Botetourt County residents are invited to a meeting Thursday to learn how they can help cure Looney Creek of bacteria levels that exceed state water quality standards.

The Looney Creek watershed was named last year to an impaired, or dirty waters list, composed by the state's Department of Environmental Quality. Levels of bacteria detected pose a risk of illness to people who come in direct contact with the water.

The affected area of the Looney Creek watershed comprises about 40,000 acres. It contains tributaries that flow from Troutville to the James River in Buchanan.

The high bacteria levels come from three main sources: cattle and other livestock; failed septic systems; and straight pipe systems.

Straight piping is typically found in older homes with no functioning septic system. Instead, a pipe carries sewage directly into a nearby stream or creek.

"Based on our estimates there will be some there," said Jason Ericson, a project manager with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation who will conduct the meeting. "In our experience in other counties, ... we've seen a fair amount. Exactly how many we'll find is not something we'll know until we start getting out there."

All of Looney Creek's 2.5 miles, as well as about 8 miles of Mill Creek and about 1.5 miles of Ellis Run, are affected by the bacteria levels.

Ellis Run flows into Back Creek. Mill Creek and Back Creek run parallel to Interstate 81 and U.S. 11 into Looney Creek, which flows directly into the James River near Buchanan.

Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting will be held at Buchanan Elementary School.

Ericson will seek input from farmers and landowners on ways to keep livestock away from creeks and discuss plans to repair or replace septic systems.

Suggestions from the meeting will be incorporated into a water quality implementation plan that will begin next summer.

Ericson said his agency will likely acquire funds from the Environmental Protection Agency to help residents pay for repairs.

Similar cleanup projects on other tributaries are taking place in Bedford, Franklin and Montgomery counties, Ericson said.