February 2007
Fourche Creek Watershed Initiative
Fourche Creek Water Quality Sampling Results
by Stephanie Hymel
Conservation Program Manager
Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Acknowledgements
This work is made possible through a grant from the US Environmental
Protection Agency as a part of its Targeted Watersheds Initiative and through the
continued support of Audubon Arkansas Partners and Donors.
The Targeted Watersheds Grant Program is an EPA program designed to
encourage successful community-based approaches and management techniques to
protect and restore the nation's waters.
Acknowledgements also go to Dick Cassat, Chief, Environmental Preservation
Division, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for his review and for the
laboratory performing the water chemistry analyses; and Martin Maner, Chief, Water
Division, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for his review of the report.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Sampling Sites
Sampling Methodologies
Summary and Results
Sample Sites 1-4
Sample Sites 5-8
Attachment A
References
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Fourche Creek Restoration Sites Sampling Results
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to present water quality sampling results to support Task 10
of the Fourche Creek Watershed Initiative Workplan. Task 10 is to conduct a study of the
Fourche Creek Watershed to include hydrological and geomorphological aspects of the
watershed, quantify impervious surfaces, assess land use characteristics and assess
associated impacts to the watershed. Specifically within Task 10, this report will provide
baseline water quality data and identify areas that significantly contribute to non-point
source pollution and contaminants.
The objective of Task 10 is to provide a large-scale perspective of the watershed that will
assist in further identifying growing watershed threats, including sources of water
contaminants and nonpoint source pollution. This study will be utilized as a tool for
watershed management practices and planning. Through Task 10, and its associated
subtasks, this study will provide a thorough understanding of the environmental threats,
trends and significant factors contributing to the degradation of the Fourche Creek
Watershed, as well as determine the most effective watershed management practices.
Sampling Sites
Audubon Arkansas began monitoring Fourche Creek in July 2002 via EPA 319 funding.
However, routine water quality, field parameters and bacteria were not measured. There
were several breaks between June 2003 and October 2004. In October 2004, monitoring
began again under the EPA Targeted Watershed Grant. More extensive sampling has
been ongoing since that time.
Audubon Arkansas currently has eight sampling locations along Fourche Creek. These
sites are located in the Gulf Coastal and the Ouachita Mountains Ecoregions. The study
began with seven sampling sites in 2002. The Hindman Park sampling site was added in
2006. This report represents analyses from 18 June 2002 through 13 June 2006. The
station locations are as follows:
147A (1) – Springer Avenue adjacent to The Watershed Human & Community
Development Center
147B (2) – off the Arch Street Bridge near the 3M Mining facility
147C (3) – Benny Craig Park on Patterson Road
147D (4) – on the back of property owned by Mr. Boyd behind the Arnold Palmer
driving range on South University
147H (5) – off the bridge at Hindman Park
147E (6) – behind the maintenance facility of the Arkansas Highway Department
147F (7) – in Fourche Creek off the Otter Creek Road bridge
147G (8) – off the Highway 5 bridge
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A map of the locations is listed below.
Sampling Methodologies
All samples collected were surface water samples and were collected and preserved
according to the criteria in Arkansas’ Water Quality and Compliance Monitoring Quality
Assurance Project Plan, Arkansas Department of Environment Quality (ADEQ), revised
February 2007. These procedures were based on EPA Guidelines Establishing Test
Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants under the Clean Water Act, 40 CFR Part 136,
October 23, 2005.
Dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH and conductivity were made on site using a
meter calibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Dissolved oxygen, water
temperature and conductivity were taken using an YSI Model 85 Handheld Oxygen,
Conductivity, Salinity and Temperature System. Calibration was then checked by taking
a reading in shaken tap water using values from an YSI solubility table. pH was
measured using an Oakton pH 300/310 meter and calibrated according to manufacturer’s
instructions.
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Samples to be analyzed for dissolved metals were collected using a polypropylene pitcher
with a nylon rope attached via holes in the pitcher. The sample was filtered with a
syringe filter into a HDPE bottle with a pre-measured amount of concentrated nitric acid
for preservation. The sample bottles were kept in a new, clean plastic zip lock bag prior
to use and were placed back into the bag after sample collection. All sample bottles were
kept in the zip lock bag and placed on ice in a plastic ice chest.
A half gallon polyethylene bottle is used for mineral and routine analyses.
Bacteriological grab samples were taken using the polypropylene pitcher and poured into
the sample bottle.
All samples collected were placed on ice in the plastic ice chest and were delivered to
ADEQ on the same day they were collected. A chain of custody form was submitted to
and signed off on by ADEQ laboratory personnel.
Summary and Results
Water quality sampling results received from ADEQ were put into an excel spreadsheet
along with all formulas necessary for calculating values. Once the data and necessary
parameters for evaluation were entered, the data were analyzed based on criteria from
Chapter 5 in the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Regulation 2. The
following table lists all parameters that exceeded the Regulation 2 standards.
PARAMETER
Cadmium
Copper
Lead
Zinc
Dissolved Oxygen
Fecal Coliform
Turbidity
SITE
147A, 147F
147A, 147B, 147E, 147F,147H
147A, 147B, 147C, 147D, 147E, 147F,
147G
147A, 147B, 147C, 147D, 147E
All sampling stations
All sampling stations
All sampling stations
A detailed list of the parameters, sample dates violations occurred and the category of the
violation are listed in Attachment A. Other apparent exceedances include:
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) at Stations 147A, 147B, 147G and 147H
E. Coli at Stations 147A, 147B, 147D, 147F and 147G
Temperature at Stations 147A, 147C, 147D, 147G and 147H
pH at Stations 147B, 147E, 147F and 147G
Chloride at Stations 147A, 147B, 147C, 147G and 147H
Sulfate at Stations 147A, 147B, and 147F
These violations require further investigation and evaluation by ADEQ personnel.
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Sample Sites
Sites 1-4
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Sample Sites
Sites 5-8
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There are many automotive repair facilities, collision repair facilities and trucking
companies along much of the sampling route. Metals contamination could potentially be
coming from these sources. The Arkansas Highway Department has a maintenance and
painting facility located at site 147E. Run-off from this site could also be a potential
source of contamination. Certain metals work in concert to increase uptake in aquatic
organisms or to magnify their effects on aquatic organisms. Most metals are transported
via sediment. Their dust attaches to dirt particles and then is washed into the water.
Heavy metals can accumulate in the bottom sediments and effect bottom dwelling
organisms. All of the metals listed can cause adverse human health effects. Cadmium is
most commonly found in nickel/cadmium batteries and is also found in some paints.
Copper can come from auto emissions and from agricultural use to treat diseases. Copper
uptake can be enhanced by the presence of lead and zinc. Lead is found in paint,
fertilizers and can be released in automobile emissions and repair activities. Zinc is
found in batteries, automotive parts and paint.
Dissolved oxygen, fecal contaminants and turbidity could all be linked together because
of their contribution to high oxygen demand. Some of the dissolved oxygen data from
October 2004 through July 2006 may be questionable due to sampling inaccuracies.
There are natural variations in dissolved oxygen due to biological activity such as
photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition; water turbulence; temperature changes
and flow changes.
Stormwater and effluent discharges can also increase a water body’s demand for oxygen
by delivering chemical or biological constituents that have a high oxygen demand. When
a watershed becomes developed, greater quantities of pollutants are released and the total
volume of runoff increases. Most conventional pollutants (sediments, nutrients, organic
matter) require oxygen for decomposition or for chemical reactions. Consequently, DO
concentrations often decrease in streams located in a developed or developing watershed
(Washington State Department of Ecology, 1994). Development has definitely increased
along Fourche Creek, specifically in the Otter Creek area.
Fecal contamination may be due to animal waste, storm sewer overflow and run-off,
disintegrating sewer pipes, and from illegal sewer lines directly dumping into the creek.
While fecal coliform bacteria are not necessarily agents of disease, they may indicate the
presence of disease-carrying organisms. The waste these bacteria travel with also require
oxygen for growth and/or decomposition, thus increasing the biological oxygen demand
of the creek.
Turbidity indicates the amount of sediment and organic matter suspended in the water.
These constituents reduce light penetration and visibility for site-feeding fish, can irritate
the gills of aquatic organisms not adapted to these conditions, eliminate habitat sites and
smother bottom-dwelling organisms. Sediment in the Fourche Creek watershed is a
problem due to land clearing and construction run-off. Land use changes are probably
the greatest factor influencing changes in turbidity in streams (Washington Sate
Department of Ecology, 1994). There has been an increase in development in the Otter
Creek area since the beginning of this project and lack of properly maintained
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construction sites has contributed to run-off. Urban run-off continues to be a major
source of contamination to Fourche Creek at all sampling stations and throughout the
watershed. Loss of vegetation and wetlands also greatly reduces the watershed’s ability
to filter runoff and decreases the storage capacity of the wetland.
Increased sedimentation and siltation are caused by high concentrations of particulate
matter. These destroy important habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates. Suspended
particles also provide attachment for other pollutants, such as metals, bacteria and
nutrients (i.e. phosphorus) and can therefore be used as indicators of other pollutants.
These contaminants can increase algal growth, which in turn increases the demand for
dissolved oxygen.
Although not a measured parameter in this report, floatable trash is a major source of
contamination to Fourche Creek. There are many illegal dumping sites along the creek
and strict enforcement of these violations should be pursued.
Much work remains to be done to educate contractors, business owners and the general
public on proper stormwater containment and disposal of contaminants. Various
departments of the City of Little Rock also need education and training in preventing runoff. Specific sources of contamination need to be identified in order to help mitigate
these issues.
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Attachment A
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References
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). 2007. Arkansas’ Water
Quality and Compliance Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan. Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality, Water Division, Little Rock, AR.
State of Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology. 2004. Regulation
No. 2, as Amended, Regulation Establishing Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters
of the State of Arkansas. Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology
Commission, Water Division, Little Rock, AR.
Michaud, Joy. 1994. Chapter 3, A Citizen’s Guide to Understanding and Monitoring
Lakes and Streams. Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA.
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