Stream Health Report
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1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the following for their support of this project: The Dauphin County Commissioners Jeffrey Haste, Chairman Mike Pries George Hartwick, III The Dauphin County Conservation District Board of Directors Timothy Wentzel, Chairman Edward O’Gorman, Vice Chairman Becky Witmer, Secretary Lisa Lauver, Treasurer Ronald Kopp David Coble James Szymborski Paul Anderson Commissioner Jeffrey Haste Past and present DCCD staff that contributed to this project Megan Blackmon, Watershed Specialist Robert Frank, Watershed Specialist Julia Kersetter, Watershed Intern Andy McAllister, Watershed Specialist Eric Naguski, District Manager Courtney Papinchak, Resource Coordinator Michael Pothoff, Watershed Specialist Lindsay Scarola, Special Projects Technician Jeremy Trexel, Watershed Specialist Alyssa Umberger, Watershed Intern Michael Yanchuk, Watershed Specialist Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2 Table of Contents Dauphin County Streams: A Health Report 1.0 PURPOSE: ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 SOURCES OF DEGRADATION: ..................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 CHANGES IN STREAM HYDROLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 POLLUTANTS ENTERING STREAMS ........................................................................................................................ 5 3.0 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS OVERVIEW: ................................................................................................................ 6 4.0 MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENTS: ..................................................................................................................... 8 5.0 MONITORING METHODS: ........................................................................................................................................ 10 5.1 BIOLOGICAL ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.2 PYSICAL HABITAT ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 6.0 STUDY AREA OVERVIEW: ......................................................................................................................................... 12 7.1 MAHANTANGO CREEK .................................................................................................................................................... 13 7.2 WICONISCO CREEK .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 7.3 ARMSTRONG CREEK ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 7.4 POWELL CREEK ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 7.5 CLARK CREEK ................................................................................................................................................................... 29 7.6 STONY CREEK .................................................................................................................................................................. 32 7.7 FISHING CREEK ................................................................................................................................................................ 36 7.8 PAXTON CREEK ................................................................................................................................................................ 39 7.9 SPRING CREEK WEST ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 7.10 SWATARA CREEK ........................................................................................................................................................... 45 7.11 CONEWAGO CREEK ....................................................................................................................................................... 52 7.12 SUSQUEHANNA TRIBUTARIES ....................................................................................................................................... 55 8.0 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................ 57 8.1 CONTEXT OF TEST RESULTS ........................................................................................................................................ 57 8.2 OVERALL WATERSHED HEALTH .................................................................................................................................. 57 9.0 STREAM IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................... 61 9.1 GENERAL ..................................................................................................................................................................... 61 9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 61 1. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 61 2. HOMEOWNERS ......................................................................................................................................................... 63 3. FARM OWNERS ......................................................................................................................................................... 64 4. DEVELOPERS ............................................................................................................................................................. 65 APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................................................................. 67 Appendix I: Sub-sampling and Identification Techniques ................................................................................................ 67 Appendix II: Metrics Analyses ........................................................................................................................................... 67 Statistical Significance Testing...................................................................................................................................... 68 Appendix III: DCCD Stream Health Classification .............................................................................................................. 69 Appendix IV: Aquatic Life Use Attainment ....................................................................................................................... 69 Appendix V: References .................................................................................................................................................... 70 Appendix VI: Watershed Sample Site Metrics Tables ....................................................................................................... 71 Appendix VII. Watershed Health Score Sample Cycle Comparison .................................................................................. 82 Appendix VIII: Countywide Stream Assessment Sample Sites ......................................................................................... 89 Appendix IX: Countywide Stream Health Classifications by Sample Site ......................................................................... 90 3 1.0 PURPOSE: The purpose of the Countywide Stream Assessment Program (CSAP) of the Dauphin County Conservation District (DCCD) is to collect data to determine the present condition of Dauphin County’s streams. The CSAP will document and measure changes in stream conditions occurring over time. In addition, CSAP will provide an evaluation of the factors affecting stream condition in order to protect, maintain, and restore streams to meet designated uses. The results of this 5 year study will be used to present water quality issues to the public to promote and support initiatives that increase direct participation in stream stewardship and the reduction of water pollution. The study will also focus DCCD programs and prioritize the most critical stream protection needs in the County’s watersheds. To improve public education, this document contains information regarding the character of the County’s watersheds and issues found within them. Data has been collected for the CSAP every year since 2004. This report focuses on data collected from 2014 to 2018. Upon completion, the results were reviewed