Manokin River Watershed Characterization
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Manokin River Watershed Characterization May 2001 In support of Somerset County’s Watershed Restoration Action Strategy for the Manokin River Watershed Product of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources In partnership with Somerset County Parris N. Glendening, Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Lt. Governor Sarah J. Taylor-Rogers, Secretary Stanley K. Arthur, Deputy Secretary David Burke, Director, Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service (CCWS) Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Telephone for CCWS 410-260-8739 Call toll free: 1-877-620-8DNR TTY for the Deaf: 1-410-974-3683 www.dnr.state.md.us The Mission of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources To inspire people to enjoy and live in harmony with their environment, and to protect what makes Maryland unique – our treasured Chesapeake Bay, our diverse landscapes, and our living and natural resources. The facilities and services of the Department of Natural Resources are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability. Important Contributors to the Manokin River Watershed Characterization Robin Bunting Somerset County Director of Recreation and Parks Max Chambers Flomax Marine Nursery Larry Fykes, Manager, Somerset Soil Conservation District Roman Jesien University of Maryland Eastern Shore Joan Kean Dept. of Technical and Community Services Tom Lawton Dept. of Technical and Community Services Somerset County Alphabetical Order Earl Ludy Somerset County Sanitary District Charles Otto Somerset County Farm Bureau Melissa Rochford USDA-NRCS Greg Williams USDA-NRCS Coastal Zone Management Program, CCWS* Katharine Dowell, Ken Sloate, Mary Conley Fisheries Service Chris Judy, Rick Schaefer, James Casey, Drew Koslow Public Lands John Wilson Resource Assessment Service Ron Klauda, Beth Ebersole, Sherm Garrison, Renee Karrh, Tom Parham, Peter Tango, Catherine Wazniak Sarbanes Cooperative Oxford Lab Kelly Greenhawk Watershed Management and Analysis Division, CCWS John Wolf, Fred Irani, David Bleil, Michael Hermann, Ted Weber Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR, by Program) Watershed Restoration Service, CCWS John McCoy Wildlife & Heritage Division Lynn Davidson Maryland Dept. of Agriculture (MDA) John Rhoderick, Louise Lawrence Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Denice Clearwater, Julie Labranche, Steven Bieber, Robert Daniel Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) Other Agencies Deborah Weller US Fish and Wildlife Service Peter Bergstrom Editor / Primary Author: Ken Shanks, Watershed Management and Analysis Division (DNR CCWS) TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ..........................................................1 Watershed Selection ....................................................1 Location ............................................................1 Purpose of the Characterization ...........................................1 Identifying Gaps In Information ...........................................2 Adaptive Management ..................................................2 WATER QUALITY .........................................................5 Designated Uses .......................................................5 Not Supporting Designated Use ...........................................7 What Are the Effects of Nutrient Over-Enrichment Water Quality Indicators ................................................9 Interpreting Water Quality Indicators Tributary Team Characterization .........................................11 Water Quality Assessment ..............................................12 1. Discussion of Recent Data 2. Relevance to Watershed Restoration Point Sources ........................................................16 NonPoint Sources ....................................................19 1. Shorelines and Stream Banks Total Maximum Daily Loads ............................................21 LAND USE ...............................................................22 Landscape Indicators ..................................................22 Interpreting Landscape Indicators Interpreting Landscape Indicators 1997 Land Use / Land Cover ............................................25 Land Use Projected to 2020 .............................................26 Land Use Management .................................................27 1. County Comprehensive Planning 2. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program Green Infrastructure ...................................................29 Natural Resource Lands at the Watershed Scale ..............................31 Protected Lands ......................................................33 Smart Growth .......................................................34 Soils ...............................................................36 1. Interpreting Local Conditions with Natural Soil Groups 2. Soils and Watershed Planning i Wetlands ...........................................................38 1. Introduction to Wetland Categories 2. Tracking Wetlands 3. Interpreting Wetland Distribution LIVING RESOURCES AND HABITAT ........................................42 Overview ...........................................................42 Living Resource Indicators ..............................................43 Interpreting Living Resource Indicators Fish and Crabs in Tidal Waters ...........................................46 Fish and Benthos in Nontidal Streams .....................................47 Oysters ............................................................49 Plankton ...........................................................51 1. Algae 2. Pfiesteria Sensitive Species .....................................................52 1. Habitat Protection Categories 2. Rare Fish and Mussels Submerged Aquatic Vegetation ..........................................56 1. Criteria for Tracking SAV 2. Manokin River Assessment RESTORATION TARGETING TOOLS ........................................59 2000/2001 Stream Corridor Assessment ....................................59 Clean Marinas .......................................................59 Fish Blockages .......................................................60 Stream Buffer Restoration ..............................................60 1. Benefits and General Recommendations 2. Using GIS 3. Headwater Stream Buffers 4. Land Use and Stream Buffers 5. Nutrient Uptake from Hydric Soils in Stream Buffers 6. Wetland Associations 7. Optimizing Benefits by Combining Priorities Wetland Restoration ..................................................64 RELATED PROJECTS TO THE WRAS PROCESS ...............................72 Overview ...........................................................72 319(h)-Funded Projects ................................................72 Other Projects .......................................................72 POTENTIAL BENCHMARKS FOR WRAS GOAL SETTING .......................73 ii ADDITION INFORMATION .................................................74 Sources of Information .................................................74 Abbreviation Key .....................................................77 Contacts for More Information ...........................................78 Technical Reports ....................................................79 Algae and Pfiesteria Technical Report for the Manokin River 1997 Land Use Summary LIST OF MAPS Manokin River Watershed Characterization Map Description Page 1 WRAS Project Area ....................................................3 2 Streams and Subwatersheds ..............................................4 3 Designated Uses .......................................................6 4 Monitoring Stations ...................................................14 5 Algae Concentrations ..................................................15 6 MDE Permits ........................................................18 7 1997 Generalized Land Use / Land Cover ..................................28 8 Green Infrastructure ...................................................30 9 Natural Resource Lands at the Watershed Scale ..............................32 10 Protected Lands and Smart Growth .......................................35 11 Soils ...............................................................37 12 Wetlands ...........................................................41 13 Oyster Beds, Leases, and Power Dredge Areas ..............................50 14 Sensitive Species .....................................................55 15 Land Use Scenario for Stream Buffer Restoration ............................66 16 Nutrient Retention Using Hydric Soils Scenario ..............................67 17 Nutrient Retention Using Hydric Soils Associated With Cropland Scenario .........68 18 Wetland Proximity Scenario for Stream Buffer Restoration .....................69 19 Stream Prioritization Scenario ...........................................70 20 Wetland Restoration Opportunities .......................................71 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For the Manokin River Watershed Characterization The Manokin River is in the coastal plain on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Manokin River watershed is entirely with Somerset County. The County is receiving Federal grant funding and State technical assistance to prepare a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) for the Manokin River watershed for several reasons: – the 1998 Maryland Clean Water