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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 10,173
2030: 23,867 |
| Creek Length |
11 miles |
| Drainage Area |
11 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Gilleland
Creek |
| Well Known Sites |
Dessau Elementary
and Middle School |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
28%
4%
1%
0%
4%
63% |
Watershed Facts
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of six pollution spills each year in Harris
Branch Creek; the most common spill type is petroleum, followed
by wastewater.
- Though several sections of this creek are
filled with trash, some areas are still in their natural condition.
- Before development began over the past few
years, Harris Branch Creek ran through farmlands and pastures.
- Although Harris Branch watershed has
a small drainage area, the creek continues to flow throughout
the year because of treated discharge from a wastewater treatment
plant.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
61 |
Fair |
Harris Branch ranks 26
out of 46 watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
34 |
Poor |
Water quality is poor,
ammonia is high, nitrate is very high, conductivity is high,
orthophosphorus is very high, suspended solids are high |
Sediment
Quality |
84 |
Very
Good |
PAHs are very low, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
82 |
Very
Good |
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
55 |
Fair |
Litter is very bad, noticible
offensive odor, algae covers 10-20% of creek, water is slightly
cloudy |
| Habitat |
61 |
Fair
|
Increased sediment deposition,
some channel alteration, bank stability is marginal, buffer
zone is small |
| Aquatic
Life |
51 |
Fair
|
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is good, diatom community is fair |
- Habitat scores improved in Harris
Branch more than other watersheds in the City.
- Wastewater treatment plant discharges artificially
enhance biological communities and contribute to poorer water
quality conditions.
- Silt and sedimentation may be impacting
diatom community.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
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| Harris Branch Creek
at Crystal Bend Drive |
Harris Branch Creek
at Crystal Bend Drive |
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|
Harris Branch Creek
at Cameron Road |
Harris Branch Creek at Boyce Lane |
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