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DEQ to Hold Water Quality Meeting in Hiltons

From staff reports

A state agency is holding a pair of public meetings to allow comments on restoration efforts aimed at improving the water quality of the North Fork of the Holston River in Southwest Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announces an effort to restore water quality for the North Fork Holston River and the tributaries of Lick Creek, Beaver Creek, Laurel Creek, Locust Cove Creek, Robertson Branch, Turkey Run Creek, Logan Creek, Toole Creek, Tumbling Creek, Wolf Creek, Brumley Creek, Cove Creek, Abrams Creek, Little Moccasin Creek, Nordyke Creek, Smith Creek, Blue Spring Branch, Dowell Branch, Hilton Creek, Possum Creek, unnamed tributary at Owen Corner and Big Moccasin Creek in Bland, Smyth, Washington and Scott Counties.

Affected waterways in Scott County include Cove Creek, Big Moccasin Creek, Blue Springs Branch, Dowell Branch, Hilton Creek and Possum Creek as well as the North Fork Holston River.

The first of two meetings is set for Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Friends Community Church, 145 Palmer Avenue in Saltville. According to officials, this meeting will allow the public to offer comments and suggestions relating to the development of a water quality study for the impaired waters.

A second meeting will be held closer to home and is planned for Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hilton Elementary School, 303 Academy Road in Hiltons. The public will have an opportunity to give comments and suggestions on the proposed water quality study.

According to Martha Chapman, TMDL Coordinator for the Southwest Regional Office in Abingdon, the DEQ is working to identify sources of bacteria in these waters. She noted that the North Fork Holston River and its tributaries are impaired for failure to meet the Recreational Use due to violations of the E. coli standard. Smaller segments of the North Fork Holston River, Lick Creek and Laurel Creek are also impaired for failure to meet the Aquatic L% Use based on violations of the general standard for aquatic organisms.

The pollutant that exceeds the safe standard for recreational uses is bacteria. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that can be seen under a microscope. They live in the intestines of people as well as other warm-blooded animals such as dogs, cats, livestock and birds and pass through animals in feces or excrement.

These pathogens may cause stomach cramps, nausea, ear infections and other illnesses. The higher the concentration of bacteria in creeks, the more likely the pathogens are present.

Measuring E. coli bacteria concentrations in a stream is a way to learn whether other harmful pathogens are present. DEQ will determine the sources of bacterial contamination and develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for bacteria.

During the study, DEQ will also determine the pollutants impairing the aquatic community on smaller segments of the North Fork Holston River, Lick Creek and Laurel Creek.

A TMDL is the total amount of a pollutant a water body can contain and still meet water quality standards. To restore water quality, contamination levels have to be reduced to the TMDL amount.

Chapman explained that the purpose of the public meetings is to obtain information that will determine how the waters in the North Fork Holston River and its tributaries can be restored. DEQ requests the public attend this informational meeting and encourages comments and information that will be helpful in restoring the water quality in local communities.

According to the DEQ's initial notice of the meeting, the development of a TMDL includes public meetings and a public comment period once the study report is drafted. After public comments have been considered and addressed, DEQ will submit the TMDL report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

DEQ accepts written comments by e-mail, fax or postal mail. Written comments should include the name, address and telephone number of the person commenting and be received by DEQ during the comment period, Dec.1, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012. DEQ also accepts written and oral comments at the public meeting announced in this notice.

For information, visit the DEQ's TMDL website at http://www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl or contact Chapman at (276) 676-4845 or email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).