2008 Kentucky River Watershed Watch Results

What and when?   Herbicides in the Spring – –18 samples in May   Pathogens in the Summer – –169 Synoptic samples in late June – –51 Follow-Up samples in Late July   Chemicals & Nutrients in the Fall – –116 samples in September   Metals in the Fall – –46 samples in September

Where?   197 sites throughout Kentucky River Basin   Mainly in Central Basin and North Fork Region   Poor site coverage in South and Middle Forks of Kentucky River, as well as Lower Kentucky Region

HERBICIDES

HERBICIDES Why monitored? – –Potentially harmful to aquatic life and humans through drinking water Where are they coming from? – –Runoff from agricultural and residential application How can we minimize their presence in our waterways? – –Apply only as absolutely necessary, follow application instructions. – –Maintain vegetation around and along waterbodies – –Use recommended agricultural erosion control practices. – –Properly dispose of herbicide containers (collection programs) – –Do not dump leftover herbicide on ground, down sink, or down stormwater drains.

2008 Herbicide Parameter Sampled for 1 Herbicide in Spring 2008 – –most likely time of year for herbicide application Triazines – –highly persistent in soil – –EPA standard of 3.0 micrograms /L for drinking water – –350 micrograms/L for acute aquatic life criteria – –12 micrograms/L for chronic aquatic life criteria

Herbicide Results Triazines detected at 2 sites, but neither exceeded water quality standards K603 - Dry Run (0.21 ug/L) K605 – Elkhorn Creek (0.17 ug/L)

K603 Elkhorn Creek (K605)

PATHOGENS

E. COLI Why monitored? – –Can indicate presence of other pathogens that may cause illness or infections in people. Where are they coming from? – –Failing septic systems, straightpipes, leaking sewage lines – –Inadequately treated discharge from municipal sewage plants – –Livestock (runoff from pasture or direct access to waterbody) How can we minimize their presence in our waterways? – –Properly maintain septic systems. – –Increase access to sewer systems. – –Install fencing to keep livestock out of waterways. – –Maintain vegetated buffers around waterbodies.

Pathogen Parameters E. Coli – –Swimming Standard of 240 cfu/100 ml (instantaneous) – –Swimming Standard of 130 cfu/100ml (geometric mean of at least 5 samples in 30 days) – –Standards apply during Recreation Season from May 1 to October 31

Synoptic Pathogen Results (E. coli) 43% > Swimming Standard

2006 Synoptic Pathogen Sampling Results > 5,000 cfu/100 ml Synoptic Pathogen Sampling Sites > 5,000 cfu/100 ml

Follow-Up Pathogen Results 78% > Swimming Standard

2007 Follow-Up Pathogen Sampling Sites > 5,000 cfu/100 ml

NUTRIENTS

NUTRIENTS Why monitored? – – Lead to algal blooms, which consume oxygen as they decompose  bad for aquatic life – – Cause taste and odor problems in drinking water – –Can cause “Blue baby” disease (or methemoglobinemia) Where are they coming from? – – agricultural and residential fertilizer application – – sewage and manure runoff How can we minimize their presence in our waterways? – – Only apply fertilizers as necessary – – Properly maintain septic systems – – Use recommended erosion control measures – – Keep livestock out of waterways, properly manage manure – – Maintain vegetated buffers around waterbodies

Nutrient Parameters Nitrate (NO3-N) – – Drinking Water Supply Std. = 10 mg/L Total Phosphorus – – Unofficial KRWW Aquatic Life Std. = 0.5 mg/L Sulfate – – Drinking Water Supply Std. = 250 mg/L

Nitrogen Cycle

Plant Protein Nitrogen Nitrates NO 3 Animal Protein Nitrogen Nitrites NO 2 Ammonia NH 3 Atmospheric Nitrogen N 2 Fecal Matter Urine /Urea

Nitrate Results > 10 mg/L

Phosphorus Cycle

Cells of Phytoplankton Cells of Zooplankton Inorganic Phosphate Particulate organic phosphorus Sediment Higher Life Forms Dissolved organic phosphorus Ortho- Phosphate

2006 High Phosphorus Sites 2007 High Phosphate Sites

2006 High Sulfate Sites 2007 High Sulfate Sites

HEAVY METALS

Why monitored? – –High levels can be toxic to aquatic life or humans through drinking water – –Can interfere with industrial water uses Where are they coming from? – – Mining – – Industrial discharges – – Stormwater runoff from roads and parking lots How can we minimize their presence in our waterways? – –Comply with discharge permit conditions – –Use erosion control measures at mining sites and other construction sites – –Use stormwater management practices - install retention ponds, vegetated filter strips around parking lots and along roads

Metal Parameters (28)   Aluminum   Antimony   Arsenic   Barium   Beryllium   Boron   Cadmium   Calcium   Chromium   Cobalt   Copper   Gold   Iron   Lead   Lithium   Magnesium   Manganese   Nickel   Potassium   Selenium   Silicon   Silver   Sodium   Strontium   Thallium   Tin   Vanadium   Zinc * Strikethrough = no detections

Metal Parameters with Standards (14) Detections * Barium * Copper * Iron * Nickel * Zinc No Detections * Antimony * Arsenic * Beryllium * Cadmium * Chromium * Lead * Selenium * Silver * Thallium

Metals with Standards AND Detections (5) MetalsWater Quality Standards Greatest 2008 Result BariumDWS < 1.0 mg/LUT of Neal’s Cr, K606 = 0.11 CopperWAH < mg/L DWS < 1.3 mg/L UT of Springs Branch K459 = 0.05 IronWAH < 1.0 mg/LUT of Neal’s Creek, K606 = 5.05 NickelWAH < mg/LQuicksand Cr. K214 = ZincWAH < mg/LUT of Springs Branch K459 = 0.74

2007 High Metals Sites

2008 Sites of Concern OVERALL WATER QUALITY: K082 – North Fork Ky. River, Perry Co. pathogens, sulfate, metals (iron/zinc) K216 – Lost Creek, Breathitt Co. pathogens, sulfate K585 – Rockhouse Creek, Letcher Co. pathogens, sulfate K606 – Unnamed Trib of Neals Creek, Lincoln Co. Pathogens, nutrients, metals (iron/zinc)

2008 Sites of Concern NUTRIENTS: K026 – South Elkhorn Creek, Scott Co. (also listed in 2007 for nutrients) K191 – Otter Creek, Madison Co. (also listed in 2007 for pathogens and nutrients)

2008 Sites of Concern PATHOGENS: K264 – Unnamed Tributary of Shallowford Creek, Madison Co. (also listed in 2007 for pathogens) K300 – Hickman Creek, Fayette Co. K517 – Spring Branch, Fayette Co.

METALS / SULFATE: K214 – South Fork of Quicksand Creek, Breathitt Co Sites of Concern

2006 KRWW Sites of Concern 2007 Sites of Concern

Applying Your Data  Annual Sampling Report –Kentucky River Authority –Kentucky Division of Water  Long Term Trend Reports –5 Year Report –10 Year Report  KRWW Web Site –

KRWW ONLINE DATABASE  Zoom in past 1:500,000 to see site ID labels  Click on site or sites to see all historical data  Use “Area Tool” to zoom to single site or group of sites  Use “Measure Tool” to find distance between 2 points  Use “Zoom to a Location” to zoom to a selected location (county, road intersections, stream extents, etc.)

Applying Your Data  Citizen Action Plans –Clark’s Run –Glenn’s Creek –Mallard Point Lake –Millers Creek –Muddy Creek –South Elkhorn Creek –West Hickman Creek  Presentations to Government Officials  KRA Watershed Grants (Up to $3000)

Kentucky River Authority Watershed Grant Program Grant offerings of up to $3,000 for watershed education, sampling, assessment, restoration projects Applicants must be nonprofit organization, school, or local government Applications will be accepted again in Fall ’09

Applying Your Data  319 Projects –Ten Mile Creek  Public Participation in TMDL Projects –Eagle Creek  Pathogens –South Elkhorn Creek –Cane Run –Clark’s Run  Pathogens, Nutrients

Eagle Creek Pathogen Sampling

Questions & Discussion  Anyone present have a 2008 Site of Concern? Is there any local watershed activity addressing the concerns?  Other questions about sampling results and their meaning?  KDOW progress with updating Watershed Watch database?