Wiconisco Creek Watershed Assessment and Plan
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WICONISCO CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT AND PLAN Publication No. 206 June 1999 Travis W. Stoe Biologist This report is prepared in cooperation with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Watershed Conservation, under Grant ME96353. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Paul O. Swartz, Executive Director John T. Hicks, N.Y. Commissioner Scott J. Foti, N.Y. Alternate James M. Seif, Pa. Commissioner Irene B. Brooks, Pa. Alternate Jane T. Nishida, Md. Commissioner J.L. Hearn, Md. Alternate Major General Jerry L. Sinn, U.S. Commissioner Colonel Bruce A. Berwick, U.S. Alternate The Susquehanna River Basin Commission was created as an independent agency by a federal-interstate compact* among the states of Maryland, New York, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the federal government. In creating the Commission, the Congress and state legislatures formally recognized the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin as a regional asset vested with local, state, and national interests for which all the parties share responsibility. As the single federal-interstate water resources agency with basinwide authority, the Commission's goal is to coordinate the planning, conservation, management, utilization, development and control of basin water resources among the public and private sectors. *Statutory Citations: Federal - Pub. L. 91-575, 84 Stat. 1509 (December 1970); Maryland - Natural Resources Sec. 8-301 (Michie 1974); New York - ECL Sec. 21-1301 (McKinney 1973); and Pennsylvania - 32 P.S. 820.1 (Supp. 1976). For additional copies of this publication, contact the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA. 17102-2391, (717) 238-0423, FAX (717) 238-2436, E-mail [email protected]. For more information concerning the Commission, visit our web site: www.srbc.net. ii CONTENTS PREFACE .............................................................................................................................. ix ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 PURPOSE .............................................................................................................................. 1 PROJECT SETTING AND WATERSHED INFO RMATION ................................................... 2 Hydrologic Unit Code ................................................................................................. 2 Endangered Species .................................................................................................... 2 State and Federal Lands .............................................................................................. 2 School Districts .......................................................................................................... 2 Physiography .............................................................................................................. 2 Flood Plains ............................................................................................................... 5 Soils .......................................................................................................................... 5 Geology ..................................................................................................................... 5 Llewellyn Formation ....................................................................................... 5 Pottsville Group .............................................................................................. 8 Mauch Chunk Formation ................................................................................. 8 Pocono Formation ........................................................................................... 8 Spechty Kopf Formation ................................................................................. 8 Duncannon Member of the Catskill Formation .................................................. 8 Land Use .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecoregion ................................................................................................................... 8 Socioeconomics .......................................................................................................... 9 Point Sources .............................................................................................................. 9 Fisheries ..................................................................................................................... 9 Streams ...................................................................................................................... 16 FIELD AND LABORATORY METHODS .............................................................................. 16 Fie ld Methods ............................................................................................................ 16 Physical habitat and biological conditions ........................................................ 16 Chemical water quality .................................................................................... 18 Base flow ....................................................................................................... 18 Storm flow ..................................................................................................... 18 Laboratory Data Analyses ........................................................................................... 18 Physical habitat and biological conditions ........................................................ 18 iii HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES ...... 24 SECOND YEAR ASSESSMENT RESULTS ........................................................................... 29 DISCUSSION OF SECOND YEAR ASSESSMENT RESULTS ............................................... 29 Storm Data ................................................................................................................. 29 Electrofishing ............................................................................................................. 41 Bear Creek ..................................................................................................... 41 Rattling Creek ................................................................................................ 41 Wiconisco Creek ............................................................................................ 41 PROBLEMS, NEEDS, AND OPPORTUNITIES ...................................................................... 42 Degraded Surface Water Quality .................................................................................. 42 Impaired Instream and Riparian Habitats ...................................................................... 43 Reduced and Impaired Recreational Fisheries and Water Contact Opportunities ............. 43 Fishing ........................................................................................................... 43 Water contact opportunities ............................................................................. 44 Adverse Impacts to Cold and Warm Water Fishes and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ......... 44 Affected Water Conveyance and Transportation Structures ............................................ 44 Loss of Domestic, Agricultural, and Livestock Water Supplies ...................................... 44 Increased Undesirable Sights and Offensive Odors ........................................................ 44 Stormwater Runoff ..................................................................................................... 44 Decreased Property Values .......................................................................................... 44 REMEDIATION AND PROTECTION OPTIONS ................................................................... 45 Environmental Treatment Options Considered for Mining Remediation ......................... 45 Physical and chemical treatment of contaminated coal mine drainage ................. 45 Passive treatment of contaminated coal mine drainage ....................................... 45 Passive treatment components ......................................................................... 46 Best Management Practices for Use on Agricultural and Urban Lands ............................ 48 Highlights on Best Management Practices ........................................................ 48 Agricultural practices ...................................................................................... 48 Animal waste management practices ................................................................ 50 Riparian forest buffers and other buffers ........................................................... 51 Stream protection practices .............................................................................. 51 Urban practices ............................................................................................... 52 FORMULATION OF ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................. 53 Formulation Process .................................................................................................... 55 iv RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RESTORATION OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION IN THE WICONISCO CREEK WATERSHED 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