TMDLs on the Clearwater River

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TMDLs on the Clearwater River

• Fecal Coliform Impairment of the Trout Stream
  Portion of the Clearwater River
• By
• Corey Hanson
• Water Quality Coordinator
• Red Lake Watershed District

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Explanation of Impairment

• The trout stream reach of the Clearwater River is
  listed as impaired for fecal coliform.

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Land Use

• 32 Forest
• 27 Grass/Pasture
• 19 Ag
• 11 Water/Wetland
• 8 Urban/Rural Development
• 3 Other

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Runoff Potential
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Physical Characteristics

• The gradient and velocity of the stream increase
  prior to the trout stream reach.
• Fecal coliform suitability decreases.

Upstream of the Trout Stream Reach
Trout Stream Reach
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Possible Sources of Fecal Coliform Bacteria

• High Probability
• Overflows from Bagley Wastewater Treatment
  Facility (Improved in 2000 to eliminate
  overflows)
• Stormwater from the City of Bagley (Stormwater
  ponds have been constructed to reduce amount of
  pollutants entering river)
• Wildlife

• Feedlots
• Hydrologic Modification
• Fecal Coliform deposited in calcareous fens/bogs
  (under investigation)
• Sampling Techniques

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Monitoring Conducted for use in the TMDL Study

• Clearwater Nonpoint Study 1992-93
• Clearwater Lake Water Quality Model Study
• 2002 - 6 stream sites, bi-weekly monitoring
• RLWD Long Term District Monitoring
• Quarterly monitoring since mid-80s
• Data entry into STORET just recently completed,
  not in time for 2004 303(d) list
• Clearwater Soil and Water Conservation District
• Intensive fecal coliform monitoring for this TMDL
  Project from August 2002 October 2002
• Samples analyzed by Minnesota Department of
  Health, data is currently available in STORET
• 2004 Fecal Coliform Monitoring

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Clearwater Lake Water Quality Model Monitoring
Sites
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RLWD Long-term Monitoring Sites in the Clearwater
L. Watershed
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SWCD/MDH Monitoring Sites
CR 24 (inlet)
CR 22
Hwy 2
CR 2
CR 25
3-Mile Road
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Methods for Determination of Impairment

• From the MPCA Guidance Manual for Assessing the
  Quality of Minnesota Surface Waters for
  Determination of Impairment 305(b) Report and
  303(d) List.
• Section VIII. Assessment Based on Numeric
  Standard for Protection of Recreation
• Pollutant Fecal Coliform
• Affects swimming and other forms of recreation
  that involve contact with the water
• Standard of 200 col./100 ml
• Impairment gt10 of samples exceed standard,at
  least 1 month with an average gt than the standard

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Data used for original impairment

• Clearwater Nonpoint Study Data
• Impairment found at Clearwater Lake Inlet
  Monitoring Site
• Samples taken April 1992-May 1993
• 36.84 of samples were gt200col/ml
• Geometric Means of 3 months were gt 200col/ml
• Only 1 yr of sampling
• Less than 5 samples per aggregate month

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Using Data Available for 2004 303(d) List

• Sampling data from October 1992 September 2002
• Recent SWCD data included, but no RLWD data
• All of the sites within the trout stream reach
  wouldnt go beyond the first step of assessment
  (lt10)
• One site upstream of the trout stream reach would
  be considered impaired based upon MPCA guidelines
  Country Road 2

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Barriers to Delisting

• High spikes in fecal levels on August 28, 2002
• CR2, CR 22, and the Clearwater Lake Inlet
• lt10 of samples were gt200 col./100 ml at sites
  within the listed reach (30 _at_ CR 2)
• Aggregate monthly averages for August were gt200
  col./100ml for all 3 sites

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August 28, 2002
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2004 Fecal Coliform Sampling
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2004 Fecal Coliform Sampling Results
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Next Steps

• Work with landowners to implement BMPs
• Complete TMDL Report/Delisting of the reach
• Published TMDL

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The End