Parkerson Mill Creek, which runs through Auburn University’s campus, is listed on the Alabama Department of Environmental Management 303(d) List of Impaired Waters for pathogens.
According to Eve Brantley, Alabama Cooperative Extension System specialist and associate professor in agronomy and soils, offices and departments across campus, including facilities, sustainability and athletics, are looking to address the causes of impairment to make the stream a healthier place.
“Parkerson Mill Creek should be a place of pride and stewardship to everyone on campus,” Brantley said.
Brantley said Parkerson Mill Creek is said to have Urban Stream Syndrome, a term used to describe the effects urbanization has on streams.
Hard surfaces on urban landscapes, such as parking lots and roads, shed water quickly instead of giving water time to soak into the ground.
This runoff water on Auburn’s campus drains into Parkerson Mill Creek, leading to erosion that has contributed to the creek’s impairment, according to Brantley.
According to Brantley, there are practices being put in place to help reduce runoff, including rain gardens, green roofs and storm drains.
“These projects act as speed bumps to slow down water runoff,” Brantley said.
Brantley said some areas of the creek are in better condition than others.
“This stream has a lot of different characters,” Brantley said. “In some places it needs a lot of work, and in others it’s really looking good.”
Director of the Office of Sustainability Mike Kensler said the storm drains on campus that feed into Parkerson Mill Creek carry pathogens that can be harmful to fish and wildlife.
“You have a high volume of water flowing at a high rate of speed carrying with it everything that has been on the ground, such as trash, fertilizers, pesticides, animal wastes and so on,” Kensler said. “It’s almost like a fire hose flushing into the creek.”
According to Kensler, when limits on the amount of pathogens set by the Environmental Protection Agency have been exceeded, the stream is deemed impaired under Clean Water Act standards.
Kensler said the short segment of Parkerson Mill Creek that has recently been restored in front of the Wellness Kitchen on South Donahue is an example of what the Office of Sustainability and other departments involved would like to see happen in all segments of the creek.
“It’s a perfect example of what the creek could look like,” Kensler said.
Kensler said one of the goals of the campus Landscape Master Plan is to make Parkerson Mill Creek a campus amenity for students.
Campus Plan and Space Management planner Ben Burmester said the amenities restoration project changed the elevation of the flood plain to prevent erosion during heavy rains reduces erosion, but does not significantly reduce pathogen levels.
“It doesn’t have a significant impact on pathogens, but it doesn’t hurt,” Burmester said.
The most effective efforts in improving Parkerson Mill Creek, according to Kensler, are to track down where the pathogens are coming from, manage storm water more efficiently and educate people about what they can do to prevent pollution.
Alex James, graduate student in crop soil and environmental science, said everyone needs to be respectful of Auburn’s natural resources.
“It’s important to me to see these local streams get revamped,” James said. “It’s also important to me for everyone to be a good steward of our resources.”
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