Killbuck Creek is a healthy stream for fish and aquatic insects, but not for people wanting to swim or boat.Those are among the key findings of a 108-page report on the Killbuck Creek watershed the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has completed.The assessment of aquatic life and recreational potential is the first step of a more-detailed EPA analysis of the stream and development of a federally mandated corrective plan that will be developed next, Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles said.From June through October 2009, the EPA assessed the chemical, physical and biological features of the stream and 33 tributaries in the watershed that covers 609 square miles in Medina, Wayne, Holmes and Coshocton counties.Killbuck Creek’s water quality is in good shape for fish and insects, but high levels of bacteria are a concern for anyone wanting to swim or boat along the 81-mile-long stream, the agency said.Poorly functioning sewage treatment plants, unsewered communities and cattle and horse manure washing into streams, could be causing the elevated levels of E. coli bacteria in the watershed, the EPA said.A total of 31 sites on 13 streams in the watershed failed to comply with bacteria limits.A high level of E. coli bacteria indicates the potential presence of pathogenic organisms that cause disease or infection in people swimming or boating.Sixty of the 78 sites sampled for water chemistry, physical habitat, fish and aquatic insects were found to be in full attainment of state aquatic-use designations, the EPA said in the report titled, “Biological and Water Quality Study of the Killbuck Creek Watershed.”In addition, 10 were in partial attainment and only four sites failed to meet standards, the EPA said.The overall biological integrity of Killbuck Creek and 33 tributaries was high, as evidenced by the large number of highly desirable cold-water fish species, the EPA said.Three at-risk fish species were found: the river redhorse, the bluebreast darter and the eastern sand darter, the agency said.A state endangered caddisfly was found at several locations, it said.Nine state-listed freshwater mussels have been found in Killbuck Creek in studies by other parties. That includes the state and federally endangered purple catspaw.The Ohio EPA relies on fish and aquatic insect populations and species types to determine water quality. Certain fish only inhabit clean waters.Some streams in the watershed are affected by large volumes of cheese wastes; others by failing in-home septic systems, the report said.The next step for the EPA is preparation of what’s called a load analysis report for Killbuck Creek, looking at sources and volumes of pollutants getting into the streams, Settles said.The agency then will draft a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report that is required for all Ohio streams under the federal Clean Water Act, he said. That analysis probably is at least three years from completion, he said.Killbuck Creek and Sandy Creek in southern Stark County are the last two streams in the Akron-Canton-Cleveland area needing TMDL reports.Killbuck Creek begins in southern Medina County. It flows south through Wayne and Holmes counties before emptying into the Walhonding River at Warsaw in Coshocton County. Major tributaries include Apple, Salt, Black and Doughy creeks.The EPA report is available at http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/tmdl/monitoring_KillbuckCreek.aspx.Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.