Nutrient and Bacteria Assessment in the Coles Creek Watershed.

The Coles Creek Watershed in Mississippi is listed under the US EPA impaired water section 303(d).  Degradation of the ponds/lakes and streams/creeks in this watershed is caused mostly by biological impairment, followed by nutrients, organic enrichment or Low Dissolved Oxygen, sediment/ siltation, pesticides, and pathogens (US EPA, 2007).  Previous study revealed that rainfall played key role in the quality of water sampled at some sampling locations.  Monitoring of water samples from this area will be continued to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and bacteria in the waters. Samples will be collected from waterbodies in the Coles Creek watershed for physical, chemical, and biological analysis over a 12- month period.  In addition, soil and rainfall data will be used to further evaluate the correlation between land-use and water quality. The analysis of the results will help us to better understand the quality of water in the watershed and determine the best alternative management practice(s) to be adopted and implemented in the community.  Based on the results and findings, educational materials will be developed and disseminated to the communities.  This effort will help increase the community awareness of their environment and encourage them to adopt and implement BMPs on their land which will lead to promoting environmental health and its sustainability, thereby, having good water quality to support the economic development in the area.