What is a TMDL Project and Why Are We Conducting One on the Root River?

Root River Turbidity TMDL

Stakeholder’s

Introduction Meeting

November 20th, 2008

Meeting Outline

•

Part One: Project Introduction –

MPCA–

Background on TMDL process

–

Root River Turbidity TMDL Specifics•

Part Two: Project Details –

Fillmore

SWCD–

Monitoring sites: responsibilities and locations

–

Sampling protocol and equipment•

Break out session for questions and discussion

•

Comment Box•

Sign up for Stakeholder Advisory Group

Presentation Outline•

What does ‘TMDL’ mean?

•

The TMDL Process–

How are waters assessed?

–

What makes a water impaired?–

What are water quality standards?

–

What are designated uses?–

What does a TMDL study entail?

•

Root River Turbidity Impairments–

What is turbidity?

–

Why are they impaired?

•

What happens after the TMDL?

What does TMDL mean?

Total Maximum Daily Load

What ‘load’ of a pollutant can the water body take before it can’t be used for it’s designated uses?

The TMDL Process

Assess

the state’s waters

List

those that do not meet standards

Identify

sources and reductions needed (TMDL study)

Implement

restoration activities (Implementation Plan)

Evaluate

water quality

How Does the MPCA Assess?1.

Call for Data–

MPCA compiles data that has been collected from them, other state agencies, local government and volunteers

–

Data must meet rigorous quality assurance protocols2.

Data Analysis–

MPCA analyzes to identify potential impairments3.

Professional Judgment Teams–

MPCA staff, data collectors, other regional and local experts

–

Confirm or refine preliminary impairment listings4.

Informational Meetings–

Held across state to review list and answer questions5.

Public Notice and Comment Period

6.

US EPA Approval to place on Impaired Waters 303(d) List

• This happens every two years

What is “Impaired”?

•

A water is “impaired” or polluted if it does not meet one or more of the water quality standards

•

Therefore, they are “impaired” for one or more of their designated uses

•

As of 2008, MN has 1,475 impairments on 336 rivers and 510 lakes

What Are Water Quality Standards?

•

Define how much of a pollutant can be in a water and still let it meet its designated uses

•

Water Quality Standards from EPA Criterion–

state can adopt more stringent, or more lenient standard based on local information

–

state can develop standard for something EPA has not if there is a need (ex: certain herbicides in MN)

What Are Designated Uses?

•

Each MN stream and lake was assigned a designated beneficial use in the 1970s

•

Some uses: aquatic life, recreation, drinking water, agriculture, wildlife, other

•

Aquatic Life –

‘fishable’

–

all reaches impaired in the Root River are impaired for aquatic life

Root River Outfitters

Aquatic Life in the Root Watershed

Brown Trout

Brook TroutSmall Mouth Bass

Caddis fly larvae

Stone fly larvae

Dragon fly larvae

Crayfish

Red tail hawk

Directly dependant on aquatic life:

Swallow

Mussels

The TMDL Study

•

Identifies sources of a pollutant and sets reductions needed to meet designated use

What is a TMDL?•

Total Maximum Daily Load–

Process: 2-4 years of technical study

–

Number: calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant the water body can receive and still meet water quality standards

–

Results in a pollution reduction plan•

Identifies sources (point and non-point) and allocates reductions

Total Maximum Daily Load =Non Point Source Loads + Point Source Loads + Margin of

Safety + Reserve Capacity

Point Sources Non Point Sources

Point Sources Non Point Sources

Map out current sources-why is the water not meeting the water quality standards?

Implement strategies to reduce load and meet water quality standards

IMPLEMENTATION

IDENTIFICATION(TMDL STUDY)

Why Do A TMDL?

•

Federal requirement under the Clean Water Act –

State required to identify and restore impaired waters

•

Public support for clean water is strong-Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

•

Restores beneficial uses of surface waters•

Protects community assets and quality of life–

development potential

–

protects property values–

tourism benefits

–

opportunity for local leadership

Root River Turbidity TMDL

•

11 turbidity listings affecting aquatic life–

listed on 2008 impaired waters list

•

Contract between MPCA and Fillmore County SWCD–

sub contracts with:•

DNR (fisheries and waters); modeling portion

•

3 years of technical study (2008-2010)•

Final report due June 2011

Turbidity•

Measure of water clarity (transparency tube)

•

Indicator of water quality•

Caused by suspended and dissolved matter–

clay, silt, organic matter and algae •

Measured in NTUs(Nephelometric

Turbidity Units)–

25 NTU is State standard

•

High levels limit light penetration in water–

Can inhibit aquatic plant growth, fish gill function, damage spawning habitat, make it difficult for aquatic organisms to find food

5, 50, 500 NTUs

1.5 cm

>60 cm

Turbidity Visuals

~0-3 NTU

~0-3 NTU

~12-20 NTU

~12-30 NTU??

Sources of Turbidity

1.

Erosion:–

construction sites–

stream banks–

farm fields2.

Urban run off during precipitation events

3.

Bottom feeders such as carp

4.

Excessive algal growth

4 3

1

1

2

1

1.

Root River Main Stem -

Thompson Creek to Mississippi River 2.

Root River South Fork -

T102 R9W S26, west line to Wisel

Creek 3.

Money Creek -

T105 R7W S21, north line to Root River 4.

Root River South Branch -

Willow Creek to Camp Creek 5.

Root River South Branch -

Canfield Creek to Willow Creek 6.

Root River South Branch –

T102 R12W S21, north line to Canfield Creek 7.

Judicial Ditch #1 –

Unnamed Creek to South Branch Root River 8.

Forestville Creek -

Unnamed Creek to South Branch Root River 9.

Root River South Branch –

Headwaters to T102 R12W S16, south line 10.

Root River North Branch –

Unnamed Creek to Mill Creek 11.

Root River North Branch –

Headwaters to Carey Creek

Listings for Turbidity in the Root River

1

2

3

4-9

1011

How were the Root River turbidity listings assessed?

•

For transparency, a transparency tube measurement of less than 20 centimetersindicates a violation of the 25 NTU turbidity standard.

For TSS, a measurement of more than60 mg/L in the Western Corn Belt Plains eco-region indicates a violation.

•

Turbidity is a highly variable water quality measure. Because of

this variability, and the use ofTSS and transparency as surrogates, a total of 20 independent observations (rather than 10)are now required for a turbidity assessment. If sufficient turbidity measurements exist, onlyturbidity measurements will be used to determine impairment. If there are insufficient turbiditymeasurements, any combination of independent turbidity, transparency, and total suspendedsolids observations may be combined to meet assessment criteria.

If there are multipleobservations of a single parameter in one day, the mean of the values will be used in theassessment process.

•

If there are observations of more than one of the three parameters in a single day, the hierarchyof consideration for assessment purposes will be turbidity, then

transparency, then totalsuspended solids. For a water body to be listed as impaired for turbidity, at least 3observations and 10% of observations must be in violation of the

turbidity standard.

This is an increase in the number of violations required, which

was previously 10% of 10 required observations.

From MPCA’s Guidance Manual for Assessing the Quality of Minnesota’s Surface

Waters:

Transparency tube data: need 10% to list, had 21% at Money Creek (25 exceedences

of the 25 NTU standard)

From the Document: Data Summary Report, 305b/303d Preliminary Assessments. 2008 Assessment Cycle, MPCA

Identification of sources(TMDL study)

Point Sources Non Point Sources

What happens after the study?...

Assessed Listed

What Happens After the TMDL study?

•

TMDL Implementation Plan–

Strategy for implementing practical management measures for the Root River to achieve needed reductions to restore water quality

•

Some examples of implementation strategies:(from Lower Cannon River Turbidity TMDL)–

Erosion Control: ex. conservation tillage

–

Landscape Buffers–

Rotational Grazing

–

Cover Crops–

Water Retention Projects

–

Urban Stormwater Management–

Point Source Permits Evaluation

What Makes a Good TMDL study?

•

Citizen involvement is a key component to a successful TMDL

•

Need local expertise to develop a management strategy that will work for the area

http://www.pca.state.mn.us/data/edaWater/index.cfm

For More Information on Monitoring Sites as Data Comes In:Environmental Data Access:

Root River Watershed North Boundary

End of Part One

Part Two

Joe Magee –

Fillmore SWCD

Root River Turbidity TMDLRoot River Turbidity TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load)(Total Maximum Daily Load)

Joe MageeJoe MageeWater Plan/TMDL CoordinatorWater Plan/TMDL Coordinator

Fillmore SWCDFillmore SWCD11/20/0811/20/08

Root River Turbidity Root River Turbidity TMDL Sampling SitesTMDL Sampling Sites

Fillmore Soil and Water Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation District (SWCD) (SWCD) –– 10 sites10 sitesMinnesota Department of Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Agriculture (MDA) –– 4 sites4 sitesDepartment of Natural Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Resources (DNR) -- Fisheries Fisheries –– 1 site1 siteWinona State University Winona State University (WSU) (WSU) –– 3 sites3 sitesEagle Bluff Eagle Bluff –– 1 site1 siteTOTAL = 19 sitesTOTAL = 19 sites

Root River Turbidity Root River Turbidity TMDL Sampling SitesTMDL Sampling Sites

SWCDSWCDStewartvilleStewartvilleChatfieldChatfieldHafnerHafnerForestville CreekForestville CreekForestville ParkForestville ParkLanesboroLanesboroAmherstAmherstSouth Fork HoustonSouth Fork HoustonMoney CreekMoney CreekMound Mound PrairePraire

MDAMDAPilot MoundPilot MoundJD #1JD #1PickeralPickeral CreekCreekCarimonaCarimona

DNRDNR--FisheriesFisheriesTrout RunTrout Run

WSUWSUEtnaEtnaCampCampGribbenGribben

Eagle BluffEagle BluffEagle BluffEagle Bluff

Why These Sites?Why These Sites?

Relation to impaired watersRelation to impaired watersUpstreamUpstreamDownstreamDownstreamImpairedImpaired

TributariesTributariesCoordinate with existing Coordinate with existing monitoring locationsmonitoring locationsRepresentativeRepresentativeDifficulty level of sampling Difficulty level of sampling and equipment installationand equipment installation

Streambed compositionStreambed compositionStream banksStream banksWater depthWater depth

Sampling ProtocolSampling Protocol

Collect approximately 20Collect approximately 20--25 grab samples from 25 grab samples from March 15 March 15 –– Oct. 15Oct. 15

17 Grab samples in 200817 Grab samples in 2008

Majority of samples will be collected during spring rain Majority of samples will be collected during spring rain eventsevents

11 out of 17 taken from April 11 out of 17 taken from April –– JuneJuneThe rest taken during base flow conditionsThe rest taken during base flow conditions

Samples were transported and kept on iceSamples were transported and kept on iceSamplers > Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Office > Samplers > Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Office > Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Lab or Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Lab or Samplers > Winona State University (WSU)Samplers > Winona State University (WSU)≤ 4° C≤ 4° CAnalyzed for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Volatile SolidsAnalyzed for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Volatile Solids(TVS), Turbidity, Total Nitrite Nitrate Nitrogen, Total Phosphor(TVS), Turbidity, Total Nitrite Nitrate Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus us (TP), Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC)(TP), Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC)

Sampling Protocol Cont.Sampling Protocol Cont.

Tape down/Staff Tape down/Staff Gauge/Wire Weight Gauge/Wire Weight

Sampling Protocol Cont.Sampling Protocol Cont.Transparency Tube (TTransparency Tube (T--tube) readingtube) reading

Back to the sunBack to the sunNo polarized glassesNo polarized glassesT T –– tube of 20 cm ~ Turbidity reading of 25 tube of 20 cm ~ Turbidity reading of 25 NephelometricNephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)Turbidity Units (NTU)

pH + temperaturepH + temperature

Sampling Protocol Cont.Sampling Protocol Cont.Collecting the Grab SampleCollecting the Grab Sample

Take sample from middle Take sample from middle of the water columnof the water columnAvoid disturbance of Avoid disturbance of streambed/sedimentstreambed/sedimentMake sure sampling point Make sure sampling point is representative of the is representative of the stream (avoid stream (avoid backwaters, poorly mixed backwaters, poorly mixed conditions)conditions)

3 bottles per site3 bottles per site2 MDH2 MDH1 WSU1 WSU

Take a duplicate (DUP) Take a duplicate (DUP) sample at one site each time sample at one site each time (~ 10%)(~ 10%)

Quality ControlQuality Control

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

Turbidity Turbidity –– DTSDTS--1212Continuous Continuous –– every 15 min. every 15 min.

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

StageStageCampbell Scientific SRCampbell Scientific SR--5050INW Submersible Pressure TransducersINW Submersible Pressure Transducers

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

Data Storage Data Storage ––Campbell Scientific Data LoggersCampbell Scientific Data LoggersPocket PCs (PDA) Pocket PCs (PDA) –– PConnectCEPConnectCE softwaresoftwareData Logger boxData Logger box

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

Precipitation Precipitation –– Rain GaugeRain Gauge

Sampling EquipmentSampling Equipment

PowerPower12 volt battery12 volt batterySolar PanelSolar Panel

Sampling EquipmentSampling EquipmentFlow TrackerFlow TrackerRiverCatRiverCat/Stream Pro/Stream Pro

Velocity throughout Velocity throughout water columnwater columnComputes dischargeComputes dischargeCross section of Cross section of channelchannelDepthDepth

First Sampling Season First Sampling Season Comes to a Close!Comes to a Close!

Winterize equipmentWinterize equipmentRemoved DTSRemoved DTS--12s, 12s, data loggers, solar data loggers, solar panels, SRpanels, SR--50s, 50s, pressure transducers, pressure transducers, batteriesbatteriesPut grease, ear plug, Put grease, ear plug, rubber glove and tape rubber glove and tape over DTSover DTS--12 cable12 cableSend DTSSend DTS--12 turbidity 12 turbidity sensors back to FTS sensors back to FTS for calibration and for calibration and cleaningcleaning

Go over data and get Go over data and get ready for next year!!ready for next year!!

Stakeholder ParticipationStakeholder Participation

Very Important!!Very Important!!Local insight/knowledgeLocal insight/knowledgeCitizen perspectiveCitizen perspectiveComments/Concerns/Questions/SuggestionsComments/Concerns/Questions/Suggestions

Stakeholder Advisory GroupStakeholder Advisory GroupSign up sheetSign up sheetJoint meetings with technical groupJoint meetings with technical group

Thank You!

Joe MageeFillmore SWCD –

Water Plan/TMDL Coordinator507-765-3878 ext. 109

joe.magee@centurytel.net

Shaina KeseleyMPCA –

Project Manager507-529-6124

shaina.keseley@state.mn.us