State of the Water
October 25, 2016 Union County Community Center What is a Watershed? Nashville
Birmingham Atlanta Athens
Etowah
Cleveland Andrews Murphy
Hayesville
Copper Hill
Young Harris Blue Ridge Hiawassee Blairsville Morganton
Suches Map of the Upper Hiwassee River Basin Dec 2015 Record Flooding Dec 2015 Record Flooding Dec 2015 Record Flooding
What is Water Quality?
Physical Chemical Biological Habitat Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin
1. Excess Sediment 2. Pathogens (e.g. E. coli) 3. Excess Nutrients
Too much runoff! We want to prevent this! WQ Concerns – Bank Erosion WQ Concerns – Construction WQ Concerns – Development of Steep Slopes WQ Concerns – Loss of Riparian Buffers & Channelization Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin
1. Excess Sediment 2. Pathogens (e.g. E. coli) 3. Excess Nutrients
Too much runoff! We want to prevent this!
And this! And this! WQ Concerns – Agriculture Water Quality Concerns
Leaking & Failing Septic Systems WQ Concerns – Geese WQ Concerns – Managed Turf WQ Concerns – Lack of Buffers Other Nutrient Sources
Not pathogens, if in compliance! Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin
1. Excess Sediment 2. Excess Nutrients 3. Pathogens (e.g. E.coli)
Too much runoff! WQ Concerns – Impervious Surfaces
Roads and Parking Lots
Driveways and Rooftops WQ Concerns - Changing Hydrology
Increased Runoff Increased Pollutants Impacts to Stream Banks Habitat Degradation Decline in Fishing Use Impairment Data (every 2 years) State Biological Data (5-year cycle) Volunteer Monitoring (monthly!)
10+ years data from 21 sites; currently 55 active sites! www.georgiaadoptastream.com TVA Ecological Health Ratings (? Interval)
Chatuge: Poor in 2012 Nottely: Poor in 2011 Hiwassee: Fair in 2012 Apalachia: Good in 2012 Water Quality Overview Nottely River Highlights
Now sampling 2 locations on the river upstream and 7 locations on tributaries to the lake! At least fifteen E. coli samples collected at each of 4 locations on Butternut Creek • No waters were added or removed from the list of impaired waters between 2014 and 2016 × E. coli concentrations are well above recreation water quality standards at most monitored sites, including the Nottely River × Rapier Mill Creek was added to the list of impaired waters in NC in 2016 Nottely River Data
Location Low High Ave Upstream Old 133 2200 1015 Bald Mtn. Rd. (L) GA Mtn. Exp. 33 3467 664 Station (R)
E. coli data reported in colonies/100mL A minimum of 15 samples were collected at each site. Butternut Creek at Butternut Creek at Mountain Building Supply Union Co. Farmers Market
Butternut Creek at the Butternut Creek at Golf Course Meeks Park (Colwell Fields) Butternut Creek Data
Location Low High Ave Notes Mtn. Bldg. 0 567 105 2 hits >200 Supply Farmers 4 hits >200 in 22 0 3367 455 Market samples; 2 hits >1,000 Golf course 0 600 162 3 hits >200 Meeks Park 0 300 102 4 hits >200
E. coli data reported in Colonies/100mL A minimum of 15 samples were collected at each site. Brasstown Creek Highlights
Now sampling 4 locations on the creek; 2 in GA and 2 in NC! Early results indicate that the recreation standard is being met at all four locations! • No waters were added or removed from the list of impaired waters between 2014 and 2016 • Volunteers are needed to sample Corn Creek and Yewell Branch in Young Harris, as well as Brasstown Creek above Yewell Br. (Trackrock area) Lake Chatuge Improvements
2006 phosphorus loading to Lake Chatuge
27% 34%
Developed Areas Pasturelands Point Sources
39% 2,600 lbs/yr removed in 2016! 2,800 lbs/yr removed in 2012-14 Hiwassee River Highlights
Reactivated one Towns Co. site and added one in Clay Co. for a total of six on Hiwassee River Now have 4 years of recent data for the main Hiwassee River site above Lake Chatuge, added to 10 years of historical data It appears that all locations are generally meeting the recreation water quality standards × Water temperatures were very high at the main Hiwassee River site this summer × E. coli concentrations spike at two Clay County sites during high flow events Hiwassee River Highlights
Hiwassee River at “The Retreat” (formerly the Trout Lodge
Temperature data reported in degrees Celsius. Hiwassee River at “The Retreat” Hiwassee River at Streak Hill Rd. Towns County Towns County
Hiwassee River at Martin Hill Hiwassee River at Sweetwater Park Clay County Clay County Fish Kill on the Valley River Other NC Highlights
Martins Creek was removed from the list of impaired waters for fish & aquatic life! An older monitoring site on Shooting Creek was reactivated this year! × Summertime temperatures in Shooting Creek were too high to support trout Contact Information
90 Tennessee Street, Ste. D (Lewis Jones Nationwide Insurance Bldg.) 828-837-5414 – Phone & Fax [email protected]
www.hrwc.net