Connecticut Watershed Conservation Network Conference

May 11, 2012

Department of Energy and Environmental

ProtectionMaryAnn Nusom Haverstock

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Planning and Standards DivisionWatershed Management Program

Water Quality Protection Water Quality Restoration

Opportunities for Funding & ResourcesClean Water Act Section 319 fundingClean Water Act Section 604b fundingSupplemental Environmental Project fundingEPA federal grant funding EPA technical assistance programs

Watershed Management

Watershed Management is an integrated approach addressing all aspects of water quality and related natural resource management, including pollution prevention and source control.

(2004 CT-DEP Stormwater Quality Manual)

Watershed Plans in CT

• Regional Watershed Plans– Basin Overviews– Watershed Reports– Watershed management studies

• Plans with Healthy Watersheds focus– Wild and Scenic– Watershed Conservation Action Plans– Source Water Protection Plans

• Plans with Impaired Waters focus (IWQR)– Watershed Based Plans– Implementation Watershed Based Plans

Management Plansfor Federally Designated

Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers• Partnership W&S Designations and Studies in Connecticut:

– Farmington W&S River (Designated 1994)– Eightmile River W&S Watershed (Designated 2008)– Lower Farmington River & Salmon Brook W&S Study (Designation bill

submitted Spring 2012)– Wood-Pawcatuck River W&S Watershed Study (Study bill submitted Spring

2012)• Federal W&S Designation – Purpose and Requirements :

– To protect outstanding rivers from the harmful effects of new federally assisted projects such as dams and hydroelectric facilities

– River or river segment must be “free flowing”– River must have one or more “outstanding resource value” (ORV)

• ORVS must be natural, cultural or recreational in character • ORVS must have unique, rare or exemplary qualities on a regional or national scale

Management Plans for Federally Designated Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers (CONT.)

• Partnership W&S Study Process includes:– Stakeholders (local, federal, state and non-governmental partners)– Federal funding and technical assistance through National Park Service– Development of management plan for study area

• Resulting Management Plan:– Is a non-regulatory advisory document– Sets goals and provides guidance to protect and manage Outstanding Resource Values – Is a locally led and endorsed initiative– Features shared management responsibilities among local, state, federal and non-

governmental partners – Relies on existing local and state authorities (same as pre-designation)– Does not rely on federal ownership of land – Relies on volunteerism as a key to success

• Example Plan: Eightmile River Watershed Management Plan

“The Management Plan is a guidance document for protection and enhancement of the Outstanding Resource Values and provides a framework for the Wild and Scenic Committee to follow in planning its conservation work.” (Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Management Plan, June 2011)

Wild and Scenic River Watershed Plan

10-year long locally-led effort developed to acquire federal Wild & Scenic River Act designation included a watershed management plan. Designation in 2008. •First watershed-scale W&SR designation, it includes 25 miles of the Eightmile River main stem and selected tributaries in East Haddam, Lyme and Salem. •Plan is non-regulatory, reflecting a partnership where local, state and federal interests of its purpose and goals.

•Plan includes 6 identified Outstanding Resource Values (ORVs) for this watershed, including Water Quality, Watershed Hydrology and Watershed Ecosystem. Plan identifies a two tier, tool box to achieve implementation. •Study Committee evolved into Coordinating Committee charged with Plan implementation. Committee membership represented by 3 towns, 3 land trusts, TNC, DEEP, and NPS. Plan guides Committee and subcommittee work plans. •Early actions include Riparian Area Overlay Zone within each of the three major basin towns.  •Project Director provides invaluable staff support to the Committee and subcommittees, and actively participates with 12 other designated W&S Rivers in the Northeast US in a collaborative management approach through Partnership W&S Rivers.• www.eightmileriver.org

Watershed Based Plans

EPA-approved Watershed Based Planshttp://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?

a=2719&q=335504&depNav_GID=1654• Watershed wide assessment of natural

resources• Address nonpoint sources of pollution:–Agricultural–Urban–Coastal

9 Element Watershed Based Plans

• IMPAIRMENT   ID causes & sources of pollution• LOAD REDUCTION   Estimate of load reductions

expected for BMPs• MANAGEMENT MEASURES   A description of NPS

measures• TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE   An estimate

of the amounts of technical and financial assistance needed.

• PUBLIC INFORMATION & EDUCATION   Information/education

• SCHEDULE   Schedule for implementing NPS measures.• MILESTONES   Interim, measurable milestones.• PERFORMANCE   Criteria to determine whether loading

reductions are being achieved over time.• MONITORING   Monitoring component to evaluate

effectiveness of implementation over time.

Municipalities with 9 Element Watershed Based Plans

Watershed Based Plans

• Meet with local leaders to form Stakeholder committees to develop Watershed Based Plans

• Support stakeholders with watershed management outreach.

• Meet with stakeholders to implement recommendations described in Watershed based plans.

• Focus on LID solutions to NPS challenges – watershed wide and site specific.

• Work with municipalities to remove regulatory barriers to LID implementation.

Coastal Watershed Based Plan

• First approved watershed based plan in CT that incorporates EPA 9-element watershed based planning framework•NPS-impacted watershed with chronic Recreation and Shellfish Consumption use impairments• Plan developed in 2005-06 through consultant Kleinschmidt Associates for CTDEP•Funded with one time federal NOAA-OCRM funding assistance ($160K+)•Plan developed in cooperation with towns of East Lyme, Montville, Salem and Waterford•Guided Summary (2009) and annual Plan of Work (2010 - ) drive priority actions by Niantic River Watershed Committee and Board of Directors•Watershed Coordinator has provided significant support for early stage Plan implementation strategies.

•www.nianticriverwatershed.org

Watershed Based Plans

• Coginchaug Watershed Based Plan– Partners included: Conservation District,

CT River Watershed Council, NRCS, DEEP, CT Cooperative Extension, Chamber of Commerce

– Focus on Agriculture in the upper watershed

– Some involved municipalities: Durham, Middlefield, Middletown and Guilford

– Funded through CWA Section 319 grant

Watershed Based Plans

• Pequonnock Watershed Based Plan– Partners included: Conservation District,

Trout Unlimited, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Housatonic Community College, NEMO, Beardsley Zoo, CFE, DEEP

– Focus on urban sites in the watershed– Involved municipalities: Monroe, Trumbull

and Bridgeport– Funded through CWA Section 319 grant

Watershed Based Plans

• North Branch Park River Watershed Based Plan– Partners included Conservation District,

University of Hartford, CT Forest and Park Association, Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative, FRWA, Watkinson School, CFE, DEEP, MetroHartford Alliance

– Focus on urban areas and large landowners– Involved municipalities: Hartford,

Bloomfield, West Hartford– Funded through DEEP Water SEP program

DEEP Municipal Assistance

DEEP Web Page: www.ct.gov/dep/watershedWatershed Municipal Outreach

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2719&q=464958&depNav_GID=1654

Includes: - LID Library - Rainfall as a Resource Brochures - DEP Stormwater Program information - LID Resources – Technical assistance

and funding sources

DEEP NPS PROGRAMHTTP://WWW.CT.GOV/DEP/CWP/VIEW.ASP?

A=2719&Q=325628&DEPNAV_GID=1654&DEPNAV=|

Program Oversight and NPS Program Coordination

MaryAnn Nusom Haverstock – 424-3347Watershed Managers

Eric Thomas - 424-3548Susan Peterson – 424-3854Chris Malik – 424-3959

Lakes ManagementChuck Lee – 424- 3716