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Blueprint for a Successful Pollution Mitigation Program Aimee Clinkhammer, Water Hub

March 24, 2018 Pure Waters Association Meeting 2

Clean wa ter p lans • Watershed-based approach that outlines a strategy to improve water quality • TMDLs, 9E Plans • These plans document the: . Pollutant sources and loads . Allowable pollutant level . Actions to improve water quality 3

Why are they i mportant? • Watershed approach • Adaptive management • Strong implementation plan • Effective plans-protection and restoration • Eligible/Priority for federal and state funding • Locally-led 4 9E Plans & TMDLs similarities Feature 9E TMDL Identify all pollutant sources X X Model pollution X X Estimate amount pollutant from sources X X Determine reductions needed X X SifSpecify how much sources need to reduce X X Identify & prioritize management actions in XX implementation plan Improved funding eligibility X X 5 9E Plans & TMDLs differences Feature 9E Plan TMDL Approval DEC EPA Regulatory authority— Reasonable Permit point sources potential limits Regulatory authority— No permits, water quality nonpoint sources standards compliance No (public Public comment period participation Yes required element) 6 The 9 Elements Element Description

A Pollution load sources identified & quantified in watershed

BIdentify target or goal to reduce pollutant load to reach water quality goal(s)

Best Management Practices to get reductions (estimated load reduction/BMP C to achieve total reduction needed to improve WQ)

DHow to pay for and implement BMPs identified in C

EStakeholder input & getting help at local level to implement plan

F Schedule to implement C

GProgress on implementation of BMPs

H CitCriter ia to assess water quality iitmprovement due to ilimplemen ttitation of BMPs

Monitoring plan to collect water quality data to measure water quality I improvement against criteria in H 7 8

Element A —quantify poll ut ant l oad s

• Identifyyp point and non point Seneca Lake Watershed Land Use sources • Assign loads from each source 9

Element A —quantify poll ut ant l oad s

2% 12% 13% Developed

5% Forest

Agriculture

Septic Load

Point Source Load 68% 10

Element B —water qualit y goal

• Identifyyqygg water quality target or goal . Meet water quality standards or best uses • Determine pollutant reductions needed to reach water quality goal(s) . How much of the pollutant needs to be reduced from the sources? 11

All wa ter bo dies are cl assifi ed f or b est use

• 6 NYCRR Part 701 provides for the Classifications of Surface Waters and Groundwaters • Waterbody classification denotes the water’s best use – suitable for fish propagation – public water supply – primary and secondary contact recreation • Part 703: Surface Water and Groundwater Quality Standards and Groundwater Effluent Limitations • Narrative or numeric 12 State narrative water quality standard for phosphorus:

“None in amounts that will result in ggg,rowths of algae, weeds and slimes that will impair the waters for their best usages.”

Guidance value: 20 µg/L 13

Element C —hthow to meet tthl the goal • Identify best management practices (BMPs) • Determine ppyriority areas • Provide rationale for action selection 14

Element C —hthow to meet tthl the goal • Existinggp plans documents? • What practices are already being implemented and are working ? • Are there practices that have really worked, but you don’ t have a funding source? • What might work in the future? - use MODELS 15

What are mod el s? 1. A model is mathematical, computerized simplification of a real system (like a stream or watershed or a lake) 2. Models are “constructed” based on pp,q,rocesses, equations, and data specific to your system 3. Models are used to understand, test, perturb, or control some system of interest 16

Why are mod el s need ed? To estimate: • Loading rate of nutrients and sediment from the watershed (pounds per day) • Loading capacity of a waterbody (how much of a nutrient can my lake receive w ithout d egrad ati on in wa ter qua lity ?) • Reductions needed to meet a target, goal, or water quality standard

Models are simpler, faster, less expensive than analyzing the real system in all places at all times, or because some questions cannot be answered by looking at the real system (predict future conditions) 17

Why are mod el s need ed? • Element A – characterize watershed & quantify loads • Element B – water qqyguality goal • Element C – how to meet the goal • Element H – evaluation criteria 18

WtWatersh hded mod dlels – whthat are th th?ey? A mathematical representation of pollutant fate, transport, and degradation within a watershed.

Include equations to simulate: • watershed hydrology • water quality • runoff •erosion • wash off of sediment and pollutants 19

WtWatersh hded mod dlels – whthat are th ey used df for?

Models that determine watershed loads and reductions • Point source load – user defined based on permit or DMR data • Non-point source load – simulated by model, based on user supplied information and calibration (against sampling data) 20

MdliModeling – catitegories Simple ($) • Usually spreadsheet based • Coarse time scales (yearly) • Steady state (constant inpu t/ou tpu t) • Not event based • Limited parameter adjustment • Suitable for small watersheds

Examples • Simple method , export coefficient, PLoad, WTM, STEPL, NLM, TMDL-Lite? 21

MdliModeling – catitegories Compp($$lex ($$ $$$$$) • Variable time scale monthly, daily, hourly, sub-hourly • Dynamic (variable input/output) • Extensive data requirements (e.g., hourly rainfall) • Event based • Expansive parameter adjustment • Suitable for all watershed sizes

Examples . Mapshed, SWAT, HSPF, SWMM 22

Element D —iden tify need s t o support implementation plan ($$) • Estimate of technical & financial assistance • Describe potential funding sources, options for leveraging and opportunities for collaboration • State & federal fundinggpp opportunities 23 24

Element E —outhtreach • Watershed pppplans need partnerships to be successful • Coordinate efforts • Combine resources • Build awareness • Identify new ideas

Stakeholders are defined as those who make and implement decision, those who are affected by the decisions made, and those who have the ability to assist or idimpede ilimplementat ion of the decisions. 25

Element E —outhtreach

• Identify potential programs and activities relevant to your watershed • DEC monitoring programs • DEC volunteer programs • Other research? • Existing plans or activities/accomplishments • Completed state-funded ppjrojects • Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) • Technical reports • EitiExisting wa ters hdhed p lans • USDA programs 26 Element F—schedule (part of implementation plan) • Management practices and associated technical and financial assistance needed • Short-term (3 yrs), mid-term (3-5 yrs))g and long-term (5-10 yrs) activities • Milestones identified to evaluate progress • Update & review of plan 27 Element G—track progress of implementation (part of implementation plan) Identify milestones: • Measurable and quantifiable • Appropriate measure goal/target for plan Examples: • Completion of projects in critical areas • AAilftiitlldcres or miles of practices installed • Indirect (number of beach closures, frequency of cyanobacteria blooms)

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it” 28

Element I —monitori ng

Describe monitoring plan to collect data that will be used to assess water quality improvement over time . water quality trend analysis . pair ed w at er sh ed desi gn s . frequency of cyanobacteria blooms (HABs) . tracking beach closures. • Requ ires samp ling QAPP (approve d by DEC) • Recommend use of DEC monitoring programs

QAPP’s ensure that the data collected are of known quality and quantity to meet project objects. 29

QAPP—wht?!hat?!

• Qualityyj() Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) . Outlines how environmental data will be collected: directly, other sources, or compiled . Outli nes mo de l se lec tion or se lec tion process, h ow mo de l w ill be se tup, run, calibrated, and validated . HHowow data will be analyzedanalyzed . Identifies quality control steps to ensure data collected meets intended objective Ensures that the data collected are of known quality and quantity to meet project objects. 30

QAPP—wht?!hat?! • Consistent data collection overtime • Historical documentation of project • Required for DEC and EPA projects • ELAP certified labs 31

ThilSTechnical Support • Technical support from DEC . Informal review . Modeling questions . Modeling support . QAPP templates & review . Reviewer guidance and checklist • DEC approves QAPPs • DEC approves final plans 32

http://www. dec. ny. gov/docs/ ElExamples water_pdf/9eblackriver.pdf Black River (completed) Genesee River (completed) (ongoing) Oneida Lake (ongoing) Wappinger Creek (ongoing) 33

FdiOtiFunding Options • Department of State – Local Waterfront Revitalization Program •Eliggppible applicants: towns ,g,,, villages, cities, counties • 25% Match 34 35

KtSKeys to Success  Intermunicipal Organization  Lake Association  Existing plans  COLLABORATION! 36

# of Municipalities/ LkLake CtiCounties ItIntermuni iicipal WWtatersh hded CilCouncil WtWatersh hded AAitissociation Conesus 8/1 Watershed Council Conesus Lake Association Hemlock 4/2 Canadice 2/1 Honeoye 6/2 Watershed Taskforce Honeoye Valley Association Watershed Council Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association Canandaigua 12/2 Keuka Watershed Improvement KkKeuka LLkake AAitissociation Keuka 8/3 Cooperative (KWIC) Seneca Watershed Intermunicipal Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association Seneca 40/5 Organization Watershed Municipal Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Cayuga 44/6 Organization Owasco Lake Watershed Mangement Owasco Watershed Lake Association Owasco 16/3 Council Skaneateles 5/3 Skaneateles Lake Association

Onondaga CCE Preservation Association Otisco 3/1 37

Thank Y ou

Aimee Clinkhammer Watershed Coordinator Finger Lakes Water Hub BfWtAtdBureau of Water Assessment and Questions? Management [email protected] 315-426-7507