Transcript Slide 1
November 19, 2008
DRAFT
Integrating
Watershed Plans and
TMDLs
to Help Answer
Watershed Planning
Questions
Sandra Spence
EPA Region 8 TMDL Program
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EPA Contacts for Watershed
Planning and TMDL Questions
James Ruppel, TMDL Program Coordinator &
Wyoming point of contact – 303-312-6846
Peter Monahan, Watershed/Nonpoint Source
Program Coordinator & Wyoming point of
contact – 303-312-6948
Sandra Spence, TMDL Coordinator for
Utah/Colorado – 303-312-6947
Agenda
CWA Overview
What is an impaired water – 303(d) listing
Approaches for de-listing waters
What is a TMDL
What is a Watershed Plan
Steps in the Watershed Planning Process
Relationship between Watershed Plans and TMDLs
3
Components of the Clean
Water Act (CWA)
Water Quality Standards
Water Quality Monitoring
Determination of WQS attainment –
impaired waters and 303(d) listing
Restoration Planning – Watershed Plans
and TMDLs
Restoration - Approaches to restoration
and protection under CWA
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Clean Water Act (CWA)
Federal law promulgated in 1972. Applies to surface
water – lakes, rivers, streams, coastal areas
Uses regulatory and non-regulatory tools to protect and
restore the nation’s waters
Goals:
reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways,
finance municipal wastewater treatment facilities,
and manage polluted runoff
restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of the nation's waters so that they
can support "the protection and propagation of fish,
shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the
water."
Water Quality-Based
Approach
Establish Water
Quality Standards
Implement water
quality controls –
point sources and
nonpoint sources
Develop
Watershed
Plans and
TMDLs
Monitor and
Assess waters
based on WQ
standards
Identify
impaired/threatened
waters
(303(d) List)
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What is An Impaired Water
EPA defines an impaired waterbody as one that
does not meet water quality criteria that support its
designated use. The criteria might be numeric and
specify concentration, duration, and recurrence
intervals for various parameters, or they might be
narrative and describe required conditions such as
the absence of scum, sludge, odors, or toxic
substances. If the waterbody is impaired it is
placed on the section 303(d) list. For each
pollutant listed, the state or tribe must develop a
restoration target called a Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL).
States Provide a List of Impaired Waters
to EPA Every Two Years – 303(d) list
Waterbody Name
Class
Uses
Use Support
Cause(s)
List
Date
Bear River
2AB
Aquatic Life, Cold
Water Fish
Not Supporting
Sediment
2002
Bridger Creek
3B
Aquatic Life
Threatened
Habitat
1998
Belle Fourche River
2ABww
Recreation
Not Supporting
E. coli
1996
Belle Fourche River
2ABww
Aquatic Life,
Warm Water Fish
Not Supporting
Ammonia,
Chloride
2008
Donkey Creek
3B
Recreation
Not Supporting E. coli
Gillette Fishing
Lake
2AB
Aquatic Life, Cold
Phosphate
Not Supporting
1996
Water Fish
Sediment
Stonepile Creek
3B
Recreation
Not Supporting E. coli
2002
Popo Agie River,
Middle Fork
2AB
Recreation
Not Supporting E. coli
2002
Ocean Lake
2ABww
Aquatic Life,
Warm Water Fish
Not Supporting Sediment
1996
Excerpt from Wyoming’s Draft 2008 303(d) list of Waters Requiring TMDLs
2000
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What Can Happen to a 303(d) listed
Waterbody
The waterbody has a TMDL submitted and
approved within 8 to 13 years and is delisted.
The waterbody is restored and meets WQSs
and is delisted.
The waterbody is reassessed and is found to
be meeting WQSs and is delisted.
WQSs are changed, the waterbody is
reassessed and is found to be meeting WQSs
and is delisted.
What is a TMDL –
Total Maximum Daily Load?
A calculation of the amount of a
specific pollutant that a waterbody can
receive and still meet water quality
standards.
Basic Provisions for TMDLs
TMDLs are designed to attain and maintain
applicable water quality standards
TMDLs apply to all sources
TMDLs apply to all pollutants
TMDLs are pollutant and waterbody
specific
A waterbody will often have several TMDLs
(one for each pollutant of concern)
TMDL Definition continued
Sum of Loads = Assimilative Capacity
SWLA + SLA + {MOS} = TMDL
Point source loads + nonpoint source loads + MOS = TMDL
WLA = wasteload allocation
(point source loads)
LA = load allocation
(nonpoint source and background loads)
MOS = margin of safety (explicit or implicit)
TMDL = total maximum daily load
Wasteload Allocation
non-stormwater
Components
point sources
nonpoint source
I’M FULL!
I can’t eat
another bite
of that
pollutant!
stormwater
point source
background
groundwater
inflow
diffuse runoff
irrigated ag
return flow &
ag stormwater
atmospheric
deposition
Load Allocation
Components
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National and Regional Perspective
Listings
39,910 impaired/threatened waters nationally
in 2006
1190 impaired/threatened waters in Region 8
~25,000 TMDLs completed nationally, ~2,000
TMDLs completed in Region 8
Comparison of Region 8 States to Major
Causes of Impairment Nationally
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% of Listed Waters
30
25
20
National
Region 8
15
10
5
0
Pathogens
Hg
Metals
Impairment Cause
Sed
Nutrients
Major Causes of Impairment in Wyoming
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40
30
25
Wyoming
20
15
10
5
Impairment Cause
s
nt
ri
e
N
ut
S
ed
im
en
t
ty
S
al
in
i
a
on
i
m
A
m
or
in
e
ls
et
a
M
C
hl
at
ho
ge
ns
0
P
% of Listed Waters
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Pollution Controls in the Clean
Water Act
Technology based effluent limits – point
source permit
Water quality based effluent limits – point
source permit
TMDL Waste Load Allocation based
effluent limits – point source permit
TMDL Load Allocations – nonpoint sources
without permits – voluntary/incentive based
approaches
What is a Watershed Plan
A watershed plan is a document used to
resolve and prevent water quality problems
that result from both point source and
nonpoint source contributors. These plans
are intended both to provide an analytical
framework to restore water quality in
impaired waters and to protect water
quality in other waters adversely affected or
threatened by pollutant sources.
Why Watershed Plans Fail to
Achieve Desired Goals
Planning activities conducted at too great of a
scale.
Plan was a one-time study rather than long-term
management process.
Lack of stakeholder involvement and ownership.
Skirting of real land use/management issues.
Plan was too long or complex.
Recommendations were too general.
Failure to identify and address conflicts.
Source: Center for Watershed Protection
Steps In Watershed Planning
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 1
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
ID
stakeholders
ID issues of concern
Set preliminary goals
Develop indicators
Conduct outreach
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 2
CHARACTERIZE WATERSHED
Gather existing data
STEP 1
Create data inventory
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
ID data gaps
ID stakeholders
Collect additional data, if needed
ID issues of concern
Set preliminary
Analyze
goals data
Develop indicators
ID causes and sources
Conduct outreach
Estimate pollutant loads
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 3
FINALIZE GOALS AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS
STEP 2
Set goals and management objectives
CHARACTERIZE
WATERSHED
Develop
indicators/targets
Gather
existing data
Determine load reductions needed
Create data inventory
STEP 1
ID critical areas
ID data gaps
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Collect additional data, if needed
ID management measures needed
ID stakeholders
Analyze data
ID issues of concern
ID causes and sources
Set preliminary goals
Estimate pollutant loads
Develop indicators
Conduct outreach
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 4
DESIGN k
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
Develop
Implementation schedule
STEP 3
Set Interim milestones
FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS
Determine
goals and management
objectives how you will measure success
STEP 2
Develop indicators/targets
Develop monitoring component
CHARACTERIZE
WATERSHED
Determine
load reductions needed
Develop evaluation process
ID critical areas
Gather existing
data
IDneeded
technical and financial assistance needed
ID management measures
Create data inventory
STEP 1
ID data gaps
Assign responsibility
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Collect additional data, if needed
ID stakeholders
Analyze data
ID issues of concern
ID causes and sources
Set preliminary goals
Estimate pollutant loads
Develop indicators
Conduct outreach
Set
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 5
IMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLAN
STEP 4
Implement management strategies
DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
k
Conduct
Implementation
schedule monitoring
Set Interim milestonesConduct outreach activities
STEP 3
Determine how you will measure success
FINALIZE GOALS
AND monitoring
ID SOLUTIONS
Develop
component
Set goals and management
objectives
Develop evaluation process
STEP 2
Develop indicators/targets
ID technical and financial assistance needed
CHARACTERIZE
WATERSHED
Determine
load reductions
needed
Assign
responsibility
ID critical areas
Gather existing
data
ID management measures needed
Create data inventory
STEP 1
ID data gaps
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Collect additional data, if needed
ID stakeholders
Analyze data
ID issues of concern
ID causes and sources
Set preliminary goals
Estimate pollutant loads
Develop indicators
Conduct outreach
Develop
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Watershed
Planning Steps
STEP 6
MEASURE PROGRESS AND
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
STEP 5
IMPLEMENT WATERSHED
PLAN
Review and evaluate
Implement management strategies
STEP 4
Share results
Conduct monitoring
DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRAM
Prepare annual plans
Conduct outreach
activities
Develop
k
Implementation schedule
Make
Set Interim milestones
STEP 3
Determine how you will measure success
FINALIZE GOALS
AND monitoring
ID SOLUTIONS
Develop
component
Set goals and management
objectives
Develop evaluation process
STEP 2
Develop indicators/targets
ID technical and financial assistance needed
CHARACTERIZE
WATERSHED
Determine
load reductions
needed
Assign
responsibility
ID critical areas
Gather existing
data
ID management measures needed
Create data inventory
STEP 1
ID data gaps
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
Collect additional data, if needed
Analyze data
ID stakeholders
ID causes and sources
ID issues ofEstimate
concern
pollutant loads
Set preliminary goals
indicators
Conduct outreach
adjustments
Develop
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The Nine Elements that Must Be
Included in a 319 Watershed Plan
1.
2.
3.
Identify causes & sources of pollution – TMDL feature
Estimate load reductions expected – TMDL feature
Describe mgmt measures & targeted critical areas –
TMDL feature
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Estimate technical and financial assistance needed
Develop education component
Develop schedule – TMDL option
Describe interim, measurable milestones – TMDL option
Identify indicators to measure progress
Develop a monitoring component – TMDL option
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Incorporation of the nine minimum
elements
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How are TMDLs and Watershed
Plans Related?
Minimum Components of TMDL
Submitted for EPA Approval
Problem Description – Watershed Plan Feature
1.
•
•
•
Submittal letter
Identification of waterbody, impairments, study boundaries
Identification of applicable water quality standards
2.
Discussion of Water Quality Targets - Watershed Plan
3.
Pollutant Source Analysis - Watershed Plan Feature
TMDL Technical Analysis
Feature
4.
•
•
•
•
•
•
5.
6.
7.
Data set description - Watershed Plan Feature
WLAs – point sources
LAs – nonpoint sources
Margin of Safety
Critical conditions and seasonality - Watershed Plan Feature
Daily load expression
Public Participation - Watershed Plan Feature
Monitoring Strategy - Watershed Plan Feature
Restoration Strategy - Watershed Plan Feature
Comparison of Watershed Plans
and TMDL Components
Watershed Plan Components
TMDL Components
1.
Build partnerships
1.
Provide opportunity for
public involvement
2.
Characterize the watershed
2.
Identify the problem
•
•
•
•
Id waterbody, impairments,
study boundaries
Gather and analyze data
Id causes and sources
Estimate loads
•
•
•
•
Id waterbody, impairments,
study boundaries
Present data analysis
Id causes and sources
Estimate loads
Comparison of Watershed Plans
and TMDL Components continued
TMDL Components
Watershed Plan Components
3.
Sets goals and Id solutions
•
•
•
•
Develop indicators/targets
Determine load reductions
Id critical areas
Develop management measures to
achieve goals
3.
Identify water quality targets and
goals and allocate loads
•
•
•
•
•
Id applicable WQS/targets
Id critical areas and seasonality
Describe technical analysis used in
load estimation, load reduction,
modeling, etc.
Allocate acceptable loads between
point and nonpoint sources
(WLAs, LAs)
Provide for a margin of safety
(MOS)
Comparison of Watershed Plans
and TMDL Components continued
Watershed Plan Components
4.
Design an implementation
program
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Develop an implementation
schedule
Develop interim milestones
Develop criteria to measure
progress
Develop monitoring
component
Develop educational
component
Id technical /financial
assistance
Assign responsibility
TMDL Components
4.
Provide a monitoring and
restoration strategy –
Optional except for phasedTMDLs
•
•
•
WLAs implemented through
NPDES permits
LAs implemented through
voluntary and incentive
based programs
Monitoring and restoration
information encouraged but
not required unless the
TMDL is phased
Questions?
Links to additional
resources
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/
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