U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
State Watershed
Restoration Projects
April 26, 2012
Bayou Pierre Watershed
Enhancement Group
Background
MDEQ Basin Management Program
319 Non-point source funding
MDEQ/USGS Joint Agreement
Other Partners (USACE)
Restoration/BMPs performed
USGS develops monitoring plan and performs
monitoring to measure effectiveness and
progress
Past and Current Projects
Mill Creek
Chunky River
Casey Creek
Harris Bayou
Porter Bayou
Bee Lake
Tarebreeches Creek
Muddy Creek
Rotten Bayou
Upper Ross Barnett
(future)
¬«43
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Fannegusha Creek
Watershed Restroation Project Areas
Harris Bayou
Porters Bayou
Casey CreekMuddy Creek
Mill Creek
Tarebreeches Creek
Bee Lake
Rotten Bayou
Lake Washington
Chunky River
Project Scopes
Varies depending on the issues of concern
Restoration, Protection, Education
Several types of restoration activities
Many in the Delta
Many are focused on Nutrient Reduction
Involves several collaborating agencies
Selection of watersheds is primarily according
to MDEQ’s concerns
TMDLs, 303(d), Nutrient Reduction
Chunky River Watershed
Chunky River Watershed Implementation Team
Developed a Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP)
USGS Role Aid in identifying exact causes (pollutants) of
impairment for 303(d) listed waters
Aid in identifying extent of impairment and sources
Aid in identifying locations of other waters that may need protection/restoration efforts
Guide the WIT in identifying areas for and types of restoration efforts
Cooperators – MDEQ, East MS Land Trust, City
of Meridian, USGS
Overall Monitoring Concept
Reconnaissance
Monitoring
Targeted Trend
Monitoring
Report of Monitoring
and Assessment Results
Pre-Restoration
Preliminary Assessment
of Reconnaissance Data
Pre and Post-Restoration
Assessment
of Trend Data
Mill Creek Watershed
Primary issue – sediment
BMPs implemented in 3
locations
above Hwy 25 – bank stabilization
Hidden Hills subdivision
NWR School
Enforcement carried out
Pinelands
Cooperators – MDEQ, Rankin
County, USDA/NRCS, USGS
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Hwy 25
Castlewoods Blvd
Gra
nts Ferry R
dSpillw
ay Rd
Hwy 25
Ross Barnett Reservior
1
23
4
5
6
Active Stations
Inactive Stations
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Hwy 25
Castlewoods Blvd
Gra
nts Ferry R
dSpillw
ay Rd
Hwy 25
Ross Barnett Reservior
1
23
4
5
6
Active Stations
Inactive Stations
EXAMPLE: Erosion Control around
NW Rankin High School
Slope drains, ditch
stabilizations, check
dams
Pre/post BMP
comparison
Casey Creek Watershed
Part of Twenty
Mile/Donivan Creeks
Watersheds (Prentiss Co.)
Primary issue – sediment
Pre/Post BMP monitoring
Cooperators – MDEQ,
Prentiss County, MS Soil
and Water Conservation
Commission,
USDA/NRCS, USGS
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Twentymile Creek
Case
y Cre
ek
Tw
en
tym
ile C
ree
k
Donivan Creek
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
!( Trib of Casey Creek Monitoring Stations
Bee Lake Watershed
Primary pollutant –
sediment, nutrients
Cooperators – MDEQ,
DELTA F.A.R.M,
USDA/NRCS, MSU, USGS
March 2011
Lake Washington
Primary pollutant –
sediment, nutrients
2 tributary monitoring
stations
Coooperators – MDEQ,
Washington County,
USDA/NRCS, USGS
Trib at Stein
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Steele Bayou nr Hopedale, MS
Steele Bayou below Onward, MS(low water bridge)
Steele Bayou Trib No. 1
Steele Bayou Trib No. 47
Steele Bayou Trib No. 33
Main Canal Tributary
Steele Bayou nr Glen Allen, MS
Yazoo
Sharkey
Holmes
Washington
Humphreys
Issaquena
LefloreSunflower
Madison
Carroll
Warren
Steele Bayou
Primary pollutant –
sediment, nutrients
Cooperators – US Army
Corps of Engineers, MDEQ,
DELTA F.A.R.M,
USDA/NRCS, USGS
Steele Bayou Project
Steele Bayou Hopedale Below Lake Washington US Army Corps of Engineers,
Vicksburg District
Spent millions of dollars on
restoration of Steele Bayou
Had little to no data to
show results
Routine Sampling
June 2010 - present
Storm sampling
Started in Winter 20100
Several recent events (2011)
Data available 2 events Hopedale
Monitoring Gage
Steele Bayou Trib No.1
Pre - BMP Post - BMP
Pre - BMP Post - BMP
Pre - BMP Post - BMP
Steele Bayou Trib No.1 - Sediment
2008 season - Corn 2009 season - Rice 2010 season - Soybean
Nutrient Reduction Projects
Site Locations
Paired watershed approach
Before-after
What is being monitored
Nutrients, sediment, flow,
physicochemical, biological
Cooperators – MDEQ, Delta
F.A.R.M., MSU, USACE,
USDA/NRCS, Private Land
Owners
Harris and Porters Bayous
Overcup Trib 2
(treatment site)
Harris Bayou (Tier 3) Porters Trib 1
Porters Tier 3
Harris – Routine Monitoring
0.1
1
10
100
Jun-10 Jul-10 Aug-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Nov-10 Dec-10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 Jun-11 Jul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11
Tota
l Nit
roge
n (m
g/L
)
Overcup Trib 1 (Control)
Overcup Trib 2 (Treatment)
Overcup Trib 3 (DS 2&4)
Overcup Trib 4 (Lagoon)
Harris Bayou Main Channel
Har
ris B
ayou
(Tier 3
)
Ove
rcup
Trib
1 (C
ontro
l)
Ove
rcup
Trib
2 (T
reat
men
t)
Ove
rcup
Trib
4 (d
owns
tream
lago
on)
Ove
rcup
Trib
3 (d
owns
tream
2 &
4)
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.5
10.0T
ota
l N
itro
ge
n (
mg
/L)
Harris – Storm Monitoring
0.1
1
10
100
Tota
l Nit
roge
n (
mg/
L)
Trib 2 (Treatment)
Trib 1 (Control)
APR MAY JUN NOVNOV MAR MAR MAR APR
Total Nitrogen Trib 1 and Trib 2
2010 2011
JUN
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Tota
l Ph
osp
ho
rus
(mg/
L)
Trib 2 (Treatment)
Trib 1 (Control)
APR MAY JUN NOVNOV MAR MAR MAR APR
Total Phosphorus Trib 1 and Trib 2
2010 2011
JUNFEB APR
Uplands Nutrient Reduction
Muddy Creek watershed
Tarebreeches Creek watershed
Cooperators – MDEQ, Alcorn and Tippah
County, USDA/NRCS, MSWCC, Private Land
Owners
Eastes Creek (control) (2011) North Prong Muddy above Hwy 15 (2011)
Muddy Creek (2012) Little Cane Creek (2012)
Tarebreeches Creek (2011)
Coastal Nutrient Reduction
Rotten Bayou
Cooperators – MDEQ, Hancock and
Harrison County, USDA/NRCS, MSWCC,
Land Trust for the MS Coastal Plain,
Diamondhead Community, Private Land
Owners
Mill Creek (2011)
UT Bayou LaSalle (2012) UT Rotten Bayou at Diamondhead (2012)
Rotten Bayou nr Kiln (2011)
USGS capabilities
Collection and interpretation of ecological
and environmental data
Scope of monitoring programs can be
customized
Range of resources, data and intensity of
monitoring program
GIS, Hydrology, Physical Habitat, Water
Quality, Water Quantity, Biological indicators,
species surveys, Modeling
Access to Coop Funds for cost share and DOI
funding
Discussion