WISCONSIN’S Wisconsin’s NONPOINT SOURCE approach to addressing water quality impacts from PROGRAM nonpoint source MANAGEMENT PLAN pollution. FFY 2016-2020 Approved by EPA on September 18, 2015 Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan – FFY 2016-2020 Table of Contents Acronyms & Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 1 The State of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control in Wisconsin ..................................................... 4 Chapter 2 Monitoring and Assessment ....................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3 Watershed Planning for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control ...................................................... 30 Chapter 4 Statewide Implementation Program for Protection & Improvement of NPS Impacted Waters .. 57 Chapter 5 Tracking, Evaluation & Reporting............................................................................................... 84 Chapter 6 Future Directions - Through FFY 2020 .................................................................................... 106 2 Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan – FFY 2016-2020 Acronyms & Abbreviations Agencies, Departments and Organizations EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency FSA Farm Service Agency (part of USDA) FWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service LCD County Land Conservation Department LWCD County Land and Water Conservation Department NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service (part of USDA) USDA United States Department of Agriculture UWEX University of Wisconsin—Extension WDATCP Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection WDNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources State and Federal Programs and Terms BMP Best Management Practice CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (Facilities permitted by WDNR under NR 243) CREP Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (Federal and state grant program) CRP Conservation Reserve Program EQIP Environmental Quality Incentive Program (NRCS grant program) FPP Farmland Preservation Program (WDATCP program) LA Load Allocation LWRM Land and Water Resource Management (WDATCP planning program) NOD Notice of Discharge (WDNR program) PWS Priority Watersheds and Lake Projects (WDNR grant program) SWIMS Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (WDNR database) SWRM Soil and Water Resource Management (WDATCP grant program) TRM Targeted Runoff Management grant (WDNR grant program) UNPS Urban Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Management grant (WDNR grant program) TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load WATERS Waterbody Assessment, Tracking, Evaluation, and Reporting System (WDNR database) WAV Water Action Volunteers (Citizen monitoring program) WBIC Waterbody Identification Code WLA Wasteload Allocation WPDES Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WDNR permitting program) Wisconsin Administrative Codes ATCP 50 Ch. ATCP 50, Wisconsin Administrative Code (SWRM, LWRM) ATCP 51 Ch. ATCP 51, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Livestock Facility Siting) NR 151 Ch. NR 151, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Runoff Management) NR 216 Ch. NR 216, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Stormwater Discharge Permits) NR 243 Ch. NR 243, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Animal Feeding Operations) NR 153 Ch. NR 153, Wisconsin Administrative Code (TRM & NOD Grants) NR 154 Ch. NR 154, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Best Management Practices) NR 155 Ch. NR 155, Wisconsin Administrative Code (UNPS Grants) NR 162 Ch. NR 162, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Clean Water Fund Program) NR 190 Ch. NR 190, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Lake Planning Grants) NR 191 Ch. NR 191, Wisconsin Administrative Code (Lake Protection/Classification Grants) NR 195 Ch. NR 195, Wisconsin Administrative Code (River Protection Grants) 3 Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan – FFY 2016-2020 CHAPTER 1: The State of Nonpoint Source Pollution Control in Wisconsin 1.1 Purpose of this Report This document outlines the state of Wisconsin’s approach to addressing water quality impacts from nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution. This version of the Wisconsin NPS Program’s Management Plan covers the projected management activities and efforts from federal fiscal years (FFY) 2016 through 2020 and will be automatically amended based upon enacted administrative rules, modifications to existing state statutes listed in this document and annually to incorporate as a milestone, NPS loading reduction goals documented in an EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report. The effective timeframe for the NPS Program is FFY 2016 to the latest amended milestone date. This statewide management plan meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act requirements and ensures Wisconsin’s eligibility for Section 319 (federal NPS Program) funding. The required “Eight Key Components of an Effective Nonpoint Source Management Program” are listed in Section 1.7. This chapter introduces the vision and objectives for NPS management in Wisconsin and frames the current challenges and opportunities for NPS management. Chapter 2 gives an overview of water quality monitoring and assessment in Wisconsin. Chapter 3 provides a description of the statewide watershed planning process, including TMDL implementation planning. Chapter 4 focuses on implementation strategies for water resource protection and includes a list of water quality programs and partners. Chapter 5 details the statewide NPS tracking, evaluation and reporting processes. Finally, Chapter 6 concludes by outlining the future direction for Wisconsin’s NPS Program. 1.2 Wisconsin’s Water Landscape Wisconsin enjoys a historic abundance of clean and accessible water resources. Over 84,000 miles of streams flow through the state, and more than 15,000 lakes total 1.2 million acres. Add to those water resources 5.3 million acres of wetlands and enough groundwater to cover Wisconsin to a depth of 100 feet. These resources provide a source of clean, safe water for drinking, recreation, farming and manufacturing. Wisconsin’s economy, quality of life, and identity are interdependent with our water resources. Here’s a partial list of functions performed by surface waters and groundwater that are important to Wisconsinites: • flow of water • storage of floodwaters • enrichment of the soil through sedimentation • removal of pollutants through movement through riparian zones • dilution and/or removal of wastes • regulation of temperature • cycling of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus • export of organic and inorganic materials • habitat for fish and game • recreational use • economic use through the capture and release of flow • economic uses through the storage and release of waters • source of drinking water The state is keenly aware of the challenges of maintaining the quality and accessibility of these water resources. Polluted runoff is the greatest threat to Wisconsin water quality. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) estimates that over one-half of the lakes and streams within assessed 4 Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan – FFY 2016-2020 watersheds are degraded by NPS pollution. The Clean Water Act goals of fishable and swimmable waters will not be met without continuous attention to the challenge of reducing polluted runoff. What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? NPS pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and municipal sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater. These pollutants include: • excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; • oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban run-off and energy production; • sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks; • salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; and, • bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems. Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also sources of NPS pollution. The origins of NPS pollutants are diffuse and often difficult to trace. Human-related origins of NPS pollution that have been identified as most prevalent in Wisconsin include: • animal production operations and feedlots • other agricultural activities • streambank and shoreline erosion • timber harvesting • urban land development • transportation-related facilities • atmospheric deposition 1.3 WDNR Vision for NPS Management Although managing NPS pollution in Wisconsin involves a partnership of many programs, agencies, and stakeholders, the WDNR is the central unit of state government assigned to protect, maintain and improve the quality and management of the waters of the state. This work is a key component of the WDNR’s mission. WDNR Mission Statement To protect and enhance our natural resources: our air, land and water; our wildlife, fish and forests and the ecosystems that sustain all life. To provide a healthy, sustainable environment and a full range of outdoor opportunities. To ensure the right of all people to use and enjoy these resources in their work and leisure. To work with people to understand each other's views and to carry out the public will. And in this partnership consider the future