Presented at the 9th Stakeholder Meeting

Mike Herrmann,

NCEEP Central Watershed Planner

April 20th, 2010

Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) Intake Stessor Follow-up Study

Preliminary Findings (Phase I)

• High bacteria levels at Cherryville’s drinking water intake are concerning and potential sources for this contamination need to be identified

Key Preliminary Findings (Phase I)

Other potential pollution water quality stressors

Study GoalThe study is being conducted to better understand possible water quality stressors, and watersheds from which these stressors originate, to the drinking water intake at Cherryville.

Intake Stressor Study Assessments

Study Methods

Sampling parameters taken by NC DWQ.

-Dissolved oxygen (DO) -Ammonia nitrogen (NH3)

-pH -Nitrite (NO2) + nitrate (NO3)

-Specific conductance -Total phosphorus

-Fecal coliform bacteria -Total suspended solids (TSS)

-Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) -Metals

-Turbidity

Capture 3 baseflow monitoring events and up to 2 stormflow events at 7 sites upstream of the Cherryville water intake.

Study Methods

2

8

4

5

39

6

7

Beam Farm Footprint (generalized)

Mill Creek

Ind

ian C

reek

1 (Intake Site)

Study Results

Mill Creek (6%

)

Ind

ian C

reek (82%)

UT Mill

(8%

)

Mill CreekBeam Farm (16%)

Drinking Water IntakeWatershed Area 40 mi2

Contributing Area

2

4

5

31

Study ResultsAmmonia

0.000

0.010

0.020

0.030

0.040

0.050

0.060

UT Mill CrSR1158

Mill Cr SR1158 Mill Cr SR1168 Indian CrSR1168

Indian CrCherryville Intake

Location

mg

/l

Fecal Coliform

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

UT Mill CrSR1158

Mill Cr SR1158 Mill Cr SR1168 Indian CrSR1168

Indian CrCherryville

Intake

Location

Co

ncen

trati

on

s (

cfu

/100 m

l)

NO2 + NO3

0.000.100.200.300.400.500.600.700.800.901.00

UT Mill CrSR1158

Mill Cr SR1158 Mill Cr SR1168 Indian Cr SR1168 Indian CrCherryville Intake

Location

mg

/l

Ind

ian C

reek

Mill Creek

2

4

5

31 (Intake

Site)

245 3 1

Turbidity

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

UT Mill CrSR1158

Mill Cr SR1158 Mill Cr SR1168 Indian CrSR1168

Indian CrCherryville

Intake

Location

NT

U

Select Parameter Results at baseflow

Study Discussion

Ind

ian C

reek

Mill Creek

2

4

5

3

1

In Summary…

• Indicators of stress vary in the watersheds• Indian Creek (Sediment, Turbidity, NO2 + NO3)

• Mill Creek (Cattle, Nutrients)

• Mill Creek Stressors appear to be more directly related land use in the lower portion of its watershed

• Due to its greater size, Indian Creek is contributing a larger volume of nutrients and sediment to the intake

• Both Mill and Indian Creeks contribute to water quality stress at Cherryville’s drinking water intake.

• Improvement activities (e.g., stream and wetland restoration, ag BMPs,…etc.) are needed in both watersheds to reduce water quality stress at the intake.

Mill Creek - Stream Preservation

Preservation Site P-43 on Mill Creek (Subwatershed I-11).