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TMDL Science Needs and the Role of Research. Douglas J. Norton USEPA Office of Water October 2005. The Twenty Needs Report. http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/20needsreport 8-02.pdf. Purpose : summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL needs statements, provide to researchers and research planners - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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TMDL Science Needsand the Role of Research
TMDL Science Needsand the Role of Research
Douglas J. Norton
USEPA Office of Water
October 2005
Douglas J. Norton
USEPA Office of Water
October 2005
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
• Purpose: summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL needs statements, provide to researchers and research planners
• Content: 20 primary science needs and how these can be met
- ORD/OW/Region interaction needs- TMDL-specific needs- broader CWA needs
• Purpose: summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL needs statements, provide to researchers and research planners
• Content: 20 primary science needs and how these can be met
- ORD/OW/Region interaction needs- TMDL-specific needs- broader CWA needs
http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/20needsreport 8-02.pdf
The report’s bottom linesThe report’s bottom lines
The TMDL Program needs low- to mid-complexity modeling, monitoring and statistics tech support
ORD must continue to address all stressors, no matter whether EPA can regulate them
Synthesis products are crucial and should be a primary responsibility of government research
Better Water Quality Standards will enable a better TMDL program
Research in recovery processes must accompany research on restoration/BMP effectiveness
I. Needs re. ORD/OW/Regional interactions
- Develop ‘state of the science’ syntheses in several high priority subject areas, to aid busy TMDL developers
- Mutually improve networking and access to expertise in ORD, OW and EPA Regions
- Revitalize ORD technical support and technical information transfer
I. Needs re. ORD/OW/Regional interactions
- Develop ‘state of the science’ syntheses in several high priority subject areas, to aid busy TMDL developers
- Mutually improve networking and access to expertise in ORD, OW and EPA Regions
- Revitalize ORD technical support and technical information transfer
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
II. Science needs re. immediate TMDL process
- Increase quantity and quality of completed TMDLs
- Improve watershed and water quality modeling
- Improve uncertainty analysis and statistical techniques
- Improve the science base concerning all stressors (pollutants and pollution)
- Improve information on BMP effectiveness
II. Science needs re. immediate TMDL process
- Increase quantity and quality of completed TMDLs
- Improve watershed and water quality modeling
- Improve uncertainty analysis and statistical techniques
- Improve the science base concerning all stressors (pollutants and pollution)
- Improve information on BMP effectiveness
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
II. Needs re. immediate TMDL process (cont’d)
- Develop adaptive implementation approaches for TMDLs
- Address numerous stressor-specific scientific issues
- Improve consideration of atmospheric deposition
- Improve guidance for allocation development and methods to translate allocations into control actions
II. Needs re. immediate TMDL process (cont’d)
- Develop adaptive implementation approaches for TMDLs
- Address numerous stressor-specific scientific issues
- Improve consideration of atmospheric deposition
- Improve guidance for allocation development and methods to translate allocations into control actions
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
III. Science needs re. impaired waters program improvements
- Assist states in translating narrative standards into numeric criteria
- Revisit the scientific basis for use designations
- Develop and improve biocriteria and other criteria gaps
- Clarify and quantify selected parameters used in criteria definitions
III. Science needs re. impaired waters program improvements
- Assist states in translating narrative standards into numeric criteria
- Revisit the scientific basis for use designations
- Develop and improve biocriteria and other criteria gaps
- Clarify and quantify selected parameters used in criteria definitions
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
III. Needs re. impaired waters program improvements (cont’d)
- Make monitoring more program-relevant and results-relevant
- Assist states in monitoring design development
- Evaluate defensible scientific standards for listing
- Improve support for protecting unimpaired waters against degradation
III. Needs re. impaired waters program improvements (cont’d)
- Make monitoring more program-relevant and results-relevant
- Assist states in monitoring design development
- Evaluate defensible scientific standards for listing
- Improve support for protecting unimpaired waters against degradation
The Twenty Needs ReportThe Twenty Needs Report
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How can research help the TMDL program?
EPA-OW/Regns:
tech transfer,
tech support.
Research & developm’t:
address science gaps
(feed ideas to research)
(feed in ideas for tech support)
(operationalized research to tech transfer)
more TMDLs, fewer tech obstacles
States/Regions:
operational
TMDL
development
Emerging Directions in the TMDL Program:Four Watershed Branch Goals
Emerging Directions in the TMDL Program:Four Watershed Branch Goals
1. Provide National Leadership for TMDL & Listing Programs
Provide key TMDL technical and policy guidance to States/Regions
2. Promote Integrated Water Quality Assessments
More consistent, statistically valid, and cost effective water quality assessment strategies
3. Support Partners with Science & Technical Tools
Ensure that listing decisions and TMDLs are grounded in solid science
4. Measure Environmental Progress
Develop next generation of TMDL environmental success measures
1. Provide National Leadership for TMDL & Listing Programs
Provide key TMDL technical and policy guidance to States/Regions
2. Promote Integrated Water Quality Assessments
More consistent, statistically valid, and cost effective water quality assessment strategies
3. Support Partners with Science & Technical Tools
Ensure that listing decisions and TMDLs are grounded in solid science
4. Measure Environmental Progress
Develop next generation of TMDL environmental success measures
Hot Topics in the TMDL ProgramHot Topics in the TMDL Program
- Pace of TMDL development
- Implementation of TMDLs
- Integrated Reporting
- Category 4B Alternatives
- Results analysis
- Assessment tools (e.g., WARSSS)
- Technical support in modeling (Athens center)
- Continuing advancements in modeling approaches
- Pace of TMDL development
- Implementation of TMDLs
- Integrated Reporting
- Category 4B Alternatives
- Results analysis
- Assessment tools (e.g., WARSSS)
- Technical support in modeling (Athens center)
- Continuing advancements in modeling approaches
