Stony Creek Watershed Project for Nonpoint Source Pollution

Our vision: "Creating and preserving a healthy watershed"

In the sections below, we have outlined some of the decisions and priorities established for the watershed management plan:

DESIGNATED/DESIRED USES OF STONY CREEK WATERSHED

The steering committee is held responsible by the state of Michigan for developing a management plan to protect surface waters for the following designated uses:

- agriculture
- warmwater fishery
- aquatic life and wildlife
- partial body contact for recreation
- total body contact between May 1 and October 31
- public water supply
- industrial water supply
- navigation

The steering committe recognizes that the last two designated uses are not reasonably applicable to the Stony Creek Watershed and will focus attention on the other designated uses.

"Public water supply" is currently limited to groundwater use by individuals in the Stony Creek Watershed. Residents of Monroe, MI, intake water from Lake Erie near the mouth of Stony Creek.

In addition, PAINT CREEK (in Washtenaw County) has been designated as a trout stream and will therefore be protected as a coldwater fishery and considered an additional designated use of the that portion of the watershed.

PRIORITY POLLUTANTS/CHALLENGES

We held a pair of public fourms in early April (one in Washtenaw County and one in Monroe County) to 1) let the public know what had been done, 2) get input from the public about the highest priority pollutants and pollutant sources and causes, and 3) to let the public know about what we have planned for the future.

The results of the public prioritization of pollutants follows:

Washtenaw County	Monroe County
1. Sedimentation/Soil erosion 2. Altered hydrology 3. Nutrients 4. Low Dissolved Oxygen 5. Pesticides 6. Temperature 7. Hydro Sulf/Total Dissolved Solids 8. Oil, grease, metal, brine, salt 9. Pathogens 10. Low pH	1. Altered hydrology 2. Sedimentation/Soil erosion 3. Low Dissolved Oxygen 4. Nutrients 5. Pesticides 6. Oil, grease, metal, brine, salt 7. Temperature 8. Pathogens 9. Hydro Sulf/Total Dissolved Solids 10. Low pH

Notice the prioritizatons for each county are remarkably similar. The top 5 concerns are the same 5 concerns in a slightly different order.

We will hold another public forum in the early fall for more guidance from the public about the final management plan.

POLLUTANT SOURCES AND CAUSES

Based on input from the public forum and from discussion of collected data by the technical and steering committees, we have devised a list of important sources and causes for the above pollutants:

Known/Suspected Sources & Causes of Pollutants/Challenges in Stony Creek Watershed

1. SEDIMENTATION / SOIL EROSION

Sources	Causes
Developing and developed areas	- Inadequate inspection / compliance with permits - Inadequate sediment / erosion control methods - Inadequate riparian buffers - Inadequate stormwater management
Agricultural fields	- Inadequate upland conservation practices - Inadequate riparian buffers - Wind erosion
Eroding streambanks	- High flow fluctuation - Some log jams divert flow to banks - Insufficient vegetation on banks
Eroding road stream crossings	- Erosive road / overpass surface - Old failing structures - Inadequately sized culverts for current flows
Livestock in streams	- Uncontrolled access

2. ALTERED HYDROLOGY

Sources	Causes
Developing and developed areas	- Imperviousness of landscape - Loss of wetlands and natural vegetation - Inadequate stormwater management - Natural streams removed/relocated with urban development
Agricultural fields	- Loss of wetlands and natural vegetation - Streams moved, straightened, and disconnected from floodplain with construction of drains - Tiling increases flow in streams - Tiling may reduce overland flow by reducing ponding of water on surface
Point sources (gravel pits)	- Discharge of pumped groundwater into streams
Log jams (locally)	- Bank erosion induced tree fall (from increased flow due to urbanization of upper watershed)

3. NUTRIENTS

Sources	Causes
Homeowners, urban and rural	- Improper selection and application of fertilizers - Inadequate riparian buffers - Improperly maintained, poorly designed septic systems
Agricultural fields	- Insufficient upland conservation practices - Inadequate riparian buffers - Sewage sludge applied to agricultural fields
Commercial lawns and golf courses	- Inadequate riparian buffers - Insufficient management practices
Livestock in streams	- Uncontrolled access
Storm sewers	- Stormwater sewers transport plant material and animal waste directly into streams - Illicit connections of sanitary sewer to storm sewer?
Waterfowl waste	- Direct access to streams

4. LOW DO – Strongly correlated with stream temperature

Sources	Causes
Higher water temperature (see temperature sources and causes)	- High temperature water holds less oxygen

5. PESTICIDES

Sources	Causes
Agricultural fields	- Insufficient upland conservation practices - Inadequate riparian buffers
Homeowners, urban and rural	- Improper application and use - Inadequate riparian buffers
Commercial lawns and golf courses	- Inadequate riparian buffers - Insufficient management practices

6. TEMPERATURE

Sources	Causes
Runoff from impervious areas	- Inadequate stormwater management
Solar heating	- Loss of riparian canopy (mostly tributaries)

7. HYDROGEN SULFIDE / TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS

Sources	Causes
Groundwater	- Groundwater pumping and discharge from quarries

8. OIL, GREASE, METAL, BRINE, SALT

Sources	Causes
Roads, parking lots, driveways	- Inadequate stormwater management practices - Road ditches drain directly to streams - Storm sewers and drainage paths connected directly to streams
Homeowners, urban and rural	- Improper oil disposal and vehicle maintenance - Salt overuse for snow removal

9. PATHOGENS

Sources	Causes
Homeowners, urban and rural	- Improperly maintained, poorly designed septic systems
Livestock waste	- Insufficient upland controls - Uncontrolled access to streams
Pet waste	- Stormwater sewers create direct path to streams
Waterfowl waste	- Direct access to streams
Agricultural fields	- Sewage sludge applied to agricultural fields
Human waste from sanitary sewers	- Illicit connections of sanitary sewer to storm sewer?

10. pH (Acidity)

Sources	Causes
Acid Rain lowers pH	- Coal burning power plants
Agricultural fields	- addition of lime lowers pH - ammonia fertilizers may raise pH

(Approved by the Steering Committee)

OVERALL, the biggest contributor of sediment, altered hydrology, and nutrients (phosphorus) is the developed and developing areas (see water quality maps ). The planning will focus more attention (about 60%) on those areas in order to make the biggest improvement for the watershed. The second biggest contributor or nonpoint source pollution is agriculture, which we will consider a secondary priority. However, focusing on limiting the damage from the developing areas will benefit the agricultural areas by reducing the impact of flooding, etc.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR STONY CREEK WATERSHED

The broad purpose of the Stony Creek Watershed Management Plan is creating and preserving a healthy watershed. This will mean reducing pollutants and challenges so that they no longer threaten or impair designated uses for the watershed. Beyond that, it will require establishing a mechanism for monitoring progress on achieving reductions in pollutants and impairments and insuring that efforts are continued. The goals below have been articulated by the Stony Creek Steering Committee, on the recommendations of the Technical Committee and with community input through public forums and informal feedback and reaction. These are general objectives, a list of specific strategies is being compiled and will be posted later.

NOTE - The Goals are listed 1-7 (but not necessarily in priroity order). We consider the first three designated used "impaired", thus we wish to restore those uses. We consider the last 4 uses "threatened", therefore we wish to protect those uses.

1. RESTORE A WARMWATER FISHERY

Objectives
Reduce hydrologic impact
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Protect natural areas and wetlands
        - Public education – lawn maintenance
        - Protect prime agricultural land
Reduce sedimentation and erosion
        - Improve Sediment and Erosion Control inspection/enforcement
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Stabilize eroding road crossings
        - Protect / increase riparian vegetation
Reduce amount of nutrients / pesticides
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Increase riparian buffers
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
       - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of oil/grease/metal/brine/salt
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Public education – oil disposal, vehicle maintenance, etc.

2. RESTORE A COLDWATER FISHERY

Objectives
Reduce hydrologic impact
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Protect natural areas and wetlands
        - Public education – lawn maintenance
        - Protect prime agricultural land
Reduce sedimentation and erosion
        - Improve Sediment and Erosion Control inspection & enforcement
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Stabilize eroding road crossings
        - Protect / increase riparian vegetation
Reduce amount of nutrients / pesticides
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Increase riparian buffers
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of oil/grease/metal/brine/salt
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Public education – oil disposal, vehicle maintenance, etc.
Reduce water temperature
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Protect / increase riparian vegetation

3. RESTORE AQUATIC LIFE/WILDLIFE

4. PROTECT AGRICULTURE

Objectives
Reduce amount of nutrients / pesticides
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Increase riparian buffers
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of pathogens
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of oil/grease/metal/brine/salt
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Public education – oil disposal, vehicle maintenance, etc.

6. PROTECT TOTAL BODY CONTACT FOR RECREATION

7. PROTECT PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY (GROUNDWATER)

Objectives
Reduce hydrologic impact
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Protect natural areas and wetlands
        - Public education – lawn maintenance
        - Protect prime agricultural land
Reduce amount of nutrients / pesticides
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Increase riparian buffers
        - Improve agricultural conservation efforts
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of pathogens
        - Public education – lawn maintenance and pet waste
        - Identify and correct failing septic systems
        - Restrict livestock from stream
        - Identify and correct illicit connection of sanitary sewers to storm sewers
Reduce amount of oil/grease/metal/brine/salt
        - Improve stormwater management
        - Public education – oil disposal, vehicle maintenance, etc.

DOWNLOADS - Completed Drafts of Management Plan Chapters, etc.

(PC users: right-click one of the links below and choose "Save Link Target As..." to save the file onto your computer. Mac users: please hold down the mouse button over one of the links below to save the file.)

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Public Participation (64K) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 2 - Watershed Description (3MB) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 3 - Water Quality Assessment (6.8MB) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 4 - Challenges and Project Goals (144K) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 5 - Management Strategies (680K) Microsoft Word file

Table 5.1 - Strategy Table (148 K) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 6 - Public Information and Education (36K) Microsoft Word file

Table 6.1 - I & E Table (84 K) Microsoft Word file

Chapter 7 - Implementation and Evaluation (52K) Microsoft Word file

Water Quality Summary (62 K) Microsoft Word file

CONCERNED??? WANT TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? CLICK HERE

If you would like to report information on the Stony Creek or have any questions or concerns about the watershed project, please contact us at Stony Creek Watershed Project.

Page last updated June 2005
by Kevin Gustavson