Our Local Streams,Bolin & Morgan Creeks

Can We Heal Our Local Waterways?

Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner

February 11, 2012

Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies

Can We Heal Our Local Waterways?

Rob Breeding, Eastern Watershed Planner

February 11, 2012

Little Creek WARP & Morgan Creek LWP Studies

Stream Assessment forWARP

GOALS• Determine the best methods

for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions

• Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds

• Identify sources

Stream Assessment forWARP

GOALS• Determine the best methods

for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions

• Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds

• Identify sources

Stream Assessment forWARP

GOALS• Determine the best methods

for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions

• Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds

• Identify sources

Stream Assessment forWARP

GOALS• Determine the best methods

for assessing the health of NC streams and aquatic habitat conditions

• Identify water quality and habitat stressors in Bolin & Booker Creek watersheds

• Identify sources

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Water Quality Assessment

METHODS• Biological Sampling

– Insects

– Fish

– Algae

• Water Quality Sampling

– General Parameters

– Nutrients

– Toxicity

Insect Sampling

INDICATOR GROUPS

• Mayflies

• Stoneflies

• Caddisflies

• Midges

Insect Sampling

• Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary

• Detailed interpretation can suggest likely stressors

• Potential for long-term water quality trend assessment

What We Found…

What Else We Found…

Fish Sampling

INDICATOR GROUPS

• Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species

• Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores

Johnny Darter

Fish Sampling

INDICATOR GROUPS

• Tolerant, intermediate and intolerant species

• Insectivores, piscivores and omnivores

Redfin Pickerel

White Shiner

Fish Sampling

• Diagnostic for all instream ecosystem functions for a reach or tributary

• Detailed interpretation can suggest stressors and can indicate post-project improvement

• Potential for trend assessment

What We Found…

• Piscivores present

• Omnivores present in moderate numbers

• Insectivores predominant at all sampling sites

Water Quality Sampling

METHODS• Collect field samples

• Analyze in laboratory

• Compare concentrations to benchmarks and references

Water Quality Sampling

METHODS• Storm water &

baseflow

• Wide array of chemicals and classes

Water Quality Sampling

• Directly measures inputs from surrounding land use

• Detailed interpretation can help explain biological condition

• Used to support model development

• Potential for long-term trend analysis

What We Found…

• Dissolved Oxygen—slightly worse in lower Bolin but not a smoking gun

• Nutrients—Nitrogen and Phosphorus OK

• Some Metals—Copper of concern in few storm samples; iron, manganese, & aluminum high but likely background “noise”

• Some Pesticides—Atrazine & DDT at low levels

Toxicity Testing

• Multitaxa toxicity screening of water diagnoses problems difficult to address with traditional restoration projects

• Sediment testing can show long-term or historic issues

• Tox testing helps explain poor bio community condition

• Done in conjunction with other water quality sampling

The Morgan Creek LWP

GOALS• Characterize the health of

the streams and aquatic habitat conditions

• Identify water quality and habitat stressors in subwatersheds

• Inform the management recommendation process

• Field Assessment• Land use• Water Quality• Riparian Buffer• Stream Stability• Aquatic Habitat• Typical Stream Measurements • Other site characteristics

Riparian Assessments

Riparian Assessment Results• Assessments and Project Yield

• 40+ reaches assessed• 21 potential restoration and/or

enhancement projects in Bolin• 5 potential restoration reaches in

Little Creek

• Observations• Bank erosion• Lack of woody buffer• Channel modification• Sedimentation• Degraded aquatic habitat• Utility crossings

More Recent Information…

• Carrboro sponsors Benthic Macroinvertebrate sampling annually—data suggests possible declines in developing areas

• EarthTech Stormwater Retrofit Study

• Division of Water Quality Basinwide Assessment & Basin Plan

What the Future Holds…

• ?????

• Continued Aquatic Insect Community Sampling

• Continued DWQ Basinwide Assessment and Planning

• DWQ Restoration Watershed Support

Find Out More…

http://www.nceep.net/services/lwps/Morgan_Creek/Morgan.pdf

http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/swp/ws/pdu/wat/warp

Our Local Streams,Bolin & Morgan Creeks

Questions?