Watershed Planning Tools and an Integrated Watershed Approach Stuart Lehman U.S. EPA NPS Control Branch January 19, 2007 Bordentown, NJ

Watershed Watershed Planning Tools Planning Tools and an and an Integrated Integrated Watershed Watershed ApproachApproachStuart LehmanStuart Lehman

U.S. EPA NPS Control U.S. EPA NPS Control BranchBranch

January 19, 2007

Bordentown, NJ

CWA Watershed CWA Watershed FrameworkFramework

Continuing Planning Process

(CPP)

Manage nonpoint sourcesw/ Federal/State $

TMDLWLAs to individual point sources

LAs to nonpoint sourcesEPA approval

Water Quality StandardsUse Attainability Analysis

Monitor/Assess WQS AttainmentAssessment methodology

305(b) Report303(d) List of Impaired Waters

EPA approves 303(d) list

NPDES permits for point sourcesEPA discretion to object

Watershed PlanState developed or approved

Integrated Watershed Integrated Watershed ManagementManagement

CZA 6217

Example or Program Integration

State Watershed State Watershed ProgramsPrograms

State Watershed State Watershed ProgramsPrograms

Watershed Mgmt. Watershed Mgmt. & &

Typical RolesTypical Roles

Local

Land use/ zoning /

codes/ ordinances

Septic regs

Watershed Plans

Stormwater permits

USDA committees

State

NPS Mgmt Plans / grants / NPDES/TMDLs

Monitoring – projects & statewide/ WQstds

Growth Mgmt Policies – build out? Env. Assess.

Watershed Progs, funds & T. Assist. (incl 319)

Federal

EPA – WQ crit. & MCLs, 319, TMDLs

USDA – Farm Plans, Local Ctrl, EQIP, etc

USFS – Multiple- use/NEPA/ ESA/Hydrol.

FWS – ESA habitat & other habs

NINE Elements NINE Elements of Watershed-of Watershed-based Plans that include Nonpoint based Plans that include Nonpoint

Source PollutionSource Pollution

A. A. Identification of causes and sources, listed waters, Identification of causes and sources, listed waters, pollutants, loads by watershed sub-categories, pollutants, loads by watershed sub-categories, (crops, AFOs, urban, forestry, etc.)(crops, AFOs, urban, forestry, etc.)

B. Estimate of load reductions by land use (or other) B. Estimate of load reductions by land use (or other) subcategories expected from BMPssubcategories expected from BMPs

C. Description of BMPs, How they are targeted (map C. Description of BMPs, How they are targeted (map suggested)suggested)

D. Estimate of needed technical & financial resources D. Estimate of needed technical & financial resources E. Information/ Education componentE. Information/ Education componentF. Schedule (who does what, when) F. Schedule (who does what, when) G. Description of measurable milestones for G. Description of measurable milestones for

implementationimplementationH. Criteria to determine if loadings/ targets are being H. Criteria to determine if loadings/ targets are being

achievedachievedI. Monitoring component for above criteriaI. Monitoring component for above criteria

Watershed Watershed Planning StepsPlanning Steps

STEP 1STEP 1BUILD PARTNERSHIPSBUILD PARTNERSHIPS

ID stakeholdersID stakeholdersID issues of concernID issues of concernSet preliminary goalsSet preliminary goalsDevelop indicatorsDevelop indicatorsConduct outreachConduct outreach




STEP 2STEP 2CHARACTERIZE WATERSHEDCHARACTERIZE WATERSHED

Gather existing dataGather existing dataCreate data inventoryCreate data inventoryID data gapsID data gapsCollect additional data, if neededCollect additional data, if neededAnalyze dataAnalyze dataID causes and sourcesID causes and sourcesEstimate pollutant loadsEstimate pollutant loads






STEP 3STEP 3FINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONSFINALIZE GOALS AND ID SOLUTIONS

Set goals and management objectivesSet goals and management objectivesDevelop indicators/targetsDevelop indicators/targetsDetermine load reductions neededDetermine load reductions neededID critical areasID critical areasID management measures neededID management measures needed

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Watershed Planning StepsWatershed Planning Steps







STEP 4STEP 4DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMDESIGN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

Develop Implementation scheduleDevelop Implementation scheduleSet Interim milestonesSet Interim milestonesDetermine how you will measure successDetermine how you will measure successDevelop monitoring componentDevelop monitoring componentDevelop evaluation processDevelop evaluation processID technical and financial assistance neededID technical and financial assistance neededAssign responsibilityAssign responsibility

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STEP 5STEP 5IMPLEMENT WATERSHED IMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLANPLAN

Implement management strategiesImplement management strategiesConduct monitoring Conduct monitoring Conduct I/E activitiesConduct I/E activities

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STEP 5STEP 5IMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLANIMPLEMENT WATERSHED PLAN

Implement management strategiesImplement management strategiesConduct monitoring Conduct monitoring Conduct I/E activitiesConduct I/E activities

STEP 6STEP 6MEASURE PROGRESS MEASURE PROGRESS AND MAKE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTSADJUSTMENTS

Review and evaluate Review and evaluate informationinformationShare resultsShare resultsPrepare annual plansPrepare annual plansMake adjustments to Make adjustments to programprogram

Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

CB StrategyCB Strategy Funding catalog - & Funding catalog - & New Sustainable New Sustainable

Funding web siteFunding web site - Cross Office Team - Cross Office Team Smart Growth web siteSmart Growth web site –Cross Office –Cross Office

TeamTeam Watershed AcademyWatershed Academy – online courses – online courses Monthly Web castsMonthly Web casts – wetlands, drinking – wetlands, drinking

water, Smart Growthwater, Smart Growth New Watershed Tools trainingNew Watershed Tools training Watershed Handbook TrainingWatershed Handbook Training

Capacity Building Grants Capacity Building Grants Targeted Watersheds FundsTargeted Watersheds Funds

$1.6 -3.2 Million for FY2006/07$1.6 -3.2 Million for FY2006/07 Geographic Focus Areas Geographic Focus Areas

(Arid West, Great Plains, Appalachia)(Arid West, Great Plains, Appalachia) Up to 20% can be go to Mini-grantsUp to 20% can be go to Mini-grants Targeted Watershed GrantsTargeted Watershed Grants

… … in addition to NEPsin addition to NEPs … … in addition to NPS 319in addition to NPS 319

On the Technical SideOn the Technical Side Watershed Handbook being updatedWatershed Handbook being updated Working with grantees to develop technical Working with grantees to develop technical

tools tools AGNPS with CONCEPTS (bank erosion element)AGNPS with CONCEPTS (bank erosion element)

VA TechVA Tech SWAT AG BMP Optimization (Auburn CES)SWAT AG BMP Optimization (Auburn CES) AV-GWLF Penn State model being applied to New AV-GWLF Penn State model being applied to New

EnglandEngland Watersheds and Wetland Protection GuidesWatersheds and Wetland Protection Guides ““Plan Builder” On-Line ToolPlan Builder” On-Line Tool ““Watershed Central”Watershed Central”

Technical Analysis Technical Analysis Challenges in Planning Challenges in Planning

addressed by our Handbookaddressed by our Handbook GIS and geographic dataGIS and geographic data Statistical interpretation of dataStatistical interpretation of data Modeling and Spreadsheet toolsModeling and Spreadsheet tools Defining the pollution reductions Defining the pollution reductions

from BMPs for Nonpoint Sourcesfrom BMPs for Nonpoint Sources Setting up a monitoring programSetting up a monitoring program Evaluating changes due to Evaluating changes due to

managementmanagement

A.A. Identification of causes and Identification of causes and sources, listed waters, sources, listed waters, pollutants, loads by watershed pollutants, loads by watershed sub-categories, (crops, AFOs, sub-categories, (crops, AFOs, urban, forestry, etc.)urban, forestry, etc.)

Tools:Tools: NEMO land use assessmentsNEMO land use assessments Watershed Model s– Watershed Model s–

SWAT / GWLF/ L-thiaSWAT / GWLF/ L-thia BASINS, AGWA, CADDISBASINS, AGWA, CADDIS WRAPWRAP State GIS ClearinghousesState GIS Clearinghouses

B. B. Estimate of load reductions by Estimate of load reductions by land use (or other) subcategory land use (or other) subcategory expected from BMPsexpected from BMPs

Tools Tools Watershed models that incorporate Watershed models that incorporate

BMPsBMPs AGWAAGWA GeoWEPP GeoWEPP BMP Research BMP Research WCS - R4WCS - R4

C.C. Description of BMPs and how Description of BMPs and how they are targeted (we suggest a they are targeted (we suggest a map).map). ToolsTools BMP targetingBMP targeting (Penn State tool set) (Penn State tool set)

PreDICT PreDICT NPS ToolNPS Tool AvGWLF AvGWLF

Wisconsin

Buffer Targeting Models

USLE + “Snap-Plus”

D. D. Estimate of needed technical Estimate of needed technical & financial resources& financial resources

Tools Tools Env Finance Centers - MD, Env Finance Centers - MD,

BSU, othersBSU, others EPA Funding Web SiteEPA Funding Web Site Catalog of Federal FundingCatalog of Federal Funding

EPA Watershed Funding Site

Sustainable Finance Team

E. E. Information/ Education Information/ Education componentcomponent

Tools:Tools: Getting in StepGetting in Step Adopt Your WatershedAdopt Your Watershed Adopt Your WaterwayAdopt Your Waterway NPS Outreach Tool BoxNPS Outreach Tool Box

F. F. Schedule (who does what, Schedule (who does what, when)when)

Tools :Tools :Plan2FundPlan2FundState guidesState guidesEPA Watershed Approach EPA Watershed Approach GuidesGuides

State and LocalState and Local

G. G. Description of measurable Description of measurable milestones for implementationmilestones for implementation

Tools:Tools: Plan2Fund Plan2Fund 319 Project work plans319 Project work plans

Describes what is to be done, by Describes what is to be done, by whom, and when – interim whom, and when – interim “beans.”“beans.”

H. H. Criteria to determine if Criteria to determine if loadings/ targets are being loadings/ targets are being achievedachieved Tools:Tools:

CADDIS (EPA)CADDIS (EPA) Rapid Bio-assessment ProtocolsRapid Bio-assessment Protocols State WQStds and Assessment State WQStds and Assessment

MethodsMethods Wadeable streams, Wadeable streams,

lakes, rivers studieslakes, rivers studies

I. I. Monitoring component for Monitoring component for above criteriaabove criteria

Tools:Tools: Citizen Monitoring GuidanceCitizen Monitoring Guidance

LaMotte Chemical Company Monitoring LaMotte Chemical Company Monitoring GuidesGuides EPA Volunteer Monitoring NewsEPA Volunteer Monitoring News

National NPS Monitoring Program National NPS Monitoring Program Case StudiesCase Studies

State Cooperative Extensions State Cooperative Extensions State 303(d) Assessment GuidelinesState 303(d) Assessment Guidelines Stream Corridor GuideStream Corridor Guide

Incorporation Wetlands Incorporation Wetlands into Watershed Planning into Watershed Planning

Process Process (CWP) / EPA Project (CWP) / EPA Project

Section Section of of

AnnotateAnnotated Outlined Outline

3.1.3 Climate/Precipitation

Provide current and historic climate data for your watershed. Climate data provides information that is critical in evaluating the hydrology of an area. Information about temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and evapotranspiration, is used to simulate rainfall-runoff processes in watershed models. Local climatological data helps one to better understand the local water budget for the region and also helps for modeling purposes.

3.1.5 Surface Water ResourcesIdentify all surface water features in the watershed. Surface water includes all water that is naturally open to the atmosphere, such as lakes, rivers, seas and reservoirs. In addition to being an important source of drinking water and recreation, these waters are also vital parts of local and regional ecosystems. Surface water pollution can result from a number of sources, including dredging, stormwater runoff, ocean dumping and industrial wastewater discharges. Your state Department of Environmental Quality can provide useful information on surface water, data inventory, maps and related issues.

Data SourcesData Sources HyperlinksHyperlinks

Get/view online climate Get/view online climate datadata

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/climatedata.htmlhttp://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/climatedata.html

National Weather National Weather ServiceService

http:www.weather.gov/climatehttp:www.weather.gov/climate

Data SourcesData Sources HyperlinksHyperlinks

Surface waterSurface water http://water.usgs.gov/oswhttp://water.usgs.gov/osw

Surface WaterSurface Water http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watesurfacewater.htmlhttp://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watesurfacewater.html

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Watershed Planning Tools and an Integrated Watershed Approach Stuart Lehman U.S. EPA NPS Control Branch January 19, 2007 Bordentown, NJ