|
|
Coneross Creek and Beaverdam Creek TMDL Implementation Project
| Name | Morris B. Warner | | Situation | Fecal coliform, a bacterium, associated with the feces of warm-blooded animals, has been identified as the major impairment in Coneross and Beaverdam Creek Watersheds. A 2-year, $500K, grant was awarded to Clemson University in December 2002. The project "Coneross Creek and Beaverdam Creek TMDL Implementation Project" was initiated to reduce the loading of both water sheds by fecal coliform. A partnership between Clemson University, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oconee Soil and Water Conservation District and Oconee Cattlemen's Association was formed to address the issues within these watersheds.
Coneross Creek is the largest watershed (47,016 acres) with varied land uses. The land use is comprised of 50% forested, 39% agriculture, 10% urban. Assessment studies indicate sources of fecal coliform include failing septic systems and uncontrolled discharges, land application of poultry litter, cattle in streams and wildlife. The TMDL for Coneross Creek watershed is 5.73 x 10 12. Current loading of fecal coliform was 8.61 x 1012, requiring a reduction in fecal coliform loading estimated at 2.88 x 1012 or a 33.4% reduction.
Beaverdam Creek Watershed is comprised of Beaverdam Creek and Mud Creek and their tributaries. Drainage area of the watershed is 9096 acres. Land use is comprised of 30% forested, 69% agriculture, and 1% other. Assessment studies indicate that the majority of fecal coliform NPS are from agricultural activities including runoff from pastures, improper land application of animal waste and animals having access to creeks and streams. Additionally, rural residents depend on septic systems for human
waste disposal. Many of these systems, particularly those that were improperly installed or have been poorly maintained, may also be a source of fecal coliform. The TMDL for Beaverdam Creek watershed is 1.12 x 1011. The current loading was 2.41 x 1011, requiring a reduction in fecal coliform loading estimated at 1.06 x 1011 or a 54% reduction. | | Response | The Coneross Creek and Beaverdam Creek TMDL Implementation Project was initiated in December 2002. The objectives of the project were: 1) Agricultural: Development of a farm plans and implementation of Best Management Practices will reduce fecal coliform loading from livestock operations. 2) Urban: Implementation of practices outlined in Home-A-Syst will reduce fecal coliform loading by urban and rural residential sources. The project was originally funded at $500,126 as a two-year project. It was amended in 2004 to add an additional $116,000 bringing the total Section 319 funding to $616,126.00. In addition, the project
partners were able to secure another $100,000 of funding through the USDA-NRCS to be used to fund agricultural practices bringing the total project to $716,126.00. In the fall of 2004, the project was extended for an additional year at no cost to allow time to get BMP projects installed. | | Impact | As a result of this project, a total of 78 agricultural BMPs on 16 farms were utilized at a total value of $726,075.22. Additionally, 38 rural septic systems have been repaired at a total value of $71,738.34. Agricultural producers have been very pleased with the practices installed. In many cases these practices have not only benefited
water quality, but complimented the particular livestock operation
and enabled them to move forward with their business plans.
Alexander Farms, for example, installed a composter to compost poultry litter coming from the 18 poultry houses located at the facility. In addition to being a major poultry producer within the county, Alexander Farms in also a major supplier of mulch to the local and regional landscape industry. By installing the composter, the farm can now offer compost as a product line. As a result, the farm marketed over 60 tractor trailer loads of compost last year that moved outside the watershed. The farm has also installed another facility to further compost poultry litter utilizing a forced air system to assist with reducing the odor of the litter making it more acceptable to the landscape industry as a soil amendment and mulching product.
Werner Christiansen participated in the project to fence his goats out of the creek. The benefit to his operation was the installation of additional cross-fencing that enables him to better manage the forage and increase the forage utilization on his farm. His operation was located immediately adjacent to a stream. By requiring a setback from the stream, animals no longer have access to the stream.
The Swafford Farm has multiple livestock enterprises including cattle and poultry. A stream flows through the farm just behind the poultry houses and splitting thepastureland. The addition of a waste stacking shed should reduce fecal coliform entering the stream, because it provides a place to store the litter until weather permit the application of the litter to the land. Additionally, the cattle were fenced out of the stream and a well and watering system were installed for the cattle, further reducing the fecal coliform loading of that stream. Previous to the installation of the well and watering system, the Swafford Farm was dependent on the rural water system and the creek for its water supply. By strategic placement of the well using the latest geological information through DNR, Mr. Swafford's well came in at a whopping 60+ gallons a minute. Previous to this Mr. Swafford had attempted to drill wells for his water unsuccessfully drilling two dry holes in other areas of the farm.
The Hendrix Farm installed a number of practices designed to get cattle out of the creek and pond including fencing cattle out of the pond and installing a watering gap to limit access to the pond, fencing cattle out of the creek, drilling a well and installing watering facilities for the cattle. To Mrs. Hendrix surprise, once cattle had a fresh supply of water, they no longer go to the creek or pond to get water. The cattle grazing patterns are now more distributed across the pasture rather than being concentrated closer to the creek or pond. She expects to see increased performance of the cattle from the increased grazing efficiency alone. Additionally, she is considering installing more tanks on her own to further distribute the grazing patterns.
This project has benefited many growers across the watersheds in ways that they initially had not imagined. Additionally, it has provided for the installation of practices that should greatly reduce the fecal coliform loading of the watersheds.
Rural residents repaired 38 failing systems. This compares favorably to the initial estimate in the TMDL, by the SC DHEC Appalachia District I, of 57 potentially failing systems.
Even though the requirements of participation were not based on economic status, many of the participants would not have repaired their septic systems without this assistance.
Breakdown by watersheds shows the installation of practices is as one would expect for the respective watersheds. The Coneross Creek watershed comprised 84% of the land area and Beaverdam Creek watershed comprised 16% of the land area of the total project. However, Coneross has a great rural population and Beaverdam has a larger agricultural component. The table below shows the installation of BMPs by watershed.
Type of Practice Coneross Beaverdam
Agricultural 49 (63%) 29 (37%)
Rural Residential 34 (89%) 4 (11%)
Totals 83 (72%) 33 (28%)
Dollars(Cost Share$) 249,758 (55%) 206,668 (45%)
In addition to these interesting facts, preliminary sample data collected by the SC DHEC water quality monitoring program indicate that water quality monitoring sites SV-333 and SV-004 in Coneross Creek watershed and SV-345 in the Beaverdam Creek watershed are now meeting standard. Therefore, the necessary reduction in fecal coliform loading must have occurred. |
Last update4/7/2008
This website is maintained by D Jason Caudill.
|
