RED RIVER BASIN

PARIS (LAMAR COUNTY), TEXAS

BASIN SUMMARY REPORT

FOR THE

RED RIVER BASIN

September 1999

1. Introduction

In an effort to determine the environmental impact that the Campbell Soup plant's effluent that is discharged into Hicks Creek has on the receiving waters, a Receiving Water Assessment (RWA) was conducted on July 2, 1997 in Lamar County near Paris, Texas.

Hicks Creek flows into Pine Creek, which is a small, flowing (2.5 cfs), fairly turbid perennial stream. The area around the creek is a natural setting with native trees and grasses, although some of the surrounding land has been developed for farming and urbanization. The local farmers utilize Pine Creek for watering their livestock and occasional fishing. Crappie and catfish are the most common species caught.

Some of the aquatic life observed in the creek include soft-shelled turtles, cottonmouth water snakes, fish eating birds, and freshwater mussels.

2. Basis for the Assessment

The effluent from the Campbell Soup Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) flows into Hicks Creek, an intermittent stream. Hicks Creek then flows into Pine Creek, which is a perennial stream upstream and downstream of the confluence with Hicks Creek. Since Hicks Creek was completely dry upstream of the outfall, the RWA was performed on Pine Creek upstream of its confluence with Hicks Creek.

3. Description of Receiving Waters

Pine Creek is the receiving waters for Campbell Soup's outfall number 10479-002.

4. Significant Observations:

4.1There are no domestic drinking water intake points within five miles of the proposed point of discharge.

4.2The point of discharge is not within 300 feet of a classified stream segment.

4.3The creek is intermittently dry for at least one week during the year.

4.4The receiving water characteristics change within three miles of the discharge.

4.5The flow assessment is based on historical observations by adjacent landowners and Red River Authority of Texas personnel.

4.6 The turbidity of the creek is due to suspended clay particles.

4.7The area surrounding the waterbody is generally wooded.

4.8The receiving water is influenced by agricultural runoff, urban runoff and runoff from the Campbell Soup WWTP.

4.9The receiving water is set in a natural area where livestock are watered and fishing is common.

4.10 The nearest classified stream segment is 0202.

5. Summary of Physical Characteristics

Pine Creek is approximately 1,000 feet downstream from the confluence of Crooked Creek, which is a perennial stream with moderate flows and intermittent pools. The stream has moderately defined bends with few riffles. Surrounding vegetation is composed of 65% trees, 20% grasses and approximately 15% in cultivated fields. The dominant substrate of the creek is clay, and the banks are fairly stable with the cover ranging from overhanging trees and branches to fallen trees into the creek. The waters of the creek are generally turbid with few macrophytes.

6. Summary of Collection Efforts

The three different methods used to collect samples from Pine Creek were designed so that representative species could be collected throughout the entire water column, including the benthic layer.

The kicknet method was used to collect benthic organisms; the nekton (seining) method was used to collect the free swimming organisms; and electro-fishing was used to collect the faster moving fish. Furthermore, successful electro-fishing is not feasible in waters with high conductivity.

Using the kicknet for ten minutes over various habitats in Pine Creek yielded 11 families of invertebrates. The nekton (seining) method utilizing seven net hauls with a combined length of 135 feet yielded six species of fish, while the backpack electro-fishing method used for 15 minutes did not yield any specimens. This is not unusual, since fish sense the electric field and have a tendency to bolt the area if not confined by seines, thus making it more difficult to capture them.

7. Summation

The effluent from the Campbell Soup WWTP has a positive effect on Pine Creek. Continued discharge of high quality effluent will benefit this creek and the surrounding areas because the continual source of water should maintain a diversified aquatic ecosystem throughout the entire food chain. The only negative effects of a continual water source could be that some aspects of aquatic, benthic and riparian life may not achieve abundance through a natural life cycle. However, since this creek contains no identified unique individuals, and because there are similar creeks in the area that could support this type of life cycle, it is believed that the effluent from the Campbell Soup WWTP is beneficial at this time.