2. Educate farmers, residents, local officials, and resource managers in the Long Creek Watershed and in surrounding areas on effective water quality protection practices.
2. Collect land use and water quality data necessary to evaluate performance of "best management practices" implemented in the watershed.
3. Develop a comprehensive watershed education plan to meet needs of target audiences.
2. Collected 3 years of baseline water quality and land use data.
3. Identified cooperating landowners for implementing BMPs.
4. Conducted education programs for more than 1,100 farmers, landowners, local and state officials, and citizen groups on water quality protection.
The Long Creek Watershed Project is funded under the EPA 319 Nonpoint Source National Monitoring Program as a nine-year comprehensive watershed project. Pollution control strategies include financial and technical assistance for agricultural and urban best management practice implementation, educational programs, and regulatory actions. North Carolina Agriculture Cost-Share Program and USDA Water Quality Incentive Project funds are targeted for implementing practices to properly manage animal waste and control soil erosion. Water quality monitoring consists of physical, chemical, biological, and habitat monitoring of three management areas: (1) a dairy farm to evaluate waste management and riparian protection practices to control bacteria, sediment, and nutrients; (2) cropland to evaluate nutrient management practices; and (3) a municipal water supply watershed to evaluate sediment control measures. GIS and water quality models are being used to determine critical areas for targeting implementation, tracking land use changes, and estimating long-term water quality impacts of nonpoint source controls. The education program consists of site visits, newsletters, tours, volunteer monitoring projects, and demonstrations of implemented control measures.
2. Expand project scope to include nonpoint source control of microbial pathogens, pesticides, metals, and synthetic organic chemicals pending available funding.
3. Expand education program to equip local and state resource managers with knowledge and support tools for water quality monitoring, BMP implementation, and watershed management.