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Steven Patrick Agriculture & Natural Resources Habersham County – Northeast District

Soque River Watershed Assessment National Association of County Agricultural Agents AMIC Tulsa, OK 2010. Steven Patrick Agriculture & Natural Resources Habersham County – Northeast District University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Steven Patrick.

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Steven Patrick Agriculture & Natural Resources Habersham County – Northeast District

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  1. Soque River Watershed AssessmentNational Association of County Agricultural Agents AMICTulsa, OK 2010 Steven Patrick Agriculture & Natural Resources Habersham County – Northeast District University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

  2. Steven Patrick Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent 98 – 10 Hatchery Manager Sam’s Tropical Fish Farm, AL MS Fisheries Mgmt & Aquaculture UGA BSFR Fisheries Mgmt & Aquaculture UGA www.ugaextension.com/habersham stevep@uga.edu

  3. Land Use 17% National Forest 48% Private Forest 22% Agriculture 12% Urbanized

  4. Habersham County Figures • The County generated ~ $330 million in farm gate value in 2009. • Habersham is ranked #3for GA farm gate value. • Agriculture is 1/4thof our local economy. Poultry is $305 Million in Habersham

  5. The Watershed Partnership

  6. Project Objectives • Perform a comprehensive baseline assessment of stream health (physical, chemical, & biological parameters) • Characterize non-point source (NPS) pollution inputs in the watershed • Build consensus about water protection practices • Develop a community based watershed protection plan to preserve high quality areas and restore threatened areas

  7. Watershed assessment • “Hot spot” bacterial sampling • E. Coli as indicator organism • Suspended sediment concentration • Baseflow and stormflow • Biological assessment • benthic macroinvertebrates (RBP)

  8. Headwaters Raper Creek • Sample protocols focus on sub-watersheds of the Soque River • characterizing biological health • identifying NPS pollutant sources • quantifying pollutant loads Shoal Creek Beaverdam Creek Deep Creek Yellowbank Creek Hazel Creek

  9. 19 benthic macro-invertebrate samples • Index period Oct-Feb • 2004-2006

  10. Pearson Correlations (r) • Reflect the degree to which variables are related • Do not demonstrate cause and effect • Range from +1 to -1

  11. +1 indicates perfect positive linear relationship

  12. -1 indicates perfect negative linear relationship

  13. Positive correlations (p < .05)

  14. Negative correlations (p < .05)

  15. Fecal Coliform Bacteria • From the gut of warm blooded animals (including us) • Must consider all potential sources • Livestock • Pets • Wildlife • Humans • Failing septic systems and broken sewer lines

  16. Bacteriological Data • E. coli indicator • Used to prioritize locations for corrective action • Requires landowner cooperation

  17. Bacteria - North of Clarkesville • Major tributaries: • Headwaters (Left Fork and Right Fork) • Raper Creek • Shoal Creek • Deep Creek • 17 of 42 sample sites do not meet water quality standards (40%) • Most of the high counts are in the Deep and Shoal Creek watersheds • Need a reduction of 2% - 87% to meet criteria (average = 49%)

  18. Bacteria – South of Clarkesville • Major tributaries: • Beaverdam Creek • Yellowbank Creek • Hazel Creek • 26 of 34 sites do not meet water quality standards (76%) • 15 of 20 highest levels found in these watersheds • Need a reduction of 24% - 93% to meet criteria (average = 64%)

  19. Corrective Actions • Additional grant awarded 2010 • Targeted actions to reduce bacterial and sediment loads • Put BMPs on the ground • 100% funding available to landowners in critical areas • Specs based on NRCS standards/price list • We are looking for folks to work with

  20. Shoal Creek Example • Two tributaries in Shoal Creek tested high for bacteria. • Partnership members visit with the landowners in the area.

  21. The potential source:

  22. The Solution: • Installation fencing, watering tanks & hay rings at the Gosnell and Parker Farms. • Reduced access to the stream = hope of reduced bacteria readings after BMP installation.

  23. Project Benefits • Grant funding extended to 2015 for BMP installation • Data from the assessment may be used by stakeholders for water protection and land use considerations • Water supply watersheds may remain protected • Solutions to address NPS inputs that are equitable to all stakeholders may be developed

  24. For more information… http://www.ugaextension.com/habersham/anr/

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