PRWC October 8, 2015 2
Main Creek Water Quality Problem
Deer Creek Reservoir was listed on Utah’s 2000 303(d) list for failing to protects its cold water fishery designated use due to low dissolve oxygen (DO) and high water temperature.
Approved 2002 TMDL determined that low DO levels in Deer Creek Reservoir were caused by high TP concentrations.
Main Creek contributes 17 % TP load into the reservoir but only contributes 8 % of the flow.
Main Creek was also added to 2010 303(d) list for failing to protect its infrequent recreational use and cold water fishery due to elevated E. coli and water temperature.
PRWC October 8, 2015 3
Utah Sensitive Species
Leatherside ChubBonneville Cutthroat Trout
UPR
Columbia Spotted Frog
PRWC October 8, 2015 4
Wallsburg Coordinated Resource Management Plan – March 2007
Sponsored by NRCS
Voluntary natural resource planning process to enhance resource management and resolve resource issues
Locally led by Wasatch Conservation District
Listed water conservation and quality as top two resource concerns
PRWC October 8, 2015 6
Main Creek Restoration
Streambank restoration – lower water temperature and reduce E. coli & TP loading
Streambanks – highly erodible due to lack of vegetation & direct access by livestock
Lack of woody vegetation (shading) – higher instream temperature
PRWC October 8, 2015 7
Main Creek Restoration- September 2013
Best Management Practices Included:
Fencing
Soil lifts
Off-site watering
Native vegetation planting
Installation of hard structures (j hooks)
Water gaps
Riparian seeding
PRWC October 8, 2015 9
Main Creek Restoration Results
• Listed Assessment – 18% exceedance (2004-2008)
• Temperature exceedances at 4% (2010-2014)
• Main Creek is now considered to be fully supporting its cold water fishery use.
• It will be delisted in 2016.
PRWC October 8, 2015 10
TP Concentration in Main Creek Over TimeSlight decrease over time but concentrations are still above TMDL target of 0.03 mg/L
PRWC October 8, 2015 11
63% reduction in TP loading after Main Creek restoration efforts began
Before (2007 - 2012) After (2013-2014)0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900844
312
TP Loading in Main Creek Before and After Phase 1TP
Loadin
g (
kg/y
r)
PRWC October 8, 2015 122007 (n=12) 2008 (n=7) 2009 (n=2) 2010 (n=9) 2011 (n=10) 2012 (n=9) 2013 (n=3) 2014 (n=12) 2015 (n=7)
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
Average Yearly E. coli Concentrations in Main Creek
E coli Water Quality Standard (206)
E c
oli,
MP
N/1
00 m
l
PRWC October 8, 2015 13
Pre Project (2007 - 2012) Post (2013-2015) 0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
400.0
24% in E. coli Concentration After Main Creek Phase 1 Restoration
E. coli Water Quality Standard (206)
E c
oli (
MP
N/1
00
ml)
PRWC October 8, 2015 14
Pre Project (2007 - 2012) Post (2013-2015) 0.00E+00
2.00E+10
4.00E+10
6.00E+10
8.00E+10
1.00E+11
1.20E+11
1.40E+11
1.60E+11
1.37E+11
2.93E+10
79% Reduction E. coli Loading After Main Creek Phase 1 Restoration
E c
oli L
oad
ing
(#
/d/1
00
ml)
PRWC October 8, 2015 15
E. coli Synoptic Monitoring Results
LH1 Rt Fk Little Hobble LH2 Lf Fk Little Hobble LH3 LH4 LH @ Round Valley0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
E coli Synoptic Results In Little Hobble Creek Subwa-tershed
Jul-14Oct-14Aug-15WQS (206)
E c
oli
(M
PN
/10
0 m
l)
PRWC October 8, 2015 16
E. coli Synoptic Monitoring Results
SC1 Spring Ck in Wallsburg
SC2 SC3 SC4 Spring Ck @ Mud Lane
SC5 SC6 SC7 Spring Ck AB Main Ck
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
E. coli Synoptic Results in Spring Creek Subwatershed
Jul-14 Oct-14 Aug-15 WQS (206)
E c
oli
(MPN
/100m
l)
PRWC October 8, 2015 17
E. coli Synoptic Monitoring Results
MC1 Main Ck AB
Church
MC2 MC3 MC4 Main @ Round
Valley
MC5 Main @ Roundy
Lane
MC6 MC7 Main AB Spring
Ck
MC8 MC9 Main @ 1st
driveway xing
MC10 Main AB Deer Ck Res
MC110
200
400
600
800
1000
E. coli Snyoptic Results in Main Creek Subwatershed
Jul-14 Oct-14 Aug-15 WQS (206)
E c
oli (
MP
N/1
00m
l)
PRWC October 8, 2015 18
Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products Sampling – Aug 2015• Sampled 8 sites in the
watershed• Analyzed 39 compounds• All samples came back non-
detects except 1• Spring Creek in Wallsburg• Carbamazepine – 7 ng/L• Detection Limit – 5 ng/L• MN Screening Value – 40
ug/L • Sample 3 more times before
fall 2016
PRWC October 8, 2015 19
Main Creek Fisheries Data
http://utahspecies.com/leathersidechub.html
Population densities are 7 x higher (2007-2010)
PRWC October 8, 2015 20
Main Creek Funding (through 2014)
Entity Funding AmountNRCS (EQIP + CRMP) $516,422
UDWQ NPS $238,000EPA Section 319 $150,000
UDAF Seed Money Program $100,000WRI $85,000
Landowners (In-kind) $57,527PRWC $50,000
UT Reclamation & Mitigation $45,000UGIP $25,874UACD $10,000
Wasatch County $3,000Wasatch CD $376
Total $1,281,199