Watershed Planning Tools and an Integrated Watershed Approach

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Watershed Planning Tools and an Integrated
Watershed Approach

• Stuart Lehman
• U.S. EPA NPS Control Branch

January 19, 2007 Bordentown, NJ
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CWA Watershed Framework
Water Quality Standards Use Attainability Analysis
Monitor/Assess WQS Attainment Assessment
methodology 305(b) Report 303(d) List of Impaired
Waters EPA approves 303(d) list
Continuing Planning Process (CPP)
TMDL WLAs to individual point sources LAs to
nonpoint sources EPA approval
Watershed Plan State developed or approved
NPDES permits for point sources EPA discretion to
object
Manage nonpoint sources w/ Federal/State
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Integrated Watershed Management
CZA 6217
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Example or Program Integration
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State Watershed Programs
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State Watershed Programs
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Watershed Mgmt. Typical Roles
Assess Plan Impment Monitor
State NPS Mgmt Plans / grants /
NPDES/TMDLs Monitoring projects statewide/
WQstds Growth Mgmt Policies build out? Env.
Assess. Watershed Progs, funds T. Assist. (incl
319)
Federal EPA WQ crit. MCLs,
319, TMDLs USDA Farm Plans, Local Ctrl,
EQIP, etc USFS Multiple- use/NEPA/
ESA/Hydrol. FWS ESA habitat other habs
Local Land use/ zoning / codes/
ordinances Septic regs Watershed Plans Stormwater
permits USDA committees
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NINE Elements of Watershed-based Plans that
include Nonpoint Source Pollution

• A. Identification of causes and sources, listed
  waters, pollutants, loads by watershed
  sub-categories, (crops, AFOs, urban, forestry,
  etc.)
• B. Estimate of load reductions by land use (or
  other) subcategories expected from BMPs
• C. Description of BMPs, How they are targeted
  (map suggested)
• D. Estimate of needed technical financial
  resources
• E. Information/ Education component
• F. Schedule (who does what, when)
• G. Description of measurable milestones for
  implementation
• H. Criteria to determine if loadings/ targets
  are being achieved
• I. Monitoring component for above criteria

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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
• Create data inventory
• ID data gaps
• Collect additional data, if needed
• Analyze data
• ID causes and sources
• Estimate pollutant loads

• 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 3
• FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS
• Set goals and management objectives
• Develop indicators/targets
• Determine load reductions needed
• ID critical areas
• ID management measures needed

• STEP 2
• CHARACTERIZE WATERSHED
• Gather existing data
• Create data inventory
• ID data gaps
• Collect additional data, if needed
• Analyze data
• ID causes and sources
• Estimate pollutant loads

• STEP 1
• BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
• ID stakeholders
• ID issues of concern
• Set preliminary goals
• Develop indicators
• Conduct outreach

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Watershed Planning Steps
k

• STEP 4
• DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
• Develop Implementation schedule
• Set Interim milestones
• Determine how you will measure success
• Develop monitoring component
• Develop evaluation process
• ID technical and financial assistance needed
• Assign responsibility

• STEP 3
• FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS
• Set goals and management objectives
• Develop indicators/targets
• Determine load reductions needed
• ID critical areas
• ID management measures needed

• STEP 2
• CHARACTERIZE WATERSHED
• Gather existing data
• Create data inventory
• ID data gaps
• Collect additional data, if needed
• Analyze data
• ID causes and sources
• Estimate pollutant loads

• STEP 1
• BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
• ID stakeholders
• ID issues of concern
• Set preliminary goals
• Develop indicators
• Conduct outreach

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Watershed Planning Steps
k

• STEP 5
• IMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLAN
• Implement management strategies
• Conduct monitoring
• Conduct I/E activities

• STEP 4
• DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
• Develop Implementation schedule
• Set Interim milestones
• Determine how you will measure success
• Develop monitoring component
• Develop evaluation process
• ID technical and financial assistance needed
• Assign responsibility

• STEP 3
• FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS
• Set goals and management objectives
• Develop indicators/targets
• Determine load reductions needed
• ID critical areas
• ID management measures needed

• STEP 2
• CHARACTERIZE WATERSHED
• Gather existing data
• Create data inventory
• ID data gaps
• Collect additional data, if needed
• Analyze data
• ID causes and sources
• Estimate pollutant loads

• STEP 1
• BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
• ID stakeholders
• ID issues of concern
• Set preliminary goals
• Develop indicators
• Conduct outreach

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Watershed Planning Steps
k

• STEP 6
• MEASURE PROGRESS AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
• Review and evaluate information
• Share results
• Prepare annual plans
• Make adjustments to program

• STEP 5
• IMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLAN
• Implement management strategies
• Conduct monitoring
• Conduct I/E activities

• STEP 4
• DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
• Develop Implementation schedule
• Set Interim milestones
• Determine how you will measure success
• Develop monitoring component
• Develop evaluation process
• ID technical and financial assistance needed
• Assign responsibility

• STEP 3
• FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS
• Set goals and management objectives
• Develop indicators/targets
• Determine load reductions needed
• ID critical areas
• ID management measures needed

• STEP 2
• CHARACTERIZE WATERSHED
• Gather existing data
• Create data inventory
• ID data gaps
• Collect additional data, if needed
• Analyze data
• ID causes and sources
• Estimate pollutant loads

• STEP 1
• BUILD PARTNERSHIPS
• ID stakeholders
• ID issues of concern
• Set preliminary goals
• Develop indicators
• Conduct outreach

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Capacity Building

• CB Strategy
• Funding catalog - New Sustainable Funding web
  site - Cross Office Team
• Smart Growth web site Cross Office Team
• Watershed Academy online courses
• Monthly Web casts wetlands, drinking water,
  Smart Growth
• New Watershed Tools training
• Watershed Handbook Training

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Capacity Building Grants Targeted Watersheds
Funds

• 1.6 -3.2 Million for FY2006/07
• Geographic Focus Areas
• (Arid West, Great Plains, Appalachia)
• Up to 20 can be go to Mini-grants
• Targeted Watershed Grants
• in addition to NEPs
• in addition to NPS 319

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On the Technical Side

• Watershed Handbook being updated
• Working with grantees to develop technical tools
• AGNPS with CONCEPTS (bank erosion element)
• VA Tech
• SWAT AG BMP Optimization (Auburn CES)
• AV-GWLF Penn State model being applied to New
  England
• Watersheds and Wetland Protection Guides
• Plan Builder On-Line Tool
• Watershed Central

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Technical Analysis Challenges in Planning
addressed by our Handbook

• GIS and geographic data
• Statistical interpretation of data
• Modeling and Spreadsheet tools
• Defining the pollution reductions
• from BMPs for Nonpoint Sources
• Setting up a monitoring program
• Evaluating changes due to management

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Identification of causes and sources, listed
waters, pollutants, loads by watershed
sub-categories, (crops, AFOs, urban, forestry,
etc.)

• Tools
• NEMO land use assessments
• Watershed Model s
• SWAT / GWLF/ L-thia
• BASINS, AGWA, CADDIS
• WRAP
• State GIS Clearinghouses

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B. Estimate of load reductions by land use (or
other) subcategory expected from BMPs

• Tools
• Watershed models that incorporate BMPs
• AGWA
• GeoWEPP
• BMP Research
• WCS - R4

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Description of BMPs and how they are targeted (we
suggest a map).

• Tools
• BMP targeting
• (Penn State tool set)
• PreDICT
• NPS Tool
• AvGWLF

Wisconsin Buffer Targeting Models USLE
Snap-Plus
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D. Estimate of needed technical financial
resources
EPA Watershed Funding Site Sustainable Finance
Team

• Tools
• Env Finance Centers - MD, BSU, others
• EPA Funding Web Site
• Catalog of Federal Funding

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E. Information/ Education component

• Tools
• Getting in Step
• Adopt Your Watershed
• Adopt Your Waterway
• NPS Outreach Tool Box

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F. Schedule (who does what, when)

• Tools
• Plan2Fund
• State guides
• EPA Watershed Approach Guides
• State and Local

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G. Description of measurable milestones for
implementation

• Tools
• Plan2Fund
• 319 Project work plans
• Describes what is to be done, by whom, and when
  interim beans.

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H. Criteria to determine if loadings/ targets
are being achieved

• Tools
• CADDIS (EPA)
• Rapid Bio-assessment Protocols
• State WQStds and Assessment Methods
• Wadeable streams,
• lakes, rivers studies

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I. Monitoring component for above criteria

• Tools
• Citizen Monitoring Guidance
• LaMotte Chemical Company Monitoring
• Guides
• EPA Volunteer Monitoring News
• National NPS Monitoring Program Case Studies
• State Cooperative Extensions
• State 303(d) Assessment Guidelines
• Stream Corridor Guide

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Incorporation Wetlands into Watershed Planning
Process (CWP) / EPA Project
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Section of Annotated Outline
3.1.3 Climate/Precipitation Provide current and
historic climate data for your watershed. Climate
data provides information that is critical in
evaluating the hydrology of an area. Information
about temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and
evapotranspiration, is used to simulate
rainfall-runoff processes in watershed models.
Local climatological data helps one to better
understand the local water budget for the region
and also helps for modeling purposes.
3.1.5 Surface Water Resources Identify
all surface water features in the watershed.
Surface water includes all water that is
naturally open to the atmosphere, such as lakes,
rivers, seas and reservoirs. In addition to being
an important source of drinking water and
recreation, these waters are also vital parts of
local and regional ecosystems. Surface water
pollution can result from a number of sources,
including dredging, stormwater runoff, ocean
dumping and industrial wastewater discharges.
Your state Department of Environmental Quality
can provide useful information on surface water,
data inventory, maps and related issues.
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