Purpose

Replace up to eight stream-side pesticide mixing stations with USDA-approved agrichemical handling facilities located outside of the floodplain
Preserve approximately 50 acres of existing riparian buffer through aa combination of purchased an donated conservation easements
Re-vegetate or widen 41,000 feet of riparian buffer in degraded areas along the Mills River and its two forks
Stabilize approximately 2.6 acres of streambank using bio-engineering methods
Control erosion and sedimentation in the Wash Creek watershed by stabilizing 22 camp sites and installing sedimentation control measures along six miles of road
Develop a long-term watershed protection management strategy
Water Quality Objectives

Coordinate stakeholders to preserve and improve water quality
Protect an outstanding river system that is regionally significant as a drinking water source and important on the state and national levels as a trout fishery and recreational resource
Resolve water quality problems documented in certain portions of the watershed as follows:
Remove or mitigate significant pesticide sources from the watershed

Protect and enhance buffers to further reduce the potential for pesticide loading to the river and to preserve overall water quality

Reduce sediment loading to the river by stabilizing eroding streambanks, reestablishing/widening buffers, and eliminating other sediment sources.

Develop a long-term strategy for protecting water quality beyond the scope of this project
Detailed Scope of Work

Replacement and Relocation of Pesticide Loading Facilities

The Regional Water Authority (RW A) will contract with Natural Resources Conservation Service or a professional engineering firm to design and construct up to eight state-of-the-art agrichemical handling facilities (AHFs). These will be located outside of the floodplain and will replace the eight stream-side mixing stations located upstream of the RW A's intake on the Mills River .

The RW A and the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) met with the

following farmers who gave their consent to replace the existing mixing stations and assisted with

identification of where the facilities should be located: Mr. Mitch Gaither, of Mountain Bean Growers; Mr. Wayne Carland, of Carland Farms; and Mr. Robert Warren, of R&V Warren Farms.

The first priority is to replace and relocate the four mixing areas between the City of Hendersonville and RWA intakes where the North Carolina Division of Water Quality has documented poor water quality conditions. These include the following sites: Site No.2 on Haywood Road (behind Hendersonville WTP) operated by Mountain Bean Growers, Site No.4 on

North Mills River Road and Hwy 280 operated by Carland Farms, Site No.6 on North Mills River Road operated by R&V Warren, and Site No.7 on North Mills River Road Operated by R&V Warren.

Preliminary design of these AHFs was completed by Camp Dresser & McKee, with input from the USDA Soil Conservation Service, on November 23, 1998. Detailed drawings of the proposed AHFs can be provided upon request. It has been recommended that each AHF consist of a well-type intake structure and a mixing Station. The well-type intake should consist of a 24-inch diameter well screen with granular packing, and a submersible electric pump. The intake needs to be designed to deliver about 40 gallons per minute (gpm) in order to fill an elevated nurse tank in a reasonable amount of time. In addition, it must also be able to supply water for an emergency shower/eye wash station, unless potable water can be provided. The intakes for all of the facilities will be identical. The mixing station is a wooden structure built on a concrete slab which drains to a sump. It will require electric or gas powered equipment to power a small sump pump and lighting. All mixing stations will be single bay with the exception of Site No.5 which will have a double bay mixing station to allow two tractors to load pesticides simultaneously.

Final design of these facilities will require a site survey to determine the elevation at which to set the mixing station base slab in order to avoid flooding. The exact location of the well-intake and the pump size required based on exact elevations and distances will also be refined during final design. The concept of the well-intake will also be reviewed. It is estimated that it will require six months for final design, permitting, and bidding to be complete. Construction is estimated to take six to twelve months depending upon weather conditions.

The difference in cost from one location to the next is mainly due to the amount of earthwork required and the length of piping from the well-intake to the mixing station. During preliminary design, the amount of earth work required was based on a rough estimate and a review of available flood plain topographic maps.

After construction is complete, representatives from the SWCD and the RWA will work with farmers to ensure the proper and safe operation of the AHFs. Farmers will also be encouraged to implement best management practices such as more careful selection of pesticides based on toxicity, runoff potential, and leaching potential.

Riparian Buffers Element

The RW A will contract with the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) and Henderson SWCDor other appropriate natural resource management agency to implement a riparian buffer protection and restoration program on the Mills River and its two major tributaries, the North Fork and the South Fork. This program will consist of the following projects:

1. Buffer Preservation -Approximately 50 acres of riparian buffers will be permanently preserved through a combination of purchased and donated conservation easements. Easements that target agricultural lands will be given the highest priority. Due to the high value of river-bordering land for agricultural use, incentive payments will be utilized to encourage donated easements and landowner participation. The proposed incentive payment program will be based on the successful USDA Wetland Reserve Program. It is assumed that up to 12 sites will be acquired with 2/3 purchased and1/3 donated during this initial two-year project; however, actual results will be dependent on landowner interest and cooperation.

2. Buffer Restoration - A vegetated buffer will be restored in degraded areas along the Mills River and its two forks during this initial two-year project. A review of aerial photography of this area shows the existing buffer to be minimal to non-existent in many places. It is estimated that site preparation and planting of grass or hardwood seedlings will average $350 per acre plus labor. It is assumed that a $1200 per acre incentive payment may be required to remove the land from agricultural production or other use. Landowners will be encouraged to restore a minimum buffer of 50 feet with the first 25feet in trees and the second 25 feet in trees or grass. The goal is to re-vegetate or widen the buffer along 41,000 feet of riverfront or to restore about 1/3 of the degraded buffer areas along the Mills River and its forks.

3. Streambank Stabilization -Where necessary, the streambank will be stabilized using bio-engineering methods. Based on a Henderson County SWCD survey, approximately 2.6 acres of streambank will need to be stabilized at an estimated cost of $7,500 per acre. The goal is to maintain a minimum buffer to hold the streambank in place.

Erosion Control Element

The RW A will contract with the US Forest Service to oversee work to control erosion and sedimentation in the Wash Creek watershed located in the Pisgah National Forest. Specific projects include stabilization of twelve currently utilized camp sites at an estimated cost of $48,000 and ten old camp sites at an estimated cost of$15,000. In addition, installation of sedimentation control measures along six miles of road in the Wash Creek drainage area is estimated to cost $21,000.

Development of a Long-Term Watershed Protection and Management Strategy

The RW A will contract with the Land-of-Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) to work with stakeholders to develop a strategy for dealing with water quality issues in the Mills River watershed beyond the two year scope of this project. The strategy will address additional issues (that are not covered in this project) such as stormwater control, onsite wastewater systems and point source discharges as well as take a closer look at erosion/sediment control needs. LOSRC estimates that work will begin work on this project in November 1999 and will be complete in approximately 18 months.