March 7, 2013

Attoyac Bayou Watershed Protection Plan Sarah Fuller, SFASU

Arthur Temple College of Forestry

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Used to assess the physical, chemical, biological, and economic factors affecting attainment of water body use

Identify and assign attainable uses and criteria to water bodies

Ultimate purpose is to establish the most suitable water quality standard for individual bodies of water taking into consideration its unique features

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Pre 2010 standards Two recreational categories

Primary contact Non-contact

2010 water quality standard revisions 4 categories of water quality contact and standards

Primary contact recreation – 126 (colonies/100ml)

Secondary contact recreation 1 – 630 (colonies/100ml)

Secondary contact recreation2 – 1,030 (colonies/100ml)

Non-contact recreation – 2,060 (colonies/100ml)

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Primary contact recreation Recreation involving a significant risk of ingestion of

water

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Secondary contact recreation 1 Recreation with limited incidental body contact not

involving a significant risk of water ingestion

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Secondary contact recreation 2 Recreation activities with limited incidental body

contact not involving a significant risk of water ingestion but that occur less frequently than for secondary contact recreation 1 due to (a) physical characteristics of the water body and/or (b) limited public access

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Non-contact recreation Activities near a body of water not involving a significant

risk of water ingestion, and where primary and secondary contact recreation should not occur because of unsafe conditions

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Forty-four (44) sites were selected for the Attoyac Bayou comprehensive RUAA survey 36 sites : public access

1 public location, landowner retracted permission 8 sites : private property

Conducted during a warm season (temp >70°), during

dry weather flows Survey 1: July 20-22, 2012 Survey 2: August 24-25, 2012

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November 28, 1975 to the present day Historical societies, community members, museums,

government officials, newspapers, recreational service providers, as well as general internet searches regarding the watershed.

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East Texas Research Center – Ralph W. Steen Library Final Environmental Impact Statement: Attoyac Bayou

Watershed, 1980 “Recreational needs for the northern Nacogdoches County

towns of Garrison, Cushing, and Appleby are not being met because of an uneven distribution of the surface water and water-based recreational facilities…(p 38).”

Newspapers Austin American-Statesman, July 18, 2010

“Using the Old Noodle” The Houston Chronicle, December 12, 1997

“Tips on Finding Bass in the Cold” The Houston Chronicle, March 6, 2008

“Lone Star Anglers Can Cash in Big During the Spawning Season for White Bass”

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Online blogger and Nacogdoches resident documented canoeing the Attoyac

Photo courtesy of Roberta at: http://myadventuresinsanaugustine.blogspot.com/ 12

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Evidence collected during interviews confirm that swimming does occasionally occur within the watershed, primarily within the Attoyac Bayou. 2 State Game Wardens through direct observation Shelby County official through word of mouth Landowner confirmed swimming in Attoyac within past 10

years Also familiar with a swimming hole popular from 1970s – 1990s

near community of Black jack Another landowner confirmed swimming in Naconiche

(adults and children) from 1982-1999

State Game Wardens also confirm that noodling occurs periodically Areas between Highway 103 and 21 as well as Highway 7

112 interview forms were distributed through the mail 7 returned

Interviews also conducted by phone 35 formal interviews conducted Most common use attributed to fishing, hunting, and

agricultural use

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Primary contact recreation was infrequent, secondary and non-contact recreation are noted to occur more often.

Public access to water bodies is limited to public road crossings

Based on interviews and signs observed during field surveys, Attoyac 18 (Hwy 21), Attoyac 15 (Hwy 7), and Attoyac 7 (US 59) road crossings of the Attoyac Bayou appear to be the most publically accessed sites.

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Mounted on trees or existing structures in plain view of the public at the ten (10) Attoyac Bayou Watershed water quality monitoring sites.

Rotated on a weekly basis in order for each site to be monitored for an equal amount of time.

Captured multiple instances of secondary contact recreation

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Attoyac at Highway 7 (Attoyac 15)

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Attoyac at Highway 59 (Attoyac 7)

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Attoyac at FM 138 (Attoyac 12)

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Attoyac at Highway 21 (Attoyac 18)

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Naconiche at FM 95 (Naconiche 11)

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West at FM 2913 (West 6)

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Stream parameters Width,depth Flow status Air, water temperature Riparian zone categories Recreational Indicators Direct observation Secondary observation

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No recreational activities were directly observed at any of the 44 sites by SFASU and CES staff.

Potential indicators of recreation were present at multiple sites.

Naconiche at Cedar Bluff Road (CR 273)

Naconiche 8 Naconiche at Highway 59

(Naconiche 6) Attoyac at Highway 59

(Attoyac 7) 24

Attoyac Bayou Attoyac 4 (FM 1971), Survey 2: A crocheted blanket

spread out on the stream bank next to the bridge crossing with an animal carcass lying on top of it.

Attoyac 7 (US 59), Survey 1 & 2: Evidence of fishing as well as general loitering was observed in the form of bait containers, discarded fishing line, beer bottles/cans, soda cans, and plastic bags full of refuse. Observed on the bank during Survey 2 was the carcass of an alligator gar on a fish stringer.

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Attoyac 7 (US 59) 27

Attoyac 12 (FM 138), Survey 2: Human foot prints observed along the stream bank underneath the bridge crossing. Also present under the bridge crossing was graffiti.

Attoyac 15 (Hwy 7), Survey 2: Human foot prints were observed along the bank underneath the bridge crossing.

Attoyac 17 (CR 392), Survey 1: A trot line attached to a tree and stretched across the stream channel was present.

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Attoyac 12 (FM 138)

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Attoyac 15 (Hwy 7)

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Attoyac 17 (CR 392)

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Big Iron Ore Big Iron Ore 3 (FM 711), Survey 2: Boot prints were

observed along the stream bank.

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Big Iron Ore 3 (FM 711)

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Naconiche Creek Naconiche 6 (US 59), Survey 1 & 2: ATV tracks present

during both surveys underneath Farm to Market (FM) 2435 road crossing.

Naconiche 8 (Cedar Bluff Rd.), Survey 1 & 2: Bait net was present in the stream channel, and further downstream a defunct trotline/set hook was attached to a tree and hanging in the stream. A live bait container (worms) was present on the bank next to the public bridge crossing during Survey 2.

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Naconiche 6 (US 59),

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Naconiche 8 (Cedar Bluff Rd.)

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Terrapin Creek Terrapin 3 (Hwy 7), Survey 1: Animal trap present on

left bank, and further downstream a defunct wooden bridge was found across the stream.

Terrapin 4 (FM 95), Survey 2: Along the right stream bank, field staff observed a beech tree in which initials had been carved into the bark.

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Terrapin 3 (Hwy 7)

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Terrapin 4 (FM 95)

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West Creek West 6 (FM 2913), Survey 1: Hammock observed

attached to a tree located along the stream bank.

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West 6 (FM 2913)

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Attoyac 2 (CR 3122) Attoyac 8 (CR 294)

Attoyac 9 (Private) Naconiche 6 (Hwy 59) 42

Attoyac 6 (CR 4760) Attoyac 2 (CR 3122)

Naconiche 9 (CR 280) West 1 (CR 4054) 43

West 3 (FM 138) Naconiche 11 (FM 95)

Naconiche 10 (Private) Attoyac 6 (CR 4760)

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Attoyac 3 (CR 3181) Big Iron Ore 4 (Logging Road)

Waffelow 3 (FM 95) Attoyac 4 (FM 1971) 45

Rural nature and private land ownership

Woody debris, logjams, overgrown banks

Low flow in many areas Wildlife

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No recreation (primary or secondary) was directly observed during field work

Evidence of recreation was observed at ten (10) of the forty-three (43) survey sites All indicative of secondary or non contact recreation in

the form of fishing or bank-based activities. Game camera documentation of secondary recreation

at six(6) sites Interviews with landowners and community members

indicate sporadic incidences of primary contact recreation Fishing and hunting most common

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Questions?

Sarah Fuller, Graduate Research Assistant,

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture fullersa@titan.sfasu.edu

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