OGUNQUIT RIVER WATERSHED

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1 NOVEMBER 2014 OGUNQUIT RIVER WATERSHED OGUNQUIT, MAINE 2015 WATER QUALITY MONITORING REPORT PREPARED FOR Town of Ogunquit 23 School Street Ogunquit, ME PREPARED BY FB Environmental Associates 170 West Road, Suite 6 Portsmouth, NH 03801

2 PROJECT OVERVIEW The Ogunquit River and its estuary are impaired for bacteria (a fecal indicator for pathogens that cause risk to public health) due to persistent fecal contamination from a number of sources (e.g., human, canine, wildlife, etc.) that are largely attributed to nonpoint source pollution (e.g., stormwater runoff, malfunctioning septic systems, leaky sewer lines, etc.) in the watershed. These sources of fecal contamination have caused 10 swimming advisories at Ogunquit and Riverside Beach from 2010 to In an effort to minimize beach advisories and possible closures, the Town of Ogunquit contracted FB Environmental Associates (FBE) in 2014 to conduct bacteria sampling at 11 previously-identified hotspots throughout the watershed. These same 11 sites were sampled again in Leavitt Stream (a tributary to the Ogunquit River) was also investigated in 2015 for potential sites of nonpoint source pollution. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and salinity were collected at each sampling location. The purpose of this monitoring program is to 1) help identify and bracket sources of high bacteria levels in the Ogunquit River watershed, and 2) maintain a baseline of bacteria data for hotspot sites to assess trajectory of changes as a result of remediation efforts. SAMPLING RESULTS Enterococci (col/100ml) results and geometric means for sampling locations in the Ogunquit River Watershed from July - October Sample ID Waterbody 7/17/15 DRY 8/27/15 DRY Enterococci (col/100ml) 9/9/15 DRY 9/11/15 WET 9/18/15 DRY 10/1/15 WET 10/29/15 WET Geomean 2015 OR-6 Og. R , , OR-19 Drainage to Og. R , , OR-19-1 Stormwater outfall (Rt. 1) < ,352 < OR-2 Drainage to Og. R , , LEAV-4A Leavitt Str. (trib) , , LEAV-3B Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-15-1 Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-15 Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,382 1, OR-16 Abenaki Str. < , ,211 3, LEAV-2B Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-Theater Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,282 1, OR-13 Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,282 3, OG-4 Og. R. under Beach St , ,611 1, OG-pipe Stormwater outfall n.f. n.f n.f. n.f OG-seep Beach seep to Og. R Gray cells indicate an exceedance of ME DEP water quality standard for Enterococci; 104 colonies/100ml for single samples and 35 colonies/100ml for geometric means. "n.f." = no flow. --" = not visited on date. FINDINGS 2015 REPORT SUMMARY OGUNQUIT RIVER WATERSHED BACTERIA AND WATER QUALITY SAMPLING REPORT Overall, wet weather produced incredibly high bacteria counts at sampling locations throughout the watershed in Many of these locations had their highest recorded bacteria counts since annual sampling began in ii

3 experienced a dry summer, so when wet weather events occurred they likely produced a large flushing of bacteria that had accumulated on the landscape during the dry periods. Bacteria at OR-2, OR-19, and new site OR-19-1 were likely linked to stormwater runoff during wet weather in 2015, though malfunctioning sewer systems may be an underlying contributor at OR-2. Smoke tests in 2014 revealed no cross-connections. Sampling locations along or connected to Leavitt Stream (OR-15-1, OR-15, OR-16, OR-Theatre, OR-13) had the highest counts during wet weather and the highest geometric means for the entire season. These bacteria may be from pet and wildlife waste as it washes off the landscape during wet weather events or from human waste as high water tables intercept malfunctioning septic systems or leaky sewer lines. Frequently-high bacteria counts during dry weather at OR-Theatre may be a result of human waste from malfunctioning septic systems or leaky sewer lines during dry weather when waterbodies are largely groundwaterfed. Dry weather bacteria counts for a site (OR-15) upstream of OR-Theatre were generally low in 2015, but historically-high bacteria counts during dry weather, along with DNA testing and canine investigation, indicate that this site may also be impacted by septic or sewer issues. New sites along Leavitt Stream (LEAV-4A, 3B, and 2B) had high bacteria counts in both dry and wet weather. Potential bacteria sources at these sites should be investigated further. OR-6 and OG-4 represent the majority of accumulated sources flowing from the Ogunquit River watershed. The major bacteria contributions to the river appear to be associated with wet weather, as bacteria counts were generally low during dry weather. Bacteria from pet or wildlife waste on the landscape may be contributing to high bacteria counts during wet weather events. Bacteria counts in stormwater runoff from the Main Beach parking lot (OG-pipe and likely OG-seep) remained elevated in 2015, but overall stormwater flow to OG-pipe has decreased (no flow during dry weather events), likely as a result of removal of an outdoor wash station in the beach parking lot. NEXT STEPS 1. Continue to monitor bacteria levels annually within the Ogunquit River watershed. 2. Investigate the source of OG-seep south of the Beach Street bridge using dye testing in the stormwater and sewer systems. Identifying the source of the consistently-elevated bacteria counts at OG-seep should be a priority as many families and their small children play in that area of the beach. 3. Assess septic systems in priority neighborhoods (especially those surrounding Leavitt Stream) in the watershed. Other areas of concern may be drawn from the septic system database. 4. Address stormwater runoff throughout the watershed. The Town is continuing to implement a grant from the ME DEP that includes the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to treat stormwater. A Phase II for this implementation has also been awarded. The Town is already planning to redo the parking lot draining to OR-13 in Fall Other recommendations include: a. Install BMPs to treat bacteria near OR-15. b. Install proper pet waste disposal signage near OR-13 and OR-15. c. Target the neighborhoods around OR-15 and OR-15-1 for residential socials on proper pet waste disposal and septic system maintenance. iii

4 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Overview... 1 Methodology... 2 Results... 5 Discussion... 9 Next Steps References Appendix A: QAPP QA/QC Protocol Review LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Sampling locations and bacteria concentrations (geometric means in col/100ml) for bacteria sampling in the Ogunquit River watershed from July October Figure 2: Sampling locations and bacteria concentrations (col/100ml) for bacteria sampling along Leavitt Stream on 9/9/ Figure 3. Daily high and low air temperature and precipitation data from July October 2015 with sampling dates indicated by arrows. Data was retrieved from Weather Underground for Ogunquit, ME (KMEYORK8) LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Enterococci (col/100ml) results and geometric means for all sampling locations within the Ogunquit River Watershed from July- October Table 2. Enterococci (col/100ml) and water quality for sampling locations identified during the Leavitt Stream investigation on 9/9/2015. Sites are ordered downstream to upstream Table 3. Enterococci (col/100ml), canine detection, and DNA analyses results for sampling locations within the Ogunquit River Watershed from results are based on only single samples Table 4. Enterococci (col/100ml) outliers by sampling location within the Ogunquit River Watershed from Table 5. Summary of water quality data from for sampling locations within the Ogunquit River watershed. Red text indicates exceedance of water quality criteria iv

5 PROJECT OVERVIEW Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report The Ogunquit River (Class B) and its estuary (Class SB) have experienced persistent fecal contamination from a number of sources attributed to nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. Because of this, the Ogunquit River estuary was listed in Maine s 2012 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report ( as impaired under Category 4-A: Estuarine and Marine Waters Impaired by Bacteria (fecal pollutants). The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also listed the watershed as a Nonpoint Source Priority Coastal Watershed, the estuary as a Coastal Wetland Most at Risk from New Development, and a tributary (Stevens Brook) as impaired for aquatic life use under Category 5-A: Rivers and Streams Impaired by Pollutants. Beach monitoring conducted by Maine Healthy Beaches, the Maine DEP, the Ogunquit Sewer District, and the Ogunquit Conservation Commission have shown elevated Enterococci levels exceeding US Environmental Protection Agency s (USEPA) historical national bacteria recommendation of no more than 104 colonies per 100mL for single samples collected in marine waters or beaches 1. Enterococci bacteria are present in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals and are used to indicate the presence of fecal contamination in waterbodies. Each gram of human feces contains approximately 12 billion bacteria, many associated with human health issues. Wastes from other warm-blooded animals, including pets, farm animals, and wildlife may also contribute bacteria and associated disease vectors to waterbodies. High concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria in waterbodies can lead to posted advisories at swimming beaches and closure of shellfish beds. These bacteria are used to signal human health risks, such as gastrointestinal, respiratory, eye, ear, nose, throat, and skin infections transmissible to humans through the consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish, skin contact, and/or ingestion of water. Dry and wet weather sampling by FB Environmental Associates (FBE) since 2012 show Enterococci ranges throughout the watershed that can exceed the maximum detection limit of 24,200 col/100ml, with particularly high counts or hotspots along Leavitt Stream, a tributary to the Ogunquit River. Canine detection methods used in 2012 and 2013 also detected human waste as a potentially significant source of fecal contamination at the outlet of and along Leavitt Stream. At Ogunquit and Riverside Beach in Ogunquit, these high bacteria counts led to 10 swimming advisories over six summers ( ), though no advisories were posted in In conjunction with FBE, the Maine DEP, and the USEPA, the Town of Ogunquit funded the development of a USEPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for their bacteria monitoring program in the Ogunquit River watershed (FBE 2014). With this approved QAPP, the Town was able to receive matching Section 319 funds from the USEPA and the Maine DEP. This QAPP was approved for bacteria monitoring. Photo: FBE USEPA released a new Beach Action Value (BAV) of 60 col/100ml for beach advisories. This threshold is only a recommendation for States to adopt as water quality criteria. 1

6 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report The watershed-scale bacteria monitoring project is designed to identify suspected illicit discharges and sources of fecal contamination and prioritize hotspots for remediation. The results will be used to assist future monitoring efforts and target areas for fecal source mitigation. Once remediation efforts are underway, the data may be used to assess trajectory of changes in bacterial counts and determine where further work may be needed to minimize beach advisories. These efforts will likely help minimize beach advisories and possible closures during peak tourist season, which will have important economic and public health benefits for the communities within the Ogunquit River watershed. The public beaches in Ogunquit attract numerous tourists each year and provide a substantial stream of revenue for the Town. METHODOLOGY FBE conducted bacteria sampling during three wet weather and three dry weather sampling events at 11 locations throughout the Ogunquit River watershed within an hour of low tide between July and October 2015 (Figures 1 and 3). These locations were selected from priority hotspot sites identified in 2012 and 2013 bacteria sampling and canine detection efforts (FBE 2012, 2013). OR-6 needed to be adjusted approximately 250 upstream from its historical location due to construction on the Route 1 bridge. Also, a new location was added in 2015 near OR-19 where a new outfall pipe was installed in conjunction with construction along Route 1 during the spring of This outfall and plunge pool (now OR-19-1) contains stormwater runoff from Route 1 and is a separate source of stormwater from the pre-existing OR-19 outfall. Dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity data were also collected during most sampling events at each location using an YSI ProODO meter and a refractometer. Bacteria collection was conducted in accordance with methods outlined in the QAPP. A more detailed discussion of QAPP deviations is discussed in Appendix A. An additional investigation of Leavitt Stream was conducted on 9/9/2015 during dry weather. The purpose of this investigation was to look for potential nonpoint sources of pollution along Leavitt Stream, such as homes close to the stream (potential septic pollution) or areas of erosion. The investigation began at the OR-Theater sampling location and continued upstream until property access became limited (at the western end of Jothams Road). Three sites were bracketed with bacteria sampling locations both upstream and downstream of potential nonpoint sources, while one sampling location was a single sample taken downstream of a footbridge crossing (Figure 2). Sites LEAV-4A, LEAV-3B and LEAV-2B were selected for further sampling during three additional events (one dry weather and two wet weather). All bacteria samples were analyzed for Enterococci at Nelson Analytical Water Testing Laboratory in Kennebunk, Maine. Enterococci are used as an indicator of the presence of fecal material in brackish/marine waters by the Maine Healthy Beaches program. In Maine, the State water quality criteria for Enterococci is 104 col/100ml for a single grab sample and 35 col/100ml for the geometric mean of multiple samples. Though the Ogunquit River is freshwater, the brackish/marine water quality criteria were used to assess the impact of the Ogunquit River on potential beach closures in Ogunquit. A new outfall pipe and plunge pool (OR-19-1, left pipe) that carries stormwater runoff from Route 1 down to the drainage of OR-19 (right pipe). Photo: FBE

7 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Figure 1. Sampling locations and bacteria concentrations (geometric means in col/100ml) for bacteria sampling in the Ogunquit River watershed from July October

8 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Figure 2: Sampling locations and bacteria concentrations (col/100ml) for bacteria sampling along Leavitt Stream on 9/9/

9 Daily Precipitation (in) Air Temperature ( F) Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Weather - Ogunquit, ME - Summer and Fall 2015 KMEYORK8 - wunderground.com Daily Precipitation Daily Min Temp. Daily Max Temp. Dry Weather Samplng Wet Weather Sampling Figure 3. Daily high and low air temperature and precipitation data from July October 2015 with sampling dates indicated by arrows. Data was retrieved from Weather Underground for Ogunquit, ME (KMEYORK8). RESULTS For 2015 bacteria sampling in the Ogunquit River watershed, Enterococci concentrations ranged from <10 to 24,196 col/100ml, which nearly span the range of the laboratory s detection limits for both high (24,200) and low (10) counts (Table 1). Bacteria exceeded the State water quality criterion of 104 col/100ml for single samples for the majority of samples, particularly during wet weather. Geometric means ranged from 80 to 893 col/100 ml, exceeding the State water quality criterion of 35 col/100ml in all cases. Refer to Table 1 for the following results: OG-seep exceeded the State criteria for both single sample and geometric mean for all samples in Of the original 11 sites, OR-Theater had the highest geometric mean at 573 col/100ml, followed closely by OR-15 and OR-15-1 at 559 col/100ml and 499 col/100ml, respectively. Seven of 15 total sites (including Leavitt Stream investigation) had elevated bacteria levels above the State criteria on wet sampling events only. Eight of 15 total sites had elevated bacteria levels above the State criteria on both wet and dry sampling events. 5

10 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Table 1. Enterococci (col/100ml) results and geometric means for all sampling locations within the Ogunquit River Watershed from July- October Sites are ordered upstream to downstream. Sample ID Waterbody 7/17/15 DRY 8/27/15 DRY Enterococci (col/100ml) 9/9/15 DRY 9/11/15 WET 9/18/15 DRY 10/1/15 WET 10/29/15 WET Geomean 2015 OR-6 Og. R , , OR-19 Drainage to Og. R , , OR-19-1 Stormwater outfall (Rt. 1) < ,352 < OR-2 Drainage to Og. R , , LEAV-4A Leavitt Str. (trib) , , LEAV-3B Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-15-1 Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-15 Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,382 1, OR-16 Abenaki Str. < , ,211 3, LEAV-2B Leavitt Str. (trib) , , OR-Theater Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,282 1, OR-13 Leavitt Str. (trib) , ,282 3, OG-4 Og. R. under Beach St , ,611 1, OG-pipe Stormwater outfall n.f. n.f n.f. n.f OG-seep Beach seep to Og. R Gray cells indicate an exceedance of ME DEP water quality standard for Enterococci; 104 colonies/100ml for single samples and 35 colonies/100ml for geometric means. "n.f." = no flow. --" = not visited on date. For the Leavitt Stream investigation on 9/9/2015, four sites were sampled based on observations of potential nonpoint sources along the stream (Table 2). Three of these sites were bracketed (sampled upstream and downstream from the potential source), resulting in 7 distinct sampling locations (Table 2, Figure 2). LEAV-4A was selected for continued sampling based on higher bacteria counts. LEAV-3A/B sampling locations were close enough in bacteria count that the downstream site was selected to be able to collect below the potential source. LEAV-2B was selected over LEAV-2A so as to collect downstream from the erosion site during future wet weather events. Geometric means 2 for all three selected sites from the Leavitt Stream investigation were higher than any of the original 11 sites sampled in the Ogunquit River watershed (Table 1). Steep bank, erosion, and pump above LEAV-2B. Photo: FBE Geometric means for Leavitt Stream investigation sites are based on two wet and two dry weather samples. 6

11 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Table 2. Enterococci (col/100ml) and water quality for sampling locations identified during the Leavitt Stream investigation on 9/9/2015. Sites are ordered downstream to upstream. Sample ID Temp ( C) DO (%) DO (ppm) Salinity (ppt) Enterococci (col/100ml) Description LEAV NA* 31 Green algae under footbridge, no bracket sampling LEAV-2A NA* 145 Above the source; iron bacteria below a pump at top of a steep, eroding slope; many iron spots along the stream; non-natural oil sheen LEAV-2B NA* 75 Below the source (see notes in 2A) LEAV-3A Above the source; lots of bright green algae in the stream, though stream buffer is well-vegetated LEAV-3B Below the source (see notes in 3A) LEAV-4A Above the source; floating brown algae and iron bacteria; house very close to stream, but with a moderate buffer between them LEAV-4B Below the source (see notes in 4A) Bolded sites were selected for continued sampling. *Salinity could not be collected at these sites due to a calibration error with the refractometer. This was corrected for subsequent samples. Red text indicates exceedance of single sample criterion (104 col/100ml). For the 11 previously-sampled hotspot sites, all data ( ) were combined and the total geometric means for all data, wet weather, and dry weather were calculated (Table 3). Geometric means for each year are also presented for ; 2012 had only a single sampling event so geometric mean could not be calculated (Table 3). Overall geometric means ranged from 99 to 395 col/100ml. Geometric means for wet weather were generally higher than dry weather. Across all sites, 2015 had the highest geometric mean of all years Sample sites showed exceedances of the State criteria for geometric mean of all data ( ) and during both wet and dry weather sampling events with the exception of OG-4 and OG-pipe that have geometric means for dry weather below the State criterion of 35 col/100ml. Erosion around OG-pipe and OG-seep after a heavy rainstorm on 10/29/2015. Photo: FBE

12 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Table 3. Enterococci (col/100ml), canine detection, and DNA analyses results for sampling locations within the Ogunquit River Watershed from results are based on only single samples. Site ID Overal l Wet Dry Canine Detection Results 2014 DNA Analyses OR Human Detected Unknown OR Human Detected Unknown OR Human Detected Unknown OR Human Not Detected Unknown OR-15 4, Human Detected Dog, Human OR Human Detected Dog, No Human OR-Theater , Human Not Detected Unknown OR , Human Detected Dog, No Human OG Human Detected Dog, Gull, No Human OG-pipe Unknown Human, Gull OG-seep Unknown Unknown Gray cells indicate an exceedance of ME DEP water quality criteria for enterococci; 104 col/100ml single sample and 35 col/100ml geometric mean. Outlier analysis of all data ( ) for each of the 11 hotpot locations showed several statistically-significant outliers (defined as above or below 1.5x the interquartile range (IQR) for each site). These outliers occurred during wet weather (Table 4), so are likely anomalies in the pollutants contributing to stormwater, the severity of the rain event, or the duration of dry weather preceding the wet weather event. Fourteen of the 18 outliers occurred during wet weather in 2015, which may be related to the relatively dry summer weather prior to flushing rains. Table 4. Enterococci (col/100ml) outliers by sampling location within the Ogunquit River Watershed from Sample ID /10/2012 9/12/2013 8/15/ /2/2014 9/11/ /1/2015 (dry) (wet) (wet) (wet) (wet) (wet) OR-6 3,255 7,270 10/29/2015 (wet) OR-19 2,909 2,010 OR-2 2,794 4,610 OR ,460 19,863 OR-15 4,884 19,863 OR-16 24,196 1,211 3,870 OR-Theater 24,196 OR-13 12,033 OG-4 4,611 OG-pipe 24,200 OG-seep 1,541 A summary of water quality results taken during bacteria sampling is provided in Table 5. Water temperatures were slightly cooler at locations along Leavitt Stream where the water was fresher and non-tidal. However, this was not true for LEAV sites visited in 2015 only; this may be related to the limited, single-season data for these sites. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels exceed water quality criteria at OR-15-1 (typically the lowest for DO compared to other sites), LEAV-4A, and LEAV- 8

13 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report 3B. Low DO at LEAV-4A may be due to the large amount of algae and slow-moving water observed at this site. Low DO levels threaten aquatic life within Leavitt Stream, such as frogs that were often observed during sampling. Table 5. Summary of water quality data from for sampling locations within the Ogunquit River watershed. Red text indicates exceedance of water quality criteria. MEAN ( ) Sample ID Waterbody Temp( C) DO (%) DO (mg/l) Salinity (ppt) OR-6 Og. R OR-19 Drainage to Og. R OR-19-1* Stormwater outfall (Rt. 1) OR-2 Drainage to Og. R LEAV-4A* Leavitt Str. (trib) LEAV-3B* Leavitt Str. (trib) OR-15-1 Leavitt Str. (trib) OR-15 Leavitt Str. (trib) OR-16 Abenaki Str LEAV-2B* Leavitt Str. (trib) OR-Theater Leavitt Str. (trib) OR-13 Leavitt Str. (trib) OG-4 Og. R. under Beach St OG-pipe* Stormwater outfall OG-seep Beach seep to Og. R * Means are for 2015 only. DISCUSSION Bacteria data from at most sites showed exceedances during both wet and dry weather in the Ogunquit River watershed. This indicates that bacteria are coming from a variety of sources, including stormwater runoff, malfunctioning septic systems, pet waste, and wildlife. Overall, bacteria counts were higher under wet weather conditions than under dry weather conditions, suggesting that the majority of pollution may come from stormwater runoff; however, large enough rain events can raise the water table to intercept potentially-failing septic systems. As rain water moves overland and to a waterbody, it picks up bacteria from various sources (e.g., pet waste, dumpsters, etc.) as well as other pollutants (e.g., nutrients from lawn fertilizers and sediment). This was evident in 2015 as late summer and fall rains were preceded by a long period of dry weather (Figure 3). When the rains came, exceptionally high bacteria counts were recorded at most sites in the watershed as stormwater likely flushed out an accumulation of waste and other pollutants from the landscape. In contrast, high bacteria concentrations during dry weather sampling events suggest failing septic systems or leaky sewer lines nearby. Maine Healthy Beaches reported two swimming advisories for the Ogunquit Beach in the summer of 2014, with no advisories in The following provides a discussion of possible bacteria sources for each sampling location: Results for OR-6 in 2015 point to stormwater as a main contributor to bacteria counts. Canine investigations did indicate potential human waste sources of fecal contamination, though the geometric mean for dry weather from is on the lower end of the range across all sites. 9

14 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report High geometric means ( ) for bacteria, particularly during wet weather, were also found at sites along Leavitt Stream, including LEAV-4A, LEAV-3B, OR-15-1, OR-15, LEAV-2B, OR-Theatre, and OR-13. This suggests an accumulation of bacteria sources largely from stormwater runoff leading to the Ogunquit River. o LEAV-4A, 3B, and 2B had the highest overall geometric means for 2015, exceeding State criteria during both wet and dry weather. As 3B and 4B are the most upstream sites along Leavitt Stream and will affect sites further downstream, determining the sources of fecal contamination at these new locations should be prioritized. o OR-15-1 and OR-15 were both elevated during wet weather in 2015 and had high geometric means for both wet and dry weather from DNA testing and canine investigations at OR-15 suggest a potential contribution from nearby malfunctioning septic or sewer systems, as well as pet waste. OR-15-1 may be more impacted by bacteria from pet and wildlife waste (such as turkeys). Both sites are good locations for signage or outreach about proper pet waste disposal. o OR-Theatre routinely exceeds State criteria during both wet and dry weather in Previous canine detection results showed no detection of human waste during dry weather, though sites upstream from this location were positive for human waste during both canine investigations and DNA testing. o OR-13 had high bacteria counts only during wet weather in The parking lot area draining to OR-13 will be redone in 2016 and BMPs that treat stormwater runoff will be implemented. This may be another good location for proper pet waste disposal signage as DNA testing previously indicated pet waste as a bacteria source. OR-16 is located on Abenaki Stream just upstream of its convergence with Leavitt Stream. Bacteria counts at this site were very low during dry weather in 2015, but exceptionally high during wet weather. DNA testing from 2014 indicated a pet waste as a source of fecal contamination from this area, but no human waste. Some evidence of potential human sources in this area exists from previous years, but in 2015 low dry weather bacteria does not indicate malfunctioning septic or leaky sewer. This residential area would be ideal for a residential social that makes residents aware of proper pet waste disposal. OR-19 and OR-19-1 had the lowest geometric means in 2015 and OR-19 is on the lower end of geometric mean ranges for all data from The higher bacteria counts during wet weather indicate a link to stormwater runoff. As OR-19-1 is a very new outfall that drains runoff from the heavily-traveled Route 1, it would be prudent to continue monitoring this outfall in the future. Construction on Route 1 in 2015 has reworked other drainages in the watershed; any new outfalls should be identified and could be monitored in The geometric mean for OR-2 increased dramatically in 2015 compared to past years. This suggests that though stormwater runoff may have had a larger influence in 2015, groundwater inputs may be a consistent underlying contributor to bacteria counts. OG-4 represents the majority of accumulated sources flowing from the Ogunquit River watershed. Bacteria results were consistently low during dry weather in 2015, but exceeded State criteria after each wet weather sampling event. Previous DNA testing by the Town was negative for human waste, but positive for pet waste, during wet weather conditions at this site. Canines detected human waste during dry weather at this site in Some of the highest overall geometric means ( ) for bacteria were found at OG-pipe and OG-seep near the Main Beach parking lot, as well as high geometric means during wet weather, suggesting bacteria is largely 10

15 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report sourced from stormwater runoff from the large parking area. OG-pipe had very low flow throughout the 2015 sampling season and may be attributed to the removal of an outdoor wash station since the 2014 beach season. Elevated bacteria during wet weather at OG-pipe is likely from seagulls landing on the parking lot. A smoke test in 2014 confirmed that all stormwater and sewer connections were good with no suspected illicit discharges, but elevated bacteria counts at OG-seep during dry weather are still concerning. A hydrological investigation of this seep to determine its source should be a priority. NEXT STEPS 1. Continue to monitor bacteria levels annually within the Ogunquit River watershed. Obtain Route 1 stormwater outfall drainage map to identify new potential outfalls for monitoring. 2. Investigate the source of OG-seep south of the Beach Street bridge using dye testing in the stormwater and sewer systems. Identifying the source of the consistently-high bacteria counts at OG-seep should be a priority as many families and their small children play in that area of the beach. 3. Assess septic systems in priority neighborhoods (especially those surrounding Leavitt Stream) in the watershed. Other areas of concern may be drawn from the septic system database. 4. Address stormwater runoff throughout the watershed. The Town is continuing to implement a grant from the ME DEP that includes the installation of BMPs to treat stormwater. A Phase II for this implementation has also been awarded. The Town is already planning to redo the parking lot draining to OR-13 in Fall Other recommendations include: REFERENCES a. Install BMPs to treat bacteria near OR-15. b. Install proper pet waste disposal signage near OR-13 and OR-15. c. Target the neighborhoods around OR-15 and OR-15-1 for residential socials on proper pet waste disposal and septic system maintenance. FB Environmental Associates (FBE) Ogunquit, ME: Bacteria Source Tracking with Canine Detection Report. August FB Environmental Associates (FBE) Summary of Leavitt Stream Bacteria Sampling July-September Technical Memorandum to the Town of Ogunquit and the Ogunquit Conservation Commission: October 16, FB Environmental Associates (FBE) Ogunquit River Watershed-Scale Bacteria Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan. Ogunquit River Watershed Management Plan Implementation: Water Quality Monitoring. Maine Department of Environmental Protection. 28 p. Maine Healthy Beaches Program

16 APPENDIX A: QAPP QA/QC PROTOCOL REVIEW Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report In 2014, an Ogunquit River Watershed-Scale Bacteria Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) was developed by FBE in cooperation with the Town of Ogunquit, ME and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP). Bacteria samples were collected in 2015 by FBE staff and analyzed by Nelson Analytical Laboratory in accordance with the specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) outlined in the QAPP unless mentioned below. These deviations were minor and did not impact the quality of bacteria results. 1) Readings for water temperature and DO could not be collected on 10/1/2015 due to an in-field malfunction with the YSI equipment. Upon return to the office, this was determined to be a battery malfunction despite on-screen indications that there was sufficient battery power during calibrations earlier that day. YSI technical support confirmed that this can occur when there is enough power to operate the handheld unit only, but not both the unit and probe itself. Thus, averages for these parameters presented in the report are only for 5 of the 6 site visits. Additionally, duplicate readings for water temperature, DO, and salinity were not collected in the 2015 season. Based on the consistency of the field duplicate results for the same equipment in 2014, there is no reason to believe this impacted the quality of YSI instrument measurements. The meter was calibrated every morning before use to ensure that equipment was functioning properly throughout the season. 2) Field duplicates for bacteria should attempt to yield a relative percent difference (RPD) of < 20%; 4 out of 6 duplicate samples resulted in RPD > 20% (Table A1). In most cases, RPD > 20% is acceptable given the inherent variability of collecting and measuring biological communities. Typically, higher bacteria counts will be less variable than lower bacteria counts < 200 col/100ml. As such, 2015 RPDs ranging from 0-49% were acceptable and reflect a consistent field sampling procedure by personnel. Table A1. Summary of relative percent difference (RPD) between two duplicate field samples. Date Wet/Dry Sample ID Enterococci (col/100ml) RPD (±%) 7/17/2015 Dry OR /17/2015 Dry OR-15-1-DUP 63 8/27/2015 Dry OR /27/2015 Dry OR-2-DUP 131 9/11/2015 Wet OR /11/2015 Wet OR-15-DUP /18/2015 Dry OR-Theater 355 9/18/2015 Dry OR-Theater-DUP /1/2015 Wet OR /1/2015 Wet OR-13-DUP /29/2015 Wet OR /29/2015 Wet OR-13-DUP ) Laboratory duplicates should also attempt to yield an RPD < 20%; laboratory duplicates for 2014 bacteria sampling in Ogunquit yielded RPDs ranging from 0-80% (Table A2). This also reflects a generally consistent laboratory analysis procedure by laboratory staff with greater RPDs generally associated with lower bacteria counts and vice versa. This is to be expected when measuring biological communities and the data are acceptable. 12

17 Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Table A2. Summary of relative percent difference (RPD) between field sample and laboratory duplicate results. Date Sample ID Field Sample Entero (col/100ml) Lab Duplicate Entero (col/100ml) RPD (±%) 7/17/2015 Dry /17/2015 Dry /27/2015 Dry /9/2015 Dry /11/2015 Wet 12,033 15, /18/2015 Dry /18/2015 Dry /1/2015 Wet 2,282 2, /29/2015 Wet 3,440 3, ) Bacteria samples were collected within a rough window of ±1 hour around dead low tide, with the exception of 9/11/2015, 9/18/2015 and 10/29/2015 (Table A3). During these sampling events, logistical or safety reasons (low tide before sunrise, extreme downpour, construction traffic, etc.) prevented FBE staff from collected all samples within the low tide window. However, on these dates, the last site sampled was OR-6, which was previously considered a tidally-affected site. Based on the site s location upstream of a high cascade and consistent salinity 1 ppt, we do not believe that this site or OR-19 is tidally-affected. Discounting these two sites, all remaining tidally-affected sites were collected within the ±1 hour window (Table A3). We recommend that the lack of tidal influence be confirmed for OR-6 and OR-19 to improve prioritization of tidal sites during future sampling. All bacteria samples were delivered to the laboratory well within the 6 hour time limit (Table A3). 5) All samples were collected within the designated timeframe of June 1 October 1, 2015, with the exception of samples collected on 10/29/2015. This final sampling event was delayed due to the need for an additional wet weather sampling and the persistence of dry weather throughout the sampling season. 6) Bacteria samples were delivered to the laboratory at or below 14 C, which is slightly above the recommended < 10 C sample temperature (Table A3). However, this is reasonable since the water temperatures throughout the majority of the sampling period were relatively high (12.9 to 23.1 C through 9/18/2015) and likely did not have enough time to cool down to 10 C between field collection and laboratory delivery (typically ~ 2 hours). On 9/11/2915, samples were delivered below the recommended temperature, but over 4 hours had passed between collection and delivery. Personal communication with laboratory staff confirmed that this was not a concern for sample quality. 13

18 Table A3. Summary of QAPP protocol results for 2015 bacteria sampling. Date Precip 24 hrs prior (in) Precip 48 hrs prior (in) Precip 96 hrs prior (in) Ogunquit River Watershed Bacteria and Water Quality Sampling Report Time of First Sample Time of Last Sample 1 Time of Last Sample 2 Time of Low Tide Time Delivered to Lab Temp Receive d ( C) 7/17/ :00 7:40 7:12 6:55 8: /27/ :29 16:25 16:09 15:20 16: /11/ :05 6:20 5:45 4:46 9: /18/ :30 10:45 9:05 8:51 11: /1/ :05 9:05 7:55 8:00 9: /29/ :30 8:55 8:00 6:46 9: Date Time Diff. First Sample (hh:mm) Time Diff. Last Sample (hh:mm) Time Diff. Last Sample (hh:mm) Time Diff. to Lab (hh:mm) 7/17/2015 0:55 0:45 0:17 2:10 8/27/2015 0:51 1:05 0:49 2:26 9/11/2015 0:19 1:34 0:59 4:40 9/18/2015 0:21 1:54 0:14 2:45 10/1/2015 0:55 1:05 0:05 2:30 10/29/2015 0:44 2:09 1:14 2:10 1 Last sample is OR-6. 2 Last sample is last tidal sample, excluding OR-6 and OR-19. 7) All field sheets and COC forms were complete. COC forms on 8/27/2015 were not consistent with receiving lab personnel signatures. The correct protocols were followed upon sample delivery, but the information was not recorded on the COC forms. 14