Why do a TMDL Implementation Plan for Big Otter Watershed?

1
Why do a TMDL Implementation Plan for Big Otter
Watershed?
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What is a TMDL?

• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a term used to
  describe the amount of pollution a stream can
  receive and still meet Water Quality Standards.
• Identify all sources of pollution contributing to
  violation of water quality standards.
• Calculate the amount of pollutants entering the
  stream from each source.
• Calculate the reductions in pollutants, by
  source, needed to attain/maintain water quality
  standards.

3
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
are Mandated by Law

• Federal 1972 Clean Water Act requires
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Periodic Assessment and Impaired Waters Listing
• Develop TMDLs for Impaired Waters
• Virginias 1997 Water Quality Monitoring
• Information and Restoration Act (WQMIRA)
• requires
• TMDLs for Impaired Waters
• An Implementation Plan
• 1999 Consent Degree with EPA to develop
• TMDL Reports for all 1998 listed streams by
• 2010

4
TMDL- 3 Part Process

• TMDL development
• Implementation Plan development
• Implement the plan

5
Steps after EPA Approval

• Develop Implementation Plans
• Continue targeted Best Management Practices
• Continue stream monitoring
  DEQ, Citizen Monitoring

6
Steps between EPA Approval and
Implementation Plan Start-up

• Interim period between TMDL approval and
  Implementation Plan development
• Promote implementation of Best Management
  Practices (BMPs)
• Initiate educational outreach activities
• Establish organizational framework for the
  Implementation Plan development
• Identify and seek funding opportunities (i.e.,
  grants)

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Implementation Plan Development

• Implementation Plan development is required by
  state legislation (WQMIRA, 1997)
• DCR has lead for NPS TMDL implementation plans
• DCR, DEQ, and other state, federal and local
  agencies will support plan development

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Implementation Plan Development

• Implementation Plan will be done locally
• Stakeholders will have the opportunity to
  participate in the plan development
• Steering Committee, Working Groups
• Public meetings
• Guidance Manual for Total Maximum Daily Load
  Implementation Plans

http//www.deq.state.va.us/tmdl/implans/ipguide.pd
f
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Integration with other Watershed Plans

• Multiple water quality programs and activities
  may be underway in individual watersheds
• Each plan has specific geographical boundaries
  and goals
• TMDL implementation will be coordinated with
  other water quality plans such as
• Watershed / Conservation Roundtables
• Local Comprehensive Plans

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Potential Funding ource

• Potential funding sources for best management
  practices (BMPs) selected during Implementation
  Plan development
• USDA Programs - CREP/EQIP
• WQIA projects
• Section 319 Funds
• State Revolving Loan Funds
• Cost-Share Program
• Tax Credits

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TMDL- 3 Part Process

• TMDL development
• Implementation Plan development
• Implement the plan

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Status of Implementation Plan Development in
Virginia

• 9 IPs are completed, 7 are currently being
  implemented
• 8 additional IPs are under development
• 2 additional IPs are in start-up phase
• 48 stream segments will be improved with IPs to
  be completed by early 2006

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Status of Big Otter TMDL

• DEQ public meetings were held on
• March 16, 2000
• April 25, 2000
• May 23, 2000
• The draft TMDL report was presented to the public
  on August 2, 2000
• Approved by EPA February 2, 2001
• Approved by State Water Control Board (SWCB) June
  17, 2004

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Status of Big Otter TMDL
Implementation Plan Development

• Informational meetings were held on
• September 9, 2004 in Bedford County
• November 1, 2004 in Campbell County
• Jason Ericson (DCR) met with the Campbell County
  Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2004

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Why do a TMDL Implementation Plan(IP)?

• The implementation plan will open the door to
  funding that can fund technical assistance and
  the implementation of Agricultural and Urban BMPs
  through an implementation project once the plan
  is completed and approved.
• The ultimate goal of the Implementation plan is
  improving water quality through a cooperative
  partnership in the Big Otter Watershed.

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TMDL Implementation Plan Development Big Otter
Watershed
First Public Meeting May 19, 2005
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Objectives

• Description of watershed
• Overview of bacteria source characterization
• Overview of TMDL development and Allocation
  Scenarios
• Description of TMDL Implementation Plan
  development process

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TMDL Implementation Plan
Implementation Guidance Manual

• Document that details actions or strategies that
  must be undertaken to achieve load reductions to
  ensure that water quality standards are met.

http//www.deq.state.va.us/tmdl/implans/ipguide.pd
f
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Landuse Distribution(Percent of Total Area)
Residential/Urban Cropland Forest Pasture
Sheep Creek 6 2 67 25
Elk Creek 16 1 50 33
Machine Creek 8 6 41 45
Little Otter River 20 2 42 35
Big Otter River 6 2 73 19
North Otter 3 2 71 24
Buffalo Creek 16 2 55 27
Flat Creek 18 0 67 15
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1998 and 2004 Bacterial Impairments
Impairment Length (miles) Sheep Creek Elk Creek Machine Creek Little Otter River Big Otter River Buffalo Creek North Otter
1998 7.33 7.28 11.33 27.22 14.75 0 0
2004 17.49 19.16 11.33 27.22 14.75 13.98 6.58
note that the Buffalo Creek impairment is
listed as an extension of the Big Otter River
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Percent of Samples Exceeding Water Quality
Standard
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Sources and Distribution of Bacteria
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Bacteria Source Characterization
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Linking sources to water quality

• INPUT
• Soils
• Weather
• Land-use
• Pollutant sources

Models are used to predict how watersheds respond
and to evaluate pollutant reduction options
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Stream Network and Subwatersheds
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Fate and Transport of Bacteria Livestock
Storage
Crops
Pasture
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Fate and Transport of Bacteria Wildlife
Crops
Forest
Die-off
Pasture
Residential
Direct Deposit
Stream
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Fate and Transport of Bacteria Humans and Pets
Failing Septic System
Die-off
Straight Pipe
Pets
Stream
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Bacteria Load Allocation

• Identify reductions from existing sources to meet
  water quality standards
• Consider all sources
• Direct contributions
• Permitted point sources
• Animals in the stream
• Indirect contributions
• Septic systems
• Cropland
• Pasture
• Residential/Urban

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Allocation Scenarios
TMDL Allocation Scenarios
Phase 1 Allocation Scenarios
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Components of a TMDL IP

• Corrective Actions
• Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Measurable Goals and Milestones
• Timeline to achieve water quality objectives
• Public participation

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Corrective Actions BMPs

• Assess needs
• TMDL allocations
• Identify best management practices (BMPs) both
  existing/potential
• Spatial analysis
• Define resources/constraints
• financial, time, staff, social
• Phased approach (targeting)
• Spatial analysis/modeling
• Most bang for the buck

Courtesy VA Department of Conservation and
Recreation
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Estimating Fencing Needs
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Targeting Example
100 beef livestock
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Cost/Benefit Analysis

• Assess cost for phased/full implementation
• Evaluate environmental benefit
• Identify/evaluate economic benefits of
  implementation
• Identify funding sources

Source VADCR Blackwater River TMDL
Implementation Plan
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Measurable Goals/Timeline

• Implementation milestones stakeholders
• Interim water quality goals modeling
• 5 10 year time frame to meet water quality
  standard

Example
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Public Participation

• Public Meetings
• Informational
• Solicit public participation
• Provide a forum for public comment
• Steering Committee
• Direct the overall process
• Review output from working groups
• Review future implementation
• Working groups
• Address community issues/concerns

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Public Meetings
Public Notice indicates contamination fro m fecal
matter. As a result o f this listing and court
a ca Total Maximum Daily Load (TM completed to
d ater quali in these streams. The TMDL study
indicated that the reductio ns needed
were 98-100s, 100 reduction in loads 0-10
reduction in.

• Outreach/notification
• Mailings, newspapers articles, radio, flyers
• Two Public meetings
• May, 2005
• January, 2006
• Public comment period (30 days)

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Stakeholder Interaction Schematic
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Working Groups

• Include
• Agriculture
• Urban/Residential
• Government
• Others?
• Meet
• 1-2 times each
• Summer Early Fall 2005

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Agricultural Working Group

• Responsibilities
• Identify potential constraints to
  implementation
• Identify alternative funding
  sources/partnerships
• Review implementation strategies
  from an agricultural perspective
• Identify outreach methods for
  engaging producers

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Urban/Residential Working Group

• Responsibilties
• Identify possible constraints to implementation
• Identify methods of outreach to homeowners sewage
  problems
• Identify alternative funding sources/partnerships
• Review implementation strategies from a
  homeowners perspective

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Government Working Group

• Responsibilities
• Identify funding sources
• Identify available technical resources
• Identify appropriate measurable goals and
  timelines
• Identify existing applicable regulatory controls
• Identify potential parties to be responsible for
  implementation

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TMDL Implementation Plan Schedule

• May 2005 First public meeting
• June Sept. 2005 Working Groups/Steering
• Committee meet as needed
• December 2005 Complete draft Big Otter TMDL IP
• January 2006 Final public meeting
• March 2006 Begin implementation

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Steering Committee

• Includes
• DCR, DEQ, Working Group Representatives, NRCS,
  Dept. of Health, local govt., SWCD, Stakeholders
• Meet 2-3 meetings during plan development
• Responsibilities
• Review technical data
• Assess input form working groups
• Address community concerns/suggestions
• Guide the process
• Are we getting representative inputs?
• How can the process be improved?

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Opportunity to participate

• The development of the Implementation Plan
  should be a cooperative endeavor that attains
  consensus.
• All stakeholders will have opportunities to
  participate through working groups and/or the
  steering committee.

LOCAL CITIZEN INPUT IS CRITICAL !
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Questions or Comments
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Contacts

• Theresa Carter, Department of Conservation and
  Recreation
• voice 276.676.5527
• e-mail theresa.carter_at_dcr.virginia.gov
• Jason Hill, Department of Environmental Quality
• Voice 540.562.6724
• e-mail jrhill_at_deq.virginia.gov
• Brian Benham, Virginia Tech
• voice 540.231.5705
• e-mail benham_at_vt.edu