TR-488 Carters Creek Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Project Final Report
Authors: L. Gregory, B. Jonescu, J. Murray, C. Schulz, A. Gitter, K. Wagner
The “Carters Creek Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation” project was developed to provide additional information to watershed stakeholders regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of E. coli concentrations in water across the watershed to aid in planning future implementation efforts across the watershed. This goal was accomplished through a variety of focused tasks that collected water quality data and E. coli source information from across the watershed. Water quality monitoring was greatly expanded by utilizing four different monitoring approaches. Routine monthly monitoring conducted at four stations over a two-year period provided additional data for future water body assessments. Reconnaissance monitoring was conducted by volunteers on a monthly basis at 10 locations and provided water quality information in many areas of the watershed that had not been previously monitored. Stormwater sampling was conducted at two locations and demonstrated the influences of runoff events on water quality. Lastly, an intensive water quality monitoring approach was utilized to collect a large number of samples within selected creek segments on the same day to illustrate changes in water quality from upstream to downstream. This approach enabled specific areas of the watershed to be identified where E. coli loading is likely to occur.