TDEC Issues Advisories for Cypress Creek

MEMPHIS – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued water contact and fish consumption advisories for Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Wolf River in Shelby County. The advisories warn the public should not contact the water by swimming or wading, and should not eat fish, turtles or other aquatic life from the creek. Water quality testing indicates elevated pathogen levels in the water, plus pesticides in the water column and in aquatic life. 

 

“The department, working cooperatively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Memphis-Shelby County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health, has been involved for a number of years in overseeing remediation activities around Cypress Creek from pesticide manufacturing activities at the Velsicol plant site,” said Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan. “Those cleanup activities are continuing, and should help address the pesticide levels in the creek. In the meantime, extensive stream monitoring indicates a need for the department to issue these advisories. We will continue to track water quality in the creek and update the community.” 

 

The department undertook a thorough analysis of E.coli data for Shelby County creeks and streams this year. While it is not uncommon for urban creeks to have elevated pathogen levels, the amount of data for Cypress Creek and the concentrations involved warrant the contact advisory. Additional sampling at two chemical monitoring stations established in 2008 also indicates the presence of pesticides in the creek, which led the department to sample aquatic life, precipitating the fish consumption advisory.

 

Pesticide levels downstream of the Velsicol site were more elevated than those upstream. Each chemical at the downstream location violated water quality criteria for recreational use. Water quality criteria for fish and aquatic life were also violated to varying degrees. The most significant source of the pesticides in Cypress Creek is considered to be contaminated sediment from historical pesticide manufacturing activities, and potentially, the use of these products in the watershed.      

 

Analysis also indicates E.coli levels at both monitoring stations exceed the state’s criteria for recreation, and could increase the possibility of illness if people come into contact with the water. E.coli would not be attributed to past or present operations at Velsicol, but rather is likely the result of urban stormwater runoff. Memphis has a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit to regulate stormwater runoff. Improvements have been made under the MS4 permit and additional requirements to improve water quality will be addressed through the permit renewal process. 

 

The Tennessee Department of Health has done several Health Consultations in the area beginning in 2002 in conjunction with ongoing investigation and clean-up activities surrounding Velsicol. For these most recent water quality data, Health’s environmental epidemiologists indicate the E.coli poses a public health risk due to the possibility of bacteriological contamination, but that the pesticide levels, while violating water quality criteria, are not at levels that would pose an acute contact hazard. There is, however, ecological evidence that these pesticides are bioaccumulating in the tissue of fish and other aquatic life, and eating Cypress Creek fish, turtles and other aquatic life should be avoided. 

 

“Cypress Creek has been extensively modified, in some cases by lining the stream with concrete,” said Paul Davis, Director of TDEC’s Division of Water Pollution Control. “This has limited the creek’s ability to support balanced fish and aquatic life populations, making it unlikely that a recreational fishery exists in many parts of the stream. However, we were able to catch some fish and turtles in the downstream portion of the stream, and the resulting analysis indicates the fishing advisory is warranted.”

 

In March, fish and turtles were collected for analysis at two locations in the downstream portion of Cypress Creek.  Just upstream of North Watkins Road, a snapping turtle, several red-eared sliders (turtles), a carp and multiple small sunfish were collected.  At the downstream station in Lucille Price Park, only one fish could be found, although three turtles were captured.   The results indicate levels of several contaminants above those recommended by EPA for safe consumption.

 

The department continues to be involved in remediation activities at and around the Velsicol facility. The area around Cypress Creek has been a primary focus of corrective action activities since 2001. Work included extensive soil investigations and cleanup of residential properties that border Cypress Creek. The department has required Velsicol to take steps to address the release of pesticide-contaminated soil from the site during stormwater runoff events. 

 

Signs will be placed along the creek communicating the new advisories to the public at obvious access points, the advisory information has been added to the department’s website and the department will continue to work with other agencies and community groups to address and communicate public health and environmental issues. 

 

Environment and Conservation will continue to monitor the stream to document changes in pesticide and pathogen concentrations over time. When levels no longer pose a potential threat to public health, the advisories will be lifted.

 

More information about fishing and water contact advisories in Tennessee can be found on TDEC’s website at http://tn.gov/environment/wpc/publications/pdf/advisories.pdf. 

 

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