MassDEP Water Management Program

1
MassDEP Water Management Program

• Safe Yield
• Human and Environmental Need

Water Management Advisory Committee November 12,
2009
2
Milestones

• 30-Day Interim Safe Yield (ISY)
• Workgroup meetings
• November 16, 23, 30 and December 2
  (Advisory Com.)
• Select and apply environmental component
• Select and apply allocation component
• Establish ISY methodology and ISY determinations
• Establish policy for moving permits forward
• Long-Term Safe Yield (LTSY)
• December 2009 Establish Policy and Technical
  workgroups
• SYE released and available for use
• December 2009 to February 2010 Review data
• March - May Establish LTSY allocation and flow
  criteria (Update WRC and Advisory Committee as
  needed)
• June July Establish, test and refine
  methodology
• August Determine Ipswich Basin LTSY
• September October Determine remaining LTSYs
• November Begin process for Regulation revision

3
Data Sources

• Recently Published
• USGS Characteristics and Classification of Least
  Altered Streams in Massachusetts (SIR 2007-5291)
• WRC/DCR 2008 Index Streamflows in Massachusetts
• USGS Fish-Flow Pilot
• DFG/DFW Development of Target Fish Community
  Models for Massachusetts Mainstem Rivers
  Technical Report
• Other States (streamflow criteria)
• Other publications
• Soon to be released
• USGS Mass Indicators of Streamflow Alteration,
  Habitat Fragmentation, Impervious Cover, and
  Water Quality for Massachusetts Stream Basins
  (December 2009)
• USGS Sustainable Yield Estimator (SYE) (December
  2009)
• USGS Statewide Fish-Flow-Habitat Study (2010-2011)

4
Water Management Program Permit Renewal Schedule
Renewal complete
Renewals under review
Permit counts as of 11/10/09