FINAL BASIN MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN for the Implementation of Total Maximum Daily Loads for Nutrients by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the Middle St. Johns River Basin for Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal Adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration Watershed Restoration Program Tallahassee, FL 32399 in cooperation with the Wekiva Basin Management Action Plan Working Group October 2015 FINAL Basin Management Action Plan: Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal, October 2015 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Florida Department of Environmental Protection adopted the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal Basin Management Action Plan by Secretarial Order as part of its statewide watershed management approach to restore and protect Florida’s water quality. The plan was developed in cooperation with the Wekiva River Basin Management Action Plan Working Group, listed below, with participation from affected local, regional, and state governmental interests; elected officials and citizens; and private interests. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Jonathan P. Steverson, Secretary WEKIVA RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN WORKING GROUP ENTITY Florida Department of Environmental Protection City of Altamonte Springs City of Apopka City of Eustis City of Maitland City of Mount Dora City of Oakland City of Ocoee City of Orlando City of Tavares City of Winter Garden Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Department of Transportation Florida Expressway Florida Turnpike Authority Friends of the Wekiva Lake County Lake County Health Department Orange County Orange County Health Department Sanlando Utilities Corp. Seminole County Seminole County Health Department St. Johns River Water Management District Town of Astatula Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) Wekiwa Springs State Park (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) In addition to the efforts of the Basin Working Group, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection appreciates the contributions of other state agencies, elected officials, private firms and organizations, homeowner associations, and private citizens throughout the development of the plan and wants to express Page ii of xvii FINAL Basin Management Action Plan: Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal, October 2015 special appreciation for the participation of representatives from the Florida Department of Health, the Tri-County Association, and the Markham Woods Association. For additional information on Total Maximum Daily Loads and the watershed management approach in the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal Basin, contact: Moira Homann, Basin Coordinator Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Watershed Restoration, Watershed Planning and Coordination Section 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Station 3565 Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 Email: [email protected] Phone: (850) 245–8460 Page iii of xvii FINAL Basin Management Action Plan: Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal, October 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................. IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................XII CHAPTER 1: CONTEXT, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN ...............................................1 1.1 Water Quality Standards and Total Maximum Daily Loads ..................................................1 1.2 TMDL Implementation...............................................................................................................3 1.3 The Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal BMAP .............................3 1.3.1 Stakeholder Involvement ................................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2 Plan Purpose and Scope ................................................................................................................. 4 1.3.3 BMAP Approach ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.3.4 Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (OSTDS) Initiative........................................... 11 1.3.5 TMDLs for the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal ................................. 13 1.4 Assumptions and Considerations Regarding TMDL and BMAP Implementation .........................................................................................................................16 1.5 Future Increases in Pollutant Loading ....................................................................................16 CHAPTER 2: WEKIVA RIVER, ROCK SPRINGS RUN, AND LITTLE WEKIVA CANAL BASIN SETTING ...........................................................................18 2.1 Basin Hydrology ........................................................................................................................18 2.2 Land Use.....................................................................................................................................22 2.3 Water Quality Trends ...............................................................................................................24 CHAPTER 3: POLLUTANT SOURCES AND ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES ...............................27 3.1 Information on Nutrient Sources in the Wekiva Basin .........................................................27 3.1.1 Domestic Wastewater ................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.2 OSTDS .......................................................................................................................................... 30 3.1.3 Urban Fertilizer ............................................................................................................................ 31 3.1.4 Atmospheric Deposition ................................................................................................................ 31 3.1.5 Agricultural Land Use in the Basin .............................................................................................. 31 3.1.6 Stormwater Loadings .................................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Estimated Baseline Loads for Nutrients Based on Nonpoint Source Runoff and Spring Discharges ..............................................................................................................36 3.2.1 Estimated Baseline Loads for Nutrients Based on Nonpoint Source Runoff ................................ 36 3.2.2 Spring Discharges ........................................................................................................................ 40 3.2.3 Summary of Baseline Loadings in the BMAP Planning Area ....................................................... 42 3.3 Nitrogen Source Inventory Loading Tool (NSILT) ...............................................................43 3.4 Anticipated Actions and Outcomes of BMAP Implementation ............................................44 CHAPTER 4: MANAGEMENT ACTIONS .........................................................................................47 4.1 Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Projects .......................................................48 4.1.1 WWTFs and WRFs ........................................................................................................................ 48 4.1.2 Collection System and Reclaimed Water Projects ........................................................................ 54 4.1.3 Septic Tanks .................................................................................................................................. 55 Page iv of xvii FINAL Basin Management Action Plan: Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, and Little Wekiva Canal, October 2015 4.1.4 Reclaimed Water Collection, Transmission, and Storage ............................................................ 56 4.2 MS4 and Other Stormwater Projects ......................................................................................65 4.2.1 NPDES MS4 Phase I Stormwater Permit Requirements .............................................................. 66 4.2.2 NPDES MS4 Phase II Stormwater Permit Requirements ............................................................. 67 4.2.3 Structural and Nonstructural Stormwater BMPs ......................................................................... 68 4.2.4 Stormwater Treatment Associated with Road-Paving Projects .................................................... 76 4.3 Agricultural BMPs ....................................................................................................................77 4.3.1 Agricultural Producers’ Responsibilities under the FWRA .......................................................... 77 4.3.2 FDACS OAWP Role in BMP Implementation and Follow-Up ..................................................... 78 4.4 Other Nutrient Load Reduction Activities .............................................................................90 4.4.1 Stabilization, Restoration, and Exotic Vegetation Removal ......................................................... 91 4.4.2