Implementation of a Tiered Aquatic Life Use Framework for Minnesota Streams

Transcription

1 Implementation of a Tiered Aquatic Life Use Framework for Minnesota Streams June 13, 2012 New Text wq-ppt3-02 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency St. Paul, MN

2 Stream Diversity in Minnesota Forest Mixed Use Urban Agriculture

3 Current Use Framework Class 2: General Use Class 2: General Use Class 2: General Use Class 2: General Use

4 Class 2: Modified Use Water resources with anthropogenically altered habitat (example: channelized streams) Class 2: Limited Use Water resources with limited habitat (examples: concrete revetments, ephemeral streams) Tiered Use Framework Class 2: Exceptional Use High quality water resources Class 2: General Use CWA Interim Goal

5 Class 2: Exceptional Use High quality water resources

6 Class2: General Use CWA Interim Goal

7 Class 2: Modified Use Water resources with anthropogenically altered habitat (example: channelized streams)

8 Class 2: Limited Use Water resources with limited habitat (examples: concrete revetments, ephemeral ditches)

9 Class 2: Modified Use Water resources with anthropogenically altered habitat (example: channelized streams) Class 2: Limited Use Water resources with limited habitat (examples: concrete revetments, ephemeral streams) Tiered Use Framework Class 2: Exceptional Use High quality water resources Class 2: General Use CWA Interim Goal

10 Class 2: Modified Use Water resources with anthropogenically altered habitat (example: channelized streams) Class 2: Limited Use Water resources with limited habitat (examples: concrete revetments, ephemeral streams) Tiered Use Framework Uses are assigned based on (in order of importance): Class 2: Exceptional Use High quality water resources Class 2: General Use CWA Interim Goal 1) Attainment of the applicable biocriteria 2) Habitat assessment demonstrates potential for a particular TALU

11 Process for Using Biological Assessments to Make Use Designation Decisions Within a TALU Framework in Minnesota: Step I Overview No Bioassessment Data Collected With Adequate Survey Design (meets TALU specifications) Yes Stressor Diagnosis & Habitat Analysis is Conducted to Determine if General Use is Attainable No Is the General Use Fully Attained? (based on MPCA calibrated biocriteria) Proceed to Step II No Yes Biological Results Show Attainment of Exceptional Use (see Table 4-1) DESIGNATE GENERAL USE DESIGNATE EXCEPTIONAL USE Yes

12 Process for Using Biological Assessments to Make Use Designation Decisions Within a TALU Framework in Minnesota: Step II Habitat Analysis Using MSHA (with adequate spatial survey design) Poor Attributes Watershed MSHA <50 Weighted poor attributes >10 High influence attributes include: Silt substrates Severe embeddedness Few cover types Poor sinuosity Poor channel development Little depth variation Low current velocity Narrow riparian Row crop land uses Analysis of Habitat Attributes (extracted from supporting MSHA analyses) at reach & Huc scale Does Preponderance of Poor Habitat Attributes Preclude General Use Attainment? Good Attributes Watershed MSHA >55 High influence attributes include: Coarse substrates Light-No embeddedness Diverse cover Good-excellent sinuosity Excellent channel dev. High depth variation High current velocity Extensive-wide riparian Natural land uses No Yes DESIGNATE GENERAL USE Proceed to Step III: Analysis of Precluding Factors per 40CFR Part [g]

13 Process for Using Biological Assessments to Make Use Designation Decisions Within a TALU Framework in Minnesota: Step III Analysis of Biological & Habitat Data Indicate Non-attainment of General Use and Inadequate Habitat No Do 40CFR Part [g]1,2, or 5 Apply? Yes Is Habitat Modified (Degraded) by Anthropogenic Activities? Channelization Impoundment Other Is Activity Consistent With Existing Use in 40CFR Part 131.3? Yes Can Modified Attributes Be Reversed with Proven* Restoration Designs? or Is Natural recovery Likely within Next 5+ Years? No Yes DESIGNATE GENERAL Site-specific Biocriteria Modification or Develop fibi and/or mibi for Alternate Ecotype No Activity Could Be Subject to Review & Enforcement Yes Can Modified Biocriteria be met? Do 40CFR Part 131[.10g]3 or 4 Apply? Yes No DESIGNATE MODIFIED DESIGNATE LIMITED

14 Refined Uses Current Framework Class 2 TALU Framework Class 2 Exceptional General? Modified Class 7 Limited

15 Fish and Macroinvertebrate Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) for Minnesota Streams

16 Coldwater Fish Communities Excellent Biological Condition Poor Biological Condition

17 1 Natural structural, functional, and taxonomic integrity is preserved Structure & function similar to natural community with some additional taxa & biomass; ecosystem level functions are fully maintained Evident changes in structure due to loss of some rare native taxa; shifts in relative abundance; ecosystem level functions fully maintained Moderate changes in structure due to replacement of sensitive ubiquitous taxa by more tolerant taxa; ecosystem functions largely maintained Sensitive taxa markedly diminished; conspicuously unbalanced distribution of major taxonomic groups; ecosystem function shows reduced complexity & redundancy Extreme changes in structure and ecosystem function; wholesale changes in taxonomic composition; extreme alterations from normal densities Biological Condition Low High Exceptional Use Goal General Use Goal Modified Use Goal Limited 6 Use Goal? The Biological Condition Gradient Level of Stressors Low High Watershed, habitat, flow regime and water chemistry as naturally occurs Chemistry, habitat, and/or flow regime severely altered from natural conditions

18 Candidate TALU Biological Criteria Class Name Exceptional General Modified Fish Southern Rivers Southern Streams Southern Headwaters Northern Rivers Northern Streams Northern Headwaters Low Gradient Streams Southern Coldwater Northern Coldwater Macroinvertebrates Northern Forest Rivers Prairie Forest Rivers Northern Forest Streams High Gradient Northern Forest Streams Low Gradient Southern Streams RR Southern Forest Streams Low Gradient Prairie Streams Low Gradient Northern Coldwater Southern Coldwater 77 46

19 Tiered Chemical Criteria To protect exceptional uses and set appropriate conditions for modified and limited uses, some chemical criteria will likely be tiered Will likely only tier some conventional pollutants (e.g., dissolved oxygen) Toxics not likely to be tiered Analyses currently underway to develop tiered chemical criteria recommendations

20 Intensive Watershed Management Strategy Monitoring Water Quality Management Activities Use Designation TMDL Assessment Stressor ID

21 Forest Landuse Agriculture Landuse Urban Landuse Permitted Feedlot Point Source Default General Use General Use Modified Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 12-Digit HUC: Agriculture Example 1 Mile

22 Forest Landuse Agriculture Landuse Urban Landuse Permitted Feedlot Point Source Default General Use General Use Modified Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined not to be limiting c) Designate General Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem IF 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish do not and Inv attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Legal activities caused habitat limitation c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem IF 3) Maintain management actions 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv attain General Use b) Designate General Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem FS 3) Maintain management actions 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish attain but Inv do not attain General Use 1 Mile 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv attain General Use b) Designate General Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem IF 3) Maintain management actions b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined not to be limiting c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem NS 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Legal activities caused habitat limitation c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem IF 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs

23 Forest Landuse Urban Landuse Point Source Default General Use General Use Modified Use Limited Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 12-Digit HUC: Urban Example 1 Mile

24 Forest Landuse Urban Landuse Point Source Default General Use General Use Modified Use Limited Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Legal activities caused habitat limitation c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem IF 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish do not and Inv attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Legal activities caused habitat limitation c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem IF 3) Maintain management actions 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish attain but Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined not to be limiting c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem NS 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined not to be limiting c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem NS 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1 Mile 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Legal activities caused habitat limitation c) Designate Modified Use 2) Assessment Non Support a) Fish and Inv NS b) Chem IF 3) Stressor ID and TMDL 4) Implement changes through permitting and BMPs 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv do not attain General Use b) UAA Review i. Habitat determined to be limiting ii. Natural limited flow identified c) Designate Limited Use 2) Assessment IF a) Fish and Inv IF b) Chem FS 3) Maintain management actions

25 Forest Landuse Wetland Rangeland Landuse Default General Use General Use Exceptional Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 12-Digit HUC: Forest Example 1 Mile

26 Forest Landuse Wetland Rangeland Landuse Default General Use General Use Exceptional Use Biomonitoring Station Chemistry Monitoring Station 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish attain Exception use and Inv attain General Use b) Designate General Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem IF 3) Maintain management actions 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv attain Exceptional Use b) Designate Exceptional Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem IF 3) Maintain management actions 1) Use Designation Review a) Fish and Inv attain General Use b) Designate General Use 2) Assessment Full Support a) Fish and Inv FS b) Chem FS 3) Maintain management actions 1 Mile

27 MPCA is Currently Producing Watershed Assessments, but Tiered aquatic life use goals will be based on the potential of waterbodies TALU tools and design will allow assessments to address historical impacts and protect high quality resources Results will support improved outcomes for TMDLs and Water Quality Management

28 TALU Timeline (Technical) Task Completion Date Internal stakeholder meetings 2008 External stakeholder meetings Creation of stream classification Development of biological condition gradient (BCG) Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Development External stakeholders meeting Final draft of Implementation Recommendations Tiered aquatic life uses development (create beneficial uses and biocriteria for exceptional and modified rivers) Impaired Waters Listing Process (Guidance for UAAs, use designation, assessment, etc.) June

29 TALU Timeline (Rule Making) Task Draft rule language Solicitation of public comment in state register Complete SONAR Promulgation of proposed standards in state register Pilot TALU-based assessment Public hearings Post hearing comment period and response Receive ALJ report MPCA board EPA Region V approval Start of TALU-based assessments and reporting Completion Date

30 Discussion For updates: Questions or Comments: