West Virginia West Virginia Department of Department of Environmental Environmental

ProtectionProtection

August 7, 2014

Cabelas

Wheeling

Upper Ohio North Watershed Upper Ohio North Watershed TMDLTMDL

Status Update MeetingStatus Update Meeting

Agenda Agenda

““Introduction to TMDLs” recapIntroduction to TMDLs” recap

Overview of Upper Ohio North Overview of Upper Ohio North

Watershed TMDL Project & StatusWatershed TMDL Project & Status

Overview of Allocation Strategy Overview of Allocation Strategy

Discussion – Free form questions Discussion – Free form questions

and answers and answers

What’s a TMDL?What’s a TMDL?

““Total Maximum Daily Load” Total Maximum Daily Load”

How much pollutant a stream can receive and How much pollutant a stream can receive and

remain healthyremain healthy

Pollution Budget - prescribes reductions (where Pollution Budget - prescribes reductions (where

needed) of pollutants that result in the needed) of pollutants that result in the

restoration of an impaired stream restoration of an impaired stream

TMDL development required by Clean Water TMDL development required by Clean Water

Act for streams impaired by a pollutantAct for streams impaired by a pollutant

TMDL = TMDL = WLA + WLA + LA + MOS LA + MOS = “sum of”= “sum of”

WLA = “wasteload WLA = “wasteload

allocations” allocations”

LA = “load allocations”LA = “load allocations”

MOS = “margin of MOS = “margin of

safety” safety”

WLAs - pollutant loads for “point WLAs - pollutant loads for “point

sources” sources”

Discharge from pointDischarge from point

Need NPDES permitNeed NPDES permit

LAs - pollutant loads for “nonpoint LAs - pollutant loads for “nonpoint

sources” and backgroundsources” and background

Precipitation/runoff drivenPrecipitation/runoff driven

No permit requiredNo permit required

What’s an impaired stream?What’s an impaired stream? Stream that doesn’t meet Stream that doesn’t meet water quality standardswater quality standards

West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47 CSR West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47 CSR

22

http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/

Rules/WVDEP_47CSR2_WQS_FinalRule%206_27_2011.pdfRules/WVDEP_47CSR2_WQS_FinalRule%206_27_2011.pdf

Standards include “Designated UsesStandards include “Designated Uses“

for WV waters and “water quality criteria”for WV waters and “water quality criteria”

to protect those usesto protect those uses

Criteria can be numeric or narrative Criteria can be numeric or narrative

Impaired streams are enumerated in the 303(d) listImpaired streams are enumerated in the 303(d) list

West Virginia Section 303(d) List / Integrated Report

Criteria of ConcernCriteria of Concern

Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform Water Contact Recreation; Public Water SupplyWater Contact Recreation; Public Water Supply 200 counts/100ml as a monthly geometric mean 200 counts/100ml as a monthly geometric mean

(minimum 5 samples)(minimum 5 samples) no more than 10% of samples in a month exceed no more than 10% of samples in a month exceed

400 counts/100ml400 counts/100ml

Total Iron (Holbert Run)Total Iron (Holbert Run) Aquatic Life/Public Water SupplyAquatic Life/Public Water Supply Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l as a 4 day average Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l as a 4 day average

concentration more than once in a three year concentration more than once in a three year periodperiod

Public Water Supply 1.5 mg/lPublic Water Supply 1.5 mg/l

Narrative CriteriaNarrative CriteriaPrevious 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i AssessmentPrevious 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i Assessment

Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)

Stream scored based on abundance and type of Stream scored based on abundance and type of

bugs presentbugs present

Streams with impaired communities were placed on Streams with impaired communities were placed on

the 303(d) list and slated for TMDLsthe 303(d) list and slated for TMDLs

Narrative CriteriaNarrative Criteria2012 Legislative Changes2012 Legislative Changes

Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Act Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Act

Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative approval of Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative approval of new rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.inew rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.i

Section 22-11-7b : Section 22-11-7b : http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=22&art=11chap=22&art=11

No biological TMDLs are part of this effortNo biological TMDLs are part of this effort Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will

undergo Stressor Identification processundergo Stressor Identification process

Stressor Identification ProcessStressor Identification Process

Method to evaluate stressor/s of Method to evaluate stressor/s of biologically impacted streamsbiologically impacted streams

Process used to evaluate if numeric Process used to evaluate if numeric criteria TMDLs (iron, fecal) will criteria TMDLs (iron, fecal) will address biological stressorsaddress biological stressors

Information will be retained and may Information will be retained and may be used to delist streams in the futurebe used to delist streams in the future

Impaired WatersImpaired Waters

Seven named streams (excludes Mainstem Seven named streams (excludes Mainstem Ohio)Ohio)

Sample sites and suites

MDAS ModelMDAS Model

Watershed Model Watershed Model

Runs dynamically on a 1-hour time stepRuns dynamically on a 1-hour time step

Represents land use (hydrologic Represents land use (hydrologic

processes) and river processesprocesses) and river processes

Can include nonpoint and point sourcesCan include nonpoint and point sources

Streambank Erosion component - Bank Streambank Erosion component - Bank

Pin StudyPin Study

Modeling ApproachModeling Approach

Segment watershedSegment watershed

Configure model to represent all sourcesConfigure model to represent all sources

Calibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water qualityCalibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water quality Iron Iron FecalFecal SedimentSediment

Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing)Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing)

Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)

Upper Ohio North WatershedUpper Ohio North WatershedProject StatusProject Status

Completed:Completed: Monitoring Monitoring

Source tracking Source tracking

Baseline Modeling Baseline Modeling

Bio. Stressor IdsBio. Stressor Ids

Status Update Status Update

MeetingMeeting

Next Steps:Next Steps:

AllocationsAllocations

Draft Document Draft Document

Public MeetingPublic Meeting

EPA ApprovalEPA Approval

Top-down approachTop-down approach

Headwater subwatersheds Headwater subwatersheds

analyzed firstanalyzed first

Allocation strategy dictates Allocation strategy dictates

order and magnitude of reductionorder and magnitude of reduction

If necessary, loads are reduced then routed If necessary, loads are reduced then routed to downstream subwatershedto downstream subwatershed

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

WVDEP priorities:WVDEP priorities: Ensure criteria compliance at all sws outletsEnsure criteria compliance at all sws outlets

Target the primary causative sourcesTarget the primary causative sources

Strategy in generalStrategy in general Critical conditions must be consideredCritical conditions must be considered

Sometimes only one significant source in swsSometimes only one significant source in sws

Always some amount of professional Always some amount of professional judgementjudgement

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

Fecal Coliform SourcesFecal Coliform Sources Point sourcesPoint sources

MS4 areas MS4 areas

Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe

illicit dischargesillicit discharges

Stormwater runoff from urban/residential Stormwater runoff from urban/residential landslands

Stormwater runoff from agricultural landsStormwater runoff from agricultural lands

Fecal Coliform StrategyFecal Coliform Strategy

100% reduction of all untreated sewage 100% reduction of all untreated sewage discharges (failing septics, straight pipes) discharges (failing septics, straight pipes) as required by WV Bureau for Public as required by WV Bureau for Public Health regulationsHealth regulations

Reductions based on Sensitivity analysis Reductions based on Sensitivity analysis to address severity of agricultural vs. to address severity of agricultural vs. urban/residential impacts urban/residential impacts

Holbert Run Metals (Fe) Sources & Holbert Run Metals (Fe) Sources & Reduction StrategyReduction Strategy

Nonpoint sourcesNonpoint sources Streambank ErosionStreambank Erosion

Sediment sources (forestry, oil and gas, roads, agriculture, Sediment sources (forestry, oil and gas, roads, agriculture,

urban/residential) urban/residential)

StrategyStrategy

Reduction of streambank erosion to best available in the Reduction of streambank erosion to best available in the

watershedwatershed

Reduction of sediment sources, where necessary, to meet Reduction of sediment sources, where necessary, to meet

TSS loadings equal to 100 mg/lTSS loadings equal to 100 mg/l

Future growth allowance for stormwater construction of Future growth allowance for stormwater construction of

2.5% of subwatershed acreage2.5% of subwatershed acreage

WVDEP TMDL Process (4 WVDEP TMDL Process (4 yrs)yrs)

Stream Selection - (4/2011)Stream Selection - (4/2011)

Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and

characterization - (7/2011 – 6/2012)characterization - (7/2011 – 6/2012)

Contract to model water quality and hydrology – Contract to model water quality and hydrology –

(1/2013) (1/2013)

Determine baseline condition and allocate Determine baseline condition and allocate

pollutant loads – in progresspollutant loads – in progress

Report developmentReport development

Finalization and EPA approvalFinalization and EPA approval

Upper Ohio North WatershedUpper Ohio North WatershedTMDL Path ForwardTMDL Path Forward

DEP/Tetra Tech will allocate loads and DEP/Tetra Tech will allocate loads and

wasteloads as needed and develop draft reportwasteloads as needed and develop draft report

Formal public comment period and public Formal public comment period and public

meeting on the draft TMDLs in meeting on the draft TMDLs in Fall 2014Fall 2014

DEP will address comments, prepare final draft DEP will address comments, prepare final draft

and submit to EPA for approval (final draft will and submit to EPA for approval (final draft will

include Response Summary)include Response Summary)

Contact InformationContact Information

Comments should be submitted to Steve Young at Comments should be submitted to Steve Young at

Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov (10 meg limit for email)(10 meg limit for email)

Questions - contact Dave Montali, Jim Laine, Mike Questions - contact Dave Montali, Jim Laine, Mike

McDaniel McDaniel

(304) 926-0499(304) 926-0499

David.A.Montali@wv.gov, James.C.Laine@wv.gov, or David.A.Montali@wv.gov, James.C.Laine@wv.gov, or

Michael.L.McDaniel@wv.govMichael.L.McDaniel@wv.gov

Discussion/Discussion/Questions...Questions...