This page houses information about the project to plan for the elimination of bacteria contamination in Honey Creek. This page outlines the project and will update progress towards its completion. General information about bacteria contamination of surface water can be found on a separate page. A general report on Honey Creek history and conditions is also available on a separate page.

Advisory and Stakeholder Committee Meeting Schedule

A kick-off meeting was held with the Advisory Committee on December 1, 2011. The first Stakeholder Committee was held on March 29.

Details on future meetings will be posted here as they are confirmed.

Project Overview

The following presentation was developed for the project kick-off meeting and covers major project elements to be completed. A special thank you to Molly Rippke, Michigan DEQ for much of the background content.

Honey Creek Kickoff Presentation (5 mb)

Honey Creek Contamination Background

In 2009, the DEQ (then DNRE) developed a pollution limit policy (called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)) for Honey Creek due to body contact impairments as a result of elevated bacteria levels.  Specifically, high E. coli counts were recorded at a sampling location near the Honey Creek outflow.  Also, HRWC has been monitoring E. coli levels in the creek since 2006.  Under HRWC’s program, the mean E. coli count was 405 per 100 ml, with a maximum count of 3000 per 100 ml (June, 2009) and a median of 305 per 100 ml – all above the single event water quality standard of 300 E. coli per 100 ml for total body contact (TBC).

DNRE collected additional E. coli data in 2007 at four sites along Honey Creek to develop the TMDL.  All sites exceeded the TBC standards, and many events exceeded the partial body contact standard.  The highest counts were found at the most upstream location, where the 30-day geometric mean exceeded 1,000 E. coli per 100 ml (the PBC standard) for the entire sampling period (dry and wet weather).  E. coli counts were progressively lower at each downstream location for most sampling events.

These results suggest that a source exists near or upstream of sampling station 1.  One sample from station 1 was analyzed for human biomarkers and none were found, suggesting animal sources.  Potential sources in the area of station 1 identified in the TMDL include livestock manure, horse pastures, pet waste and urban/suburban wildlife.  One high-density housing development, Scio Farms, was identified with high pet ownership and storm water runoff that enters Honey Creek upstream of station 1.

Project Goals and Objectives

The overall project goal is to collect information and develop a Watershed Management Plan that will foster activities that will reduce the quantity of bacteria entering Honey Creek and eventually meet water quality standards.  Specific objectives are to:

1. Conduct E. coli monitoring, including Bacterial Source Tracking (BST), to narrow the identification of sources.
2. Develop a watershed management plan (WMP) to address the pathogen and other identified impairments.
3. Involve relevant residents in the plan-development and inform them about their roles and responsibilities through a workshop and educational materials.

Project timeline

Oct 2011 – Apr 2012	Collect data and background information to assess overall watershed impairments, threats, causes and potential sources, and determine monitoring sites. Meet with local stakeholders to get early input. Monitoring data, along with results from BST, will determine the most likely sources of E. coli contamination.
May 2012 – Nov 2012	Conduct E. coli monitoring, including BST, statistical analysis, and follow-up monitoring. Final report produced in November 2012.
Nov 2012 – Jan 2013	Develop educational materials and conduct a public workshop to gather feedback and provide guidance about individual actions to address bacteria and other impairment sources.
Nov 2012 – Jan 2013	Complete draft WMP (final WMP produced in March 2013). The WMP will include a list of specific management activities that can be used to reduce loading of water quality impairments. The plan will also include criteria for determining progress, measureable milestones and a monitoring plan that goes beyond the scope of the planning period.

These activities will result in a planning project that will cost-effectively target actions that have the greatest likelihood of successfully reducing or eliminating identified impairments.

Monitoring Plan, Data and Results

A monitoring plan is now being implemented to collect water quality data from different stream sections. Details can be viewed on the Honey Creek Study webpage.

Partners

Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner

Scio Township

Middle Huron Initiative (includes 17 signatory communities or agencies to the TMDL cooperative agreement)

Middle Huron River Watershed Stormwater Advisory Group (includes 7 member municipalities and agencies)