The below data was taken from:   An Ecological assessment of the Upper Kanawha River watershed.  Report Number 05050006-1996  Prepared by :

Assessment Methods

   A site's fecal coliform bacteria concentration indicates the likelihood of a public health threat;  higher concentrations are associated with greater concerns for public health through direct contact with the water. Fecal coliforrm bacteria are important indicators of contamination due to fecal material found in sewage, livestck waste and wildlife excrement.

Explanation of Findings

     The North Sand Branch site was reported as having abundant organic material and algae on its rocks as well as smelling of sewage. It was bordered by a quarry on each side (quarry on one side and Bradley PSD Sewage plant on the other side) and had abundaant silt and sand deposits. Further evidence of organic pollution at this site was in the benthic sample. Except for sewage tolerant aquatic segmented worms and fly larvae, no other organisms were collected in the laboratory subsample. The high numbers of most of these pollution tolerant taxa (1,068 worms, 1,223 blackfly larvea, 103 midge larvae and 2 horsefly larva) are sure signs of severe, chronic organic pollution.

The North Sand Branch sample Fecal Coliform Bacteria 55,000 colonies/100 mil. The West Virginia DEP acceptable level is 400 or less colonies/100 mil.