The Muddy Creek Watershed Restoration Initiative

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Stream Health and Pollution Sources in the Little
Tennessee River Basin
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A watershed is all of the land that drains to a
particular waterbody.
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Wherever You Live
You Live In A Watershed
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Stream Health Considerations
Clean Water
Good Physical Condition
Healthy Aquatic Life
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Why do we need for our streams to be clean and
healthy?
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As a potential source of drinking water
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Diverse and healthy aquatic life requires clean
water.
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The water is not just for fish!
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We need clean water for swimming and wading
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and for recreational boating and fishing.
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We need clean streams to support coldwater
fisheries.
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Farmers and gardeners need clean water for crop
irrigation.
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We need clean water for industrial processes.
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We need CLEAN water to dispose of our treated
wastewater.
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• How do we know if a stream is healthy?

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CHECK IT OUT
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Checking the chemical composition of the water
Measuring dissolved oxygen levels
Measure on-site (temperature, dissolved oxygen,
pH, conductivity, turbidity alkalinity)
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Collect water samples and analyze in lab
(bacteria, nutrients, sediment)
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Single stage sampler- water enters bottle when
creek rises
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Benthic Sampling
The numbers and types of benthic organisms
found in a stream give an indication of the
streams health.
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Benthic Macroinvertebrates

• Live on stream bottom
• Visible
• No backbone
• Part of food

chain
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Fish Sampling
The numbers and types of fish found in a stream
give an indication of the streams health.
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Assess streams physical condition according to
state standards
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The condition of the stream bank is an indicator
of stream health.
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The condition of the stream channel is an
indicator of stream health.
Straightened and dredged channel
Natural channel (with bends)
vs.
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The condition of the streams riparian area is an
indicator of stream health.
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Riparian Area
Transition zone between the water and land
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A vegetated riparian area can serve as a FILTER
or GUARD to protect the stream from pollution.
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Benefits of streamside vegetation
Filters pollutants from runoff. Holds the soil
in place. Shades the stream. Provides nutrients
to the stream (leaf litter). Provides habitat
for wildlife.
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Trees shade water and keep it cool.
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Tree roots help hold soil in place.
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Water Pollution
The human caused alteration of chemical,
physical, biological or radiological integrity of
water.
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Potentially harmful substances POLLUTANTS
Livestock/Pet waste
Pesticides
Litter
Sediment
Fertilizers
Household hazardous wastes
Oil and grease
Human waste
Heavy metals
Road salt
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Point source pollution- comes from a pipe or
distinct location
Example
Treated wastewater from a wastewater treatment
plant or industrial discharge
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There are more than 40 point source discharges in
the Little Tennessee River Basin.
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Nonpoint source pollution- comes from overland
flow of water (rainfall runoff, snowmelt, other
water).
Some Potential Sources
Lawns and gardens Golf courses Construction
sites Logging sites Farm fields Pastures Roads
and highways Parking lots Illegal
dumping Septic systems Stream banks Landfills
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Anything dumped down a storm drain can go
straight to a stream.
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Oil, grease, antifreeze, and litter from parking
lots and roadways
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Where does this oil go when it rains?
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Junk yards are another potential source for oil,
grease, and antifreeze.
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Home lawns can be a common source for pesticides
and fertilizers.
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Pesticides enter streams from commercial, state,
and utility applications.
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Golf courses can also be a source for pesticides
and fertilizers.
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Farm fields and gardens can be another source for
pesticides and fertilizers in streams.
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The same types of pollutants (pesticides and
fertilizers) can come from tree farms.
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Bacteria and nutrients from animal waste
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Cattle in creeks also causes erosion
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Human waste and gray water from homes
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Trash dumped beside the creek
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may wind up downstream in Lake Fontana when it
rains.
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After heavy rains in 2003, there was a huge flush
of trash and debris into the lake
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Sediment is a common pollutant in Little
Tennessee streams
and it comes from many places.
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Eroding stream banks are a major source of
sediment to streams
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Open pit mines can cause stream sedimentation.
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Recently logged sites can be sediment sources
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Old, unstabilized logging roads often drain
straight to streams
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Farm fields and gardens are a potential source of
sediment, especially when rows run perpendicular
to streams.
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Cattle trample stream banks and bottoms causing
erosion and stream sedimentation
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ATV trails are another source of sediment to
mountain streams
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Home construction sites are often sediment
sources
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especially on steep slopes
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and along rivers or streams
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Removal of vegetation and land disturbance along
creeks causes stream sedimentation
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Cleaning the creek bank is a common practice.
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Too steep! No ground cover!
Unstable road banks are a sediment source.
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Steep, unstable roads are another sediment source.
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The sign says it all!
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Looking uphill
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Looking downhill toward creek
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What are the major sediment sources in this photo?
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A small sediment laden stream enters a larger
creek.
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Sediment laden Scotts Creek enters the Tuckasegee
River at Dillsboro
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After the rain Tuckasegee River at Bryson City
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Why are we concerned about sediment?
Sediment harms aquatic life from the smallest
insect to the largest fish. Sediment degrades
the quality of drinking water- increasing the
cost for treatment. Sediment fills ponds and
reservoirs. It clogs irrigation pumps and
water intakes. Pollutants like pesticides can
stick to sediment.
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The bottom line Stream health depends on the
location and types of land uses in the watershed.
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Urban areas have many different land uses and
potential pollution sources.
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Nonpoint source pollution can also come from
rural land uses.
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Clean streams the choice is ours!