NPS Management Plan Originally Developed Under §319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 2000
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West Virginia’s Nonpoint Source Program’s Management Plan Prepared By Timothy Craddock Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator October 2019 Acknowledgements WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program would like to acknowledge the contribution of many federal and state agency representatives and non-governmental organizations. Without their input and work towards restoration this management plan would not be possible. Special thanks to the Nonpoint Source staff, especially the regional basin coordinators, Assistant Director Teresa Koon and Pam Russell, WV Conservation Agency (WVCA) §319 Program Coordinator. Several meetings and communications with agency representatives from WVDEP’s Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Program, Office of Special Reclamation (OSR), Oil and Gas (O&G) and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Programs were keys to the development and planning that are a necessary part of the management plan. Watershed group inputs were extremely important. Their local insight dealing with the daily project management responsibilities are what move the program forward. Additionally, special thanks go to US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region III Program Officers who provided tremendous support and guidance during the development of this plan. Statement of Policy Regarding the Equal Opportunity to use and Participate in Programs It is the policy of WVDEP to provide its facilities, services and programs to all persons without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin and handicap. Proper licenses, registration and compliance with official rules and regulations are the only sources of restrictions for facility use or program participation. West Virginia’s NPS Program is funded by Clean Water Action §319 Grants, administered by the USEPA. Cover photos Watershed Celebration Day participants; Passive and active acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment - Deckers Creek watershed; AGO wetland restoration – White Sulphur Springs Hatchery; Public stream access constructed using porous pavers - Back Creek watershed protection plan Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................2 Statutory background ..........................................................................................................................................2 NPS organization and structure ..........................................................................................................................2 Chapter 2 - Watershed management ......................................................................................................................3 Stakeholder involvement ....................................................................................................................................4 Basin Coordinators .............................................................................................................................................6 Watershed based plans ......................................................................................................................................7 Healthy waters protection and evaluation...........................................................................................................8 Chesapeake Bay Program..................................................................................................................................9 Additional grant opportunities (AGOs) ............................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 3 - Water quality montoring ................................................................................................................... 11 Water quality standards ................................................................................................................................... 11 Quality Assurance Project Plans ..................................................................................................................... 11 Volunteer monitoring ........................................................................................................................................ 12 STORET/WQX ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Operation and maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 12 Chapter 4 - NPS priority categories ..................................................................................................................... 13 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 Coordination with USDA Programs ................................................................................................................. 13 Resource extraction ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Urban stormwater/developed Lands ................................................................................................................ 16 Wastewater ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Silviculture ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 Source water protection ................................................................................................................................... 19 Stream restoration ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 5 - Administration and coordination ..................................................................................................... 20 Project ranking ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Program evaluation .......................................................................................................................................... 21 Funding ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 Outreach .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 6 - Goals and objectives ......................................................................................................................... 25 Short-term goals .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Long-term goals ............................................................................................................................................... 25 Resources and partners .................................................................................................................................. 29 1 Appendices Appendix 1 – Watershed tracking .................................................................................................................... 30 Appendix 2 - WV Watershed based plans ...................................................................................................... 33 Appendix 3 – AML and OSR project information ............................................................................................. 34 Appendix 4 – TMDL development schedule .................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 5 – Watershed Resource Registry................................................................................................... 61 Appendix 6 – Short-term goals (Annual workplan) .......................................................................................... 62 Chapter 1 - Introduction This document is West Virginia’s revised Nonpoint Source Management Plan (WVNPSMP). It updates the State’s NPS Management Plan originally developed under §319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in 2000. WVNPSMP was revised and received USEPA approval September 2014. This update is the five-year revision as required by USEPA guidance. The WVNPSMP will be reviewed/revised periodically. If updates occur before the five-year cycle, the changes/addendums will be submitted to USEPA for approval. Every five years the entire document will be updated as needed and re-submitted to USEPA for comment. WVDEP is committed to the process of making sure WVNPSMP consistently addresses NPS Program needs and priorities considering new and existing TMDLs, WBPs, funding and stakeholder opportunities. Statutory background Congress enacted §319 of the CWA in 1987, establishing a national program to control nonpoint sources of water pollution. CWA §101(a)(7) states, “it is the national policy that programs for the control of nonpoint sources of pollution be developed and implemented in an expeditious manner to enable the goals of this Act to be met through the control of both point and nonpoint