DOCSLIB.ORG

Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan West Virginia and Virginia June 13th, 2014 Submitted to: 151 Aikens Center, Suite 1 Martinsburg, WV 25404 Prepared By: P.O. Box 106 Thomas, WV 26292 "Investing in Clean Water for a Healthy Life" June 13th, 2014 CONTENTS ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Purpose of Report ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Area of Interest ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Berkeley County Comprehensive Plan ...................................................................................................... 6 Current Water Data Inventory .................................................................................................................. 6 GIS ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Forest Parcel Preservation Prioritization .................................................................................................. 7 Land Use Analysis ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Aquatic Habitat Preservation Prioritization: ............................................................................................. 8 SOURCES OF POINT SOURCE POLLUTION ..................................................................................................... 8 SOURCES OF NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION ............................................................................................. 9 Streambank Erosion & Sediment .............................................................................................................. 9 Littering ................................................................................................................................................... 10 Fecal Coliform ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Roads, Bridges, Recreational Vehicles .................................................................................................... 10 Impervious and Developed Areas ........................................................................................................... 11 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Residual Arsenic Pesticides ..................................................................................................................... 12 LOAD REDUCTIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 12 RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT MEASURES ............................................................................................. 13 Preservation & Conservation .................................................................................................................. 13 Planned and Low Impact Development .................................................................................................. 14 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Erosion .................................................................................................................................................... 19 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE AND TIMELINE ........................................................................................... 20 MONITORING .............................................................................................................................................. 23 OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................... 25 TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................... 26 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 28 FIGURES ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 TABLES ......................................................................................................................................................... 49 Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan--FINAL 2 June 13th, 2014 PHOTOGRAPHS ........................................................................................................................................... 65 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................ 70 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 72 WV DEP Fecal Coliform Monitoring and Decision Rationale .................................................................. 72 WV Division of Forestry GIS Approach and Rationale ............................................................................ 73 Green Rivers GIS Approach and Rationale: ............................................................................................. 76 Stakeholder Meeting Attendees and Notes ........................................................................................... 80 RESUMES ..................................................................................................................................................... 83 ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS AOI Area of Interest ATV All-Terrain Vehicle BHEN Blue Heron Environmental Network BMP Best Management Practice CFS Cubic Feet per Second EPA US Environmental Protection Agency EPCD Eastern Panhandle Conservation District FFA Future Farmers of America FSA Farm Service Agency GPS Global Positioning System GIS Geographic Information System LULC Land Use Land Cover NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service NSD Natural Stream Design ROW Right of Way RTES Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species TEAM The Easy Assessment Method USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USDA United States Department of Agriculture USGS United States Geological Survey UNT Un-named Tributary VADEQ Virginia Department of Environmental Quality WMA Wildlife Management Area WVCA West Virginia Conservation Agency WVDA West Virginia Department of Agriculture WVDOF West Virginia Division of Forestry WVDOH West Virginia Division of Highways WVDEP West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection WVDNR West Virginia Division of Natural Resources WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan--FINAL 3 June 13th, 2014 INTRODUCTION Purpose of Report This Back Creek Watershed Protection Plan is a framework for stakeholders to become more familiar with the water quality issues within the Back Creek Watershed. It is a starting point to focus restoration efforts and enable financial and technical assistance to facilitate improvement strategies and restoration projects in the Back Creek Watershed. This plan is designed to be an evolving document and can be modified to include new data as it becomes available. This restoration process should be assisted by relevant state and local governmental agencies. This document can be utilized by state agencies or stakeholders to secure funding to implement solutions and protect key conservation areas. Public outreach efforts can be recommended by identifying key water quality issues and their causes. Local Best Management Practices (BMPs) as well as direct aquatic restoration efforts will help the local water resources. This Plan will address concerns related to overall watershed health. The results will identify critical resources to protect (e.g. high- priority forested lands), potential sites to restore (e.g. severely eroding streambanks). This plan will also recommend conceptual solutions, an implementation framework, cost estimates, and a method for evaluation. The report focuses on the following watershed elements and data: The unique forested nature of the watershed and the threatened and endangered species that depend on the water resources of this valley, such as the federally endangered plant harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum), wood turtle, eastern cricket frog, green floater mussel, and recently noted freshwater sponge (not yet identified) (WVDNR Natural Heritage Program, 2012; Villella and Nelson, 2008). WV Save Our Streams field data gathered by BHEN (WVSOS, 1998-2012). Water quality data collected by WVDEP Watershed Assessment Branch and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Two workshops facilitated by Green Rivers, LLC in order to gather valuable stakeholder input. Forestry prioritization maps generated by the WVDOF (Peddicord and Harouff, 2012). A stream assessment conducted by WVDEP identifying and prioritizing streambank and riparian
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Flood History 1. According to Records
    Flood History 1. According to records from the NOAA Event Records database, the months when the most flooding occurs are March, with five (5) reported floods from 1950 to present, September, with four (4) reported floods, and January and February both with three (3) reported floods. There have been 29 flood events in Jefferson County since 1993, 18 of which were river floods, 11 that were considered flash flood events. 2. The worst hazard events experienced in Jefferson County were incidents of flooding resulting from heavy rains and snow melt. The earliest flood on record occurred in 1870 when the Shenandoah River was recorded at 12.9 feet above flood stage in the community of Millville. The following are brief descriptions of historical floods that have occurred in Jefferson County. a. October 1962 – Flooding of the Shenandoah River at Millville resulted in estimated damages to over 40 homes and mobile homes. The river crested at 32.45 feet. b. April 22, 1992 – Both the Shenandoah and the Potomac Rivers crested above flood stage after 4.5 inches of rainfall. A car and a mobile home were destroyed by the high waters. c. March 25-28, 1993 – Flash flooding occurred after snow melted throughout the county. Several people were evacuated and approximately $5,000 in damages to public facilities was reported. d. January 19-21, 1996 – A three-day period of flooding resulted from snow melting after the Blizzard of 1996. Several roads were closed and many structures were affected or damaged by the high water. This flooding resulted in approximately $593,000 in damages to public and private facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • NON-TIDAL BENTHIC MONITORING DATABASE: Version 3.5
    NON-TIDAL BENTHIC MONITORING DATABASE: Version 3.5 DATABASE DESIGN DOCUMENTATION AND DATA DICTIONARY 1 June 2013 Prepared for: United States Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program 410 Severn Avenue Annapolis, Maryland 21403 Prepared By: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin 51 Monroe Street, PE-08 Rockville, Maryland 20850 Prepared for United States Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program 410 Severn Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403 By Jacqueline Johnson Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin To receive additional copies of the report please call or write: The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin 51 Monroe Street, PE-08 Rockville, Maryland 20850 301-984-1908 Funds to support the document The Non-Tidal Benthic Monitoring Database: Version 3.0; Database Design Documentation And Data Dictionary was supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency Grant CB- CBxxxxxxxxxx-x Disclaimer The opinion expressed are those of the authors and should not be construed as representing the U.S. Government, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the several states or the signatories or Commissioners to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. ii The Non-Tidal Benthic Monitoring Database: Version 3.5 TABLE OF CONTENTS BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • West Virginia Section 303(D) List and Supplements
    West Virginia Section 303(d) List and Supplements uunnamednnamed ttributaryributary ooff Elk-twoElk-two MMileile CCreekreek iinn KKanawhaanawha CCountyounty PPhotohoto bbyy PPatat CCampbellampbell The format of the 2004 Section 303(d) list is organized around the Watershed Management Framework. The fi ve hydrologic groups (A-E) of the framework provide the skeleton. Within each hydrologic group, watersheds are arranged alphabetically and impaired waters are sorted by stream code in their appropriate watershed. The information that follows each impaired stream includes the stream code, the affected water quality criteria, the affected designated use, the general cause of the impairment (where known), the impaired length (or, by default, the entire length), the planned or last possible timing of TMDL development and whether or not the stream was on the 2002 list. The cause of impairment is often unknown or uncertain at the time of listing and is so indicated on the list. The cause(s) of impairment and the contributing sources of pollution will be identifi ed in the TMDL development process. Many waters are listed, by default, for their entire length. In most cases, it is doubtful that the entire length of stream is impaired, but without further data, the exact length of impairment is unknown. Each listed stream will be revisited prior to TMDL development. The additional assessments performed in the pre-TMDL monitoring effort will better defi ne the impaired length. A West Virginia Watershed Management Framework map is provided to assist navigation within the list. A key is also provided to aid in the interpretation of presented information.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cacapon Settlement: 1749-1800 31
    THE CACAPON SETTLEMENT: 1749-1800 31 THE CACAPON SETTLEMENT: 1749-1800 31 5 THE CACAPON SETTLEMENT: 1749-1800 The existence of a settlement of Brethren families in the Cacapon River Valley of eastern Hampshire County in present day West Virginia has been unknown and uninvestigated until the present time. That a congregation of Brethren existed there in colonial times cannot now be denied, for sufficient evidence has been accumulated to reveal its presence at least by the 1760s and perhaps earlier. Because at this early date, Brethren churches and ministers did not keep records, details of this church cannot be recovered. At most, contemporary researchers can attempt to identify the families which have the highest probability of being of Brethren affiliation. Even this is difficult due to lack of time and resources. The research program for many of these families is incomplete, and this chapter is offered tentatively as a basis for additional research. Some attempted identifications will likely be incorrect. As work went forward on the Brethren settlements in the western and southern parts of old Hampshire County, it became clear that many families in the South Branch, Beaver Run and Pine churches had relatives who had lived in the Cacapon River Valley. Numerous families had moved from that valley to the western part of the county, and intermarriages were also evident. Land records revealed a large number of family names which were common on the South Branch, Patterson Creek, Beaver Run and Mill Creek areas. In many instances, the names appeared first on the Cacapon and later in the western part of the county.
    [Show full text]
  • Program Overview
    WWeett WWaaddeerrss aanndd BBeeyyoonndd TThhee CCoonnddiittiioonn ooff OOuurr SSttaattee’’ss WWaatteerrss AA CCiittiizzeenn’’ss PPeerrssppeeccttiivvee 1 WV Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water and Waste Management, Nonpoint Section 601 57th Street, SE Charleston, WV 25304 The document was prepared by Tim Craddock, WV DEP’s Citizens’ Monitoring Coordinator and is available electronically in Portable Document Format (PDF). To request your copy send e-mail to Tim Craddock at: [email protected]. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Color photographs provided by: Alana Hartman, DEP’s Potomac Basin Coordinator; Abby Chappel, WV River Network; Sherry Evasic, Blue Heron Environmental Network; Neil Gillies, Cacapon Institute; Suzanne Hubbard, The Mountain Institute; Renee Cain, Lower West Fork Watershed Association; Martin Christ, Friends of Deckers Creek; Bobby Bonnett, Heizer-Manila Watershed Organization; Diana Green, Davis Creek Watershed Association; James Grey, Morris Creek Watershed Association; Larry Orr, Kanawha Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited; Valerie Wilson, Science Teacher, Oak Hill Catholic Center; Brad Durst, WV Conservation Agency and Curtis Canada, Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association. WV Save Our Streams would like to recognize all the volunteer monitors, not only those directly associated with the program, but any others who have given their time and energy in an effort to protect our state’s streams and rivers. WV Save Our Streams would also like to recognize all of the agency and other partners who have provided assistance of any kind, to help guide volunteers through the myriad of processes involved with water quality issues. “Perception is not acquired by formal education, nor is it reserved for persons learned in the arts or sciences.
    [Show full text]
  • Road Log of the Geology of Frederick County, Virginia W
    Vol. 17 MAY, 1971 No. 2 ROAD LOG OF THE GEOLOGY OF FREDERICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA W. E. Nunan The following road log is a guide to geologic The user of this road log should keep in mind features along or near main roads in Frederick that automobile odometers vary in accuracy. Dis- County, Virginia. Distances and cumulative mile- tances between stops and road intersections ages between places where interesting and repre- should be checked frequently, especially at junc- sentative-lithologies, formational contacts, struc- tions or stream crossings immediately preceding tural features, fossils, and geomorphic features stops. The Frederick County road map of the occur are noted. At least one exposure for nearly Virginia Department of Highways, and the U. S. each formation is included in the log. Brief dis- Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic maps cussions of the geological features observable at are recommended for use with this road log. the various stops is included in the text. Topographic maps covering Frederick County include Boyce, Capon Bridge, Capon Springs, A comprehensive report of the geology of the Glengary, Gore, Hayfield, Inwood, Middletown, Mountain Falls, Ridge, Stephens City, Stephen- County is presented in "Geology and Mineral Re- son, Wardensville, White Hall, and Winchester. sources of Frederick County" by Charles Butts The route of the road log (Figure 1) shows U. S. and R. S. Edmundson, Bulletin 80 of the Virginia and State Highways and those State Roads trav- Division of Mineral Resources. The publication eled or needed for reference at intersections. has a 1:62,500 scale geologic map in color, which Pertinent place names, streams, and railroad is available from the Division for $4.00 plus sales crossings are indicated.
    [Show full text]
  • Westvirginia 03-1
    Representative Carol Miller 117th United States Congress West Virginia's 3RD Congressional District NUMBER OF DELIVERY SITES IN 159 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (main organization in bold) BLUESTONE HEALTH ASSOCIATION, INC. Bluestone Family Practice - 3016 E Cumberland Rd Bluefield, WV 24701-4858 Bluestone Medical Center - 324 Oakvale Rd Ste 12 Princeton, WV 24740-3829 Bluestone Primary Care - 106 Thorn St Princeton, WV 24740-3560 Prudich Medical Center - Simmons River Rd Rock, WV 24747 Southern Bluestone Health Center - 200 12th Street Ext Princeton, WV 24740-2329 CAMDEN-ON-GAULEY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Camden Family Health - 100 School St Craigsville, WV 26205-8572 Camden Family Health - 16414 Webster Rd Craigsville, WV 26205-8512 Camden Family Health - 415 Main St Summersville, WV 26651-1343 Camden Family Health - 71 Avenue A Richwood, WV 26261-1204 Camden Family Health - Ansted - 101 Florence St Ansted, WV 25812 Camden Family Health - Cherry River - 190 Riverside Dr Rm 2109 Richwood, WV 26261-1251 Camden Family Health - Cowen Office - 56 Park St Cowen, WV 26206-3302 Camden Family Health - Panther Creek - 110 Panther Creek Elementary Rd Nettie, WV 26681-1200 Camden Family Health - Red Oak Drive - 46 Red Oak Dr Craigsville, WV 26205-3102 Camden Family Health - Summersville Elementary School - 70 Grade School Ln Summersville, WV 26651-1897 Webster County School Based Community Health Center - 1 Highlander Dr Upperglade, WV 26266-9400 COMMUNITY CARE OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC. Community Care of Green Bank - 4498 Potomac Highlands Trl Green Bank, WV
    [Show full text]
  • Health and History of the North Branch of the Potomac River
    Health and History of the North Branch of the Potomac River North Fork Watershed Project/Friends of Blackwater MAY 2009 This report was made possible by a generous donation from the MARPAT Foundation. DRAFT 2 DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 TABLE OF Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 THE UPPER NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER WATERSHED ................................................................................... 7 PART I ‐ General Information about the North Branch Potomac Watershed ........................................................... 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Geography and Geology of the Watershed Area ................................................................................................. 9 Demographics .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Land Use ............................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Base-Flow Yields of Watersheds in the Berkeley County Area, West Virginia
    Base-Flow Yields of Watersheds in the Berkeley County Area, West Virginia By Ronald D. Evaldi and Katherine S. Paybins Prepared in cooperation with the Berkeley County Commission Data Series 216 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Evaldi, R.D., and Paybins, K.S., 2006, Base-flow yields of watersheds in the Berkeley County Area, West Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 216, 4 p., 1 pl. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • The Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area Working Together to Make West Virginia and Virginia “Wild and Weed-Free” 2013 Highlights
    THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS COOPERATIVE WEED AND PEST MANAGEMENT AREA WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE WEST VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA “WILD AND WEED-FREE” 2013 HIGHLIGHTS A YEAR IN REVIEW Grant County WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE OUR SUCCESSES elementary school students removed over The Potomac Highlands CWPMA is a partnership of 13,000 pounds of people, agencies, and organizations who have come garlic mustard during together to combat invasive species. the month of April! Our “Mission” is the prevention and management of invasive species in the headwaters region of the South Branch of the Potomac. The CWPMA serves Grant, Hardy, and Pendleton Our CWPMA Field Counties in West Virginia and portions of Highland Crew removed County, Virginia. This area is unique because of its invasive species from caves and karst, extensive forests, rivers, and rare important sites such species and habitats such as Smoke Hole bergamot, as Heavener Kate’s mountain clover, Virginia big-eared bats, and Mountain Shale limestone prairies and glades. Barren. A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Over $250,000 for on-the-ground invasive species treatments and educational programs in 2013, totaling $700,000 raised to date. • The CWPMA Ecosystem Restoration Crew treated 17 non-native invasive species on 2,367 acres of high priority lands bringing our treatment total to over 4,800 acres. • We protected many rare plants such as the federally endangered running buffalo clover, Linda Carnell, WV shale barren rockcress, and others. Division of Forestry teaches students how to • Volunteers dedicated 2,571 hours of their use a GPS as part of the time to remove 38,000 pounds of garlic mustard from lands across the CWPMA.
    [Show full text]
  • The Archaeology of Opequon Creek: Religion, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Material Culture of an Eighteenth-Century Immigrant Community, Frederick County, Virginia
    W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2004 The Archaeology of Opequon Creek: Religion, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Material Culture of an Eighteenth-Century Immigrant Community, Frederick County, Virginia Ann Schaefer Persson College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Ethnic Studies Commons, and the History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons Recommended Citation Persson, Ann Schaefer, "The Archaeology of Opequon Creek: Religion, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Material Culture of an Eighteenth-Century Immigrant Community, Frederick County, Virginia" (2004). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539626441. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-19rg-4g57 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF OPEQUON C^EEK Religion, Ethnicity, and Identity in the Material Culture of an Eighteenth-Century Immigrant Community, Frederick County, Virginia A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Anthropology The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Ann Schaefer Persson 2004 APPROVAL SHEET This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Approved by the Committee, November 2004 rey x Homing, Chair l / j / ________ Norman F. Barka Warren R.
    [Show full text]
  • Fishing Regulations JANUARY - DECEMBER 2004
    WEST VIRGINIA Fishing Regulations JANUARY - DECEMBER 2004 West Virginia Division of Natural Resources D I Investment in a Legacy --------------------------- S West Virginia’s anglers enjoy a rich sportfishing legacy and conservation ethic that is maintained T through their commitment to our state’s fishery resources. Recognizing this commitment, the R Division of Natural Resources endeavors to provide a variety of quality fishing opportunities to meet I increasing demands, while also conserving and protecting the state’s valuable aquatic resources. One way that DNR fulfills this part of its mission is through its fish hatchery programs. Many anglers are C aware of the successful trout stocking program and the seven coldwater hatcheries that support this T important fishery in West Virginia. The warmwater hatchery program, although a little less well known, is still very significant to West Virginia anglers. O West Virginia’s warmwater hatchery program has been instrumental in providing fishing opportunities F to anglers for more than 60 years. For most of that time, the Palestine State Fish Hatchery was the state’s primary facility dedicated to the production of warmwater fish. Millions of walleye, muskellunge, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, saugeye, tiger musky, and largemouth F and smallmouth bass have been raised over the years at Palestine and stocked into streams, rivers, and lakes across the state. I A recent addition to the DNR’s warmwater hatchery program is the Apple Grove State Fish Hatchery in Mason County. Construction of the C hatchery was completed in 2003. It was a joint project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR as part of a mitigation agreement E for the modernization of the Robert C.
    [Show full text]