TMDL Science Needs

1
TMDL Science Needs and the Role of Research
Douglas J. Norton USEPA Office of Water October
2005
2
The Twenty Needs Report
http//www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/20needsreport
8-02.pdf

• Purpose summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL
  needs statements, provide to researchers and
  research planners
• Content 20 primary science needs and how these
  can be met
• - ORD/OW/Region interaction needs
• - TMDL-specific needs
• - broader CWA needs

3
The reports bottom lines
The TMDL Program needs low- to mid-complexity
modeling, monitoring and statistics tech
support ORD must continue to address all
stressors, no matter whether EPA can regulate
them Synthesis products are crucial and should be
a primary responsibility of government
research Better Water Quality Standards will
enable a better TMDL program Research in recovery
processes must accompany research on
restoration/BMP effectiveness
4
The Twenty Needs Report
I. Needs re. ORD/OW/Regional interactions -
Develop state of the science syntheses in
several high priority subject areas, to aid busy
TMDL developers - Mutually improve networking and
access to expertise in ORD, OW and EPA Regions -
Revitalize ORD technical support and technical
information transfer
5
The Twenty Needs Report
II. Science needs re. immediate TMDL process -
Increase quantity and quality of completed
TMDLs - Improve watershed and water quality
modeling - Improve uncertainty analysis and
statistical techniques - Improve the science base
concerning all stressors (pollutants and
pollution) - Improve information on BMP
effectiveness
6
The Twenty Needs Report
II. Needs re. immediate TMDL process (contd) -
Develop adaptive implementation approaches for
TMDLs - Address numerous stressor-specific
scientific issues - Improve consideration of
atmospheric deposition - Improve guidance for
allocation development and methods to translate
allocations into control actions
7
The Twenty Needs Report
III. Science needs re. impaired waters program
improvements - Assist states in translating
narrative standards into numeric criteria -
Revisit the scientific basis for use
designations - Develop and improve biocriteria
and other criteria gaps - Clarify and quantify
selected parameters used in criteria definitions
8
The Twenty Needs Report
III. Needs re. impaired waters program
improvements (contd) - Make monitoring more
program-relevant and results-relevant - Assist
states in monitoring design development -
Evaluate defensible scientific standards for
listing - Improve support for protecting
unimpaired waters against degradation
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How can research help the TMDL program?
Research developmt address science gaps
(operationalized research to tech transfer)
(feed ideas to research)
EPA-OW/Regns tech transfer, tech support.
gt gt Technical Difficulty, Uncertainty gt gt gt
(feed in ideas for tech support)
States/Regions operational TMDL development
more TMDLs, fewer tech obstacles
gt gt gt gt next 15 years gt gt gt gt
10
Emerging Directions in the TMDL ProgramFour
Watershed Branch Goals

• Provide National Leadership for TMDL Listing
  Programs
• Provide key TMDL technical and policy guidance
  to States/Regions
• 2. Promote Integrated Water Quality Assessments
• More consistent, statistically valid, and cost
  effective water quality assessment strategies
• 3. Support Partners with Science Technical
  Tools
• Ensure that listing decisions and TMDLs are
  grounded in solid science
• 4. Measure Environmental Progress
• Develop next generation of TMDL environmental
  success measures

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Hot Topics in the TMDL Program

• - Pace of TMDL development
• Implementation of TMDLs
• Integrated Reporting
• Category 4B Alternatives
• Results analysis
• Assessment tools (e.g., WARSSS)
• Technical support in modeling (Athens center)
• Continuing advancements in modeling approaches