4.0 watershed inventory 3 – subwatersheds · acres that lies along the lceb mainstem. it extends...

LittleCalumetRiverEastBranchWatershedManagementPlan–October2015

Page89

4.0WatershedInventory3–SubwatershedsTheLCEBwatershedcontainsthree12-digitHUCsubwatersheds:ReynoldsCreek(040400010401),KemperDitch(040400010402),andCoffeeCreek(040400010403)(Figure6).Landuse,whichisadriverfornonpointsourcepollution,differsamongthesesubwatersheds.Figure39highlightsthedifferencesindominantlandusesamongthethreesubwatershedsintheLCEBwatershed.Understandingdifferencesinlandusecanbeastartingpointtohelptoexplaindifferencesinwaterqualityorpotentialsourcesforwaterpollution.

Figure39.2010LandCoverbysubwatershed

4.1ReynoldsCreekSubwatershed(HUC12-040400010401)TheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedcontainstheheadwatersoftheLCEB.Thiswatershedis12,780acres,whichis27%oftheentirewatershed.NamedwaterbodiesincludetheLCEBmainstem,ReynoldsCreek,LakeLee,MassaugaCreek,SpringBranch,HildebrandtLake,RoundLake,RydenLakes,SwedeLake,andWaltonLake.TherearenoNationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)permitprogramfacilitiesintheReynoldsCreek


Page90

watershed.PurdueUniversity’sNorthCentral(PNC)CampuswasaNPDESfacilityfrom1974through2007.Theuniversity’swastewaterwasthenaddedtoWestville’swatertreatmentsystem,whichledtotheterminationoftheuniversity’swastewaterpermit.Thereisnoindicationoflegacywaterqualityproblemsrelatedtothispermitteddischarge.SamplingSites38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46and47arewithintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed.

Figure40.ReynoldsCreeksubwatershedsamplingsites


Page91

4.1.aWaterQualityInformationPastStudiesSitesintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedwereincludedintwoolderstudiesconductedbyIDEM:the2000LittleCalumetEastBranchRiverstudy,andthe2000Pesticidestudy.Twositesonthemainstem(site44andatthecrossingofHighway421)andanunnamedtributary(site45)wereincludedinIDEM’s2000LCEBAssessment.ThegeometricmeanforE.coliexceededtheIACstandard(125CFU/100mL)atsite44(180CFU/100mL)andatsite45(330CFU/100mL),butnotwherethemainstemcrossesUS-Highway421(106CFU/100mL).Itshouldbenotedthatthisdataisover14yearsold,asofthewritingofthisplan,andindicateshistorictrendsasopposedtocurrentconditions.IDEMalsoconductedapesticidestudyintheyear2000thatincludedsites44and45.Nopesticidesweredetectedateithersiteduringthatstudy.


Page92

Figure41.ReynoldsCreeksubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingforimpairedbioticcommunities


Page93

Figure42.ReynoldsCreeksubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingsforE.colianddissolvedoxygen

CurrentStudiesAllstreamsegmentswithintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedareincludedonthe2014(draft)303(d)listing.Forimpairedbioticcommunities(Figure41),nearlytheentiresubwatershedislisted,excepttheheadwatertributarymonitoredbysite46(WaltonLakeOutlet).TheheadwatertributariesoftheLCEB(sites43,45,46and47)arealsolistedfordissolvedoxygen(Figure42).TheSpringBranchtributary(includingsites38and39)andMassaugaCreekUpstream(site40)arelistedforE.coli(Figure42). TemperaturesinReynoldsCreekanditstributariesweregenerallylowin2012.Only8%ofsamplesexceededthetargettemperature(21.1°C)Site39(SpringBranch),site40


Page94

(MassaugaCreekUpstream),site42(ReynoldsCreekUpstream),andSite44(LittleCalumetRiverEastBranch1),allhadzeroexceedancesofthetemperaturestandardforcoldwateraquaticcommunities(21.1°C).Site40(MassaugaCreekUpstream)hadthesecondlowesttemperaturemeanintheLCEBwatershed.Site45(LakeLeeOutlet)hadthethirdlowesttemperaturemeanintheLCEB.However,site47hadthehighestindividualtemperatureof23.3˚Cwith43%ofsamplesexceedingthetarget.Twositeshaddissolvedoxygen(DO)exceedancesfortheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedduringthe2012samplingperiod(sites46and47).Site46alsohadthelowestmeanforDOconcentrations(8.32mg/l).Thehighestmeanconcentrationfordissolvedoxygenwas11.44mg/latsite45(LakeLeeOutlet).TherewasnoevidenceofoversaturationbecauseDOreadingsgreaterthan12mg/Lalwaysoccurredwhenthewaterwasverycold,whichallowsthewatercolumntoholdmoreoxygenthanunderwarmerconditions.TherewerenopHviolationsatanysiteintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedduringthe2012baselinesamplingevents:allsamplesfellwithinthesixtoninepHunitsrangefromtheIAC.Nitrate+nitritelevelsweregenerallylowintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed.Sites39,41,42,46and47hadthelowestnitratemeansintheLCEBwatershed.Site41hadthelowestcalculatedmeanfortheLCEB(0.074mg/l),andsites39,42,46,and47hadvaluesthatwereconsistentlylowsuchthattheycouldnotbedetectedover90%ofthetime.Becauseofthis,meanscouldnotbecalculated.Consequently,nitratelevelsatthesesiteswereverylowduringthesamplingperiod.Datawasavailabletocalculateloadsforonly3sitesinthissubwatershed(sites38,43,and45).Annualandarealloadsrequireatleasttwelvemonthlywaterqualitydatawithdetectedvaluesandcorrespondingflowdata.Site45(LakeLeeOutlet)hadthelowestnitrateannualload(562lb/yr)fortheentireLCEB.Twenty-ninepercentofallphosphorussamplescollectedintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedexceededthetargetof0.08mg/l.Fiftypercentofallsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Everysitehadexceedances.Meansforeachsiterangedfrom0.06to1.0mg/l.Sixsiteshadenoughdatatocalculateloads(38,39,41,43,45,and46).Site41(ReynoldsCreekDownstream)hadthelowestload(414lb/yr),whilesite43(LCEBmainstem)hadthehighestphosphorusload(1,964lb/yr)intheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed.TSSwasrelativelylowforReynoldsCreeksites.Only8%ofsamplesexceededtargetconcentrations(30mg/l).Severalsites(39,40,42,46and47)hadnoTSSexceedancesduring2012samplingevents.Over26%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.ThelowestmeanforTSSwas4.4mg/latsite42(ReynoldsCreekupstream)andthehighestmeanwas35mg/latsite43(LCEBmainstem).LoadsandarealloadsforTSSwerecalculatedforfivesitesinthissubwatershed(38,39,41,43,and47).Ofthese,thelowestannualTSSload(15,229lb/year)wassite47(RoundLakeOutlet).Thehighestannualloadwas340,180lb/yratsite43.E.coliconcentrationsexceededthetargetfor47%ofsamplesintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed.Everysitehadexceedances.Sites38(MassaugaCreekDownstream),41(ReynoldsCreekDownstream),and43(mainstem)hadthehighestnumberofviolations


Page95

(17,16,and15,respectively).Thelowestmeanconcentrationwas69CFU/100mlatsite47,whilethehighestmeanwas1,506CFU/100mlatsite43.Annual loads were not calculatedforE.coliintheLCEBwatershedbasedonthisdata.

4.1.bHabitat/BiologicalInformationRedMillCountyPark,locatedintheheadwatersoftheLCEB,wasthesiteofaGreatLakesFisheryandEcosystemRestoration(GLFER)ecosystemrestorationproject.Thesiteencompassesa108-acreIndianaNaturePreserveandisconsideredtobeahighqualityecosystem.In1833,anearthendamwasbuiltthatcreatedalargenativepondandwetlandcommunity.TheGLFERrestorationprojectpreservedandrestoredover120acresofwetlandhabitatbymaintainingexistingwaterlevels,restoringnativeplantspeciesandimprovingfishhabitat.Removingasectionofthedamandcreatinganewstreamchannelrestorednaturalhydrologyandstreamconnectivity.Theproject,whichwascompletedin2011,protectsthehydrologyofthishighqualityecosystemfortheplantsandanimalsthatrelyonit.BenthicmacroinvertebrateswereanalyzedusingIDEM’smIBImetric,andfishcommunitieswereassessedusingtheIDEM’sIBImethodology.BenthicmacroinvertebrateswerenotsupportedatanyReynoldsCreeksite.Allsitesscoredlessthan36forthemIBI.Site40wastheonlysamplinglocationthatwassupportingforfishcommunitiesinthesubwatershed(IBI=36).Allothersitesscoredlessthan36fortheIBI.QHEIscoresforhabitatwerecalculatedforeachsitetohelpdeterminethecauseofimpairedbioticcommunities.Sites41and44yieldedhabitatscoresthatwerenotsupportiveofaquaticlife.Thissuggeststhatin-streamhabitatcouldbethereasonaquaticcommunitiesarenothealthyatsites41and44.However,sites38,39,42,43,45,46and47hadQHEIscoresindicatingthehabitatshouldbesuitableforfishandmacroinvertebratecommunities.Thesefindingsindicatethatwaterpollutionisthemostlikelystressoraffectingthesepopulations.Site42hadthebesthabitatratingintheLCEBwatershed.TherewerenobiologicalassessmentsperformedbyIDEMatsite46forthebaselinestudyduetodroughtconditions.


Page96

Figure43.LandcoverintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed

4.1.cLandUseInformationLandcoverintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedispredominantlyforested(38%)andagriculture(31%).Developedlandcoverislimited(6%ofthesubwatershed)withtheexceptionofPurdueNorthCentralCampusandadjacentdevelopmentalongHighway421.ProposedzoningmapsforLaPorteCountyindicatethatthemajorityofthewatershedinLaPorteCountyiszonedagricultural.Theareasurroundingthehighway421andI-80interchangeiszonedforgeneralcommercial,low-densityruralresidential,andlightindustrial.***


Page97

TheIndianaTollRoad(I-80)runsthroughthissubwatershed.ProtectedareasintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedincludeanIzaakWaltonLeaguepropertyaroundWaltonLake,theLaPorteCountyLittleCalumetHeadwatersNaturePreserve,severalLaPorteCountyParks,andTheNatureConservancy’sHildebrandtLake.IzaakWaltonLeague’slocalchapteralsoownsseveralprotectednaturalpropertiesintheLCEBheadwaters.ThesearelocatedalongCountyLineRoad.TheolderofthetwoistheMassaugaacquisition.TheLittleCalumetRiverentersthe10-acrepropertyatthenorthend,justsouthoftherailroadtracks.Landcoveronthispropertyisprimarilywetwoods,withMassaugaCreekenteringtheparcelunderneathCR1100North.TheFrameConservationAreaisaparcelof19.5acresthatliesalongtheLCEBmainstem.Itextendstobothsidesoftheriver,butthemajorityoftheparcelisonitssouthside.TheFrameConservationAreaalsoincludespartoftheeastsideofReynoldsCreekuptoitsterminuswiththeLittleCalumetRiver.TheIzaakWaltonLeaguerecentlypurchasedanother40acresadjacenttotheFrameConservationArea.Thispropertyincludes660feetofReynoldsCreekand½mileoftheLittleCalumetRiver.ThesepropertiesareadjacenttothenewDNRReynoldsCreekWildlifeArea,whichisa1,250-acregamebirdpreserve.Duetotherecentacquisitionofthispropertyanditsrecentconversionfromcroplandtoprairiegrasslandhabitat(post2012IDEMbaselinestudy),theseacreshavebeenaddedtothelistofBMPsinsection9.Thereisnolargeindustryorplansformajordevelopmentinthissubwatershed.Therearenofairgroundsorkennels.Low-densityruralresidentialhomesandagriculturearescatteredthroughoutthiswatershed.Agricultureaccountsforapproximately31%oflanduse.TherearesixhobbyfarmslocatedintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed(fivewithhorsesandonewithbuffalo)(Figure44).Thecombinedacreageofthesefarmsis~148acreswithasumofapproximately85horsesand20buffalo.ConventionalfertilizeristhedominantformoffertilizerappliedtoagriculturalfieldsintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed.Manureisgenerallynotappliedtoagriculturalfieldsinthissubwatershed.


Page98

Figure44.HobbyfarmsintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed

WindshieldsurveysintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedhighlightedlandusesduetotheirpotentialeffectonwaterquality.Beneficiallandusesnotedbythesurveyorsincludedthepresenceofafen,protectednaturalareasincludingclassifiedhabitat,and2wildlifepreserves,atleast5wetlands,2raingardens,2stormwaterdetentionponds,andseveralin-streamlakes.Otherlandusesreportedbysurveyorsincludedtwoconstructionsites,thepresenceofthetollroad,livestock,Canadiangeeseandotherwaterfowlinponds,severallargeturfgrassareas,lawnsmaintaineduptostreamorlakeedges,homesandlawnsincloseproximitytorivers,severallargeimperviousareas,occasionalsteepbanks,andconventionalfarmingpractices.Thewindshieldsurveycombinedwithdesktopanalysisreported1.67milesofabsentorinsufficientriparianbuffers(Figure45).UtilizingboththeQHEI(habitat)analysisandthewindshieldsurvey,approximately266ft.ofstreambank


Page99

areerodingthroughoutintheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed(Figure45).Moderatetoheavysiltationwasalsoreportedfor340ft.ofstreambed.

Figure45.StreambankerosionandbuffersneededfortheReynoldsCreeksubwatershed


Page100

4.1.dSummaryTheReynoldsCreeksubwatershedissomewhatsparselydevelopedandcontainsabundanthighqualitynaturallands.However,thissubwatershedalsocontainsanotableamountofagriculture(conventionalagricultureandhobbyfarms)thatmaybeexportingnutrientsandsediment.ThisrurallandscapemayalsobecontributinglargeamountsofE.colithroughpoorlyfunctioningonsitesepticsystemsfromtheabundantlow-densityruralresidentialhomescheckeredthroughoutthissubwatershed’slandscape.Mostofthestreamsinthissubwatershedare303(d)listedforbioticcommunities,whileothersarelistedfordissolvedoxygenandE.coli.Duetothedrought,the2012baselinestudymightunder-reportwaterqualityimpairmentssuchasnutrientsandsediment.However,theimpairmentofbiologicalcommunitiesmaydemonstrateestablishedwaterqualityissuesinthissubwatershed.

4.2KemperDitchSubwatershed(HUC12-040400010402)TheKemperDitchsubwatershedis14,157acres,whichisnearly30%ofLCEBwatershed.NamedwaterbodieswithintheKemperDitchsubwatershedincludetheLCEBmainstem,CarverDitch,KemperDitch,RiceLake,andMarMacLake.TherearenoNPDESpermittedfacilitiesinthesubwatershed.SamplingSites25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,49and50arewithintheKemperDitchsubwatershed.


Page101

Figure46.KemperDitchsubwatershedsamplingsites

4.2.aWaterQualityInformationPastStudiesThreestudieshavebeenconductedintheKemperDitchsubwatershed:IDEM’s2000LittleCalumetRiverEastBranchstudy,the2000LCEBE.colistudy,andthe2010CorvallisProbabilisticMonitoringstudy.The2000LCEBstudyincludedtwomainstemsites:32and33.Site32exceededtheE.colitargetfor50%ofthesamples.TemperatureandDOhadnoviolations.Site33hadonetemperatureviolationandexceededtheE.colitargetfor80%ofthesamplestaken.TherewerenoDOviolations.Itshouldbenotedthatthisdataisover14


Page102

yearsold,asofthewritingofthisplan,andindicateshistorictrends,notcurrentconditions.OnlyonesitefromtheKemperDitchsubwatershedwasexaminedforthe2000E.colistudy:alocationnearsite32.E.coliconcentrationsexceededtargetconcentrationswith80%ofsamplescollected.The2010CorvallisstudyincludedonelocationintheKemperDitchsubwatershed:site32(LCEBmainstem).AllE.colisamplesexceededthetargetconcentration,however,therewerenoviolationsfortemperatureordissolvedoxygen.AthirdofsamplestakenforTSS,phosphorusandnitrateexceededtargetconcentrations.

Figure47.KemperDitchsubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingforimpairedbioticcommunities


Page103

Figure48.KemperDitchsubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingsfornutrients


Page104

Figure49.KemperDitchsubwatershed2014303(d)listingforE.colianddissolvedoxygen

CurrentStudiesAllstreamsegmentswithintheKemperDitchsubwatershedareincludedonthe2014(draft)303(d)listing.Forimpairedbioticcommunities(Figure47),theentiresubwatershedislisted.TheCarverDitch(sites35and36)andKemperDitch(sites34and37)tributaries,mainstemlocations(sites25,32and33),andothertributaries(sites26and31)arealsolistedfornutrientimpairment(Figure48).TributarieslistedforE.coli(Figure49)include:theCarverDitch(sites35and36)andKemperDitch(sites34and37)tributariesandothertributaries(sites26and30).Sitesimpairedbydissolvedoxygen(DO)(Figure49)include:theCarverDitch(sites35and36)andKemperDitch(sites34and37)tributaries,mainstemlocations(sites25,32and33),andothertributaries(sites26and31).


Page105

WatertemperatureintheKemperDitchsubwatershedwasvariabledependingonlocation.Overall,only15%ofsamplescollectedinthiswatershedexceededthetarget.Allofthemeanswerebelowthetemperaturestandard(21.1°C),buttherewereveryhightemperaturesmeasuredduringtherecreationalperiodatafewsites.Sites31(unnamedtributary)and33(mainstem)hadzerotemperatureviolations.Sites26(TributaryWest),30(tributary),32(mainstem)and35(KelleysDitch)allhadonetemperatureexceedance.Thehighestsummertimetemperaturewas25.8°Catsite27(RiceLakeOutlet).Thissitealsohadthehighestnumberoftargetviolations(10),followedbysite28(MarMacLakeCreek)with8exceedances.Sites34(CarverDitchDownstream)and37(KemperDitch)alsohadtemperatureviolations(4and3,respectively)withhighersummertimevalues.Dissolvedoxygen(DO)concentrationsintheKemperDitchsubwatershedvariedbasedonlocation.Themeanconcentrationwas8.8mg/lbutmeansforeachsiteweretypicallyhigher.Severalsiteshadzeroexceedancesofthetargetconcentration(6mg/l):sites25(mainstem),27(RiceLakeOutlet),29(RiceLakeInlet),30(unnamedtributary),32(mainstem)and33(mainstem).Site28(MarMacLakeCreek)onlyhadonelowDOviolation.ThisindicatesthatthemainstemandtheRiceLaketributariesmaintainedrelativelygoodDOconcentrations.TheCarverDitchandKemperDitchtributarieshadmoretargetconcentrationviolations.Sites34(CarverDitchDownstream)and36(CarverDitchUpstream)bothhad6DOviolations,whilesites37(KemperDitch)and35(KelleysDitch)had4and2violations,respectively.Thelowestmeanwasatsite28(MarMacLakeCreek,9.1mg/l).Site37(KemperDitch)hadthehighestmeaninthissubwatershed(12.8mg/l).ThehighDOreadingstypicallycorrespondedwithextremelylowwatertemperaturesduringthewintermonths,whichallowedthewatertoholdmoreoxygenthanitwouldunderwarmertemperatures.Thesesampleswerenotdesignatedasoversaturated,eventhoughsomevalueswereashighas15.8mg/l(correspondingwith2.3°Cwatertemperature.)ThissitealsohadextremelowvaluesofDOin2012-thelowestwas1.78mg/l,whichcorrespondedtoaverywarmwatertemperature(24.1°C).Site37alsohadtheonlyhighDOviolationsforthesubwatershed(18.4mg/lat24.8°Cand14.3mg/lat13.2°C).TheextremeDOvaluesatthissiteshouldbeexaminedfurther.TherewerenopHviolationsfortheKemperDitchsubwatershedduringthe2012baselinesamplingevents:allsamplesfellwithinthesixtoninepHunitsrangefromtheIAC.Nitrate+nitritelevelswererelativelylowintheKemperDitchsubwatershedin2012.Only3%ofsamplesexceededthetargetconcentrationof1.0mg/l,whilenearly34%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Themodelusedtogenerateannualloadsrequiresatleasttwelvedatapointswithassociatedstreamflow.Consequently,nitrateloadswerecalculatedatonly4sitesinthissubwatershed(sites25,27,28,and32).Thehighestloadwas16,178lb/yratsite25(mainstem),whilethelowestcalculatedloadwas678lb/yratsite27(RiceLakeOutlet).Thehighestsampleconcentrationwas4.8mg/l(atsite34,CarverDitchOutlet)duringastormevent.However,nitrateconcentrationswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit(censored)atthissiteformorethanhalfofthe2012samplingevents.Becauseofthis,nototalannualloadwascalculatedforsitesonordrainingfromCarverDitch.Theonetimehighvalueafterthestormeventsuggeststhatnitratemayhaveaccumulatedonthelandscapeduringthehistoric2012drought.The


Page106

baselinedatathathasbeenreportedforthisparametermayunderestimatenormalpollutionlevelsforthiswatershed.Phosphorusconcentrationswerevariableforthissubwatershed.Over50%ofsamplesexceededthetargetconcentrationof0.08mg/l,yet32%ofsamplescollectedwerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Sixsiteshadcalculatedannualloads(sites25,27,28,32,33,and34).Thehighestannualloadwas7,387lb/yratsite25(mainstem)andthelowestannualloadwas184lb/yratsite28(MarMacLakeCreek).Thehighestmeanphosphorusconcentrationwas0.46mg/latsite35(KelleysDitch).Thissitealsohadthehighestconcentrationforasinglesample(1.3mg/l).Thelowestmeanwas0.07mg/latsite28(MarMacLakeCreek).Totalsuspendedsolids(TSS)concentrationswerelowonthemainstemandhighintheagriculturalareaoftheKemperDitchsubwatershed.Nearly18%ofsamplesexceededthetargetconcentration(30mg/l),and30%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Onlyfoursiteshadenoughdatatocalculateannualloads:sites25(mainstem),27(RiceLakeOutlet),32(mainstem),and33(mainstem).Thehighestsedimentloadwas1,066,138lb/yratsite25andthelowestloadwas31,086lb/yr.Thehighestmeanwas116.5mg/latsite35(KelleysDitch)andthelowestmeanwas3.7mg/latsite28(MarMacLakeCreek).TheagriculturalareasdrainedbyCarverDitch(sites34,35,and36)hadthehighestnumberofsamplesexceedtargetconcentrations(6,5,and6,respectively).ThreesiteshadzeroviolationsofthetargetTSSconcentration(site25,26,and28).E.coliconcentrationsfortheKemperDitchsubwatershedweregenerallyhigh.Eighty-sixsamples(48%)exceededthetargetconcentrationof235CFU/100ml.Allsiteshadmultipleexceedances.Sites32(mainstem)and28(MarMacLakeCreek)hadthemostexceedances.Theagriculturalsitesof35(KelleysDitch)and37(KemperDitch)hadthefewestE.coliviolations.Site34(CarverDitchOutlet)hadthehighestmeanof1,905CFU/100ml,whilethelowestmeanwasatsite27(218CFU/100ml,RiceLakeOutlet).MarMacLakeandRiceLakeStudyAspartofthe2012GLISTENstudy,fourstudysiteswereprivatelyfundedtoassessthetributariesforMarMacLakeandRiceLake.Sites27and28(theinletandoutlettributariesforRiceLake)arealsoIDEMsamplinglocationsforthe2012LCEBbaselinestudy.ThedatacollectedforthesesitesandtheotherGLISTENcollectedsiteswasaddedtotheIDEMbaselinestudy,exceptsites49and50(theinletandoutlettributariesforMarMacLake).Sites49and50donooverlapwithanyIDEMsamplinglocationsandwereonlycollectedduringthesummerof2012.Consequently,thesetwositeswerenotincludedinthebaselinestudy.Temperatureswererelativelyhighforsites49and50.Eighty-sixpercentand90%ofsamplescollectedforsites49and50(respectively)exceededthetargettemperature.However,itshouldbenotedthatwaterqualitydataforthesesiteswasonlycollectedduringthesummermonths.Themeantemperaturewas24.6˚Cand26.0˚Cforsites49and50,respectively.Therewerezeroviolationsfordissolvedoxygenforthesetwosites.However,theirmeanDOconcentrationswerefairlylow(7.1and7.8mg/l,respectively).


Page107

Nitrateconcentrationswerefairlylow.Therewerezeroexceedancesandthemeanconcentrationwas0.08and0.01mg/lforsites49and50,respectively.Site49had3samplesexceedthetargetconcentrationforphosphorus(0.08mg/l).Nonetheless,themeanconcentrationforbothsiteswasbelowthetarget(0.03and0.00mg/l,respectively).TotalsuspendedsolidsandE.coliconcentrationsfollowedasimilarpatternfortheinlet(site49)andoutlet(site50)forMarMacLake.Bothpollutantconcentrationswerehigheruponenteringthelakeandarelargelyreducedattheoutlet.ThemeanTSSconcentrationwas8.0mg/lattheinletandreducedto3.6mg/lattheoutlet.Similarly,themeanE.coliconcentrationwas545CFU/100mluponenteringMarMacLakeandreducedto95CFU/100mlattheoutlet.Site49exceededtheE.colitargetconcentrationforover78%ofsamplescollected,whilesite50hadzeroviolations.

4.2.bHabitat/BiologicalInformationIDEMassessedhabitatandbioticcommunitiesin1990attheHeronRookeryandin2010atsite32,justdownstreamoftheHeronRookery.In1990,theHeronRookerysiteratedamIBIscoreof2.8(moderatelyimpairedusingKICKmetric)andaQHEIof82(excellent).The2010Corvallisstudy(site32)ratedamIBIscoreof20(verypoorusingmultihabitatmetric)andaQHEIof50(fair).Site32receivedanIBIscoreof34(poor)andaQHEIscoreof58(good).IDEMutilizedtwobioticindicesduringtherecreationalperiodin2012toanalyzetwoaquaticcommunities.BenthicmacroinvertebrateswereanalyzedusingIDEM’smIBImethodology,andfishcommunitieswereassessedusingIDEM’sIBImethodology.AllsitesintheKemperDitchsubwatershedreceivedanotsupportingratingformacroinvertebrates.Site35(KelleysDitch)wasnotassessedduetodroughtconditions.Forfishcommunities,onlytwositeswerefoundtosupportthiscommunity:sites32(mainstem)andsite33(mainstem).QHEIscoreswerecalculatedforeachsitetodetermineifthelackofaquaticcommunitiessupportwasduetowaterpollutionorhabitatdegradation.Foursiteswerefoundtohavesupportinghabitat:sites25(mainstem),27(RiceLakeOutlet),28(MarMacLakeCreek),and32(mainstem).

4.2.cLandUseInformationLandcoverinthesubwatershedispredominantlyagricultural(44%),followedbyforested(20%).Developedlandcoverislimited(9%ofthesubwatershed),yetmanylow-densityresidentialhomesarescatteredthroughouttherural/agriculturalareas.UrbanlandcoverisprimarilycomprisedofInterstate94andthelandfill(locatedsouthofI-94andnearsite37)ProposedzoningmapsforLaPorteCountyindicatethattheareasurroundingthehighway421andI-94interchangeiszonedforgeneralcommercialandhighwaycommercial.ProtectedareasincludetheINDUHeronRookery,whichprotectsasignificant(~543-acre)wetlandcomplexalongtheLCEBmainstem.Alarge(~4,700acres)agriculturalareaofhydricsoilsispresentalongCarverandKemperditches.Thisareaisalsoafloodplain.Thisareaofhydricsoilsisbeingexaminedasapotentialwetland


Page108

mitigationarea.KemperDitch,CarverDitch,andthemainstemoftheLCEBareregulateddrainswithintheKemperDitchsubwatershed.TheLCEBisalsodesignatedasalegaldrainwithintheHeronRookery.SavetheDunes,NPS,andthePorterCountySurveyorhavemettobegindiscussingstrategiestoensurethatadequatedrainageismaintainedwhilealsoprotectingtheHeronRookery.Thereisnolargeindustryorplansformajordevelopmentinthissubwatershed.Therearenofairgroundsorkennels.Conventionalagricultureisthedominantlanduse(44%)inthissubwatershed.Low-densityruralresidentialhomesarealsoabundantthroughoutthislandscape.Therearenohobbyfarmsinthissubwatershed.Conventionalfertilizeristhedominantformoffertilizerappliedtoagriculturalfields.Manureisnotusedasafertilizerforconventionalagricultureinthissubwatershed.


Page109

Figure50.LandcoverintheKemperDitchsubwatershed.

WindshieldsurveysintheKemperDitchsubwatershedhighlightedlandusesduetotheirpotentialeffectonwaterquality.BeneficiallandusesnotedbythesurveyorsincludedINDUland,severalsmallforestpreserves,severalwoodedwetlands,bufferstripsalongseveralagriculturalditches,anaturalprairiearea,andatleast3wetlands.Otherlandusesobservedbysurveyorsincluded2siteswithpilesofloosefillmaterial,4steepstreambanks,threesuspectedeutrophicwaterbodies,2demolitionactivities,turbidditchwaterat4sites,2homeconstructionsites,thepresenceofduckweedat4sites,numerousdischargingpipes,ditch-sideplowingofacropatonesite,largeturflawnsuptostreamedgesatmorethan6sites,livestockclosetorivers,Canadiangeeseandotherwaterfowlinponds,conventionalagricultureatmanysites,dredging,2illegaldumpsites,andalandfill.Nearly8milesofabsentorinsufficientriparianbufferswereidentifiedfromthewindshieldsurveycombinedwithdesktopanalysis(Figure51).UtilizingboththeQHEI(habitat)measurementsandthewindshieldsurvey,approximately456ft.ofstreambankareerodingthroughoutintheKemperDitchsubwatershed(Figure51).Moderatetoheavysiltationwasalsoreportedfor835ft.ofstreambed.


Page110

Figure51.StreambankerosionandbuffersneededintheKemperDitchsubwatershed

4.2.dSummaryTheKemperDitchsubwatershedissparselydevelopedandcontainsthemostagriculturallandintheLCEB.However,thissubwatershedalsocontainshighqualitynaturallands,suchastheHeronRookery.TheagriculturallandsinthissubwatershedarecontributingabundantnutrientsandsedimenttostreamsandriversintheKemperditchsubwatershed.ThisrurallandscapemayalsobecontributinglargeamountsofE.colithroughpoorlyfunctioningonsitesepticsystemsfromthemanylow-densityruralresidentialhomescheckeredthroughoutthissubwatershed’slandscape.Allthestreamsinthissubwatershedare303(d)listedforbioticcommunities,whileothersarelistedfornutrients,dissolved


Page111

oxygen,andE.coli.Duetothedrought,the2012baselinestudymayunderestimatewaterqualityparameterssuchasnutrientsandsediment.However,theimpairmentofthebiologicalcommunitiesmaydemonstrateestablishedwaterqualityproblemsinthissubwatershed.

4.3CoffeeCreekSubwatershed(HUC12:040400010403)TheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedis20,393acres,whichisapproximately43%oftheLCEBwatershed.NamedwaterbodieswithintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedincludetheLCEBmainstem,CoffeeCreek,PetersonDitch,PopeO’ConnorDitch,ShooterDitch,JohnsonDitch,SumanTributary,ChubbLake,MorganLake,ChestnutLakes,MudLake,CarlsonPond,andMooreSwamp.ThereareseveralNPDESpermitsintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed:TheChestertonWastewaterTreatmentPlantmainoutfallandadditionaloverflowoutlets(INM022578),theTownofPorterliftstationoverflow(INJ046949),andtheoutletsfortheBurnsHarborWWTPandArcelorMittal(IN0000175).Sites1,3,4,48,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,and24areintheCoffeeCreekSubwatershed.


Page112

Figure52.CoffeeCreeksubwatershedsamplingsites


Page113

Figure53.NPDESpermitsintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed

4.3.aWaterQualityInformationPastStudiesSeveralwaterqualitystudieshavebeenconductedintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.From1990topresent,IDEMhasmaintainedfixedstationsatsites1and5ontheLCEBmainstem.Thefixedstationshaveexaminedmetals,basicwaterchemistry,andotherenvironmental


Page114

variables.IDEMalsoperformedtheBurnsWaterwayTMDLassessmentin2000,whichmeasuredchemistry,environmentalvariables,andorganicsatSite1.BriefsummariesforthesestudiesarelocatedinSection3.1HistoricWaterQualitySamplingCampaigns.IDEM’s2000E.colistudyincludedsites1,5,and13intheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.Sixty-twopercentofsamplescollectedatthesesitesexceededthetargetconcentration(235CFU/100ml).The2000Corvallisstudyexaminedalocationnearsite9.Targetconcentrationswereexceededforphosphorus,temperature,nitrate,sediment,anddissolvedoxygen.The2010Corvallisstudyexaminedsite16intheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.Statewaterqualitystandardswereexceededfortemperature,E.coli,sediment,andtotalphosphorus.The2000EastBranchLittleCalumetRiverstudyexaminedsixsitesintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed(1,5,9,10,23,and48).Forty-fourpercentofsamplesexceededtheIACstandardforE.coliand61%exceededthetargetfortemperature.Therewerenodissolvedoxygenviolations.In2000,IDEMtestedfor103differentpesticidesononeLCEBmainstemlocation(nearsite9).Sixpesticides:Atrazine,Acetoclor,Cyanazine,Desethylatrazine,Metolachlor,andSimazineweredetectedduringMayandJuneofthatyear.Thiscorrespondstotheseasonalityofpesticideuse.Pesticides,whenpresentinsurfacewaterways,cancontributetotheimpairmentofbioticcommunities,sincetheycankillaquaticplantsandanimals.Ofthesixpesticidesdetectedinthestudyfrom2000,onlyMetolachlor,classifiedasanEPAclassCpesticideandcarcinogen,hasanEPAaquaticlifebenchmark.MetolachlorhadtwoviolationsofIACcriteria.TheCoffeeCreekWatershedManagementPlan(2003)examinedwaterqualityat8siteswithintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.Overall,waterqualityinthetributarieswasmoredegradedthanthemainstem.HightemperaturesandelevatedE.coliconcentrations,combinedwithhighnutrientandsedimentloadswerecitedasproblemsforwaterqualityandbiologicalcommunities.ShooterDitchandPopeO’ConnorDitchwereselectedascriticalareas.


Page115

Figure54.CoffeeCreeksubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingforimpairedbioticcommunities


Page116

Figure55.CoffeeCreeksubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingsfornutrientsandchloride


Page117

Figure56.CoffeeCreeksubwatershed2014draft303(d)listingsforE.colianddissolvedoxygen

CurrentStudiesAllstreamsegmentswithintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedareincludedonthe2014(draft)303(d)listing.Forimpairedbioticcommunities(Figure54),theentiresubwatershedislisted.TheentirelengthofthePopeO’ConnorDitch(sites14and15)isimpairedforexcessivenutrients(Figure55).TheentirelengthofSandCreek(sites22,23,and24)isimpairedforchlorideandE.coli.PetersonDitch(sites7and8)isimpairedforE.colianddissolvedoxygen(Figure56).TheentireCoffeeCreek(sites12,13,16,18,20,and21)anditstributaries,JohnsonDitchandShooterDitch(sites17and19,respectively),arealsolistedfordissolvedoxygen(Figure56)onthe2014(draft)303(d)listing.


Page118

Forthepurposeofthisdatasummary,Sites1and2werenotincludedfordataanalysis.Site2isatthebaseoftheSaltCreekwatershed,whichisentirelyoutoftheLCEBwatershed.Site1includesdischargefromtheSaltCreekwatershedinadditiontodischargefromtheentireLCEBwatershed.Consequently,site1isnotanappropriatecomparisonfortherestoftheLCEBstreamsites.TemperaturesintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedwerehighestatthebaseofthewatershedandlowerinthetributaries.Mostsiteshadfewsamplesexceedthedesignatedtargettemperature(21.1°C)duringbaselinesamplingin2012.Foursiteshadzerotemperatureviolations(site8,PetersonDitchUpstream;site15,PopeO’ConnorDitchUpstream;site23,MiddleSandCreek;andsite24,UpperSandCreek).Overall,28%ofsamplesintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedexceededthetemperaturetarget.Thehighestmeasurementwas27.9°Catsite14(PopeO’ConnorDitchDownstream).Thehighestmeanwas23.6°Catsite4(SamuelsonDitchDownstream).Sites4,3,and48hadthethreehighesttemperaturemeansintheLCEBwatershed(23.6°C,22.1°C,and20.9°C,respectively).Site24hadthelowestmeanintheLCEBwatershed(andtheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed),howeverthisupstreampartofSandCreekwasnotflowingduringmuchoftherecreationalperiodin2012,sotemperaturedataforthissitelikelyunderestimatesnormalaveragetemperaturesforagivenyear.Therewererelativelyfewdissolvedoxygen(DO)violationsfortheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed,exceptforthreesitesthatfrequentlyexceededthetargetconcentration(6mg/l).Sites8,19,and22had6,6,and8violations,respectively.Thehighestmeanwas17.2mg/latsite15(PopeO’ConnorDitchUpstream),butthehighDOreadingsalwayscorrespondedwithextremelylowwatertemperaturesduringthewintermonths,whichallowedthewaterinCoffeeCreektoholdmoreoxygenthanitwouldunderwarmertemperatures.Becauseofthis,thesampleswerenotlabeledasoversaturated,eventhoughsomevalueswereashighas19.9mg/l(correspondingwith13.5°Cwatertemperature).AtSite15thelowestconcentrationwas3.1mg/l,whichcorrespondedtoaverywarmwatertemperature(27.9°C).ThelowestmeanintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedwas9.4mg/latsite22(LowerSandCreek),whichisstillwellabovethetargetconcentrationof6mg/l.Overall,only8%ofsamplescollectedintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedexceededthetargetconcentration.TherewerenopHviolationsintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedin2012:allsamplesfellwithinthesixtoninepHunitsrangefromtheIAC.NitrateandnitriteconcentrationsintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedweregenerallylowin2012.Only15%ofsamplescollectedexceededthetargetconcentrationof1.0mg/land25%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Sites5(mainstem),9(mainstem),and10(mainstem)hadthehighestpercentageofsamplesexceedthetargetconcentration(83%,75%and82%,respectively).Site10(mainstem)alsohadthehighestmean(1.8mg/l).Thelowestmeanof0.1mg/lwasatsite17(JohnsonDitch).ThissitewasalsothesecondlowestnitratemeanintheLCEBwatershed.SevensitesintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedhadenoughdatatocalculateannualloads:sites3(mainstem),7(PetersonDitchDownstream),9(mainstem),11(mainstem),12(CoffeeCreek),20(CoffeeCreek)and22(LowerSandCreek).ThePurdueloadtoolrequiresatleast12uncensoreddatapointswithassociatedflowtogenerateloads,andseveralsitesinthissubwatershedhadtoolittle


Page119

datatocalculateloadsandarealloads.Site9(mainstem)hadthehighestannualnitrate-loadingrate(138,394lb/yr)andsite3(mainstem)withintheNationalLakeshorehadthesecondhighestannualload(100,015lb/yr)fornitrateintheLCEBwatershedin2012.Itisimportanttonotethatduetothehistoric2012drought,thebaselinedatathathasbeenreportedfornitratemayunderestimatenormalpollutionlevelsforthiswatershed.PhosphorusintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedwassomewhathigh.Thirty-sevenpercentofsamplescollectedexceededthetargetconcentrationof0.08mg/land36%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.Everysite,exceptsites4and48(SamuelsonDitch)hadexceedancesforphosphorus.Sites10(mainstem)and19(ShooterDitch)hadthehighestpercentageofsamplesexceedthephosphorustarget.Tensiteshadenoughdatatocalculateannualloads:sites3,7,9,11,12,13,17,18,20,and22.Site9(mainstem)hadthehighestphosphorusloadofanysiteintheLCEBwatershed(10,160lb/yr),whilesite17(JohnsonDitch)hadthesmallestphosphorusload(154lb/yr)intheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.Thesmallestphosphorusmeanswere0.03and0.05mg/latsites48and4,respectively.ItisimportanttonotethatSamuelsonDitch(sites4and48)iscomprisedonlyoftreatedsteelmilleffluent,andisthereforenotatrueriverliketherestofthesitesintheLCEBwatershed.Thelargestmeaninthissubwatershedwas0.14mg/latsite22(LowerSandCreek).Totalsuspendedsolids(TSS)wererelativelylowintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.Overall,only5%ofsamplescollectedexceededthetargetconcentration(30mg/l)and40%ofsampleswerebelowtheanalyticaldetectionlimit.FourteensiteshadnoTSSviolations(sites3,4,6,7,810,11,13,14,15,16,18,20and24),whilesixmorehadonlyoneviolation(sites9,17,19,21,23,and48).Site12(CoffeeCreek)hadthelargestpercentageofexceedances(24%).ThelowestmeanforTSSwas4mg/latsite14(PopeO’ConnorDitchdownstream).ThiswasthesecondlowestmeanintheLCEBwatershedin2012.ThelowestannualTSSload(36,965lb/yr)wassite7(PetersonDitchUpstream).However,site9hadthehighestannualloadofthosecalculatedfortheLCEBwatershedat1,548,644lb/yr.ConcentrationsofE.coliintheCoffeeCreekOutletshowedawiderangeofbacteriallevels.Over47%ofsamplescollectedexceededthetargetconcentrationof235CFU/100ml.Onlytwosites(4and48)hadzeroE.coliviolations.Sites4and48(SamuelsonDitchDownstreamandUpstream)hadthelowestE.colimeansintheentireLCEBwatershed(12and18CFU/100ml,respectively).Thiswaterwaywascreatedtodrainandcooltreatedsteelmilleffluentandisnotanaturalwaterway.Itisimportanttonotethatseveralofthesmallertributarysiteswerenotflowingortotallydryduringthegrowingseason,sosomeofthebaselinevaluesatthesesitesmayunderestimatenormalconditionsinthesestreams.Site7(PetersonDitchDownstream)hadthelargestmean(2,277CFU/100ml).ThelargestpercentageofsamplesexceedingthetargetconcentrationwasatSite12(CoffeeCreek,81%).Sites7(PetersonDitch),9(mainstem),and22(LowerSandCreek)alsohadlargepercentagesofexceedances(75%,70%,and70%,respectively).


Page120

4.3.bHabitat/BiologicalInformationThe1990macroinvertebratestudysampledsite16intheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.ThissiteratedaQHEIscoreof65(good)andamIBIscoreof3.6(moderatelyimpaired).The2000Corvallisstudyexaminedamainstemsitenearsite9.AQHEIscoreof35(non-supporting)andanIBIscoreof34(poor)werereported.TheCoffeeCreekWatershedManagementPlan(2003)evaluatedmacroinvertebratesinthespringandfallatthe7samplingsites.ThefallsamplingreportedhighermIBIscores(5sitessupporting,2sitesnotsupporting)thanthespringsample(3sitessupportingand4sitesnotsupporting).OnlyonesitereceivedasupportingscorefortheQHEI(habitat).IDEMutilizedtwobioticindicesduringtherecreationalperiodin2012toanalyzetwomainaquaticcommunities.BenthicmacroinvertebrateswereanalyzedusingthemIBImethodology,andfishcommunitieswereassessedusingtheIBImethodology.BothcommunitieswereassessedatalltheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedsitesexceptforsite15(PopeO’ConnorDitchUpstream)whereIDEMassessedneitherofthebioticcommunitiesin2012andsite24(UpperSandCreek)wherethefishcommunitywasnotassessedduetodroughtconditions.Twositesreceivedsupportingscores(>36)formacroinvertebrates(mIBI):sites5(mainstem)and23(MiddleSandCreek).Sites5(mainstem),6(mainstem),9(mainstem),13(CoffeeCreek),and16(CoffeeCreek)receivedsupportingscoresforfishcommunities(>36).Toevaluatethecauseoffailingbioticcommunities,in-streamhabitatisassessedusingtheQHEI.Habitatwasfoundtobenotsupportingatsites8(PetersonDitchUpstream),14(PopeO’ConnorDitchDownstream),19(ShooterDitch),21(CoffeeCreek),22(LowerSandCreek),and48(SamuelsonDitchUpstream).Itisimportanttonotethat2012wasahistoricdroughtyear,andmanyofthesesitesshowedhabitatratingsthatwerepotentiallylowerthanwhatmaybeconsiderednormalconditionsforthesesites,duetolowwaterlevelsthatcouldhaveputrootwads,overhangingvegetation,andotherfishandmacroinvertebratehabitatsabovethewaterline.

4.3.cLandUseInformationLandcoverinthesubwatershedispredominantlydevelopedland/urban(31%)followedbyforest(30%)andagriculture(16%)(Figure39andFigure57).With31%developedland,theCoffeeCreeksubwatershedisbyfarthemosturbanintheLCEBwatershed.DevelopedlandisprimarilyinandaroundtheincorporatedareasalongthemainstemandneartheconfluenceofCoffeeCreekwiththemainstem.TheruralareasintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedhaveabundantlow-densityruralresidentialhomescombinedwithagriculture.TheheadwatersofCoffeeCreekarelargelyforestedandprotectedwithintheMoraineNaturePreserve,whichprovidesalargeamountofopenspace.MuchoftheLCEBmainstem,downstreamofCoffeeCreek,isprotectedwithinINDU.SectionsofShooterDitch,PopeO’ConnorDitch,JohnsonDitch,PetersonDitch,andsomereachesoftheLCEBmainstemareregulateddrainswithintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed.


Page121

Chestertonislikelytoexpandtothesouthandsouthwest,inareasthatarecurrentlyagricultureorlow-densityruralresidentialhomes.Largeindustry,suchasArcelorMittal,isnotanticipatedtoexpandintothiswatershed.TherearenofairgroundslocatedintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedatthistime.ThereareonlytwosmallanimalkennelslocatedinChestertonandPorter:ArkoftheDunesAnimalHospitalinChestertonandDogKennelsRunsandMoreinPorter.TwosmallhobbyfarmsarelocatedintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed(Figure58).Theacreageofthesefarmsisapproximately18acreswith6horsesand10cattle.


Page122

Figure57.LandcoverintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed

Figure58.HobbyfarmsintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed

WindshieldsurveysintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedhighlightedlandusesduetotheirpotentialeffectonwaterquality.BeneficiallandusesnotedbythesurveyorsincludedINDUforestpreserves,afen,manywetlands,pondsandlakes,twostormwaterdetentionbasins,aclassifiedforest,andthreepreservationareas.Otherlandusesreportedbysurveyorsincluded:severebankerosionassociatedwiththePraxairdam,anarmoredstreambankneartheconfluencewithDeepRiver,4siteswithsteepstreambanks,industrialeffluentatonesiteonthemainstem,denseresidentialareaswithinChesterton,4largeimpervious


Page123

surfaces/parkinglots,largestripmalldevelopment,severallargelawnturfareasuptostreamedges,4yardwastedumpsites,2siteswheretrashhasbeendumpednearthestream,greenandgreycoloroftheLCEBmainstemattwodifferentsites,exposedpipesattwosites,Canadiangeeseandotherwaterfowlinponds,rustydiscolorationofcurbsandtreesinaneighborhoodwithsprinklersystems,aroadsaltstoragefacility,disturbedsoilsattwolocations,twositeswithloosefillmaterial,alargeneighborhoods’ditchesdrainingtonearbycreek,achannelizedriveratonesite,asandmine,andnumerouslogjams.Over3.4milesofabsentorinsufficientriparianbufferswereidentifiedfromthewindshieldsurveycombinedwithdesktopanalysis(Figure59).UtilizingboththeQHEI(habitat)analysisandthewindshieldsurvey,approximately1,206ft.ofstreambankareerodingthroughoutintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed(Figure59).Moderatetoheavysiltationwasalsoreportedforover1,775ft.ofstreambed.

Figure59.StreambankerosionandbuffersneededintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershed


Page124

4.3.dSummaryTheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedhasthelargestamountofurbanlanduseintheLCEB.Impervioussurfacesinurbanlandscapestendtodegradewaterqualityandscourstreambanks.CommercialdevelopmentareasintheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedgenerallylackgreeninfrastructuretoreduceimpactsoflargeimpervioussurfaces.However,thisurbanareaisalsotheonlypartoftheLCEBservicedbysanitarysewers.ThesouthernandeasternportionoftheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedisnotservicedbysewersandmaybecontributingE.colifrommalfunctioningonsitesepticsystems.Theruralareasofthiswatershedcontainmanylargeresidentialhomesonwoodedlotsorinagriculturalsettings.Approximately16%oftheCoffeeCreeksubwatershedisagricultural.Therefore,sedimentandnutrientsarelikelyexportedtolocalstreamsandrivers.Thissubwatershedalsocontainsalargeportionofforestedprotectedlands,suchastheMoraineNaturePreserveandtheCoffeeCreekWatershedPreserve.Allstreamsinthissubwatershedare303(d)listedforbioticcommunities,whileothersarelistedfornutrients,dissolvedoxygen,chloride,andE.coli.Duetothedrought,the2012baselinestudymayunderestimatewaterqualityparameterssuchasnutrientsandsediment.However,theimpairmentofthebiologicalcommunitiesmaydemonstrateestablishedwaterqualityproblemsinthissubwatershed.

4.4.WatershedInventorySummaryTheLCEBwatershedisadiverselandscapecontaininghighqualitynaturallands,conventionalagriculture,andurbanareaswithextensiveimpervioussurfaces.Soilsinthiswatershedarealsodiverse;rangingfromverypoorlydrainingandnutrientrichtoquicklydrainingandnutrientpoorsandysoils.Historicwaterqualitysamplingshowsthatwaterqualityimpairmentsandimpairedbiologicalcommunitiesareincreasingthroughoutthewatershed.The2012baselinestudywasaffectedbyahistoricmulti-yeardrought.Pollutantloadscouldnotbecalculatedformanysamplingsitesduetodatarestrictions.However,the2014(draft)303(d)impairmentlistingsclearlydemonstratethecurrentlevelofwaterqualityimpairmentsintheLCEB.NumeroussamplingsitesexceededtheIACtargetforover50%ofsamplescollectedfornitrogen(nitrate+nitrite),phosphorus(totalphosphorus),E.coli,andsediment(totalsuspendedsolids)(Figure60).Only11sites(4,15,16,20,24,39,40,42,45,46,and47)arenotrepresentedinFigure60.Thismeansonly11sitesconsistentlyhadfairlygoodwaterquality.Thewidespreadimpairmentofbiologicalcommunitiesdemonstratesawell-establishedconditionofimpairmentthroughoutthewatershed.Thehealthofstreambiologicalcommunitieshelpstointerpretlong-termconditions,whileagrabsampleforwaterchemistrycanonlyassesscurrentconditions.NearlyeverystreamintheLCEBhasbeenlistedforimpairedbiologicalcommunities.Figure61depictsthesamplingsitesthatratedunsupportingforfish(IBI)andmacroinvertebrates(mIBI),orpoorforhabitat(QHEI).Site


Page125

5wastheonlysamplingsiteevaluatedthatratedsatisfactoryscoresforbiologyandhabitat.

Figure60.LCEBsamplingsitesthatexceededIACtargetsforover50%ofsamplescollectedin2012BaselineStudy.


Page126

Figure61.LCEBsamplingsitesthatdidnotmeettargetsfor2012BaselineStudy

5.0ReviewofWatershedProblemsandCauses

5.1StakeholderConcernsThefollowingstakeholderconcernsweredevelopedfromstakeholderinputandthewatershedinventoryanalysis.TheLCEBsteeringcommitteeevaluatedtheconcernsandavailabledatatodeterminethegroup’sfocus.

4.0 watershed inventory 3 – subwatersheds · acres that lies along the lceb mainstem. it extends...

Documents