Summary of 2010 Kentucky River Watershed Watch Sampling Results - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Summary of 2010 Kentucky River Watershed Watch Sampling Results

What and when? Herbicides (Atrazine and 2,4-D) 23 sites in May Pathogens 168 sites in mid-July 103 sites in late July Chemicals/Nutrients/Metals 26 sites in September

Total # of KRWW Sites Sampled by Year Stabilizing at around 200? 300 248 231 250 207 202 197 189 200 176 166 # of Sites 157 155 150 115 87 100 50 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Where? ?

Field Chemistry Dissolved Oxygen – Aquatic Life Standard = 5 mg/L – 22% of stations had readings < 5 mg/L pH – Aquatic Life Standard = 6 to 9 – NO readings < 6 Temperature – None greater than Aquatic Life Std. of 31.7 ° C – Some in lakes and Ky River were close!

Herbicides Triazines  Highly persistent in soil, EPA Standards only Drinking Water Standard=3.0 micrograms/L Acute Aquatic Life Standard = 350 micrograms/L Chronic Aquatic Life Standard = 12 micrograms/L 2,4-D Common herbicide to control broadleaf weeds EPA Drinking Water Standard (MCL) = 70 ppb

Atrazine detected at 4 sites in Fayette and Madison Counties:

Pathogens (E coli)  Can indicate presence of other pathogens that may cause illness or infections in people.  Sources include failing septic systems, straightpipes, leaking sewage lines, livestock  Can reduce pathogens by maintaining septic systems, repairing sewer line leaks, increasing municipal sewerage, fencing livestock from waterways, and maintaining riparian buffers

E. coli Water Quality Standards  Swimming Standard = 240 cfu/100 ml (instantaneous)  Swimming Standard = 130 cfu/100ml (geometric mean of at least 5 samples in 30 days)  Standards apply during Recreation Season from May 1 to October 31

Pathogen Sampling Results SYNOPTIC EVENT (mid-July) 71% (119/168) of sites exceeded instantaneous swimming standard FOLLOW-UP EVENT (late July) 80% (82/103) of sites exceeded instantaneous swimming standard

Percentage of KRWW Sites Exceeding Safe Swimming Standard for Pathogens 100 90 80 70 60 % of Synoptic 50 Sites 40 % of Follow-Up 30 Sites 20 10 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fall Sampling Event – Nutrients, Chemistry and Metals NUTRIENTS • Nitrogen (total nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen) • Phosphorus (total phosphorus) • Sulfur (sulfate)  Lead to algal blooms, which consume oxygen as they decompose  bad for aquatic life  Taste and odor problems in drinking water  High nitrates can cause “Blue baby” disease (or methemoglobinemia)

Adding insult to injury…

Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO 3 -N) Drinking Water Supply Std. = 10 mg/L Aquatic Life Benchmark = 3.9 mg/L No Nitrate-Nitrogen results > 10 mg/L or 3.9 mg/L Highest reading = 3.3 mg/L at K350/#1069 at Hickman Creek, Fayette County * Fewer sites sampled, mainly only new sites

Total Phosphorus Phosphorus is part of photosynthesis cycle, allowing plants to convert CO 2 to oxygen. Higher than average natural levels of phosphorus in bedrock & soils of Central Kentucky. Aquatic Life Benchmark = 0.3 mg/L 7 2010 Results > 0.3 mg/L Highest reading = 0.44 mg/L at #3004 at Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County 2 nd Highest reading = at K350/#1069 at Hickman Creek, Fayette County

Sulfate (SO 4 ) Can be picked up as groundwater moves through sulfate-containing minerals in bedrock. Drinking water with high sulfate levels can cause diarrhea & dehydration in people and animals. Drinking Water Supply Std. = 250 mg/L No 2010 Sulfate results > 250 mg/L Highest reading of 208 mg/L at #2929 at Calloway Creek, Madison County

Chlorides Chlorine + Metals = Chloride Salts • Drinking Water Supply Std = 250 mg/L • Chronic Aquatic Life Std = 600 mg/L • Acute Aquatic Life Std = 1,200 mg/L 1 reading > 267 mg/L at #3019 at Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County

Conductivity Measure of total dissolved solids or ability of water to carry an electrical current. • Levels directly affect aquatic life support (negative impacts observed at 300-500) • Can serve as indicator of sewage input • Ohio River Std = 800 micromhos/cm • EPA’s proposed Central Appalachia Std = 300 micromos/cm 5 2010 results > 800 micromhos/cm

High (Lab) Conductivity Sites K054 / #793 – 902 micromhos/cm McConnell Springs, Fayette County K307 / #1028 – 899 micromhos/cm Wolf Run, Fayette County #2929 – 1098 micromhos/cm Calloway Creek, Madison County #2977 – 914 micromhos/cm Cove Spring, Boyle/Mercer County #3019 – 1,500 micromhos/cm Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County

Metals Summary 28 metals analyzed at lab 0 detections for 13 of these 28 metals 14 of the 28 metals  associated water quality criteria When no detection of metal, result entered as ½ of MDL (minimum detection level) ½ MDL of Cadmium, Lead, Thallium > Water Quality Standard – NO violation

Metals with Water Quality Criteria Antimony – no detections Arsenic – no detections Barium – no water quality standard violations Beryllium – no detections Cadmium – no detections Chromium – no detections Copper – 2 sites > chronic AL (#1139 and #3019) Iron – 9 sites > DWS, 3 sites > chronic AL Lead – no detections Nickel – no water quality standard violations Selenium – no detections Silver – no detections Thallium – no detections Zinc – no water quality standard violations

2010 Sites of Concern K005 (#744)—Cane Run, Scott County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) K072 (#811)—Steele’s Branch, Fayette County (field conductivity, phosphorus) K264 (#990) - Unnamed tributary, Madison County (field conductivity, pathogens) K307 (#1028) - Wolf Run, Fayette County (field conductivity, pathogens) K350 (1069) - Hickman Creek, Fayette County (field conductivity, phosphorus)

2010 Sites of Concern K606 (#1270) - Unnamed Tributary, Lincoln County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) K643 (#1307) - Jessamine Creek, Jessamine County (field dissolved oxygen, pathogens) 2976—Mocks Creek, Boyle County (field dissolved oxygen/conductivity, pathogens) 2993—West Hickman Creek, Fayette County (pathogens, phosphorus) 3004, 3019– Vaughn’s Branch, Fayette County (field conductivity, pathogens, phosphorus)

Sites of Concern for Pathogens K184, K464, K466, K468, K471, K517 - Wolf Run, Fayette County (includes Springs Branch and Vaughn’s Branch) K309 (#1030) - McKecknie Creek, Garrard County

Questions & Discussion Anyone present have a 2010 Site of Concern? Is there any local watershed activity addressing the concerns? Other questions about sampling results and their meanings?

Recent Developments • TMDL Reports – Submitted to KYDOW • South Elkhorn Pathogen TMDL • Cane Run Pathogen TMDL – Schedule to be completed by 6/30/2011 • Town Branch/Wolf Run TP TMDL • Cane Run TP TMDL • Eagle Creek Pathogen TMDL • UK EPA Center of Excellence for Watershed Mgmt. – Approved by EPA (Fall 2010) – Official Launch (Spring 2011) • KWRRI Annual Meeting (March 21, 2011)