Campbell County Conservation District

Campbell CountyWater Quality Program

NE WY BAG Meeting May 27, 2009

CD Role in Water Quality

• WY Statute 11-16-103 (b)– (b) state legislature policy to provide for soil and water

conservation

• WY Statute 11 16 122 (b)(v)(xvi)(xvii)• WY Statute 11-16-122 (b)(v)(xvi)(xvii)– (b)grants CDs and supervisors authority to (v) conduct surveys,

investigations and research and disseminate information relatinginvestigations and research and disseminate information relating to soil and water conservation (xvi) develop plans for the conservation and development of water (xvii) make the plans and information public and bring to the attention of the ownersand information public and bring to the attention of the owners and occupiers of land within the districts

Impairments specific to Campbell County

• Donkey Creek, Stonepile Creek– Table A of 303(d) Li t f F l C lif Chl id303(d) List for Fecal Coliform, Chloride, AmmoniaLi l P d Ri Middl P f Wild• Little Powder River, Middle Prong of Wild Horse Creek - Table A of 303(d) List for F l C lifFecal Coliform

• Gillette Fishing Lake – Table A of 303(d) List for Sedimentation & Phosphate

Types of Water Pollution

POINT SOURCES ifi i f

NON-POINT SOURCENo specific entr point• Specific point of entry

(Pipe)• Regulated by WYDEQ

• No specific entry point• Not easily regulated• Includes entire watershed• Regulated by WYDEQ

and WY Pollutant Discharge Elimination S ( S)

• Transported by surface run-off– Bacteria

NutrientsSystem (WYPDES) Program

• Requires discharge

– Nutrients– Sediment– Others • Requires discharge

permit Addressed locally using voluntary incentives

NutrientsE i t i t l d t i t l bl• Excessive nutrients may lead to environmental problems

• Anoxia (depletion of oxygen in water)• Toxic algal bloomsToxic algal blooms• Growth of other nuisance algae and plant life

• Nitrates• End product of decomposition of organic material• Run-off containing animal wastes and fertilizers

• Phosphorous• Soil erosion and sediment transport

i di h• Point source discharges• Run-off containing animal wastes, fertilizers, and detergents

Sediment/TurbiditySediment/Turbidity• Impairs aquatic habitat and impacts fish

d tireproduction• May lead to increased water temperature

L di l d– Lowers dissolved oxygen– Decreases aquatic organism diversity

• Ma be correlated to other poll tants• Maybe correlated to other pollutants– Animal waste

Bacteria– Bacteria– Nutrients

• Enters through direct stream bank erosion and run-• Enters through direct stream bank erosion and run-off and/or return flows carrying eroded material

Water Temperature

• Diurnal and seasonal fluctuationsC ld t b t 5– Coldest about 5 am

– Warmest between 5 & 6 pmAff t th di t ib ti d i l f• Affects growth, distribution, and survival of aquatic organismsR l t d t t tit d t b k• Related to water quantity and stream bank cover

• Affected by turbidity/sedimentation, shading (or l k f) t tit d t t flack of), water quantity, and temperature of return flows and other inputs

Fecal Coliform BacteriaFecal Coliform Bacteria• Regulatory and human health concern• Present in digestive tracts of warm blooded animals• Indicates contamination of fecal material• Used as an indicator of other potentially harmful

pathogens and associated health risks– Increased ear and other infections– Diarrhea

• Enters waterway through- Direct input from animals (wildlife or livestock)

R ff i i l- Run-off carrying animal waste- Discharge of runoff containing human waste

MONITORINGMONITORING BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

• Started monitoring in 2002 on 11 waterbodies

• 4 waterbodies listed as impaired4 waterbodies listed as impaired• Narrowed sampling to impaired waters in

h h2005 through current• Currently sampling 19 total sitesCurrently sampling 19 total sites

Results of Assessments LittleResults of Assessments – Little Powder RiverPowder River

• Through 2007 Data:– Increased magnesium & chloride detected,

DEQ determined naturally occurringQ y g– Bacteria concerns from both the regulatory

and human health standpointsand human health standpoints

Results of Assessments – Donkey & Stonepile Creeks, Middle P f Wild H C kProng of Wild Horse Creek

• Through 2007 Data:– Bacteria concerns from both the regulatoryBacteria concerns from both the regulatory

and the human health standpointsChloride & ammonia added to list as concerns– Chloride & ammonia added to list as concerns for Donkey and Stonepile CreeksEl d i l l h l b– Elevated nutrient levels have also been observed

• Does not surpass DEQ standards currently

Sources of Fecal ColiformSources of Fecal Coliform BacteriaBacteria

Direct or indirect discharge of waste from wildlife, livestock, and humans

F dl /C l Faulty Septic SystemsFeedlots/Corrals

NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUESNATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES• Overgrazing, year-round use;g g y

overuse of resources• Erosion• Surface water runoff• Stocking rates• Livestock access• Livestock access • Flood issues • Lack of manure management• Effects on wildlife and water

qualitySeptic S stem Maintenance• Septic System Maintenance

• Water Well Maintenance

Erosion

Year-round use

C tiCompaction

Surface water runoff

Placement

Animal health

Water qualityWater quality

I t f tImproper storage of wastes

BMP IMPLEMENTATION

Manure piles like the one above can be safely stored. The twocan be safely stored. The two structures at right are options.

Heavy use areas, rock paddocks

Livestock exclusion

Livestock exclusionves oc e c us o

off-stream watering or limited access

Native tree and shrub establishment

Addressing ConcernsAddressing Concerns• Watershed plans

– 2005 – GFL approved, 2007 Donkey/Stonepile Creeks and Little Powder River approvedP bli– Public process

• Rules and Regulations (Septic & AFO)P hi i h Ci C L d/H• Partnerships with City, County, Land/Homeowners essential

• Watershed Improvement Programs• Watershed Improvement Programs- Voluntary

Incentive Based- Incentive-Based

Rules and Regulations:Animal Feeding Operations

D f fi d b d• Days of confinement and bare ground• Discharge potential into surface waterg p• EPA discharge permits for large AFOs• Voluntary programs targeted by EPA for

small AFOs

Rules and Regulations:Rules and Regulations: Septic SystemsSeptic Systems

• Soil percolation rates• Minimum distances to

– Surface waters– Water wells– Ground surfaceGround surface– Seasonal High Groundwater

• At least 4 feet from bottom• At least 4 feet from bottom• Not the same as the current groundwater level

URBAN BMPs

• Working with City of Gillette on updated Stormwater Master Plan & implementing BMPs in watershed planp

• Educating citizens on non-point source poll tion & effects on ater q alitpollution & effects on water quality

WATERSHED INVESTMENT

• Donkey/Stonepile Creek & Gillette

CONTRIBUTORSCCCDCreek & Gillette

Fishing LakeLocal: $157 914 65

CCCDCity of Gillette

– Local: $157,914.65– State: $130,953.55– Federal: $299 047 01

CC CommissionersWDAFederal: $299,047.01

– Private: $105,503– TOTAL:

WDOTDEQ/EPATOTAL:

$693,418.21DEQ/EPALand & Homeowners

WATERSHED INVESTMENT

• Little Powder River & M Prong of Wild

CONTRIBUTORS& M. Prong of Wild Horse Creek

Local: $146 248 61

CCCDCC Commissioners– Local: $146,248.61

– State: $15,134.95– Federal: $647 184

WDADEQ/EPAFederal: $647,184

– Private: $292,798– TOTAL:

DEQ/EPANRCS

TOTAL: $1,101,365.56 Land & Homeowners

What can the individual landownerWhat can the individual landowner do?do?

• Grazing Management• Fencing• Stockwater DevelopmentStockwater Development• Buffer Strips

M i t i ti t• Maintain septic system• Urban non-point source pollution

prevention

TMDL DEVELOPMENT

• REQUIRED BY EPA, even w/watershed plan• Require allocations & load reduction

responsibility be assigned• Start with waters listed in 1996 & move forward

with developmentp• GFL – completion 2009• Donkey/Stonepile Creeks completion late 2010• Donkey/Stonepile Creeks – completion late 2010

Contact InformationCAMPBELL COUNTY CONSERVATION

DISTRICTMICHELLE COOK DISTRICT MANAGERMICHELLE COOK, DISTRICT MANAGER

601 4J CT STE D601 4J CT, STE D

Gillette, WY 82716Gillette, WY 82716

E-MAIL: icd@vcn.com

PHONE: 307-682-1824

WEBSITE d tWEBSITE: www.cccdwy.net