DEQ Office of Water Supply Update

March 2017 Update

Virginia's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Update:

Local Engagement Program for the Chesapeake Bay Clean Up

In light of the strong emphasis on local engagement for the Phase III WIP, Virginia has developed and begun implementing a local engagement program that will continue throughout the Phase III WIP development process and beyond. The components of the local engagement program include:

. Ongoing meetings of the Chesapeake Bay Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG). This group is comprised of representatives of the agricultural, conservation, development and industrial communities as well as representatives of local governments and soil & water quality conservation districts. The state will be providing updates to this group and eliciting their comments on all aspects of Phase III WIP planning, including the local engagement program. . Outreach to local government, soil & water conservation district and stakeholder association meetings to provide continuous updates throughout the Phase III WIP process. . Initial regional outreach meetings to local governments and soil & water conservation districts throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed portion of the state (currently on-going). . Facilitated work sessions for local governments, soil & water conservation districts and stakeholders. These work sessions will involve training on the various tools available for the development and prioritization of pollutant reducing strategies and how to report Best Management Practices (BMPs). . On-going assistance to local governments and stakeholders and outreach.

For more information, visit the webpage below or contact Joan Salvati at [email protected],(804) 698- 4230.

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/ChesapeakeBay/ChesapeakeBayTMDL.aspx

DEQ Office of Water Supply Update:

Virginia Water Withdrawal Reporting Regulation: DEQ appreciates the assistance of the VASWCD and Districts as we continue to register farms to report water withdrawals. DEQ is wrapping up 2016 withdrawal data collection and QA/QC. Program Contacts for Withdrawal Reporting: Tammy Stephenson: [email protected], (540) 562-6828 Sara Jordan: [email protected], (540) 574-7901

Potomac River Basin-Wide Comprehensive Water Resources Plan: The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is developing a water resources plan for the entire Potomac basin which stretches across parts of four states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) as well as the District of Columbia. Stakeholder participation is essential for the successful development and implementation of the plan. ICPRB has established an advisory committee, comprised of about two dozen diverse stakeholders representing various interests and geographic regions. The third advisory committee meeting was held on March 2, 2017. In addition to the advisory committee, the ICPRB maintains a "Keep Informed" list that will have opportunity to comment on the plan and receive updates about the Potomac Comprehensive Plan process as milestones are achieved. To join the effort, contact [email protected] at ICPRB and request to be added to the “Keep Informed” list for the basin-wide plan. The Groundwater Withdrawal Regulation (9 VAC 25-610-10 et seq.) requires a permit for withdrawals in a groundwater management area of over 300,000 gallons in a month of groundwater. With the knowledge that there likely are groundwater users who withdrawal enough to require a permit but have not applied, the DEQ is initiating a Compliance Assistance Framework. The Framework applies to all unpermitted users in the Eastern Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) and the Eastern Shore GWMA who submit an application and permit fee (no fee for agricultural withdrawals) for a new Groundwater Withdrawal Permit between April 1st, 2017 and December 15, 2017. After December 15, 2017, any unpermitted groundwater users withdrawing more than 300,000 gallons in any one month may be subject to compliance and enforcement actions.

Program Contacts for the Compliance Assistance Framework: Ryan Green: [email protected], 804-698-4258 Erinn Tisdale: [email protected], 804-698-4066

Virginia Nonpoint Source Program Update:

DEQ Watershed Program Contacts: Regional TMDL Nonpoint Source Coordinators: Valley Regional Office (VRO), Harrisonburg: [email protected], (540) 574-7850 Northern Regional Office (NRO), Woodbridge: [email protected], (703) 583-3835 Blue Ridge Regional Office (BRO), Roanoke: [email protected], (540) 562-6738 Piedmont Regional Office (PRO), Glen Allen: [email protected], (804) 527-5058 Southwest Regional Office (SWRO), Abingdon: [email protected], (276) 676-4803 Tidewater Regional Office (TRO), VA Beach: [email protected], (757) 518-2153

Central Office (CO): Liz McKercher, Watershed Program Manager: [email protected], (804) 698-4291 Nicole Sandberg, 319(h) Grant Manager: [email protected], (804) 698-4043 Lars Bolton, NPS Grant and Data Coordinator: [email protected], (804) 698-4006 Ram Gupta, TMDL Coordinator, [email protected], (804) 698-4184 Ashley Wendt, TMDL Implementation Analyst, [email protected], (804) 698-4042

Current Water Quality Improvement Fund Projects Project Sponsor Project Title Culpeper SWCD Expanding Culpeper SWCD Residential On-Site Septic Cost Share Program Middle Peninsula Planning Middle Peninsula Septic Repair Program District Commission Newport News (City) Deep Creek Shoreline Restoration Newport News (City) Richneck Regional Water Quality Retrofit and Flood Control Shenandoah Valley SWCD Rockingham County Septic Assistance Program Thomas Jefferson SWCD Thomas Jefferson Regional Residential Septic System Management Program: Building on a Targeted Approach Town of White Stone Install Central Sewer to Replace Failing Drainfields Virginia Department of Mines, Elkins Branch Landslide Emergency Minerals and Energy

Current 319(h) TMDL Implementation Projects Sponsor (DEQ Region) Project Area Culpeper SWCD (NRO) Upper Rapidan River Upper Hazel River Upper York River Upper Robinson & Little Dark Run Evergreen SWCD (SWRO) Upper Middle Fork Holston River Hanover Caroline SWCD (PRO) Chickahominy River Headwaters SWCD (VRO) Middle River New River SWCD (SWRO) Chestnut Creek Peter Francisco SWCD (CO) Slate River and Rock Island Creek (1) Slate River and Rock Island Creek (2) Piedmont SWCD (PRO) Spring Creek Et Al Watershed Residential Septic Flat and Nibbs Creek Shenandoah Valley (VRO) Linville Creek Tazewell SWCD & Upper TN River Upper Clinch River Roundtable (SWRO) Thomas Jefferson SWCD (VRO) Hardware River Tye River Tri-County Action Agency (BRO) Lower Banister River Virginia Tech (BRO) Stroubles Creek

Pending 319(h) TMDL Implementation Projects Sponsor (DEQ Region) Project/Project Area Lord Fairfax SWCD (VRO) Livestock Exclusion Holston River SWCD (SWRO) Livestock Exclusion North Fork Holston - Washington County Clinch Valley SWCD (SWRO) Livestock Exclusion Big Walker SWCD (SWRO) Livestock Exclusion Culpeper SWCD (NRO) Upper Hazel River TMDL Upper York River TMDL Chesapeake Bay Foundation South River and Christians Creek (VRO) Natural Bridge SWCD (VRO) Buffalo, Colliers Creek Blue Ridge SWCD (BRO) Blackberry Creek and Smith River LENIWISCO PDC (SWRO) North Fork Holston - Scott County

TMDL implementation projects support agricultural, residential septic and urban BMP activities in impaired watersheds. They are supported mainly by Federal 319(h) funds, but some have received supplemental state funding from either the Water Quality Improvement Fund or the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund. DEQ reports annually on progress in TMDL implementation watersheds. Final progress reports are posted to: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/TMDLImplementation/TMD LImplementationProjects.aspx

The 2016 progress reports will be posted after EPA approval. Two reports pending approval, the Lower Banister and the Stroubles Creek, follow: LOWER BANISTER RIVER WATERSHED

Project Location and Background

The Banister River watershed is located in the Roanoke River Basin in Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties, Virginia. The watershed is approxi- mately 197,913 acres in size, and land use is predominantly forested and hay/pasture. The Lower Banister River and its tributaries (Sandy and Polecat Creeks) were listed as impaired on Virginia’s 1996 Section 303(d) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Priority List and Report due to violations of the State’s Water Quality Stand- ards for fecal coliform bacteria. The Banister River TMDL was completed in September 2007, and a TMDL implementation plan was completed for the watershed in October 2012. The implementation project started in July 2013.

Table 1: Lower Banister River Watershed BMP Summary July 2013—June 2016

In- Implementation Highlights Control Measure Units Goal stalled %

Agricultural The Lower Banister River TMDL residential septic implementation project, which covers only the Halifax County portion of the Stream Exclusion Fencing F 322 18 6 implementation watershed, is administered by Tri-County Com- munity Action Agency (TCCAA) in partnership with Halifax Soil Stream Exclusion Fencing S 633,600 56,710 9 and Water Conservation District (HSWCD, District) and Virginia Vegetated Buffer A 55 35 64 Cooperative Extension. The HSWCD also administers an agricultural cost-share program throughout the watershed. The table Reforestation of Pasture A 155 1 <1 on the left shows project-specific BMPs implemented from July Permanent Vegetative Cov- er on Cropland A 160 155 97 2013 – June 2016 in addition to overall implementation goals

Manure Storage S 2 0 0 for the project area. This project focuses specifically on implementing residential septic BMPs and agricultural BMPS from Residential Septic work with the District .

Septic Tank Pump-out S 300 8 3 The residential program generated interest early on in the pro- Septic System Repair S 92 0 0 ject. Radio public service announcements resulted in a number of septic pump-outs. This particular project area is very chal- Septic System Installation S 33 0 0 lenging in that it is very rural, making it difficult to inform the Alternative Waste Treat- ment System S 2 0 0 public about the septic funding opportunity. Many residents tend to be lower-income and elderly. Additionally, many resi- A = Acres, F = Linear Feet, S = System, dents do not travel often or have internet access.

The Virginia Nonpoint Source Management Program: The Virginia NPS Management Program is managed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and is funded, in part, through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under the Clean Water Act Section 319(h). For more information regarding Virginia’s Nonpoint Source Management Program, please visit us on the web at: http:// www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/NonpointSourcePollutionManagement.aspx . An electronic copy of this report can be found here: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/WaterQualityInformationTMDLs/TMDL/ TMDLImplementation/TMDLImplementationProjects.aspx General NPS Program questions? email: [email protected] LOWER BANISTER RIVER WATERSHED

Implementation Highlights— Continued TCCAA distributed information packets and brochures to local churches. Community volunteers also distributed materials to residents and organizations in the project area. Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation Program (IPR) funding has been utilized as match on some repair projects. Leveraging funds from the IPR program has enabled some citizens to participate who may not have been able to afford the out-of-pocket expense. Other challenges include misinformation regarding the cost of septic pump-outs, some residents thinking the program is only for low-income citizens, and citizens being interested but unable to participate because their property falls outside of the TMDL implementation area. Pollution reductions are summarized below. Table 2: Pollution Reductions for Pathogens Nitrogen Phosphorus Sedimentation Period Lower Banister River Watershed: (Coliform) (CFU) (lbs/year) (lbs/year) (tons/year) July 2013—June 2016 July 2013-June 2016 2.38E+15 11,493 2,370 2,386

Water Quality Monitoring Results

Water quality data collected by DEQ for the period of 2010 through 2016 were analyzed to determine the impact of BMPs implemented in the project area on E. coli violation rates and associated long-term trends, if any, in water quality improvements. The bar graph to the right shows the percent violation rate for samples collected annually at monitoring station 4ABAN039.76, which did not meet the water quality standard of 235 cfu/100 mL. The number of samples collected each year is shown above each bar. The linear regression fitted Lower Banister River (4ABAN039.76) E.coli to the data shows a poten- % Violation Rates: E. Coli Standard tially decreasing trend in violation rates over the 70% sampling period, indicating 60% 6 possible improvements in water quality in Lower 50% Banister River. 40% 6 3 30% Graph 1: E. coli data for 6 6 6 Lower Banister River 20% (Station 4ABAN039.76) for

E. E. Coli Violation Rate % 10% 6 2010-2016 0% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Sample Year

For More Information Please Contact:

James Moneymaker, DEQ - TMDL NPS Coordinator, [email protected], (540) 562-6738

William J. Coleman, Tri-County Community Action Agency. [email protected], (434) 575-7916, ext. 224 STROUBLES CREEK WATERSHED

Project Location and Background

The Stroubles Creek watershed is located in the New River Basin in Montgomery County, Virginia. The headwaters of the Stroubles Creek originate in the northeastern part of the town of Blacks- burg, flowing in a generally southwestern direc- tion. The Upper Stroubles Creek watershed con- tributing to the impaired section of the creek is 6,119 acres in size, and land use is mainly urban/ residential (46%), forested (28%), pasture (21%), and cropland (5%). The urban and residential area is mainly in the northeastern (upstream) section of the watershed, and the forested area is mainly downstream in the southwestern cor- ner of the watershed. Stroubles Creek was listed as impaired on Virginia’s 1996, 1998, and 2002 Section 303(d) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Priority List and Re- ports due to violations of the State’s General Standard (benthic). The Benthic TMDL for Stroubles Creek was completed in 2003. A stressor analysis performed during TMDL development identified sediment as the primary stressor causing the aquatic life use impairment in the creek. A TMDL implementation plan was completed in 2006, and implementation projects were active from 2006 through 2014 through efforts of local partners, without Section 319(h) funding. The TMDL IP was revised in 2014, and a 319(h)-funded implementation project started in May 2014.

Implementation Highlights Table I: Stroubles Creek BMP Summary: June 2006 – June 2016 In- The Stroubles Creek TMDL implementation pro- Control Measure Units Goal % stalled ject is administered by the Virginia Tech Biologi- Agricultural cal Systems Engineering (BSE) Department, Stream Exclusion Fencing F 13,937 9,260 66 Blacksburg, Virginia. The Section-319(h)-funded Riparian Forest Buffer A 30 4 13 grant did not start until May 2014; prior to that, Urban/Residential Stormwater Virginia Tech and partners worked on imple- Infiltration Trench Retrofits CF 55.386 0 0 menting BMPs listed in the TMDL IP. The De- Urban Riparian Forest Buffer S 7 1 13 partment was contracted to manage the 319(h) Infiltration BMPs S 10 0 0 grant and provide technical assistance and edu- Additional Bioretention S 12 1.1 9 cational outreach to watershed residents, land- BMPs owners, and other stakeholders for agricultural, Stream Channel stormwater, and stream channel BMP imple- Stream channel restoration F 6,881 6,336 92 mentation. The table on the right shows BMP Adopt-A-Stream cleanup F N/A 6,336 N/A implementation since the implementation plan was completed in 2006 (continued on page 2) A =Acres, S =System, F = Feet, CF = Cubic Feet

Implementation Highlights— Continued Implementation is summarized since 2006 even though the section 319(h) grant project did not begin until May 2014. Be- tween IP completion and December 31, 2013, a number of agricultural and stormwater management BMPs were completed in the Stroubles Creek watershed. These BMPs include two stormwater pond stabilization projects, six bioretention ponds and a bio-cell, an infiltration trench, 1.3 miles of stream restoration, 9,260 linear feet of livestock exclusion fencing, 0.22 miles of tree planting along retention ponds, forested buffer along one mile of stream length, and an Adopt-A- Stream program for 1.2 miles of the creek. Between May 2014 and June 2016, several stormwater management and agricultural BMPs were completed as part of this project. Three bioretention cells to treat runoff from roofs and parking lots were installed at an apartment complex.

A data transmission system was completed to route data au- tomatically through the existing StREAM Lab wireless system. Additionally, monthly water quality sampling and monitoring of precipitation and stream flow were conducted. One livestock exclusion practice was completed totaling 1,200 linear feet of fencing and 600 linear feet of pipeline to connect a frost-proof trough. In addition, a total of 4.5 acres of riparian buffer were installed inside the livestock exclusion area. A second riparian buffer planting consisting of 440 bareroot hardwood seedlings was completed downstream of StREAM Lab.

To showcase completed BMP projects and local partnerships, BSE created a project website: http://stroubles.weebly.com. A story map is also under development; it will exhibit 319(h)- funded BMPs as well as BMPs installed by the Town of Blacks- burg. Further, BSE is planning a watershed module for high school students. And two student organizations at Virginia Tech adopted a section of Stroubles Creek at StREAM Lab through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recrea- tion (DCR) Adopt-a-Stream Program. Pollutant reductions from BMP installations are not included at this time and will be included in the closeout report that will be completed after the project ends March 2017. Photo 1 (Top Right): Location of stormwater biocells; Photo 2 (Middle Right) Large bioretension cell; Photo 3 (Lower Right) Small bioretension cell. STROUBLES CREEK WATERSHED

Water Quality Monitoring Results

DEQ monitors water quality at several stations throughout the Stroubles Creek. Water quality data collected were analyzed to determine the impact of BMPs implemented in the project area on the biological conditions, bacteria (E. coli) levels and associated long-term trends, if any, in water quality conditions.

The bar graph to the right shows the percent violation rate for samples collected annually from 2004-2010 at monitoring station - 9 STE007.29, which did not meet the water quality standard of 235 cfu/100 mL. The number of samples collected each year is shown above each bar. The linear regression fitted to the data shows possible in- creasing trend in bacteria violation rates over the sampling period, indicating a possible decline in water quality of Stroubles Creek. Note that the sampling period occurred before the Stroubles Creek implementation project but after other activities had occurred in the watershed.

The Virginia Stream Condition Index (VSCI) is used to designate biological impairment of a stream. Streams with VSCI scores greater than 60 are considered non-impaired, whereas streams scoring less than 60 are considered impaired. The biological water quality samples collected at monitoring station - 9 STE007.29 in the spring and fall sea- sons of 2001 and 2015 were analyzed for VSCI scores and the results are shown in the graph below. The number above each bar shows the VSCI score. Though VSCI scores remain below the water quality standard of 60, monitoring over a longer period of time with consistent trends is needed to corrobo- rate water quality changes.

Graph 1 (Top Right): DEQ E.coli monitoring data from 2004-2010 for Stroubles Creek (9-STE007.29). Graph 2 (Bottom Right): DEQ Biological monitoring data from 2001-2015 in Stroubles Creek (9-STE007.29)

For More Information Please Contact:

James Moneymaker, DEQ TMDL NPS Coordinator, [email protected], (540) 562-6738 Dr. Cully Hession, PhD., PE, CED, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech , [email protected]