I-43_15-002 Manure Spill Summary Report 2019.09.18_FINAL

CITY OF DURHAM Water Quality Report #15-002
Department of Public Works September 18, 2019
Stormwater & GIS Services
CITY OF
DURHAM
Manure Spill Summary for Rocky Branch Creek
in the Lick Creek Watershed in Durham County, North Carolina
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Through routine stream monitoring efforts, City of Durham (City) staff identified two manure spills in 2012 and
2014 from an animal feeding operation that reached Rocky Branch Creek, which is a tributary to Lick Creek and
Falls Lake in Durham County, North Carolina. The cattle feeding operation, Kingsmill Farm II (KMF2), was in
business from 2005 to 2015 and was located directly upstream of the City's monitoring station on Rocky Branch
Creek in Durham County. This report summarizes the cow manure spills that occurred on the KMF2 property and
the high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria that entered Rocky Branch Creek. Public records
from the City of Durham, the Durham County Health Department, and the North Carolina Department of
Environmental Quality were reviewed to provide descriptions of the documented manure spill events. Water
quality data collected from 2007 through 2014 at the City's monitoring station (LC2.ORBC) on Rocky Branch
Creek were summarized and reviewed for high values of fecal coliform bacteria, ammonia nitrogen, total
nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen,
and conductivity. The two documented manure spills from KMF2 were associated with the highest measured
values for fecal coliform (60,000 cfu/100ml- and 5,200,000 cfu/100mL), total nitrogen (64.8 mg/L and 325 mg/L),
and total phosphorus (8.54 mg/L and 36.5 mg/L) at the City's monitoring station on Rocky Branch Creek.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVESUMMARY............................................................................................................................................... 1
ABBREVIATIONS.........................................................................................................................................................
2
TABLES.......................................................................................................................................................................
3
FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................................................
3
1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................
4
2.0 METHODS......................................................................................................................................................
7
3.0 RESULTS.........................................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Monitoring Locations.................................................................................................................................
8
3.2 Monitoring Data......................................................................................................................................
10
3.3 Hydrological and Watershed Information...............................................................................................
18
3.4 Manure Spill Events.................................................................................................................................
21
3.4.1 Documented Manure Spills.............................................................................................................
23
3.4.2 High Fecal Coliform Results and Wastewater Discharges...............................................................
28
4.0 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................................................
30
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................
31
ABBREVIATIONS
• BOD — biochemical oxygen demand
• cfu — colony forming units
• DCHD — Durham County Health Department
• DO — dissolved oxygen
• DWR — Division of Water Resources
• gpm —gallons per minute
• IQR — interquartile range
• KMF2 — Kingsmill Farm II
• mg/L— milligrams per liter
• µS/cm — microsiemens per centimeter
• MDL— method detection limit
• NCAC— North Carolina Administrative Code
• NCDEQ— North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
• NH3-N —ammonia nitrogen
• NO2+NO3-N — nitrite+nitrate nitrogen
• NOV — notice of violation
• NTU — Nephelometric turbidity unit
Pa

• PVC — polyvinyl chloride
• SD —standard deviation
• SE — standard error
• SR — state road
• TKN—total Kjeldahl nitrogen
• TN —total nitrogen
• TP —total phosphorus
• TSS —total suspended solids
• USGS — United States Geological Survey
TABLES
Table 1. City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring station information for sites located on Rocky Branch Creek and
theKMF2 property.................................................................................................................................................... 8
Table 2. Summary statistics for City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring data collected at Rocky Branch Creek at
Kemp Road (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2) from 2007 through 2014 .............................. 10
Table 3. City of Durham and NCDEQ stream monitoring results associated with manure spill from the KMF2
propertyon 12/5/2012............................................................................................................................................ 23
Table 4. City and NCDEQ monitoring results associated with manure spill at KMF2 on 1/21/2014..................... 25
Table 5. City stream monitoring results for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd (LC2.ORBC) on dates when fecal
coliform concentrations were greater than 10,000 cfu/100mL.............................................................................. 28
Table 6. City monitoring results for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road (LC2.ORBC) on 4/23/2014...................... 29
Table 7. City monitoring results for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road (LC2.ORBC) on 7/22/2014...................... 29
FIGURES
Figure 1. Location of Kingsmill Farm II property and City of Durham stream monitoring station LC2.ORBC in
DurhamCounty, NC................................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 2. Locations of City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring sites on and near the Kingsmill Farm II property.. 9
Figure 3. Histograms for fecal coliform, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations in Rocky Branch
Creek at Kemp Road from 2007 through 2014. Horizontal box plots with outliers are above the distribution
graphs. The black circles are outliers. The red bracket outside of the box plot represents the shortest half, which
is the smallest interval that contains 50% of the observations.............................................................................. 11
Figure 4. Box plot of fecal coliform concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through
2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). The North Carolina State Water Quality Standard
for fecal coliform bacteria is shown as the red line. The geometric mean value is shown as the orange line....... 12
Figure 5. Time series of fecal coliform concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007
through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality
Standard for fecal coliform bacteria is shown as red line. Geometric mean value is shown as orange line......... 13
3

Figure 6. Box plots of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids
concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014. TN, TP, and TSS concentration
data are from station LC2.ORBC. BOD concentration data are from stations LC2.ORBC and 1KEMPROAD............ 14
Figure 7. Time series of total nitrogen concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007
through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as orange line.
Median value is shown as green line....................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 8. Time series of total phosphorus concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007
through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as orange line.
Median value is shown as green line....................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 9. Time series of biochemical oxygen demand concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd
from 2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as orange
line. Median value is shown as green line............................................................................................................... 16
Figure 10. Time series of total suspended solids concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from
2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as orange line.
Median value is shown as green line....................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 11. Box plot of turbidity data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014 (Stations
LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for turbidity shown
asred line................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Figure 12. Time series of turbidity data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014 (Stations
LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for turbidity is shown
as red line. Mean value is shown as orange line. Median value is shown as green line ......................................... 18
Figure 13. Drainage area upstream of Kemp Road at LC2.ORBC with watershed, regulatory basin, and county
boundaries............................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 14. Timeline of high -concentration fecal coliform results at station LC2.ORBC, documented manure spills
(red boxes), and other wastewater discharges at Kingsmill Farm II between 2008 and 2015 ............................... 22
Figure 15. Total rainfall amount recorded between 12/2/2012 and 12/10/2012 for the USGS raingage at Little
LickCreek and NC Highway 98................................................................................................................................ 24
Figure 16. Photo of turbid, dark brown water in Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road on 1/21/2014.................... 25
Figure 17. Total rainfall amount between 1/18/2014 and 1/24/2014 for USGS raingage at LLC and NC Hwy 98. 26
Figure 18. Estimated locations of 2012 and 2014 manure spill events at the Kingsmill Farm II property ............. 27
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In January of 2004, the City of Durham (City) began monthly stream monitoring of Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp
Road in Durham County as part of the City's Ambient Water Chemistry Monitoring Program. Rocky Branch
Creek is a tributary to Lick Creek which is located within the Falls Lake Watershed. Although the monitoring site
is located in Durham County and outside the City's jurisdiction, it is in an area where development is expected to
occur and may be annexed by the City in the future. City of Durham staff identified two manure spills in 2012
and 2014 from an animal feeding operation that reached Rocky Branch Creek. The 139-acre cattle feeding
operation, Kingsmill Farm II (KMF2), was in operation from 2005 to 2015 and was located directly upstream of
the City's monitoring station on Rocky Branch Creek. Figure 1 below shows the location of the City's monitoring
C!

site and the Kingsmill Farm II property. Between 2009 and 2014, KMF2 was cited by the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for 39 violations of permit requirements and state regulations,
including the discharge of wastes containing fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients, and sediment (Waldroup 2014).
Due to the extent of the cow manure discharges from KMF2, the City decided to document the impacts to Rocky
Branch Creek and downstream surface waters (Lick Creek and Falls Lake) by summarizing monitoring data, field
observations, and other information (e.g., NCDEQ inspection and enforcement records) related to the manure
spills at KMF2.
The initial goal of this report was to summarize and analyze any available stream monitoring data, stream
discharge data, and manure spill duration data for Rocky Branch Creek so that a time series of the mass load of
nitrogen, phosphorus, and fecal coliform bacteria from the KMF2 property could be estimated. Due to the lack
of stream discharge data for Rocky Branch Creek and insufficient information about the number and duration of
manure spills at the KMF2 property, this report only includes summary statistics for in -stream water quality
data, descriptions with supporting evidence for the known manure spills, and a summary of high fecal coliform
concentrations and wastewater discharges.
The purpose of this report is to show that the manure spills which occurred between 2007 to 2014 on the KMF2
property contributed significant concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria to Rocky Branch Creek,
Lick Creek, and Falls Lake.
61

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Figure 1. Location of Kingsmill Farm II property and City of Durham stream monitoring station LC2.ORBC in Durham County, NC.
R

2.0 METHODS
The City's Water Chemistry Ambient Monitoring Program has collected stream samples from Rocky Branch
Creek at Kemp Road in Durham County since 2004. The City's designated stream monitoring site is station ID
LC2.ORBC. The Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy has a baseline year of 2006, and NCDEQ records state
that the KMF2 animal feeding operation facility was closed in 2015. Therefore, the time period evaluated for
this report begins after the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy baseline year and ends when the KMF2
facility closed. The City did not collect monthly samples at station LC2.ORBC in 2015 because the City switched
to collecting monthly samples at LC2.ORBC during even -numbered years after 2010. This report summarizes
data collected from 2007 through 2014. Monitoring data from 2007 through 2014 for station LC2.ORBC were
downloaded from the City's Water Quality Data Web Portal at http://www.durhamwaterguality.org/ (retrieved
November 2017). Water quality data for station LC2.ORBC were reviewed for high values of fecal coliform
bacteria, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrate+nitrite as N (NO2+NO3-N), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total
phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, dissolved oxygen
(DO), and conductivity. City water quality data for station LC2.ORBC were compared with NCDEQ monitoring
data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road and data from monitoring locations on the KMF2 property. Water
quality data for City and NCDEQ stations (LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2) were analyzed for
summary statistical parameters, such as mean, minimum, maximum, median, range, standard deviation, and
geometric mean (fecal coliform). Left -censored values (nondetects) were assigned numerical values at their
respective detection limits because this report analyzed high values and outliers to identify manure spill
discharges from the KMF2 property.
City staff met with NCDEQ staff at the Raleigh Regional Office to review records related to the KMF2 property.'
Durham County Health Department (DCHD) records were received via email and reviewed as needed .z The
results for the parameters of concern were compared to records provided by NCDEQ and DCHD to find any
indicators of a potential manure spill discharge from the KMF2 property. The types of records reviewed included
surface water sample collection forms, laboratory results, notices of violation, official letters sent by or received
by NCDEQ and DCHD, inspection forms and photos, crop management plans, animal waste management and
irrigation plans, site maps, lagoon liquid irrigation field forms, freeboard and daily precipitation forms, and email
records. NCDEQ conducted monitoring at or near KMF2 in response to the reports of manure spills on the
property. Stream samples collected by NCDEQ were analyzed for BOD, fecal coliform, and turbidity. A sample
collected by NCDEQ staff from a wetland on the KMF2 property was analyzed for fecal coliform, biochemical
oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite+nitrate as N, total phosphorus, total
suspended solids, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride.
City staff also met with staff from the Durham County Soil & Water Conservation District to discuss background
information and enforcement cases associated with KMF2 .3 Durham County Soil & Water Conservation District
staff provided the City with copies of NCDEQ enforcement letters issued to the owner of KMF2.
1 Buster Towell (Senior Environmental Specialist), January 25, 2018.
z Matthew Yearout (Onsite Water Protection Monitoring Program Specialist), January 30, 2018.
3 Mike Dupree (Agribusiness & Environmental Services Manager), Jennifer Brooks (Soil Conservationist), and Heather Dutra (Watershed
Conservationist), January 10, 2018.
7

The USGS StreamStats Program (USGS 2016) was used to estimate drainage areas of Rocky Branch Creek for a
defined catchment upstream of Kemp Road. The StreamStats Program was also used to estimate the percentage
of developed land and the percentage of impervious area for the catchment upstream of Kemp Road. The
StreamStats Program was accessed online for this report (retrieved April 2018).
3.0 RESULTS
3.1 Monitoring Locations
The City's monitoring station in Rocky Branch Creek (station ID LC2.ORBC) was located on the upstream side of
Kemp Road in Durham County from January of 2004 through April of 2014; however, LC2.ORBC was moved to
the downstream side of Kemp Road after April of 2014. City staff collected monthly samples from 2004 to 2010
and switched to monthly sampling during even -numbered years after 2010. Due to this change in monitoring
frequency, the City did not collect data at LC2.ORBC during 2011, 2013, and 2015.
NCDEQ does not have an ambient stream monitoring station on Rocky Branch Creek in Durham County that
could be compared to the City's ambient stream monitoring data. NCDEQ collected samples from Rocky Branch
Creek in response to manure spill investigations at locations upstream and downstream of KMF2 and on the
KMF2 property from Rocky Branch Creek Tributary 1. NCDEQ also collected samples from a wetland on the
KMF2 property adjacent to Rocky Branch Creek. The wetland monitoring site was labeled as "KINGSMILL" for the
station ID. NCDEQ has two different station names (RROSPNLC_D2 and 1KEMPROAD) for the same monitoring
site on Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road. All known monitoring sites on or near KMF2 documented by the City
and NCDEQ are shown below in Table 1 and Figure 2.
Table 1. City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring station information for sites located on Rocky Branch Creek and the
KMF2 property.
Monitoring
Station ID Agency Latitude
LC2.ORBC City of 35.9633
Durham
RROSPNLC_D2 NCDEQ 35.9631
RROSPNLC_U1 NCDEQ 35.9542
1KEMPROAD NCDEQ 35.9631
River
Monitoring
Longitude
Location Description
Watershed
Basin
Frequency
Monthly from 2004
Kemp Rd. east of intersection w/
to 2018 (even-
-78.7538
Southview Rd.
Lick Creek
Neuse
numbered years
starting in 2010)
April 2011 (5 times
-78.7541
Kemp Rd. at Rocky Branch Creek
Lick Creek
Neuse
between 4/4 and
4/25)
Rocky Branch Creek south of
April 2011 (5 times
-78.7564
Kingsmill Farm II, west of bend in
Lick Creek
Neuse
between 4/4 and
dirt road at 3016 Coley Rd.
4/25)
-78.7541
Kemp Rd. at Rocky Branch Creek
Lick Creek
Neuse
12/5/2012
UTTOROCKY Rocky Branch Creek Tributary 1 at
BRANCH NCDEQ 35.9587-78.7543 Kingsmill Farm II, downstream of
large pond and dirt road crossing
Kingsmill Farm II wetland between
KINGSMILL NCDEQ 35.9617-78.7550 power line easement and west
bank of Rocky Branch Creek at
northern end of property
Lick Creek Neuse 12/5/2012
Lick Creek Neuse 1/23/2014
f.

Figure 2. Locations of City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring sites on and near the Kingsmill Farm 11 property.

3.2 Monitoring Data
The monitoring data collected by the City of Durham and NCDEQ at Rocky Branch Creek and Kemp Road are
summarized below in Table 2 and represent approximately six years of data (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and
2014). The figures included in this section present data collected at stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and
RROSPNLC_D2. The City's station LC2.ORBC was generally sampled on the same day of each month (i.e. second
Thursday of each month); however, samples were not collected at LC2.ORBC on 10 monitoring dates between
2007 and 2012 because there was no flow or the channel was dry due to periods of no rainfall. The City also
changed the monitoring plan for LC2.ORBC in 2010 to only include field parameters (dissolved oxygen, dissolved
oxygen percent saturation, temperature, specific conductivity, pH, and turbidity) and fecal coliform bacteria. The
City resumed sample collection and laboratory analysis for the regular suite of water quality parameters at
LC2.ORBC in 2012. The monitoring data collected by NCDEQ at Rocky Branch Creek and Kemp Road represent
five sampling events in April of 2011 and one sampling event on December 5, 2012.
Table 2. Summary statistics for City of Durham and NCDEQ monitoring data collected at Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp
Road (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2) from 2007 through 2014.
Parameter
NH3-N
Units
I mg/L
N
52
Mean
1 5.1
Median•
0.08
0.02
212
211.98 I 29.8
4.1
•
0.12
Quantile
0.65
BOD
I mg/L
53
23
2
2
526
524 I 94
13
1.5
9.2
Conductivity
µS/cm
62
195
174
F90
819
729 104
13
72
298
DO
mg/L
62
7.8
8
0.44
14.7
14.24 3.4
0.43
4.8
12.0
DO
Saturation
62
70.5
79.3
4.2
109
5,200,000
104.8 25.7
I
5,199,980 1637,093
536 F 72
3.26
36.3
96.8
Fecal
Coliform
cfu/100mL
67
90,145
370
20
77,833
2,017
21,200
Hardness
I mg/L
52
70
60
14
550
10
34
100
NO2+NO3-N
mg/L
52
0.14
0.10
0.01
1.2
1.19
I 0.17
0.02
0.0
0.2
pH
S.U.
62
7.3
7.4
6.36
8.10
1.74
0.4
0.1
0.6
7.8
Temperature
degC
62
13
12.1
0.2
25.7
25.5
6.9
0.88
11.8
22.6
TKN
mg/L
51
8.4
0.60
0.03
324.22
324.19
46
6.4
0.51
2.4
TP
mg/L
51
0.97
0.07
0.02
36.51
36.49
5.2
0.73
0.10
0.23
TN
mg/L
51
8.6
0.75
0.13
325.42
325.29 I 46
2,557.5 I 408
1 996.9 I 173
6.5
0.50
2.5
TSS
mg/L
50
103
12
2.5
2,560
58
25
67
Turbidity
NTU
68
72
20.7
3.1
1,000
I 21
I 28
103
IStandard Deviation
2Standard Error
3lnterquartile Range

Distributions of fecal coliform, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentration data from Rocky Branch Creek
at Kemp Road are shown below in Figure 3. The horizontal box plots and the histograms are presented here to
show the distribution, range, and skewness of the data. All x-axes are shown on a logarithmic scale.
I IT —I I' M• � ' ' w • • •
20 ICI
30
� 5
3 7 20
V 10 V
5 10
EM"
1 10 100 1,000 100,000 0.01 o.oa 01 0.3 1 3 s 10 zo 40 100 300
Fecal Coliform Concentration (cfu/100mL) Total Nitrogen Concentration(mg/L)
30
C
3 20
O
U
10
0.01 0.03 0.1 0.2 0.41 z 3 a e 10 zo ao
Total Phosporus Concentration(mg/L)
Figure 3. Histograms for fecal coliform, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations in Rocky Branch Creek at
Kemp Road from 2007 through 2014. Horizontal box plots with outliers are above the distribution graphs. The black
circles are outliers. The red bracket outside of the box plot represents the shortest half, which is the smallest interval
that contains 50% of the observations.
The fecal coliform concentrations measured in Rocky Branch Creek from 2007 through 2014 ranged from 20
cfu/100mL to 5,200,000 cfu/100mL. Three of the highest outliers were associated with known manure spills
from KMF2; however, the remaining outliers may or may not be associated with a manure spill or other
wastewater discharge (e.g., on -site wastewater treatment systems). A box plot with outliers of fecal coliform
concentration data at Rocky Branch Creek and Kemp Rd are shown below in Figure 4. The mean fecal coliform
concentration of 90,145 cfu/100mL is skewed by the very high values (outliers), whereas the median is 370
cfu/100mL and the geometric mean is 762 cfu/100mL. The interquartile range is represented as the box in
Figure 4 and it shows data from the 25th percentile (183 cfu/100mL) to 75th percentile (2200 cfu/100mL) with the
50th percentile or median value (black line through the box). Forty-nine percent of the fecal coliform
concentration data from 2007 through 2014 are greater than the North Carolina State Water Quality Standard of
400 cfu/100mL (15A NCAC 02B.0211(7)), which is represented by the red line in Figure 4.
11

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400000C
3000M
2000M
1DDDDDD
700M
500M
400M
30000C
20000C
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7000C
5000C
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3000C
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30M
2000
1000
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400
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70
so
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20
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Figure 4. Box plot of fecal coliform concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014
(Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). The North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for fecal
coliform bacteria is shown as the red line. The geometric mean value is shown as the orange line.
0IN

A time series plot for fecal coliform concentration data (concentration vs. date) from 2007 through 2014 is
presented in Figure S. The time series plot shows several high fecal coliform concentrations ranging from 1,900
to 60,000 cfu/100mL that were recorded prior to the first documented manure spill at KMF2 in December of
2012. The higher concentrations prior to the December 2012 spill could not be attributed to a specific discharge
or source.
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70
50
40
30
20
D1/2DD7 D1/2DDB D1/2DD9 M /2010 M /2011 01/2012 D1/2D13 01/2014 D1/2D15
Date
Figure 5. Time series of fecal coliform concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through
2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for fecal
coliform bacteria is shown as red line. Geometric mean value is shown as orange line.
Box plots for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended
solids (TSS) concentration data at Rocky Branch Creek and Kemp Road are presented in Figure 6. The two highest
outliers for each of the parameters in Figure 6 are associated with manure spills in 2012 and 2014. The
remaining outliers indicate a wastewater signature; however, without supporting evidence it cannot be
concluded that the elevated values for TN, TP, BOD, and TSS are associated with other manure discharges at
KMF2.
13

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70
50
40
30
K1.
10
7
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o d
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0 1
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03
02
0.1
0L07
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* Total Nitrcgen
Total Phosphorus
Bicchemical Oxygen Demand
Total Suspended Sclids
Figure 6. Box plots of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids
concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014. TN, TP, and T55 concentration
data are from station LC2.ORBC. BOD concentration data are from stations LC2.ORBC and 1KEMPROAD.
Time -series plots for total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids
concentration data from 2007 through 2014 are presented in Figures 7-10. The time series plots show several
data points prior to 2012 that are above the respective median values which could not be attributed to a specific
discharge or source.
Fe!

d0a
8.6
300
200
OD
6°0
50
40-
30
20-
6
5
d
3
2
W
1
/I
5�
0.6 m
r
a5
(W
0.3
02
},1
D1/2DD7 D1/2DD8 01/2DD9 D1/201D 0112011 D1/2D12 D1/2D13 01/2D14 01/2015
Date
Figure 7. Time series of total nitrogen concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from
2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as
orange line. Median value is shown as green line.
40
30 1
20
10
7
6
5
d
3
2
6�
E
0.97
D 02
H
0.1
D.D7
0.05
0.04
0.03
Mly
D.01
01/2DD7 D1/2DD8 D1/2DD9 D1/2D1D D1/2D11 D1/2D12 D1/2D13 D1/2D14 D1/2D15
D ate
Figure 8. Time series of total phosphorus concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd
from 2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is 15
shown as orange line. Median value is shown as green line.

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m 50
E 4a
v
a 30
x
Q
4
3
2
1
0112007 01/200B 01/2009 01/2010 01/2011 0112012 0112013 01/2014 01/2015
Datie
Figure 9. Time series of biochemical oxygen demand concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp
Rd from 2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown
as orange line. Median value is shown as green line.
Q
H
01/2007 01/20DB 01/2009 01/2010 01/2011 01/2012 01/2013 01/2014 01/2015
Date
Figure 10. Time series of total suspended solids concentration data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd
from 2007 through 2014 (Stations LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). Mean value is shown as
orange line. Median value is shown as green line. 16

Turbidity data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road are presented in Figure 11 with a red line at 50 NTU which
represents the North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for turbidity in streams (15A NCAC 02B.0211(21).
The highest outlier (1000 NTU) and the fourth highest outlier (393 NTU) are associated with manure spills that
occurred at KMF2 in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Between 2007 and 2014, 22% of the turbidity samples
collected at Rocky Branch Creek and Kemp Rd measured above the state water quality standard of 50 NTU.
Elevated turbidity and TSS values were associated with the two known manure spills; however, several of the
outliers could be associated with other types of wastewater and sediment discharges in the watershed.
1000 •
1{
z
3
Figure 11. Box plot of turbidity data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014 (Stations
LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for turbidity
shown as red line.
A time series plot for turbidity data (concentration vs. date) from 2007 through 2014 is presented in Figure 12.
The time series plot shows several turbidity concentrations above 50 NTU ranging from 60.7 to 857 NTU that
were recorded prior to the first documented manure spill at KMF2 in December of 2012. The higher
concentrations prior to the December 2012 spill could not be attributed to a specific discharge or source.

1 DI
A
1.
r2.
60
1D'
40
30
le.
7
6
5
4
3
2
D1J2DD7 01/2008 01/2009 D1J2D1D D1J2D11 01/2012 01/2013 D1J2D14 D1J2D15
Dale
Figure 12. Time series of turbidity data for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd from 2007 through 2014 (Stations
LC2.ORBC, 1KEMPROAD, and RROSPNLC_D2). North Carolina State Water Quality Standard for turbidity is shown
as red line. Mean value is shown as orange line. Median value is shown as green line.
3.3 Hydrological and Watershed Information
There are no streamflow gages or rain gages operated by the City or the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
in the Lick Creek watershed or the Rocky Branch Creek subwatershed. The nearest gaging station is operated
and maintained by USGS at Little Lick Creek and Hwy 98 (precipitation station ID 355856078492945 and
streamflow station ID 0208700550). Therefore, a manure spill time -series was not developed due to the lack of
stage and discharge data.
The drainage area upstream of Kemp Road at the City's monitoring station on Rocky Branch Creek (LC2.ORBC;
latitude 35.96332, longitude-78.7538) was estimated at 1.55 square miles and was calculated with the web -
based USGS program - StreamStats. The StreamStats program also estimated the percentage of impervious area
in the LC2.ORBC subwatershed as 10.7% which was determined by using data from the 2011 National Land Cover
Database. This subwatershed of Rocky Branch Creek is shown in Figure 13 as LC2.ORBCSubwotershed. The
LC2.ORBC subwatershed encompasses the headwaters of Rocky Branch Creek, which begin just outside the City
limits in Durham County. This subwatershed is bordered by Kemp Road (SR 1902) to the north, Virgil Road (SR
R:3

1903) to the west, Coley Road (SR 1900) to the east, and Carpenter Pond Road (SR 1901) to the south. This
subwatershed is within the Lick Creek watershed which is part of the Falls Lake watershed and the Upper Neuse
River Basin. Approximately 3,000 feet of Rocky Branch Creek runs through the KMF2 property and Lick Creek
enters Falls Lake 8,200 feet downstream of KMF2 (Waldroup 2014). Much of the drainage area upstream of the
KMF2 site is forested with a major timber harvest occurring between March 2010 and April 2013 (based on
aerial imagery) near a large power substation located in the middle of the subwatershed.
F111']

Figure 13. Drainage area upstream of Kemp Road at LC2.ORBC with watershed, regulatory basin, and county boundaries.
pill'

3.4 Manure Spill Events
A review of monitoring and enforcement records from the City of Durham, Durham County, and NCDEQ
revealed that there were two manure spills on the KMF2 property which were documented as illicit discharges
to Rocky Branch Creek. High fecal coliform results (>10,000 cfu/100mL) were detected at LC2.ORBC on 9
monitoring dates from 2007 to 2014; however, there was not sufficient evidence to conclude that the elevated
fecal coliform results for 7 of the monitoring events were caused by a manure spill or other sewage discharge at
the KMF2 property. Figure 14 represents a timeline of high fecal coliform results at LC2.ORBC and documented
discharges on the KMF2 property. The known or documented manure spills are highlighted in red in Figure 14.
According to NCDEQ records, the waste storage pond (lagoon) at KMF2 was officially closed in April of 2015
(NCDEQ 2015). Since the KMF2 facility was closed in 2015 and the City did not monitor Rocky Branch Creek in
2015, monitoring results from 2007 through 2014 were included in this report.
21

Year
March 9, 2008:
15,000-20,000 gallons of
manure discharged to field
June 17.2010:
December 5, 2012:
5.2 million cfu/100mL
fecal coliform at
April 17, 2014:
Failing septic system
identified at Kingsmill
Farm II
November 12, 2009: October 14, 2010: January 21, 2014: July 22, 2014:
56,000 cfu/100mL of 60,000 cfu/100mL of fecal a 60,000 cfu/10omL of fecal Sewage from failing septic
fecal coliform at coliform at LC2.ORBC; no coliform at LC2.ORBC; reached Rocky Branch
LC2.ORBC; no signs of signs of manure spill Manure spill from Kingsmill Creek; 18,000 cfu/100mL of
manure spill Farm II fecal coliform at LC2.ORBC
Figure 14. Timeline of high -concentration fecal coliform results at station LC2.ORBC, documented manure spills (red boxes), and other wastewater discharges at
Kingsmill Farm II between 2008 and 2015.
22

3.4.1 Documented Manure Spills
The first documented manure spill at KMF2 which discharged to Rocky Branch Creek was observed on
December 5, 2012 at 8:58 a.m. City Stormwater & GIS Services staff were collecting routine stream
water quality samples at station LC2.ORBC when they noticed that Rocky Branch Creek had a strong
animal waste odor and appeared very turbid. Stream field measurements for turbidity, dissolved
oxygen, and conductivity were outside normal ranges. The turbidity reading was recorded as greater
than 1000 NTUs which is 20 times higher than the North Carolina water quality standard for turbidity of
50 NTUs (15A NCAC 02B.0211(21)). The dissolved oxygen concentration was 0.44 mg/L which is 9 times
lower than the minimum instantaneous North Carolina water quality standard of 4.0 mg/L (15A NCAC
02B.0211(6)).
City staff did not conduct an illicit discharge investigation because station LC2.ORBC is located outside of
the Durham city limits. City staff reported the illicit discharge to the NCDEQ Division of Water Resources
(formerly Division of Water Quality; DWR) on December 5, 2012. DWR staff inspected the KMF2
property on December 5, 2012, and concluded that approximately 8,000 gallons of wastewater leaked
from a broken 4-inch PVC pipe near an irrigation hydrant that was connected to the KMF2 waste storage
pond (NCDEQ 2013). The leak in the pipe system was located on the east side of Rocky Branch Creek
between the waste storage pond and Rocky Branch Creek Tributary 1 (Buster Towell, personal
communication, March 29, Table 3. City of Durham and NCDEQ stream monitoring results associated
2018). The pipe system with manure spill from the KMF2 property on 12/5/2012.
from the storage pond
supplies wastewater to
hydrants located near each
of the waste application
fields. Figure 18 shows the
location of the 2012 manure
spill based on NCDEQ
records and photos. NCDEQ
staff collected surface water
samples downstream from
the spill in Rocky Branch
Creek Tributary 1 (station ID
UTTOROCKYBRANCH) and
the main channel of Rocky
Branch Creek at Kemp Road
(station ID 1KEMPROAD).
Table 3 shows water quality
results for City and NCDEQ
City of
Agency
Durham
NCDEQ
NCDEQ
UTTOROCKYBRANCH
Station Name
LC2.ORBC
1KEMPROAD
Sample Date
12/5/2012
12/5/2012
12/5/2012 12:28
and Time
8:58
11:00
BOD (mg/L)
526
440
530
Conductivity
389
n/a
n/a
(VS/cm)
n/a
n/a
Dissolved
0.44
:1
Oxygen (mg/L)
Fecal Coliform
(cfu/100mL)
5,200,000
530,000
700,000
Total Nitrogen
325
n/a
n/a
(mg/L)
Total
Phosphorus
36.5
n/a
n/a
(mg/L)
TSS (mg/L)
1410
n/a
n/a
Turbidity
(NTU)
>1,000
550
550
stream monitoring samples
collected on December 5, 2012. The stream sample collected by City staff from Rocky Branch Creek at
23

Kemp Road had a fecal coliform result of 5,200,000 cfu/100mL. Approximately 2 hours later, NCDEQ
staff collected a sample in Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Road which had a fecal coliform result of
530,000 cfu/100mL. The fecal coliform concentrations measured by both agencies are indicative of
concentrated wastewater.
A KMF2 lagoon liquid irrigation form shows that liquid manure was applied from the hydrant at Field 3C,
Pull 1 on December 4, 2012 starting at 8:00 a.m. If the fields were irrigated for the same amount of time
and at the same flow rate for each date listed on the form, then Field 3C, Pull 1 was irrigated for 116
minutes at a flow rate of 182 gpm which equates to a total volume of 21,112 gallons (NCDEQ 2012). In a
Notice of Violation (NOV) letter to the owner of KMF2, NCDEQ staff stated that an irrigation hose reel
had detached and released excess liquid manure for 15 to 20 minutes to Field 3C, Pull 1 before being
shut down by the Operator In Charge on December 4, 2012 (NCDEQ 2013). It was not determined if any
of the liquid manure applied to Field 3C, Pull 1 reached a tributary of Rocky Branch Creek or the main
channel of Rocky Branch Creek; however, NCDEQ staff concluded that an estimated 8,000 gallons of
liquid manure leaked from the broken 4-inch PVC pipe and reached Rocky Branch Creek Tributary 1.
The nearest United States Geological Survey (USGS) raingage at Little Lick Creek and NC Hwy 98 (station
ID 355856078492945) recorded no rainfall 72 hours prior to December 5, 2012 and the raingage
recorded only 0.01 inches on December 5, 2012 (Figure 15). A total of 0.11 inches of rain was recorded
on December 7, 2012, two days after the manure spill was identified. The lack of rainfall 72 hours prior
USGS 355856078492945 RRIHGRGE AT LTL LICK CR AT HC HHY 98 OAK GROVE, NC
y
0.30
0.25
L
C}
C
0.20
4
0.15
C
4
43
0.10
.H
C}
0.05
0.00
Dee Dee Dec Dee
Dec Dee Dee Dee Dee
02 03 04 05
06 07 08 09 10
2012 2012 2012 2012
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
— Precipitation
— Period of approved data
Graph courtesy of the U.S. Geological Swroey
Figure 15. Total rainfall amount recorded between 12/2/2012 and 12/10/2012 for the USGS raingage at
Little Lick Creek and NC Highway 98.
24

to the monitoring event on December 5, 2012 suggests that the manure spill at Kingsmill Farm was the
main source of fecal coliform contamination at LC2.ORBC.
The second documented spill at KMF2 which discharged to Rocky Branch Creek was observed on January
21, 2014 at 9:10 a.m. Similar to the 2012 manure spill, City Stormwater & GIS Services staff were
conducting routine stream monitoring at LC2.ORBC when they detected a strong manure odor and Rocky
Branch Creek appeared dark brown in color (Figure 16). Stream field measurements for turbidity and
conductivity were outside normal ranges, as shown in Table 4. The turbidity reading was recorded as
393 NTUs which is more than 7 times higher than the North Carolina water quality standard for turbidity
of 50 NTUs (15A NCAC 02B.0211(21)). Although the dissolved oxygen concentration was 10.47 mg/L
(79.4% DO saturation), the BOD concentration
was 115 mg/L. City staff reported the field
observations and stream measurements to DWR
staff on January 21, 2014. City staff also recorded
the field observations and stream water quality
measurements in the City's Water Quality
Investigation Database to document
correspondence with DWR. DWR staff conducted
an investigation on January 23, 2014, and
"confirmed that Kings Mill Farm II had conducted
activities resulting in an unlawful discharge to
waters of the State, in violation of the North
Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) 143-215.1"
Figure 16. Photo of turbid, dark brown water in Rocky
(NCDEQ 2014a). Based on field observations and Branch Creek at Kemp Road on 1/21/2014.
photos, DWR staff concluded that a spray
irrigation traveling cart applied liquid manure in Field 3D at a rate that caused wastewater to pond in
the application field and reach adjacent wetlands and stream buffer areas of Rocky Branch Creek
(NCDEQ 2014a). Figure 18 shows the estimated location of the manure spill on January 21, 2014.
On January 23, 2014, DWR
staff also collected samples of
the wastewater in the wetland
adjacent to the application
field (station ID KINGSMILL).
The DWR samples had high
concentrations of fecal
coliform (700,000 cfu/100mL),
total nitrogen (340 mg/L),
total phosphorus (22 mg/L),
BOD (670 mg/L), and TSS (302
mg/L). City stream monitoring
Table 4. City and NCDEQ monitoring results associated with manure spill
at KMF2 on 1/21/2014.
Agency
City of Durham
NCDEQ
Station Name
LC2.ORBC
KINGSMILL
Sample Date and Time
1/21/2014 9:10
1/23/2014 15:20
BOD (mg/L)
115
670
Conductivity (VS/cm)
819
n/a
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
10.47
n/a
Fecal Coliform (cfu/100mL)
>60,000
700,000
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
64.8
340
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
8.54
22
TSS (mg/L)
308
302
Turbidity (NTU)
393
n/a
W

samples collected at station LC2.ORBC also had high concentrations of fecal coliform, total nitrogen,
total phosphorus, BOD, and TSS (Table 4). The fecal coliform result for the City sample was recorded as
greater than 60,000 cfu/100mL because fecal coliform colonies were too numerous to count for the
sample volumes filtered by staff at the City's South Durham Water Reclamation Facility laboratory. The
sample volume that is filtered for determining fecal coliform colonies depends on the water source. For
example, Standard Method 9222D (Thermotolerant Fecal Coliform Membrane Filter Procedure) states
that samples of raw municipal sewage and feedlot runoff should be filtered at volumes of 0.1 mL, 0.01
mL, and 0.001 mL (Rice et al., 2012). Although City Stormwater staff suspected that the sample would
have high densities of fecal coliform colonies, City Stormwater staff did not request that the laboratory
staff perform the sample dilutions consistent with the type of water sample that was collected.
The nearest USGS raingage at Little Lick Creek and NC Hwy 98 (station ID 355856078492945) recorded
no rainfall 72 hours prior to the discovery of the spill on the morning of January 21, 2014. A total of 0.02
inches of rain was recorded on the evening of January 21, 2014, and no rainfall was recorded during the
following 72 hours (Figure 17). The lack of rainfall 72 hours prior to the monitoring event on January 21,
2014 suggests that the manure spill at Kingsmill Farm was the main source of fecal coliform
contamination at LC2.ORBC.
USGS 355856078492945 RRIHGRGE AT LTL LICK CR AT NC HHY 98 OAK GROVE, NC
0.06
0.05
L
C}
C
0.04
4
0.03
C
4
a=
2
0.02
.H
C}
ID
0.01
0.00
Jan Jan Jan
Jan Jan Jan Jan
18 19 20
21 22 23 24
2014 2014 2014
2014 2014 2014 2014
— Precipitation
— Period of approved data
Graph courtesy of the U.S. Geological Swroey
Figure 17. Total rainfall amount between 1/18/2014 and 1/24/2014 for USGS raingage at LLC and NC
Hwy 98.
NO

O
Yt
r
2014 Mignure Spill
T _
o
-
KMF 2 4Na ste
rStorage Pond
s w
4
{' 2012 ManureSpill
PAN
fi
NCDE4 Monitoring Sites O LC2-ORBC (City of Durham)
O Lf TOROCKVBRANCH u- - 5 Kingsm ill Farm II Parcel N
O 1KEMPR046 - - - pitch }y
O KINGSMILL : River /hj1l
0 RROSPNLC_62 — Stream
CITY OF D RROSPNLC_U1 Unknown 0 0.025 0:D5 0.1
DURHAM Water Bodies Mik-5
Figure 18. Estimated locations of 2012 and 2014 manure spill events at the Kingsmill Farm 11 property.

3.4.2 High Fecal Coliform Results and Wastewater Discharges
A review of stream monitoring data for station LC2.ORBC suggests other wastewater discharges may
have occurred in the Rocky Branch Creek watershed; however, there was not sufficient evidence to
show that the high fecal coliform concentrations were caused by wastewater discharges on the KMF2
property. Between 2007 and 2014, there were 7 monitoring events at station LC2.ORBC with fecal
coliform results greater than 10,000 cfu/100mL which could not definitively be attributed to a
wastewater discharge. Table 5 summarizes water quality data for the 7 monitoring events at station
LC2.ORBC with high fecal coliform concentrations. It is worth noting that high -fecal values were
observed with no rainfall (November 2010) and lower rainfall (June 2010 and July 2014) recorded within
72 hours prior to the monitoring events.
Table 5. City stream monitoring results for Rocky Branch Creek at Kemp Rd (LC2.ORBC) on dates when fecal
coliform concentrations were greater than 10,000 cfu/100mL.
Sampling Date (Month -Year)
Nov-09
Jun-10
Oct-10
Nov-10
Jun-12
Jul-14
Aug-14
BOD (mg/L)
I 4
n/a
n/a
n/a
8
2
2
Conductivity (VS/cm)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
150
9.44
230
5.58
240
6.62
380
6.15
169
7.25
124
6.91
214
6.54
Fecal Coliform (cfu/100rnQ
56,000
21,000
>60,000
13,000
22,000
18,000
14,570
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
1.6
n/a
n/a
n/a
1.68
0.96
0.94
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
<0.03
n/a
n/a
n/a
0.21
0.17
0.125
TSS (mg/L)
36
n/a
I n/a
I n/a
40
30.8
I 16.4
Turbidity (NTU)
61.5
96.6
265
I 23.7
62.3
37.6
11.1
Prior 72-hours of rainfall (in)
4.92
0.57
1.11 0.00
2.21
0.27
0.75
Although NCDEQ staff documented two events of over -application of liquid manure and DCPH staff
documented two instances of a failing septic system on the KMF2 property, there was not sufficient
evidence to connect these events to the high fecal coliform and nutrient concentrations at monitoring
station LC2.ORBC.
On March 9, 2008, a spray irrigation traveling gun cart malfunctioned during land application of liquid
manure in field 3B and remained in the same position for 1.5 to 2 hours (NCDEQ 2008). An engineering
consultant for KMF2 estimated that the flow rate was 174 gpm and the volume of wastewater ranged
from 15,600 gallons to 20,880 gallons, depending on the amount of time the gun cart remained
stationary (NCDEQ 2008). It is unknown if the wastewater from this event reached the main channel of
Rocky Branch Creek. The raingage at City Hall did not record any rainfall on March 9, 2008 or within 72
hours after the wastewater discharge. The nearest USGS raingage at Little Lick Creek and Hwy 98
(station ID 355856078492945) did not become operational until August 8, 2008. The City conducted
routine stream monitoring at LC2.ORBC on March 11, 2008, two days after the reported wastewater
discharge. The results for fecal coliform (2200 cfu/100mQ, total nitrogen (1.2 mg/L), total phosphorus

(0.07 mg/L), and BOD (4 mg/L) did not indicate that a wastewater discharge had reached Rocky Branch
Creek.
On March 23, 2011, DWR staff conducted an annual compliance inspection at KMF2, which included a
review of waste storage pond records and land application events. DWR staff noted that between June
13, 2010 and June 23, 2010 the distance between the top of the storage pond dam and the storage
pond water level (freeboard) dropped 50 inches which was calculated as 1,000,000 gallons of
wastewater (NCDEQ 2011). The only documented land application event occurred on June 17, 2010,
which accounted for 44,000 gallons of wastewater (NCDEQ 2011). During 2010, the City only monitored
Rocky Branch Creek for fecal coliform and typical field parameters (turbidity, dissolved oxygen,
temperature, pH, and conductivity). City staff collected a stream sample at the Kemp Road station on
June 17, 2010 at 9:20 a.m., which was the same day when 44,000 gallons of wastewater was applied to
fields at KMF2. The fecal coliform result was 21,000 cfu/100mL; however, there were no signs of a
wastewater discharge observed by City staff. The USGS gage at Little Lick Creek and Hwy 98 recorded
0.56 inches of rain 24 hours prior to the monitoring event.
On April 17, 2014, DCHD identified a failing sub-
surface septic system at KMF2 and reported the
issue to DWR. DWR staff conducted an
investigation on April 21, 2014 and observed that
wastewater from the failing septic system had
flowed 50-75 feet downhill toward Rocky Branch
Creek but had not reached the stream (NCDEQ
2014b). City staff conducted routine stream
monitoring at LC2.ORBC on April 23, 2014.
Monitoring results shown in Table 6 do not indicate
a wastewater signal in Rocky Branch Creek on the
date and time of sample collection.
On July 22, 2014, DWR staff conducted a follow-up
compliance inspection at KMF2 from 10:00 a.m. to
12:15 p.m. The follow-up inspection form states
that a failing septic system on the KMF2 property
did flow to surface waters (Rocky Branch Creek)
during heavy rains (NCDEQ 2014c); however, there
was not an estimate for the volume of wastewater
that may have discharged to Rocky Branch Creek.
Results for routine stream monitoring at LC2.ORBC
on July 22, 2014 are shown in Table 7. The USGS
raingage at Little Lick Creek and Hwy 98 recorded
0.27 inches of rain 48 hours prior to the stream
monitoring event on July 22, 2014.
able 6. City monitoring results for Rocky Branch
Creek at Kemp Road (LC2.0RBQ on 4/23/2014.
Parameter
Result
BOD (mg/L)
2.1
Conductivity (VS/cm)
142
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
9.04
Fecal Coliform (cfu/100mL)
108
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.06
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.44
Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)
Turbidity (NTU)
8.60
12.1
Table 7. City monitoring results for Rocky Branch
Creek at Kemp Road (LC2.0RBC) on 7/22/2014.
Parameter
Result
BOD (mg/L)
2
Conductivity (VS/cm)
124
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
6.91
Fecal Coliform (cfu/100mL)
18,000
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
0.96
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
0.17
TSS (mg/L)
30.8
Turbidity (NTU)
37.6
Irk':

4.0 DISCUSSION
The City of Durham documented two manure spills from the Kingsmill Farm II property which reached
Rocky Branch Creek — a tributary of Lick Creek and Falls Lake. The manure spills occurred in December of
2012 and January of 2014 and were first observed by City staff conducting monthly stream monitoring.
NCDEQ confirmed through site inspections and additional stream monitoring that the manure
discharges to Rocky Branch Creek in 2012 and 2014 originated on the KMF2 property. The highest
recorded values for fecal coliform, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus at the City's monitoring site on
Rocky Branch Creek during the 2007-2015 timeframe were associated with the two documented
manure spills at KMF2. As a result of the City's monitoring efforts, NCDEQ staff investigated the manure
spills and issued 11 violations of the North Carolina Administrative Code (15A NCAC 2T.1304) to the
owner of KMF2 (NCDEQ 2013, NCDEQ 2014a). NCDEQ issued a total of 39 violations to the owner of
KMF2 between 2009 and 2014, which includes other types of permit violations specific to animal feeding
operations.
The City's stream monitoring data for station LC2.ORBC also indicated other wastewater discharges may
have occurred in the Rocky Branch Creek watershed; however, there was not sufficient evidence to
show that the high fecal coliform concentrations were caused by wastewater discharges on the KMF2
property. From 2007 through 2014, there were 7 monitoring events with fecal coliform results greater
than 10,000 cfu/100mL which could indicate other wastewater discharges to Rocky Branch Creek from
KMF2 or other sources upstream of KMF2. The Rocky Branch Creek watershed is located within Durham
County, which means that residential properties use on -site wastewater treatment systems (septic
systems and discharging sand filter systems) rather than a City or County operated wastewater
treatment system. Failing or leaking on -site wastewater treatment systems upstream of KMF2 could
have contributed to elevated fecal coliform and nutrient concentrations in Rocky Branch Creek.
Based on the review of City and State records referenced in this report, the following recommendations
should be considered for the City's future data needs related to pollutant time -series and loading
reports:
• Record all observed spills during stream sampling, even when it is not the City's jurisdiction to
investigate the spill. If it is reported to NCDEQ or another regulatory agency, then it may be
prudent to keep a record of the report in the City's Water Quality Investigations Database. For
example, the spill that occurred in December of 2012 was not recorded in the Water Quality
Investigations Database.
• Respond to manure spills in a similar manner as other wastewater discharges and document
with follow-up site visits and sampling (field and lab analyses). Include additional monitoring for
subsequent days to determine the downstream impacts and duration of the spill. Also, it is
recommended that more photos be taken to document the extent of each spill.
• Acquire more flow, stage, and concentration data to estimate pollutant loads. A long-term plan
could involve requesting funding to initiate an agreement with USGS to install, operate and
maintain streamflow and precipitation gages at or downstream of the Rocky Branch Creek
station and in other watersheds of concern.
4111

REFERENCES
Rice, E.W., Baird, R. B., Eaton, A. D., Clesceri, L. S. 2012. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water
and Wastewater. 22nd Ed. 2012. American Public Health Association. Washington, D.C.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2008. Animal waste incident at the Kingsmill Farm
II Dairy on Kemp Road Durham County. Letter from Environmental Engineering Services dated March 26,
2008. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2011. Information Request Letter to Owner of
Kingsmill Farm II (Dated April 1, 2011). Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2011. Information Request Letter to Owner of
Kingsmill Farm II (Dated April 1, 2011). Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2012. Kingsmill Farm II Lagoon Liquid Irrigation
Fields Record. FORM IRR-2. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2013. Notice of Violation/Notice of Intent to
Enforce (Dated January 14, 2013). NOV-2013-DV-0003. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2014a. Notice of Violation/Notice of Intent to
Enforce (Dated March 7, 2014). NOV-2014-PC-0048. Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2014b. Notice of Non Compliance (Dated April22,
2014). Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2014c. Division of Water Resources Compliance
Inspection Form (Dated July 22, 2014). Raleigh, North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. 2015. Animal Waste Storage Pond and Lagoon
Closure Report Form (Dated April24, 2015). Raleigh, North Carolina.
Title 15A, Chapter 02B, Section .0211 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. Fresh Surface Water
Quality Standards for Class C Waters. 15A NCAC 02B.0211. Amended Eff. January 1, 2015.
Title 15A, Chapter 02T, Section .1304 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. State Permitting
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U.S. Geological Survey, 2016, The StreamStats program, online at http://streamstats.usgs.gov, accessed
on April 2, 2018.
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Waldroup, K. 2014. Memorandum: Kingsmill Farm II Violation Update, Falls Lake Watershed. Prepared
for the City Manager of the City of Raleigh. Raleigh, North Carolina
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