ROCKYMARSH RUN WATERSHED

BASELINE ASSESSMENT
AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
2010

Rockymarsh Run Targeted Watershed Project












Meeting Regional Goals through Local Benefits (WV) (2007-0082-007)

PARTNERS
CountyCommissionofJeffersonCounty,WV
JeffersonCountyPublicServiceDistrict
TroutUnlimited
USGSWestVirginiaWaterScienceCenter
WestVirginiaUniversity
WestVirginiaWaterResearchInstitute
RegionIXRegionalPlanningandDevelopmentCouncil

11February2011

CONTRIBUTORS

MichaelSchwartz
LukeKeener
KataRishel
JoeHankins
KarenSchroyer
ChristineMarshall
SusanGlenn
SusanClements
FredFord
ScottTsukuda
ToddPetty
MariyaSchilz

1
WatershedDescription
PhysicalCharacter
BasinCharacteristics
RockymarshRunwatershedstraddlesthenorthernboundarybetweenBerkeleyandJefferson
countiesofWestVirginia(MapA1).ThewatershedistributarytothePotomacRiver,which
flowsintotheChesapeakeBay.The16.9squaremilesurfacedrainagebasinofRockymarsh
Runislongandnarrow,about9mileslongand2mileswide,generallyfollowingthegeologic
strikeoftheareafromSSWtoNNE.Thegradientofthebasinisquitelow.Overthe16milesof
flowingwaterinthewatershed,thechangeinelevationisamere215feet.Thestreamdrops
about50feetintheupper3milesoftheheadwaters,thenonceitreachesBillmyerMillRoadit
dropsabout25feetpermileuntilitreachesScrabble.AtBillmyerMillRoadthestreamdrops
12feetrightafteritcrossesundertheroad.OnceRockymarshRunreachesScrabbleitdrops60
feetforthelastmilebeforeitdischargesintothePotomacRiver.Thissteepdroptowardsthe
mouthofthewatershedresultsinanaquatichabitatthatismuchrockierwithfastflowing
waterasopposedtotheslowmovingwaterswithsiltybottomstypifyingtheremainderofthe
watershed.
Climate
Theclimateoftheareaistemperatewithanaverageannualtemperatureof54andagrowing
seasonthatrunssixmonthsfrommidAprilthroughmidOctober.Averageannual
precipitationfortheareais39.4inchesandpotentialannualevapotranspirationis28.9inches
leavingasurplusforrunoffandrechargeof10.5inches.

LocalclimatedataisrecordedcontinuouslyatWestVirginiaUniversitysKearneysville
AgriculturalExperimentstationandcollectionofprecipitationandsoiltemperaturedatawas
initiatedattheFreshwaterInstituteonTurnerRoadinthesummerof2008.
Geology
Theentirewatershedischaracterizedbykarsttopographywithitsattendantsinkholes,springs,
closeddepressions,disappearingstreams,andcomplexundergrounddrainagesystems(MapA
2).Karstisalandscapethatisaresultoftheinterplayofwaterwithcarbonatebasedrocks
(suchaslimestoneanddolomite)wheretherocksaredissolvedbywaterovermillionsofyears.
Thisprocessresultsinaveryporouslandscapedistinguishedbyapredominantlysubsurface
drainagesystemwheregroundwatervelocitiesandvolumesapproachthoseofsurfacestreams.
Becauserechargewaterentersthegrounddirectlythroughopenfractures,faults,andbedding
planesaswellasthroughkarstfeaturessuchassinkholesandcloseddepressions,thesystemis
veryvulnerabletocontaminationsincethiswaterreceiveslittletonofiltrationbysoil.

2
Effectively,alargepartofthehydrologyofthewatershedoperatesunderground.Thetypeof
karstinRockymarshRunisepikarst,orimmaturekarst.Epikarstischaracterizedbypinnacles
ofrockformationslyingontheirsidesthatmayormaynotbeexposed,coveredbyboth
shallowanddeepsoils.Maturekarstisthebarerockleftafterallthesoilcoveringthatrockis
wornaway.Thus,geologyinformstheverynatureofRockymarshRunasthekarstaquifer
systemprovidestheprimarysourceofwatertoitsstreams.

ThewatershediscompletelyunderlainbythreecarbonateformationsConococheague,
Stonehenge,andRockdaleRun.Themajorityofthewatershediscomprisedofthe
Conococheagueformationintheeasterntwothirdsofthewatershedwithmostofthe
remainderintheStonehengeformation.TheRockdaleRunformationunderliesonlyasmall
portionofthewatershedintheareawestofGoslingMarshRoadalongSwanPondRoad.
Thesesedimentarycarbonaterockswereformedfromsedimentsdepositedintheshallowsea
thatoncecoveredtheareaovera200millionyearperiodstartingabout540millionyearsago.
Infact,thereisarelictmarinespeciesfromthaterastillfoundintheareatheMadisonCave
Isopod,thatnowlivesinthegroundwater,havingadaptedtolivinginfreshwater.Theoldest
formationistheConococheaguefollowedbytheStonehenge,withtheyoungestbeingthe
RockdaleRunformation.PriortothetectonicactivityoftheAlleghenianOrogeny,these
formationslayontopofeachother,everywhereyoufindConococheaguelimestoneitwasonce
coveredbyStonehengewhichwasoncecoveredbyRockdaleRun.Thecurrentlandscapeof
theareawasformedbyerosionoftheserocksthatwerefaultedandfoldedduringthelast
periodoftectonicactivitytheAlleghenianOrogeny,whenAfricacollidedwithNorthAmerica.
Geologicallyspeaking,thewatershedlieswithintheeasternsideoftheMassanutten
SynclinoriumwithintheGreatValleyoftheValleyandRidgegeomorphicprovince.

TheAlleghenianOrogenyresultedinacomplexlyfracturedlandscapeoffaultsandfolds,asis
foundinthewatershed.Therearethreetypesoffaultsfoundinthewatershed:normal,strike
slip,andthrust.Thrustfaultsaretheprimarydriverforthelandscapeofthewatershedasthey
representplaceswheregeologicformationswerethrustupwards.Strikeslipfaultsarewherea
formationwasshiftedfromsidetoside.Normalfaultsarewheretherockslippeddownwards.
OnemajorstrikeslipfaultcutsacrossbothforksofRockymarshRun,parallelingWinebrenners
Road,andcrossingRt.45.

TherearethreethrustfaultzonesrunningalongthegeologicstrikeofN20E,thatdividethe
watershedintofourgeologicunits.Theeasternmostthrustfaultformsthewesternedgeofa
beltmostlycomprisedConococheaguelimestone.Thisthrustfaultappearstobethesourceof
thelargestspringsinthewatershedwherethisfaultcrossesthestreamchannel.Thenext
thrustfaulttothewestformsanotherzoneofmostlyConococheaguelimestonewithsome
Stonehengelimestonetotheeast.Thewesternmostthrustfaultformsaboundarybetween
theRockdaleRunformationtothewestandanalmostpuresectionofStonehengewithsome
outcropsofConococheagueinthesouthernsection.

Therearenumerousfoldsintheformofanticlinesandsynclinesaswellasoverturnedanticlines
andsynclines.Thelandscapewastrulycrushed,flipped,folded,andflippedrepeatedly.Most
ofthefoldsinthewatershedoccurintheeasternmostConococheagueformation.This

3
structurallyandhydraulicallycomplexsystemofsteeplydippingrockformationsandthe
convolutedfoldingandfaultingofanticlinesandsynclinesgenerallyrunningnorthandsouth
limitgroundwaterflowtotheeastandwestexceptwherecrossstrikefaultsandfractures
occur.

AnothergeologicfeatureprominentinthegeologyofRockymarshRunarefracturetraces.
Thesearevisibletracesofpasttectonicactivityonthelandscapethatindicatefracturezones
underground.Therearetwotypes:StrikeandCrossStrike.Strikefracturetracesgenerally
followthegeologicstrikeoftheareawhileCrossStrikefracturetracesaregenerally
perpendiculartogeologicstrike.Crossstrikefracturetracesareparticularlyinfluentialin
regardstogroundwaterflowastheyallowgroundwatertoflowthroughbeddingplanes.
Certainareasofthewatershedwherefracturetraceshavebeennotedarealsoknowntobe
areasofhighwatertables,andwheregroundwatersometimesflowsoutofthegroundduring
extremewetperiods.Springsareoftenfoundincloseproximitytofracturetracesaswell.

Awarenessofgeologyinkarstlandscapeshelpsfromanunderstandingofthecomplexnature
ofkarsthydrology.Knowingthelocationsofthrustfaults,crossstrikefaults,fracturetraces,
andoverturnedfoldscanprovidecluestothelocationofundergroundconduitsandcaverns
(areasofhighgroundwaterflow).Forinstance,overturnedfoldscontainnumerousstructural
complexitiesandfracturesthatprovideavenuesforsubstantialflowofgroundwater.
Soils
Character
Soilsareclassifiedbyseriesandmapunits.Asoilseriesisagroupofsoilsgroupedtogether
becauseoftheirsimilarparentmaterial,soilchemistry,andphysicalproperties.This
classificationofsoilsresultsinserieswhichperformsimilarlyforthepurposesoflanduse.Map
unitscanbecomplexesofdifferentsoilseriesorjustdifferentvariationsofthesameseries,
oftenbrokendownbyslopeortexture.Amapunitisusedinasoilsurveytoindicatethe
propertiesofasoilorsoilassociationataparticularlocation.

Distributionofsoiltypesacrossalandscapeisstronglydrivenbyparentmateriale.g.limestone
andlandscapeposition,e.g.uplandandlowland.Almostallofthesoilsinthewatershedare
derivedfromlimestoneexcepttheFairplayandLappansseries.Bothoftheseseriesarederived
frommarl.Thus,landscapepositionistheprimarydriverofsoildistributioninthewatershed.
Soilsinthehighestlandscapepositionsoftencontainexposedrockoutcrops,andaretypically
thinnerthanthoselowerinthelandscape.Rockoutcropcomplexescoverabout6squaremiles
ofthewatershed,aboutathirdofthetotalwatershedarea.Drainagetypicallyimprovesasyou
moveupthelandscapefromthelowlands.

ThemostcommonsoilseriesinthewatershedareHagerstown,Vertrees,Poplimento,
Funkstown,Lappans,Toms,Fairplay,andDuffield(MapA3).Therearetwootherfairly
commonsoilseries,RyderandOpequon,thatoccurincomplexeswithPoplimentoand
Hagerstown.TheHagerstownseriescoversalmosthalfofthewatershed,followedbyVertrees
andPoplimento,whichalltogethercover75%ofthewatershed.Thesedominantsoiltypesare

4
allfoundinuplandsituations.ThemostcommonlowlandsoiltypesareLappans,Toms,and
Fairplay.Alloftheuplandsoilsarewelldrained,exceptforFunkstown,whichismoderately
welldrained.Ofthelowlandsoils,onlyLappansiswelldrained,however,Lappanshasahigh
watertableandtendstohavewaterpondingduringthewetseason,causingittoreceivea
hydricrating,asdoLappans,Toms,andFunkstown.Threeothersoilseriesthatarefoundin
onlysmallareasofthewatershedarealsohydric:Combs,Dunning,andHolly.Hydricsoilsare
soilsformedunderconditionsofsaturation,flooding,orpondinglongenoughtodevelop
anaerobicconditionsintheirupperlayers.

Limitations
Therockynatureandflatkarsttopographyofthewatershedresultinsoillimitationsthat
primarilyrelatetogroundwatervulnerability.Oneoftheprimesoillimitationsinthewatershed
isfortheuseofsoilstodisposeofsepticsystemeffluent.Septicsystemsrelyonsoilforthe
treatmentanddrainageofthewastewaterthatleavesthetank,thusthecapabilityofthesoilis
veryimportantintermsofmaintainingenvironmentalqualityandpublichealth.Furthermore,
thesoiltreatsallofthewastewaterinRockymarshRunwatershed.Aspartofthesoilsurvey
processallsoilsareratedaccordingtotheirpotentialuses,suchasthedisposalofwastewater
fromsepticsystems.Theratingsforsepticsystemsarebasedonthepropertiesofthesoilthat
affectpublichealth,constructionandmaintenanceofthesystem,andabsorptionofthe
effluentfromtheseptictank.Almostathirdoftheareaofthewatershedisclassifiedasvery
limited,andtwothirdsasmoderatelylimited.Asoilthatisclassifiedasmoderately
limitedforsepticsystemsmeansthatthesoilhasfeaturesthataremoderatelyfavorablefor
usesepticsystemsandthelimitationsofthesoilcanbeovercomeorminimizedthroughspecial
planningordesign.Thislimitationalsoindicatesthatfairperformanceandmoderate
maintenancecanbeexpected.Theclassificationofverylimitedmeansthatthesoilhasone
ormorefeaturesthatrenderitunfavorableforuseasasepticsystem.Thelimitationsofthese
soilscannotgenerallybesurmountedwithoutmajorsoilmodification,specialdesign,orcostly
installationprocedures.Systemsinstalledinthesesoilscanexpecthighmaintenanceandpoor
performance.Themostcommonseverelimitationsareslowpercolation,depthtobedrock,
rockoutcrops,highwatertable,andflooding.

Theseverysamesoillimitationsalsoaffecthowotherlandusessuchasdevelopmentand
agricultureaffectthewatershedasthesoilsallprovidelimitedfiltrationofthepollutants
producedbytheselandusesbeforetheyreachsurfaceorgroundwater.Theothersignificant
soillimitationinthewatershedisthatofhydricsoils.Hydricsoilsinthelowlandsof
RockymarshRunmakeup16%ofthewatershedarea.Thesesoilsarebestsuitedfortheir
originaluseaswetlands.Theircloseproximitytosurfaceandgroundwaterrendersthemvery
susceptibletopollution.
Ecology
Thelimestonegeologyofthewatershedformsthefoundationforitscharacteristicecosystems
throughitsaffectontheplantandanimalcommunitiesthatformthebasisofthese
ecosystems.ThisgeologygeneratesthesoilshighinpH,withabundantcalciumandfertility,

5
thecoldwatersrichwithmarl,andthecavernsoftheundergroundworld.Manyoftheplants
andanimalsinRockymarshareadaptedtotheseuniqueconditions.

AquaticEcology
TheaquaticecosystemofRockymarshRunischaracterizedbycoldwatertemperaturesand
marl.Thecoldwatertemperaturesareaproductofthehighproportionofgroundwater
dischargedintoRockymarshRun,primarilyfromsprings.Whenacidicrainwaterdissolves
limestoneitproducescarbondioxideasoneofthebyproductsoftheprocess.While
underground,thehighcarbondioxidelevelskeepthewateracidicandthelimestone,or
calciumcarbonate,dissolved.Oncethegroundwaterisdischargedtothesurface,most
commonlythroughaspring,variousphysicalandbiologicalprocessesdecreasetheamountof
carbondioxideinthewater,causingthedissolvedcalciumcarbonatetoprecipitatebackinto
solidform.Oncethecalciumcarbonateprecipitates,itiscalledmarl.Ittypicallytakesamileor
sodownstreamfromaspringforthecarbondioxidetoreachlowenoughlevelsformarlto
begintoform.Thesestretchesofstreamappearchalkyormilkyformallofthemarl.The
stretchesupstreamfromtheseareasareveryclear.

Thelargeamountsofmarlcoveringthestreambottomlimitstheamountofaquaticlifethat
RockymarshRuncanmaintain.Whilesomefishspeciesthatliveinwarmwaterlivein
Rockymarshrun,mostofthefishspeciesthatlivethereprefercoldwater.Theareaaround
springsincludesanabundanceofplants,suchaswatercress,thatlovethecalciumrichwaters
emergingfromthesesprings.

GroundwaterEcology
ThekarstificationofRockymarshslimestonebedrockhascreatedfloodedunderground
cavernsthatarehometouniquecommunitiesofsubterraneananimals.Theseanimals,known
asstygobites,aredependentoninputsoffoodfromthesurfaceofthelandandaresensitiveto
groundwaterpollution.Changesingroundwaterrechargepatternscausedbylanddisturbance
canalsodeprivethemoftheirmostimportantneedwater(aswellasfood).Thus,these
animalsarethelocalsentinelsofgroundwaterquality.Becauseoftheinherentlackofaccessto
thesecommunities,notmuchisknownaboutthetypesandhabitsofanimalsthatlive
underground.WhatisknownisthateasternWestVirginiaisabiodiversityhotspotforthese
rareandunusualanimals.Becausesubterraneanspeciessufferfromtheattitudeoutofsight,
outofmindtheyareoftenneglectedindecisionsconcerningconservationandland
management.TheextremelylimiteddistributionofthesespeciesintheU.S.hascausedthem
tobelistedasspeciesingreatestneedofconservationinWestVirginia.Oneofthesespecies,
theMadisonCaveIsopod,isfederallylistedasthreatened.TheMadisonCaveIsopodisnot
currentlyknowntoliveinthewatershed,buthasbeenfoundnearby.Becauseoflimitedaccess
totheirhabitat,itisverydifficulttodeterminethepresenceorabsenceofthesespecies.There
aresevenspeciesofstygobitesthathavebeenfoundinBerkeleyandJeffersoncounties.

TerrestrialEcology
PriortoEuropeansettlement,thewatershedwasdominatedbyuplandforest,withalluvial
forestandmarshesoccurringalongthewaterways.Theclimaxuplandforestcommunityfor
thewatershedistheRidgeandValleyLimestoneOakHickoryForest.Ascanbenotedfromthe

6
name,thisforestisanassemblageoftreescharacteristictothecarbonaterocksubstratesand
calcareoussoilsoftheValleyandRidgeprovince.Whiletherearematurestandsofthisforest
inthewatershed,itisunlikelythatanyvirginstandsremain.Fewhighqualityoccurrencesof
thiscommunityexistandmoststandshavebeendisturbedbyclearing,cutting,and/orgrazing.
Thefertilesoilsoccupiedbythisforesttypeareparticularlypronetoinvasionbyexoticplants,
whosepresencedegradesthequalityofthestand.

Thelandscapeischaracterizedbyahistoricdisturbanceregimeofclearingforagricultureand
residentialdevelopment.Thisdisturbanceregimehascreatedavenuesforinvasionbya
multitudeofexoticplantssuchasTreeofHeaven,BushHoneysuckles,AutumnOlive,
MultifloraRose,Wineberry,GarlicMustard,JapaneseStiltgrass,andJapaneseHoneysuckle.
Earlysuccessionalforestsofcedar,blacklocust,andboxelderarefoundaswellthroughoutthe
watershedinareasthatwerepreviouslyclearedandthenabandoned.Incertainareasofthe
watershedthereisnaturalforestregenerationcurrentlyoccurringintheriparianzone.

PlantCommunityTypes
RidgeandValleyLimestoneOakHickoryForest
Piedmont/MountainAlluvialForest
ShenandoahValleyWetPrairie
SuccessionalBlackLocustWoodland
SuccessionalBoxElderWoodland
EasternRedCedarWoodland

DominantWoodyPlants
LargeTreesVariousOak,Maple,Hickory,andAshspecies,Sycamore,Hackberry,
TulipPoplar,BlackWalnut,EasternRedCedar

SmallTreesandShrubsRedbud,SmoothBlackhaw,Dogwood,PawPaw,and
Spicebush

WetlandEcology
ThedistinctcharacterofthewatershediscapturedinitsverynameRockymarsh.The
extensivemarshesofRockymarsh,knownlocallyasmarlwetlandsorclassifiedasShenandoah
ValleyWetPrairies,aredistinguishedbythepresenceofmarlloamsoilsandtheuniqueplant
communitiesassociatedwiththesesoils.Itisthoughtthatthesewetlandsonceextendedover
almost700acresalongthefloodplain.Today,only92acresofthesewetlandsremain.Someof
theselostwetlandswereminedformarlwhilemostwereeitherfilledin,convertedtocropland,
orusedforpasture.Wetlandsthathavebeenusedforagriculturemightstillhavethepotential
toreverttoanaturalwetland.Youcanspottheseformerwetlandsbytheremnantwetland
plantsthatarestillgrowingthere.

Marlisadepositofcalciumcarbonatemixedwithsmallamountsofclayandorganicmatter.
MarldepositsintheGreatValleyaretypicallyfoundinwetlandsorwithinshallowbasinsthat
originallycontainedwetlands.Thesewetlandscontainanumberofrarespeciesuniquely
adaptedtothecalciumrichsoil.Thereare12speciesofplantsinWestVirginiafoundonlyin

7
marlwetlands.BerkeleyandJeffersoncountiescontaintheonlymarlwetlandsfoundinWest
Virginia.WhiletherearesomemarldepositsinthewatershedupstreamfromRt.45the
majorityofthemarelocateddownstreamfromRt.45.
PlantscommonlyfoundinthesewetlandsareBulrushes,Sedges,JoePyeWeed,andNewYork
Ironweed.Alloftherarespeciesinthewatershedarefoundinwetlandsordependonthemfor
partoftheirlifecycle.

GreenInfrastructure
AgreeninfrastructureassessmentofJeffersonCountywasperformedin2006.Thepurposeof
theassessmentwastoidentifythenaturalresourceareasrequiredforsustainability,andto
connecttheseareastogetherintoagreeninfrastructurenetwork.Theresultingnetworkis
usedtoinformlandusedecisionsandtoidentifyopportunitiesforconservation,enhancement,
andrestorationofnaturalresources.Theassessmentidentifiedcoreforestandriparianareas
alongwithcorridorsthatconnecttheseareasintoacohesivenetwork.Coreforestswerethose
atleast100acresinsize,containingatleast10acresofinteriorforestandmeetingoneofthe
followingcriteria:containedmatureforest;containedrareorthreatenedspecies;overlaida
sourcewaterprotectionarea;oroverlaidacoregroundwaterrechargearea.Coreaquaticareas
werecreatedbyaddinga100ftbuffertoallstreams,floodplains,andwetlands.Corridors600
ftwideweremappedusingacrossnondevelopedlandusestoconnectthesecorestogether.

Coreforestinthewatershedcovers1,746acresor71%oftheforestintheentirewatershed.
Coreaquaticareascover1,019acreswhilecorridorsconnectingthesecoreforestandaquatic
areascoveranadditional1,247acrescreatingtotalgreeninfrastructureareaof4,012acres.

RareandThreatenedSpecies
Alloftherarespeciesfoundinthewatershedeitherliveinwetlandsoraredependentonthem
atsomeperiodintheirlifecycle.Thereisonereptile,theWoodTurtle,andsixplants:Water
Horsetail,FloatingPennywort,BalticRush,WaterSmartweed,HardStemmedBulrush,and
MarshSkullcap.Alloftheplantsarefoundinwetlands.TheWoodTurtlewintersinstreams,
breedsinwetlands,andspendstherestoftheyearinwetlandoruplandhabitat.Otherrare
speciesbesidesthesehavebeenfoundinsimilarhabitatsinJeffersonCountyandmaylivein
thewatershedbutjusthaventbeendiscoveredyet.Characteristicsoftherarespecies
occurringinthewatershedcanbefoundinAppendixB.

Whiletherearecurrentlynoknownfederallylistedthreatenedorendangeredspeciesinthe
watershed,theMadisonCaveIsopod,afederallythreatenedspecies,hasbeenfoundnearbyin
JeffersonCountyandcouldliveinthewatershed,giventhenatureofpotentialhabitat.
Hydrology
DrainageNetwork
Theporousnatureofkarstlandscapescausesmostrainfalltopercolatedirectlyintotheground
waterratherthanrunoffacrossthesurfaceandintoastream.Thus,thesurfacedrainage
networkofakarstwatershedisquiteminimalcomparedtothatofanonkarstwatershed;

8
indeed,theupperthirdofthewatershedhasalmostnosurfacedrainagefeaturesandoverhalf
ofthewatershedrarelyhasflowingwater.Thereareabout9milesofperenniallyflowing
reachesandabout7milesofintermittentlyflowingreaches.Duringextremelywetyearssome
intermittentreachesmayflowyearround.

ThedrainagenetworkofRockymarshRuniscomprisedofamainstemalongwithtwo
perenniallyflowingtributariestothemainstemtheEastandWestForks.TheWestForkdoes
nothaveanymajortributaries,whiletheEastForkhastwointermittentlyflowingtributaries
flowinginfromtheeast.Themainstemhasoneperenniallyflowingtributaryflowinginfrom
theeastDarkHollowBranch.Allofthemajortributariestothemainstemandtheforksare
springfed.JustbelowtheconfluenceofDarkHollowBranchwiththemainstem,inanarea
knownasSpringdale,thereareanumberofsmallspringfedtributariesflowingintothe
mainstemfromtheeastandwest.Thereisonesinkingstreamseparatedfromtherestofthe
drainagenetworklocatedwestofRt.480andsouthofVanClevesvilleRd.andoriginatinginthe
WhiteRockFarmsubdivision.Thisstreamflowsonlyduringverywetperiodsandassessment
ofgroundwatermapsindicatesthatafterreenteringthegroundthewatermayflowtowards
OpequonCreektothewest.
Flow
Factorsthataffecttheamountofrainfallconvertedtosurfacerunoffincludeperviousness,soil
moisture,andthestructureofundergroundbedrock.Thesoilsandkarsttopographyofthe
watershedcreateaverypermeablelandscape,suchthattheonlytimethereisanysignificant
surfacerunoffiswhenthesoilisverymoist.

StreamflowsinRockymarshRunappeartobedominatedbygroundwaterprocessesas
evidencedbyprecipitationandstreamflowrelationships.TheU.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS)
installedastreamgage(http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/uv/?site_no=01618100)atScrabble
inearly2008.Observationofthehydrographdataseemstoindicatethatsingleeventstorms
andassociatedsurfacerunoffhaveaminorimpactrelativetolongertermprecipitation
amounts.Theminorcontributionofsurfacerunofftostreamflowresultsinthestreamrarely
everexceedingitsbanks.Withthedevelopmentofastagedischargerelationshipand
installationofagroundwaterandprecipitationmonitoringstationinearly2009,anassessment
oftherelationshipbetweenprecipitation,runoff,andrechargerelationshipscannowbe
established.ThegroundwaterandprecipitationstationislocatedatTheConservationFunds
FreshwaterInstituteanddatacanbeaccessedviatheinternetat
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/uv/?site_no=392757077501001.

ThewatershedofRockymarshRunreceivesasurplusofabout10.5inchesofrainfallperyear.
AsKozar(1991)estimatesthat9inchesofthatrainfallentersthegroundwaterasrecharge,that
leaves1.5inchesforthesurfacerunoffcomponent.Expressedasstreamflow,these10.5inches
ofwaterequal2.6billiongallonsperyeardischargedintothePotomacRiver.Flowschange
fromyeartoyearandseasontoseasoninresponsetoannualandseasonalrainfallpatterns.A
typicalwateryear(OctoberSeptember)startswiththeRunflowingatitslowestlevel
(baseflow)withflowsgraduallyincreasinguntiltheyreachapeakinmidSpring.Oncethe

9
growingseasonstarts,waterlossfromplantsandevaporationcausewaterlevelstobegin
droppinguntiltheyreachlowflowsinSeptembertostartthecyclealloveragain.The
descendinglimboftheflowcurveisgenerallysteeperthantherisinglimb.Duringthemonths
ofJunethroughAugustwaterlossesfromplantgrowthexceedtheamountofprecipitation
typicallyreceived.InSeptemberthelossesandgainsjustaboutcanceleachotherout.Peak
rechargeoccursfromNovemberthroughMarch.

ThemajorityofthegroundwaterdischargedintoRockymarshRunemergesthroughsprings.
Therearefivemajorspringsinthewatershedwithyearroundflowsgreaterthan100gallons
perminute(gpm).Threeofthesehaveflowsgreaterthan1,000gpm.TheseareRockSpring,
SpringHillSpring,andSouthwoodSpring.SouthwoodSpringformsthesourceoftheWest
ForkwhileRockSpringformsthesourceofperennialflowontheEastFork.Thereareatleast
seventeenotherspringsinthewatershedrangingfromsmallyearroundflows,seasonalflows,
andspringsthatonlyflowduringextremewetweather.However,somespringsthatflowonly
seasonallycanproduceflowsgreaterthan1,000gpm.Therearealsoareas(knownasturloughs
orestavelles)ofthewatershedthatmaydischargelargeamountsofgroundwaterinadiffuse
mannerduringwetperiods,typicallyinlatewinter/earlyspring.Oneofthemorewellknown
turloughsisalongthewestsideofGoslingMarshRoad,northofRt.45.Duringthespringof
2003largeamountsofwaterflowedoutofthisareaforseveralmonths,oftencoveringtheroad
withseveralinchesofwater.Mostofthemajorspringsareincloseproximitytothrustfaults,
overturnedanticlines/synclines,orcrossstrikefracturetraces.Twoofthelargestspringsfall
alongtheeasternmostthrustfaultinthewatershed.

Withoutacomprehensiveassessmentofgroundwaterinputsduringperiodsofbaseflowitis
difficulttosayhowmuchgroundwaterinputislostbackundergroundtoseepageonceitis
dischargedtothesurface.BasedontheUSGSseepageassessmentinthefallof2007itappears
thatlargeamountsofgroundwaterarelostdownstreamfromRockSpringandinthestretch
betweenBillmyerMillandtheconfluenceofRockymarshRunwithDarkHollowBranch
(AppendixCandMapA4).Itisalsodifficulttosayhowmuchofthewaterlostthroughseepage
reemergesdownstream,ifatall.Watermaybelostfromthestreambedthroughseepagein
thesoilorthroughcracksinthebedrock.Waterthatislostmayreemergefartherdownstream
throughothercracksorviaspringsorseeps.

Whilebedrockstructuremakesitverydifficulttodeterminegroundwaterpathsthroughthe
area,itispossibletoinferrechargeareasusinggroundwaterelevations.UsingWilliam
Hobbas(U.S.GeologicalSurvey)mapsofgroundwaterelevationsinBerkeleyandJefferson
counties,thegroundwaterrechargesourceareaforRockymarshRunwasdelineated.The
primarygroundwatercatchmentrunsfrom,southofthesurfacewatershedboundarystarting
aroundShenandoahJunctionandtheAppalachianFruitResearchStation,tothePotomacRiver
upstreamfromthemouthofRockymarshRun(SSEtoNNW).Smallergroundwater
catchmentsflowfromthesouthwestcornerofthewatershedtowardsOpequonCreekand
fromthenortheastcornerofthewatershedtothePotomacRiverdownstreamfromthemouth
ofRockymarshRun.

10
History
TheearliestsettlersofthewatershedweretheNativeAmericans;infact,thereisonemajor
archaeologicalsiteinthewatershedaswellasanotherminorone,pointingtoearlyuseofthe
landscape.TheearliestNativeAmericansweretheMoundBuilders,orAdenapeople;
membersoftheHurontribeandIroquoisConfederacywerealsoknowntoinhabitthearea,
primarilyusingitinthewarmermonthsforhuntingandfishinggrounds.

Thefirstwhitesettlersenteredtheareaintheearly1700s,receivinglandgrantsfromLord
Fairfax,whoinheritedanenormoustractoflandencompassinglargeareasofVirginiaandWest
Virginia.TheoriginalnameofRockymarshRunwasVanMeterMarshRun,namedafterJohn
VanMeter,whoonceowned1,786acresinthevicinityofBillmyerMill.Besidesagriculture,
otherearlylivelihoodsincludedquarries,mills,andevenaclothingfactoryknowntohavebeen
locatedsomewherealongtheRunbetweenRt.45andBillmyerMillRd.Threemills(Billmyer
Mill,FormansMill,andJonesMill)wereknowntohavebeenlocatedalongtheRunatBillmyer
MillRd.andinScrabble.Attheturnofthe18
th
century,theLibertyGroveSchoolwasbuiltnear
theintersectionofGoslingMarshRd.andSwanPondRd.Anotherhistoricschool,Edgewood
School,islocatedrightattheedgeofthewatershedonEdgewoodSchoolRd.Therewasa
watercressfarmontheEastForkjustupstreamfromRt.45atonetimeaswell.Thewater
controlstructurefortheoperationcanstillbeseenfromtheroad.Stillstandingaretheruinsof
an18
th
centuryhouseandanumberof19
th
centuryhomesremaininhabited.Additionally,
thereremainanumberofstonespringhousesdatingfromthe18
th
centuryinthewatershed.
Therearethreeofficiallydesignatedhistoricdistrictswithinthewatershed(SwanPond,
Scrabble,andJonesMillRun)aswellastwohistoricsites,JonesMillandthepowerplantat
Dam4.
LandUse
Historical
PriortoEuropeansettlement,thewatershedwasprimarilyforestwithlargeriparianmarshes.
Earlysettlersgravitatedtothenumerousspringsbothasawatersourceforagricultureandas
anenergysourceformills.Bythemiddleofthe20
th
centurymostoftheforesthadbeen
clearedandtheprimarylandusewasagriculture.Inthelasthalfofthe2othcentury,landuse
begantoshiftasbothresidentialdevelopmentandforestacreagesincreasedtenfold.This
conversionofagriculturallandtoresidentiallanduseandforestresultedinalossofabouthalf
ofthefarmlandthatexistedinthemiddleofthe20
th
century(Tables1&2).Thefactorsinvolved
inthisreversionofagriculturallandtoforestwereworseningprofitmarginsforfarmersandthe
subsequentshiftofagriculturalproductiontootherareasofthecountryandoverseas.

Table1.LandUseca.1950
LandUse Acres Percent
Forest 271.3 2.5%
Residential 179.5 1.7%
Agriculture 10,386.2 95.8%

11
Contemporary
Unusedfarmlandcontinuestoreverttograsslandandforestinvariousstagesofmaturity,
althoughsomeparcelsrevertingtoforestarestillinuseaspasture.Oftheroughly300acresof
forestfoundinthewatershedbackinthe1950sabouttwothirdsofthatstillremains.Asthis
representsecologicallyimportantmatureforest,itshouldbeahighpriorityforconservation.
Whilethewatershedremainsyetrelativelyruralwithalmosthalfthelandusecomprisedof
agriculturaluses,theincorporatedareasofShepherdstownandMartinsburgareslowly
encroachingfromtheeastandwest.Otherthanagriculturaluses,22%ofthewatershedis
developedand23%isunderforestuse(Table2,MapA5).Intermsoflandcover,forestcovers
51%ofthewatershed(MapA6).Whilelanduseisadescriptionofhowpeopleusetheland,
inotherwordshowlandisusedsociallyandeconomically;landcoveriswhatactuallycovers
theland.Landcoversincludeasphalt,trees,grass,etc.

Table2.2007LandUse
LandUse Acres Percent
OpenWater/Wetland 119.9 1.1%
Forest 2,527.0 23.6%

Residential,Rural 1,030.4 9.6%
Residential,LowDensity 610.5 5.7%
Residential,MediumDensity 558.1 5.2%
Residential 2,199.0 20.5%

Pasture 1,056.1 9.9%
Grassland/Hay 3,132.0 29.2%
Cropland 969.0 9.0%
Orchard 472.5 4.4%
Agriculture 5,629.6 52.5%

Commercial 8.0 0.1%
Barren 128.0 1.2%
Transportation 225.5 2.1%

OwnershipTrends
Therearestillasubstantialnumberoflargetractsoffarmlandinthewatershed,butovertime,
thesetractsaregraduallytradinghandsfromapopulationofagingfarmerstodevelopersand
speculators.Therearecurrentlytwoconservationeasementstotaling147acresfoundinthe
watershedandthisnumberwilllikelygrowovertime.Bothoftheseparcelsarelocatedalong
RockymarshRun.
BuildoutAnalysis
Allundevelopedparcelsbothwithinandcontiguous(thosethatstraddletheboundary)tothe
watershedwereidentifiedandpotentiallotyieldscalculatedbasedonzoningandsubdivision

12
guidelineswhereappropriate.Theundevelopedareaofallthoseparcelsis10,300acres
containing2,435potentiallots.Withintheboundariesofthewatershedthereare7,803
undevelopedacrescontaining1,563potentiallots.ContiguoustoRockymarshRunthereare
2,692acresofundevelopedlandwithinthewatershedrepresenting479potentialnewhomes.
Slightlyover800acresoflandinthewatershedisundevelopablefloodplain,wetland,oropen
water.Theamountofundevelopedlandthathasbeensubdividedandtheamountof
subdividedlandthatisintheprocessofbeingdevelopedisportrayedinTable3.The
SubdividedLandcategoryisasubsetoftheUndevelopedLandcategoryandthe
SubdividedLandinProcessofBeingDevelopedcategoryisasubsetoftheSubdividedLand
category.

Therearecurrentlyalmost1,000homesinthewatershedon2,335acres,andthetotalareaof
thewatershedis10,837acres.Thus,theaveragelotsizeforexistinghomesisslightlylessthan
2.5acres.Lotsizesinthebuildoutanalysisaverageabout4acres.Thismatchesthetrendin
theareatowardslargerlotsubdivisions.Whenandifallthebuildablelandinthewatershedwill
bedevelopedisunknown.Ascalculated,thereare413lotsinundevelopedsubdivisionsinthe
watershed.Athistoricratesofdevelopment(Figure1),thispoolofavailablelandshouldbe
consumedby2050.Theentirepoolofundevelopedlandwillprobablynotbedevelopedbythe
endofthe21
st
centuryathistoricratesofdevelopment.

AssumptionsUsedinCalculation
Thepoolofundevelopedparcelswascreatedfromallundevelopedparcels
largerthan20acresandundevelopedparcelssmallerthan20acresthathave
beensubdivided.Whileparcelssmallerthan20acresmaybesubdividedand
developedinthefuture,theincreaseinhomeswouldlikelybeminimal.Mostof
thesesmallerparcelsalreadyhavehomesonthem.
InJeffersonCounty,lotyieldswerebasedonstandardlotsizeperzoning
designationunlessotherdatawasavailable.Anylotssmallerthan10acresin
theAgriculturaldistrictwereassignedalotyieldof1.InBerkeleyCounty,
whichlackszoning,lotyieldswerebasedonthelotyieldofonelargeBerkeley
Countysubdivisioninthewatershedunlessotherdatawasavailable.
Undevelopablelandwasnotsubtractedfromtheanalysisasthereareanumber
offactorsthataffectlotyieldandbecausetheaveragelotsizeresultingfrom
thecalculationwassignificantlyhigherthantheaveragelotsizeofexisting
development.
Amoredetailedanalysiswouldincludefactorssuchasresourceprotection
areasandopenspaceratiostodevelopmoreexactlotyields.Actuallotyields
dependonmultiplevariablesbeyondthescopeofthisanalysis.

13
Table3.ProportionofUndevelopedSubdividedLandandStatus(2008)

ContiguoustoWatershed WithinWatershed
Category Acres Lots Acres Lots
UndevelopedLand 10,300 2,435 7,803 1,563
SubdividedLand 1,306 816 1,032 413
SubdividedLandinProcessofBeingDeveloped 347 77 347 77

Figure1.HistoricalandProjectedHousingGrowth

Housi ng Gr owt h
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Year
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
r
u
c
t
u
r
e
s

Demographics
Thewatershed,locatedbetweenthegrowthcentersofShepherdstownandMartinsburg,
straddlestheborderbetweentheWestVirginiacountiesofBerkeleyandJefferson(MapA1).
ThewatershedislocatedwithintheBaltimoreWashingtonMetropolitanStatisticalAreaas
well.Populationinthewatershedhasgrownfromanagriculturallandscapeofseveralhundred
peopletoabout2,500personscurrently.Ifcurrentgrowthtrendscontinue,over5,000people
mayliveinthewatershedby2030(basedon2000censusdatapersonsperhousehold).

Therearetwounincorporatedcommunitiesandanumberofsubdivisionslocatedinthe
watershed.Thecommunities,Kearneysville(pop.250)andScrabble(pop.49)arelocatedat
thesouthandnorthendsofthewatershed,respectively(MapA1).Inhistorictimes,Scrabble

14
wasknownasHardScrabble.In2008,thereweretwentyfoursubdivisionsinthewatershed
rangingfromsmalltomidsized(MapA7).Mostofthesehavebeenfullybuiltout,butafew
arestillintheprocessofdevelopment.Almost1,000acresinthewatershedareslatedfor
developmentinthenearfuture.
Subdivisions
LeisureAcres WhisperKnoll
DarkHollow RockSpringAcres
Horner Heatherfield
MecklenburgHeights SpringsatShepherdstown
TheCrofts DeerfieldVillage
WillowSpringAcres Muzzey
PersimmonKnoll Hillcrest
WhiteRockFarm AmblersGlen
ShenandoahFarms FoxGlen
CozyRetreat
WatershedFunctions
Thebasiccomponentsofawatershedaresurfaceandgroundwater,wetlands,anduplands.
Thesecomponentsinteractwithoneanothertocreateasystemofhydrologicalandecological
functions.TheprimarydrivingforcesofwatershedfunctioninRockymarshRunaregeology
andclimate.RockymarshRunwatershedfunctionshydrologicallybycollectingwater
undergroundandslowlydischargingitthroughaflatlandscapethatretainswaterinmarshes
andotherlowlyingareasintheriparianzone.Thewatershedfunctionsecologicallyby
providinguniquewetland,coldwater,andsubterraneanhabitats.Todevelopawatershed
managementplan,anunderstandingofthecontextofthesefunctionsmustbedeterminedby
assessingthecurrentstateofthefunctions,developingaplantorestorethosethatare
impairedandsustainthosethatarenot.
HydrologicalFunctions
Awatershedfunctionshydrologicallybycollecting,storing,anddischargingwater.
Topography,climate,andambientmoistureconditionsregulatecollectionfunctions.A
watershedperformscollectionbychannelingprecipitationalongthesurfaceuntiliteither
percolatesintothegroundorreachesastream.RockymarshRunisveryefficientatcollecting
waterandtransmittingitunderground.Verylittleprecipitationentersthestreamassurface
runoff,reflectedintherelativelysimplesurfacedrainagenetworkofthewatershed.A
watershedwithmoresurfacerunoffhasmanymorebranchesinthetreethatrepresentsits
drainagenetwork.Collectionprocessesarealsoaffectedbyambientconditionspriortoa
precipitationevent;duringverywetperiods,theremaybesignificantlymoresurfacerunoff.

Thestoragefunctionofwatershedcanbestbethoughtofashowitretainswater.Itisbasically
anissueonhowlongaraindroptakestoreachthemouthofthewatershedafterithitsthe
ground.Watershedstorageisprovidedbysoil,streams,vegetation,wetlands,andaquifers.In

15
watershedswheresurfacerunoffpredominates,thereisnotasmuchstorageasinwatersheds
wheregroundwaterrechargedominates,likeRockymarshRun.Thekarsttopographyofthe
watershedallowslargeamountsofwatertobestoredforlongperiodsoftime.Somewater
maystayinthegroundforaslongas50yearsbeforeitisdischargedtothesurface.Thus,long
retentiontimesarethenaturalstateofthewatershed,providingslowandsteadyflowsofcold
water.Ambientmoistureconditionsalsoaffectstorage;duringverywetperiods,thestorage
systemisalreadyfull,somoreoftheprecipitationthatoccursduringthattimeleavesthe
watershedassurfacerunoff.

Thefinalhydrologicfunctionofawatershedisdischarge.Howmuchandhowfastwatergets
dischargedoutofthewatersheddependsonthecollectionandstoragefunctions.Awatershed
thathasacollectionsystemthatispredominantlyonthesurfaceandpossessinglittleaquifer
storagetendstohaveawiderrangeofflowsthanonesuchasRockymarshRun.Theefficient
collectionofwaterandstorageintheaquifercauseRockymarshRuntohavesteadyyearround
flowswithlittlevariation.ThecoldwaterofRockymarshRunisalsoamanifestationofthis
slowandsteadydischargepatternasthelongresidencetimeofthewaterundergroundallows
ittocooldowntoatemperatureofabout50F.Streamswithmoresurfacerunoffare
generallywarmerthatthosedominatedbygroundwaterflows.

AllthreeofthehydrologicfunctionsinRockymarshareaffectedbyambientmoisture
conditions.Asthesoilbecomesmoresaturatedwithwaterandgroundwaterlevelsrise
collection,storage,anddischargeareallaffected.Permeabilityincreasesintheunderground
karstofRockymarshRunasyougetclosertothesurface.Thus,duringdrierperiodsofthe
year,groundwatertravelsrelativelyslowly.However,asgroundwaterlevelsriseupintomore
permeablezones,itstartstomovefasterthroughthemorefracturedepikarstlayerthanitdoes
throughdeeper,lesspermeableformations.Highgroundwaterlevelsalsomakeitharderfor
watertopercolateunderground,causingwatertobackupinthesystemandresultingin
localizedareasofpondedwater.
EcologicalFunctions
Awatershedfunctionsecologicallybyprovidinghabitatandpathwaysforchemicaland
biologicalprocesses,anexpressionoftheinteractionbetweenwaterandlife.Theaquatic
habitatofRockymarshischaracterizedbycoldwaterwithanabundanceofcarbondioxidewith
littleerosiveenergy,resultinginaverymarshyandsiltyhabitat.Biogeochemicalcycling
processesoccurthroughthenaturalweatheringofrockandsoil,andthroughplantgrowth.Ina
naturalundisturbedwatershed,nutrientsarereleasedandabsorbedcontinuouslyinacycleof
equilibrium.Whenhumansenterthepicture,someoftheseprocessesaredisturbedthrough
landusepracticesandconfoundedbytheimportationofnutrientsintothewatershedinthe
formofhumanfoodsandfertilizers.Thislossofnaturalassimilativefunctionandtheimportof
nutrientsimpairtheabilityoftheecosystemtoprocessthem,asawatershedhasafinite
capacityforassimilatingnutrients.Oneoftheprimarytoolsinwatershedmanagementisusing
ecologicalprocessestomitigatethesedisturbancesorstresses.Onesuchtoolistheriparian
buffer,astripofnaturalvegetationalongthestream.

16
RockymarshRunanditsassociatedriparianbufferzone(thestripoflandthatrunsalongsidea
stream)arepartandparcelintermsofecology.Thestreamdefinestheriparianzoneandthe
riparianzonesustainsthestream.Theriparianzoneisacrucialinterfacebetweenthelandand
water.Thecriticalhabitatoftheriparianzoneisvitaltothehealthofavarietyofplants,
animals,andfish.Indeed,riparianzonesareoftentheonlyhabitatsuitableforsomeplants,
reptiles(suchastherareWoodTurtle),andamphibiansthatneedmoistconditionstoliveand
reproduce.Aforestedripariancorridorisparticularlyimportantforasmallstreamlike
RockymarshRun;inthatitprovideseverything(exceptwater)theRunneedstomaintaina
healthyaquaticcommunity.

Ahealthyriparianzoneinthisregionshouldbewooded.Treesprovidenumerousecological
servicessuchasshadethatkeepstheRuncool;streamhabitatintheformoflargedebris;food
fortheanimalsandinsectsthatBrookTroutandotherdenizensoftheRunpreyupon;rootsto
keepthestreambanksinplace;absorptionofnutrientsfromuplandrunoff;andabsorptionof
floodwaters.Continuousripariancorridorsarealsoimportanttravelroutesforbirdsand
animals.

Initsnatural,fullyfunctioningstate,RockymarshRunsustainedathrivingcoldwaterfisheryfor
ournativeBrookTrout.Whiletherewereothercontributingfactors(suchashistorical
overfishing)thatledtotheextirpationofBrookTrout,theremovaloftreesfromtheriparian
corridorhasprobablybeenthemajorcauseofthecurrentstateofdysfunction.Looking
forward,changesinlandusemaysignificantlyimpairthecollectionandfiltrationcapacityof
thewatershedaswellasitsabilitytocontinueproducingcold,clearwater.

Theprimaryhistoricalchangesthataffectedwatershedfunctionswerelandclearingfor
agriculture(vegetationloss)andagricultureproduction(topsoil/organicmatterloss).These
changescausedstreamtemperaturestoincrease,aquaticproductivitytodecline,andincreased
sedimentation.

Thewatershedanditsattendantfunctionscontinuetobeinflux.Naturalregenerationof
forestsandimprovedagriculturalpracticesareworkingforthebenefitofRockymarshRun
whiledevelopmentiscreatingalandscapelessperviousandcounteractingnaturalregeneration
offorests.Soildisturbanceduringtheconstructionanddevelopmentprocess,massgrading
andtopsoilremovalinparticular,cancausenegativeimpactsongroundwaterrecharge
processes.Alltold,thesechangesmayexacerbatecurrentwarmwatertemperaturesandlow
streamproductivity,aswellasreducecoldgroundwaterinflowsbycausingashifttohydrologic
functionsmoredominatedbysurfacerunoff.

17
CriticalFunctionsforSustainingDesignatedUses
ColdWaterAquaticCommunity
HydrologicalCollection
EcologicalHabitat

CleanDrinkingWater
HydrologicalCollection
EcologicalFiltration

Maintainingthenaturalgroundwaterdominatedhydrologicfunctionsofthewatershed
requirespreservationofnaturaldrainageandrechargepatterns,whilemaintainingthenatural
ecologicalfunctionsrequiresrestorationandmaintenanceofriparianforests.Retainingthe
naturalfiltrationaffordedbyuplandandriparianvegetationaswellasmaintainingexisting
groundwaterrechargepatternswillalsoservetosustainoursupplyofcleandrinkingwater.
Maintainingthesefunctionswillensureacontinuedflowofcold,cleanspringwateranda
healthyproductiveaquaticcommunity.Insummary,theprimarystressorstothesefunctions
areincreasesinimperviousness;lossofvegetation,habitatandwetlands;andexcessnutrients
andsediment.
WatershedManagementContext
ThefederalCleanWaterActSection303drequiresstatestodeveloplistsofwaterbodiesthat
donotmeetwaterqualitystandardsandsubmittheseliststotheU.S.Environmental
ProtectionAgency(USEPA)everytwoyears.Onceawaterbodyislistedasimpaired,thestate
mustthendevelopaplanorTotalMaximumDailyLoad(TMDL)forremovingthat
impairment.TheTMDLoutlinesthetotalmaximumdailyamountofpollutionthatcanbe
dischargedtoawaterbodyandyetstillallowittomeetitsdesignateduses.UnderSection
305boftheCleanWaterAct,statesarerequiredtodevelopaninventoryofthewaterqualityof
allwaterbodiesandsubmitareporttotheUSEPAeverytwoyearsdetailingthestatusor
conditionofthesewaterbodies.EverywaterbodyintheUnitedStateshasdesignateduses.
Thesearetheusesthatawaterbodymustbeabletoprovidetousersofthatwaterbody.One
suchdesignationisthatawaterbodybefishable/swimmable.Awaterbodythathasbeen
designatedasfishable/swimmablemusthavefishtofishforandbeswimmablewithout
swimmersgettingill.

TheCleanWaterActalsoestablishesanobligationonupstreamwaterbodiestopreventthem
fromimpairingdownstreamwaterbodies.InthecaseoftheChesapeakeBay,theBayisnot
meetingitsdesignatedusesbecauseofpollutionoccurringupstreamfromtheBay.Thus,
upstreamjurisdictions,includingWestVirginia,havebeenencouragedtoreducethenutrients
andsedimentsthatareimpairingtheChesapeakeBay.

AspartoftheChesapeakeBay2000Agreement,allofthejurisdictionsintheBaywatershed
decidedonequitablemethodforallocatingloadreductionresponsibilitiesamongthemselves.
ThisprocessresultedincaploadallocationsforeachjurisdictionintheChesapeakeBay

18
watershed.Acaploadisthemaximumloadofnitrogen,phosphorus,andsedimentthatthe
ChesapeakeBaycanassimilateandstillmeetitsdesignateduses.Tomeetitscapload
allocation,WestVirginiaandtheotherBayjurisdictionsdevelopedTributaryStrategies.As
partofWestVirginiasstrategy,thestatedevelopedawatershedprioritylistthatranksallof
thewatershedsinthePotomacbasinintermsofimportanceforpriorityimplementation
efforts.The10digitwatershedthatcontainsRockymarshRunwasrankedfourthonthatlist.

Hydrologicunitsareusedbystateandfederalauthoritiesasanestedclassificationsystem
basedonhydrologicorderfromthesmallestcatchmentmeasuredinacresuptobasins
coveringthousandsofsquaremiles.Whilethedefinitionofawatershedisallofthearea
upstreamfromapointthatdrainstothatpoint,hydrologicunitsdonotalwaysmeetthat
criteria,althoughtheirboundariesarealwaysbasedontopographicdrainage.Hydrologicunits
aremoreofamanagementunitthanaphysicalphenomenon.Hydrologicunitsarecodedin
pairsofnumbers,thusthereare2,4,6,8,10,12,and14digitwatersheds.Themoredigits
thereareinahydrologicunitcodethesmallerthewatershed.

TheRockymarshRunwatershed(12digitHydrologicUnit(HU)020700041201)islocatedinthe
EasternPanhandleofWestVirginia,withintheRockymarshRunPotomacRiverHydrologic
Unit0207000412,whichiswithintheConococheagueOpequonHydrologicUnit02070004,
whichiswithinthePotomacRiverwatershedHydrologicUnit0207,withinintheMidAtlantic
hydrologicregionHydrologicUnit02.ThePotomacRiverdrainsintotheChesapeakeBay,an
estuaryoftheAtlanticOcean.

Formanagementpurposesthe12digithydrologicunitofRockymarshRunhasbeensubdivided
furtherintothree14digitsubwatersheds;Mainstem,WestFork,andEastFork.Eachofthese
subwatershedshasbeensubdividedfurtherinto16digitcatchments.
DesignationsusedbytheWestVirginiaDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
StreamCodeWVP3
HydrologicUnit0207004.370
WVWatershedManagementFrameworkHydrologicGroupC

DevelopedasacoordinatedframeworkforTMDLdevelopmentandwatershedplanning,the
WestVirginiaWatershedManagementFrameworkisafiveyearcyclethatsetstheschedulefor
waterqualitymonitoring,TMDLdevelopment,NPDESpermitrenewals,andwatershed
prioritization.Allofthewatershedsinthestatearegroupedintofivehydrologicgroupsand
eachofthefivehydrologicgroupsisonarotatingfiveyearcycle.Listedasimpairedin2006,
RockymarshRunisslatedfordevelopmentofaTMDLin2021.Priorto2021,theWVDEPwill
performadetailedassessmentofthewatershedandthendevelopaTMDLforthewatershed.
DesignatedUsesandImpairments
AquaticLife
TroutWater

19
RockymarshRunsdesignateduseasaTroutWaterwaslistedasimpairedforitsentirelength
inthe2006WV303(d)listing.ThecriterionforlistingwasCNAbiologicalandthesourceof
theimpairmentwaslistedasunknown.CNAstandsforConditionsNotAllowableand
referstoconditionsnotallowableinstatewaters;inthisinstanceconditionsthatadverselyalter
thebiologicalcomponentofRockymarshRunsaquaticecosystem.Thejustificationforthe
impairmentistheStreamConditionIndex(SCI)datacollectedinRockymarshRunin2003by
theWVDEP.AtthattimetheSCIvaluewas41.3;allstreamswithvalueslessthan60.6are
consideredimpaired.DatacollectedbytheICPRBin2006reflectedaSCIthatwasstillbelow
thislimitbutsomewhathigherthanin2003.TheSCIisarelativevalueandrequiresareference
streaminordertobeinterpretedcorrectly.AccordingtoDaveMontali(WVDEP,per.comm.)
theSCIforRockymarshRunmayactuallybenormalforthelowgradientkarststreamthatitis.
AlowSCIscoremeansthatthestreamisimpairedinitsabilitytosupportaquaticlifebecauseit
lacksasufficientbaseforafoodchain.Thus,asRockymarshisastatelistedTroutWaterthis
lowSCIscoreindicatesthatitcannotsupportareproducingtroutpopulation.

WhileRockymarshRunmayormaynotbebiologicallyimpaireditcertainlyislimitedinits
abilitytosupportathrivingaquaticfoodchain.Improvingthatfoodchainisagoal.Increased
ripariantreecoverwillbothfilteroutnutrientsaswellprovidecarbonsourcesfor
denitrification.

HumanHealth
Water(Primary)ContactRecreation
DrinkingWaterSupply

AlthoughnotcurrentlylistedasimpairedforHumanHealthuses,recentwaterqualitydata
collectedinRockymarshRunindicatethepossibilityofimpairmentsincethemajorityof
samplescollectedin20072008exceedthemaximumdailyfecalcoliformlimitof400colonies
per100mL.DatacollectedbytheWVDEPin2003showfecalcoliformlevelsof200
colonies/100mL.
BaselineCondition
WaterQuality
VerylittlehistoricwaterqualitydataexistsforRockymarshRun,however,extensivewater
qualitymonitoringwasinitiatedin2007andwatershedwidebiologicaldatawascollected
duringthespringof2008.KnownhistoricsampleshavebeencollectedbytheWVDEP,ICPRB,
andUSGS(AppendixD&E).

Waterqualitydatawascollectedthroughoutthewatershedinthefallof2007through2010
(AppendixC)andhasbeencollectedmonthlyattheUSGSstreamgagesiteinScrabblesince
Mayof2008(MapA4).Asummaryofsamplingmethodsalongwithqualityassuranceand
qualitycontrolproceduresisincludedinAppendixI.Usingrechargeestimatesdevelopedby

20
Kozar(1991),RockymarshRundischargesabout2.56billiongallonsperyear.Flow
measurementsbasedonthestreamgageduringtheperiodOctober2007throughDecember
2010averaged2.98billiongallonsperyear.Asthestreamgageisstillintheprocessofbeing
calibrated,andthestreamgageflowmeasurementsrepresentarelativelyshorttimeperiodin
termsofclimaticfluctuations,usingKozarsdischargedataisprobablymorerealisticoflong
termflowlevels.Thus,usingKozarsdischargedataandwaterqualitydatacollectedatthe
streamgagesiteitisestimatedthattheaverageannualpollutantloadgeneratedby
RockymarshRunis60,661poundsofnitrogen,3,520poundsofphosphorus,and179tonsof
sediment.Theactualamountofnutrientsandsedimentdischargedcouldbequitehigheras
thesenumbersdonotreflectdischargesduringstormeventswhenmuchhigherlevelsof
nutrients(particularlyphosphorus)andsedimentmaybedischarged.

Table4.ContemporaryWaterQualityDataCollectedatScrabble(Site731_126)

Date Discharge
Water
Temp.
Fecal
Coliform
Total
Nitrogen
Total
Phosphorus
Total
Suspended
Solids

(cfs) (C) (col/100mL) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasP) (mg/L)

10/31/07 5.0 8.3 709 2.10 0.13 n/m
05/20/08 n/a 12.2 1040 2.21 0.18 53.0
06/24/08 14.0 14.6 600 2.40 0.06 25.0
07/30/08 12.0 16.1 174 2.80 2.56 32.0
08/26/08 9.0 15.1 182 2.94 0.04 28.0
09/23/08 8.0 14.8 228 2.65 0.08 9.0
10/28/09 6.6 9.2 112 2.55 0.03 0.1
11/25/08 6.0 7.2 180 3.25 0.06 4.0
12/30/08 7.2 6.8 145 2.14 0.06 1.0
02/03/09 7.7 6.5 142 2.58 0.05 5.0
02/26/09 6.9 7.5 136 3.84 0.03 0.5
03/26/09 5.3 8.9 210 3.50 0.03 0.5
04/29/09 9.4 14.9 130 2.52 0.06 22.0
05/21/09 11.0 14.2 420 2.63 0.06 2.0
06/25/09 7.6 18.7 480 2.46 0.04 23.0
08/06/09 4.9 18.4 410 3.35 0.17 26.0
08/27/09 3.6 19.7 1760 3.25 0.20 81.0
09/29/09 3.9 13.5 240 3.66 0.05 7.5
10/29/09 5.3 12.9 180 2.22 0.10 0.5
01/20/10 10.0 7.5 310 2.70 0.08 0.5
02/25/10 30.0 7.5 81 2.36 0.22 23.5
03/25/10 52.0 10.4 68 1.91 0.07 20.0

21
04/14/10 34.0 10.1 122 3.26 0.10 20.0
05/20/10 21.0 13.0 280 3.22 0.05 13.0
06/10/10 24.0 14.7 520 2.95 0.06 3.0
07/21/10 11.0 17.2 260 3.30 0.07 35.0
08/16/10 8.1 15.9 230 3.44 0.06 30.5
10/21/10 7.2 10.4 146 3.10 0.07 1.0
12/16/10 9.0 1.9 32 3.00 0.01 2.0
Average 12.1 12.0 229 2.8 0.2 16.7

Temperature
Baselinetemperaturemonitoringwasinitiatedat10sitesthroughoutthewatershedin
September2007(MapA4).ThethresholdforwatertemperaturenecessarytosustainBrook
Troutpopulationsis22C.Although2008averageairtemperatureswerehigherthannormal
inJune,themonthsoftheyearthatarenormallyhottest,JulyandAugust,bothexperienced
belownormalaverageairtemperatures.In2008,averagewatertemperaturesintheWestFork
werewellaboveanyotherareasinthewatershed.AheatwaveinearlyJune2008caused
watersintheWestForktoexceedthetemperaturethresholdforaboutaweek,andlaterthat
Junetheuppermosttemperaturestationloggedsevendaydailymaximumtemperatures
abovethethresholdthroughJuly.TheotherstationontheWestForkalsologged
temperaturesabovethethresholdforshortperiodsseveraltimesduringthisintervalandatone
pointremainedcontinuouslyabovethethresholdforaperiodlastingalmosttwoweeks.
Sevendaydailymaximumtemperaturesatallotherstationsremainedbelowthethresholdall
summer.Atthistime,itappearsthelowersectionofRockymarshRunfromitsconfluencewith
DarkHollowBranchdowntoScrabbleremainsthecoldeststretch(AppendixF).

Despitethelackofariparianbufferthroughoutportionsofthewatershed,thenumerous
springsthatdischargeintoRockymarshRunkeeptemperatureslowenoughtosupporta
reproducingbrooktroutpopulation.Withtheimplementationofproposedhabitatrestoration
actions(i.e.increasedriparianbuffer),instreamtemperatureswilllikelydecrease,further
reducingpotentialtemperatureinducedstresstoournativebrooktrout.
StreamBiology
Macroinvertebrates
Awatershedwideassessmentofbenthicmacroinvertebrateassemblageswasconductedin
spring2008at15sites(AppendixG).Basedonthemacroinvertebratetaxaidentifiedforeach
sample,WestVirginiaStreamConditionIndex(WVSCI)scoreswerecalculatedforeachsite.
Theindexrangesfrom0100,withlowerscoresassociatedwithpoorerecologicalconditions,as
anabundanceofmacroinvertebratesisnecessarytosupportadiverseandhealthyfish
population.WVSCIscoresforRockymarshRunrangedfrom19to41,withameanscoreof32.

22
TheaveragescoresfortheEastFork,WestFork,SouthMainstem,andNorthMainstemwere
26.3,36.7,34.5,and28.3,respectively.Anyscorelessthan60.6isconsideredbyWVDEPto
indicateastreamthatisimpairedinitsabilitytosupportaquaticlife.Othermacroinvertebrate
samplescollectedin2003and2006resultedinhigherscoresbutwerestillbelowthethreshold
ofimpairment(AppendixD).Bothoftheseprevioussampleswerefromonlyoneortwosites
andwerecollectedinlatesummer,renderingcomparisondifficult.

WhiletheselowWVSCIscoressuggestthatRockymarshRunishighlyimpairedandmaybe
incapableofsustainingahealthyecosystemorareproducingbrooktroutpopulation,the
distinctiveinstreamphysicalandchemicalconditionsassociatedwiththeuniquegeologyof
thewatershedlikelysupportanaturalmacroinvertebratecommunitymuchdifferentfromthe
referencecommunitiesusedduringtheconstructionofWVSCI.Thus,itisbelievedthatthe
macroinvertebratecommunityinRockymarshRunissufficienttosupportareproducingbrook
troutpopulation.Itisnotablethatapproximately20,000individualsbelongedtotheorders
Isopoda(sowbugs)andAmphipoda(scuds);(AppendixG),whichwouldseemtoofferan
adequatefoodsourceforresidentfishes.
Fishassemblages
FishspeciesfoundinRockymarshRunincludesculpins,darters,dace,suckers,shiners,sunfish,
largemouthbass,andcommoncarpamongothers(AppendixH).TheWestVirginiaDivisionof
NaturalResourcesregularlystocksthestreamwithnonnativeRainbowTrout.BrookTrout
werehistoricallynativetothewatershedbutwereextirpatedinthesecondhalfofthe20
th

centurythroughacombinationofoverfishingandpoorenvironmentalquality.
Habitat
Ahabitatassessmentconductedinfall2008(AppendixG)determinedthatinstreamconditions
inRockymarshRunvaryaccordingtogroundwater(spring)inputs.Streamstretches
dominatedbygroundwaterinputs(downstreamfromsprings)withtheirhighlevelsofcarbon
dioxideareclearandpossessgoodstreambottomquality,sufficientforbrooktroutspawning.
Otherstretcheshavecloudywatercausedbythenaturalprecipitationofcalciumcarbonateand
thisprecipitatecoatsthestreambottom.Thus,instreamhabitatqualityispartlydependenton
thelevelofcarbondioxideinthewater.Asspringdischargesarehighincarbondioxide,the
sectionsofRockymarshRundownstreamfromthesedischargesarecharacterizedbyclear
waterandopenpebbly/rockysubstrate.Ascarbondioxidediffusesoutofthewater,calcium
carbonate(foundinhighlevelsinkarstgroundwaters)beginstoprecipitate,cloudthewater,
andsettleonthebottom.Materialsonthebottomsuchaspebbles,rocks,andorganicdebris
becomecoatedwiththissiltandsometimesahardimpenetrablelayerofmarl,renderingmuch
ofthehabitatinaccessibletoforagingandspawning(forthosefishthatrequirethattypeof
habitat).Interestingly,thesiteswithbetterspawninghabitatweregenerallyfoundtohaveless
coverintheformoflargewoodydebris.

Whileconnectivitybetweennecessaryhabitatsisextremelyimportantforthesurvivalofbrook
troutpopulations,thisconnectivityisoftenseverelydiminishedbythepresenceofculverts.
WithinthemainstemofRockymarshRun,thereare10roadcrossingsthathaveassociated

23
culverts.WiththeexceptionofapotentialbarrieratthemouthofRockymarshRun(Culverton
Dam4Road),allculvertsappeartobepassablebybrooktrout.

AlthoughitappearsthatRockymarshRuncontainsthenecessaryhabitatrequirementsfora
reproducingbrooktroutpopulation;habitatrestorationcouldenhancethechanceofsurvival.
Largeadultshavebeenshowntodistributethemselveswithrespecttoseasonallyimportant
habitatcharacteristics,suchascoverandincreasingstreamdepth.Incontrast,spawningadult
andjuvenilebrooktrouttendtoconcentrateinsmallersystemswithabundantspawninggravel
andcover.InRockymarshRun,areaswithhighspawninggraveltendedtobenearcoldwater
(spring)inputsandhavelowcomplexityandavailablecover.Thus,althoughspawninghabitat
existswithinRockymarshRun,theadditionoflargewoodydebrisandavailablecoverinthese
areasmayhelpensurebrooktroutpopulationsurvival.Furthermore,frequentassessmentsof
culvertsandpotentiallargewoodydebrisbarriersneedtobeconductedtoensureconnectivity
betweenthesecriticalhabitattypes.

Basedonthehabitatassessmentdata,itisrecommendedthatbrooktroutbereintroduced
intoRockymarshRun.Releaseofyoungoftheyearinthespring,followedbythereleaseof
adultsinthefallwillprovidethegreatestpotentialfortheestablishmentofaselfsustaining
brooktroutpopulationwithinRockymarshRun.
Stressors
StressorsarethecausesofimpairmentstoRockymarshRun.Stressorsarephenomenathat
stressthenaturalsystem,impairingitsabilitytoperformitsnaturalfunctionsandprovide
servicestobothanimalsandhumans.Thesourcesofthesestresseswillbediscussedinthe
nextsectionandasummarytableofstressor/sourcerelationshipsisincludedattheendofthe
Sourcessection.

StressorsinRockymarshRunWatershed
Stressor Description
Nutrients
Theprimarynutrientsofconcernarenitrogenandphosphorus.Whilenota
majorstressortoRockymarshtheyareamajorsourceofimpairmenttothe
ChesapeakeBay,towhichitistributary.
Temperature
HighstreamtemperaturesareastressortothedesignateduseofRockymarsh
Runasacoldwaterfishery.
HabitatAlteration
Habitatalterationintheformoftreeremovalintheriparianzonecausesstream
temperaturestorise,impairingthecoldwaterfishery.Riparianforestsarealso
animportantbasetotheaquaticfoodchain.
Pathogens
PathogensfrompasturesandseptictanksimpairtheHumanHealth
designateduseofRockymarshRunforcontactrecreationandasadrinkingwater
sourceforlivestockandwildlife.
FlowAlteration
ThekarsthydrogeologicsystemofRockymarshRunevolvedovermillenniato
thepointwhereitistoday.Maintainingthissystemofgroundwaterrecharge
anddischargepatternsisimportantforthemaintenanceofstreamflowsandthe
coldgroundwaterinputsthatarerequiredtosustainacoldwaterfisheryand

24
drinkingwateruses.Alteringtheserecharge/dischargepatternswillresultin
flowsthatarewarmerandmorevariable,thusdisruptingthenaturalhydrology
ofthewatershed.Removalofnaturalvegetation,soilcompaction,andincreased
impervioussurfacesalsodisruptnaturalrechargeprocesses.
Siltation
RockymarshRunischaracterizedbystretchesofstreamwithlargegroundwater
inputsfollowedbymarlbasedstretches.Instreamprecipitationofcalcium
carbonate(marl)isanaturalsourceofsiltationwithinthesemarlbased
stretches.Spawninghabitatandforagearecoveredbymarlmakingitdifficult
foraquaticanimalstofindfoodandreproduce.Stretcheswithhighgroundwater
inputsrepresentthebesthabitatandshouldbeofhighestpriorityforriparian
restoration.Theissueisexacerbatedinnonshadedstretcheswherewarmer
temperaturesdecreasecarbondioxidesolubility,increasingmarlprecipitation.

Siltationfromsurfaceerosionisaminor,temporarystressor,primarilyarising
fromsitedisturbanceduringresidentialconstruction.
Sources
SourcesarethephysicalcausesofstressorstoRockymarshRunthatrequiremanagementin
ordertomeetthegoalsofthewatershedmanagementplan.
PointSources
TheonlypointsourceinthewatershedisTheConservationFundsFreshwaterInstitute.This
facilitydischargesabout0.9mgdofaquacultureeffluentintoDarkHollowBranch,atributary
toRockymarshRun.Thestressorsfromthissourcearenutrientsandthermalmodification.
Agriculture
Agricultureinthewatershedconsistsofdairyfarms,cattleoperations,orchards,crops,and
horsefarms.Stressorsassociatedwithagriculturearenutrients,siltation,pathogens,and
habitatalteration.

Currently,thereare5,630acresofagriculturallandinthewatershed.Overhalfofthisis
grasslandorhay,almost19%pasture,and17%croplandwiththeremainderinorchards.

BestManagementPractices
RiparianForestBuffers
RiparianGrassBuffers
WetlandRestoration
TreePlanting
StreamRestoration
NutrientManagement
EnhancedNutrientManagement
CoverCrops
ConservationTillage
LandRetirement

25
ConservationPlans
OffStreamWateringw/Fencing&RotationalGrazing
OffStreamWaterwithFencing
StreambankFencing
AnimalWasteManagement
HorsePaddockManagement
Construction
Constructionisatemporarysource,thusitsimpactvariesfromyeartoyear.Stressors
associatedwithconstructionaresiltation,flowalteration,andtemperature.

BestManagementPractices
Erosion&SedimentControl
LowImpactDevelopment
DevelopedLands
UrbanrunoffinRockymarshRuncomesfromresidentialandcommerciallands.Stressors
associatedwithdevelopedlandsarenutrients,pathogens,siltation,andtemperature.

Currently,thereare2,199acresofdevelopedlandinthewatershed,almosthalfofitisrural
residentialwith25%inmediumdensityresidentialand28%inlowdensityresidential.
Impervioussurfacescover1.7%ofthewatershed(MapA8)

BestManagementPractices
RiparianForestBuffers
RiparianGrassBuffers
WetlandRestoration
TreePlanting
StreamRestoration
NutrientManagement
StormwaterManagement
SepticSystems
Allofthedomesticwastewaterinthewatershedistreatedbysepticsystems.Thestressors
associatedwithsepticsystemsarenutrientsandpathogens.

Currently,thereareestimatedtobe923septicsystemsinthewatershed.

BestManagementPractices
SepticSystemPumping
AdvancedTreatmentSystems
ConnectiontoCentralizedWastewaterTreatment

26
Hydromodification(UpstreamImpoundment)
ImpoundmentsarepondsorlakeslocateddirectlyinthefloodwayofRockymarshRunor
adjacenttoit.Someoftheseimpoundmentsareabandonedmarlpits.Slowflowingwaterand
lackofshadeincreaseheatabsorptionandraisestreamtemperatures.

Thereare11impoundmentsalongRockymarshRun,totaling19.7acresinsurfacearea.
HabitatModification
Habitatmodification,inthiscaseremovaloftreesfromtheripariancorridorresultsinmultiple
stressorstemperature,nutrients,andsiltation.

Treeshavebeenremovedfrom65%ofthe100ftwideripariancorridorofRockymarshRun.

BestManagementPractices
RiparianForestBuffers
NaturalSources
Naturalsourcesaresourcesofstressorsthatarenotproducedbyhumans.Inthiscasethe
primarynaturalsourcesarewildlifeandgroundwaterdischarges.Wildlifearenaturalsourcesof
pathogensinthewatershed.Groundwaterintheformofspringflowisanaturalsourceofsiltin
theformofprecipitatedcalciumcarbonate(marl).Groundwaterisbothapositiveandnegative
sourceofstreamhealth.Positiveintheformofprovidingthecoldwaternecessarytosustain
nativebrooktroutpopulations,andnegativeinthemannerthatmarlprecipitationlimitsthe
biologicalcapacityofstretchesnotaffordedthebeneficialinputsoflargequantitiesof
groundwater.Thus,twotypesofhabitatcharacterizethewatershedgroundwaterbasedand
marlbased.
StressorsandSources

Stressor Sources
Nutrients PointSources,Agriculture,DevelopedLands,SepticSystems
Temperature PointSources,HabitatModification,DevelopedLands
HabitatAlteration HabitatModification
Pathogens SepticSystems,Agriculture,NaturalSources
FlowAlteration DevelopedLands
Siltation Agriculture,Construction,DevelopedLands,NaturalSources

27
ManagementPlan
Introduction
CurrentCondition
Asakarstwatershed,RockymarshRunisveryvulnerablebecauseitpossessesuniquetraitsthat
affecthowitrespondstochangesinlanduse.Whilesurfacedrainageprocessesdominatemost
watersheds,thehigherporosityofakarstwatershedcreatesapredominantlyunderground
drainagesystem.Thiskarstdrainagesystemfunctionstopromptlyabsorbwateracrossthe
landscape,slowlytransportitundergroundwhereitcancooloff,andthenreleaseitthrough
coldwatersprings.Assurfaceandsubsurfacekarsthydrologicprocessesareinterrelated,
changesinsurfacedrainagecanaffectsubsurfacedrainageandviceversa.Thus,modifyinga
karstlandscapethroughdevelopmentmaycausechangesintheundergrounddrainagesystem
byaffectingeitherthesurfacedrainagepatternsorhowmuchwaterflowsintoacertainareaor
both.Thesechangescouldsubsequentlyexpressthemselvesintheformationofnewsinkholes,
pondingofrunoff,orchangesinspringflow.

Themaindifferencesbetweenkarstandnonkarstwatershedsarerunoffandstreamflow
characteristics,groundwatervulnerability,andwatertemperature.Theflatandporouskarst
natureofthewatershedabsorbswaterreadily,resultinginverylittlerunoffandfluctuationin
streamflow.Incontrast,anonkarstwatershedhassubstantiallymorerunoffandwide
variationsinstreamflow,resultinginperiodicflooding.Theabsorptivecapacityofkarst
releaseswaterslowlyandconsequently,akarstwatershedrarelyfloodsalongthestream
channelandhaslittlevariationindepththroughouttheyear.However,rainfallinakarst
watersheddoestendtobackuponthelandscapeduringverywetperiods,causinglocalized
pondingatsitesawayfromthestream.

Theporousnatureoftheundergroundplumbingofkarstandhighseasonalwatertablesrender
thegroundwaterveryvulnerablebecausepercolatingrainwaterisnotaffordedthebenefitof
extensivesoilfiltration,asitisinnonkarstwatersheds.Whereastypicalsurfacedrainage
processestransportwaterquicklyacrossthelandscapeandintoreceivingstreams,karst
processestypicallyabsorbwaterrapidlyunderground,buttherateatwhichtheycandoso
dependsonseasonalgroundwaterlevels.Duringwetperiodswhengroundwaterlevelsare
high,runoffwatertendstobackupasthekarstsystemcanonlyhandlesomuchwaterata
time.Thebestanalogyisthatofapartiallypluggedbathtubdrainwhengroundwaterlevels
risehigh,onlysomuchwatercandrainatatime,thus,asmorewaterfallsasrain,thiscauses
groundwaterlevelstorisehigherandhigher,tothepointwheretheypondonthesurfacein
someareas.Thiscausesthegroundwatertobecomeveryvulnerabletocontamination,
particularlyfromsepticsystems,whosedrainfieldsmaybesubmergedbygroundwaterduring
theseperiods.

Coldwaterstreamsarecharacterizedbyalargeproportionoftheirflowbeingderivedfrom
groundwater.RockymarshRunmaintainsthesecoldwaterinputsbyefficientlycollecting
waterandtransmittingitundergroundwhereitreemergesascoldspringflow.Assurface

28
runoffprocessesbegintoincreaseindominanceasthelandisdeveloped,thiscausesstream
temperaturestoincreaseviaincreasedinflowsofwarmsurfacerunoffanddecreasedinputsof
coldgroundwaterintothestream.

Intermsofcurrentwatershedcondition,thewatershedisratedinexcellentconditioninregards
towatershedwideimperviouscover(1.7%)andforestcover(51%).However,asmostofthat
forestislocatedawayfromthestreamthewatershedisratedaspoorintermsofriparianforest
cover.Currently,only34%oftheriparianzoneiscoveredbyforest,thewatershedneedsover
twicethecurrentamounttoreceiveagoodratingtoberatedasexcellentwouldrequire77%
riparianforestcover.Anotherfactoraffectingtheconditionofthewatershedisbacterial
contaminationfromseptictanksandlivestockpastures.Whilenotinpristinecondition,
RockymarshRundoesfunctionrelativelywellasacoldwaterecosystem,andwithalittle
restorationcouldreattainitsabilitytosustainBrookTrout.Thecrucialtaskistomaintainthe
naturalfunctionsofthewatershedinthefaceoflandscapechange.Thus,thecurrentstateof
thewatershedisoneonthecusp,wherewegofromherealldependsonourstewardshipofthe
watershed.
Threats
ThedistinctivekarsthydrologyandaquaticecosystemofRockymarshRunarethreatenedby
increaseddevelopmentanditsassociatedincreaseinimpervioussurfaces.Impervioussurfaces
(roofs,roads,andsidewalks)preventwaterfrominfiltratingintothegroundwhereitnormally
would,reducinggroundwaterrechargeanddisruptingthenaturaldrainagepatternsofthe
watershed.TheslowinfiltrationofrainfallinRockymarshRunduringwetseasonsexpresses
itselfasthepondingofwaterincertainlowlyingareasofthewatershed,resultinginhazardsto
farmersandhomeowners.Increasingtheimperviouscoverinthewatershedwillonlyworsen
theproblem.Fillingofsinkholesandcloseddepressionsduringdevelopmentexacerbatesthis
problemevenfurther,asthewaterhasnostreamnetworktoflowintooncethedrainofthe
plumbingisclosed.Furthermore,changingrunoffpatternsthroughmassgradingandaddition
ofimperviousnessmaycausewatertoinfiltrateintothegroundinnewareasoringreater
quantities,causingshiftsinundergroundflowpatternsthatmayresultinthedevelopmentof
newsinkholesandchangesinspringflow.Finally,developmentmayaffectstreamecologyby
increasingwatertemperaturesanddisruptinghabitatthroughhigherpeakflows.Thus,
changesinthelandscapewilldisturbthehydrology,geology,andecologyofthewatershed.

Thepotentialconsequencesofthesethreatsareincreasedstreamtemperatures,contaminated
groundwater,andincreasedloadsofpollutants.Impervioussurfacescausestreamwater
temperaturestoriseviaincreasedsurfacerunoffofwarmerwateranddecreasedsummertime
streamflows.Adecreaseinsummertimestreamflowwillcausethewatertoheatupeven
more.Thus,thesechangesinhydrologycausedbydecreasesinperviousnessexacerbateeach
otherastheincreaseinrunoffofwarmerwaterisintensifiedbyinstreamwarming.
Furthermore,increasesinpeakstormflowsinRockymarshRunwillcausechangesinthe
streamchannel,wideningitandcuttingdownthebanks.Thiswillincreasesedimentloadsto
theChesapeakeBayandsmotheraquatichabitatinthestream,impairingtheabilityofour

29
nativebrooktrouttosurvive.Finally,populationincreaseswillalsoresultinmorenutrient
pollutionfromlawnfertilizersandwastewater.
Solutions
Thefunctionsweareindangeroflosingaretheabilitytocollectslowlyrainwaterandtransform
itintocoldspringwater,slowlydischargedessentialforthesurvivalofBrookTrout.The
challengeistoretainthesefunctionsinthefaceofachanginglandscape.Thiswillrequiremore
intensemanagementoftheresourceaswellasrestorationtoensurenonetlossofwatershed
function.Sustainingthesefunctionswillrequirehigherstandardsformanagingandmitigating
humanimpactsonthewatershed.
ManagementGoals
TheRockymarshRunWatershedManagementPlanseekstopromoteandfacilitate
coordinated,collaborativeactiontoreducepollutantloadssufficienttomeetregional
ChesapeakeBayrestorationresponsibilitieswhileprovidinglocalbenefitsintheformofthe
restorationofareproducingpopulationofBrookTroutandallowingforthedesignatedusesof
thewatershedforrecreationanddrinkingwater.RockymarshRunisawatershedonthecusp,
requiringrestorativeeffortstomeetcurrentwaterqualitygoals,andmaintenanceeffortsto
maintainthesetargetsinthefaceoflandscapechangeproducedbyresidentialdevelopment.
Thismanagementplanseekstoprovidemitigationofmultiplestressorsthroughthe
implementationofpracticesthatprovidemultiplebenefits.Adaptivemanagementwillbe
utilizedtofocusinitialeffortsonareasdesignatedascritical,assessprogress,andadapt
managementstrategiesasnecessary.

TheprimarygoalforwatershedmanagementinRockymarshRunisthereductionofnutrient
andsedimentloadstomeetChesapeakeBaycommitments.Meetingthisgoalwillalsoserveto
achievethesecondarygoalsofBrookTroutrestorationanddrinkingwaterprotection.
Objectives
Reducenutrientandsedimentloadsviaincreaseinriparianforestcover
IndicatorPercentforestcoverin100ftriparianzone
CurrentCondition=34%
TargetCondition=50%
ImplementationGoalPlant48acresofriparianforest
NitrogenLoadReduction=dependentoninitiallanduse
PhosphorusLoadReduction=dependentoninitiallanduse
SedimentLoadReduction=dependentoninitiallanduse

Reducenutrientloadsviapumpingofseptictanks
IndicatorNumberofseptictankspumpedonanannualbasis
CurrentCondition=0
TargetCondition=375
ImplementationGoalPump375septictanksperyear

30
NitrogenLoadReduction=222pounds
Prioritization
RiparianForestRestoration
Prioritysitesforriparianrestorationwerechosenbasedonexistingriparianforestcover,
landownerwillingness,perennialstreamflow,andstreamtemperaturedata(MapA9).
SepticTankPumping
Todeterminethemosteffectiveareas(intermsofwaterqualityimprovement)forthe
implementationofsepticsystemBMPsandindexofsepticsystemriskwasdeveloped.The
indexwascalculatedusingbuildingdensityweightedbybuildingage,soilsuitability,proximity
toflowingwater,andpresenceoffloodplain(MapA10).
Implementation
OnepriorityriparianbufferrestorationsegmentintheEastForkofRockymarshRunwas
fencedin2009andpartiallyplantedwithtreesin2010.Thissiteissurroundedbypastureand
wasprimarilywetlandwithintheriparianzoneinthepast.Fencingthissitecreated8acresof
riparianbuffer(protecting1,700linearfeetofstream).Alloftheportionsofthebufferthat
werenotwetlandwereplantedintrees.Theloadreductions(basedondatafromthePhase5.3
ChesapeakeBayWatershedModel)forthiseffort(inpoundsperyear)fornitrogen,
phosphorus,andsedimentare87.5,14.2and268.6,respectively.
APPENDICES

Appendi x A Maps
Appendi x B Rar e Speci es
Appendi x C Annual Wat er Qual i t y Dat a
Appendi x D Hi st or i cal Wat er Qual i t y Dat a
Appendi x E Hi st or i cal Bi ol ogi cal Dat a
Appendi x F St r eam Temper at ur e Dat a
Appendi x G Habi t at Assessment
Appendi x H Fi sh Speci es
Appendi x I QAQC Repor t

AppendixAMaps

A1Orientation
A2Geology
A3Soils
A4SamplingLocations
A5LandUse
A6ForestCover
A7SocialResources
A8ImperviousSurfaces
A9RiparianForestCondition
A10SepticRisk

S
t
a
t
e

R
o
u
t
e

2
3
0
State R
oute 9
S
t
a
t
e

R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
State Route 45
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
Shepherdstown
Kearneysville
0 1 2 0.5
Miles
Watershed Boundary
Rockymarsh Run
Scrabble
BERKELEY
COUNTY
JEFFERSON
COUNTY
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Potomac River Watershed
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
WEST
VIRGINIA
MAP A-1
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Spring
Waterway
Road
Fracture Traces
Cross-Strike
Strike
Faults
Normal
Strike-Slip
Thrust
Folds
Anticline
Overturned Anticline
Overturned Syncline
Syncline
Sinkhole (area < 1,200 sq. meters)
Sinkhole (area > 1,200 sq. meters)
Closed Depression
Alluvium
Geologic Formation
Conococheague
Rockdale Run
Stonehenge
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
Geology
MAP A-2
R
o
u
te
9
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 45
Edgew
ood School R
d.
R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
W
a
r
m

S
p
r
i
n
g
s

r
d
.
G
o
s
l
i
n
g
M
a
r
s
h
R
d
.
W
in
e
b
r
e
n
n
e
r
R
d
.
T
u
r
n
e
r

R
d
.
C
e
d
a
r

R
d
.
R
i
d
g
e

R
d
.
P
e
r
s
im
m
o
n
L
a
n
e
B
illm
y
e
r
M
ill R
d
.
V
a
n
C
le
v
e
s
v
ille
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 9
G
o
s
l
i
n
g

M
a
r
s
h

R
d
.
R
o
u
te
9
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 45
Edgew
ood School R
d.
R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
W
a
r
m

S
p
r
i
n
g
s

r
d
.
G
o
s
l
i
n
g
M
a
r
s
h
R
d
.
W
in
e
b
r
e
n
n
e
r
R
d
.
T
u
r
n
e
r

R
d
.
C
e
d
a
r

R
d
.
R
i
d
g
e

R
d
.
P
e
r
s
im
m
o
n
L
a
n
e
B
illm
y
e
r
M
ill R
d
.
V
a
n
C
le
v
e
s
v
ille
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 9
G
o
s
l
i
n
g

M
a
r
s
h

R
d
.
Soils of Rockymarsh Run Watershed
Watershed Boundary
Rockymarsh Run
Septic System Limitation
Not Rated
Moderately Limited
Very Limited
Soil Series
Udorthents
Quarry
Rock Outcrop
Water
Lappans
Fairplay
Toms
Funkstown
Hagerstown
Vertrees
Duffield
Opequon
Ryder
Poplimento
Holly
Dunning
Swanpond
Oaklet
Watershed Boundary
Rockymarsh Run
Hydric Soil
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
MAP A-3
M
a
i
n
s
t
e
m
E
a
s
t

F
o
r
k
W
e
s
t

F
o
r
k
M
a
i
n
s
t
e
m
R
o
u
te
9
Route 45
R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
R
oute 9
Edgewood School Rd.
S
crabble R
d
.
W
a
r
m
S
p
r
i
n
g
s

r
d
.
G
o
s
lin
g
M
a
rs
h
R
d
.
W
in
e
b
re
n
n
e
r
R
d
.
T
u
r
n
e
r

R
d
.
Swan Pond Rd.
C
e
d
a
r
R
d
.
R
i
d
g
e

R
d
.
P
e
r
s
im
m
o
n
L
a
n
e
B
illm
y
e
r
M
ill R
d
.
V
a
n
C
le
v
e
s
v
ille
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
le
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
G
o
s
l
i
n
g

M
a
r
s
h

R
d
.
731_001
732_015
733_201
732_136
880_270
880_358
733_285
732_055
732_156
731_115
731_206
731_175
731_126
999_010
770_102
732_190
732_111
732_040
733_253
733_202
733_121
880_326
880_295
880_289
167_004
245_083
880_100
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Sampling Locations (Temperature)
Sampling Locations (Water Chemistry)
Monthly Sampling Location
Spring
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Catchment Boundary
Subwatersheds
Mainstem
East Fork
West Fork
Major Roads
Primary
Secondary
Sampling Locations
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
D
a
rk
H
o
llo
w
B
ra
n
c
h
MAP A-4
Watershed Boundary
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Land Use
Residential, Rural
Residential, Low Density
Residential, Med. Density
Orchard
Pasture
Grassland/Hay
Cropland
Commercial
Transportation
Barren
Forest
Open Water/Wetland
2007 Land Use
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
MAP A-5
R
o
u
te
9
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 45
E
dgew
ood S
chool R
d.
R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
W
a
r
m

S
p
r
i
n
g
s

r
d
.
G
o
s
l
i
n
g
M
a
r
s
h
R
d
.
W
in
e
b
r
e
n
n
e
r
R
d
.
T
u
r
n
e
r

R
d
.
C
e
d
a
r

R
d
.
R
i
d
g
e

R
d
.
P
e
r
s
im
m
o
n
L
a
n
e
B
illm
y
e
r
M
ill R
d
.
V
a
n
C
le
v
e
s
v
ille
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
l
e

R
d
.
Route 9
G
o
s
l
i
n
g

M
a
r
s
h

R
d
.
Watershed Boundary
Forest Cover
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Roads
Primary
Secondary
2000 Forest Cover
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
MAP A-6
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
p o
LEISURE ACRES
HORNER
FOX GLEN
SHENANDOAH FARMS
MUZZEY
HEATHERFIELD
WHITE ROCK FARM
SPRINGS AT SHEPHERDSTOWN
MECKLENBURG HEIGHTS
THE CROFTS AT SHEPHERDSTOWN
DEERFIELD VILLAGE
COZY RETREAT
DARK HOLLOW
LEDGE LOWE
WILLOWSPRING ACRES
HILLCREST
WHISPER KNOLL
AMBLER'S GLEN
PERSIMMON KNOLL
ROCK SPRING ACRES
R
o
u
te
9
S
c
rab
b
le
R
d
.
Edgewood School Rd.
R
o
u
t
e
4
8
0
W
a
r
m

S
p
r
i
n
g
s
r
d
.
G
o
s
lin
g
M
a
rs
h
R
d
.
W
in
e
b
r
e
n
n
e
r
R
d
.
T
u
r
n
e
r

R
d
.
Swan Pond Rd.
C
e
d
a
r

R
d
.
R
i
d
g
e

R
d
.
B
illm
y
e
r
M
ill R
d
.
V
a
n
C
le
v
e
s
v
ille
R
d
.
S
c
r
a
b
b
le
R
d
.
Route 9
G
o
s
l
i
n
g

M
a
r
s
h

R
d
.
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
I
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
p o
USGS Stream Gage
Watershed Boundary
D
Spring
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Wetland
Subdivision
Historic District
Social Resources
MAP A-7
Scrabble
Billmyer Mill
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Watershed Boundary
Catchment Boundary
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Impoundment
Imperviousness
Percent
100
1
Impervious Surfaces
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
MAP A-8
Watershed Boundary
Waterway
Perennial
Intermittent
Priority Buffer Restoration Areas
Percent Riparian Forest (100-ft Buffer)
0.0 - 10.0
10.1 - 30.0
30.1 - 50.0
50.1 - 70.0
70.1 - 100.0
0 0.5 1 0.25
Miles
Riparian Forest Condition
Rockymarsh Run Watershed
MAP A-9
R
o
u
t
e
9
R
oute 45
R
o
u
t
e

4
8
0
R
o
u
te
9
0 2 4 1
Miles
Rockymarsh Run
Watershed Boundary
Roads
Primary
Secondary
Analysis Extent
Septic System Risk
High
Low
Septic System Risk in Rockymarsh Run Watershed
Components
of
Septic System Risk
Proximity
to
Surface Water
Near
Far
Floodplain
Floodplain
Building Density
(weighted by age)
High
Low
Soil Suitability
Low
High
MAP A-10

AppendixBRareSpecies





Group Common Name Sci ent i f i c Name St at e Rank Gl obal Rank
Rept ile Wood Turt le Glypt emys I nsculpt a S2 G4
Plant Wat er Horset ail Equiset um Fluviat ile S2 G5
Plant Float ing Pennywort Hydrocot yle Ranunculoides S2 G5
Plant Balt ic Rush Juncus Balt icus Var Lit t oralis S1 G5
Plant Wat er Smart weed Polygonum Amphibium Var Emersum S2 G5
Plant Hard-St emmed Bulrush Schoenoplect us Acut us Var Acut us S2 G5
Plant Hooded Skullcap Scut ellaria Galericulat a S1 G5



STATERANK
S1Fiveorfewerdocumentedoccurrences,orveryfewremainingindividualswithinthe
state.Extremelyrareandcriticallyimperiled.
S2Sixto20documentedoccurrences,orfewremainingindividualswithinthestate.Veryrareand
imperiled.
S3Twentyoneto100documentedoccurrences.

GLOBALRANK
G1Fiveorfewerdocumentedoccurrences,orveryfewremainingindividualsglobally.Extremely
rareandcriticallyimperiled.
G2Sixto20documentedoccurrences,orfewremainingindividualsglobally.Veryrareand
imperiled.
G3Twentyoneto100documentedoccurrences.Eitherveryrareandlocalthroughoutitsrangeor
foundlocallyinarestrictedrange.
G4Commonandapparentlysecureglobally,thoughitmayberareinpartsofitsrange,especially
attheperiphery.
G5Verycommonanddemonstrablysecure,thoughitmayberareinpartsofitsrange,especiallyat
theperiphery.











THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
AppendixCRockymarshRun
WatershedWideSampling
Fall2007
SiteNo. Reach Date Discharge
Water
Temp. pH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Carbon
Dioxide Turbidity TotalColiform FecalColiform E.coli Nitrate TotalNitrogen
Total
Phosphorus
(cfs) (C) (units) (mg/L) (mg/L) (NTU) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasP)
731_126 Mainstem_North 10/31/07 4.97 8.3 8.2 11.8 3.0 3 2420 709 344 1.72 2.10 0.13
731_175 Mainstem_North 10/31/07 4.65 7.4 8.3 11.9 2.9 2 2420 982 579 2.14 2.40 0.05
731_206 Mainstem_North 10/31/07 4.45 7.2 8.3 11.9 2.7 3 1733 818 292 2.08 2.33 0.03
732_040 Mainstem_South 10/31/07 3.13 10.0 7.9 10.8 6.2 2 >2420 2100 344 2.94 3.29 0.03
732_111 Mainstem_South 10/31/07 2.74 9.1 8.1 11.5 4.3 1 2420 390 1203 2.26 2.72 0.03
732_190 Mainstem_South 10/31/07 2.97 9.3 8.2 11.5 3.4 3 1986 530 211 2.60 2.83 0.03
733_121 WestFork 11/01/07 0.42 10.2 8.0 10.8 5.4 7 >2420 591 488 2.34 2.57 0.03
733_202 WestFork 11/01/07 0.69 9.6 8.0 10.7 5.4 8 2420 570 461 2.36 2.59 0.03
733_253 WestFork 11/01/07 0.85 9.8 8.0 10.2 5.4 10 >2420 530 548 1.54 1.89 0.03
770_102 DarkHollowBranch 10/31/07 2.05 12.4 7.7 10.8 10.9 3 2420 90 2 2.22 2.77 0.14
880_289 EastFork 11/01/07 0.06 11.7 7.5 5.8 19.1 53 >2420 330 365 1.64 2.58 0.08
880_326 EastFork 11/01/07 3.19 11.5 7.2 7.3 29.6 7 816 164 326 2.60 2.83 0.03
AppendixCRockymarshRun
WatershedWideSampling
Fall2008
SiteNo. Reach Date Discharge
Water
Temp. pH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Carbon
Dioxide
Total
Suspended
Solids TotalColiform FecalColiform E.coli Nitrate TotalNitrogen
Total
Phosphorus
(cfs) (C) (units) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasP)
731_126 Mainstem_North 10/29/08 5.96 7.9 8.1 11.6 1.8 0.5 900 206 328 1.73 2.31 0.03
731_175 Mainstem_North 10/29/08 6.12 6.8 7.6 11.9 1.3 0.5 1,600 172 378 2.46 2.93 0.03
731_206 Mainstem_North 10/29/08 7.46 7.3 8.0 11.7 2.5 1.0 2,600 180 360 1.73 2.13 0.09
732_040 Mainstem_South 10/30/08 3.50 7.9 7.8 10.3 9.8 0.5 1,600 170 210 2.46 2.81 0.03
732_111 Mainstem_South 10/29/08 3.47 8.6 8.0 11.6 4.8 0.5 1,200 194 254 2.46 3.09 0.03
732_190 Mainstem_South 10/29/08 5.25 7.4 8.1 11.7 2.3 0.5 1,800 188 208 2.46 2.92 0.03
733_121 WestFork 10/30/08 1.05 6.5 8.0 12.2 5.0 0.5 700 260 290 2.76 3.22 0.03
733_202 WestFork 10/30/08 0.67 5.7 8.1 12.6 2.5 1.0 2,500 510 640 2.64 3.10 0.31
733_253 WestFork 10/30/08 1.06 6.1 7.9 11.7 6.5 1.0 1,600 440 590 1.82 2.28 0.03
770_102 DarkHollowBranch 10/29/08 2.59 12.6 7.9 12.2 6.8 1.0 2,000 244 394 2.40 3.14 0.09
880_289 EastFork 10/30/08 0.16 10.6 7.5 9.0 18.5 0.5 900 90 200 2.04 2.61 0.06
880_326 EastFork 10/30/08 3.72 10.9 7.3 8.6 30.0 5.0 1,400 100 220 2.64 2.87 0.05
AppendixCRockymarshRun
WatershedWideSampling
Fall2009
SiteNo. Reach Date Discharge
Water
Temp. pH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Carbon
Dioxide
Total
Suspended
Solids TotalColiform FecalColiform E.coli Nitrate TotalNitrogen
Total
Phosphorus
(cfs) (C) (units) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasP)
731_126 Mainstem_North 10/06/09 4.60 10.2 8.3 8.3 1.0 2.0 1,500 150 96 3.82 4.18 0.06
731_175 Mainstem_North 10/06/09 2.75 9.8 8.3 10.8 1.5 1.0 2,400 3,350 1,000 3.54 3.90 0.06
731_206 Mainstem_North 10/06/09 3.13 10.4 8.3 10.9 0.5 3.8 2,000 648 150 3.69 4.05 0.04
732_040 Mainstem_South 10/07/09 1.85 13.7 7.9 8.8 7.0 3.5 2,490 4,675 1,170 3.54 3.68 0.05
732_111 Mainstem_South 10/06/09 2.56 10.8 8.3 11.0 1.0 1.0 2,569 1,220 825 3.80 4.15 0.06
732_190 Mainstem_South 10/06/09 3.28 11.4 8.6 11.1 1.0 0.5 2,200 650 300 4.40 4.75 0.03
733_121 WestFork 10/07/09 0.46 14.7 8.1 9.4 5.0 10.0 3,198 1,000 769 3.24 3.38 0.01
733_202 WestFork 10/07/09 0.16 15.1 8.1 9.0 1.0 28.0 5,600 7,500 1,400 3.38 3.73 0.05
733_253 WestFork 10/07/09 0.48 14.4 8.1 9.3 4.0 17.0 2,200 2,910 900 2.70 2.84 0.03
770_102 DarkHollowBranch 10/06/09 2.41 13.2 7.8 10.8 9.0 5.0 2,000 350 140 3.26 3.87 0.12
880_289 EastFork 10/07/09 0.04 13.7 7.4 8.1 22.5 14.0 2,200 156 116 2.32 2.46 0.05
880_326 EastFork 10/07/09 2.11 14.1 7.6 13.9 18.0 0.5 2,400 164 96 3.84 3.97 0.06
AppendixCRockymarshRun
WatershedWideSampling
Fall2010
SiteNo. Reach Date Discharge
Water
Temp. pH
Dissolved
Oxygen
Carbon
Dioxide
Total
Suspended
Solids TotalColiform FecalColiform E.coli Nitrate TotalNitrogen
Total
Phosphorus
(cfs) (C) (units) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (col/100mL) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasN) (mg/LasP)
731_126 Mainstem_North 12/16/10 9.00 1.9 8.3 13.2 n/m 2.0 n/m 32 n/m 2.87 3.10 0.01
732_040 Mainstem_South 12/16/10 3.57 5.0 8.0 11.8 8.8 n/m n/m 58 n/m 3.16 3.28 0.01
732_190 Mainstem_South 12/16/10 4.66 1.2 8.3 13.7 6.5 n/m n/m 101 n/m 3.31 3.43 0.01
733_253 WestFork 12/16/10 1.06 3.4 8.1 12.8 6.5 n/m n/m 480 n/m 2.50 2.63 0.01
880_326 EastFork 12/16/10 3.18 8.8 7.4 9.8 32.5 n/m n/m 8 n/m 3.90 4.24 0.01

AppendixDHistoricalWaterQualityData

Source(Contact): MarkKozar(USGS)

Source(Document): Geohydrology,WaterAvailability,andWaterQualityofJeffersonCounty,WestVirginia,
withEmphasisontheCarbonateAreaWRIR904118
Site SiteID Date
Nitrite+
Nitrate
(mg/Las
N)
Diss.
OrthoP
(mg/Las
P) Temperature Latitude Longitude
DarkHollowBranch 148 8/2/1988 3.22 0.02 14 392804 775012
WFork@Winebrenners
Rd. 145 8/2/1988 n/d n/d 26 392609 775135

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

AppendixEHistoricalStreamBiologyData

Source(Contact): JohnWirts(WVDEP)
Source(Document): Schwartz_frWirts090804.xls

Station_ID Date
WVSCI
Score
Fecal
coliforms
(col./100mL)
Temp.
(deg.C) Turbidity UTMEast UTMNorth
Rockymarsh@Dam
4Rd. P000130.4 8/20/03 41.25 200 18.2 clear 772803.5 4375609



Source(Contact): JimCummins(ICPRB)
Source(Document): ICPRBWVSCICalculationDatabaseforContractorsandConsultantsv2.1.mdb

Date
WVSCI
Score
WVSCI
Ranking
Total
Habitat
Score
Habitat
Ranking
(ICPRB) Latitude Longitude
RockymarshMouth 9/18/2006 59
Slightly
Impaired 160
Sub
Optimal 39.4917 77.8259
Rockymarsh@Rt.
45 9/27/2006 44
Moderately
Impaired 185
Sub
Optimal 39.43937 77.8484




THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Rockymarsh Run
East & West Fork 7 Day Max Avg.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
5/22/2008 6/1/2008 6/11/2008 6/21/2008 7/1/2008 7/11/2008 7/21/2008 7/31/2008 8/10/2008
Date
*
C
W. Fork (733_299)
W. Fork (733_201)
E. Fork (880_349)
E. Fork (880_270)
Brook Trout Threshold
Rockymarsh Run
Mainstem 7 Day Max Average
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
5/22/2008 6/1/2008 6/11/2008 6/21/2008 7/1/2008 7/11/2008 7/21/2008 7/31/2008 8/10/2008
Date
*
C
N. Mainstem (731_115)
N. Mainstem (731_001)
S. Mainstem (732_156)
S. Mainstem (732_136)
S. Mainstem (732_055)
S. Mainstem (732_015)
S. Mainstem (732_036)
Brook Trout Threshold
AppendixFWaterTemperature







THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

AppendixG

RockymarshRunHabitatAssessment
June10,2010

Preparedby:
Dr.J.ToddPetty
EricMerriam

WestVirginiaUniversityDivisionofForestry,NaturalResourcesandDesign
2

TABLEOFCONTENTS
LISTOFTABLES..................................................................................................................................... 3

LISTOFFIGURES.................................................................................................................................... 3

LISTOFAPPENDICES............................................................................................................................. 3

INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 4

METHODS .............................................................................................................................................. 4
WaterTemperatureandChemistry .................................................................................................... 4
PhysicalHabitat ................................................................................................................................ 4
BenthicMacroinvertebrates ............................................................................................................... 5

PRELIMINARYRESULTSANDJUSTIFICATION...................................................................................... 6
WaterTemperatureandChemistry .................................................................................................... 6
PhysicalHabitat ................................................................................................................................ 7
BenthicMacroinvertebrates ............................................................................................................... 9

COMPARISONTOPREVIOUSSTUDIES............................................................................................... 10

RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 10

POTENTIALCONCURRENTSTUDIES ...................................................................................................11

LITERATURECITED...............................................................................................................................11
3

LISTOFTABLES
Table1.Physicalhabitatmeasuresforeachreach.
Table2.Total,percent,andcomponentrapidvisualhabitatassessment(RVHA)scoresforthe32
reaches.Meanscoresforeachcomponentarepresented.Reachesaresortedbasedon
%RVHAscore.
Table3.Macroinvertebratecommunitymetricsfor15sitesthroughoutRockymarshRun.

LISTOFFIGURES
Figure1.Mapshowingthe32studyreacheswithinthemainstemofRockymarshRun(i.e.belowthe
forks).Siteboundariesindicatedbyblackbars,andsitesarelabeledbyreachnumber.Sites
werenumberedfrom1to32insuccessiveorderfromthemouthtotheconfluenceoftheforks.
Figure2.Mapindicatingmacroinvertebratecollectionsites.
Figure3.Mapshowing%rapidvisualhabitatassessmentscoresforeachreachalongthemainstemof
theRockymarshRunmainstem.
Figure4.Mapshowingthepercentageoffinesedimentswithineachreachthroughoutthemainstem
ofRockymarshRun.
Figure5.Figureshowingtheareaofspawninggravel(m2)ineachreachthroughoutthemainstemof
RockymarshRun.
Figure6.Scatterplotofthefirsttwoprincipalcomponents(eigenvalues>1.0)runonphysicalhabitat
dataamongthe32studyreaches.Variableswithfactorloadings>|0.40|areshownalongeach
axis.Arrowsindicatethedirectionofincreaseforeachvariable.

LISTOFAPPENDICES
Appendix1.Familylevelmacroinvertebratecommunitydataforthe15sitessampledthroughoutthe
RockymarshRunwatershedin2008.
4

INTRODUCTION

RockymarshRunisatributaryofthePotomacRiverthatbordersJeffersonandBerkeley
CountiesintheeasternpanhandleofWestVirginia.Historically,RockymarshRunsupportedaself
sustainingbrooktroutpopulation.However,anthropogenicimpacts(i.e.changinglandusepractices
andfishingpressure)haveresultedinadecreaseinsuitablehabitatandtheextirpationofnativebrook
trout.
Despitethecurrentabsenceofaselfsustainingbrooktroutpopulation,theunique
characteristicsofthesurroundingwatershedmakeRockymarshRunanexcellentcandidateforbrook
troutreintroduction.Thesurroundinggeologyispredominatelylimestone,givingrisetoakarst
dominatedhydrologicalregime.Consequently,aseriesofapproximately17springsdischargeinto
RockymarshRunthatspanalongitsentirelength.Thesespringslargelycontroltheinstreamphysical
andchemicalcharacteristicsofRockymarshRun,resultinginconditionsthataresuitableforbrook
troutsurvival.Theobjectivesofthisreportareto1)providepreliminarydatathatjustifythere
introductionofbrooktroutintoRockymarshRun,2)provideinformationonotherbrooktroutre
introductionstudieswithintheregion,and3)providerecommendationsforbrooktroutreintroduction
withinRockymarshRunandpossibleconcurrentstudiesthatwouldhelpgaininsightintoimportant
processesoccurringwithinthetransplantedpopulation.

METHODS

WaterTemperatureandChemistry
AllwatertemperatureandchemistrydatawasobtainedfromTheConservationFunds
FreshwaterInstituteinShepherdstown,WV.Thisdatawasthencomparedtoexistingstudies
regardingknowntemperatureandchemicaltolerancesforbrooktrout.

PhysicalHabitat
Forthepurposeofhabitatsampling,themainstemofRockymarshRunwasbrokenupinto32
reaches(Figure1).Reachesweredelineatedas40Xthemeanstreamwidth,withmaximumand
minimumreachlengthsof300and150m(FreundandPetty2007;MerovichandPetty2007).Reaches
werelengthenedorshortenedwhenapotentialgeomorphicbarrier(i.e.culvertorlargewoodydebris
jam)wasencountered.Waterdepth,channelunit(riffle,run,pool,glide),substratetype,anddistance
tonearestfishcoverweremeasuredatevenlyspacedpointsalongthethalweg(Pettyetal.2001).Fish
coverwasdefinedasanystructureabletoconceala20cmfish(Pettyetal.2001).Largewoodydebris
(LWD)wascategorizedbasedondiameterandlength(Pettyetal.2001).Habitatqualitywasvisually
assessedusingUSEPArapidvisualhabitatassessments(Barbouretal.1999).Anindexoftotal
retentiveness(Minter2009)wasusedtoscoreeachsitebasedontheorganic(e.g.LWD)andinorganic
(e.g.substrate)retentivecapacityateachsite.Areaandembeddednessofpotentialspawninggravel
patchesweremeasured.Embeddednessofspawninggravelwasmeasuredonascaleof0to20using
theUSEPArapidvisualhabitatassessmentembeddednesscategory.Thediameterandhangheightof
allculvertsweremeasured.Activechannelwidthandbankfullwidthswerealsomeasuredaboveeach
culvert(PoplarJeffersetal.2009).
Principalcomponentsanalysiswasusedtoassessvariationinhabitatcharacteristicsamong
studyreaches.Principalcomponentswitheigenvalues>1.0wereretainedforfurtheranalysis.
Variableswithfactorloadings>0.40wereconsideredsignificantinagivenprincipalcomponent.

BenthicMacroinvertebrates
InJune2008,benthicmacroinvertebrateswerecollectedfrom15sitesthroughoutthe
Rockymarshwatershed(0,21,24,25,26,27,28,30,31,33,34,35,36,37,38;Figure2).Ateachsite,fourwidely
separatedrifflehabitats(totheextentthatrifflehabitatswerepresent)weresampledusingamodified
kicknet(dimensions335x508mm)with500mmesh.Amsquareregionofstreambottomwas
scouredinfrontofthekicknetateachofthefoursampledriffles.Thefourkicksamplesfromeachsite
werecombinedintoasinglecompositesampleandpreservedin95%ethanol.Allmacroinvertebrates
wereprocessedinthelabandidentifiedtothelowestpracticaltaxonomiclevel(typicallygenus).
Basedonthetaxaidentifiedforeachsample,aseriesofcommunitymetricswerecalculated.
Theseincludedtotalabundance,%EPT,EPTrichness,%Ephemeroptera,familyrichness,%tolerant
(Gerritsenetal.2000),and%1dominant(percentageofeachsamplecomposedofthemostdominant
taxa),andamodifiedWestVirginiaStreamConditionIndex(mWVSCI).WVSCIiscurrentlythe
acceptedindexusedinthestateandscoreseachsitewithinarangefrom0to100,withlowerscores
indicatingpoorerecologicalconditions.mWVSCIdiffersfromWVSCIinthatallindividuals,notjusta
200individualsubsample,areused(Merriametal.InReview).

PRELIMINARYRESULTSANDJUSTIFICATION

WaterTemperatureandChemistry:
WiththeexceptionoftheWestFork,instreamtemperatureswithinthewatershedremain
belowtheacceptedthresholdforbrooktroutmortality(22
o
C)throughouttheyear.Notably,
temperatureswithintheMainstemandEastForkrarelyexceed20
o
Cduringthesummermonths.
Despitethelackofariparianbufferthroughoutportionsofthewatershed,coldwaterspringsthat
dischargeintoRockymarshRunkeeptemperatureslowenoughtosupportareproducingbrooktrout
population.Withtheimplementationofproposedhabitatrestorationactions(i.e.increasedriparian
buffer),instreamtemperatureswilllikelydecrease,furtherreducingpotentialtemperatureinduced
stress.
Duringthefallof2008,dissolvedoxygenrangedfromapproximately9to12.5mg/L.The
alkalinenatureofthesurroundinglimestonedominatedgeologyresultsinapHthatremainsabove7.
Duringlowflowconditionsinthefallof2008(10/2910/30),pHrangedfrom7.3to8.1.Thus,the
majorityofthewatershedlikelyfallswithintheoptimalrangeforbrooktroutthroughouttheyear(i.e.
6.88.0;Raleigh1982),whiletheentirewatershedremainswellwithinthepHtolerancerangefor
brooktrout(4.09.5;Raleigh1982).Alkalinityandspecificconductancearealsoinfluencedbythe
surroundingkarstgeology.Atbaseflowconditions,specificconductancerangedfrom551to601
s/cm,whilealkalinityrangedfrom246to264mg/LCaCO
3
.Althoughthesevaluesarehigherthan
thoseobservedinotherbrooktroutstreamswithintheregion(Pettyetal.2005),numerousstudies
haveobservedapositivecorrelationbetweenbrooktroutproductionandbothalkalinityand
conductivity(CooperandScherer1967;KwakandWaters1997).Furthermore,sustainablebrooktrout
populationshavebeenobservedinMinnesotastreamswithsimilargeologyandwaterchemistry(Kwak
andWaters1997).

PhysicalHabitat:
AlargeproportionofRockymarshRunwascharacterizedbycalciumcarbonateprecipitate,
termedmarl.Asmarlisdeposited,itformsalayeroffinesedimentthatcoversthestreambottom.
Thesefinesedimentscomprisedbetween0and100%ofthestreambottomamongthe32reaches,
withanaverageof63%(Table1).Reachescharacterizedbyahighpercentageoffinesedimentstended
tohavelowRapidVisualHabitatAssessment(RVHA)scores(Figures3and4;Table1).PercentRVHA
scoresrangedfrom40%to63%,withameanof53%(Table1).ThethreeRVHAcategorieswiththe
6

lowestscoreswereepifaunalsubstrate/availablecover,embeddedness,andsedimentdeposition,
owingtothedepositionofmarlandfinesediments(Table1;Table2).Althoughthesescoresarelower
thanmaybeexpectedforbrooktroutstreamswithintheregion,thehighdegreeoffinesediment
observedwithinRockymarshRunismostlikelyanaturalcomponentofkarstdominatedsystems.
AlthoughmarlwaspervasivethroughoutRockymarshRun,potentialspawningsiteswerestill
prevalent.Therewasapproximately370m
2
ofavailablespawninggravelalongthemainstem,ranging
from0to79m
2
amongreaches(Table1).However,thedepositionoffinesedimentshasbeenshownto
decreaseeggsurvival,preventingsuccessfulreproductioninvarioussalmonidspecies(ReiserandWhite
1988;Greigetal.2005;Jensenetal.2009).Embeddednessscoresofpotentialspawningsitesranging
from1to18,suggestingthatbothpoorandexcellentspawningsitesexistalongthemainstemof
RockymarshRun.Itisnotablethatreachesdirectlydownstreamofcoldwaterinputshadthehighest
relativeabundanceofgravelandthelowestrelativeabundanceoffines(Figure5).Thehighlevelof
dissolvedCO
2
presentwhenwaterisreleasedfromaspringresultsinalowerpHthatpreventsCaCO
3

andpromotesCaCO
3
dissolution.Thus,areasdirectlybelowlargerspringsmayserveascritical
spawninghabitat.
Theprecipitationandtransportofmarlcanresultinconsiderableincreasesinturbidity.
Turbidityhasbeenshowntoreducetheforagingabilityofbrooktrout,ultimatelyleadingtoadecrease
infishproduction(SwekaandHartman2001).TheturbidityofRockymarshRunwasconsistentlybelow
10NTUduringbaseflowconditionsinthefallof2008.Brooktroutreactivedistance,preyencounter
rate,andforagingsuccessareoptimizedatturbiditylevelsbelow15NTU(SwekaandHartman2001),
suggestingoptimalconditionswithinRockymarshRunduringlowflowconditions.
Lastly,connectivitybetweennecessaryhabitatsisextremelyimportantforthesurvivalofbrook
troutpopulations(PettyandLamothe2005).Thisconnectivityisoftenseverelydiminishedbythe
presenceofculvertswithinagivenwatershed(PoplarJeffersetal.2008).Withinthemainstemof
RockymarshRun,weidentified10roadcrossingsthathaveassociatedculverts.Withtheexceptionofa
potentialbarrieratthemouthofRockymarshRun(CulvertonDam4Road),allculvertssurveyed
appearedtobepassablebybrooktrout.BasedonthecriteriaoutlinedbyPoplarJeffersetal.(2009),
allculvertsappeartohaveeithergreenorgraypassability.Althoughculvertsdidnothavea
continuouslayerofsubstrate,noneoftheculvertssampledhadanassociatedoverhangatbaseflow
conditions.Furthermore,theinletofeachculvertwaswellwithinthewater.Theseresultssuggestthat
themajorityofculvertswithinRockymarshRunarepassablebybrooktroutduringsomeportionofthe
year.
Principalcomponentsanalysisonhabitatvariablesprovidedseveralinterestingresults
regardinghabitatqualityandcomplexity.Axis1separatedstreamsbasedonsedimenttypeand
habitatcomplexity(Figure6).Reacheswithhigh%gravelandavailablespawninggravelwerealso
characterizedbyhighRVHAscores.Interestingly,thesesiteswerecharacterizedbylessLWDand
higherrelativedistancestofishcover(DFC/MSW).Conversely,reachescharacterizedbyhighamounts
offinesedimenttendedtobedominatedbylargerpools(increasedmeandepth)withhigheramounts
ofLWDanddecreaseddistancestofishcover.Axis2separatedsitesbasedonhabitatqualityand
complexity,withincreasingscorescorrespondingtoincreasedhabitatqualityandcomplexity(i.e.
LWD/m,retentiveness,CVdepth,RVHA)andstreamsize(meandepth;Figure3).DecreasingAxis2
scorescorrespondedtoincreasedrelativedistancetofishcover.
Basedontheseresults,itappearsRockymarshRuncontainsthenecessaryhabitat
requirementsforareproducingbrooktroutpopulation;however,habitatrestorationcouldenhancethe
chanceofsurvival.Largeadultshavebeenshowntodistributethemselveswithrespecttoseasonally
importanthabitatcharacteristics,suchascoverandincreasingstreamdepth(Pettyetal.2005).In
contrast,spawningadultandjuvenilebrooktrouttendtoconcentrateinsmallersystemswithabundant
spawninggravelandcover(Pettyetal.2005).InRockymarshRun,areaswithhighspawninggravel
7

tendedtobenearcoldwaterinputsandhavelowcomplexityandavailablecover.Thus,although
spawninghabitatexistswithinRockymarshRun,theadditionofLWDandavailablecoverintheseareas
mayhelpensurebrooktroutpopulationsurvival.Furthermore,frequentassessmentsofculvertsand
potentialLWDbarriersneedtobeconductedtoensureconnectivitybetweenthesecriticalhabitat
types.

BenthicMacroinvertebrates:
Over24,000individualswereidentifiedinthe15samples.mWVSCIscoresrangedfrom19to
41,withameanWVSCIscoreof32(Table3).SiteswithhighermWVSCIscorestendedtohavehigher
%EPT,%E,andEPTrichness,aswellaslower%tolerance.TheseresultssuggestthatRockymarshRun
ishighlyimpairedandmaybeincapableofsustainingahealthyecosystemorareproducingbrooktrout
population.However,theuniqueinstreamphysicalandchemicalconditionsassociatedwiththe
uniquegeologylikelysupportanaturalmacroinvertebratecommunitymuchdifferentfromthe
referencecommunitiesusedduringtheconstructionofWVSCI.Webelievethatthe
macroinvertebratecommunityinRockymarshRunissufficienttosupportareproducingbrooktrout
population.Itisnotablethatapproximately20,000individualsbelongedtotheordersIsopoda(sow
bugs)andAmphipoda(scuds;Appendix1),whichwebelievewouldofferanadequatefoodsource.

COMPARISONTOPREVIOUSSTUDIES

SeveralstudiescurrentlybeingconductedinVirginiahaveproducedpreliminaryresultsthat
documentsurvivalandreproductionwithinreintroducedbrooktroutpopulations.Followingafiveday
rainfalleventintheBlueRidgeMountainsnearMadisonCounty,VAin1995,severefloodinganddebris
slidesresultedindrasticchangestoinstreamhabitatandfishcommunitystructureintwomountain
streams(GarthandKinseyRun;MikeIsel(VADGIF)andSteveOwens(VADGIF),Personal
Communication).SamplingconductedbytheVADepartmentofGameandInlandFisheriesin1997
documentedadrasticallyreducedbrooktroutpopulation,andby2007,brooktroutwerecompletely
extirpatedfrombothstreams.InSeptember2008,approximately100brooktroutwerereintroduced
intoeachstream.Samplingconductedthefollowingspringyieldedapproximately45brooktroutthat
rangedfrom52to100mm.Thisdataindicatesthatreproductionhadoccurredshortlyafterthere
introduction.Duetolowerrecaptureratesthanexpected,77morebrooktroutweretransplantedinto
oneofthestreamsinthefallof2009toaugmenttheexistingpopulation(MikeIsel(VADGIF)andSteve
Owens(VADGIF),PersonalCommunication).

RECOMMENDATIONS

Basedonthepreliminarydata,itisrecommendedthatbrooktroutbereintroducedinto
RockymarshRun.Wesuggestthereleaseofyoungoftheyear(YOY)inthespring,followedbythe
releaseofadultsinthefall.Webelievethisreintroductionschedulewillprovidethegreatestpotential
fortheestablishmentofaselfsustainingbrooktroutpopulationwithinRockymarshRun.

POTENTIALCONCURRENTSTUDIES

Inassociationwiththebrooktroutreintroduction,webelievethatthereispotentialtogain
furtherinsightintoimportantprocessesoccurringwithinthetransplantedpopulation.Threepotential
projectsarebrieflylistedbelow:
8

1. AllfishwillbemarkedbeforetheyareintroducedintoRockymarshRun.Thus,amark
recapturestudycouldbeusedtomeasurespatialpopulationdynamicsanddemographics(e.g.
apparentsurvival),aswellasindividualgrowthrates.
2. Atelemetrystudycouldbeusedtogaininsightintothemovementandholdinglocation
patternsofbrooktroutwithinRockymarshRun.
3. Anenclosurestudycouldalsobeusedtomeasureinsitusurvivalofbrooktroutwithin
RockymarshRun.

LITERATURECITED

Barbour,M.T.,J.Gerritsen,B.D.Snyder,andJ.B.Stribling.1999.Rapidbioassessmentprotocolsfor
useinstreamsandwadeablerivers:periphyton,benthicmacroinvertebrates,andfish.2
nd

Edition.EPA841B99002.OfficeofWater,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,
Washington,D.C.
Cooper,E.L.andR.C.Scherer.1967.Annualproductionofbrooktrout(Salvelinusfontinalis)infertile
andinfertilestreamsofPennsylvania.ProceedingsofthePennsylvaniaAcademyofScience41:
6570.
Freund,J.G.andJ.T.Petty.2007.Responseoffishandmacroinvertebratebioassessmentindicesto
waterchemistryinaminedAppalachianwatershed.EnvironmentalManagement39:707720.
Gerritsen,J.,J.Burton,andM.T.Barbour.2000.AstreamconditionindexforWestVirginiawadeable
streams.TetraTech,Inc.,OwingsMills,Maryland.(Availablefrom:
http://www.wvdep.org/Docs/536_WVIndex.pdf)
Greig,S.M.,D.A.Sear,andP.A.Carling.2005.Theimpactsoffinesedimentaccumulationonthe
survivalofincubatingsalmonprogeny:implicationsforsedimentmanagement.Scienceofthe
totalenvironment344(13):241258.
Jensen,D.W.,E.A.Steel,A.H.Fullerton,G.R.Pess.2009.Impactoffinesedimentoneggtofry
survivalofpacificsalmon:ametaanalysisofpublishedstudies.ReviewsinFisheriesScience
17(3):348359.
Kwak,T.J.andT.F.Waters.1997.TroutproductiondynamicsandwaterqualityinMinnesotastreams.
TransactionsoftheAmericanFisheriesSociety126:3548.
Merovich,G.T.andJ.T.Petty.2007.Interactiveeffectsofmultiplestressorsandrestorationpriorities
inaminedAppalachianwatershed.Hydrobiologia575:1331.
Minter,M.S.2009.Organicmatterprocessingandopportunitiesforstreammitigationinan
intensivelyminedWestVirginiawatershed.Mastersthesis.WestVirginiaUniversity,
Morgantown.
Petty,J.T.,J.Freund,P.Lamothe,P.Mazik.2001.QuantifyinginstreamhabitatintheupperShavers
Forkbasinatmultiplespatialscales.ProceedingsoftheAnnualConferenceofthe
SoutheasternAssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies55:8194.
Petty,J.T.,P.J.Lamothe,andP.M.Mazik.2005.Spatialandseasonaldynamicsofbrooktrout
populationsinhabitingacentralAppalachianwatershed.TransactionsoftheAmerican
FisheriesSociety134:572587.
PoplarJeffers,I.O.,J.T.Petty,J.T.Anderson,S.J.Kite,M.P.Strager,andR.H.Fortney.2009.Culvert
replacementandstreamhabitatrestoration:implicationsfrombrooktroutmanagementinan
Appalachianwatershed,U.S.A.RestorationEcology17:404413.
Raleigh,R.F.1982.Habitatsuitabilityindexmodels:brooktrout.FWS/OBS82/10.24.U.S.Dep.Ofthe
Interior,FishandWildlifeService,Washington,DC.
9

Reiser,D.W.andR.G.White.1988.Effectsoftwosedimentsizeclassesonsurvivalofsteelheadand
chinooksalmoneggs.NorthAmericanJournalofFisheriesManagement8:432437.
Sweka,J.A.andK.J.Hartman.2001.Influenceofturbidityonbrooktroutreactivedistanceand
foragingsuccess.TransactionsoftheAmericanFisheriesSociety130:138146.
10

Table 1. Physical habitat measures for each reach. MSW = mean stream width (m); Avg Depth = average depth (m), CV = coefficient of variation; LWD = large
woody debris; DFC = distance to fish cover (m); Ret = total retentiveness; RVHA = rapid visual habitat assessment; SG = spawning grave (m
2
)l; B = boulder; C =
cobble; G = gravel; S = Sand; F = Fines; CD = calcified deposition. Calcified deposition refers to deposited marl that has hardened into a calcified substrate.
Reach MSW Length AvgDepth CVDepth LWD LWD/m DFC DFC/MSW Ret %RVHA SG %SG %B %C %G %S %F %CD
R1 4.7 88 0.35 65.8 32 0.36 3.3 0.71 10 63.0 9.8 2.4 26.3 0.0 21.1 15.8 0.0 36.8
R2 6.6 109 0.46 43.9 56 0.51 2.5 0.38 2 55.0 2.9 0.4 0.0 0.0 12.1 12.1 69.7 6.1
R3 8.0 352 0.49 47.6 72 0.20 3.7 0.47 11 54.5 7.3 0.3 2.3 3.4 13.6 4.5 76.1 0.0
R4 5.9 293 0.42 34.8 88 0.30 3.2 0.55 11 62.0 0.7 0.0 6.9 7.9 13.9 12.9 57.4 1.0
R5 6.9 276 0.49 40.8 74 0.27 2.7 0.40 10 56.0 2.8 0.1 10.0 8.8 7.5 1.3 68.8 3.8
R6 5.2 232 0.43 41.3 40 0.17 5.0 0.96 7 56.0 8.4 0.7 4.5 11.2 18.0 10.1 46.1 9.0
R7 6.0 309 0.36 54.8 51 0.17 4.2 0.70 12 61.0 1.2 0.1 7.8 13.6 10.7 6.8 42.7 18.4
R8 5.4 214 0.55 28.9 76 0.36 1.9 0.35 8 47.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 2.5 3.8 92.5 0.0
R9 5.8 261 0.43 22.5 91 0.35 2.9 0.51 10 50.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 80.0 0.0
R10 6.0 249 0.42 45.5 78 0.31 1.7 0.29 11 56.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 37.3 61.4 0.0
R11 4.0 172 0.39 35.2 64 0.37 2.9 0.71 8 54.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 41.9 55.8 0.0
R12 4.2 168 0.42 36.1 10 0.06 2.9 0.70 6 45.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 7.5 2.5 7.5 82.5 0.0
R13 3.8 152 0.43 26.3 12 0.08 2.0 0.52 4 44.0 29.3 5.1 2.5 5.0 15.0 15.0 62.5 0.0
R14 3.7 152 0.38 25.1 12 0.08 2.4 0.65 4 46.0 17.9 3.2 0.0 2.4 22.0 48.8 26.8 0.0
R15 4.5 144 0.34 45.0 20 0.14 2.9 0.64 5 60.5 78.7 12.1 3.1 0.0 25.0 25.0 46.9 0.0
R16 4.5 257 0.35 29.0 6 0.02 2.4 0.52 3 61.5 66.9 5.8 1.8 0.0 43.9 31.6 22.8 0.0
R17 4.0 152 0.48 50.3 13 0.09 2.0 0.49 6 62.5 1.6 0.3 2.6 7.9 7.9 18.4 60.5 2.6
R18 3.7 159 0.39 34.8 21 0.13 1.9 0.52 6 53.5 0.9 0.2 0.0 2.3 11.6 2.3 76.7 7.0
R19 4.6 202 0.33 35.4 40 0.20 2.2 0.47 10 54.0 2.4 0.3 0.0 2.3 6.8 25.0 61.4 4.5
R20 4.9 196 0.22 36.6 1 0.01 12.7 2.60 2 43.0 2.4 0.3 0.0 2.5 2.5 25.0 67.5 2.5
R21 4.9 235 0.29 37.8 22 0.09 5.0 1.01 5 58.5 48.2 4.2 0.0 6.3 27.1 6.3 56.3 4.2
R22 3.9 249 0.35 35.5 13 0.05 2.9 0.75 5 54.5 11.9 1.2 1.6 4.7 17.2 7.8 67.2 1.6
R23 4.5 194 0.33 32.5 44 0.23 2.4 0.54 9 46.5 4.9 0.6 4.7 9.3 7.0 14.0 62.8 2.3
R24 4.0 184 0.39 27.9 65 0.35 1.7 0.43 11 43.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.7 0.0 8.7 80.4 2.2
R25 6.0 267 0.63 31.1 123 0.46 2.0 0.34 12 44.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 97.8 0.0
R26 4.8 192 0.62 32.4 58 0.30 2.2 0.46 11 44.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0
R27 5.6 325 0.37 36.2 142 0.44 2.2 0.40 11 56.5 15.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 5.2 8.6 79.3 5.2
R28 4.3 172 0.33 30.6 18 0.10 4.9 1.14 7 40.0 13.4 1.8 0.0 5.0 17.5 7.5 65.0 5.0

11

Table 1. Continued
Reach MSW Length AvgDepth CVDepth LWD LWD/m DFC DFC/MSW Ret %RVHA SG %SG %B %C %G %S %F %CD
R29 4.3 172 0.25 29.6 37 0.22 7.4 1.73 11 58.0 1.0 0.1 0.0 15.0 7.5 7.5 67.5 2.5
R30 3.8 152 0.42 15.5 17 0.11 1.5 0.38 4 46.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 2.5 17.5 55.0 20.0
R31 3.0 120 0.41 26.9 5 0.04 1.4 0.45 4 48.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.5 52.5 10.0
R32 3.3 122 0.37 32.3 6 0.05 1.5 0.45 4 55.5 40.0 9.9 0.0 5.4 10.8 8.1 73.0 2.7

12

Table 2. Total, percent, and component rapid visual habitat assessment (RVHA) scores for the 32 reaches. ES/AC = epifaunal substrate and available
cover; Embed = embeddedness; V/D = velocity/depth; SD = sediment deposition; CFS = channel flow status; CA = channel alteration; FR = frequency of
riffles; LBS = left bank stability; RBS = right bank stability; LBVP = left bank vegetative protection; RBVP = right bank vegetative protection; LRZW = left
riparian zone width; RRZW = right riparian zone width. Reaches are sorted based on %RVHA score. Mean scores for each component are presented.
Reach ES/AC Embed V/D Regime SD CFS CA FR LBS RBS LBVP RBVP LRZW RRZW Total %RVHA
R1 8 5 17 12 20 8 9 10 10 9 8 5 5 126 63.0
R17 5 11 15 4 19 15 7 9 9 9 7 10 5 125 62.5
R4 3 1 12 1 19 20 14 8 6 10 10 10 10 124 62.0
R16 13 11 10 5 17 19 14 8 8 7 7 2 2 123 61.5
R7 5 4 17 7 19 15 13 6 7 10 10 4 5 122 61.0
R15 10 10 7 3 16 18 13 7 7 8 8 7 7 121 60.5
R21 10 3 15 7 19 18 10 8 8 7 7 2 3 117 58.5
R29 8 6 10 4 19 13 6 10 10 8 10 2 10 116 58.0
R27 4 2 10 1 18 18 4 9 9 10 10 9 9 113 56.5
R5 3 1 16 2 19 16 11 5 6 8 9 6 10 112 56.0
R6 5 5 17 6 19 15 12 6 6 6 7 2 6 112 56.0
R10 3 2 12 5 19 19 7 10 10 9 9 3 4 112 56.0
R32 3 2 9 2 19 18 12 10 10 10 10 3 3 111 55.5
R2 3 1 5 5 19 17 3 10 10 10 10 8 9 110 55.0
R3 1 1 6 2 19 18 3 10 9 10 10 10 10 109 54.5
R22 6 3 10 3 16 15 10 9 9 9 9 5 5 109 54.5
R11 3 7 13 5 19 19 10 5 5 7 7 4 4 108 54.0
R19 4 4 12 3 15 19 11 9 9 7 9 3 3 108 54.0
R18 4 2 6 2 19 18 6 9 9 8 8 8 8 107 53.5
R9 3 1 3 6 19 19 4 10 10 9 9 4 4 101 50.5
R31 2 3 2 2 19 20 10 10 10 7 7 2 2 96 48.0
R8 4 1 4 1 19 19 3 9 8 9 8 5 4 94 47.0
R23 6 3 7 3 18 12 8 9 5 9 6 4 3 93 46.5
R30 3 3 1 3 19 15 4 10 10 5 9 2 9 93 46.5
R14 7 5 7 3 15 19 8 7 2 7 6 5 1 92 46.0
R12 3 2 12 3 19 17 12 4 4 5 5 2 2 90 45.0
R25 1 1 1 1 19 20 1 9 9 9 9 5 4 89 44.5
13

Table 2. Continued
Reach ES/AC Embed V/D Regime SD CFS CA FR LBS RBS LBVP RBVP LRZW RRZW Total %RVHA
R13 7 3 10 2 19 19 9 2 2 6 6 2 1 88 44.0
R26 1 1 1 1 19 20 1 9 9 10 10 3 3 88 44.0
R20 2 2 7 2 19 19 4 9 7 7 5 2 1 86 43.0
R24 2 2 3 2 19 18 3 9 8 8 7 3 2 86 43.0
R28 4 3 2 2 16 14 5 10 10 5 6 2 1 80 40.0
Mean 4.6 3.5 8.7 3.4 18.4 17.2 7.7 8.3 7.8 8.1 8.1 4.5 4.8 105.0 52.5

14

Table 3. Macroinvertebrate community metrics for 15 sites throughout Rockymarsh Run. WVSCI = West Virginia
Stream Condition Index; Tot Num = total number; EPT = Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera; Tol =
tolerant; MHI = modified Hilsenhoff Index; Dom = dominant of the 1 dominant taxa; Frich = family richness.
Site WVSCI Tot Num % EPT EPT % Tol % E MHI % Dom Frich
RM 0 39.2 212 22.6 1 34.0 0.0 6.1 30.2 7
RM 21 23.1 521 0.0 0 76.8 0.0 7.0 59.9 7
RM 24 25.5 2421 0.0 0 23.1 0.0 7.0 73.0 5
RM 25 29.8 565 0.0 0 38.2 0.0 6.7 31.7 6
RM 26 37.4 369 2.4 2 10.9 2.2 6.9 82.4 6
RM 27 39.2 688 0.1 1 5.8 0.0 6.7 74.1 8
RM 28 34.3 100 0.0 0 16.1 0.0 6.5 42.0 7
RM 30 31.3 403 8.2 1 22.1 0.0 6.4 65.8 6
RM 31 41.0 431 5.6 2 10.2 1.9 6.1 82.1 7
RM 33 27.0 319 0.0 0 27.3 0.0 7.0 52.4 6
RM 34 36.3 15695 0.0 1 0.6 0.0 6.9 92.4 6
RM 35 30.5 956 0.0 0 25.0 0.0 5.9 49.4 7
RM 36 36.0 640 16.3 2 49.7 12.5 6.5 43.4 10
RM 37 28.4 73 0.0 0 22.1 0.0 6.5 60.3 6
RM 38 19.1 279 0.0 0 75.3 0.0 7.6 69.2 4


15

Figure 1. Map showing the 32 study reaches within the mainstem of Rockymarsh Run (i.e. below the forks). Site
boundaries indicated by black bars, and sites are labeled by reach number. Sites were numbered from 1 to 32 in
successive order from the mouth to the confluence of the forks.
16

Figure 2. Map indicating macroinvertebrate collection sites.

17

Figure 3. Map showing % rapid visual habitat assessment scores for each reach along the mainstem of the
Rockymarsh Run mainstem.
18

Figure 4. Map showing the percentage of fine sediments within each reach throughout the mainstem of
Rockymarsh Run.
19

Figure 5. Figure showing the area of spawning gravel (m

2
) in each reach throughout the mainstem of
Rockymarsh Run.
20

Habitat PC1
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
H
a
b
i
t
a
t

P
C
2
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
- ' '
` < - ' `
- ` ` `
~ ' > ` ` '
" ' ' ' ` '
' ~ ' ' '
'
> ' ~ ' ' `
' ~ ' '
'

`
`

'

'

'

'

'

"
'
'

'

'
`

'

~
'

'
'

-
`

`
'

>
'

~
'

'
`

'

>
`

'

Figure 6. Scatter plot of the first two principal components (eigenvalues > 1.0) run on physical habitat data
among the 32 study reaches. Variables with factor loadings > |0.40| are shown along each axis. Arrows
indicate the direction of increase for each variable.
21

Appendix 1. Family-level macroinvertebrate community data for the 15 sites sampled throughout the Rockymarsh Run watershed in
2008.

Sites
Taxa 0 21 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38
Turbellaria
Oligochaeta 48 16 1 4 88 40 17
Aeolosomatidae
Nematoda
Nemertea
Hirudinidae
Corbiculidae
Sphaeriidae
Clams 1 16 10 14 239 8 1
Planorbidae
Physidae
Lymnaeidae
Snails 56 35 10 179 16 3 1 2 604 16 2
Cambaridae 1 1 1 1
Gammaridae 33 84 24 64 19 265 354 50 1091 33 143 44 66
Talitridae
Crangonyctidae
Asellidae 1768 146 304 510 42 16 8 167 14505 124 34 8
Baetidae 8 8 80
Caenidae
Heptageniidae
Isonychiidae
Leptophlebiidae
Ephemerellidae
Siphlonuridae
Tricorythidae
Ephemeridae
Ameletidae
Neoephemeridae
Oligoneuriidae
Unknown Mayfly
22

Sites
Taxa 0 21 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38
Hydropsychidae 40 1 1 33 16 1 24
Philopotamidae
Rhyacophilidae
Polycentropodidae
Lepidostomatidae
Limnephilidae
Leptoceridae
Odontoceridae
Hydroptilidae
Glossosomatidae
Brachycentridae
Helicopsychidae
Psychomyiidae
Unkown Caddisfly 8
Chloroperlidae
Capniidae/Leuctridae
Perlidae
Pteronarcyidae
Perlodidae
Peltoperlidae
Nemouridae
Unknown Stonefly
Gomphidae 1
Cordulegastridae
Aeshnidae
Calopterygidae
Libellulidae
Coenagrionidae
Unkown Dragonfly 8
Elmidae 16 40 8
Psephenidae
Chrysomelidae
Ptilodactylidae
Curculionidae
23

Sites
Taxa 0 21 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38
Dytiscidae 30
Staphylinidae
Haliplidae
Carabidae
Hydrophilidae
Georyssidae
Dryopidae
Gyrinidae
Tenebrionidae
Helophoridae
Corydalidae
Sialidae
Pyralidae
Cossidae
Corixidae
Gerridae
Saldidae
Veliidae
Chironomidae 64 312 8 176 32 40 16 72 40 86 432 278 16 193
Tipulidae 2 8 16 2 3
Tabanidae
Dolichopodidae
Simuliidae 8 40 551 24 16 40
Athericidae
Empididae
Ceratopogonidae 8
Blephariceridae
Sciomyzidae
Dixidae
Stratiomyidae
Tanyderidae 1
Unknown Diptera
Uenoidae
Molannidae
24

Sites
Taxa 0 21 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 38
Phryganeidae
Hydracarina
Muscidae
Aphididae
Noctuidae
Halipidae
Ephydridae
Sminthuridae
Thaumaleidae
Lestidae
Baetiscidae
Isotomidae 48 8
Cyclopoida
Unionidae
Taeniopterygidae
Poduridae
Tortricidae
Psychodidae
Sum 212 521 2421 565 369 688 100 403 431 319 15695 1480 640 73 279



1
AppendixI

WaterQualityMonitoringfortheRockymarshRunTargetedWatershedGrant

QAQCSummaryReport
January2011

I. Introduction

Thisprojectresultedinabodyofwaterqualitydata.Tothebestofourknowledgeandintent,
thisworkproductreceivedtherequirednatureandscopeofQualityAssuranceProjectPlan
(QAPP)oversightappropriatefortheintendeduseofthedata.

Thedatasets,dataproductsandothersupportingQAdocumentationwillbemaintainedon
file,asnotedintheQAPP,foratleastsevenyearsfromthedatethatthefinalreportisissued.

EachsamplingsitesidentificationanddescriptionisoutlinedintheRockymarshRunTargeted
WatershedGrant(RRTWG)QAPPandfinalreport.Samplingfrequency(annualormonthly)
andtype(graborcomposite),aswellastheparametersanalyzedandpreservationtechniques
used,arealsooutlinedintheRRTWGQAPPandwerefollowedthroughoutthisstudy.During
eachsamplingevent,informationforeachsamplingsitewasrecordedontheappropriate
FreshwaterInstituteRockymarshRunWaterQualityFieldNotesformandthecontract
laboratoryschainofcustodyform.Allcompletedforms(originalsand/orcopies)areonfile
andavailableforreviewasneeded.

ThecollectionofwaterqualitydatabeganinOctober,2007andwascompletedinDecember,
2010,resultinginabodyofdatageneratedfromtwentyeight(28)monthlysamplingeventsof
onesiteonRockymarshRun,three(3)annualbaseflowsamplingeventsofvarioussiteslocated
throughoutRockymarshRun,andonefinalabbreviatedbaseflowsamplingeventoffour(4)
siteswithinRockymarshRun.Thewatersamplescollectedduringeachmonthlysamplingevent
werecollectedovereighthoursandcompositedpriortoanalysis,exceptforthebacteria
samples,whichweretakenasgrabsamples.Thesamplescollectedduringeachannual
samplingeventweretakenasgrabsamples.

ThemonthlyeventwatersampleswerecollectedfromonesiteonRockymarshRun,site#731
126.ThesampleswerecompositedandpreservedbyFreshwaterInstitutepersonnelaccording
toprotocolsoutlinedintheQAPP.SamplesweresenttoHydrochemLaboratoriesInc.,a
WVDEPcertifiedlaboratory,foranalysisofthefollowingwaterqualityparameters:
fecalcoliformbacteria
totalsuspendedsolids(TSS)
totalKjeldahlnitrogen(TKN)
ammonianitrogen(TAN)
nitrate(NO3)
nitrite(NO2)
totalphosphorus(TP)

2
Inadditiontothewaterqualityparameterslistedpreviously,personnelatFreshwaterInstitute
wereresponsibleforcollectingthefollowingmonthlyfielddata:
waterandairtemperatures
dissolvedoxygen
specificconductance
pH

MonthlyQCsamplesincludedlaboratoryduplicates,laboratorycontrolsandblanks,anda
matrixspikeforeachparameteranalyzed.

Alongwiththeparameterslistedforeachmonthlysamplingevent,theannualbaseline
samplingeventsalsoincluded:
totalcoliform,ifpossible
E.colibacteria,ifpossible
carbondioxide(CO2)
alkalinity
dissolvedmetals
hardness
turbidity
flow

HydrochemLaboratoriesInc.analyzedtheannualeventsamplesfor:
allmonthlywaterqualityparameterslistedpreviously
totalcoliform
E.colibacteria

FreshwaterInstitutelaboratorypersonnelanalyzedthesamplesfor:
CO2
Alkalinity
Hardness
Turbidity
flow

CornellNutrientAnalysisLaboratoryanalyzedtheannualeventsamplesfor:
dissolvedmetals

QCsamplesfortheannualsamplingeventsincluded:

laboratorymethodblanks
laboratorystandards
samplingequipmentblanks
laboratoryfortifiedmatrixspikes(excludingmetals)
laboratorysplitduplicates
fieldduplicates

3
Forthisproject,onesamplingequipmentblankprocedurewasperformed,accordingto
FreshwaterInstitutesstandardoperatingprocedure,andtheresultingsampleswereanalyzed
forthefollowingwaterqualityparameters:

TSS
TKN
TAN
NO2
NO3
TP

II. SummaryofQA/QCActivities

A.LaboratoryMethodBlanks
Laboratorymethodblankswereusedtoassessthepotentialforlaboratorycontamination
introducedduringsamplepreparationand/oranalysis.Laboratorymethodblankswere
consideredacceptableifthetargetanalyteconcentrationswerebelowtheirrespectivemethod
detectionlimit(MDL).ThemethodblankswereprocessedaccordingtotheQualityAssurance
andQualityControlPlan(QAQCPlan)and/orStandardOperatingProcedures(SOPs)of
HydroChemLaboratories,Inc.andCornellNutrientAnalysisLaboratoryandareonfileattheir
locations.Accordingtobothlaboratories,laboratorymethodblankswereacceptableforall
testsperformedontheRRTWGsamples.

B.LaboratoryStandards
Laboratorystandardswereanalyzedtoassesstheaccuracyofagivenanalyticalmethod.
LaboratorystandardswerepreparedaccordingtotheQAQCPlanand/orSOPsofHydroChem
Laboratories,Inc.andCornellNutrientAnalysisLaboratoryandtheaccuracyoftheresultswere
assessedthroughthecalculationofapercentrecovery.Thisdataisonfileattheirlocations.
Accordingtobothlaboratories,laboratorystandardswereacceptableforalltestsperformedon
theRRTWGsamples.

C.SamplingEquipmentBlanks
Samplingequipment(autosampler)blankswereusedtoassesstheautosamplerspotentialto
contaminatesamplesduringthemonthlycollectionevents.AccordingtoFreshwaterInstitutes
SOP,distilledwaterwascollectedbytheautosamplerinamannerrepresentativeofanormal
fieldcollectionevent.Sampleswereprocessedascompositesamples,preserved,if
appropriate,andsenttoHydrochemLaboratories,Inc.foranalysisofTSS,TKN,TAN,nitrate,
nitrite,andtotalphosphorus.Samplingequipmentblankvalueswerecalculatedbysubtracting
theautosamplersvaluefromthebaselinevalueandwereconsideredtobeacceptableifthe
targetanalyteconcentrationintheautosamplersamplewasequaltoorbelowtherespective
methoddetectionlimitforeachwaterqualityparameteranalyzed(seeTable1).


4

Table1:RockymarshRunTargetedWatershedGrant
SamplingEquipmentBlankAnalysis
1/21/2010
TSS
(mg/L)
TKN
(mg/L)
TAN
(mg/L)
Nitrite
(mg/L)
Nitrate
(mg/L)
Total
Phosphorus
(mg/L)
Laboratory
Minimum
DetectionLimit
(MDL)
1.0 0.25 0.25 0.005 0.10 0.02

Baselinevalue 2.00 <0.25 <0.25 <0.005 <0.10 0.10
Autosampler#1 1.00 <0.25 <0.25 <0.005 <0.10 <0.02
Autosampler#2 2.00 <0.25 <0.25 <0.005 <0.10 <0.02

Autosampler#1
TargetedAnalyte
Value
MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL
Autosampler#1
TargetedAnalyte
Value
<MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL <MDL

D.LaboratoryFortifiedSampleMatrixSpikes
Alaboratoryfortifiedsamplematrixspikewasusedtoevaluatetheeffectofthesamplematrix
(streamwater)ontherecoveryofthetargetanalyte(s).Matrixspikeswerepreparedby
HydrochemLaboratories,Inc.Aliquotsofrandomlyselectedfieldsampleswerespikedwitha
knownamountoftargetanalyte.Successfulrecovery(%R)ofthematrixspikewasdefinedas
100%25%recoveryofaknownamountofanalyte(seeTable2).

5
Table2:SummaryAnalysisofMatrixSpikeRecovery
(%R)
Date TKN(%)
TAN
(%)
Nitrite
(%)
Nitrat
e(%)
TotalPhosphorus
(%)
09/2009 100.0 100.0 94.0 85.0 105.0
10/2009 84.00 92.00 99.00 94.00 100.00
10/2009 108.0 98.0 105.0 96.0 93.0
10/2009 99.0 96.0 100.0 84.0 101.0
01/2010 96.0 100.0 100.0 93.0 96.0
02//2010 101.0 98.0 100.0 94.0 92.0
03/2010 98.0 96.0 100.0 84.0 94.0
04/2010 93.0 97.0 100.0 92.0 100.0
05/2010 98.0 99.0 104.0 110.0 98.0
06/2010 105.0 100.0 93.0 118.0 97.0
07/2010 101.2 99.5 94.2 96.0 92.0
08/2010 101.0 100.0 99.8 89.9 99.0
10/2010 98.5 100.0 96.4 108.2 91.2
Minimum%
Recovery
84.0 92.0 93.0 84.0 91.2
Maximum%
Recovery
108.0 100.0 105.0 118.0 105.0


6
E.LaboratoryDuplicates
Laboratoryduplicateswereanalyzedtoassesslaboratoryprecision.Laboratoryduplicatesweremadebysplittingthesampleinthelaboratory
atHydrochemLaboratories,Inc.priortoanalysisorintheFreshwaterInstituteLaboratorypriortoanalysisorshipment(formetals).Relative
percentdifference(RPD)orpercentrelativestandarddeviation(PRSD),ifappropriate,wascalculatedforeachparameteranalyzed(seeTables
3AandB).PrecisionwasconsideredacceptableiftheRPD/PRSDwas25%.Dataover25%RPD/PRSDcouldbefoundtobeacceptableif
adequatelyqualified

Table3A:SummaryAnalysisofPrecisionofLaboratoryDuplicates
WaterQualityParameter
(as%RPDor%PRSD)
Date TSS TKN
FC
Bacteria
TAN Nitrite Nitrate
Total
Phosphorus
Total
Coliform
Bacteria
E.
coli
Alkalinity Turbidity Hardness

09/2009 6.67 0.00 16.67 0.00 9.09 6.65 0.00
10/2009 0.00 0.00 4.92 0.00 0.00 5.26 33.33 9.52 6.06
10/2009 20.00 0.00 6.25 0.00 15.38 1.87 22.22 6.25 7.79
10/2009 0.00 0.00 9.30 0.00 6.45 1.09 0.00
01/2010 0.00 0.00 6.67 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.00
02/2010 4.26 0.00 2.47 0.00 1.34 0.43 4.65
03/2010 5.13 0.00 5.71 0.00 0.00 3.60 0.00
04/2010 0.00 0.00 3.28 0.00 0.00 0.85 0.00
05/2010 7.41 0.00 8.96 0.00 0.00 1.38 0.00
06/2010 0.00 0.00 8.00 0.00 0.00 1.59 0.00
07/2010 5.71 0.00 15.38 0.00 0.00 1.20 0.00
08/2010 3.28 0.00 8.70 0.00 0.00 1.08 18.18
10/2010 0.00 6.45 2.74 0.00 0.00 1.14 23.19
12/2010 0.00 0.00 6.90 0.00 0.00 0.95 0.00 0.00 6.06 6.99
Maximum
RPD/PRSD
(%)
20.00 6.45 16.67 0.00 15.38 6.65 33.33 9.52 7.79 0.00 6.06 6.99


7
Table3B:SummaryAnalysisofPrecisionofLaboratoryDuplicates
Metals
(as%RPDor%PRSD)
Oct/2009 Dec/2010
Maximum
RPD/PRSD(%)
P 0.00 0.00 0.00
Be 0.00 0.00 0.00
Na 4.88 0.16 4.88
Mg 2.47 0.19 2.47
Al 0.00 0.00 0.00
K 1.19 0.00 1.19
Ca(211.276) 2.50 0.49 2.50
Ca(317.933) 0.36 0.36
Ti 0.00 0.00 0.00
V 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cr 0.00 0.00 0.00
Mn 40.00 0.00 40.00
Fe 0.00 0.00 0.00
Co 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ni 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cu 0.00 0.00 0.00
Zn 33.33 0.00 33.33
As 0.00 0.00 0.00
Mo 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cd 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ba 6.45 4.44 6.45
Pb 0.00 0.00 0.00
Si 2.06 0.44 2.06
S 2.20 1.45 2.20
Se 0.00 0.00 0.00
Sr 2.20 1.08 2.20
B 0.00 0.00 0.00

IntheOctober2009samplingevent,theRPD/PRSDfortotalphosphorus,manganese,andzinc
werefoundtobegreaterthan25%.Inallinstances,theactualvaluesfortheseparameters
wereonlyslightlyabovetheMDLforeachparameter.Becauseofthecalculationerror
introducedbytheactualvalueofeachduplicatebeingneartheMDL,itwasdeterminedthat
precisionwasacceptableforthesewaterqualityparameters.

F.FieldDuplicates
Fieldduplicateswereanalyzedtoassessvariabilityintroducedbyfieldsamplingprocedures.
Fieldduplicateswerecollectedimmediatelyfromthesite,storedonice,andtransportedtothe
labforpreservation(ifappropriate),preparedforshipment,and/oranalyzed.RPD/PRSDwas
calculatedforeachparametertested(seeTable4).AccordingtotheQAPP,precisionis
consideredacceptableiftheRPD/PRSDis25%.Dataover25%RPD/PRSDcouldbefoundto
beacceptableifadequatelyqualified.


8

Table4:SummaryAnalysisofPrecisionofFieldDuplicates
(as%RPDor%PRSD)
10/6/2009 10/7/2009 12/2010
Maximum
RPD/RSD
(%)
TSS NA 28.57 0.00 28.57
TKN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
FecalColiformBacteria 15.38 1.07 13.86 15.38
TAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Nitrite 22.22 8.70 0.00 22.22
Nitrate 5.96 3.39 9.38 9.38
TotalPhosphorus 0.00 40.00 0.00 40.00
TotalColiformBacteria 9.52 7.41 9.52
E.coli 0.00 1.71 1.71
CO2 0.00 15.38 12.50 15.38
alkalinity 0.39 1.14 3.79 3.79
Turbidity 8.91 8.91
Hardness 1.85 0.96 5.39 5.39
pH 0.36 0.60 0.60
DissolvedOxygen 0.18 0.07 0.18
Conductivity 2.96 0.17 2.96
P 66.67 0.00 0.00 66.67
Be 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Na 1.99 1.25 0.64 1.99
Mg 2.26 0.60 1.33 2.26
Al 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
K 5.31 2.35 1.87 5.31
Ca(211.276) 2.37 0.36 1.97 2.37
Ca(317.933) 1.77 1.77
Ti 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
V 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cr 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Mn 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Fe 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Co 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ni 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cu 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Zn 28.57 22.22 0.00 28.57
As 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Mo 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cd 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Ba 9.84 0.00 0.00 9.84
Pb 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Si 2.50 0.32 1.30 2.50
S 1.76 0.11 0.48 1.76
Se 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Sr 2.15 0.00 3.28 3.28


9
B 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

IntheOctober2009samplingevent,theRPD/PRSDforTSS,totalphosphorus,phosphorus
(dissolvedmetal),andzincwerefoundtobegreaterthan25%.Inallinstances,theactual
valuesfortheseparameterswereonlyslightlyabovetheMDLforeachparameter.Becauseof
thecalculationerrorintroducedbytheactualvalueofeachduplicatebeingneartheMDL,it
wasdeterminedthatprecisionwasacceptableforthesewaterqualityparameters.

G.QualityAssuranceObjectives(QAO)
AsstatedintheQAPP,thequalityassuranceobjectivesforthisprojectconsistedoftheQC
specificationsforthedatacollectedandincludedspecificationsforprecision,accuracy,
representativeness,comparability,andcompleteness(PARC)ofthedata.Asdiscussed
previously,precisionandaccuracyweremetthroughachievingtheminimumspecificationfor
%RandRPD/PRSDforeachdatasetorsuccessfullyqualifyingthedata.Representativeness
andcomparabilityofthedatawasachievedbyfollowingtheprojectsQAPP,applicable
institutionalSOPsandQA/QCplans,andusingtheappropriateEPAandStandardMethodsfor
theExaminationofWaterandWastewaterprotocols.Finally,alldatacollectedwasdetermined
tomeettheQAOforthisproject;thereforedatacompletenessachieved100%.

H.Conclusion
UponreviewoftheQCdatageneratedforthisproject,wehavedeterminedtothebestofour
knowledgeandintentthatallapplicableQAPPelementsweremetandcompletedaccordingto
theprocedures,methods,andspecificationsoutlinedintheRRTWGQAPP.