Report and 303(D) List
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State of Delaware 2014 Combined Watershed Assessment Report (305(b)) and Determination for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Waters Needing TMDLs Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control April 2015 Preface The State of Delaware 2014 Combined Watershed Assessment Report (305(b)) and Determination for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Waters Needing TMDLs provides a statewide assessment of surface water and ground water resources, highlights Delaware’s initiatives in water resources management and pollution control and provides a list of waters that need TMDLs to meet water quality standards. The document fulfills the reporting requirements set forth under Sections 305(b) and 303(d) of the Federal Clean water Act of 1977, as amended in 1981 and 1987, and is organized in accordance with federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidance documents. This document summarizes statewide water quality assessments, provides an overview of major initiatives and concerns on a statewide basis, and lists waters needing TMDLs. Tables are provided which show the result of water quality analysis and designated use support findings for data from the period of September 2008 through August 2013. There are two appendices to the report. Appendix A is 2014 Assessments for Metals Data. Appendix B contains Citizens Monitoring results. Assessments for the Delaware River and Bay are completed by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). State of Delaware 2014 Combined 305(b) Report and 303(d) List Table of Contents Preface ............................................................................................................................................ i Part I: Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 3 Part II :Background ................................................................................................................... 15 State Atlas .................................................................................................................................. 17 Summary of Classified Uses ...................................................................................................... 18 Part III: Surface Water Assessments and TMDL List ............................................................ 21 Chapter 1 Monitoring Programs ............................................................................................... 23 Stream Adoption ........................................................................................................................... 28 Technical Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 28 Data Interpretation and Communication .................................................................................. 31 Chapter 2: Assessment Methodologies and Summary Data ................................................... 33 General Provisions .................................................................................................................... 33 Data Quality and Quantity ........................................................................................................ 33 Coordination with Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and Chesapeake Bay Program Assessments ............................................................................................................................... 34 Use of Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Assessment Guidance ............................ 34 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Aquatic Life Use Support (ALUS) ...................................................... 35 Nutrient Enrichment Assessment ............................................................................................... 37 Listing Criteria for Waters with Fish Consumption Advisories ................................................ 41 Setting Priorities for Water Quality Limited Segments Still Needing TMDLs .......................... 42 Rationale Used to Designate a Lower Category for Segments Previously Designated for TMDL Development .............................................................................................................................. 43 Flow Charts for Designated Use Attainment ............................................................................ 45 Chapter 3: Rivers/Streams, Estuaries and Lakes Water Quality Assessments and List of Waters needing TMDLs ............................................................................................................. 52 Assessment of Harvestable Shellfish Waters Use Support ........................................................ 52 Causes/Stressors and Sources of Impairment of Designated Uses ........................................... 53 Table III-1 Station Summary Statistics ...................................................................................... 55 State of Delaware 2014 Combined 305(b) Report and 303(d) List Table III-2: Segment Use Support ............................................................................................. 85 Table III-3: 2014 303(d) List ..................................................................................................... 87 Chapter Four: Public Health/Aquatic Life Concerns ........................................................... 143 State of Delaware Fish Consumption Advisory Update .......................................................... 143 National Methylmercury Fish Consumption Advisory ............................................................ 145 Shellfish and Recreational Waters Program ........................................................................... 145 Recreational Water (beach monitoring) Program .................................................................. 146 Part IV: Wetlands Assessment ................................................................................................ 147 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 147 Delaware Wetlands Conservation Strategy ............................................................................. 147 Functions and Values of Wetlands .......................................................................................... 147 Wetland Quality ....................................................................................................................... 151 Wetland Condition in the Nanticoke River Watershed (Maryland and Delaware) ................. 153 Wetlands Condition of the Inland Bays Watershed ................................................................. 158 Volume 1: NonTidal Wetlands ................................................................................................. 158 Wetlands Condition of the Inland Bays Watershed ................................................................. 161 Volume 2: Tidal Wetlands ....................................................................................................... 161 Condition of Wetlands in the St. Jones River Watershed ........................................................ 163 Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 167 State of Delaware 2014 Combined 305(b) Report and 303(d) List Part I: Executive Summary 1 State of Delaware 2014 Combined 305(b) Report and 303(d) List Executive Summary As recently as 1975, Delaware routinely experienced serious water pollution and public health problems as a result of the discharge of untreated sewage and wastes. Since then, as a result of voluntary efforts, regulatory actions, and significant private and public investments in wastewater treatment facilities, localized improvements in water quality have been achieved. The need for additional cleanup and pollution prevention continues. The focus of water quality management has shifted from point source discharges (end-of-pipe) to decreased stream flows and nonpoint source problems, such as urban and agricultural runoff, erosion, and sedimentation. Unaddressed, these problems lead to poor habitat conditions for fish and other aquatic life, decreased enjoyment of our surface waters for recreation, and unhealthy conditions for those surface waters upon which we rely for drinking water supply and other domestic uses. Water Quality Monitoring The DNREC recognizes the need to use its personnel and financial resources efficiently and effectively. To that end, surface water quality monitoring is conducted in a manner that focuses available resources on the Whole Basin Management concept. The Whole Basin Management Program in Delaware operates on a 5-year rotating basis. This approach enables the DNREC to comprehensively monitor and assess the condition of the State environment with due consideration to all facets of the ecosystem. Elements of the State's specific Surface Monitoring Program include: TMDL-Related Monitoring General Assessment Monitoring Toxics in Biota Monitoring Toxics in Sediment Monitoring Biological Assessment Monitoring Delaware Rivers and Lakes Delaware has classified its using a rating system called for in the Federal Clean Water Act. The classification system is keyed to a management program designed to protect