TMDL Project for Pathogens in Richardson Bay

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TMDL Project for Pathogens in Richardson Bay

• North Bay Watershed Association Meeting
• November 7, 2007
• Farhad Ghodrati
• Naomi Feger

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What is a TMDL Plan?

• Total Maximum Daily Load plan is a water
• quality improvement plan that
• Identifies sources of impairment
• Sets desired water quality targets
• Prescribes corrective actions

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Why Develop a TMDL Plan?

• Clean Water Act Requires all Regional Water
  Boards to
• Identify impaired water bodies
• Develop TMDL Plans for each impaired waterbody

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The Problem

• Richardson Bay does not meet water quality
  standards for
• - water contact recreation
• - shellfish harvesting
• TMDL Required

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• Localized Impairment Due to Pathogens

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Pathogen Source Categories of Concern

• Sanitary sewer line failures
• Stormwater runoff
• Houseboats (floating homes)
• Vessels (recreational, live-aboard, anchor-out
  boats)
• (Wildlife)

Photo of a substandard houseboat sewage system
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Solving the ProblemOverview

• Implementation Plan
• Continue and improve upon existing actions
• Rely on existing regulatory programs and waste
  discharge prohibitions
• Establish monitoring and adaptive management
  program

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Actions to Reduce Contributions from Stormwater
Runoff

• Comply with stormwater management plans
• Update plans as needed to include specific
  measures to reduce pet and human waste

Photo of storm drain inlet discharging to the Bay
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Actions to Address Sanitary Sewer Line Failures

• Comply with Boards Sanitary Sewer overflow
  program
• Comply with USEPA Enforcement Orders to Sanitary
  Districts

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Actions to Reduce Contributions from Houseboats
and Vessels

• Comply with vessel waste discharge prohibition
• Local authorities evaluate adequacy and integrity
  of waste handling systems
• Owners make necessary improvements to ensure no
  waste is discharged into the Bay

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Evaluating Progress Through Monitoring and
Adaptive Implementation

• Water quality monitoring plan to track progress
  and prioritize implementation
• Adaptive implementation Take action now and
  continue to gather information

Gather Data / Review
Targets Met?
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Next Steps

• State Water Board approval
• Office of Administrative Law approval
• USEPA approval

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Recent USEPA Orders for Sewage Collection
Agencies

• Issued on April 10, 2008, to ten different
  agencies
• Require Sewage Spill Reduction Action Plan
  (SSRAP)
• Elimination of collection system spills
• Spill response, recordkeeping, notification
  reporting
• Collection system maintenance and management
• Collection system assessments
• Capacity assurance
• Infrastructure renewal
• Implementation study and report
• Quarterly spill reports and annual progress
  reports
• Subject to review and approval by EPA

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Mill Valley
Tiburon
Belvedere
Unincorporated County
Sausalito
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Southern Marin Sewer Agencies