Sampling ? Directly measures inputs from surrounding land use ? Detailed interpretation can help explain biological condition ? Used to support model development ? Potential for long-term trend analysis
What We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­ ? Dissolved Oxygen¡ªslightly worse in lower Bolin but not a smoking gun ? Nutrients¡ªNitrogen and Phosphorus OK ? Some Metals¡ªCopper of concern in few storm samples; iron, manganese, & aluminum high but likely background ¨Dnoise¡¬ ? Some Pesticides¡ªAtrazine & DDT at low levels
Toxicity Testing ? Multitaxa toxicity screening of water diagnoses problems difficult to address with traditional restoration projects ? Sediment testing can show long-term or historic issues ? Tox testing helps explain poor bio community condition ? Done in conjunction with other water quality sampling
The Morgan Creek LWP GOALS ? Characterize the health of the streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in subwatersheds ? Inform the management recommendation process
Riparian Assessments ?Field Assessment ?Land use ?Water Quality ?Riparian Buffer ?Stream Stability ?Aquatic Habitat ?Typical Stream Measurements ?Other site characteristics
Riparian Assessment Results ? Assessments and Project Yield ? 40+ reaches assessed ? 21 potential restoration and/or enhancement projects in Bolin ? 5 potential restoration reaches in Little Creek ? Observations ? Bank erosion ? Lack of woody buffer ? Channel modification ? Sedimentation ? Degraded aquatic habitat ? Utility crossings
More Recent Information¡­ ? Carrboro sponsors Benthic Macroinvertebrate sampling annually¡ªdata suggests possible declines in developing areas ? EarthTech Stormwater Retrofit Study ? Division of Water Quality Basinwide Assessment & Basin Plan
What the Future Holds¡­ ? ????? ? Continued Aquatic Insect Community Sampling ? Continued DWQ Basinwide Assessment and Planning ? DWQ Restoration Watershed Support
Find Out More¡­ http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/swp/ws/p http://www.nceep.net/services/lwps/Morgan du/wat/warp _Creek/Morgan.pdf
Our Local Streams, Bolin & Morgan Creeks Questions?

More Related Content

Rob Breeding Bolin Creek: Healing Our Local Waterways

  • 1. Our Local Streams, Bolin & Morgan Creeks Can We Heal Our Local Waterways? Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner February 11, 2012
  • 2. Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies Can We Heal Our Local Waterways? Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner February 11, 2012
  • 3. Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies
  • 4. Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
  • 5. Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
  • 6. Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
  • 7. Stream Assessment for WARP GOALS ? Determine the best methods for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds ? Identify sources
  • 8. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 9. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 10. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 11. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 12. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 13. Water Quality Assessment METHODS ? Biological Sampling ¨C Insects ¨C Fish ¨C Algae ? Water Quality Sampling ¨C General Parameters ¨C Nutrients ¨C Toxicity
  • 14. Insect Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS ? Mayflies ? Stoneflies ? Caddisflies ? Midges
  • 15. Insect Sampling ? Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary ? Detailed interpretation can suggest likely stressors ? Potential for long-term water quality trend assessment
  • 17. What Else We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­
  • 18. Fish Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS Johnny Darter ?Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species ?Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores
  • 19. Fish Sampling INDICATOR GROUPS ?Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species Redfin Pickerel ?Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores White Shiner
  • 20. Fish Sampling ? Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary ? Detailed interpretation can suggest stressors and can indicate post-project improvement ? Potential for trend assessment
  • 21. What We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­ ?Piscivores present ?Omnivores present in moderate numbers ?Insectivores predominant at all sampling sites
  • 22. Water Quality Sampling METHODS ? Collect field samples ? Analyze in laboratory ? Compare concentrations to benchmarks and references
  • 23. Water Quality Sampling METHODS ? Storm water & baseflow ? Wide array of chemicals and classes
  • 24. Water Quality Sampling ? Directly measures inputs from surrounding land use ? Detailed interpretation can help explain biological condition ? Used to support model development ? Potential for long-term trend analysis
  • 25. What We ¹ó´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¡­ ? Dissolved Oxygen¡ªslightly worse in lower Bolin but not a smoking gun ? Nutrients¡ªNitrogen and Phosphorus OK ? Some Metals¡ªCopper of concern in few storm samples; iron, manganese, & aluminum high but likely background ¨Dnoise¡¬ ? Some Pesticides¡ªAtrazine & DDT at low levels
  • 26. Toxicity Testing ? Multitaxa toxicity screening of water diagnoses problems difficult to address with traditional restoration projects ? Sediment testing can show long-term or historic issues ? Tox testing helps explain poor bio community condition ? Done in conjunction with other water quality sampling
  • 27. The Morgan Creek LWP GOALS ? Characterize the health of the streams and aquatic habitat conditions ? Identify water quality and habitat stressors in subwatersheds ? Inform the management recommendation process
  • 28. Riparian Assessments ?Field Assessment ?Land use ?Water Quality ?Riparian Buffer ?Stream Stability ?Aquatic Habitat ?Typical Stream Measurements ?Other site characteristics
  • 29. Riparian Assessment Results ? Assessments and Project Yield ? 40+ reaches assessed ? 21 potential restoration and/or enhancement projects in Bolin ? 5 potential restoration reaches in Little Creek ? Observations ? Bank erosion ? Lack of woody buffer ? Channel modification ? Sedimentation ? Degraded aquatic habitat ? Utility crossings
  • 30. More Recent Information¡­ ? Carrboro sponsors Benthic Macroinvertebrate sampling annually¡ªdata suggests possible declines in developing areas ? EarthTech Stormwater Retrofit Study ? Division of Water Quality Basinwide Assessment & Basin Plan
  • 31. What the Future Holds¡­ ? ????? ? Continued Aquatic Insect Community Sampling ? Continued DWQ Basinwide Assessment and Planning ? DWQ Restoration Watershed Support
  • 32. Find Out More¡­ http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/swp/ws/p http://www.nceep.net/services/lwps/Morgan du/wat/warp _Creek/Morgan.pdf
  • 33. Our Local Streams, Bolin & Morgan Creeks Questions?