Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan Phase Two Implementation Steuben County

Transcription

1 Management Plan Phase Two Implementation Steuben County EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant EDS: A (September 22, November 28, 2012) Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District Submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management: November, 2012 Report Prepared by: Kayleen Hart Administrative Coordinator Steuben County SWCD 1220 North 200 West, Peachtree Plaza 200 Angola, IN (260) , ext. 3

2 Table of Contents: Introduction and Watershed Map.3 Project Partners.. 4 Project Task Summary 4 Completion of Tasks. 6 Summary and Discussion of Project Results Successes and Challenges of the Project.13 Future Activity in the Watershed.16 Project Pictures 17 2

3 Introduction: The Pigeon Creek Watershed (HUC ), within Steuben County, is located in the Northeast corner of Indiana, and has a drainage area of approximately 124 square miles (79,335 acres). Land use within the watershed is predominately agricultural; however the watershed has seen an increase in development over recent years. The County seat, Angola, is partially located within the Pigeon Creek Watershed, with four major outlets from the city ultimately draining into Pigeon Creek. In 2006, The Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan (PCWMP) was finished and Phase One Implementation of the Plan began; both were funded through an Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program Grant. Phase One Implementation was complete in 2008 and the Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) applied for the next phase of funding. The PCWMP Phase Two Implementation Grant was awarded from the IDEM Section 319 program in 2009, and grant work commenced on September 22, The goal of the Phase Two project was to continually improve the water quality of the Pigeon Creek Watershed by working in critical areas identified in the PCWMP, and to continue the work begun in Section 319 Phase One Implementation. Objectives and goals to accomplish in Phase Two Implementation included: increased adoption of agricultural and urban best management practices (BMP s), greater public awareness of the importance of water quality, demonstration of the benefits of agricultural and urban BMP s, improved water quality and biotic communities from BMP 3

4 implementation, and wetland/habitat restorations. The Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) planned to accomplish these goals by working with a variety of partners through a series of different tasks. Partners: (In no particular order) City of Angola/Trine University Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Separation (MS4) Steuben County Lakes Council Steuben County Health Department Steuben County Government including many departments City of Angola including many departments The Nature Conservancy The Pigeon Creek Steering Committee Wood-Land-Lakes Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Rehabilitation Industrial Services Enterprise Incorporated (RISE) Pigeon Creek Landowners United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) NRCS Albion Tech Team USDA Farm Service Agency Local Media, including the Herald Republican and WLKI radio Purdue Extension Agency Pokagon State Park Northeast Indiana Solid Waste District US Army Corp of Engineers Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (NACD) And of course.indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Tasks: Task A was the development and promotion of a cost-share program to implement best management practices (BMPs) such as, but not limited to, conservation buffers, a constructed wetland, rain gardens, and green roofs that address the water quality concerns outlined in the Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan (WMP). Details of the cost-share program were to be submitted to the State for approval in accordance with the Section 319 Cost-Share Development Guidelines prior to program implementation. Task B was to implement the approved cost-share program described in Task A. BMPs were required to conform to the Natural Resource Conservation Service Field Office Technical Guide (NRCS 4

5 FOTG) or other applicable, approved specifications. BMPs were to be implemented in critical areas as described in the Pigeon Creek WMP. Up to seventy-five (75) percent of the cost of BMP s will be provided by the federal Section 319 funds, and at least twenty-five (25) percent must be provided by the landowner or other non-federal source as match. Task C was to conduct a water monitoring program to determine the fate and source of pollutants in the watershed and to guide future sampling and/or remediation of point and nonpoint source pollution. The monitoring program was required to include at least the following components: Monitoring was to be conducted for the following parameters: total phosphorus, total suspended solids, ph, dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductance, stream flow, and E.coli. Monitoring was to be conducted at a minimum ten (10) sites within the Pigeon, Hogback, Long, Center, Pleasant Lake, Big Bower, and Golden Lakes for the aforementioned parameters and was to take place at least three (3) times between May and September each year of the Grant. Monitoring was to take place at no less than four (4) sites within the Pigeon Creek for the aforementioned parameters at least three (3) times between May and September of each year of the Grant. The development of Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for the monitoring activities was required, along with submittal to the State for approval at least one (1) month prior to initiating monitoring activities. All monitoring activities were to be conducted in accordance with the approved QAPP. Task D was to conduct an education and outreach program designed to bring about behavioral changes and encourage BMP implementation that would lead to reduced nonpoint source pollution in the watershed. Requirements included: Conduct one (1) presentation educating the attendees on water quality issues at schools within the watershed each year during the term of the Grant. Conduct five (5) presentations educating the attendants on water quality issues throughout the term of the Grant. Conduct twelve (12) quarterly steering committee meetings. Host one (1) public meeting each year during the term of the Grant. Submit three (3) press releases related to the project to local media each year during the term of the Grant. Maintain and update the project details on the Steuben County SWCD website. Promote the project at city and county meetings throughout the term of the Grant. Promote the project and BMP implementation by placing signs at highly visible BMP sites throughout the watershed as feasible. Host three (3) workshops on water quality issues through the term of the Grant. 5

6 Develop and disseminate a brochure regarding septic maintenance to stakeholders throughout the watershed. Provide two (2) copies of all products through this Grant to IDEM. Task E was to prepare and submit an electronic copy of a progress report to the State with each invoice, on at least a quarterly basis. A total of no less than eleven (11) quarterly progress reports shall be prepared and submitted by the Grantee to the State. The Grantee shall prepare and submit two (2) electronic copies of a final written summary project report to the State by the close of this project. Completion of Tasks: We were able to meet all the requirements of the required tasks in the contract, many times exceeding the required duties. Task A: Promotion - The SWCD prepared the Agricultural Cost Share program guidelines and the City of Angola/Trine University MS4 prepared the Urban Cost-Share guidelines; both agencies utilized the Pigeon Creek Steering Committee in development of these guidelines. The guidelines were approved by IDEM and promotion began. The City of Angola began promoting its RainTainer rain barrel program and working with urban landowners and Angola business owners in efforts to implement urban practices such as the barrels, rain gardens, pervious concrete, and green roofs. The SWCD began promotion of agricultural BMPs to landowners within the critical areas listed in the PCWMP; both agencies utilized local media and other partner agencies to promote the available cost-share programs to the public. During this time, the SWCD also received Watershed Land Treatment Grant Funds from the IDNR Lake and River Enhancement program and Clean Water Indiana Grant Funds to install additional agricultural BMPs in the Pigeon Watershed. Task B: Cost Share Summary of Installed Agricultural Best Management Practices through the IDEM 319 Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan Phase Two Implementation : Stream Bank Stabilization: Installation of a 307 foot log revetment stabilization project on the south bank of Pigeon Creek, just upstream of Long Lake. Total estimated load reductions: Sediment 44 tons per year, Phosphorus 38 pounds per year, and Nitrogen 75 pounds per year. 2011: Rotational grazing and exclusion fencing project: Installation of 4,295 feet of rotational grazing and exclusion fencing southeast of the Jack Ditch. Landowner also replaced tile riser in grazing field with a blind inlet-style drain. Total estimated load reductions: Sediment 61 tons per year, Phosphorus 73 pounds per year, and Nitrogen 147 pounds per year. 6

7 2012: Hay Planting: 15 acres of Hay were planted this past spring along the Thomas Malone Ditch which inlets into Long Lake. Total estimated load reductions: Sediment 3 tons per year, Phosphorus 9 pounds per year, and Nitrogen 17 pounds per year. 2012: Tree Planting: Through a combination of cost-share funds from the IDEM 319 grant program and LARE Watershed Land Treatment grant program, 30 acres of trees were planted this past spring along US 20, just east of the Jack Ditch and south of the Berlien Ditch, which flow into Pigeon Creek. Total estimated load reductions: Sediment 67 tons per year, Phosphorus 75 pounds per year, and Nitrogen 149 pounds per year. 2012: Commons Park/John Leach Drain Wetland Restoration project Installation September/October Combination Agricultural and Urban project. See load reductions under urban section. The SWCD has also received two State Grants to install Agricultural BMPs in the Pigeon Creek Watershed which have complimented our IDEM 319 Phase One and Two work in the Pigeon Creek Watershed: * Lake and River Enhancement Grant funding awarded 2007,2008,2009,2011, and Completed practices installed ( ) through this funding thus far include: 2007: Hayland Plantings acres Filter Strips 3.3 acres Fencing 18,300 feet Livestock Watering Facilities : Hayland Plantings acres Filter Strips 2.4 acres Tree Plantings 6.0 acres Cover Crops acres 2009: Hayland Plantings acres Filter Strips 14.9 acres Tree Plantings 32.0 acres Grassed Waterway feet Critical Area Seedings 5.9 acres Cover Crops acres Fencing 1,400 feet 2010: Hayland Planting 50.1 acres Tree Plantings 8.0 acres 7

8 Grassed Waterways 2,600 feet Critical Area Seedings 2.45 acres Fencings 10,132 feet Livestock Watering Facility : Hayland Plantings 19 acres Tree Plantings 10 acres Fencing 3,000 feet Cover Crops 79 acres 2012: Tree Planting (Joint cost share project with IDEM funding) 30 acres Rotational Grazing Fence 4,000 feet Hay Planting 25 acres *In 2012, we received a Clean Water Indiana Grant with LaGrange County to install Cover Crops, Exclusion fencing and Heavy Use Areas in the Pigeon and Fawn River Watersheds. We are in the process of signing up landowners and implementing these practices. Summary of Installed Urban Best Management Practices through the IDEM 319 Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan Phase Two Implementation Rain Barrel Program / of 40 Rain Barrels installed. All inspections performed. Display rain barrel which was at City Hall throughout the grant became part of the SCLC Annual Meeting Silent Auction City of Angola has now expanded its program and purchased 40 more of these barrels for distribution outside of grant critical area, but still within the City SWCD applies for and wins the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Award and is able to begin an urban Rain Barrel Program called RISE Up to Reduce Your Storm Water Communities Building Rain Barrels in which a local community organization RISE, Inc. (Rehabilitation and Industrial Services Enterprise, Inc.) builds rain barrels; these barrels are then distributed throughout the urban and lake communities of the County by the SWCD. This program merges with and becomes part of the RISE Creations program in Total number of Rain Barrels distributed so far: 272. Pervious Concrete/Rain Gardens o Angola Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Parking Lot - (Tom Green Engineering) 5,000 sq. ft. Parking Lot w/ 324 sq. ft. (6 x54 ) Pervious Concrete Area w/ required storm water storage volume of 625 cubic ft. 4,100 sq. ft. Bio-Swale (Bio-Retention Area) w/ total storage volume of 8,310 cu. ft. 8

9 o NE Quad - Mound (behind buildings near N. Martha St./E. Gilmore St.) - (Tom Green Engineering) - rain garden T-E, Inc. awarded contract and commenced work on 7/25/12. Final work completed on 8/15/12. Commons Park/John Leach Drain Wetland Work began on this acre wetland project September 7, 2012 and project was completed October 15 th, Project included a wetland detention area with an outlet structure. The existing wetland was not touched and the only location that the stream will be impacted is at the trail crossing/diversion weir. Total Load Reduction: 5,828 lbs Total Suspended Solids. Task C: Water Monitoring In 2008, the Steuben County Lakes Council began contracting with Scott Banfield, Aquatic Biologist at Aquatic Enhancement and Survey, Inc. to perform water quality monitoring in Steuben County. When we received the PCWMP Phase 2 Implementation Grant, Scott wrote the required Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for all the sampling points he monitored in the Pigeon Creek Watershed, including the 14 required through Task C. The QAPP was approved by IDEM in May, Scott sampled three times a year throughout the course of the grant and provided a yearly summary report of his findings. Extra sampling has been performed occasionally by Scott and Pete Hippensteel from the Lakes Council in an effort to narrow down problematic tributaries. Brian Musser, SWCD Resource Conservationist at that time, also assisted with these efforts and worked with Chad Hoover, Steuben County GIS Coordinator, to develop a layer on the County GIS site showing all the water monitoring sampling points along with the data gathered at these sites. We have also partnered with the Lakes Council on several occasions to present educational material and workshops to the Community about the water monitoring testing results, and inform participants about the various parameters Scott tests during his sampling. The testing results are also posted on both the Lakes Council and SWCD websites. Results: Water quality monitoring was completed at fourteen sites in the Pigeon Creek Watershed through the Phase Two grant. Three samples were collected each year during the grant for a total of 126 samples collected. Seven parameters were tested: E.coli, Total Phosphorous, Total Suspended Solids, Dissolved Oxygen, ph, Temperature, and Specific Conductance. E.coli results ranged from 1 to 27,500 CFU/100mL with 27 percent of the samples exceeding the IDEM standard of 235 CFU/100mL, of which 82 percent of the samples in exceedance were in the upper sub-watersheds of , , and Total Phosphorous results ranged from 0.01 to 0.60 mg/l with 88 percent of the samples exceeding the Grant s target goal of mg/l. Total Suspended Solids results ranged from 1 to 195 mg/l, only 10 percent of samples exceeded the IDEM standard of 30 mg/l, and of those samples 92 percent were collected in the upper sub-watersheds of , , and The remaining parameters did not have significant exceedances to report. 9

10 Improvements to water quality could not be determined based on the Phase Two water monitoring. It could be determined that the water quality issues in the Pigeon Creek Watershed primarily occur in the upper sub-watersheds of , , and , which is most likely due to the larger amount of stream miles and less frequent water bodies. Lakes and wetlands can provide filtration of pollutants, and while the upper part of the watershed lacks this filtration, the lower portion of the watershed contains lake chains which may provide this benefit. During Phase Two, water monitoring samples were collected during two extreme weather scenarios. The first was taken in May 2011, during one of the top five recorded wet springs in history, which accounted for significant water quality exceedances, including the highest recorded E.coli result of 27,500 at the East Ray Clark Road site (site 1). The second was taken during one of the top five recorded driest spring and summers during the May 2012 sampling, which resulted in only two impairments. Both extreme weather events indicate the water quality of the Pigeon Creek watershed varies heavily based on storm water runoff and non-point source pollution. Continuing efforts to reduce storm water runoff and non-point source pollution could improve the water quality of the Pigeon Creek Watershed. Task D: Education - With IDEM Phase Two grant funding, the SWCD and Steuben County Health Department hired Independent Contractor Jerry Smith as our Pigeon Creek Water Quality Education Coordinator (WQEC) in early 2010 to help us carry out the requirements of the grant. Jerry focused primarily on Septic System Education, while the SWCD continued its ongoing natural resource education. With Jerry s help we were able to complete not only the requirements of the grant, but much more, including ( ): At least thirty-seven newspaper or magazine articles related to work or presentations in the Pigeon Creek Watershed through the IDEM grant or through projects complimenting the IDEM grant; many of these complimentary project articles discuss the IDEM grant within them. Seven Educational Public Meetings, including yearly updates at the Lake Council s December public meeting on the water monitoring results for that year and updates on the grant, and also updates on grant progress at every Annual SWCD meeting. Conducted all 12 quarterly steering committee meetings, sometimes inviting special participants such as a local Dairy Owner to discuss water quality issues and agriculture with the group. We also held a follow-up meeting in November to discuss the end of Phase Two and beginning of Phase Three. Eight presentations with Schools within the watershed including a yearly Fourth Grade Youth Conservation Field Day at Pokagon State Park for five area schools. Attendance at this field day averages 330 children. Maintained and Updated SWCD Website. Many local radio (WLKI) news stories on our projects from Four presentations about septic systems and water quality to lake associations within the Pigeon Watershed. Average number of attendees was 20 people. 10

11 Nine presentations to local groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Lion s Club, Council on Aging, and the Pokagon Snowmobile Club, and at events such as the Lakes Council s Fall Forum, educating participants on water quality issues. Most of these presentations averaged people. Monthly updates at the Steuben County Lakes Council Meetings, SWCD meetings, MS4 Advisory Council Quarterly Meetings and at least bi-yearly updates to the Steuben County Commissioners and County Council. MS4 Coordinator, Eric Henion, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendant, Craig Williams, also provided updates at many City of Angola monthly meetings. Three Rain Barrels Education and Distribution Days Yearly educational displays at the 4H fair and Steuben County Spring Expo. In 2012, both the SWCD and the WQEC set up a display booth. Jerry Smith spent the week during the fair manning his booth and educating the public about water quality and septic systems. Bi-yearly articles in the Steuben County Lakes Council Newsletter Quarterly SWCD newsletters and Annual Reports from featuring grant progress and education. Won the 2010 IASWCD District Showcase Award and we hosted an Educational Field Day for our work in the Pigeon Creek Watershed. This event provided a tour of many of our project sites including our stream bank stabilization project. This event included around participants including many state and local officials. We were also able to man a display at the 2011 IASWCD Annual Conference. Won the 2011 National Conservation Foundation Award Grant for our RISE Up to Reduce Your Storm Water Communities Building Rain Barrels program (an expansion of the IDEM urban program); national and state publicity came along with this national award. District Share Fair at the NACD Annual Conference in Las Vegas where we discussed storm water education and urban BMPs with participants. One brochure promoting IDEM grant and new Water Quality Education Coordinator and five brochures created by the WQEC to educate about Septic Systems and Water Quality. Co-sponsored Pasture Walk in the greater Pigeon Watershed promoting rotational grazing and cover crops. Hosted an Environmental Clean-Up Day on sites in the Fawn River and Pigeon Creek Watersheds in May, Fifteen people assisted in this event and we were able to collect approximately 1/2 ton of trash from area ditches. Summary and Discussion of Project Results: In our 2009 IDEM 319 grant application, we predicted the following outcomes: 11

12 1) Increased adoption of agricultural and urban BMPs: One measure of success for this goal would be if there was an increase in the number of BMPs implemented. We believe we did reach this measure of success because we have been successful in convincing a number of landowners to adopt and install both agricultural and urban BMPs in the watershed. Recently, we have been working at trying to encourage farmers to adopt the practice of planting cover crops to increase soil health. The success of our urban rain barrel program is another testimony to the success of this outcome. 2) Greater public awareness of the importance of water quality: In our application we said our measures of success for this project outcome would be if we were able to establish septic system and other new educational programs in the County. We also said increased public relations would aid in the public awareness of water quality as well. We feel we were hugely successful with this goal; especially in our urban storm water education campaign. Through our rain barrel program, we have reached a section of landowners in the watershed that had never heard of a soil and water conservation district before, let alone about the importance of storm water reduction. As this program grew in popularity, we were also able to educate some of these same landowners about the importance of agriculture BMPs. We have definitely got the word out in our County that Everyone Makes a Healthy Watershed. Our Water Quality Education Coordinator, Jerry Smith, also reached new audiences as he worked with the Steuben County Health Department and the SWCD to promote Septic System Installation and maintenance education along with other water quality information. He was able to work with many local lake associations, local groups, and high schools to promote water quality education. 3) Demonstration of the benefits of agricultural and urban BMPs: Our measures of successes for this goal included water quality monitoring showing a decreased level of pollutants, a reduction in stream/flood flow, and reductions in stream/site erosion. These goals are a bit lofty for a three year project. We hope to continue on with the water monitoring program and show this reduction after a few more years of testing. These first few years have just established a baseline and it is hard to tell if we have made a difference. We are able to estimate the load reductions of sediment and nutrients from the BMPs we have installed. Annual Estimated Load Reductions (Using Region Five Model): For just the IDEM 319 Phase Two projects: Agricultural: Sediment: 175 Tons Phosphorus: 195 Pounds Nitrogen: 388 Pounds Urban: Total Suspended Solids: 5,828 12

13 4) Improved water quality and biotic communities from BMP implementation: To accomplish this outcome, we would need to see reduced e-coli, nutrient, and sediment concentrations, and reduced run-off volumes as measures of success. We estimated a savings of tons of soil saved per year from the agricultural BMPs. In Phase Two, we reached this goal with a 175 Ton per year savings. This figure increases significantly when the LARE WLT sediment reductions are included. Other measures of success include showing a reduced level of e-coli and nutrients, and working towards the goals specified in the PCWMP of 235 cfu for e-coli, 10 mg/l for Nitrates, and.025 for Phosphates. We do not have a significant baseline established to show whether e-coli and nutrient levels have been going up or down. 5) Wetland/Habitat Restorations: Our goal when we began this grant was to restore a wetland habitat in the Pigeon Creek Watershed. The site we had in mind was located on the property of the Angola Parks Department and would serve to reduce the flow of storm water flowing through the John Leach Drain, offer a filtration benefit, as well as improve the wildlife habitat of the area. Our measure of success for this outcome would be improved water quality in the vicinity of this project. By constructing this wetland, water quality would improve by impounding water to reduce runoff, and trap nutrients and sediments. We are estimating a soil savings of tons of sediment annually. The project took longer than expected, but was completed at the end of Phase Two. Over time, the project should achieve the results we hoped for. Phase Two Implementation was a continuing effort to achieve some of the goals set out in the 2006 PCWMP. Goals of the PCWMP include improving water quality in the watershed, improving drainage, and regulating development. Phase One and Phase Two Implementation, as well as our LARE Watershed Treatment Grant in the Pigeon Creek Watershed, has sought to improve water quality by implementing both urban and agricultural land treatment practices and conducting an extensive public education campaign about water quality and private septic system installation guidelines and future maintenance. By conducting water quality sampling in the Pigeon, we hope to eventually prove our efforts are making a difference; this evaluation will take more than a few years of sampling to show those results, though. Successes and Challenges of the Project: Overall, the Phase Two PCWMP Implementation Grant was an overwhelming success. Throughout the last three years, there have been many achievements beyond what we originally planned to accomplish. The partnerships that were formed and continue to grow because of this grant is truly the biggest success of the project. We may all have different approaches and ideas how to improve water quality, but this is each partner s ultimate goal; it 13

14 has brought us together and will continue to prompt us to work together, as we plan more projects in the future. We do not feel this project had any failures; however there were challenges and hurdles to overcome along the way. Other successes: 1) One of our partners, The Steuben County Lakes Council, began a water monitoring program in 2008, sampling 37 sites around Steuben County. Through our Phase Two Implementation Grant, we were able to fund 14 of those sites in the Pigeon Creek Watershed. With this and additional financial assistance from the Steuben County Drainage Board and the City of Angola, the Lakes Council s program has now expanded to 59 sites around the County, beginning to build a database of information which will measure how our efforts have an effect on Steuben County s water quality. 2) Another program expansion came out of our urban section of the 319 grant. Through a portion of the Phase Two 319 funding, The City of Angola/Trine University MS4 was able to purchase and install 40 rain barrels throughout a critical area of Angola. The demand for this urban BMP was so immense that the SWCD decided to apply for a national award to continue the program throughout Steuben County. This time, instead of purchasing finished barrels, we planned to use RISE (Rehabilitation and Industrial Service Enterprises); a facility assisting disabled individuals to reach their full potential, to assemble recycled pickle barrels into rain barrels. We won the award in 2011 and were able to assemble and distribute a total of 272 rain barrels around Steuben County. The program has now become part of RISE s new program of creating various homemade products called RISE Creations, and will continue on into the future. The City of Angola/Trine University will also continue with their rain barrel program. Not only were we able to expand the original program, we were able to provide storm water and water quality information and education to an entirely new group of stakeholders. Many of the individuals who participated in our rain barrel programs and distribution days hadn t heard of an SWCD or an MS4 before or our missions, so it was a good way to reach out to a new crowd. 3) Our partnership with the Health Department turned out to be a success as well. Many of the Pigeon Creek Lake Associations signed up to have our Water Quality Education Coordinator, who was hired through the Phase Two Implementation funding, give a presentation on water quality and private septic systems. Our Coordinator also provided presentations to other local groups and schools throughout the grant. He trained with personnel from the Health Department and SWCD, and developed several brochures during his employment for both our offices promoting healthy septic systems and improving water quality. This section of our Phase Two grant provided a good educational enhancement for the community. 14

15 4) Through Phase Two funding, we were able to install several Agricultural and urban BMPs, but one Ag BMP stands out in this three-year project. Through Phase Two funding, we were able to implement a stream bank stabilization project using tree revetments as our means of stabilization. Many in the community had not seen this method of bank stabilization in the past, so the project resulted in a great deal of media coverage. NRCS assisted with this project, providing the engineering and design. Construction was completed in 2010 and turned out to be very successful; the revetments are protecting the bank, also trapping sediment flowing down Pigeon Creek in between and behind the logs, and new vegetation is growing on the bank behind the logs. Challenges: 1) One challenge we had to overcome during the grant was illness. As we began our second year of Phase Two, our Water Quality Education Coordinator was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After surgery to remove the tumor and therapy, we are happy to report that he is back to his old self again; however in 2011, he was only able to work about three months of the year. For awhile, this put us behind in accomplishing all of the educational tasks we had hoped he would carry out during his three years. But he surprised us all in 2012, coming back and finishing all of his contractual requirements. 2) Whenever there are several agencies involved, coordination and communication are key components to a successful project. At times, coordinating and communicating between several different agencies was a challenging aspect to the grant. During the course of Phase Two, there were times when these components could have been improved upon. The SWCD and our partners have definitely learned a lot these past three years, and we have discussed how to improve on these skills during the next phase. 3) Permitting Getting the proper permission erected some hurdles for the SWCD and its partners to face. We have learned that sometimes the permitting process can take longer than expected. On our last project, the Commons Park Wetland project, we had a few snags obtaining the permit for the design. It ended up delaying the project forcing us to file an extension of Phase Two with IDEM so we could complete it. The project was finished about a month overdue; it is a definite conservation benefit and will be a wonderful educational project display for park-goers, but it was also a valuable lesson to us. 4) Landowners When we originally received the Phase Two grant, we had planned on trying to install a green roof in a critical area of the City of Angola. Unfortunately, we could not obtain the landowner permission we needed to get this project completed. As 15

16 a substitute project, pervious concrete was installed at the Angola Wastewater Treatment Plant. We have not given up on our original goal of implementing a green roof project in the City, and hope to get more support from stakeholders in the next phase of implementation. Future Activity in the Watershed: Since the completion of the Steuben County Pigeon Creek Watershed Management Plan in 2006, several changes have taken place within the Watershed, including changes in population, land use, water quality monitoring, and conservation efforts. IDEM 319 Grants for Phase One and Two Implementation of the PCWMP along with Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Watershed Land Treatment Grants from , and again in 2011, have provided the Soil and Water Conservation District, and our many partners, the opportunity to begin working on both the Agricultural and Urban Issues within critical areas identified in the PCWMP. Phase Two Implementation also enabled our District to conduct water monitoring on 14 sites within the Pigeon Creek Watershed, as well as launch a septic education campaign. Five years after completion of the PCWMP, we believe it is time to update the plan in an effort to evaluate changes that have occurred since 2006, including logging the successes in the watershed, and identifying any new critical areas. Now is the ideal time to revise the PCWMP for several reasons including the 2011 IDEM TMDL study for the watershed, IDEM s 2009 revision of the Watershed Management Plan Checklist, and LaGrange County s current development of a WMP for the Pigeon River Watershed (HUC ), all of which would be incorporated into our revision. Through the revision, in efforts to envelope the entire Pigeon Creek Watershed, we would like to add the Turkey Creek sub watersheds (HUC , , and ), which are currently not a part of the 2006 PCWMP. Throughout Phase Two Implementation, our District partnered with the Steuben County Lakes Council to assist with the funding of professional water quality monitoring in the Pigeon Creek Watershed, and we would like to add this data to the plan revision. The data has been extremely useful to our conservation efforts, but the results also show there is still work to be done. Testing in the upper Pigeon still shows high levels of E. coli and sedimentation. We would like to increase our monitoring efforts to match IDEM's current sampling requirements for management plan development by testing monthly during the first year of the PCWMP revision, followed by two years of quarterly (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) sampling to maintain monitoring during all four seasons. Two sites in the Turkey Creek sub watersheds would be added to the 14 sites we already fund in the watershed, as well as adding Nitrate sampling to our current parameters. Flow rates at all sites would also be measured; we would like to engage Trine University students to assist in gathering this data. We would also like to conduct macro-invertebrate testing once a year during the summer season. By increasing our testing repetitions, our goal is to create a better baseline to draw conclusions from. Our overall goal is to meet the standards set by IDEM's TMDL for the Pigeon Creek watershed. 16

17 During and after completion of the plan update, we would like to continue our implementation efforts. We have been extremely successful working with landowners in the watershed through several different cost-share and educational programs. Both agricultural and urban practices have been implemented in the critical areas listed in the original PCWMP. We estimate that annually, 2,000 tons of soil, 1,800 lbs of Phosphorous, and 3,700 lbs of Nitrogen have been kept from entering Pigeon Creek through these implemented BMPs. These annual rates will be significant after several years, but there is still a great need in the watershed to continue implementation in designated critical areas. It is the opportune time to take inventory of these areas, revise the PCWMP, and tweak our implementation efforts as necessary to fit any new needs. These were the goals and needs listed by the SWCD, our partners, and the Pigeon Creek Steering Committee as we composed an application to IDEM for Phase Three PCWMP Revision and Implementation. We are excited that this application has been approved for funding and we are thrilled that we will be continuing our conservation effort in the Pigeon Creek Watershed. Various Project Pictures: Label used on all our Phase Two project material Northeast Quadrant Rain Garden City of Angola 17

18 Stream bank Stabilization Project - SWCD Jerry Smith Water Quality Education Coordinator Health Dept. Commons Park Wetland City of Angola Tree Planting Pigeon Creek - SWCD Thank you for the opportunity to improve the Water Quality of the Pigeon Creek Watershed! 18