Officials with Sheridan County and the Sheridan County Conservation District have been busy this week holding a series of public meetings on the impairment of the Goose Creeks in Sheridan County. In 2010, a Total Maximum Daily Load study was done on the creeks that showed that there was a high enough amount of fecal matter in the water to classify the creeks and their tributaries as impaired according to the state.
There are three major sources contributing to the bacteria in the water: livestock; wildlife and humans, specifically from their septic systems. Almost 500 invitations to the public meetings were sent out to people that live within 100 meters of the Goose Creeks with over half of those having septic systems that aren't permitted. District Manager for the Sheridan County Conservation District Carrie Rogazewski says that there is assistance available for those looking to make their septic system compliant with the County's rules and regulations.
Sheridan County started requiring permits for septic systems in 1978 and in 1984, the County adopted rules and regulations regarding septic systems within the County.