DEQ study indicates bacteria problems in Wythe Co. creek

By NATE HUBBARD
Media General News Service
Published: August 1, 2008

An inquisitive crowd of around 50 people packed the Speedwell firehouse Tuesday evening to get information about a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality study that indicates bacteria problems in the waters of Cripple Creek.

The meeting opened a month-long period for public comment, which begins a process that will eventually lead to the implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load of pollutants allowable in the creek to return it to a healthy level.

“It is a process to restore impaired waters – that’s why we’re all here,” said Shelley Williams, DEQ’s study coordinator. “Hopefully the final product is clean water.”

DEQ identified three sections of Cripple Creek in need of intervention – a combined 14.4 miles of waterway.

The first section, crossing Wythe County’s western border with Smyth County, starts at the headwaters and runs to the confluence of Blue Spring Creek.

The middle portion runs roughly between the towns of Speedwell and Cripple Creek, from the Dry Run confluence to the Francis Mill Creek confluence.

The last impaired section begins north of Ivanhoe at the Dean Branch confluence and runs downstream into the New River.

Responding to a question from Quincey Bridges of Speedwell regarding why certain sections of Cripple Creek are considered impaired while other parts are fine, Williams explained that a number of factors – including especially varying water flows – can account for the differences.

She said that water from tributaries connecting to portions of the creek can essentially flush out harmful bacteria levels.
Williams reported that water samples taken from the creek in the impaired sections regularly showed bacteria counts above 235 per 100 milliliters, causing the stream to fail water quality standards for recreational use. Testing on the creek has been ongoing since the early 1990s and DEQ first listed the waterway as impaired by fecal coliform bacteria in 2004.

Although the bacteria levels consistently were higher than the minimum acceptable standard, there was no “definite trend” in the data, said Byron Petrauskas of Engineering Concepts, the firm responsible for the technical aspects of Cripple Creek’s TMDL.

“I have not seen a statistical trend that is increasing or decreasing,” he said.

Neither Williams nor Petrauskas had specific bacteria count data available at the meeting, but Williams said any readings greater than the 235 standard trigger the need to implement a TMDL.

“There is a problem,” she said. “And it’s a problem that has to be dealt with whether its 700 units over or not.”

The study coordinator also emphasized that Cripple Creek isn’t being singled out, mentioning multiple other TMDL processes that are taking place on waterways across the state.

James Wohlford of Speedwell questioned the need for alarm when generations of his family have been using the creek without any ill effects.

“We all swam in Cripple Creek, none of us got sick,” he said.

Williams countered that the bacteria levels may not be deadly but they still represent a significant concern.

“We know that it’s not good for you,” she said.

While the TMDL process is a federally mandated requirement, the actions called for in the final version of the bacteria reduction plan will not be binding.

Instead, Williams and Martha Chapman of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation alerted those in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting to possible incentive programs and cost-sharing plans that can help those living near the waterway take the initiative to improve the water quality of the creek.

“We’re not telling you what you have to do,” Williams said. “It’s your choice. …We’re asking you to be open-minded.”
Most in the crowd seemed to heed Williams’ request.

While many meeting attendees questioned some of DEQ’s methods and pointed out other reasons beyond day-to-day farming operations that may be causing the high bacteria levels, the general mood of the crowd was one of interest about the study and not of anger or obstinate skepticism.

At the end of the meeting, Dana Pack of Cripple Creek thanked the presenters for their concern about the health of the community’s waterway.

“If it has pollutants in it, I appreciate you looking at it,” Pack said. “I do appreciate you all coming out and taking the time to get the process started for us.”

The TMDL is designed to accomplish three main goals: identify all significant pollution sources, calculate the amount of pollution from each source and calculate the amount of pollution reduction needed from each source to reach water quality standards.

Petrauskas detailed a number of intricate models and assessment tools that his company uses to determine the pollution sources, but he said nearly all the bacteria problems come from human, pet, livestock and wildlife waste.

One potentially important pollution source, however, that may have initially been overlooked was the old Speedwell landfill.

Wythe County Clerk of Court Hayden Horney, a Speedwell resident, asked Petrauskas if he was aware of the closed landfill and the engineer indicated that he didn’t know of its existence.

Williams emphasized that insights like Horney’s were the reason behind Tuesday’s meeting and the ensuing period for public comment.

“You all are here everyday,” she said. “We’re here for your all’s input.”

In addition to minimizing bacteria sources such as livestock defecating directly in the creek and fertilizer runoff, Petrauskas said the TMDL also will eliminate illegal waste deposits from sources like straight pipes.

According to preliminary estimates, Petrauskas’ data show 116 straight pipes throughout the entire Cripple Creek watershed and an additional 244 failed septic systems.

Once more firm numbers are established, the TMDL will allocate reduction percentages for each pollution source, ranging from a recommended 100 percent elimination of straight pipe waste contamination to, for example, a 50 percent reduction in bacteria runoff from cropland.

The designated period for public comment on the TMDL runs through Aug. 29.

Additional public meetings will be held throughout the development of Cripple Creek’s TMDL, which all the way through to implementation will be a multi-year undertaking.

Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .

Make your voice heard during Cripple Creek’s TMDL public comment period through Aug. 29
Contact:
Shelley Williams
DEQ Southwest Regional Office
(276) 676-4845

Byron Petrauskas
Engineering Concepts
(540) 473-1253

For additional information on the TMDL process, visit http://www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl.