Draft Biological and Water Quality Report - Wills
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Division of Surface Water June 2019 TMDL DEVELOPMENT | Draft Biological and Water Quality Report - Wills Creek and Selected Tributaries, 2014 In 2014, Ohio EPA conducted a biological and water quality survey in the Wills Creek watershed. This fact sheet summarizes the findings detailed in the biological and water quality report (BWQR). Report Highlights Wills Creek mainstem has experienced impressive reestablishment of warmwater habitat (WWH) communities and improved habitat scores since Ohio EPA’s 1984 and 1994 water quality surveys. In 1994, Ohio EPA conducted a biological and water quality study of the Wills Creek mainstem at 17 locations. At that time, only one location near the mouth was in full attainment of the WWH aquatic life use. Of the 13 biological samples assessed in 2014, nine (69 Figure 1. Sampling locations in the Wills Creek survey largely percent) were fully meeting the WWH aquatic life use and met their existing or recommended aquatic life use four (31 percent) were in partial attainment. Only one mainstem location was meeting for fish in 1994 but in 2014, 10 of the 13 sites sampled met the WWH biocritieria. In the 2014 survey, only one location did not meet for the aquatic insects because of flow alteration from a lowhead dam. The other locations sampled for macroinvertebrates were marginally good to exceptional and showed a major improvement in the number of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) and sensitive taxa compared to the 1984 and 1994 surveys. Habitat dramatically improved with an average QHEI score of 62.1. A total of 45 Wills Creek tributaries were sampled at 68 locations with 42 (62 percent) in full attainment, 21 (31 Stakeholder Input percent) in partial attainment and five (7 percent) in non- The Agency is releasing the results from Wills Creek attainment of the assigned aquatic life use. watershed survey for review and comment and will accept feedback on any aspect of the report. The BWQR is Remaining Impairment the second step in the TMDL development process. The Sedimentation is still limiting habitat in the mainstem, but next step is the Loading Analysis Plan, which will reclamation of mineland and improved agricultural additionally be available for review and comment. practices has greatly reduced the amount of sediment Providing Feedback contribution to Wills Creek. Wills Creek is a naturally low Comments can be submitted by email to gradient stream. Because sediment transport capacity is so [email protected], faxed to (614) 644-2745 or limited in low gradient streams, the Wills Creek mainstem sent by postal mail to: has been slow to recover from habitat disturbances such as TMDL Program channelization and sedimentation. Tributaries in the Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water Buffalo Fork subwatershed are still significantly impacted P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 by historic strip-mining, which used the world’s largest walking dragline known as the Big Muskie. Even though All comments must be submitted to the Agency no later mining ceased more than 18 years ago and much of the than 5:00 p.m. on July 19, 2019 land was reclaimed, Collins Fork, Rannels Creek and Stay Involved Buffalo Fork are all still impacted by mine drainage. Dams Subscribe to updates on TMDL projects at: on the mainstem of Wills Creek are also identified as a https://ohioepa.custhelp.com/app/utils/login_form/r source of impairment impeding fish recruitment and edirect/account%252Fprofile. migration and altering habitat. In 2014, only one location Contact Information did not meet for the aquatic insects because of flow For more information, contact Rachel Taulbee at alteration from a lowhead dam used by the City of [email protected] or (740) 380-5433. Cambridge for drinking water. epa.ohio.gov • 50 W. Town St., Ste. 700 • P.O. Box 1049 • Columbus, OH 43216-1049 • (614) 644-3020 • (614) 644-2737 (fax) Other Beneficial Uses Human Health/Fish Consumption — Fish tissue was obtained from seven Wills Creek mainstem sites and from Wills Creek Lake. While no other fish species exhibited contaminant levels that would trigger an advisory, Wills Creek saugeye had higher body burdens of mercury than saugeye in other parts of the state. Thus, Wills Creek saugeye are recommended for a monthly consumption advisory. Channel catfish in Ohio often contain elevated mercury concentrations in their flesh. Those in Wills Creek Lake were well below advisory levels and may be consumed twice weekly. Variable mercury concentrations in Ohio fish are difficult to associate with a particular source or sources, thus it is assumed most mercury found in fish tissue is a result of atmospheric deposition from coal fired power plants. Recreation — Bacteriological samples were collected from 40 stream locations and from five lakes (6 sites) for recreational use assessment. In CWA compliance, 3 of 13 (23 percent) Wills Creek mainstem sites, none of the tributary sites (0 of 27), and all the lake sample locations (6 of 6) met the swimmable goal. The three attaining Wills Creek mainstem sites were downstream from Wills Creek Lake. The Lake appears to delay flow, allowing most bacteria to expire before entering the reach downstream from the Dam. Public Water Supply — The cities of Cambridge and New Concord provide public drinking water. Assessment of their surface water sources for nitrate and atrazine concentrations determined these water bodies were in compliance with the drinking water use. Emerging concerns about algal toxins in raw water supplies have led to adoption of new criteria effective in 2015. No cyanotoxins were detected in Cambridge Reservoir. However, microcystin concentrations in the New Concord Upper Reservoir exceeded the new criterion in one sample during 2014 and in 2 samples during 2015. These results put New Concord’s Upper Reservoir in non-attainment of the drinking water use relative to source water. Figure 2: Wills Creek watershed sampling locations and aquatic life use attainment status Page|2 Biological and Water Quality Surveys A biological and water quality survey is a survey of the biological, chemical and physical properties of surface waters to determine the appropriate beneficial use designations (aquatic life, recreation, human health and water supply) assigned in Ohio Water Quality Standards, evaluate water quality trends and determine if the water body is meeting the goals of the federal Clean Water Act. Ohio EPA conducts surveys in selected watersheds around the state. The results from each survey are detailed in biological and water quality reports (BWQR). These reports summarize major findings and provide results from individual sampling Figure 3. Wills Creek at Campbell Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio locations. The survey findings and conclusions may factor into regulatory actions taken by Ohio EPA. For example, adjustments to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, mitigation requirements in Section 401 Water Quality Certifications and revisions to Ohio Water Quality Standards rules [Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3745-1]. The findings are eventually incorporated into State Water Quality Management Plans, the biennial Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (305[b] and 303[d]) and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Wills Creek Watershed Survey Specifics The Wills Creek study area covers most of Guernsey county as well as portions of Coshocton, Muskingum, Noble, Monroe, Belmont and Tuscarawas counties in southeastern Ohio (Figure 2). The Will Creek watershed drainage area is 853 square miles and is the third largest direct tributary to the Muskingum River. Wills Creek is 77.7 miles long with a fall of 77 feet. In 2014, Ohio EPA conducted a biological and water quality survey of Table 1. Wills Creek Survey Specifics—What was collected? the Wills Creek watershed at 82 Sample Type Number of Locations stream locations where physical, chemical, and biological data was Biological samples (fish, macroinvertebrates, habitat) 82 obtained. The study area included the Water chemistry grab samples 70 headwaters of Wills Creek (juncture of Bacteria indicators (Escherichia coli) 40 Buffalo Creek and Buffalo Fork) to the Sediment chemistry samples 15 confluence with the Muskingum River Fish tissue samples 7 (853 mi2) and selected tributaries. In addition to the stream locations, Wills Creek Lake, Senecaville Lake, Salt Fork Lake, New Concord Reservoir and the Cambridge Reservoir were assessed. Where can I learn more? • The full study report is available at epa.ohio.gov/dsw/wq. • More information is available at https://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/tmdl/MuskingumRiver#120213161-wills-creek • More information on Ohio EPA’s TMDL Process is available at epa.ohio.gov/Portals/35/tmdl/TMDL_factsheet_newprocess_aug2017_final.pdf. • For more information about biological, chemical and physical monitoring, please see the Water Quality Monitoring webpage at epa.ohio.gov/dsw/bioassess/ohstrat.aspx. epa.ohio.gov • 50 W. Town St., Ste. 700 • P.O. Box 1049 • Columbus, OH 43216-1049 • (614) 644-3020 • (614) 644-2737 (fax) .