Surface Water Quality Screening Assessment of the Tennessee River Basin- 2003

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Surface Water Quality Screening Assessment of the Tennessee River Basin- 2003 Surface Water Quality Screening Assessment of the Tennessee River Basin- 2003 Part I: Wadeable Rivers and Streams REPORT DATE: AUGUST 31, 2005 AQUATIC ASSESSMENT UNIT -- FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Surface Water Quality Screening Assessment of the Tennessee River Basin- 2003 Part I: Wadeable Rivers and Streams REPORT DATE: AUGUST 31, 2005 AQUATIC ASSESSMENT UNIT -- FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT THIS PROJECT WAS FUNDED OR PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT USING A CLEAN WATER ACT §319(H) NONPOINT SOURCE DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROVIDED BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - REGION 4. ADDRESS COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO : AQUATIC ASSESSMENT UNIT – ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS SECTION FIELD OPERATIONS DIVISION – MONTGOMERY BRANCH ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT P.O. 301463 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36130-1463 2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................4 LIST OF APPENDICES......................................................................................................5 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS..............................................................................................7 SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................9 METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................13 STUDY AREA .....................................................................................................................13 Ecoregions ....................................................................................................................13 REVIEW OF AVAILABLE DATA ...........................................................................................19 NPS IMPAIRMENT POTENTIAL AND SUB-WATERSHED RANKING .......................................20 SITE SELECTION.................................................................................................................43 HABITAT ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................44 AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSESSMENT:................................................................44 CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT....................................................................................................49 CHAIN OF CUSTODY...........................................................................................................49 FINAL ASSESSMENT AND RANKING OF SUB-WATERSHEDS.................................................49 2003 TENNESSEE BASIN ASSESSMENT RESULTS .................................................55 ASSESSMENT SUMMARIES OF PRIORITY SUB-WATERSHEDS........................59 GUNTERSVILLE LAKE CU (0603-0001)..........................................................................61 WHEELER LAKE CU (0603-0002)..................................................................................75 Lower Elk River CU (0603-0004) ................................................................................85 Pickwick Lake CU (0603-0005) ...................................................................................95 Bear Creek CU (0603-0006).......................................................................................109 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................118 3 List of Tables & Figures LIST OF TABLES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TABLES 1. Sub-watersheds recommended for priority NPS status 12 METHODS TABLES 2. List of sub-watersheds located within each minor basin within the Tennessee 14 River Basin 3. Current animal unit conversion factors from ADEM Administrative Code 20 Chapter 335-6-7 4. Range of values used to define potential for impairment from rural sources 21 5. Range of values used to define potential for impairment from urban sources 43 6. Chemical/physical parameters analyzed by ADEM Central Laboratory 53 7. Estimates of % land cover within the TN basin 55 8. # of sub-watersheds with “moderate” or “high” ratings per NPS category 56 9. # of sub-watersheds with “moderate” or “high” ratings per point source 56 10. Types of assessments & assessment guidelines that have generated monitored 58 assessment information. LIST OF FIGURES 1 Cataloging units and sub-watersheds of the TN Basin 15 2 Level IV Ecoregions of the TN Basin Group 17 3 CWA §303(d) list of impaired waterbodies in the TN basin. 23 4 Estimated potential for impairment from rural NPSs 25 5 Estimated potential for impairment from forestry 27 6 Estimated potential for impairment from sedimentation 29 7 Estimated potential for impairment from animal husbandry 31 8 Estimated potential for impairment from pasture grazing 33 9 Estimated potential for impairment from crop runoff 35 10 Estimated potential for impairment from mining 37 11 Estimated potential for impairment from aquaculture 39 12 Estimated potential for impairment from urban sources 41 13 Sampling locations within the TN Basin Group, 1999-2003 47 14 2003 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream and reservoir 51 segments 15 2003 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream segments located 63 within the Guntersville Lake CU 16 2003 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream and reservoir 77 segments located within the Wheeler Lake CU 17 2003 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream segments located 87 within the Lower Elk River CU 18 2003 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream segments located 97 within the Pickwick Lake CU 19 2002 NPS priority sub-watersheds and §303(d)-listed stream segments located 111 within the Bear Creek CU 4 List of Appendices LIST OF APPENDICES A. Land Use Percentages A-1a. Middle Tennessee-Chicamauga (0602-0001) & Guntersville Lake (0603-0001) CU A-1b. Wheeler Lake (0603-0002) CU A-1c. Lower Elk River (0603-0004) CU A-1d. Pickwick Lake (0603-0005) CU A-1e. Bear Creek (0603-0006) CU A-2. EROS Land Cover Data Set B. NPDES permits & construction/stormwater authorizations C. Alabama’s 2002 CWA §303(d) list in the TN Basin. C-1. Waterbodies on Alabama’s 2002 CWA §303(d) list C-2. Waterbodies on Alabama’s 2002 CWA §303(d) list approved for TMDL. D. NPS impairment potential estimated for each sub-watershed E. Location descriptions for data collected within the TN Basin F. List of Alabama NPS assessment stations F-1. NPS screening assessment stations F-2. NPS intensive assessment stations G. Summary of biological assessment results G-1. Summary of habitat, and aquatic macroinvertebrate assessment results H. SWCD estimates of animal units, % aquaculture, and % acre herbicide/ pesticide applications H-1. Middle Tennessee-Chicamauga (0602-0001) & Guntersville Lake (0603-0001) CU H-2. Wheeler Lake (0603-0002) CU H-3. Lower Elk River (0603-0004) CU H-4. Pickwick Lake (0603-0005) CU H-5. Bear Creek (0603-0006) CU I. Sedimentation rate estimates for each sub-watershed I-1. Middle Tennessee-Chicamauga (0602-0001) & Guntersville Lake (0603-0001) CU I-2. Wheeler Lake (0603-0002) CU I-3. Lower Elk River (0603-0004) CU I-4. Pickwick Lake (0603-0005) CU I-5. Bear Creek (0603-0006) CU J. Habitat assessment results: NPS assessment stations K. Bioassessment results: NPS assessment stations L. Field data sheets: L-1. Riffle-run habitat assessment L-2. Glide pool habitat assessment L-3. Physical characterization/water quality data sheet M. Physical/chemical data collected during the BWC NPS screening assessment N. Metals data collected during the BWC NPS screening assessment O. Description of ADEM’s Ecoregional Reference Reach Program 5 List of Appendices List of Appendices O-1. Physical characterization and habitat assessment results, 1999-2003 O-2. Bioassessment results, 1999-2003 O-3. Physical/chemical data, 1999-2003 O-4. Metals data, 1999-2003 P. Description of ADEM’s CWA §303(d) Monitoring Program P-1. Physical characterization and habitat assessment results, 1999-2003 P-2. Bioassessment results, 1999-2003 P-3. Physical/chemical data, 1999-2003 P-4. Metals data, 1999-2003 Q. Description of ADEM’s 2002 Periphyton Bioassessment Pilot Project R. Description of University Tributary Monitoring Project, 1999 R-1. Physical/chemical data S. Description of ADEM’s ALAMAP Program, 1999-2003 S-1. Physical characterization and habitat assessment results S-2. Physical/chemical data T. Paint Rock River Watershed Project T-1. Habitat and biological assessment results T-2. Physical/chemical data U. TN basin stations collected by USGS, 1999-2003 U-1. Station Locations U-2. Physical/chemical data 6 List of Abbreviations LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Interpretation § Section A&I Agricultural and Industrial Water Use Classification AAU Aquatic Assessment Unit of ADEM's Field Operations Division ADEM Alabama Department of Environmental Management ALAMAP Alabama Monitoring and Assessment Program AU Animal Unit as defined by ADEM CAFO Rules AWPCA Alabama Water Pollution Control Act BMP Best Management Practices Br Branch CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation cfs Cubic Feet per Second Chem. Chemical/Physical Water Quality Co. County Confl. Confluence Cr Creek CR County Road CU Cataloging Unit CWA Clean Water Act
Recommended publications
  • Class G Tables of Geographic Cutter Numbers: Maps -- by Region Or
    G3937 SOUTH CENTRAL STATES. REGIONS, NATURAL G3937 FEATURES, ETC. .M5 Mississippi Sound 733 G3942 EAST SOUTH CENTRAL STATES. REGIONS, G3942 NATURAL FEATURES, ETC. .N3 Natchez Trace .N32 Natchez Trace National Parkway .N34 Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail .P5 Pickwick Lake .T4 Tennessee River 734 G3952 KENTUCKY. REGIONS, NATURAL FEATURES, ETC. G3952 .A2 Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site .B3 Barkley, Lake .B34 Barren River .B35 Barren River Lake .B4 Beaver Creek Wilderness .B5 Big Sandy River .B55 Blue Grass Region .B7 Brier Creek [Whitley County] .B8 Buck Creek .C3 Cave Run Lake .C48 Clanton Creek .C5 Clarks River .C53 Clear Creek .C54 Clear Fork [Whitley County] .C6 Clifty Wilderness .C8 Cumberland, Lake .C83 Cumberland River, Big South Fork [TN & KY] .D3 Daniel Boone National Forest .F5 FIVCO Area Development District .G75 Green River .G76 Green River Lake .H4 Herrington Lake .H85 Humphrey Creek .J3 Jackson Purchase .K3 Kentucky, Northern .K35 Kentucky Highway 80 .K4 Kentucky Lake .K44 Kentucky River .L3 Land Between the Lakes .L38 Laurel River Lake .L4 Lee Cave .M29 Mammoth Cave .M3 Mammoth Cave National Park .M5 Mill Springs Battlefield .N63 Nolin Lake .N64 Nolin River .P4 Pennyrile Area Development District .P6 Port Oliver Lake .P8 Purchase Area Development District .R3 Raven Run Nature Sanctuary .R34 Redbird Crest Trail .R4 Red River Gorge .R68 Rough River .R69 Rough River Lake .S6 Snows Pond .T3 Taylorsville Lake .W5 White Sulphur ATV Trail 735 G3953 KENTUCKY. COUNTIES G3953 .A2 Adair .A4 Allen .A5 Anderson .B2
    [Show full text]
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Key Messages, August 2017
    Description of document: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Key Messages, August 2017 Requested date: 31-July-2017 Released date: 14-August-2017 Posted date: 21-August-2017 Source of document: FOIA Officer Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W. Summit Hill Drive WT 7D Knoxville, TN 37902-1401 (865) 632-6945 The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website. Key Messages August 2017 Updated August 10, 2017 Key Messages for August 2017 Contents Allen Combined Cycle Plant Water Energy Efficiency, Renewable and Source ....................................................... 4 Distributed Generation ............................. 19 Allen Combined Cycle Plant Solar Grid Stability ......................................... 20 Generation ................................................. 5 Renewable Energy ..............................
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Designation for the Fluted Kidneyshell and Slabside Pearlymussel
    April 2013 Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Designation for the Fluted Kidneyshell and Slabside Pearlymussel Final Report Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Prepared by Ross Loomis Travis Beaulieu Viola Glenn Carol Mansfield Jamie Cajka Sara Casey RTI International 3040 Cornwallis Road Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 RTI Project Number 0211700.004 CONTENTS Section Page Executive Summary .............................................................................................................ES-1 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose of the Economic Analysis ...................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Fluted Kidneyshell, Slabside Pearlymussel, and Proposed Critical Habitat ........ 1-1 2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Economic Impacts of the Act ............................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Direct Efficiency Impacts ........................................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 Indirect Efficiency Impacts ...................................................................... 2-2 2.1.3 Distributional Impacts .............................................................................. 2-2 2.1.4 Benefits ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • G Recreation Costs Incurred by Those Who Use Recreation Amenities Most Heavily
    EExecutive Summary ver the past half century, the nation’s federal manmade lakes have become a powerful recre- O ation attraction. These lakes, a product of dams built primarily for other purposes, have acquired significant added value in water-related recreation. They have become popular destina- tions for vacations and day trips. By the hundreds of thousands, people flock to their waters, their shores, their adjacent parks, and their tailwaters downstream. Federal lakes are a canvas of boat- ing, camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, and other leisure pursuits. Lake recreation is also an economic force, greatly buoying state tourism and local economies. This very success, however, reveals long neglected and growing problems at fed- eral lakes. Despite good intentions, many of the federal agencies in charge of lakes are unable to provide recreation facilities and lake conditions that meet public demand and present-day expectations; and they are failing to recognize and act on recreation opportunities. So say recreation consumers, industry groups, conservation organizations, and state and local governments. All have become increasingly dissatisfied with recreation at federal lakes. The National Recreation Lakes Study Commission was created by Congress and appointed by President Clinton to examine these concerns. After a year of research, nationwide workshops, and deliberations, the Commission finds that recreation at federal lakes is, in fact, beset by a multitude of difficulties and shortcomings. At many sites, facilities ranging from restrooms to boat docks to roads are inad- equate, aging, and falling apart. Pollution and aquatic plant invasions threaten lake health. Fish habitat is compromised, and with it, species survival and sport fishing.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Resource Plan EIS Project Number: 2009-60
    Document Type: EIS-Administrative Record Index Field: Environmental Document Transmitted Public/Agencies Project Name: Natural Resource Plan EIS Project Number: 2009-60 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT VOLUME 1 NATURAL RESOURCE PLAN Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia PREPARED BY: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY JULY 2011 Page intentionally blank Final Environmental Impact Statement July 2011 Proposed project: Natural Resource Plan Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Lead agency: Tennessee Valley Authority For further information, Charles P. Nicholson, Manager contact: National Environmental Policy Act Compliance Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11D-K Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Phone: 865.632.3582 Fax: 865.632.3451 E-mail: [email protected] Comments must be submitted by Abstract: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) proposes to adopt a Natural Resource Plan (NRP) to determine how TVA will manage its natural resources over the next 20 years. On May 19, 2008, the TVA Board of Directors approved the TVA Environmental Policy. The Environmental Policy sets forth principles to guide TVA in reducing the environmental impacts of its activities while continuing to provide reliable and affordable power to the Valley. By establishing the Environmental Policy, TVA committed to a more systematic and integrated approach to managing stewardship. The NRP addresses the planning processes and Environmental Policy objectives related to Water Resource Protection and Improvement, Sustainable Land Use, and Natural Resource Management. This environmental impact statement examines potential impacts associated with implementing the NRP proposed for these resources and reasonable alternative management strategies, including a No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, TVA would continue its current management approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Tennessee Valley Reservoir and Stream Quality - 1993 Summary of Vital Signs and Use Suitability Monitoring
    Tennessee Water Management May 1994 Chattanooga, Tennessee Valley Authority TENNESSEE VALLEY RESERVOIR AND STREAM QUALITY - 1993 SUMMARY OF VITAL SIGNS AND USE SUITABILITY MONITORING VOLUME I CLEAN WATER INIT1 AT IVE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY Resource Group Water Management TENNESSEE VALLEY RESERVOIR AND STREAM QUALITY - 1993 SUMMARY OF VITAL SIGNS AND USE SUITABILITY MONITORING Volume I Report Coordinators: Donald L. Dycus and Dennis L. Meinert Authors and Contributors: Steven A. Ahlstedt Allen M. Brown Neil C. Carriker Tammy L. Carroll Donald L. Dycus Joe P. Fehring Gary D. Hickman Dennis L. Meinert Charles F. Saylor Damien J. Simbeck Janis W. Strunk Amy K. Wales David H. Webb Chattanooga, Tennessee May 1994 KEY CONTACTS FOR MONITORING FUNCTIONS Monitoring Ptvgmm Design Neil Carriker (615) 751-7330 Don Dycus (615) 751-7322 Water Quality Monitoring Physical/&mical Reservoirs Dennis Meinert (615) 751-8962 Streams Jan Strunk (615) 751-8637 Bacteriological Joe Fehring (615) 751-7308 Sedin~?nlQuality Physical/&mical Dennis Meinert (615) 751-8962 Toxicity Damien Simbeck (205) 729-4549 Biological Monitoring Fish Ecology Reservoirs Gary Hickman (615) 632-1791 Streams Charlie Saylor (615) 632-1779 Consumption Don Dycus (6 15) 75 1-7322 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Reservoirs Amy Wales (615) 751-7831 Streams Steve Ahlstedt (615) 632-1781 Ecological Health Don Dycus (615) 751-7322 Dennis Meinert (615) 751-8962 ii CONTENTS .VOLUME I TABLES ........................................................ vi FIGURES .......................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Record Group 142 Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering, Design, and Construction Division
    Record Group 142 Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering, Design, and Construction Division Project Histories and Reports, 1937-1974 National Archives Identifier 890185 This series consists of project histories and periodic reports documenting the planning, design, and construction of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) projects. Photographs, drawings, charts, and maps are filed among the reports. Project histories and reports present detailed and comprehensive accounts of TVA's progress in designing and constructing large engineering projects, such as dams and power-generating plants. Records in this series reference the following TVA projects: Wilson Dam, Norris Dam, Wheeler Dam, Pickwick Landing, Hiwassee Dam, Guntersville Dam, Chickamauga Dam, Gilbertsville Dam, Watts Bar Dam, Fort Loudon Dam, Hales Bar Dam, Cherokee Dam, Appalachia Dam, Chatuge Dam, Nottely Dam, Ocoee Dam, Fontana Dam, South Holston Dam, Watauga Dam, Douglas Dam, Wilbur Dam, Johnsonville Steam Plant, Boone Dam, Fort Patrick Henry Dam, Widows Creek Steam Plant, Godwin Phosphate Plant, Kingston Steam Plant, Shawnee Steam Plant, Colbert Steam Plant, Memphis Area Steam Plant, Jon Sevier Steam Plant, Gallatin Steam Plant, Chilhowee Dam, Colbert Steam Plant, Melton Hill Dam, Steam Plant G, Shannon Creek Project, Knoxville Area Steam Plant, Paradise Steam Plant, Bull Rum Steam Plant, Beech River Project, Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage Project, Nickajack Dam, Decatur Area Steam Plant, Lost Creek Dam, Piney Creek Dam, Browns Creek Dam, Tellico Dam, Dry Creek Dam, Big Creek Dam,
    [Show full text]