Maryland's Targeted Watershed Project / Tracking Progress and Measuring Success in German Branch

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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MARYLAND'S TARGETED WATERSHED PROJECT: TRACKING
PROGRESS AND MEASURING SUCCESS IN GERMAN
BRANCH

STATE OF MARYLAND
COOPERATIVE PROJECT

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
OFFICE OF STATE PLANNING

FEBRUARY 1995

Task 6 Final Report
Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program
Grant # NA370ZO359

STATE OF MARYLAND

WATERSHED TARGETING PROJECT

MARYLAND'S TARGETED WATERSHED PROJECT: TRACKING
PROGRESS AND MEASURING SUCCESS IN GERMAN
BRANCH

JOHN L. McCOY

STUART LEHMAN

JEFFERY OPEL

NILES PRIMROSE

FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE COASTAL
RESOURCES DIVISION, TIDEWATER ADMINISTRATION, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES, THROUGH A COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FROM THE OFFICE OF OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL
OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

ft;W-ENOT Of 704

Maryland's Targeted Watershed Project: Tracking Progress and Measuring Success in
German Branch.
John L. McCoy', Stuart Uhman', Jeffery Opel', and Niles Primrose'.

INTRODUCTION

The Targeted Watershed Project is a multi-agency, state initiative to improve water
quality, restore living resources and provide a detailed assessment of the water quality
and assessment impacts of these efforts in several tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay.
The project is using water quality and living resources monitoring programs to
characterize water quality and living resources in the streams, guide restoration activities,
and to monitor the effectiveness of these restoration activities.

The project is set up in four phases. The first phase involved planning, initiating the
project, and recruiting the cooperators. The second phase involved selecting the basins to
be targeted. The third phase is the implementation of the control measures and the
assessment of the project. The final phase of the project will involve reporting and
disseminating the results.

The project is currently in the assessment and implementation phase. Water quality and
living resource assessment and monitoring plans and implementation plans have been
developed in each of the watersheds. Restoration activities are focused on water quality
problems identified by water quality data collected prior to the project or through the
project's water quality assessment program.

The data being generated by the Targeted Watershed Project's implementation tracking
program is being used to document progress towards implementation and restoration
goals set by the restoration plans. The results of the water quality and living resource
monitoring program are being used for several purposes; 1.) to establish baseline water
quality and biotic conditions in the watersheds, 2.) to estimate pollutant loads for each
watershed, 3.) to evaluate water quality trends in each watershed over time, 4.) to detect
any changes in biotic conditions in each watershed during the project. Jmprovements in
water quality and/or biotic conditions within each watershed relative to baseline
conditions or as measured with a trend analysis are the measures of success for this
project.

German Branch is one of four watersheds selected by this project for restoration
activities. The watershed is a 12,100 acre sub-basin of the Choptank River, in
Maryland's coastal plain. The primary landuse in the watershed is row crop agriculture.
The stream suffers from excessive nutrient and sediment loads. This paper will focus on
the methods and results of the project's implementation, water quality, and living
resource evaluation programs in German Branch.

1. Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore MD, 21224
2. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis MD, 21401
3. Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis MD, 21401

METHODS

Implementation Trac"n

USDA and MDE are the lead implementation agencies in the German Branch
watershed. The USDA German Branch Hydrologic Unit Project and a Chesapeake Bay
Implementation Grant to MDE are the primary implementation funding mechanisms.

The Hydrologic Unit Project uses cost share funds as an incentive to encourage farmers
to adopt water quality oriented BMP's. Through accelerated technical and financial
assistance and a concentrated information and education program, the project expects to
treat 80 percent of the 8,800 acres of cropland in the watershed and develop plans for all
of the agricultural land in the watershed. The major systems and practices projected to
be implemented are:

Conservation Farm Plans 7,000 acres
Integrated Crop Management 7,000 acres
Riparian Vegetation, Stream
Protection and Cropland Conversion 250 acres
Sediment Control Structures 50 acres
Timber Stand Improvement 500 acres
Cover Crop 1,000 acres

The Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant is an EPA grant to assist in the i&P+1Ye
restoration of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. EPA, MDE and
DNR have committed approximately $88,000 towards developing a wetland restoration
projects in the German Branch watershed as part of the Targeted Watershed Project.
One project to restore a 1.5 acre wetland has been constructed.

Progress in BMP implementation is tracked through cost share accounting and Soil
Conservation and Water Quality Plan (SCWQ plans) completion and implementation
verification. The cost-share program reports payments to farmers upon completion of
practice installation. This data is used to track BMP practice implementation. Acres
covered within completed SCWQP's are tallied and used to track conservation planning
progress. Spot checks and surveys are used to determine the extent of implementation of
completed farm plans.

Water Qualfty Monitoring Program

The goal of the monitoring program is to be able to characterize water quality, habitat
value and productivity and detect changes in water quality that result from various
implementation activities in the German Branch watershed.

The water quality assessment and monitoring plans have four components; finfish
sampling, macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality sampling, and hydrologic
characterization. The water quality sampling and hydrologic characterization can be

further subdivided into two categories, water quality samples collected manually during
predominately baseflow conditions and water quality samples collected by automated
water quality sampling stations during stormflow conditions. Flow data can be similarly
subdivided into two categories, flow data collected manually or read from a staff gauge
and flow data collected continuously by automated stations. An automated water quality
sampling and discharge monitoring station was established at the outlet of German
Branch (Figure 1).

Water Chemistry

Water quality samples and flow measurements are collected monthly at each monitoring
station in the German Branch watershed. Water quality samples were collected
manually using standard sample handling techniques (Marshall et al. 1992).

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center was contracted to conduct the storm
event based water quality monitoring at the outlet of German Branch. The storm event
water quality data collected at the outlet of the German Branch watershed was collected
as weekly grab samples and flow weighted weekly composites. The sample collection
and preservation techniques used by the Smithsonian are described by Correll (1981).

Citizen monitors were recruited to conduct monitoring weekly at each station in the
watershed. Citizen monitors used colorimetric test kits to test for dissolved oxygen, pH
and turbidity. The monitors also collected data on air temperature, water temperature,
rainfall and stage height.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrate sampling was conducted at each station in the watershed in
the spring and fall according to EPA Protocol 11 Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (Plafkin
et al., 1989). The procedure was modified as described by Marshall et al. (1992).
The data was used to calculate an index of biological integrity (1131).

In conjunction with the macroinvertebrate sampling, a habitat assessment was made.
Various physical features of the adjacent watershed, riparian zone, banks, and channel,
visible from the sampling site were scored (Plafkin et al. 1989). The scores were used to
develop a habitat assessment index (HAI). The HAI was used with the ICI to develop a
relationship between habitat and the benthic community structure in the stream.

Finfish

Fish were collected at each station in the watershed during the spring and fall. The
finfish sampling procedures are described by Marshall et al. (1992)

The finfish data was used to calculate an IBI modified for use in Maryland's coastal
plain streams (Fischer et al. 1992). The index was developed to assess biological quality
in streams by measuring species composition, trophic composition, fish abundance, and

Figure 1:

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Watershed mao of German Branch showing monitoring stations

health. In the piedmont streams species richness, trophic structure, and feeding
strategies were used to evaluate conditions.

RESULTS

Implementation

The implementation of BMP's in the German Branch watershed has exceeded most of
the goals set by the project. SCWQ plans have been written covering a total of 11,700
acres in the watershed (Figure 2). Integrated crop management has been implemented
on 7,994 acres. Sediment control practices, including grade stabilization structures, grass
waterways, and critical area plantings, have been implemented to serve 8,594 acres in the
watershed. Of all the practices, cover crop plantings and timber stand management, lag
behind the goals set for the project.

Water Chemistry

Weekly mean nutrient concentrations and weekly mean flow data from 7/90 through
10/93 are presented in Figure 3. In order to separate the effects of natural variations in
flow from the changes in pollution control, a log-linear regression was used to adjust the
concentration data to remove the effects of changes in flow and season. Residuals of the
flow v.s. concentration model were analyzed for time trends to identify trends in the data
due to effects other than flow variability. The results of the analysis indicate that
phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations have increased over the last three years (Table
1).

Table 1.
Time Trends in Flow and Season Adjusted Data

CONSTITUENT TIME TREND

TKN +

N02+NO3-N +

NH4-N +

TOTAL N +

TOTAL P +

P04 +

SEDIMENT NONE

Annual and weekly loads have been computed using the concentration and flow data at
the automated site. Total annual loads are presented in Table 2. Nitrogen and
sediment loads have risen over the last three years with total flow.

Table 2.

Annual Loads Discharged By German Branch (Metric Tons/yr.)
Parameter June 1990 - 199.1 T June 1991--1992TJune 1992 -
Total Flow (m'/yr) 17061733 17481956 22946363

Total P 3.36 4.57 4.28

P04 1.89 2.64 2.49

Organic Carbon 151.68 166.55 223.96

N03 59.17 58.52 79.36

NH4 2.68 2.91 3.60

TKN 16.33 19.21 22.24

Sediment 470.77 513.67 574.76
Total N 75.50 1 77.73 1 100.56

Total N = (TKN + N03)

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

The calculation of a biological score using the RBP methods requires the use of a
reference for comparison. Rather than use a single sample from one year as a reference
for all samples, or have different references for each year, a composite reference sample
was constructed. The best station from each sampling period (total of 9), as determined
from the biotic index, was combined to create a composite reference macroinvertebrate
community. The reference RBP metrics were calculated from this reference community.
The RBP metrics from all stations from 1989 through 1993 were compared to the
reference values to produce biological scores. The annual average biological score
metrics are presented in Figure 4. The metrics show a tendency towards improvement
over the past four years.

The habitat quality was a little harder to quantify. The exclusion of livestock from the
riparian zone at one site in the watershed during the summer of 1993 has allowed a
considerable amount of revegetation to occur in the riparian zone and improved habitat
conditions along the stream bank adjacent to this site. A stream blockage at one site in
the watershed has pooled water in stream segment that was previously dominated by
shallow water and gravel bars. Both of these changes positively impacted habitat scores
in the watershed. Overall the RBP scores suggest an
improvement in water quality within the watershed.

'FIGURE 2
CUMMULATIVE ACRES UNDER CONSERVATION FARM PLANS
IN THE GERMAN BRANCH WATERSHED
1991 -1994
14,000

12,000
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0
1991 1992 19931 1994
YEAR

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WEEKLY MEAN CONCENTRATION AND FLOW IN THE GERMAN BRANCH WATERSHED 1990-1993

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FIGURE 4 1 GERMAN BR. MACRO INVERTEBRATE SCORES
AVERAGE ANNUAL VALUES
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STATION

1990 1991 1992 1993

Finfish

The number of species collected in German Branch ranged from a minimum of 4 species
at station 2 in the fall 1989, to 17 species at station 5 in the fall of 1990. Species
composition varied spatially and temporally in German Branch with the exception of
station I which remained fairly stable. Samples collected at station 2 indicated some
improvement in species composition through the period of study. The fall 1990 sample
at station 2 was exceptional with an additional 10 species. The increase in species may
be related to elevated flows which began in spring 1989 and continued into 1990.
Relatively good recruitment and/or habitat availability may have resulted from these
flow conditions. Species composition also increased at stations 3-5 in fall 1990, but was
subsequently variable.

Of the various trophic guilds represented at the German Branch stations, in each
sampling period, insectivorous individuals were dominant, followed in decreasing order
by generalists, omnivores, piscivores, and filter feeders. Proportions were 74%, 20%,
3%, 2% and 1% respectively. The macroinvertebrate community appears to be the
major food source supporting the fish community dominated by insectivores. The
proportion of insectivores collected at station 1 decreased in fall 1992. Discharge was
deficient overall during 1992 and may have impacted macroinvertebrate abundance at
this headwater station. A gradual increase in proportion of generalists and a decrease in
proportion of insectivores occurred at station 5 for unknown reasons.

The proportion of pollution tolerance classifications for species in German Branch
stations and all years combined included intermediate, intolerant, and tolerant
individuals at 72%, 15%, and 13% respectively. Species of intermediate tolerance
represent a large proportion of finfish populations in German Branch. Proportions of
individuals classified as intolerant in German Branch is dependent upon abundance of
rosyside dace (C. funduloides). This species was collected at all stations. Species in
classified as pollution tolerant were slightly more abundant than intolerant individuals in
German Branch.

DISCUSSION

The Targeted Watershed Program was designed to demonstrate the impact of
coordinated management activities on water quality and living resources. The various
segments of the assessment and implementation phase of the program have been set up
to track implementation and changes in water quality.

The results of the implementation tracking program indicate that the majority of the
implementation goals set in the program have been met. This is a function of the
interest in the project among farmers in the watershed and a very visible Soil
Conservation District. SCWQ plans have been developed for all of the farms in the
watershed. The implementation of the plans is about 80% for structural practices and
50% for agronomic practices. Through SCWQ plans and integrated crop management
SCS and the District estimate that 15,779 tons of soil have been prevented from leaving
the farm and 225,793 lbs of nitrogen and 144,194 Ibs of phosphorus have been saved
over the last three years.

The water quality monitoring program was designed to measure the result of these
savings instream as either changes in concentration, loading reductions or as changes in
the biological community. To date the program has begun to detect changes only in the
biological community. The benthic macroinvertebrate and finfish communities appear to
be responding to changes in either habitat or water quality. The water quality results
indicate that nutrient concentrations are still increasing. This eliminates nutrients as a
cause for the response. The habitat monitoring results indicate that there have been
improvements in instrearn and riparian habitat that would affect the benthic community
in German Branch. The water quality data also indicates that flows have increased. The
results of the finfish monitoring suggest that the elevated flows have had a positive
influence on the finfish community. The benthic community maybe responding to the
same changes in habitat that the finfish appear to be responding to. Unlike the
chemistry data where we can factor out flow effects from anthropogenic effects on
nutrient concentrations we still lack the method for doing this with the biological data.

LITERATURE CITED

Correfl, D.L. 1981. Nutrient mass balances for the watershed, headwaters intertidal zone, and
basin of the Rhode River Estuary. Limnol. Oceanogr. 26:1142-1149.

Fisher, Steven A., et al. 1992. A pilot study for assessing environmental degradation in Maryland
coastal plain streams by using biotic integrity and qualitative habitat indices. Unpublished
report. .

Marshall, Douglas., John Christmas, Stuart Lehman, David Jordahl, John McCoy, Michael
Haddaway, Fred Paul, and Niles Primrose. 1992. Sawmill Creek: Baseline Monitoring Report
October 1989-September 1990. Maryland Targeted Watershed Program. Maryland Department
of Natural Resources. WGM-TAR-92-2.

Plafkin, James I., M.T. Barbour, Kimberley D. Porter, Sharon K. Gross, and Robert M. Hughs.
1989. Rapid bioassessment and protocols for use in streams and rivers: Benthic
macroinvertebrates and fish. US Environmental Protection Agency. Assessment and Watershed
Protection Division. EPA/444/4-89-001.

0" COASTAL SERVICES CTR LIBRARY

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