Summer Meeting

July 28-30, 2014

Virginia DEQ/DCR Office in Abingdon, Virginia

MEETING SUMMARY

July 28, 2014 –

I. Clinch River Canoe Trip – Cleveland, VA to Carterton, VA

The canoe trip allowed meeting participants to view and discuss multiple conditions/issues on

the Clinch including recreational development/water quality and built environment issues

around the town of Cleveland, mussel augmentation and water quality research at TNC’s

Cleveland Island Preserve, and the influence of mining and the AEP plant near the Dumps

Creek confluence.

As part of the trip, the group released two rare mussel species (Epioblasma capsaeformis

and Epioblasma brevidens) at Cleveland Island Preserve with assistance from Megan

Bradley of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. 500 juvenile mussels-

propagated at VDGIF’s Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center - were released into the river.

Canoes and transportation for the trip were provided by Clinch River Adventures- a local

outfitter based in St. Paul, Virginia. http://www.clinchriveradventures.com/

July 29, 2014 –

I. Review of Healthy Watershed Assessment (Methods and Draft Results)

RTI/Versar has produced draft results for a Clinch-Powell Healthy Watersheds

Assessment using the best data available. They presented these draft results (and

underlying methods) for peer review by CPCRI partners.

A. Landscape Condition Metric

RTI presented their draft methods and results of this metric for review and comment.

The group expressed understanding and support for the manner in which mining

influenced land covers are being treated as “disturbed” when calculating run-off

potential.

The group debated the basis for using a “>250 acres of contiguous natural cover”

threshold for calculating the green infrastructure metric.

2

B. Geomorphology Metric

RTI presented their draft methods and results of this metric for review and comment.

The group asked RTI to check the assumptions regarding the “impervious cover”

classification for mined lands- given the fact that due to compaction reclaimed

minded lands are often more impervious than non-mined lands of a similar cover (e.g.

grassland, scrub-shrub, etc.)

The group affirmed that stream widening is much more of an issue in the Clinch

system than vertical down cutting (though this does exist in some headwaters area).

There was a general recommendation that the score for lateral stability be weighted

more than the score for vertical stability.

C. Hydrology/Habitat Metric

RTI presented their draft methods and results of this metric for review and comment.

Particular emphasis was placed on making choices about which sub-metrics to use

and how to weight them in the calculation of the overall Hydro/Habitat Score for each

stream catchment.

The group generally suggested that sub-metrics that address both high and low flow

conditions should be included. The metrics related to eco-deficit and eco-surplus was

not recommended for use. Variability in hydrologic conditions was cited as being an

important element of a healthy system.

The group debated the use of March data specifically, but ended up being

comfortable with incorporating that into the approach. Bill Wolfe (USGS) offered to

circulate a paper which argues for the importance of March data in overall evaluation

of Hydro/Habitat condition.

D. Water Quality Metric

RTI presented their draft methods and results of this metric for review and comment.

The group expressed concern with the draft output of this metric and didn’t feel like it

was an accurate portrayal of water quality variability in the Clinch system.

Braven Beaty, Carl Zipper, Roger Stewart, Greg Johnson, and Jen Krstolic offered to

follow up as an ad hoc work team to help RTI make some adjustments.

E. Biological Condition Metric

A mix of available bug, fish, and mussel data is being combined to develop this

metric. The group expressed comfort with the approach and the overall draft map

characterizing biological condition.

3

II. Small Group Discussions (Topics: Benefits/Drawbacks of Weighting Individual

Watershed Metrics and How to Best Apply HWA Results)

A. Should Some Individual Metrics be more Heavily Weighted than Others?

There was strong consensus across the 3 breakout groups that the biological metric

should receive more weighting since biology is an integrative measure which very

effectively characterizes the relative health of different stream catchments in the

Clinch system.

There was moderate consensus across the 3 breakout groups that the water quality

metric should possibly receive more weighting BUT currently water quality metric

needs to be improved first – follow up group to work with RTI on this.

One group suggested that individuals should submit their opinions on weighting and

then a pair-wise comparison could be run to see how the group overall seems to

weight and value the 5 different metrics. This could be a democratic approach to

making decisions about weighting.

B. How Can the Assessment Best be Shared and Used to Increase Protection of

Identified Healthy Watersheds?

A long list of ideas was generated including but not limited to:

-Work with Clinch River Valley Initiative Partners to share results

-Use results to effectively target agency resources

-Include assessment results in collaborative funding proposals

-Conduct outreach to key stakeholders (local governments, etc.)

-Connect results with protection of source drinking water areas and key public

recreation features

-Use results to set agency priorities along with impaired waters efforts

-Analyze on the ground investments in Healthy Watersheds

-Encourage Virginia Outdoors Foundation to pursue conservation easements in

healthy catchments

-Use study as basis for recommending designation of “exceptional waters”

-Use study to guide VA Governor’s 400,000 acre land conservation goal

-Share results with Soil and Water Conservation Districts

-Conduct education/outreach with kids in healthy watersheds

-Target future scientific studies in identified healthy watersheds

-Find ways to make study results meaningful to people – need for 1 pagers, etc.

-Use in comprehensive planning

-Target protection of healthy waters via various programs – compensatory mitigation,

319, etc.

III. Key Next Steps to Complete Assessment by Late September/Early October 2014

(1) Ad Hoc Water Quality Group to follow up with Kim to try and improve the water

quality metric (next several weeks)

4

(2) RTI/Versar to choose selection of Hydrology parameters based on CPCRI group

input (next several weeks)

(3) Follow up webinar on updated methods and results to be held late August/early Sept.

IV. Panel Discussion: Engaging Communities, Industries, and other local partners

in protecting and restoring the Clinch River’s Healthy Watersheds.

Lou Wallace – St. Paul Tomorrow Will Whisenant- Range Resources

Andrew Gilmer- Clinch River SWCD Geoffry Hensley- Dominion Resources

Walt Crickmer- Gobco LLC Jim Baldwin- Cumberland Plateau PDC

Panel members provided a variety of perspectives on efforts underway in the Clinch-Powell

to improve stream and river health including but not limited to:

-Grassroots push for a new Clinch River State Park and State Scenic River designations

-Local towns seeking storm water improvements (e.g. St. Paul)

-Local towns establishing trails, access points, and educational signage near the river (e.g St.

Paul, Cleveland, Cedar Bluff, etc.)

-Soil and Water Conservation Districts implementing cost-share programs with agricultural

landowners

-Private/Public partnerships to reclaim abandoned mined lands (esp. waste coal piles along

streams)

-Efforts to establish best industry practices for water quality

-Corporate philanthropic support for water quality and environmental education projects

-Public investments in water and sewer across the region

Panel members provided a variety of perspectives on constraints/challenges to water quality

improvement:

-Money!!!!!!

-Lack of public awareness/interest

-Need for better connection to economic/quality of life issues

Panel members provided a variety of perspectives on how the new Clinch-Powell Healthy

Watersheds Assessment could be useful:

-Future projects could be focused in healthy watersheds to some extent

-Healthy watersheds could become the target for future corporate funding

July 30, 2014 –

I. Clean Water Act Agency Reports

A. EPA (Ed Ambrogio and Fred Suffian) --

Local partnerships around sustainability are important to EPA…but Chesapeake Bay

TMDL is talking 80-90% of most people’s time in Region 3.

5

Based on CPCRI meeting discussions, there are several good points of connection and

possible follow-up:

(1) EPA Green Infrastructure Program – Possible opportunity to support town of St.

Paul with stormwater efforts. Need to connect Ed Ambrogio and Lou Anne

Wallace as a follow up.

(2) EPA Drinking Water/Sourcewater Protection Progrm – A possible fit to support

implementation of Clinch Powell Healthy Watersheds Assessment.

(3) EPA Non-point Source Program – Via 319 funding, a chance to continue to

support voluntary BMP efforts by groups such as the Clinch Valley Soil and

Water Conservation District.

(4) Upcoming Healthy Watersheds RFP – Laura Gabanski’s program will have more

resources available with an RFP coming out later this year ($1-2 million). A

chance to get support for implementation and/or refinement of Clinch Powell

Healthy Watersheds Assessment.

(5) EPA National Environmental Information Network – Could help CPCRI with

data integration. Annual RFP with Virginia Thompson as lead contact.

(6) Randy Pomponio’s Lab – Possible support for continued science assessment and

laboratory analysis of water samples.

(7) STAR Grants – Very competitive research grants to support science. Managed

through EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Frankly, the most challenging aspect to working with EPA Region 3 is the distance between

the Clinch River and the regional headquarters in Philadelphia.

B. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (Allen Newman) --

DEQ is putting more stringent Ammonia standards into permits for new water treatment

plants in St. Paul and Claypool Hill. This is in advance of new possible more restrictive

Ammonia water quality standard.

DEQ is continuing joint Clinch River sampling effort with Dominion. There is a particular

interest in possible atmospheric deposition of mercury. Results have been shared with the

Science Team.

DEQ (2014) is conducting special sampling in the Callahan Creek watershed. This is one of

the most heavily mined watersheds in the Clinch-Powell system.

DEQ (2014) is proposing several key de-listings including but not limited to portions of

Swords and Stony Creek. There is a listing package which could be used as a basis for a

“success story” on the CPCRI website. Martha Chapman is contact for that.

6

DEQ has completed the accelerated development of TMDL in 50 mile reach of the Powell

River from Big Stone Gap to the TN line (submitted to EPA). They are also completing

accelerated development of the Clinch River TMDL (in several major sections). Stressors in

that TMDL include Total Suspended Solids and Total Dissolved Solids. PAHs were also of

interest but it turns out that they are not a stressor. DEQ has shared this information with

TDEC but there is a need to follow up with TDEC to see how they will incorporate the VA

TMDL Assessments into their own TMDLs for the Clinch and the Powell. In TN right now,

Clinch is listed as threatened and Powell is listed as impaired, but TMDLS have not been

developed.

DEQ worked with DMME to help direct $1 million in funding to the Daniel Boone Soil and

Water Conservation District to remediate Acid Mine Drainage in Straight Creek (a Powell

River tributary). This is another success story that should go up on the CPCRI website.

DEQ continues to focus on straight pipe remediation in the coalfields. There have been

recent successes in the communities of Exeter, Stonega, etc. There have also been recent

efforts to work with St. Paul and Castlewood to provide sewer to communities around Dante,

VA.

DEQ continues to be supportive of joint water quality sampling with TDEC and TNC in

support of the CPCRI Science Plan.

C. Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality (Beverly Brown) --

The agency has undergone a variety of internal restructurings. Tisha Benton is the new

Water Protection Division Director and someone that CPCRI needs to reach out to (note:

Brad Kreps will follow up on this). Previous Division Director Paul Davis was very active in

CPCRI. Jenny Dodd continues to serve as the Deputy Division Director.

TDEC will be doing benthic monitoring at 85 sites in the Powell, Clinch, and Holston this

coming year. TDEC’s ambient WQ monitoring station at McDowell Shoals on the Powell

River continues to be a good source of data.

TDEC continues to be supportive of joint water quality sampling with DEQ and TNC in

support of the CPCRI Science Plan.

The Nashville Office handles all TMDL development. Sherry Wang (CPCRI Steering

Committee member) is point of contact on TMDLs. There is a need for connecting Sherry

with Virginia DEQ in support of TN’s completion of their TMDLs for Clinch and Powell

(now that DEQ’s development is nearing completion). DEQ may have some tools that could

be helpful to TDEC (comment from Roger Stewart- DEQ).

TDEC is testing the use of a new stream resiliency tool in its implementation of TMDLs.

D. Office of Surface Mining – (Ian Dye)

The number of permits in VA is down from previous year and there are continuing

challenges to the coal economy.

7

In Callahan Creek, there may be action taken by DMME related to bond forfeiture on certain

active mining sites. Completing reclamation at these sites will help in this watershed (which

scores consistently low in the draft C-P Healthy Watersheds Assessment).

II. Science Team Update and Discussion

A. Overview of Completed Studies (Science Team Representatives -- Jess Jones-

USFWS, Carl Zipper-VA Tech, Jen Krstolic and Greg Johnson-USGS, Roger

Stewart –DEQ)

The presenters provided a summary of the various data collection and/or analyses

projects completed by the CPCRI Science Team since 2009. Collectively, the group

has been building a scientific basis for understanding and explaining the causes of

freshwater mussel decline in the Clinch system. Since beginning their collaboration,

the team has learned the following key things:

• Mussel populations have severely declined in a 40 mile reach from St. Paul to

Clinchport. Populations in the Tennessee Clinch remain strong and populations in

the VA section between Nash Ford and Carbo are stable. Populations are declining in

the Powell with some reasonable stability in a stretch near the VA/TN line.

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is rising throughout the Clinch River

• Major ion concentrations correlate with mussel assemblage status (i.e. lower

concentrations in Healthy Assemblages and higher concentrations in Degraded

Assemblages)

• Sulfate concentrations are highest in the impacted 40-mile reach from St. Paul to

Clinchport; and they are higher in the “healthy” Tennessee reach in comparison to the

“healthy” Virginia reach which includes Cleveland Island.

• Some metals intermittently occur at higher concentrations in the impacted 40-mile

reach from St. Paul to Clinchport; and the metals are likely carried by particulates

• TDS and SO4 concentrations are higher in the Guest River and Dumps Creek

tributaries than in Copper Creek, Indian Creek and Clinch River

• A comparison of native mussels exposed in situ (via placement in the river with silos

and cages) shows that mussels placed in the impacted 40-mile reach exhibit higher

metals body burdens than mussels placed in other sections of the river.

• Nutrients and analyzed organic compounds do not help explain the variation in

mussel assemblage condition across the Clinch River.

• Differences in habitat conditions do not help explain the variation in mussel

assemblage condition across potentially suitable mussel sites in the Clinch.

B. Ongoing Research (Jess Jones on Behalf of Greg Cope-NCSU)

• Analyzing potential causes for mussel decline using a mix of three approaches: (1)

landscape based analysis (GIS), (2) field based analysis (using mussel silos and

cages), and (3) laboratory based approach (toxicity testing).

• Results still being developed.

8

C. Proposed Strategy for Future Sampling and Analysis (Carl Zipper, Roger

Stewart)

• The Science Team has developed a new White Paper proposing additional data

collection and analysis that will build statistical confidence around the patterns

emerging from the scientific assessments to completed to date (e.g. correlation

between higher ion concentrations and degraded mussel populations- see Overview of

Complete Studies above)

• The healthy section of the Clinch in TN will continue to serve as a reference to

inform diagnosis of water quality problems in VA.

• The Science Team proposes 8 sites on the main stem Clinch- 3 in Tennessee and 5 in

Virginia. The locations include 3 downstream and 2 upstream reference sites with 3

representing the impacted area.

• Routine base-flow sampling is proposed to occur every other month for three years.

1 leaf-on and 1 leaf-off storm event sampling per year on the rising hydrograph is

proposed at Mother Nature’s discretion.

• Routine Parameter groups tested will include --

Temperature, pH, DO, SC

Dissolved and total trace elements

Major anions and cations

TS TV TF TDS TDV TDF TSS TSV TSF

TSS <62uM, TSS>62uM

ANC and Alkalinity Nutrients

• Annual estimated cost of project is $56,000 and the project is proposed for a 3-year

time period.

• Funds need to be identified to initiate this work.

D. Panel Discussion – “Why We Need to Do More Science and Best Ways to Apply

What We Know at this Point” (Jess Jones, Carl Zipper, Greg Johnson)

More science is needed to enhance the statistical confidence in the WQ trends and

correlations with mussel health that are beginning to emerge.

We know enough now to realize that tributaries with higher TDS concentrations are a

problem that should be addressed. However, reducing TDS levels in these streams is tricky.

One of the most significant sources of TDS is active mining (and recently reclaimed mines)

and one challenge is that many active and/or recently reclaimed surface mines are going to

generate higher TDS for some time into the future (possibly 20-30 years). There is not

much to do in this situation but wait for TDS to drop over time.

9

Abandoned Mined Land remediation may help reduce TDS but we have little understanding

in regards to how much TDS is elevated due to AML influenced run-off. There is a need to

assess waste coal piles, abandoned deep mining discharges, and other AML features in terms

of their contribution to downstream TDS levels.

Beyond mining influences, what are other potential sources of TDS and what is their

potential magnitude of input in comparison to mining?

We also know enough now to realize that trace metals may be a significant problem for

mussels. More specifically understanding these metals (via proposed future work)- how they

are moving through the Clinch system, how they are taken up by mussels, and their sources is

the next step towards effective remediation.

III. New CPCRI Website

http://cpcri.net

IV. Conservation and Restoration Team Update and Discussion

A. TN Healthy Watersheds Initiative – Ronald Lambert, TNC

TNC has recently completed a grant project in Hancock County, TN that was funded through

the new Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative. This is a state level watershed protection

effort which includes TVA, TDEC, and TNC. Initial funding for the grant program has come

from TVA. The focus of the grant was two-fold. First, TNC worked with other partners to

develop a tract-level prioritization tool (using GIS) that helps identify high priority areas for

installation of Agricultural Management Practices and Riparian Area Restoration/Protection.

This tool has been shared with key partners like NRCS, the Hancock County SWCD, TVA,

TWRA, etc. The second aspect of the grant project was to acquire term riparian protection

agreements (in high priority areas identified by the GIS model), to protect and restore key

stream-side areas on the main-stem Clinch or in tributaries. Four 10-year agreements were

signed with landowners and additionally a 30-acre tract was purchased for conservation.

TNC is now pursuing an additional TNHWI grant for the Powell River to conduct similar

activities.

B. Copper Creek Restoration – Katie Commender on behalf of Melanie Carter ,

USFWS

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has been collaborating with the Upper

Tennessee River Roundtable and local NRCS/SWCD offices in Scott County to complete a

variety of riparian and in-stream enhancement projects in Copper Creek. Copper Creek is a

major tributary to the Clinch River and its watershed is primarily agricultural and forested. A

variety of projects have been completed including stream-side tree planting as well as in-

stream work utilizing j-hooks, bank stabilization, etc. This past Spring, TVA agreed to lend

their financial support to the project and a media event was held showcasing several

successful projects. One particularly novel aspect of the work is that edible species are being

planted in riparian zones (e.g. paw paws) as a way to incentivize landowner participation in

riparian tree planting projects. As part of this project, a study was recently completed

showing the economic benefits of using edible riparian species.

10

C. Abandoned Mined Land (AML) remediation – Link Elmore on behalf of Richard

Davis, DMME

DMME provided an update on its efforts to reclaim and restore Abandoned Mined Land

features in the Clinch-Powell. Virginia coal production is significantly lower than it was in

the 1990s and early 2000s. AML funding on the other hand has been higher in recent years

in comparison with the early 2000s. However, in 2015 VA’s AML grant will be reduced by

$4 million. The anticipated continued production decline from active mines will also lower

AML grants in the future. DMME must first focus AML dollars on eliminating health and

safety hazards, so as AML funding declines in the future DMME will have to be innovative

and aggressive to fund projects that address environmental degradation.

Projects highlighted included:

(1) AMD treatment in the North Fork Powell in partnership with Lee County, DEQ,

DCR and the Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District. Two projects have

been completed this year.

(2) Jackson Fork Portals project in partnership with TNC and DCR.

(3) Stone Creek Tipple/Reclamation to Outdoor Classroom project with USFWS, Upper

Tennessee River Roundtable and others.

(4) Ongoing efforts to try and work with Dominion Resources and a private contractor to

clean up the Hurricane Fork Gob Pile on Dumps Creek. This is one of the largest

AMLs and greatest contributors to sedimentation

D. Land Protection Projects in Lee County, VA – Steve Lindeman, TNC

TNC continues its successful partnership with USFWS, Virginia DCR and others to protect

critical caves, karst recharge areas, and key riparian zones around the Powell River and its

tributaries in Lee County, VA. Several recent projects were discussed including a new effort

to potentially acquire and clean up a contaminated site in a high biodiversity area known as

The Cedars. Working with DEQ’s Brownfields program and the Daniel Boone Soil and

Water Conservation District, TNC is helping to complete an environmental hazards

assessment of the site. Upon completion of this assessment, the partners will determine how

to best move forward to acquire, clean up, and hopefully re-use the area as a staging ground

for public access to the Cedars Natural Area Preserve. The project is innovative and multi-

dimensional. It combines restoration and conservation with potential re-use for economic

development through recreation.

V. Upper Tennessee River Basin Strategy and Freshwater Mussel Augmentation

Update (Roberta Hylton- USFWS, Megan Bradley-VDGIF)

A. Imperiled Species Conservation Strategy for Upper Tennessee Basin

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently unveiled a draft conservation strategy

for listed fish and mussel species in the Clinch River and wider Upper Tennessee River

Basin. The purpose of the Strategy is to create a unified, cost effective approach to guide the

11

Service’s conservation and management of imperiled freshwater fish and mussel species in

the basin and strengthen coordination with partners. The Strategy was developed by a cross-

programatic team of biologists and managers from the Service’s Northeast and Southeast

Regions, utilizing structured decision-making tools. The Service has recently requested that

its partners review the draft Strategy and provide input.

The draft Strategy examines the costs and benefits of maintaining status-quo management

and two other management approaches, each of which would place greater emphasize on

either population or habitat management sorts of activities. The habitat-management

approach would focus more resources on protecting & restoring occupied/unoccupied rare

species habitat within the historical range, The population-management approach would do

more to to address depensation and lack of dispersal by trying to expand current and add

new populations through propagation/translocation into suitable habitat.

The habitat and population management approaches , though differing in emphasis, are not

mutually exclusive. Habitat protection and restoration would still be important within the

population management approach. Likewise, population management activities would play a

role in the habitat management approach. The main difference in the two approaches is the

degree to which various management activities are emphasized. The Strategy not only

identifies the population management approach as optimal, it also prioritizes locations and

imperiled species where management action might be more cost effective.

Currently, the Service is working to address questions and comments received from partners.

Once the Strategy is finalized, it will help guide the Service as it continues to work with its

partners to recover the imperiled aquatic species of the Upper Tennessee River Basin and the

ecosystem upon which those species depend.

B. Mussel Augmentation Update

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries continue to work with USFWS,

TNC, VA Tech, TWRA, and others to augment native mussel populations in the Clinch-

Powell system.

There are six primary restoration/augmentation river reaches:

Reach 1: Powell River (RM 124-115.5) from Snodgrass Ford downstream to the state

line

Reach 2: Clinch River (RM 213.2-206.9) Clinchport downstream to the mouth of Dry

Valley Branch, Scott County (approximately 6 river miles).

Reach 3: Clinch River (RM 235.1, 234, 226.3) – Simones, Grays, and Pendleton islands,

Reach 4: Clinch River (RM 279-267) from Nash Ford to Carbo, Russell County

Reach 5: Clinch River (RM 329.8-317.7) from Pounding Mill to Richlands, Tazewell

County (approximately 12 river miles), including the lower 2 miles of Indian Creek at

Cedar Bluff, Virginia.

12

Reach 6: North Fork Holston River (RM 97.8-86.2) from Riverside to McCready,

Smyth County (approximately 12 river miles).

In 2013, over 15,000 mussels were released into the rivers- including several endangered

species.

In 2014, over 140,000 mussels were propagated (10 different species).

Musselrama sampling event is scheduled for August 12-15th at Speers Ferry, VA.

Many, many partners are involved in this mussel augmentation work including USFWS,

VDGIF, TWRA, TNC, VA Tech, James Madison Univ., and Emory and Henry College.