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Watershed Monitoring and Assessment:Federal Regulations and Local Processes
Seth Mason
The Clean Water Act
• Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to regulate water quality by defining beneficial uses for all water bodies
• CDPHE Water Quality Control Division sets WQ criteria for each use
• Regulation No. 31 of the Colorado Code of Regulations defines WQ standards• Water chemistry, aquatic life, temperature, sediment
Which waterways are covered?• All of them….except man-made diversion structures
Who can be regulated?• CDPS discharge permit holders (WW treatment works, MS4, industry)
303(d) Listing Process in Colorado
Establish WQ standards at state
level
Collect WQ data from stream
Meet standards?
Add stream to 303(d) list
If 303(d) listed, stream may now be
removed
TMDL
YesNo
Adapted from: GAO. Water Quality: Inconsistent State Approaches Complicate Nation’s Efforts to Identify Its Most Polluted Waters. January 2002.
Review standards
303(d) Listing Process in Colorado
Collect WQ data from stream
Meet standards?
Add stream to 303(d) list
If 303(d) listed, stream may now be
removed
TMDL
YesNo
Adapted from: GAO. Water Quality: Inconsistent State Approaches Complicate Nation’s Efforts to Identify Its Most Polluted Waters. January 2002.
Establish WQ standards at state
levelReview standards
Development of WQ Standards
EPA• Construction/Post-construction NPDES regulations—TSS, turbidity
(public comment)• Recreational WQ Criteria—bacteria/pathogens (public comment)
Colorado• Adopted aquatic life impairment standards—MMI Scores (2010-2013)• Numeric nutrient criteria—N and P (rulemaking: March 2012)• Numeric limits on stormwater discharges—TSS, TOC, TP (anticipated)• Onsite wastewater treatment—design/operation/maintenance of
septic systems (public comment ended December 2011)
Establish WQ standards at state
levelReview standards
303(d) Listing Process in Colorado
Collect WQ data from stream
Meet standards?
If 303(d) listed, stream may now be
removed
YesNo
Adapted from: GAO. Water Quality: Inconsistent State Approaches Complicate Nation’s Efforts to Identify Its Most Polluted Waters. January 2002.
Add stream to 303(d) list
TMDL
Implications for Local Stakeholders
Monitoring and Evaluation Listing• Extended monitoring• May occur due to ambiguity or uncertainty in sampling results
Provisional Listing• Identification of source of impairment: pollution or pollutant(s)?• TMDL creation
• 8-13 year process• Identify pollutant(s) causing degradation• Regulate point sources of loading to stream
• May result in costly upgrades/installation of infrastructure
*Both outcomes may result in greater support for WQ improvement projects(319 Grants, etc.)
*Ultimate goal is to reduce pollutant loading to the stream
The Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
Now….switching gears to the Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
• What is it?• What does it do?• How much does it cost?• How does it tie into the 303(d) listing process?
The Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
What is it?
• Stakeholder partnership• 15 Partners• Created in 1998• Grew out of a long
history of collaboration on WQ issues
• Managed by ERWC
Program Partners
UERWA
ERWSD
Eagle County
ERWCVail Resorts Mgmt. Company
Town of Vail
Homestake PartnersColorado River Water Conservation Dist.
Town of Gypsum
Town of Eagle
Denver Water
U.S. Geological Survey
Town of Minturn
Crave Real Estate
Town of Avon
Data Collectors
USGS
ERWSD
River Watch (EML and TOV)
Adam’s Rib
Newfields (Eagle Mine)
USFS
Golf Courses(9)
CDOW
The Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
What does it do?
(1) Coordination of data collection efforts throughout the watershed(2) Characterization of available water quantity and water quality data;(3) Stakeholder engagement and technical assistance(4) Long-term monitoring planning(5) Public Education and community outreach(6) Coordination of actions to improve and protect WQ
The Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
How much does it cost?
2012 Budget Outlook
Item Cost
USGS Monitoring (9 WQ data sites, 1 streamflow gauge) $ 52,466
Timberline Aquatics (9 macroinvertebrate sites) $ 20,045
Eagle River Watershed Council (Coordinator, overhead) $ 79,989
Total $ 152,500
The Eagle River Watershed Monitoring and Assessment Program
How does it tie into the 303(d) listing process?
Local program designed to achieve the same results as CWA: improved WQ
• Data coordination enhances spatio-temporal data coverage, and promotes adherence to a set of protocols that promote high data quality and ease data comparison
• Designed to detect WQ changes and indicate areas of impairment
• Vital part of the local process to inform stakeholders and inspire action• Example: WQIP for Gore Creek
• Program strive to engage WQCD to work collaboratively during TMDL creation and next round of data collection
Questions?