Winter Flight Over the Ocmulgee River

By James Holland, Altamaha Riverkeeper

• Treated sewerage effluent that was black in appearance.
• Muddy Water caused by upstream storm water run off.
• Algae in the Ocmulgee River.

Treated Sewerage
Over Macon, I observed and photographed a discharge of treated sewerage effluent from the South Poplar Street Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) flowing into the Ocmulgee River. The sewerage water coming from the WPCP pipe formed a plume of dark black water, which created a sharp contrast to the muddy river water. In the past the Altamaha Riverkeeper has received complaints from citizens saying the effluent water is constantly black and has a strong repulsive odor. Once again, citizen complaints were correct and right on target in describing the discharge water. From high above, I could only detect an odor similar to a paper mill but the effluent water being discharged from the pipe was definitely black.

The State Water Quality Control Act requires that water be clear when discharged from pipes. Pursuant to this law, in February 2005, the ARK filed a formal complaint with the State Environmental Protection Division (EPD). ARK requested an investigation into the South Poplar Street Plant to determine why their discharge water is not clear and furthermore that they correct the problem.

Draining Wetlands	Arrows indicate ditches draining sod farm in McIntosh County

Muddy Water
The color of the Ocmulgee River observed on this flight was amazing. It was extremely muddy from Highway 96 all the way up into Lake Jackson. Apparently it had not rained for several days because I did not observe any branches or creeks discharging turbid waters into the Ocmulgee River. The water in Lake Jackson had the same muddy appearance as the river water downstream from Loyd Shoals Dam.

In my opinion, the most obvious culprit causing the mud phenomenon is new development in the surrounding metropolitan areas of Atlanta. According to studies land disturbances, such as urban construction can, at minimum, double the amount of sediment entering headwater steams. In December 2004, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Board of Directors led a charge to approve new rules to reduce protection of buffers for headwater streams in Georgia. This action was encouraged and welcomed by the development interests from the metropolitan Atlanta area.

The first stream defense against polluted storm water run is the proper use of man made erosion control devices on construction sites, such as, silt fences, grass seeding and mulch. Natural vegetative stream buffers are the last defense. Failure to use proper stream buffers and erosion control devices on construction sites is a recipe for disastrous water quality.

I can't emphasize enough that the sediment loads observed on my flight over the Ocmulgee River are extremely dangerous to aquatic species. Muddy water reduces dissolved oxygen (d/o) for fish in much the same manner as a smoke filled room reduces oxygen for humans. In a smoke filled room would you carry on with your normal routine such as eating or watching television? Of course not, and neither do fish. Sediment laden waters interfere with feeding habits and spawning habitat for fish and other aquatic life. Recreational and commercial fishermen hate muddy, stained water because it has a devastating impact on their catch. Blue crabs and Catfish die in the traps when the water becomes muddy due to lack of dissolved oxygen in the water.

Economic Impacts Brought About by Sediment Laden Waters
Sediment build up in water bottoms causes many harmful problems to streams and lakes such as; reduced hydro period (the amount of time the water remains in a stream or lake). In other words, when the deep holes in our creeks, lakes, and rivers fill in with mud, there is less room for the water, which causes it to flow more rapidly. The increased volume of water in streams scours the stream channel changing them in a way that creates flooding. When stream bottoms fill up with mud there is less water for fish, for farmers for irrigation, and for human consumption. Another result is the altered streams and downstream lakes have poorer water quality making algal blooms and fish kills more common, which causes problems for sport and recreational fishermen.

Sediment also increases filtration costs for municipalities that use river water for human consumption and manufacturers who use water in their processes. We, the consumer bear the burden of the increased costs through our water bills and the products we purchase.

You would think we would have it figured out by now, water is precious and without it we cannot sustain life. We know how to keep much of this mud out of our lakes and streams. We have created laws to prevent humans from inflicting these atrocities on our water. Unfortunately, with short-term solutions geared solely to financial gain, we have not been successful at preventing a small segment of our population from causing hardships on the rest of the population and on our water bodies. Is it that we just don't care, or are we simply indifferent to what is happening around us?

Algae
During my flight, I observed large amounts of algae clinging to the rocks along the shoals of this beautiful river. In my opinion, this over abundance of algae in mid winter is a phenomenon because it is highly unusual to have this much algae when it is cold weather. I have observed what I believe to be excessive amounts of algae in the Altamaha in the summer time. I have never seen algae in these amounts in the Oconee before.

The enriching of waters by excess amounts of nitrogen and phosphate causes excessive growths of algae. The formation of algae is one way nutrients are assimilated from water. These same nutrients are the main chemicals in fertilizers. In excessive amounts, these chemicals that we use on our lawns, gardens and agricultural fields can harm natural systems.

During the daylight hours in adequate light algae grows creating and releasing oxygen into the water in much the same manner as trees release oxygen into the atmosphere that we breathe. The oxygen released into the water is called dissolved oxygen and for fish and other aquatic species it is required to sustain life.

Algae needs sunlight to sustain growth but when the sun goes down the algae starts to die off. This is when the problem begins because when excessive algae dies and decays, in addition to reducing visibility in the water, the process consumes the water's natural oxygen and leads to low dissolved oxygen (anoxic) conditions. If the anoxic conditions persist it can kill the fish. Anoxic conditions can be problematic in lakes and ponds where water movement is generally sluggish. This is especially true in the heat of the summer when we experience low flows and higher temperatures in the water.

According to studies, such as, Where Rivers Are Born " Fish are not the only organisms harmed; some of the algae species that grow in water contaminated with excess nitrogen and phosphorus generate tastes and odors and can be toxic, a clear problem for stream systems that supply drinking water for municipalities. Increased nitrogen levels can injure people and animals."

Nutrients in our waterways, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, come from many places, sewerage treatment facilities, sewerage spills, lawns, gardens, farms, pets and golf courses. Wild life, such as deer, birds, waterfowl, raccoons, wild hogs, are also large contributors of nutrients. With the exception of sewerage from treatment plants, most nutrients and sediments reach our creeks and streams through storm water run off.

Can we control these pollutants before they reach our streams?
Yes, we can remove most of these pollutants before they reach our creeks and rivers but
we need to become more aware of how to handle storm water run off from urban streets and businesses. When fertilizing our lawns, gardens, and golf courses we need to use the product only in the concentration and amount that plants can assimilate rapidly. Be like a smart farmer, fertilize economically and only in healthy amounts for your crop. Also, make sure that all of our streams have adequate natural vegetated buffers (trees, grass and vines). A natural area of 25 feet left next to our streams provides an area for the assimilation of nutrients and for the accretion of sediments. Twenty-five feet is the minimum buffer required by the Erosion and Sedimentation Act. ARK thinks it should 50 feet because natural vegetated stream buffers are our best and final defense at stopping pollution before it gets into our streams.

It is virtually impossible to stop nutrients produced from wildlife from entering streams and even if we could I don't think we would want to. Our forests, swampy marshes, and grasslands provide a habitat for thousands of animals and a healthy ecosystem for both. As sportsmen and women these are cherished areas because when they are healthy we have plenty of fish and wildlife.

It is the mass concentration of nutrients produced by humans from densely populated cities and farms that need control through sensible inexpensive methods such as stream buffers and a reduction in fertilizer use.

We have the technology and the means to control most of our pollutants before they reach a water body. A modern, up dated, well functioning sewerage treatment facility can remove most of the nutrients before they are discharged into our waterways. Enforced stream buffers and erosion control devices on construction sites also help.

Let's leave a healthy legacy for our descendants. We don't want our grandchildren to say; "My great grandfather used to catch lots of fish in the river but I don't fish, there isn't enough water in our river and the water is polluted".

Please join me in reporting polluters to the regulatory authorities. A list of contact numbers is available on ARK's website. The future of our creeks and rivers depend on how we care for them today.

Note: My flight took place on January 24th, 2005 in the area over Highway 96 below Warner Robins as far up as Lake Jackson. The flight, made possible by a local Macon citizen, was for the protection of the Ocmulgee River. The ARK thanks him for his generosity and for the opportunity to gain knowledge about our river that would have been impossible to acquire from the ground.