Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan 2012 Brian Schweitzer, Governor Richard Opper, Director DEQ WQPBWPSTR-005 Prepared by: Water Quality Planning Bureau Watershed Protection Section Acknowledgements: The Watershed Protection Section would like to thank all of our partners and collaborators for their input and advice for this update to the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Montana Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Planning Bureau 1520 E. Sixth Avenue P.O. Box 200901 Helena, MT 59620-0901 Suggested citation: Watershed Protection Section. 2012. Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Helena, MT: Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality. 2012 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan – Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... v Nonpoint Source Management Plan Overview ............................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.0 Montana’s NPS Pollution Management Program Framework ............................................................ 1-1 1.1 Water Quality Standards and Classification ..................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Impaired Waterbodies and 303(d) List and Water Quality Assessment .......................................... 1-2 1.3 The TMDL Development Process and Water Quality Planning ........................................................ 1-3 1.4 Implementing TMDLs to Restore Water Quality.............................................................................. 1-4 1.5 TMDL Implementation Evaluation and Adaptive Management ...................................................... 1-5 1.6 Statewide Nonpoint Source Program Emphasis on Pollution Prevention ....................................... 1-7 2.0 Montana’s Water Resources ................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Streams And Lakes ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Wetlands, Riparian Areas, and Floodplains ..................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.1 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.2 Riparian Areas ........................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.3 Floodplains ................................................................................................................................ 2-4 2.3 Groundwater .................................................................................................................................... 2-5 3.0 Montana’s NPS Pollution Control Strategy .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Specific Strategies by Land Use ........................................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.1 Agriculture................................................................................................................................. 3-2 3.1.2 Forestry ..................................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.3 Hydrologic Modification............................................................................................................ 3-7 3.1.4 Mining and Industry .................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.1.5 Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 3-11 3.1.6 Transportation ........................................................................................................................ 3-13 3.1.7 Urban and Suburban Development ........................................................................................ 3-14 3.2 Strategies for Other Pollution Sources .......................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.1 Atmospheric Contributions ..................................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.2 Climate Change Contributions ................................................................................................ 3-17 4.0 NPS Pollution Education And Outreach ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Targeted Audiences ......................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2 Program Priorities ............................................................................................................................ 4-2 4.3 Program Strategies and Objectives .................................................................................................. 4-3 June 2012 Final i 2012 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan – Table of Contents 5.0 Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring ......................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Types of Water Quality Assessments ............................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring Collaborators and Partners ........................................ 5-3 5.2.1 DEQ Water Quality Planning Bureau ........................................................................................ 5-3 5.2.2 Other DEQ Organizational Units ............................................................................................... 5-3 5.2.3 Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Activities by Other Local, State, and Federal Organizations in Montana.................................................................................................................. 5-4 5.2.4 Water Quality Monitoring by Citizens ...................................................................................... 5-4 5.3 Assessment and Monitoring Strategies ........................................................................................... 5-4 5.4 Quality Assurance and Control Processes ........................................................................................ 5-5 6.0 Enforceable Regulatory Programs ....................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Discharge Prohibitions ..................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Other Discharge Limitations ............................................................................................................ 6-1 6.3 Agriculture Requirements ................................................................................................................ 6-2 6.4 Forestry Requirements .................................................................................................................... 6-3 6.5 Development and Other Earth-Disturbing Activities ....................................................................... 6-3 6.6 Nutrient Trading as a Potential Tool ................................................................................................ 6-4 7.0 Partnerships and Funding .................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Interagency Coordination ................................................................................................................ 7-1 7.2 Resources and Funding for Implementation ................................................................................... 7-1 8.0 Montana’s Nonpoint Source Priorities and Action Plan ...................................................................... 8-1 8.1 Five-Year Action Plan and Priorities ................................................................................................. 8-1 9.0 Measuring Success ............................................................................................................................... 9-1 9.1 Evaluating Water Quality improvement .......................................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Other Resource and Policy Measures of Success............................................................................. 9-1 9.3 Education and Outreach Program Evaluation .................................................................................. 9-2 10.0 Additional Information Resources ................................................................................................... 10-1 11.0 References ....................................................................................................................................... 11-1 June 2012 Final ii 2012 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan – Table of Contents APPENDICES Appendix A – Best Management Practices Appendix B – Groundwater Quality Strategy for the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan Appendix C – Entities