Download Executive Summary (1 page) - Warm Springs Watershed Association

Synopsis of Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
Preface: The goal of this management plan is to guide the Warm Springs Watershed
Association (WSWA) in working with various partners to restore, protect and preserve
the Warm Springs Run (WSR). This important little stream (11.8 miles long), empties
into the Potomac River just south of Hancock, Maryland; the Potomac empties into the
Chesapeake Bay. A healthy Run will help to achieve the larger goal to restore, protect
and preserve the Chesapeake Bay.
Description of the Warm Springs Run Watershed
(pages 1-10)
Topography and Geology: The topography of the WSR is typical of drainage areas
located in the ridge and valley formations found in the eastern Potomac Highlands. The
entire area is underlain by shale, siltstone and sandstone formations. What is important
for the non-geologists among us to note is that shale is relatively soft and erosion prone;
sandstone is hard and erosion resistant, siltstone’s erodibility is between that of sandstone
and shale.
Mapped Soils: There are four broad categories of soil found in the WSR watershed. Most
of the soil in the watershed is residual soil, which means that it has developed from the
underlying “parent” rocks, and has the same general chemistry.
The most commonly found soil in the WSR Valley and eastern upland area is formed by
weathering from shale, siltstone, and fine grained sandstone. The soil is very shallow (2040 inches) and has severe erosion potential. Perched water tables are often found 10-24
inches below the surface of the soil. A perched water table is an aquifer that occurs above
the regional water table due to an impermeable or relatively impermeable layer of rock or
sediment between the surface of the land and above the main water table/aquifer.
To the west of the Run, on the slopes of the Warm Springs Ridge, there is a different type
of residual soil formed solely from weathered sandstone. This soil is granular, and
composed of poorly consolidated loamy sands that are extremely easily eroded. When the
natural vegetative cover of the slopes has been removed, even more of the soil is
transported to points further downhill.
Floodplain soils can be found in the bottomlands of the Run. These soils are formed of
colluvium and alluvium. Colluvium is sediment that has been transported from upland
areas by gravity and deposited or built up at the bottom of a slope. Alluvium is sediment
that has been eroded or reshaped by water and re-deposited at a distance from the stream.
Some of the soil in this area is hydric, which is to say it is characterized by high moisture
content and thus reduced oxygen levels. Hydric soils are typically associated with
wetland areas.
Finally, there are areas of footslope soils, which are formed by a combination of in-place
weathering and eroded materials from upland areas. These soils are higher in clay content
than most of the other soils in the WSR watershed, and often have perched water tables
ranging from 16-24 inches below the surface.
Hydrology: The WSR is a perennial stream, which is to say that it has continuous flow in
parts of its streambed all year round during years of normal rainfall. As is typical of
streams in ridge and valley areas of the Potomac Highlands, the Run has a trellis pattern.
Specifically, the Run flows along the valley, and smaller tributaries from the eastern
upland areas feed into it at approximately 90 degree angles, causing the trellis-like
appearance of the drainage system. From south to north, there are 5 tributaries which feed
into the Run. These tributaries are found flow alongWinchester Grade Road, Sugar
Hollow Road, WV Route 9, and Jimstown Road. Dry Run enters into WSR __ feet before
the Run enters the Potomac River.
While no formal studies have yet been done, it has been estimated that during much of
the year the Run has a modest base flow of 20-30 gallons per minute (gpm). However, as
is typical of streams in a ridge and valley formation, the Run is prone to flash flooding
after major rainfall events, rapid snowmelt, or a combination of the two. Between 1955
and 1961, eight dams were constructed to control catastrophic flash flooding in Berkeley
Springs and the Town of Bath.
The Run is fed by two very different sources of water. From its head just north of the
Potomac Edison headquarters on US Route 522 until it enters Berkeley Springs State
Park, the water in the Run comes from small water-bearing cracks in the bedrock of the
ridges on either side of the valley. (Rebecca – is the statement in italics accurate?)
Just north of Berkeley Springs State Park, the Run is fed by the combined waters of the 5
warm springs that make this region famous. It was once thought that the discharge rate (is
that the right term?) of the Warm Springs was consistently 1000 gallons per minute.
However, a study done by Donovan et al from November of 2005 through March of 2006
showed that the combined flow of the Ladies Spring and Lord Fairfax Spring, two of the
warm springs in the Park, varied from a high of 1,930 gpm to a low of 538 gpm. The
temperature of the Warm Springs is a consistent 74.5 degrees, the result of having
circulated to a minimum depth of 1,825 feet below the surface of the earth. An analysis of
the water indicates that it is at least 30 years old when it emerges from the ground.
Over the years there have been several unsuccessful attempts to locate the recharge area
(can the term “origin” be used?) of the Warm Springs.
Sources of Impairment in the Warm Springs Run Watershed
(pages 11-26)
Background Material: In the 1970s, the Chesapeake Bay was discovered to contain one
of the planet's first identified “marine dead zones” where the waters were so depleted of
oxygen they were unable to support life.
While the process that created this marine dead zone is complex, what follows is a partial
and simplistic overview. The loss of oxygen in the water – known as hypoxia – was
caused in part by abnormally large algal blooms on the surface of the water, which
prevented sunlight from reaching the bottom of the Bay. Without sunlight,
photosynthesis, a process by which plants put oxygen into the water, could not take place.
So, too, without enough light the plants died; the process of rotting plants further
deoxygenated the water. The algae grew so much larger than normal due to overnutrification from excess phosphorus and nitrogen in runoff of residential, farm and
industrial waste throughout the watershed.
Excess sediment suspended in the water also blocked sunlight from reaching plants on
the bottom of the Bay. As the Chesapeake Bay watershed experienced rapid
development, there was significant destruction of natural vegetative cover as well as
significant increases of impervious surfaces in urban and suburban areas, resulting in
more eroded material ending up in streams which eventually dumped excess sediment in
the Bay.
In 2008 the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative was authorized with the goal to restore,
preserve, and protect the Chesapeake Bay by reducing the amount of nitrogen,
phosphorus and sediment being delivered to the Bay via its many tributaries.Ninety
percent of the water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay comes from its five largest direct
tributaries -- the Susquehanna, the Potomac, the Rappahannock, the York and the James.
Achieving the Goals of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative: In order to achieve the goals of the
Chesapeake Bay Initiative, each jurisdiction in the Chesapeake Bay watershed -- which
includes portions (or all) of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York,
Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia --was assigned a “Cap Load.” The Cap Load is
the maximum amount of pollution each jurisdiction can contribute in order for the Bay to
become healthy again.
However, it was first necessary to estimate how much excess nitrogen, phosphorus and
sediment were being delivered to the Bay by each jurisdiction. Several steps were
involved in making those calculations, which included determining the land use
categories for each jurisdiction and then calculating the estimated pollution load for each
land use. For example, agriculture is the dominant land use category in most of the
portions of West Virginia that are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Using a
sophisticated tool called the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model (CBWM), it was then
estimated that 49% of the nitrogen and 62% of the phosphorus delivered to the Bay from
West Virginia come from agricultural sources.
Based on the information generated by the CBWM, each jurisdiction developed various
strategies, often known as best management practices, or BMPs, to reduce the current
load of pollution being delivered from that area to the Bay. In the case of West Virginia,
it was determined that many of the BMPs employed to obtain the Cap Loads for nitrogen
and phosphorus will also reduce sediment pollution in West Virginia’s rivers and streams
sufficiently to achieve the sediment Cap Load for the Bay. Therefore, West Virginia
Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) strategies are provided only for nitrogen and
phosphorus. (To accelerate efforts and track progress, federal agencies are committing to
meet milestones every two years, leading to all activities needed to restore the
Chesapeake Bay and watershed being in place no later than 2025.)
Finally, it has been necessary to predict what future loads for each jurisdiction will be in
the next 13 years. For example, over the past several years, Berkeley County, WV, has
been one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Land once used for agriculture was
sold and used for housing developments, shopping malls, highways, etc. Even with the
recent economic downturn, it is estimated (1) that population growth in Berkeley County,
WV, will increase by 15% between 2010 and 2015. Thus, in developing their WIP, it
would be counterproductive for Berkeley County to propose BMPs based on land use
patterns that have already changed and/or are expected to change in significant ways.
Land Use Patterns in the WSR Watershed: Field work done as part of the 2010 Warm
Springs Run Watershed Assessment -- and confirmed as part of the field work done for
this comprehensive plan – indicates that land use patterns in the Warm Springs Run
watershed are different from those for most of the portion of WV located in the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Specifically, the WSR watershed can be classified more
accurately as an “urban/suburban” watershed than as one dominated by agricultural land
use; less than 2% (1.9) of the land in the watershed is classified as pasture or agricultural.
Even so, a significant load of both nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typically associated
with agricultural land use, is being delivered annually by the WSR to the Potomac River.
The source of excess loads of nitrogen and phosphorus in the WSR watershed is not yet
known.
Impairment in the WSR Watershed: It is known that the WSR is impaired due to
excessively high levels of fecal coliform bacteria and less than optimal levels of aquatic
life for nearly the entire length of the Run. Fecal coliform bacteria and excessive
sediment in the water can cause impairment in aquatic life, as can excessive amounts of
nitrogen and phosphorus. While the cause of the impairment is listed by the WVDEP as
“unknown,” the field study for the comprehensive plan indicated several probable sources
of fecal coliform bacteria and excess sediment.
Probable Origin of Measured Impairments-- Fecal Coliform Bacteria: The Warm
Springs Public Service District serves a significant portion of homes and businesses in
the WSR watershed. However, it is estimated that 308 structures in the watershed have
private septic systems. Even under the best of conditions, a fully functional conventional
septic system can be expected to remove only 28% total nitrogen, 57% total phosphorus,
and 72% total suspended solids respectively. Due to nature of the soil in the area, the
estimated age of the private septic systems in the watershed, and the known rate of failure
of septic systems over a certain age, it is not unreasonable to assume that the vast
majority of the septic systems within the watershed are failing or have failed.
Probable origin of Measured Impairments – Sediment: Four major sources of
sedimentation have been identified in the WSR watershed.
Streambank erosion is significant in areas where there is insufficient vegetated buffers
and/or direct impact on stream flow by infrastructures such as bridges, culverts, raised
manholes, etc placed in or adjacent to the stream channel.
Because the Berkeley Springs area does not have a centralized storm sewer system, all
stormwater is dumped directly into the WSR, either as sheet flow draining from
impervious surfaces such as paved roads, parking lots and roofs, or from drop inlets via
drain pipes. Stormwater delivers sediment as well as other forms of pollution.
Disturbed land can result from activities such as clearing and grading of vegetative land
for industrial, commercial, or residential usage. The soil is exposed and thus susceptible
to erosion by wind and water. Erosion of disturbed land in the watershed is especially
problematic due to the soil types on the relatively steep hillsides fronting onto US Route
522. Once the surface cover has been disturbed, it is difficult to reestablish growth that
helps prevent erosion.
Sediment from steep dirt and gravel roads and driveways is washed downhill into the
WSR during precipitation events. In addition, roadside drainage ditches can become traps
for sediment during light rain events. During heavy rain events, the accumulation of
sediment is disgorged and transported downhill towards the stream channel.
Best Management Practices Proposed to Achieve Load Reductions
(Pages 28-50)
To Achieve Fecal Coliform Reductions from On-site Waste Treatment (Septic) Systems:
For reasons given earlier, it can be assumed that many of the existing septic systems in
the watershed are failed or in the process of failing. The following procedure has been
proposed:

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Locate all private on-site treatment systems within the WSR watershed by
reviewing permit data at the Morgan County Health Department. Once these
systems have been located, testing should be conducted to determine if the
systems are functioning property. County health officials or other authorized
personnel may carry out such inspections.
If a system is failing, or has failed, the services of a licensed septic installer
should be engaged to recommend whatever remedial measures are necessary.
Even properly functioning septic systems can become compromised over time. It
is recommended that the Morgan County Health Department send residents a 5year notification for pump-out requirements. The County may contract to have the
pump out performed if the owner does not comply, and can fine or back-charge
the owner for the costs of maintenance.

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The Warm Springs PSD and Health Department should investigate the costs
related to connecting residents currently served by on-site systems, but who live
within the area served by the PSD.
There will inevitably be failed or failing septic systems that either cannot be
repaired or are located in soils that are not amenable to Class I or II drain field
construction. In these cases, information and financial assistance to install nonconventional systems can be provided.
Potential Partners: Morgan County Health Department; Warm Springs Public Service
District; “Pumpers” serving the County; ?Eastern Panhandle Conservation District?.
To Achieve Fecal Coliform Reductions from Pasture Sources: There are very few (2)
pastured areas in the watershed where animals have free access either to the main stem of
the Run or to one of the tributaries. In these cases it is recommended that a fence be
constructed to prevent livestock from entering the stream. Alternative water sources
should be provided to supply livestock with drinking water. In addition, a vegetated
buffer strip should be established between the banks of the stream and the fenced area
and the area where livestock is kept. The combination of fencing and a riparian buffer has
the potential to reduce fecal coliform transport to the stream by 70%.
Potential Partners: EPCD, Division of Forestry
To Achieve Fecal Coliform Reductions from Cropland Sources: There are two areas of
cropland within the watershed. Both of the crop areas have sufficient vegetated buffers in
place to remove up to 50% of all fecal coliform.
Farm operators should be encouraged to develop or continue to employ nutrient
management plans that minimize the use of nutrient sources of fecal coliform; eg, sewage
sludge, manure) while ensuring maximum yield and minimal nutrient loss.
Potential Partners: EPCD
Fecal Coliform Reductions by Wetlands: For various reasons it may be impossible to
completely mitigate the source of fecal coliform entering the shallow groundwater
aquifer supplying the WSR. One of the most effective means of reducing fecal coliform
and nutrient loads through groundwater is through the protection and maintenance of
wetland areas at spring rises, seeps, and tributary channels. Wetlands can reduce N, BOD,
and TSS by 90$, 80% and 80% respectively, and pathogens by 99.99%. (Biochemical
oxygen demand or B.O.D. is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic
biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given
water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period.)
Headwaters Wetland Management Plan: The quality of this wetland area has an influence
on the water quality of the surrounding area. It is recommended that a wetland
management plan be developed to restore the area of the headwaters.
The headwaters wetland can be restored to a forested condition. However, to increase the
success rate of these plantings, there needs to be an invasive species management
component to the planting process.
Given that this area is included in the jurisdictional waters of the US, consultation with
the Army Corps of Engineers and WV DEP should occur prior to any work that may take
place. Additionally the property owner must agree with proposed work. Finally, we
recommend that a conservation easement be recorded to protect this system in perpetuity
to ensure long-term protection of this valuable resource.
Other Potential Partners: Morgan County Planning Commission; Potomac Headwaters
Resource Conservation and Development; Division of Forestry, Morgan County Lions
Club, etc.
To Achieve Fecal Coliform Reductions from Miscellaneous Sources: Conduct a public
education program designed to make pet owners aware of the importance of properly
disposing of animal fecal waste. Also, conduct a public education program designed to
educate the public about the importance of properly disposing of animal carcasses,
especially deer carcasses during hunting season. Such a program should emphasize local
and state codes regarding illegal dumping of carcasses.
To Achieve Sediment Reductions from Stream Erosion Sources: Potential sources of
increased erosion of WSR have been discussed elsewhere. Some steps that can be taken
to reduce stream erosion include:
 Enhanced stormwater management throughout the watershed, but especially in
areas with a high percentage of impervious surfaces;
 Stream channel restoration, including such engineering such possibilities are
reconnecting the stream to its floodplain, grading, cross-vanes, J-hooks, step pools
and imbricated rock walls. Imbricated rock walls perform better than gabions,
which can fail over time. They also look more natural.
 Regardless of the restoration technique, heavy density planning of native trees,
shrubs and herbaceous materials is essential to achieving long term stability of
streams.
Potential Partners: Morgan County Department of Education, Morgan County
Commission, Morgan County Planning Commission, Warm Springs Public
Service District, Town of Bath.
To Achieve Sediment Reductions from Gravel and Dirt Roads: Practices under
development by the University of Maryland Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies
proposes the following environmentally sensitive road maintenance practices (ESMPs):
 Driving Surface Aggregate (DSA): durable and erosion resistant road surface;
 Raising the Profile: raising road elevation to restore natural drainage patterns;
 Grade Breaks: elongated humps in the road surface designated to shed water;
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Additional Drainage Outlets: creating new outlets in ditch line to reduce
channelized flow; and
Berm Removal: Removing unnecessary berm and ditch on downhill side of a road
to encourage sheet flow.
At least initially, applicable practices would be tested on a 1-mile length of road as a
demonstration project.
Potential Partners: WV Department of Highways
To Achieve Sediment Reductions from Disturbed Areas: There are many areas of
exposed weathered shale in the landscape and in roadside ditches within the WSR
watershed. Exposed and weathered shale is a source of sediment and runoff to the
watershed.
We recommend undertaking a demonstration project on a one-acre area of disturbed
land. After doing a laboratory analysis of the area to determine pH and potential
peroxide acidity, plant an erosion and sediment-control cover crop such as annual
ryegrass and foxtail millet coupled with a native seed mix including herbs, grasses
and woody species. In areas other than roadside ditches we recommend one gallon
container plants; trees and shrubs should be planted at a minimum density of 400
stems per acre.
Partners: Land owner; WV Division of Forestry
To Achieve Sediment Reductions from Uncontrolled Stormwater Runoff:
There are three primary sources for uncontrolled Stormwater runoff in the WSR
watershed:
 Paved streets and roads
 Roof drains which channel water directly into the stream via downspouts that
empty into disposal pipes;
 Sheet flow from impervious surfaces such as parking lots
Regularly scheduled street sweeping, especially in the Town of Bath, can prevent
sediment, debris, trash, road salt and trace metals from being washed into the Run.
Partners: Town of Bath
Swirl separators have been widely applied to stormwater inlets in other localities. These
devices trap sediment, oil and other floatables, thus preventing them from entering into
the Run. Regular maintenance is required to remove trapped material.
Partners: Town of Bath; Streetscapes Committee; WSPSD
Low Impact Development (LID) Retrofit Practices: LID seeks to control stormwater at its
source. Rather than moving stormwater offsite through a conveyance system, the goal of
LID is to restore the natural, pre-developed ability of an urban site to absorb stormwater.
Constructed green spaces, landscaping with native plants and a variety of innovative
bioretention and infiltration techniques capture and manage stormwater onsite. LID
reduces peak runoff by allowing rainwater to soak into the ground, evaporate into the air,
or collect in storage receptacles for irrigation and other beneficial uses. Furthermore, LID
has been shown to be cost effective, and in some cases, cheaper than using traditional
stormwater management techniques.
The following techniques are feasible for the WSR watershed, in particular the Town of
Bath and developed areas with impervious surfaces:
 Rain gardens
 Rain barrels
 Green and blue roofs
 Permeable and porous pavements
 Vegetates filter strips, which slow runoff velocity and filter sediment, etc
 Grass swales.
Partners: Town of Bath; Morgan County Planning Commission; Master Gardeners;
Chamber of Commerce, local merchants and home owners;
To Achieve Load Reductions by Conservation of the Lower Run: The entire lower 4-mile
reach of the WSR passes through a forested area, with little residential development of
any kind. The few agricultural areas are buffered by vegetated strips. There are no
sections of the stream in this area where there is significant erosion or the stream channel
incision, with the exception of a small area just downstream from the CSX yard located
on Airport Lane. We suspect that the uncontrolled discharge of stormwater from the CSX
yard may have accelerated erosion and incision along this area, as the yard’s stormwater
flows downhill towards Airport Lane, and from there directly into the Run.
We recommend that Morgan County and the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District
enter into discussion with the owners of this section of the Run to create a conservation
easement along the stream.
To Reduce Flooding in the Town of Bath: While the flood control dams have controlled
flooding in the Town of Bath, there are still flood events of significance. Rapid
commercial development and the resulting introduction of extensive areas of impervious
surfaces that has occurred in the past three decades has exacerbated in the Town of Bath.
Removal of forest cover along large stretches of the WSR upstream from the Town of
Bath has also added to the problem. The US Forest Service has estimated that a forest
canopy of one acre can collect as much as 4-inches of rain from a storm, reducing the
contribution of the receiving water body by over 100,000 gallons per acre.
Reducing runoff volume using green infrastructure has benefits beyond just removing
pollutants. It also recharges groundwater, provides better protection of sensitive aquatic
resources, and reduces the size and cost of hard infrastructure that would otherwise need
to be constructed to prevent serious flooding. In addition to the upstream absorption
practices described in previous sections of this plan, we would encourage Morgan County
and the Town of Bath to pursue an aggressive policy of reforestation and urban tree
planting wherever feasible along the WSR. The planting of trees in the commercial
downtown section of the Town of Bath is strongly recommended as well.
Partners: Division of Forestry; Town of Bath Tree Board.