Printing:

Wilson Creek Riparian Buffer Demonstration Project 2013

Lycoming College CWI
Jenna Baker| Dr. Mel Zimmerman | Lycoming College
Background and Purpose
In 2006, the Tioga County Conservation District along with
Babb Creek Watershed Association and Pine Creek
Headwaters Protection began a collaboration in an
attempt to address a section of Wilson Creek that was
classified as agriculturally impaired on the DEP 303 List.
The project began with the identification and cooperation
of two farms, Smith and Coolidge. In 2006, a grass
Riparian Buffer was planted at Smith Farm and deciduous
trees and shrubs were planted as Coolidge Farms along
the impaired section of Wilson Creek. Additional Best
Management Practices (BMPs) were put in place at the
farms which included fencing to restrict livestock from
stream access, as well as other manure management.
Biological Results
Project Overview
Conclusion
Between 2007 and 2013 there appears to be a slight
reduction in phosphorous but a reversal for nitrate. The
effectiveness of the riparian buffer and fencing appears
to be compromised because the farmers still allow
livestock access to the stream periodically. Based on
the macroinvertebrate data, the stream quality has
gone from severely impaired to moderately impaired.
Site Map
Pre-BMP monitoring of the creek began in 2006 by
members of Pine Creek Headwaters. Lycoming
College CWI did follow up monitoring in 2007 and
2008. A follow up study occurred in 2013. Smith
(downstream) and Coolidge Farms (upstream), along
Wilson Creek, were compared to a reference site,
Broughton Hollow through backpack electrofishing,
macroinvertebrate identification, and water chemistry
data. The data collected in 2013 was compared to the
data from 2006-2008 to see how much the water
quality has changed with the implementation of
Riparian Buffers and BMPs.
Broughton Hollow (BH1): 41.66881N 71.31373W
Smith Farm (S1 & S2): 41.6815N 77.29980W
Coolidge Farm (C1 & C2): 41.69070N 77.29124W
Water Chemistry for Summer 2007 &2013
CWI Interns: Lynette
Dooley, Emily Vebrosky,
Chelsea Brewer, Miranda
Giraldo, Clayton Good,
Laura Shelmire, Cory
Trego, Brian Gordon
Smith
Farm 2006
(2008)
Smith
Farm
2013
Coolidge
Farm 2006
(2008)
Coolidge
Farm 2013
Broughton
Hollow
2006 (2008)
Broughton
Hollow
2013
EPT Index
(taxa)
8 9 6 7 13 7
Water quality
based on
Family level
Hilsenhoff
Biotic Index
5.72
Fair, Fairly
significant
organic
pollution
5.09
Good,
some
organic
pollution
5.82
Fair, Fairly
significant
organic
pollution
5.11
Good, some
organic
pollution
4.31
Very Good,
Possible
slight
organic
pollution
4.64
Good, some
organic
pollution
Total
Macroinver-
tebrate Taxa
17 17 13 13 20 13
Total Fish Taxa 6 11 6 6 6 5
Water Quality
based on IBI
for fish
23
(Between
Very Poor
and Poor)
28 (Poor) 32 (Poor) 33 (Poor) 32 (Poor) 32 (Poor)
Species
Diversity for
Macroinverteb
-rates
2.85 2.48 1.36 2.35 2.75 2.90
Species
Diversity for
Fish
1.18 2.66 1.26 1.50 0.94 2.07
Parameters Coolidge
Farm 2007
Coolidge Farm
2013
Smith Farm
2007
Smith Farm
2013
Brought
on
Hollow
2007
Broughton
Hollow
2013
pH (lab) 6.780.247 7.020.028 6.380.566 6.920.028 6.45 7.79
Conductivity
(S)
3165.657 207.7528.63
8
271
Alkalinity (ppm) 106.82.475 107.538.891 99.30.354 47.510.607 98 110
Orthophosphate
(ppm)
0.090.050 0.260.163 0.24
Phosphorous
(ppm)
0.280.106 0.200.014 0.430.064 0.340.0707 0.20 0.25
Nitrate (ppm) 0.540.007 0.70 0.580.0912 1.150.212 0.4 0.7
Nitrite (ppm) 0.0090.004 0.0120.0007 0.007
DO (ppm) 9.930.742 8.460.177 6.653.394 8.010.028 8.2 10.13
Temp (C) 20.751.061 14.90.212 201.414 15.40.566 17.5 14.5
TDS 1614.243 102.813.011 136
Volume (m
3
/s) 0.030 0.110.007 0.38
Special thanks to Lori Davias, Watershed Specialist
Tioga County Conservation District
Printing:
Wilson Creek Riparian Buffer Demonstration Project 2013
Lycoming College CWI: Pre and Post Pictures
Jenna Baker| Dr. Mel Zimmerman | Lycoming College
Smith Farm Pre-Riparian Buffer and
BMPs 2007
Coolidge Farm Pre-Riparian Buffer and
BMPs 2007
Coolidge Farm Post Riparian Buffer and
BMPs 2013
Smith Farm Post Riparian Buffer and
BMPs 2013
CWI Interns: Lynette
Dooley, Emily Vebrosky,
Chelsea Brewer, Miranda
Giraldo, Clayton Good,
Laura Shelmire, Cory
Trego, Brian Gordon
Special thanks to Lori Davias, Watershed Specialist
Tioga County Conservation District