Watershed Monitoring and Assessment: Federal Regulations and Local Processes Seth Mason.

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?