A cattle crossing like this one helps stop erosion by preventing cows from trampling streambanks.

A growing population within the Marsh Creek region has brought about an increase in water quality problems in the watershed. The major source of water quality impairment is from non-point source pollution sources. Problems within the watershed include, excessive stormwater discharge, a lack of riparian buffers, turbid waters, silted streambeds, and significant bank erosion. In areas that benefit from thick riparian buffers, ecological diversity is rich; however, many areas bordering agricultural or residential areas do not have the proper stream buffer needed to protect this diversity. Many of the tributaries have additional problems that affect in-stream life, such as water that is too warm, is high nutrient concentrations, has harmful algae blooms, lacks sufficient base flow in late summer, and contains streambeds buried in thick layers of silt. Some stream reaches may not support any animal life.

A group of individuals concerned about the health of the Rock Creek, Marsh Creek's sister watershed, identified many potential issues facing its watershed. Although they were referring to the Rock Creek Watershed, the same items are impacting the Marsh Creek Watershed. These issues include:

Water quality and quantity:

• Large withdrawals of water from the watershed by Reliant Energy
• Improper herbicide application
• Old farm and household dumps
• Non-migratory geese population
• Groundwater pumping by Valley Quarry
• Presence of unmitigated Superfund sites
• Former Krouse dump

Surface water impacts:

• Erosion and sedimentation best management practices not being implemented
• Streambed sedimentation
• Nutrient runoff
• Livestock in creeks and livestock-caused streambank erosion
• Cloudy, turbid stream water
• Fill in floodplains
• Fill in drainage paths
• Loss of riparian buffer

Groundwater recharge impacts:

• Dry wells and loss of groundwater recharge
• High nitrates in groundwater
• Loss of hedgerows
• Road embankments stripped of vegetation through cutting and overly aggressive
roadside mowing
• Poor stormwater management
• Contour farming not being practiced in large fields