UPPER JEFFERSON TMDL PROJECT

Watershed Advisory Group Meeting December 12, 2013 – Whitehall, MT Presentation Outline

• Introduction to TMDLs (Lou Volpe, DEQ) • Upper Jefferson TMDL Project (Lou Volpe, DEQ) • Metals TMDL Development (Lou Volpe, DEQ) • Temperature TMDL Development (Kristy Fortman, DEQ) • Project Schedule (Lou Volpe, DEQ)

• TMDL Implementation (Ann McCauly) What is a TMDL?

• A TMDL (or Total Maximum Daily Load) is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant (nutrients, sediment, etc.) that a waterbody can receive from all sources and still meet water quality standards

• Montana is required by State Law and the Federal Clean Water Act to develop TMDLs for all waterbodies impaired by a pollutant

Types of Pollutants

Nutrients Temperature

Metals Sediment Monitoring and Assessment

• DEQ uses monitoring data to assess water quality and compare to applicable water quality standards • If the data show a water quality problem, the waterbody is put on a list of impaired waters • Waterbodies impaired by a pollutant will require a TMDL to be developed for that particular waterbody- pollutant combination

Water Quality Standards

• Can be numeric or narrative and are designed to be protective of beneficial uses of a waterbody

• Standards are required to protect beneficial uses. Some examples of beneficial uses are: • drinking water supply, • agricultural water supply, • aquatic life, • primary and secondary contact recreation, etc.

• Beneficial uses are based on specific waterbody classifications (A-1, B-1, etc.) Steps for Developing a TMDL

• Characterize the impaired waterbody’s existing water quality conditions and compare those conditions to Montana’s water quality standards.

• Quantify the magnitude of the pollutant contribution from each significant source

• Determine the total allowable load of the pollutant to the waterbody

• Allocate the total allowable pollutant load into individual loads for each significant source: • Wasteload allocations for point sources • Load allocations for nonpoint sources and

Montana TMDL History

• More than 1,000 approved TMDLs (1998 – present)

• Close to 50 TMDL documents completed as of June 2013

• Completed TMDL documents for other watersheds can be found at:

http://deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/TMDL/finalReports.mcpx

Watershed Advisory Groups (WAGs)

• Watershed Advisory Groups are formed to provide stakeholder input on TMDLs under development • WAGs are comprised of diverse land users throughout the TMDL project area and can provide valuable information about the watershed

JEFFERSON TMDL PROJECT AREA AND IMPAIRMENT LISTINGS 5 waterbodies within the Jefferson Project Area are slated for TMDL development: 1. Jefferson River (Twin Bridges to Three Forks) 2. Jefferson Slough 3. Big Pipestone Creek 4. Little Whitetail Creek 5. Whitetail Deer Creek Clean Water Act Information Center (CWIAC) will not show A.U change until 2014 Upper Jefferson TMDLs Summary

• Metals TMDLs (14 TMDLs, 6 waterbodies) • Temperature TMDLs (1TMDLs, 1 waterbody) Waterbody Name & Waterbody ID Metal Temperature Impairment Description Impairment BIG PIPESTONE CREEK, headwaters to mouth MT41G002_010 Arsenic No (Jefferson Slough), T1N R4W S12 JEFFERSON RIVER, Iron Yes headwaters to confluence of MT41G001_011 Lead (not covered in this project) Jefferson Slough JEFFERSON RIVER, Copper confluence of Jefferson MT41G001_012 No Slough to mouth (Missouri Lead River) JEFFERSON SLOUGH, Arsenic Jefferson River to the mouth Cadmium MT41G002_170 No (Jefferson River) Copper Zinc WHITETAIL DEER CREEK, Dissolved Aluminum headwater to mouth MT41G002_141 No Lead (Jefferson Slough) Little WHITETAIL CREEK, Dissolved Aluminum Whitetail Reservoir to mouth MT41G002_140 Copper No (Whitetail Deer Creek) Lead 2014 Metals TMDLs Development

BIG PIPESTONE CREEK, headwaters to mouth (Jefferson Slough), T1N R4W S12 MT41G002_010

JEFFERSON RIVER, Headwaters to confluence of Jefferson Slough MT41G001_011

JEFFERSON RIVER, Confluence of Jefferson Slough to mouth (Missouri River) MT41G001_012

JEFFERSON SLOUGH, Jefferson River to the mouth (Jefferson River) MT41G002_170

WHITETAIL DEER CREEK, Headwater to mouth (Jefferson Slough) MT41G002_141

Little WHITETAIL CREEK, Whitetail Reservoir to mouth (Whitetail Deer Creek) MT41G002_140 Data Collection & Impairment Determination

• Sampling conducted in 2004,2006, 2009 -2013 • Sampled and assessed for: Aluminum (Al) Arsenic(As), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se), Silver (Ag) and Zinc (Zn) • Each stream sampled at high and low flow conditions • Updated DEQ assessment: – Even with limited data: • Still indicating impairment for some of the originally listed metals • Addition of some new to impairment list • Removal of some metals from impairment list – Beneficial uses considered impaired as a result of assessment • Aquatic Life Support • Drinking Water • Agriculture • Recreation

Numeric Water Quality Standards • Copper Example

– Fixed Numeric: – Human Health: 1,300 µg/l – Variable Numeric: Aquatic Life: (varies with hardness)

At 25 mg/L hardness- – Acute: 3.79 µg/l (do not exceed) – Chronic: 2.85 µg/l (96 hour mean)

At 100 mg/L hardness- – Acute: 14.0 µg/l (do not exceed) – Chronic: 9.33 µg/l (96 hour mean)

Numeric Water Quality Criteria for Metals Pollutants at two Water hardness Conditions

Aquatic Life Criteria (µg/L) at 25 Aquatic Life Criteria (µg/L) at mg/L Hardness 100 mg/L Hardness Human Health Metal of Concern Criteria (µg/L) Acute Chronic Acute Chronic

Aluminum 750 87 750 87 NA

Arsenic, TR 340 150 340 150 10

Cadmium, TR 0.52 0.10 2.13 0.27 5

Copper, TR 3.79 2.85 14.00 9.33 1,300

Iron, TR --- 1,000 --- 1,000 *300

Lead, TR 13.98 0.54 81.65 3.18 15

Mercury, total 1.70 0.91 1.70 0.91 0.05

Silver, TR 037 -- 4.06 -- 100

Zinc, TR 37.02 37.02 119.82 119.82 2,000

*Human Health Criteria for iron is a secondary maximum contaminant level based on aesthetic properties Metals TMDL Development Triggers

• If a single sample exceeds the human health target.

• If more than 10% of the samples exceed the any aquatic life target, then the waterbody is considered impaired for that pollutant.

• There are two exceptions to the 10% aquatic life exceedance rate rule: – a) if a single sample exceeds the acute aquatic life standard by more than a factor of two, the waterbody is considered impaired regardless of the remaining data set; and – b) if the exceedance rate is greater than 10% but no anthropogenic metals sources are identified, management is consulted for a case-by-case review. • * If the exceedance rate is equal to or less than 10% for all aquatic life targets, then the waterbody is considered not impaired for that pollutant. A minimum 8 samples are required, and samples must represent both high and low flow conditions.

Aquatic Life/ Fishes BU 2012 Aquatic Life/Fishes Metals Copper, Lead Listings:

Metals: Dissolved Al As Cd Cu Fe Pb Sample Date Range - 2010-2013 2010-2013 2004-2013 2010-2013 2004-2013 Number of Samples 0 8 8 24 8 24 Number of High Flow Samples 4 4 13 4 13 Percent of High Flow Samples #DIV/0! 50 50 54.16666667 50 54.16666667 Number of samples that are ≥2x the 0 0 0 0 Acute Standard Number of Acute Exceedances 0 0 0 0 Number of Chronic Exceedances 0 0 0 1 3 Acute Exceedance Rate (%) #DIV/0! 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Chronic Exceedance Rate (%) #DIV/0! 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.50 12.50 Listing Decision (List/Keep Listed, Delist/ Do not List or Collected more Insufficient Data Do not list Do not list DELIST LIST Keep Listed data) Chronic Listing Decision Rational (if decision Chronic No exceedances No exceedances No exceedances exceedances can be reached) exceedance rate rate

Metals: Se Ag Zn Sample Date Range 2013 2013 2010-2013 Number of Samples 1 1 8 Number of High Flow Samples 1 1 4 Percent of High Flow Samples 100 100 50 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Number of samples that are ≥2x the 0 Acute Standard Number of Acute Exceedances 0 Number of Chronic Exceedances 0 Acute Exceedance Rate (%) 0.00 0.00 0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Chronic Exceedance Rate (%) 0.00 0.00 0.00 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Listing Decision (List/Keep Listed, Delist/ Do not List or Collected more Insufficient Data Insufficient Data Do not list data) Listing Decision Rational (if decision No exceedances can be reached) Metals TMDLs

Listed in 2012 Pollutant/Pollution Cause Listing Decision for Waterbody Name & Description AUID 303(d) list Name Current Cycle

BIG PIPESTONE CREEK, headwaters to mouth MT41G002_010 Arsenic No List (Jefferson Slough), T1N R4W S12

JEFFERSON RIVER, headwaters to confluence of Iron No List MT41G001_011 Jefferson Slough Lead Yes Keep Listed

JEFFERSON RIVER, confluence of Jefferson Copper Yes Keep Listed MT41G001_012 Slough to mouth (Missouri River) Lead Yes Keep Listed Arsenic No List

JEFFERSON SLOUGH, Jefferson River to the Cadmium No List MT41G002_170 mouth (Jefferson River) Copper No List Zinc No List

WHITETAIL DEER CREEK, headwater to mouth Dissolved Aluminum Yes Keep Listed MT41G002_141 (Jefferson Slough) Lead Yes Keep Listed Dissolved Aluminum No List Little WHITETAIL CREEK, Whitetail Reservoir to MT41G002_140 Copper No List mouth (Whitetail Deer Creek) Lead No List Metals Sources • Number of large priority mines throughout watershed (15): – Garnet Gold Mine – Mammoth & Mammoth tailing site – Broadway/Victoria • Mining permits – Fish Creek (Placer) – Pipestone (Quarry) – Antler Chlorite – Sapping Mill • Abandoned mining operations – DEQ identified 277 – MBMG identified 452 • Cattle grazing (stream bank trampling/sedimentation)

TMDL and Load Allocations TMDL = ∑ Load Allocations (background) + ∑ Wasteload Allocation (mining load)

• Water quality data will be used for developing the allocations and TMDL

• Background load (naturally occurring conditions in the watershed) – Calculated from data from Jefferson watershed or a reference data set

• Mining load will most likely be composite, to account for all mines, mining activity and associated disturbances (mine tailings, open adits, roads etc).

• There are no metals point sources (NPDES permitted discharges to impaired surface waters), therefore there will be no Wastelaod allocations

Beaverhead- Jefferson Temperature Document

Kristy Fortman Montana DEQ

Lower Beaverhead River

Upper Jefferson River

Jefferson River Temperature TMDL Development

Presented by: Kristy Fortman, Temperature Project Manager Temperature TMDLs

High levels of thermal loading may increase in-stream temperatures to levels that harm fish and other aquatic life populations .

In western Montana, temperature impairment listings are associated with fish and aquatic life designated uses.

Temperature TMDLs Applicable Standards for Temperature & Key Definitions

• 17.30.623(2)(e) A 1 ⁰F maximum increase above naturally occurring water temperature is allowed within the range of 32 ⁰F to 66 ⁰F; within the naturally occurring range of 66 to 66.5 ⁰F, no discharge is allowed which will cause the water temperature to exceed 67 ⁰F; and where the naturally occurring water temperature is 66.5 ⁰F or greater, the maximum allowable increase in water temperature is 0.5 ⁰F.

• 17.30.602(19) “Naturally occurring” means conditions or material present from runoff or percolation over which man has no control or from developed land where all reasonable land, soil, and water conservation practices have been applied.

• 17.30.602(25) “Reasonable land, soil, and water conservation practices” means practices that protect beneficial uses. These practices include to structural and nonstructural controls and operation and maintenance procedures. Appropriate practices may be applied before, during, or after pollution-producing activities. Jefferson River Source Assessment Field Data - 2009 • Continuous temperature monitoring – 49 locations • Stream flow -63 locations • Meteorological conditions • Morphology • Shade/ riparian condition Water Quality (QUAL2K) Jefferson River at Twin Bridges (USGS Gage 06026500)

Model Mean Daily Discharge 1941 - 2009 Mean Daily Discharge 2009 Mean Daily Temperature 1995 -1997

10000 70 Uses temperature data from hottest 9000 8000 65 F) period of the monitoring record to 7000 o 6000 60 simulate water temperature change 5000 4000 55

Discharge (cfs) 3000 through the system. 2000 50 Tempearture ( 1000 0 45 1-Apr 1-Jan 2-Mar 30-Jul 1-May 31-Jan 30-Jun 29-Aug 28-Sep Allows scenarios to be conducted to see 31-May affects of some parameters on water Date temperatures. Jefferson River Source Assessment: QUAL2K QUAL2K Scenario Development

Scenario Inputs

Existing conditions Using measured data (calibration) Existing conditions 7Q10 water year with low flow Full potential shade Shade increased in each reach depending on the vegetation Improved water Increased instream flow management practices Ruby Dam Instream Increase baseline Ruby flow and flow decrease in headwater temperature Channel Lower width to depth ratios Morphology

Naturally occurring Decrease headwater condition temperatures, increase shade, and improvement in water management practices Project Schedule Project Schedule

• Data summaries and source assessment reports will be posted to the project website for your review, as they become available • Draft TMDL document expected to be complete by the spring of 2014 • WAG review and comment on the draft document • 30 day public comment on draft TMDL document with a public meeting • Final document expected to be complete by mid 2014 for submittal to EPA for approval What to Expect from a Completed TMDL?

• A completed TMDL provides information on water quality problems and strategies to reduce pollutants by changing land and water management activities

• Example activities that are adressed in the TMDL:

• Point source discharges (e.g., wastewater treatment facilities)

• Stormwater discharges (e.g., from large construction sites)

• Work in or near a stream (requires a 310 permit)

• Timber harvesting (Streamside Management Zone Law)

• Ultimate goal of the TMDLs is to protect water quality

TMDL Wiki and DEQ Website

• Specific TMDL information can be found online at the Montana DEQ TMDL Wiki site: • http://montanatmdlflathead.pbworks.com/

• General DEQ information, water quality information, rules and regulations, and public comment opportunities can be found on the DEQ website at: • http://deq.mt.gov/default.mcpx

Questions?