NC0020559_PLAN OF ACTION_19950525

NPDES DOCUWENT SCANNING COVER SHEET
NPDES Permit:
NC0020559
Henderson WWTP
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Plan of Action
Instream Assessment (67b)
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Permit
History
Document Date:
May 25, 1995
This document In printed on reue§e paper - ignore any
ooateazt on the reveriae 014e
E
u

Division of Environmental Management
Aquatic Survey and Toxicology Unit
May 25, 1995
1i IN-5[1W. ►1`DINUT1
To: Juan C. Mangles
From: Jay Sauber�
Through: Ken Eagleson
Larry Ausley
Subject: Nutbush Creek Revised Study Plan
Thank you for your comments regarding the Nutbush Creek Study Plan. Attached is a revised study
plan, dated May 25, 1995. Incorporated in this plan are your suggestions regarding bimonthly sampling,
lake bathimetry and station location.
The first monitoring trip for the study was conducted on May 16, 1995. At this time evidence indicating
algal activity was already evident. All the lake stations, with the exception of CR4, had surface D.O.
values at 9.0 mg/1 or greater. The highest D.O. value was 12.7 mg/l, recorded at station NB-8. Surface
pH values at these stations ranged from 8.4 to 9.2 s.u.
Please advise our office of any other comments regarding this revised study plan. If you would like to
join us on one of the monitoring trips let us know. Please contact either Kara Warner or me at (919)
733-6510 if you have any questions.
cc: Ruth Swanek
Judy Garrett
Jimmie Overton
Debra Owen
Kara Warner
Environmental Sciences Branch Water Quality Section

Revised Study Plan
Nutbush Creek
Henderson, North Carolina
May 25, 1995
Back rg ound - From its headwaters, Nutbush Creek flows northeast under I-85 and NC .
Hwy. 39 before receiving effluent from the Town of Henderson's Waste Water Treatment
Plant (WWTP), continuing to the backwaters of John H. Kerr Reservoir. The upper
drainage consists mostly of suburban and highway lands, while the lower drainage is
mostly agricultural and forested. A distinct change in the creek occurs, just below a riffle
area, about two miles below the WWTP. Here, at station NB-6, the waters of the creek
slow down, becoming lacustrine. This is a normal occurrence which happens when a
tributary meets an impounded body of water. This effect is compounded in the case of
the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake, due to the structure of the SR1308 bridge, which
acts as a partial dam between the Nutbush Creek arm and the rest of the Kerr Lake. This
creates a miniature impoundment out of the Nutbush Creek Arm, which then impedes the
waters of Nutbush Creek. Given these dynamics, significant differences can occur in
water quality on opposite sides of the bridge. Three adjacent embayments follow the
submerged flood plains of Crooked Run, Indian and Flat Creeks and enter the Nutbush
Creek arm in the vicinity of SR 1308.
During the Summer of 1988, a study, consisting of three parts and focusing on the
Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake, was conducted by the Environmental Sciences Branch
of the Division of Environmental Management (DEM). The three part study, included
biomonitoring, an intensive water quality survey and an eutrophication study. The
primary purpose of these studies was to assist in determining appropriate wasteload
allocations for the Town of Henderson's Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPDES permit
NC0020559).
Biomonitoring for the 1988 study was conducted at two stations (See Map: Appendix A)
on Nutbush Creek and at one station on Little Island Creek at SR 1342, for use as a
comparison. The Nutbush Creek stations were located at Hwy. 39, upstream of the
WWTP and the other station was located downstream from the WWTP at SR1317.
Biomonitoring of these stations involved the collection of benthic macroinvertebrates
with DEM's standardized qualitative sampling method. Results were as follows: Little
Island Creek indicated that there were no water quality problems at this site and was
assigned a bioclassification of Good -Fair. The results from the Nutbush Creek stations
sharply contrasted that of Little Island Creek. At both the Nutbush Creek stations the
data indicated water quality problems associated with the watershed above the Henderson
WWTP, as well as problems associated with the-WWTP discharge. The
bioclassifications assigned to the upstream and downstream stations were poor and very
poor, respectively.
The intensive survey portion of the study was conducted on August 16, 1988. The survey
encompassed the reach of Nutbush Creek from the Henderson WWTP outfall to the
mouth of Nutbush Creek, at station NB-6 (See Figure 1). The study consisted of a time -
of -travel dye study, discharge measurements, and a limited amount of physical and
chemical sampling. The total time -of -travel was 9.17 hours, at an average velocity of
0.47 fps, at a flow of 4 cfs for the 2.92 miles of stream reach studied. The chemical
parameters included total solids, total suspended solids, chloride, and nutrients. BOD
samples were also collected. Results from chemical analyses indicated elevated levels of
nutrients.
The third part of the study involved the collection of chemical, physical, biological and
flow data from May through September at 13 stations (See Table 1. and Figure 1.)
located on four separate streams, Flat Creek, Crooked Run, Indian Creek and Nutbush

Creek, all of which are tributaries flowing into the Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake.
Land use in all the drainage areas except Nutbush Creek is dominated by agriculture and
forest. Stations on Flat Creek had a light brown appearance with few suspended solids.
Crooked Run at SR 1326 exhibited high conductivity and high chlorophyll a levels
compared to the other non -impacted streams in this study. The cause of these high
readings was attributed to non -point source runoff. Indian Creek appeared to be the least
impacted by nonpoint source pollution. Crooked Run and Indian Creek arms appeared to
be influenced by backwater flowing from Nutbush Creek, making Flat Creek the better
creek to use in a comparison with Nutbush Creek. Results from this portion of the study
indicated that Nutbush Creek delivers a nutrient -rich effluent to Kerr Lake, contributing
to the hypereutrophic condition of the Nutbush Creek Arm upstream of the bridge at
SR1308. All of the monthly chlorophyll a samples (five in all) collected on Nutbush
Creek, at station NB-8, were above the 40 4g/1 standard. The nutrients levels at this
station were as high as 0.17 mg/1 for total phosphorus, 0.22 mg/1 for ammonia, 0.9 mg/I
for total Kjeldahl nitrogen and 0.21mg/I for NO2NO3. Definite gradients of nutrients,
chlorophyll a, and some physical parameters were found in Nutbush Creek, suggesting
that the Henderson WWTP was a major contributor of nutrients to the creek. The main
recommendation of this study was for a decrease in nutrient inputs into Nutbush Creek,
by the Henderson WWTP.
At the time of the 1988 study, the Town of Henderson's NPDES permit allowed for a
monthly discharge of 4.14 MGD of wastewater into Nutbush Creek. Other summer
monthly limits included, 6.0 mg/1 for BODS, 30.0 mg/1 for total suspended solids (TSS),
3.0 mg/I for ammonia (NH3) and 200/100 ml for fecal coliform. There were no limits in
place for total phosphorus and total nitrogen. The facility consisted of a grit chamber,
communitor, bar screen, parshall flume, influent flow recorder, primary clarifiers, two
stage trickling filters, intermediate clarifiers, a pure oxygen nitrification basin, tertiary
clarifiers, tertiary mixed media filters, disinfection facilities, post aeration facilities, and
sludge treatment facilities. This permit which expired in March of 1989, did not require
nutrient removal.
Since 1988, the Henderson WWTP has undergone a number of upgrades to their facility
in an effort to improve the water quality of their effluent and to handle a scheduled
increase in the permitted discharge flow from 4.14 MGD to 6.0 MGD. The increase in
permitted flow was contingent on upgrades being made to the existing facility. As of
November 17, 1994, all of the scheduled upgrades had been completed. The upgrades
made to the facility since 1988 to date include, a lime tower and feed, dissolved air
flotation sludge thickening, anaerobic digesters, an automatic bar screen cleaner, larger
stilling wells and flocculators and an ultraviolet disinfection system. Other changes in
permitted limits include, 5.0 mg/1 for BOD5, 2.0 mg/1 for ammonia and 0.5 mg/l for total
phosphorus.
Kerr Lake was last sampled by DEM, on August 9, 1994. Monitoring of the lake
included stations ROAO37A and ROAO37E, as well as two other downstream stations in
the Nutbush Creek Arm. Secchi disk readings increased from upstream to downstream
due to settling out of particulates. Nutrient levels were low to moderate at all stations.
Chlorophyll a levels were also low at. all stations. Hypereutrophic conditions were not
observed.
Purpose of upcoming Study - Following the completion of the upgrades to the Henderson
WWTP, the Intensive Survey Group of the Division of Environmental Management will
determine the current water quality conditions of Nutbush Creek after the improvements
to Nutbush Creek WWTP. These results will then be compared with data from the
previous 1988 study to determine if the facility upgrades have resulted in water quality
improvements to the Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake.

Proposed Plan of Water Quality Monitoring - In order to make comparisons between
current water. quality conditions and those in 1988, the upcoming study will closely
resemble the eutrophication portion of the 1988 study in station location and parametric
coverage. Monitoring will take place twice monthly during the Summer months, May
through September, for a period of one to two years. After the first year of monitoring,
the data will be evaluated to determine if another year of monitoring is necessary.
Station locations - Eleven of the original thirteen stations from the 1988 eutrophication
study will be monitored ( See Table 1. and Figure 1.). Stations, CR-1 and CR-IA on
Crooked Run, have been eliminated due to the backwater influence from Nutbush Creek
on this tributary and the poor quality of these stations as flow sites. An additional station
has been added at the WWTP outfall, to collect effluent samples. Lake stations will be
accessed by deploying a boat from the northern boat ramp in the State Wildlife Refuge,
off of SRI308. The stream stations will be monitored from bridges.
Parameters - At lake stations, water samples will be taken from the photic zone (twice the
secchi depth) for nutrients and chlorophyll a. Phytoplankton samples will be collected at
lake stations N13-8, ROA037A, FC-3 and ROA37E. Analysis of each phytoplankton
sample will most likely not be necessary. Professional judgement will be used, based on
physical readings (pH, D.O., etc.), to determine which samples should be analyzed.
Physical readings will be collected at the surface and at each succeeding meter to the lake
bottom. Flow measurements will be taken at all five of the stream stations. Ten cross -
sections will be measured at ten locations (See Figure 2.) on the Nutbush Creek Arm of
Kerr Lake. Physical readings and nutrient samples along with chlorophyll a samples will
be collected at the surface of the water at the stream stations. Table 1. depicts the study
stations and the Darameters to be measured
Table 1. Stations and Parametric Coverage for 1988 and 1995 studies.
Station
Station #
Flow Phyto Nutrients*
** Secchi
Depth
STREAM SITES:
Flat Creek at SR 1326
FC-1
X
X
X
;Crnoked Itun at 8R 132Er
.
1
X
X +
X
TI t4 Cr441ced•RUn at$R 1309 ::
G2 1
A
X . ::! ..
X.
X,
Indian Creek near SR 1377
IC-1
X
X
X
WWTP effluent
NB-2
X
X
X
Nutbush Creek at SR 1317
NB-3
X
X
X
LAKES SITES:
Crooked Run near Harris
CR-4
X
X
X
Crossroads
Nutbush Creek at Power Lines
NB-6
X
X
X
Nutbush Creek upstream of
NB-8
X
X
X
X
confluence with Crooked Run
Indian Creek
Indian Creek at Power Lines
IC-3
X
Nutbush Creek at SR 1308
ROA037A
X
X
X
X
Flat Creek at HWY 39
FC-3
X
X
X
X
Flat Creek near Nutbush
FC-5
X
X
X
Bridge Campground
Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake
ROA037E
X
X
X
X
at Buoy M near water intake
* NUTRIENTS = NH3, TKN, NO2 + NO3, TP, PO4, CHLa
**PHYSICAL = Temp., D.O., pH,
Cond.
Shaded stations were used in the 1988 study, but
eliminated from the
1995 study.

Applications of Study - analysis of data generated from this study will be used in
determining the following:
• Have upgrades, made to the Nutbush Creek WWTP resulted in improved water
quality to the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake?
• Estimates of nutrient loading from the Nutbush Creek WWTP
• Estimates of total nutrient contributions to the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake
• Predictive water quality modeling for future wasteload allocations
• Are NPDES permit limits being met ?
• Have there been any violations of NC water quality standards?

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HENDERSON-
NUTBUSH
WWTP
HENDERSON
APPENDIX A. SAMPLING SITES, NUTBUSH CREEK AND LITTLE
ISLAND CREEK. VANCE COUNTY. MAY 26,.1988.

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
May 12, 1995
MEMORANDUM
TO: ,
FROM: Juan C. Mangles opr
THROUGH: Steve Bevington 18
Ruth Swanek Rcs
SUBJECT: Nutbush Creek Study Plan
The Instream Assessment Unit has reviewed the subject study plan as per your memorandum
dated April 11, 1995. This office concurs with the study plan. However, we would like to provide some
recommendations which relate to the possibility of future modeling of the Nutbush Creek arm of the lake.
Modeling may be necessary to 1) reassess management strategies if the study concludes that water quality
has not improved or 2) to predict future water quality conditions:
1. Lake bathimetry for the Nutbush Creek arm of the lake should be collected. We recommend
a total of ten cross -sections. Please refer to the attached excerpt of the topographic map for
recommended locations. In the event that a lake model is required at a later time, this information will
be essential. Please note that five cross -sections correspond to the same stations described in the study
plan.
2. Please explore the possibility of sampling 2/month as opposed to one/month for the following
stations: NB 3, NB 6, NB 8, IC 1, IC3, ROA 37A, CR 4 and FC 1. Bimonthly data is the minimum
requirement for the FLUX component of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake model we currently
use.
3. We recommend that sampling station ROA 37A be located at a considerable distance from
the bridge and that station NB 8 be located well into the Nutbush Creek arm. This will ensure good
representation of water quality conditions in these two key areas for modeling purposes (i.e. please see
attached map)
Finally, I have attached a copy of the instream monitoring requirements for the Henderson -
Nutbush Creek W WTP for your information. You may consider reviewing their self -monitoring data as
part of your data analysis.
Thank you for the opportunity we had to review the study plan. If you need additional
information concerning this matter, please contact me at [phone], ext. 515.
Attachments
cc: Judy Garrett
.Henderson= Nutbush-WWTP WCA File

L
1 MILE
700D FEET
'METER
'.42
? EQ U EST
,)"W '1 V2)'''(`-2' _ -�_` 36°22'30„
•—cco.omca
SURVEY. o —1.11 78°22'30°
c.734 c� . w. s�I35000m..1
ROAD CLASSIFICATION
Primary highway, . Light duty road, hard or a�s�Lmo
hard surface.- - improved surface...-- Fps.
Secondary highway,
hard surface .................. Unimproved road
Interstate Route U. S. Route State Rout
• l� -2T N�
"` MODELIR!
TOWNSVILLE, N. C.
QUADRANGLE LOCATION t;
N3622.5-'7822.5/7- -Mote
1970
AMS 5356 IV NW —SERIES V842
r i

ronitor'^^ Requirements: NC0020559
" rHenderson - Nutoush Creek WWTP
4mpip.�nran3:
U: at o � s��1r:o r
at power lines C o o��(en�
Di . immediately above the confluence of Indian and Crooked Creeks o
D2:
mm r (April - October)
Dissolved �
pH
Temperature
Fecal Coliform
Conductivity
Secchi Depth
Chlorophyll - a
Total Phosphorus
NH3 - N
TKN
NO2 - NO3
Wirner (November -March)
weekly / grab
monthly / profile
weekly / grab
monthly / profile
weekly / grab
monthly / profile
weekly / grab
weekly / grab
monthly / composite
monthly / composite
monthly / composite
monthly / composite
monthly / composite
monthly / composite
weeky / grab
Dissolved Oxygen
weekly / grab
pH
weekly / grab
Temperature
weekly / grab
Fecal ColHorm
weekly / grab
Conductivity
U, D1, D2
D1, D2
U, D1, D2
D1, D2
U, D1, D2
D1, D2
U, D1, D2
U, D1, D2
Di, D2
D1, D2
D1, D2
DI, D2
Dt, D2
D1, D2
U, D1, D2
U, D1, D2
U, D1, D2
U, D1, D2
U, D1, D2
Profiles should be taken at 1 meter intervals
Composites should be taken with a lab line in the photic zone, (Le. two limes the secchi depth)
Samples should be taken mid - morning. Rainfall data shall be reported for the seven consecutive
days prior to the day of sampling.

Division of Environmental Management
Aquatic Survey and Toxicology Unit
April 11, 1995 f,
tlli
r..
MEMORANDUM
To: Ruth Swanek
i2::'S4;iivr�L Wti>y�rft �,41ANClp
Judv Garrett
Jimmie Overton
From: Jay Sauber�
Through: Larry Ausley�
Subject: Nutbush Creek Study Plan (Review due April 26, 1995)
Attached is a study plan for the upcoming monitoring of the Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake, for your
review. The main purpose of this study is to determine the current water quality conditions of the
Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake, now that the City of Henderson has completed the upgrades to their
WWTP on Nutbush Creek. These upgrades were prompted by a 1988 water quality study, conducted by
the Intensive Survey unit, which recommended a decrease in nutrient inputs by the Henderson facility.
The upcoming study is very similar to the 1988 study. This will allow a before and after comparison of
water quality conditions in relation to the upgrades. There are some changes from the 1988 study that I
would like you to note. The two stations on Crooked Run have been eliminated. Crooked Run is an
intermittent stream influenced by backwater from Nutbush Creek and an unnamed tributary which joins
it at Hwy. 39. Flows can not be calculated on the unknown tributary due to limited access. Also added
is a station at the WWTP, where effluent samples will be collected.
Thank you in advance for your review of the study plan and cooperation in this sampling effort. Please
advise our off -ice of any suggestions or changes you feel would be pertinent to the study plan. Please
contact either Kara Warner or me at [phone] if you have any questions.
cc: Debra Owen
Kara Warner
Environmental Sciences Branch Water Quality Section

Study Plan
Nutbush Creek
Henderson, North Carolina
April 6, 1995
Background - From its headwaters, Nutbush Creek flows northeast under I-85 and NC
Hwy. 39 before receiving effluent from the Town of Henderson's Waste Water Treatment
Plant (MWTP), continuing to the backwaters of John H. Kerr Reservoir. The upper
drainage consists mostly of suburban and highway lands, while the lower drainage is
mostly agricultural and forested. A distinct change in the creek occurs, just below a riffle
area, about two miles below the WWTP. Here, at station NB-6, the waters of the creek
slow down, becoming lacustrine. This is a normal occurrence which happens when a
tributary meets an impounded body of water. This effect is compounded in the case of
the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake, due to the structure of the SR1308 bridge, which
acts as a partial dam between the Nutbush Creek arm and the rest of the Kerr Lake. This
creates a miniature impoundment out of the Nutbush Creek Arm, which then impedes the
waters of Nutbush Creek. Given these dynamics, significant differences can occur in
water quality on opposite sides of the bridge. Three adjacent embayments follow the
submerged flood plains of Crooked Run, Indian and Flat Creeks and enter the Nutbush
Creek arm in the vicinity of SR 1308.
During the Summer of 1988, a study, consisting of three parts and focusing on the
Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake, was conducted by the Environmental Sciences Branch
of the Division of Environmental Management (DEM). The three part study, included
biomonitoring, an intensive water quality survey and an eutrophication study. The
primary° purpose of these studies was to assist in determining appropriate wasteload
allocations for the Town of Henderson's Wastewater Treatment Plant (NPDES permit
NC0020559).
Biomordtoring for the 1988 study was conducted at two stations (See Map: Appendix A)
on Nutbush Creek and at station on Little Island Creek at SR 1342, for use as a
comparison. The Nutbush Creek stations were located at Hwy. 39, upstream of the
WWTP and the other station was located downstream from the WWTP at SR1317.
Biomoratoring of these stations involved the collection of benthic macroinvertebrates
with DEM's standardized qualitative sampling method. Results were as follows: Little
Island Creek indicated that there were no water quality problems at this site and was
assigned a bioclassification of Good -Fair. The results from the Nutbush Creek stations
sharply contrasted that of Little Island Creek. At both the Nutbush Creek stations the
data indicated water quality problems associated with the watershed above the Henderson
WWTP, as well as problems associated with the WWTP discharge. The
bioclassifications assigned to the upstream and downstream stations were poor and very
poor, respectively.
The intensive survey portion of the study was conducted on August 16, 1988. The survey
encompassed the reach of Nutbush Creek from the Henderson WWTP outfall to the
mouth of Nutbush Creek, at station NB-6 (See Figure 1). The study consisted of a time -
of -travel dye study, discharge measurements, and a limited amount of physical and
chemical sampling. The total time -of -travel was 9.17 hours, at an average velocity of
0.47 fps, at a flow of 4 cfs for the 2.92 miles of stream reach studied. The chemical
parame.:ers included total solids, total suspended solids, chloride, and nutrients. BOD
samples were also collected. Results from chemical analyses indicated elevated levels of
nutriems.
The third part of the study involved the collection of chemical, physical, biological and
flow data from May through September at 13 stations (See Table 1. and Figure 1.)
located on four separate streams, Flat Creek, Crooked Run, Indian Creek and Nutbush

Creek, all of which are tributaries flowing into the Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake.
Land use in all the drainage areas except Nutbush Creek is dominated by agriculture and
forest. Stations on Flat Creek had a light brown appearance with few suspended solids.
Crooked Run at SR 1326 exhibited high conductivity and high chlorophyll a levels
compared to the other non -impacted streams in this study. The cause of these high
readings was attributed to non -point source runoff. Indian Creek appeared to be the least
impacted by nonpoint source pollution. Crooked Run and Indian Creek arms appeared to
be influenced by backwater flowing from Nutbush Creek, making Flat Creek the better
creek to use in a comparison with Nutbush Creek. Results from this portion of the study
indicated that Nutbush Creek delivers a nutrient -rich effluent to Kerr Lake, contributing
to the hypereutrophic condition of the Nutbush Creek Arm upstream of the bridge at
SR1308. All of the monthly chlorophyll a samples (five in all) collected on Nutbush
Creek, at station NB-8, were above the 40 µg/l standard. The nutrients levels at this
station were as high as 0.17 mg/1 for total phosphorus, 0.22 mg/1 for ammonia, 0.9 mg/1
for total Kjeldahl nitrogen and 0.21mg/l for NO2NO3. Definite gradients of nutrients,
chlorophyll a, and some physical parameters were found in Nutbush Creek, suggesting
that the Henderson WWTP was a major contributor of nutrients to the creek. The main
recommendation of this study was for a decrease in nutrient inputs into Nutbush Creek,
by the Henderson WWTP.
At the time of the 1988 study, the Town of Henderson's NPDES permit allowed for a
monthly discharge of 4.14 MGD of wastewater into Nutbush Creek. Other summer
monthly limits included, 6.0 mg/1 for BODS, 30.0 mg/1 for total suspended solids (TSS),
3.0 mg/l for ammonia (NH3) and 200/100 nil for fecal coliform. There were no limits in
place for total phosphorus and total nitrogen. The facility consisted of a grit chamber,
communitor, bar screen, parshall flume, influent flow recorder, primary clarifiers, two
stage trickling filters, intermediate clarifiers, a pure oxygen nitrification basin, tertiary
clarifiers, tertiary mixed media filters, disinfection facilities, post aeration facilities, and
sludge treatment facilities. This permit which expired in March of 1989, did not require
nutrient removal.
Since 1988, the Henderson WWTP has undergone a number of upgrades to their facility
in an effort to improve the water quality of their effluent and to handle a scheduled
increase in the permitted discharge flow from 4.14 MGD to 6.0 MGD. The increase in
permitted flow was contingent on upgrades being made to the existing facility. As of
November 17, 1994, all of the scheduled upgrades had been completed. The upgrades
made to the facility since 1988 to date include, a lime tower and feed, dissolved air
flotation sludge thickening, anaerobic digesters, an automatic bar screen cleaner, larger
stilling wells and flocculators and an ultraviolet disinfection system. Other changes in
permitted limits include, 5.0 mg/1 for BODS, 2.0 mg/1 for ammonia and 0.5 mg4 for total
phosphorus.
Kerr Lake was last sampled by DEM, on August 9, 1994. Monitoring of the lake
included stations ROAO37A and ROAO37E, as well as two other downstream stations in
the Nutbush Creek Arm. Secchi disk readings increased from upstream to downstream
due to settling out of particulates. Nutrient levels were low to moderate at all stations.
Chlorophyll a levels were also low at all stations. Hypereutrophic conditions were not
observed.
Purpose of upcoming Study - Following the completion of the upgrades to the Henderson
WWTP, the Intensive Survey Group of the Division of Environmental Management will
determine the current water quality conditions of Nutbush Creek after the improvements
to Nutbush Creek WWTP. These results will then be compared with data from the
previous 1988 study to determine if the facility upgrades have resulted in water quality
improvements to the Nutbush Creek arm of Kerr Lake.

Proposed Plan of Water Quality Monitoring - In order to make comparisons between
current water quality conditions and those in 1988, the upcoming study will closely
resemble the eutrophication portion of the 1988 study in station location and parametric
coverage. Monitoring will take place mbnthly during the Summer months, May through
September, for a period of one to two years. After the first year of monitoring, the data
will be evaluated to determine if another year of monitoring is necessary.
Station locations - Eleven of the original thirteen stations from the 1988 eutrophication
study will be monitored ( See Table 1. and Figure 1.). Stations, CR-1 and CR-lA on
Crooked Run, have been eliminated due to the backwater influence from Nutbush Creek
on this tributary and the poor quality of these stations as flow sites. An additional station
has been added at the WWTP outfall, to collect effluent samples. Lake stations will be
accessed by deploying a boat from the northern boat ramp in the State Wildlife Refuge,
off of SR1308. The stream stations will be monitored from bridges.
Parameters - At lake stations, water samples will be taken from the photic zone (twice the
secchi depth) for nutrients and chlorophyll a. Phytoplankton samples will be collected at
lake stations N13-8, ROA037A, FC-3 and ROA37E. Analysis of each phytoplankton
sample will most likely not be necessary. Professional judgement will be used, based on
physical readings (pH, D.O., etc.), to determine which samples should be analyzed.
Physical readings will be collected at the surface and at each succeeding meter to the lake
bottom. Flow measurements will be taken at all five of the stream stations. Physical
readings and nutrient samples along with chlorophyll a samples will be collected at the
surface of the water at the stream stations. Table 1. depicts the study stations and the
arameters to be measured
Table 1. Stations and Parametric Coverage for 1988 and 1995 studies.
Station
SWIiQn# Flow Phyto
Nutrients* Ph
Ysical** Secchi
Depth
STREAM SITES:
Flat Creek at SR 1326
FC 1 CX
X
X
rmakedRuna# SR 132b
CR I 7
X
X
Cir tb CrbgkedT{un,at SR 1349.„.;
CR IA X
X
Indian Creek near SR 1377
.; :.:.:...INNX
IC-1 CX
X
X
WWTP effluent
NB-2 (X
X
X
Nutbush Creek at SR 1326
NB-3 �X
X
X
LAKES SITES:
Crooked Run near Harris
CR-4
X
X
X
Crossroads
Nutbush Creek at Power Lines
NB-6
X
X
X
Nutbush Creek upstream of
NB-8 X
X
X
X
confluence with Crooked Run
Indian Creek
Indian Creek at Power Lines
IC-3
X
Nutbush Creek at SR 1308
ROA037A X
X
X
X
Flat Creek at HWY 39
FC-3 X
X
X
X
Flat Creek near Nutbush
FC-5
X
X
X
Bridge Campground
Nutbush Creek arts of Kerr Lake
ROA037E X
X
X
X
at Buoy M near water intake
* NUTRIENTS = NH3, TKN, NO2 + NO3, TP, PO4, CHLa
**PHYSICAL = Temp., D.O., pH,
Cond.
Shaded stations were used in the 1988 study, but eliminated from the 1995 study.

Applications of Study - analysis of data generated from this study will be used in
determining the following:
• Have upgrades, made to the Nutbush Creek WWTP resulted in improved water
quality to the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake?
• W Estimates of nutrient loading from the Nutbush Creek WTP
+ Estimates of total nutrient contributions to the Nutbush Creek Arm of Kerr Lake
�\ Predictive water -quality modeling for future wasteload allocations_
• Are NPDES permit limits being met ?
• Have there been any violations of NC water quality standards?

V I RI,G 1� N I A
9 I/
I
FIGURE
'IG I E 7. � MECKLENBURG yCO-
1.4
ISLAND CREEK £, y
RESERVOIR_
WATER CLEV. 260 ''/ c �1-` it
U54 -''
c,`K �••
W,.
'•"\ \ � 1. - laet ,
Tvnpslen 33D 1111 /I ` 1 .� ,
1318
36-30
.ail.120
\f 4 1
1 ,E Townsville g s�`�)VJ- 1364 ,11 v / J
B ( �� 'J )j•%' ,. J`��'\ \� max � I
I` c As y` ).a �.��yt W �.,
O I>a, ) •tom'' /�. y.-.- �.. ,Cr rl a plans
13g1 % t]g e r\ L49 .)
I adl (/ ) r/)�Jl �a-
1.3:�,
p j >to •n �,Li ) 1366
1380 m L341 U 1 9 iaa,
1
.6 -)POP. 59 fty N �u'm l
9J
13Hicks
Crossrcads a ? u a
D?e t>aP 'D13
e
:.
u]v ` w t� :1-J- nC��': .. 14uq np uru 1y�
FC3, 11:( `' 4411 n 0 r 1.2) 1 ISe 1
075 M1 M1 b
]19
U)B 1.1 - 1J-5 1 .-__-:J/ `3.JIF\. ..''n I1�5' p :: •E`
J
i PoP.I BHs FAy Crcd NFC'1 /� ��c�1,03 117% i i .� µp.18URG
1379 1391 i 1C \ " .:3 S
Q 4 Harns )i, .3,.. i91lo
l
LLs Crosxoa ds ' CR4 i ) , Horrls .i�ry, .-1
\ Luv. y)3v aT. °
1.7'�
3191v q Icy Ilwi m irNBb.' <J 122 `yhl'A
s CR 1 e z h 1377 q s A 9
La9.4 139Z 'a z '1 G` 1S1Y s s -2 Isoe- I5�2
I]la - 13L t``r _ Ifo3. 3
'o ClppkE.. M1? 1326 b J NB3371 155E
n tR Isot .7 Al
N 1306
dQ)
1 1 o „ LL-3— 7N ry 1,_9� 1,_5 fr 185 6 GrGGIc_ `y' ISBrOOksIm ISoq 's (\`
CRI
39 ` WT \_ T Isa ' FAS 11 .9 ry l51
Dabney
e>.� � � ,?IWIlotz
139i a IN (FA5 p Slo 2� L
g TI %.
IN. HENDERSON I r`+ I515
;' (' (UNINC.) i Is I51] .J i5i1 P
,Q ' l o �- .
I I]e N. BYP. POPJ,032
]oo l>E( •.-ply .9 �' HENDERSON "vimI e` g 1.5
r ..: \`;":'ii' \_ 13.522 171E m
IGr<ertwaY;:.j 4 \ P2Z1 / :'v"i;^' ,r .. ,%`u. Ia]( i�un. 131

3 SR 1342 NC 39
NC 39
NUTBUSH /
SR 1317
HENDERSON- 1
NUTBUSH
WWTP'>.
N
HENDERSON
APPENDIX A. SAMPLING SITES, NUTBUSH CREEK AND LITTLE
ISLAND CREEK. VANCE COUNTY. MAY 26, 1988.