Collie_Hollow_Watershed_Report

Watershed Area2 • County: Pulaski, Missouri • Length of Segment: 8.2km • Legal Start: SE NE NE 6 35N 7W • Legal End: SW NW SE 4 35N 8W • River Basin: Upper Gasconade • Map Sheet: Ozark Springs, Brownfield (HUC # 10290201-070) • Land Feature: Valley County Demographics3 • Population (1990): 41,307 • Land Area: 547sq.mi. • Population Per Sq. Mile: 76 Precipitation Patterns6 At this latitude precipitation in the form of rain or snow is affected by temperature, which has an annual mean of 42E F. Rain has the effect of quickly recharging groundwater and surface water, where snow melt has a gradual effect on surface water hydrology. The average annual precipitation at Rolla, MO (east of watershed) and Lebanon (west of watershed) was 41.09 and 41.37, respectively, inches over the period 1961-90 (Owenby and Ezell 1992). The arithmetic watershed precipitation mean is 41.66 inches. Precipitation for the 1960-96 period of record indicated that the winter seasons and growing seasons (April to November), as defined by the SCS Wright County Soil Survey, had year-to-year cyclic patterns as seen in Figure 1 below. Vegetative Cover The region is forested however large areas have been cleared for agriculture and grazing. Along the stream banks you can find native vegetation consisting of trees, shrubs and grasses. The riverbanks are generally blanketed with such vegetation except in the area near Highway T. This area has been cleared for cattle grazing and agriculture. The vegetative cover extends about five feet away from the riverbanks before major clearing occurs. Geology2 Surface geologic formations are composed of dolomite and sandstone of the Ordovician Age. All geologic formations in the watershed are part of the Canadian Series (MDNR 1979). Tributary streams and the main stem Gasconade River cut through a member of the Gunter Sandstone, the Gasconade Formation. This formation has many springs that contribute to the base flow of the main stem Gasconade River. As one moves out of the floodplain toward the uplands, the Gasconade Formation is replaced by the Roubidoux Formation that contains sandstone and cherty dolomite. Farther upland, within the headwaters of the Gasconade River is a composite of Smithville Formation, Powell, Cotter, and Jefferson City dolomites. Rocks in these formations tend to be more weathered with cracks, joints, and solution openings. The Lebanon series (soil composition) are moderately well drained soils on level or sloping areas. Soil is silty in its upper layers and cherty fragipan in lower layers. The surface layers are dark grayish-brown silt loam and at a depth of about 24 inches is the fragipan. Clay content increases below 31 inches creating strong-brown silty clay. Most of the soils are in pasture and some hardwood areas remain. 2 Permeable rock type is responsible for the movement of water to subsurface levels. Most of the watershed has well sustained base flows. However, the karst topography causes losing portions in the Gasconade River (MDNR 1986). Approximately 33 miles of the central portion of the Gasconade River comprises the longest losing segment in the watershed. A losing stream is defined as a stream that loses 30 percent or more of its flow into an aquifer within two miles of flow discharge (MDNR Clean Water Commission Water Quality Standards 10 CSR 20-7.01, 1994). Additional karst features seen during the watershed evaluation include solution cavities travel under cliffs along the improved dirt roads and caves. Collie Hollow is a losing stream. Local landowner and county commissioner, Tony Crimson, states that the stream will fill with water during prolonged periods of precipitation but will be drained in approximately 5 to 6 hours after precipitation stops. He also stated that the average water height, during this period, is around 3 to 4 feet, however he has seen it get to be over 6 feet. During my evaluation there were only a few small pool of water throughout the valley, the majority of the riverbed was appeared to be dry. Erosion was evident along the riverbanks. It was apparent the increase in depth and width of the stream due to erosion. Tony Crimson stated, that on crossing, he had put in fallen timber and waste concrete blocks to help stop the erosion of the banks and his field. The riverbed was filled with ‘fresh sediment’ and rocks that had been washed downstream by recent thunderstorms. The surrounding road network, which are improved gravel, are also showing signs of erosions and in several areas as the road follows Turkey Ridge the was evidence of slop failure. Land Use and Human Effects 1. Farming. Agriculture is a source of surface water pollution in intensely farmed watersheds. Besides having ecological impacts, some farming practices may have direct economic effects on downstream communities. A major source of nonpoint source pollution is runoff from agricultural areas. Rainfall or irrigation that results in overland flow to surface waters, commonly referred to as runoff, can carry pollutants from agricultural land uses into receiving, waters. Environmental problems related to agricultural nonpoint source pollution include the following: decreased biodiversity, bacterial contamination, increased turbidity, siltation and increased cost of remediation. Agricultural pollutants that can affect ground and surface waters include sediment, nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and solid waste. These pollutants are washed off and transported during rainfall events or during irrigation into streams, rivers, and coastal wetlands. In addition, agricultural cultivation practices and livestock production can accelerate soil erosion on land, leading to increased sedimentation and turbidity in water bodies and decreased soil productivity. These problems are related to the physical alteration of the environment (e.g., ditching, draining, clearing) to promote agricultural practices. Pressures to increase cultivation areas have necessitated the clearing of more and more land, which in turn has resulted in the establishment of agricultural plots on steep slopes that are highly susceptible to erosion. The pesticides most commonly used in agriculture are the organochlorine and organophosphorus types, the more toxic but less persistent being the organophosphates. Practices to reduce the effects on the watershed include: reducing, using a less hazardous or eliminating the use of pesticides. 8 Additional practices that can mitigate the effects are rotating crops (the soil gets some relief) or recovery time, which reduces the need for artificial fertilizers. Allowing natural vegetation to grow in will reduce siltation, slope instability and runoff. 2. Grazing. The direct effects of livestock grazing have been summarized as follows: • Higher stream temperatures from lack of sufficient woody streamside cover. • Excessive sediment in the channel from bank and upland erosion. • High coliform bacteria counts from upper watershed. • Channel widening from hoof-caused bank sloughing and later erosion by water. • Change in the form of the water column and the channel it flows in. • Change, reduction, or elimination of vegetation. • Elimination of riparian areas by channel degradation and lowering of the water table. • Gradual stream channel trenching or braiding depending on soils and substrate composition with concurrent replacement of riparian vegetation with more xeric plant species. Nationwide, Missouri is the second to Texas in production of cattle with 4.45 million head produced in 1997 (MASS 1997). For counties within the Gasconade River watershed, cattle numbers per pastured acre have steadily increased from the 1920s where counties were between 0.25-0.5 cattle per acre (Figure 6). Today, cattle numbers per acre are roughly 0.6-0.8 in most of these counties. This trend has the potential to precipitate stream-channel disturbance from increased runoff and sediment supply. 4 Livestock grazing on rangelands can contribute to nonpoint source pollution in streams. Although sediment is generally considered the largest water quality problem from livestock, grazing, nutrients and pathogens may also be of concern. The major nutrients coming from cattle are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Additionally, the presence of pathogens is possible. To be considered a pollutant, nutrients and pathogens must reach a stream. Nutrients and pathogens can reach the water either by direct deposit or by overland transport during a runoff event. The potential for direct deposit of manure and urine contamination is based on time, density and access. The amount of time that livestock spend in or near streams can be variable based on drinking time and grazing time in a field with the stream. Daily inputs from directly deposited feces may accumulate on the stream bottom. Any disturbance, such as peak flows, can suspend sediment, creating high concentrations of bacteria, and possibly nutrients for a short period of time. Bottomline: the higher the density of livestock, the higher the concentration of pollution. Any practice that reduces the amount of time cattle spend in a stream, and hence reduces the manure loading, will decrease the potential for adverse affects of water pollution from grazing livestock. It has been shown that providing a water trough as an alternative drinking source may reduce the instream fecal deposition by as much as 90 percent (Moore et al. 1993). Another practice to reduce the amount of time cattle spend in a stream is to fence it off. 7 Only some sections of Collie Hollow were fenced off from cattle, generally cattle were allow to roam and graze throughout the area including the stream bed. 3. Road/Highway Crossings. There are several places along Collie Hollow where road cross the stream or its tributaries including I-44 and Highway T. The crossing at I-44 is a large improved highway and bridging. This highway is highly trafficked both domestic and commercial. A dye test done in Laquey (a town just south of I-44), preformed the Missouri Department of Natural Resources – Geology Department, showed that water in this area flowed against the gradient (due to karst formation) and into the Upper Gasconade River; taking anywhere from hour to months depending on current water levels. This poses a serious environmental threat because any hazardous material spill has the potential to flow through the Collie Hollow watershed directly into the Gasconade River polluting both watersheds. The two Highway T crossings in located only ½ mile from the Gasconade River and are considered low water crossing sites (marked with a water gage). The section of stream has been completely cleared for agricultural use and erosion is apparent throughout this area. However there did not appear to be any erosion around the two bridges’ supports, only along the banks. On the day that I observed this location there were cattle and horse grazing in one area while a second area was being cultivated for crops. All other crossing sites where fording improved dirt roads through out the valley. These sites could be considered low water crossing sites or fords. Concrete has been pored to stabilize the crossing sites and in one location a culvert has been emplaced to help capture the water and reduce erosion under the concrete. Fences where also emplaced at all crossing sites in these areas. To reduce the ecological impact of these crossing sites fixed bridges should be put in replacing these low water crossing sites. This will reduce both the safety and ecological risks that occur when vehicles cross these areas at time of high water. 4. Unapproved Dumps and “Shade Tree” Car Repair Lots. During the evaluation I discovered an unapproved dumps. The site was off an unmarked road and was “fenced” off using a length of 1”steel cable and two sections of a cattle feeding pen (red tubular metal grate). The site was barely visible through the tree line but there was large trash (refrigerator, washer, baby seat) found at the “entrance to the facility, which was at the top of a hill. The dumpsite was at the bottom of the hill and right next to the stream. (Note: I did not enter the area because it was only my husband and myself; cellular signal was not available) Approximately ½ mile down the road was Crimson Farms. Here I saw a building surround by rubbish (junk tracker with not trailer, weigh scales, scrap metal) that was marked with a recycling sign. About 100 meters past this house the unapproved dump again was barely visible through the tree line; the site appeared to be rather large. At the crossing site downstream from this dump there was part of a swing set, fan and scrap metal. It is likely that some of this trash is being carried into the Gasconade River during periods of high water or flooding. Large collections of used/junk cars at individual homes throughout the area seem to be biggest domestic issue. One site (off of Red Oak Road) was not only full of cars but discarded appliances and scrap metal. Although no buildings were visible an arch-welder could be heard in the background. There was a similar site on the opposite ridge (Turkey Ridge) that had a collection of 50-100 cars. There are also two used car sales and repair shops located on Turkey Ridge/Highway W. These sites need to be remediated; cars and need to be hauled away and disposed of properly to reduce the risk of hazardous (i.e. oil, transmission fluid, frion, paint) materials leeching into the ground water. 5. Domestic Pollutants. When renting our home off of Highway W we encountered a trash-burning pit that contained used paint and tar contains, scrap metal and other containers. This seems to a common practice through out the region; instead of using the local waste collection company homeowners are choosing to burn or bury the own trash. These sites have the potential to leak hazardous chemicals into the environment as well as cause soil instability. The only preventive measure is to educate the populations on such practices. Reference 1. Upper Gasconade: Watershed Profile. Retrieved from http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm'huc_code=10290201 on 02 June 2004. 2. Geology. Retrieved from http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/gascon/geology/130getxt.htm#get03 on 02 June 2004 3. Population Density: Pulaski County. Retrieved from http://www.oseda.missouri.edu/historicdata/popsqmi/29169.html on 02 June 2004. 4. Land Use. Retrieved from http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/gascon/geology/130get03.htm on 02 June 2004. 5. Retrieved from http://wayhoo.com/index/a/wdet/wid/1048306/waypoint/Collie+Hollow/ste/Missouri/ on 02 June 2004. 6. Hydrology. Retrieved from http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/gascon/hydro/130hytxt.htm on 02 June 2004. 7. Rangeland Watershed Program Fact Sheets. Retrieved from http://danr.ucop.edu/uccelr/h22.htm on 15 June 2004. 8. Best Management Practices for Agricultural Non-Point Sources of Pollution. Retrieved from http://www.cep.unep.org/pubs/techreports/tr41en/section3.html on 15 June 2004.