# Presentation: 589335

## Birch Stream in Bangor -

**Susanne Meidel**
**Leon Tsomides**

**Birch Stream in Bangor -**
**Little Stream - BIG News**

- Wow,
- how beautiful!

- Oh, gross!

## Overview of Presentation

- _Regular small urban stream - not much news_
- •   Monitoring and landuse analysis by Maine DEP
- _Many developments - BIG news_
- •   Pollution problems
- •   Multiple studies
- •   Monitoring reports
- •   Remedial actions at airport complex
- •   Residents’ involvement
- •   Public meetings
- •   **Major publicity**
- _Future - good news ahead?_
- •   Monitoring by various groups
- •   TMDL development, by Maine DEP

## Birch 

**Birch **
**Stream**

**Notes:**
This map shows the Birch Stream watershed (the gray line), with Birch Stream being this little squiggle here.  Its headwaters are in the area that is now occupied by an airport complex that consists of Bangor International Airport, and the Maine Air National Guard.  In this upper part of the watershed, above the Airport Mall (here), the stream is highly channelized and partly lined with concrete.  It flows underneath the Airport Mall and when it comes out the other side, it looks like a real stream and I will show you pictures of that in a moment.  One other feature I’d like to point out is a housing development here right by the stream and the people living here were instrumental in making Birch Stream a big news story.  A final point I want to make is a technical point: every stream and river in the State of Maine has been assigned a water quality class by the Maine legislature and there a 3 classes: Class A (which is the highest quality), Class B, or Class C, which is the lowest quality.  Birch Stream was assigned Class B status, that is intemediate quality.  And I will later come back to this technical point.

## Land Use in Watershed in Early 1990s

- _Land use categories_
- Commercial-Industrial- Transportation (gray) 40 %
- Residential (Dense, High/Low Intensity; red, purple) 31 %
- Forests (Deciduous, Coniferous, Mixed) and Grassland (greens) 23%
- _Impervious cover_
-          30 %

**Notes:**
We analysed the map I just showed you in terms of landuse patterns, with different types of landuses displayed here in different colors.  In the Birch Stream watershed,  Comm-Ind-Trans uses, in gray, account for 40 % of the watershed area, different types of residential uses (reds and purple) for 31% and forests and grasslands (in green) for 23 %.  The remaining 6 % are other landuse types such as wetlands, clearcuts, or scrub-shrub areas.  This landuse translates into a value of 30 % for impervious cover, which is very high. 

## Birch Stream in 1902

**Birch Stream in 1902**

**Notes:**
In this is what Birch Stream looked like in 1902, clearly much different from the mid-1990s, with very little development anywhere in the watershed.

## Birch Stream Pictures

**Birch Stream Pictures**

**Notes:**
And these here are some pictures from the stream.

## Macroinvertebrate Data 1997 - 2001 (i)

- Class C

- Class A

- Crooked Brook (reference stream)

- Birch Stream (middle station)

**Macroinvertebrate Data 1997 - 2001 (i)**

## Macroinvertebrate Data 1997 - 2001 (ii)

- _Dominant taxa_
- 1997: 	*Simulium* (blackfly) 56%
- 	*Cricotopu*s (midge) 18%
- 	*Erpobdella* (leech) 10%
- 1999:	*Cricotopus* (midge) 35%
- 	*Conchapelopia* (midge) 13%
- 	*Nephelopsis* (leech) 9%
- 2001:	*Micropsectra* (midge) 16%
- 	*Baetis* (mayfly) 12%
- 	*Rheotanytarsus* (midge) 10%

**Notes:**
Bugs at downstream station   ..........
Little better in 2001 as some mayflies appear although this is a relatively tolerant genus
Generic richness was low (23) in 1997 but got better over time, reaching 50 in 2001.
One parameter of community composition that often goes up in urban areas is the % of non-insect taxa in a sample, that is organisms like leaches and snails, which tend to be quite tolerant to stressors.  In Birch Stream, on average 19% of taxa were non-insects, which is fairly high, while only 7 % were EPTs, the generally more sensitive organisms. 

We analyzed the biological data using a multivariate statistical model which assigns a sample to one of the 3 classes designated in Maine’s Water Classification Program I mentioned at the beginning, that is Class A, B, or C.  If a sample fails to meet the aquatic life criteria for Class C criteria, the model assigns it to a non-attainment category.  Model results for Birch Stream showed that the stream did not meet the criteria of the lowest class, Class C, in 1997, but that it did meet Class C criteria in the other 2 years.  So it looked like the stream improved somewhat over time but it still did not meet its assigned water, which as I said earlier is Class B.

## Water Quality Data 1997-2001

- n.d.

- Conductivity in reference stream:  <75 S/cm

- Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

- Conductivity (S/cm)

- Temperature in 2001  (oCelsius)

**Notes:**
We also measured some water quality parameters,
for example dissolved oxygen, which was not bad at 9.6 and 8.4 mg/L.

We also measured conductivity, which is a quick indicator of water quality in general, with clean waters falling well below 100uS/cm.  Birch Stream was between 370 and 590 uS/cm, so that’s quite high.

We also measured water temperature in the summer, which was also high, with maximum temperatures mostly above 25 degrees Celsius and mean temps between 20 and 25 degrees.

So all of these data indicated that Birch Stream was not in great shape, that was impaired, most likely because of the extensive development in the watershed.

## Consequences of DEP Monitoring

- Put on Maine’s 1998 303(d) list and 2002 305(b) list because of non-attainment of Maine’s statutory aquatic life criteria
- Scheduled for TMDL development between 2008 and 2011
- Reported in Maine’s Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) report for 1997, 1999 and 2001

- Same old story:
- stream degraded by urbanization
- put on list of impaired streams and TMDL list

*No major news here*

**Notes:**
So, because of the monitoring results which showed that Birch Stream had violated its aquatic life criteria for 3 years, the stream was

	put on the 303(d) list

	scheduled for TMDL development

	reported in SWAT report

so essentially it was the same old story:
here’s a stream that’s impaired by urbanization,
we have to put it on our list of impaired streams and develop a TMDL
so no major news

## Birch Stream started to get bigger .....

## Spring 2003

**Spring 2003**

_**Residents in nearby housing complex**_
**Complaints of “yeasty odor”**
**Health effects: ****	****headaches, migraines, nausea, sinus problems**
**	****	****attributed by residents to air quality**
**Blamed odor and bad air quality on Birch Stream**
**Contacted local fire department, Maine DEP, and press**

- Smell traced back to airport complex in upper watershed
- ME Air National Guard (ANG) and Bangor International Airport (BIA)
- Deicer propylene glycol used in winter operations had drained into
- Birch Stream

## Maine DEP Observations in May 2003

- Strong smell of glycol

**Notes:**
Sphaerotilus is a filamentous bacterium, only one species (natans)
typically found in activated sludge, does well in low DO situations

## Airport and Deicer Use

-    Deicer use before 9/11 (winter 2000/2001):
- 	<50,000 gallons (ANG, BIA combined)
-    Deicer use after 9/11:
- 	winter 2001/2002:       ~100,000 gallons
- 	winter 2002/2003:       >150,000 gallons
-  	*Reasons*: 	increased security measures
- 		war in Iraq
-    ANG was aware of problems -
- 	o    began planning for deicer removal
- 	o   started monitoring water quality

**Notes:**
Deicer use figures from “Testing the waters” BDN 5/10/03
quotes from Ed Logue
reasons for increased deicer use: security measures and war in Iraq required ANG to  have airplanes deiced at all times

water quality data: lower values in stream part of Birch Stream (points 6 and 7),  others above Airport Mall and in airport complex

sampled for several parameters (also COD, VOCs, SVOCs, Total Suspended Solids), concentrating on BOD and Prop glycol here

## Meeting of concerned parties (May 2003)

- Air National Guard, Bangor International Airport
- DEP
- City of Bangor
- It was decided to improve communication among all parties
- Share monitoring data and information
- Inform public of developments

## Things got going .....

- 	*while Birch Stream stayed in the news*

## ANG and BIA Sampling

- _Sampling on 5 dates in 2003_
- 	Water and sediment from 3-6 locations
- 	Parameters: 	BOD, COD
- 		VOCs, SVOCs,
- 		Propylene and Ethylene Glycol
- 		Diesel / Gasoline Range Organics
- 		Total Suspended Solids , Metals

**ANG and BIA Sampling**

*Only DRO in sediments was high (21 - 600 mg/Kg)*
*but - applicable criteria unclear*
*need further research*

**Notes:**
Sample point 2 is near detention pond where deicer is collected before it goes into sewer system
points 6 and 7 are in stream

## DEP Sampling, Bureau of Remediation

- _Intent_: 	investigate potential effect of former defense site at airport
- 		on Birch Stream
- _Sampling on June 4, 2003_
- 	What:	Water and sediment
- 	Where:	3 - 4 locations
- 	Parameters:	13 metals (priority pollutants)
- 			VOCs, SVOCs
- 			DRO, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
- 			Pesticides, PCBs

- _Conclusion in published report_: Birch Stream is somewhat polluted, likely due to multiple sources - largely regular urban NPS pollution based on these results
- Results do not explain health complaints of citizens

*Only PAHs in sediment exceeded ecological benchmarks and human health criteria*

**Notes:**
Dow Air Force Base: ~1945 to 1968

Water samples: 3 stations in stream (confluence, below Ohio St, behind Mall), 1 above Union street
Sediment: only from 3 stream stations
Metals were: Ag, Cd, Ch, Cu, Ni, Se, Antimony, Beryllium, As, Pb, Th, Zn, Hg

8 metals found in all sediments, 5 not 
Zn in all 4 water samples, Chr in 1 (mall)

SVOCs, were mostly PAHs, I.e. petroleum compounds

## DEP Sampling, Bureau of Land and Water Quality

- Class A

- Crooked Brook
- (reference stream)

- NA

- NA

- Birch Stream
- Middle station

- Urban Streams Project, Summer 2003 (i)
- _Intent_:  investigate effects of all stressors on Birch Stream

**DEP Sampling, Bureau of Land and Water Quality**

- Birch Stream
- Lower station

- 2003

- 2003

- 2001

- 1997

- 2001

- 1999

- 2003

- Class C

- Class B

- Class B

## Urban Streams Project, Summer 2003 (ii)

- _Middle station_
- Dominant taxa
- 	*Simulium* (blackfly) 44 %
- 	*Tanytarsus* (midge) 14%
- 	*Gyraulus* (snail) 6 %

- _Lower station_
- Dominant taxa
- 	 *Tanytarsus* (midge) 35%
- 	 *Baetis* (mayfly) 12%
- 	 *Rheotanytarsus *(midge) 10%

## Urban Streams Project Data 2003 (iii)

- Water chemistry analysis showed
- high levels of
- 	Total Nitrogen
- 	Total Phosphorus
- 	Chlorophyll *a*
- 	*E. coli*

- Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

- Conductivity (S/cm)

- Temperature (oCelsius)

**Notes:**
SPC <400 in early August: after heavy rain

## Urban Streams Project Data 2003 (iv)

## While everybody was busy sampling... 

- _Non-profits involvement_
-   Maine Rivers (#1 of Maine’s Worst Rivers Stories of 2003)
-   Toxics Action Center
- _Residents organize_
-   Form “G.P. Cats”  (Griffin Park Citizens Against Toxic Stream)
- _Public meetings_
-   2003:  July 17, September 12
-   2004:  January 8
- _Published reports_
-   2 DEP study reports available on DEP website
- _Radio / TV coverage_
-   9/18  freespeech.org radio interview with residents
-   11/8  TV report on Birch Stream clean-up

**Notes:**
Meanwhile, while we all were busy collecting data

Non-profit organizations got involved,
	Maine Rivers
	TAC
brought in by citizens who organized and formed GP Cats and won an award by TAC

There were public meetings where citizens, non-profits, airport people, DEP and City of Bangor people met

There was local radio and TV coverage, especially on a clean-up of Birch Stream organized by airport staff, and this clean-up was interesting for the amount of material removed from the stream ...

## Birch Stream Cleanup (11/2003)

- Items Taken From Stream
- 148 grocery carts including one 		Frontloader full of scrap wood 	manufactured 2/83 		Fiberglass insulation
- 25 Tires					5 bed sheets
- 2 car batteries				Yards of rope
- 11 empty cans of motor oil			2 sections of a garage door
- 16 paint cans, 2 that were full		Rug
- 6 Couches/overstuffed chairs		Sheet metal
- 3 hypodermic needles			Diapers
- 5 bicycles				Child’s scooter
- 1.5 gallon pail (driveway sealer?)		Child’s stroller
- Can of tire sealer				Bed Springs
- 2 fiberglass panels from a car		Printer
- Sleeping bag				Typewriter
- 2 mattresses				Plastic bags, pieces of plastic
- Many feet of metal pipe

## ... and then there was the Press Coverage

**... ****and then there was the**** Press Coverage**

**Notes:**
Which started on May 10, 2003, with the most recent report from January 16, 2004

## Next Steps

- _Continued monitoring_
-    ANG, BIA			•   Maine DEP
- _TMDL development__	__	__ Stream restoration_
-    Winter/spring of 2005		•   Address erosion issues
- _Residents’ concerns_
-    Health study
-    Make monitoring and other info available
- Overall goal
**Make Birch Stream a viable resource for residents **
**Restore healthy biota in the stream**

*Have positive news on Birch Stream*

## Thanks to ....

- Maine Air National Guard (Major Eric Johns)
- Bangor International Airport (Rodney Madden)
- Bangor Daily News
- Maine DEP staff (Ed Logue, Iver McLeod,
- Jeff Varricchione)