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Monitoring Bacteria TMDL Implementation in Catoctin Creek Watershed, VA

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  TMDL 2010: Watershed Management to Improve Water Quality Proceedings, 14-17 November 2010 Hyatt Regency Baltimore on the Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland USA  711P0710cd.(doi:10.13031/2013.35773)
Authors:   David S Ward
Keywords:   water quality, bacteria, tracking TMDL, implementation

A five-year program of stream monitoring of bacteria levels in the Catoctin Creek Watershed in Virginia indicated limited overall bacteria level reduction during the course of the TMDL Implementation Program. Almost 1,000 water samples were collected twice monthly at fourteen sites by citizen volunteers. A Virginia DEQ grant provided funding for EasyGel kits. A reasonably strong correlation between bacteria levels and streamflow rate was observed, however it was not possible to spatially correlate the TMDL implementation activities with stream monitoring result. Streams were monitored 60 to 90 times with an overall recreational use water quality standard violation rate of 39%. Annual cycles were examined using a moving geometric mean approach. During the five-year phase of the TMDL Implementation (2004-2009) over $1 million of EPA 319 funds were invested. Loudoun Soil & Water Conservation District completed over 60 BMP projects including: 30,000 feet of stream fencing and 20 water troughs. Loudoun Health Department completed 36 corrective actions including: 14 minor repairs, 13 gravity drainfields and nine alternative drainfields. In 2008 bacterial source tracking by VA DEQ (12 samples collected monthly at three locations) indicated that contributions from wildlife, livestock, human and pet were all present. While community outreach and stakeholder involvement have been successful, additional implementation and monitoring efforts for many years will be necessary to meet water quality standards.

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