2012 y Biological and Water Quality Study of the Licking River Januar And Selected Tributaries, 2008 Licking, Muskingum, Knox, and Fairfield Counties, Ohio Licking River downstream from Newark, RM 28.6. John R. Kasich, Governor Mary Taylor, Lt. Governor Scott J. Nally, Director EAS/2011-1-3 2008 Licking River TSD January 20, 2012 Biological and Water Quality Study of the Licking River and Selected Tributaries 2008 Licking, Muskingum, Knox, and Fairfield Counties, Ohio January 20, 2012 OEPA Technical Report /EAS 2011-1-3 Prepared by State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Surface Water Lazarus Government Center 50 West Town Street, Suite 700 Mail to: P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 Central District Office Lazarus Government Center 50 West Town Street, Suite 700 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Southeast District Office 2195 Front Street Logan, Ohio 43138 Ecological Assessment Section Groveport Field Office 4675 Homer Ohio Lane Groveport, Ohio 43125 John R. Kasich Governor, State of Ohio Scott J. Nally Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency EAS/2011-1-3 2008 Licking River TSD January 20, 2012 CONTENTS Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3 Aquatic Life Use Attainment Status ...................................................................... 4 Recreational Use Attainment Status ................................................................... 13 Drinking Water Use Attainment Status ............................................................... 13 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 14 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 16 Study Area .......................................................................................................... 17 Results ............................................................................................................... 17 Licking River and Dst. Tributaries ................................................................................. 27 Licking River ....................................................................................................... 35 Brushy Fork ........................................................................................................ 36 Big Run ............................................................................................................... 38 Dillon Lake - Licking River .................................................................................. 39 Timber Run - Licking River ................................................................................. 39 North Fork ..................................................................................................................... 43 Otter Fork ........................................................................................................... 48 Headwaters North Fork ...................................................................................... 48 Sycamore Creek ................................................................................................. 49 Vance Creek - North Fork ................................................................................... 50 Lake Fork ........................................................................................................... 51 Clear Fork ........................................................................................................... 52 Dog Hollow Run - North Fork.............................................................................. 52 Dry Creek ........................................................................................................... 53 Log Pond Run - North Fork ................................................................................ 54 Raccoon Creek ............................................................................................................. 60 Headwaters Raccoon Creek ............................................................................... 63 Lobdell Creek ..................................................................................................... 65 Moots Run - Raccoon Creek .............................................................................. 66 Salt Run - Raccoon Creek .................................................................................. 66 South Fork ..................................................................................................................... 71 Muddy Fork......................................................................................................... 76 Headwaters South Fork ...................................................................................... 63 Buckeye Lake ..................................................................................................... 78 Buckeye Lake Reservoir Feeder ........................................................................ 79 Kirkersville - South Fork ..................................................................................... 81 Bell Run - South Fork ......................................................................................... 82 Ramp Creek ....................................................................................................... 84 Dutch Fork .......................................................................................................... 85 Beaver Run - South Fork .................................................................................... 85 Rocky Fork .................................................................................................................... 90 Claylick Creek ..................................................................................................... 91 Lost Run ............................................................................................................. 92 Rocky Fork ......................................................................................................... 93 References .................................................................................................................... 96 1 EAS/2011-1-3 2008 Licking River TSD January 20, 2012 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 The Licking River basin showing 2008 stream conditions and sample sites. ... 5 Figure 2 The Licking River watershed with ecoregion and HUC boundaries depicted. 18 Figure 3 Summary of ammonia-N and D.O. concentrations in the Licking River. ......... 28 Figure 4 Summary of total phosphorus and D.O. concentrations in the North Fork . .. 45 Figure 5 Summary of nutrient concentrations in Raccoon Creek. ................................ 61 Figure 6 Summary of nutrient and D.O. concentrations in the South Fork ................... 72 Figure 7 Summary of total phosphorus concentrations in the Rocky Fork. .................. 90 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Attainment status of aquatic life uses for the Licking River basin, 2008. ......... 8 Table 2 Licking River aquatic life use impairment signatures ..................................... 12 Table 3 Sampling locations in the Licking River study area ....................................... 19 Table 4 Design flows of municipal WWTP’s ............................................................... 21 Table 5 Census data for selected counties, 1980 - 2009. .......................................... 22 Table 6 Exceedences and violations of aquatic life use criteria ................................. 22 Table 7 Water column organic chemical concentrations ............................................ 23 Table 8 Sediment metal concentrations ..................................................................... 24 Table 9 Sediment organic compound concentrations................................................. 25 Table 10 Sediment % T.O.C. and Total Phosphorous concentrations. ........................ 26 Table 11 Summary of Burnham Corporation Outfalls to the Licking River. .................. 30 Table 12 Violations of NPDES permit limits for Burnham Corporation ......................... 31 Table 13 Licking River, Brushy Fork and Muskingum Co. tributaries recreational use attainment status. .......................................................................................... 32 Table 14 Dillon Lake proposed Lake Habitat aquatic life use assessment ................... 33 Table 15 Dillon Lake water column metals concentrations. .......................................... 34 Table 16 Dillon Lake recreational use attainment status. ............................................. 34 Table 17 Licking River aquatic life use attainment status, 1981-2008 .......................... 37 Table 18 Licking River aquatic life use impairment signatures ..................................... 38 Table 19 Brushy Fork and Muskingum Co. tributaries aquatic life use attainment status, 2008. ............................................................................................................. 41 Table 20 Muskingum Co. tributaries aquatic life use impairment signatures. ............... 42 Table 21 North Fork recreational use attainment status ............................................... 47 Table 22 North Fork aquatic life use attainment status, 1993-2008 ............................. 56 Table 23 North Fork aquatic life use impairment signatures. ....................................... 59 Table 24 Raccoon Creek recreational