Watershed Roundtable Meeting Summary. Trinity River Headwaters Watershed February 9, a.m. to 11 a.m.

Transcription

1 Watershed Roundtable Meeting Summary Trinity River Headwaters Watershed February 9, a.m. to 11 a.m. Meeting Location: City of University Park Fred N. Peek Service Center, 4420 Worcola Street, Dallas, Texas Attendees: Susan Alvarez (City of Dallas), Alan Aulenbach (Town of Highland Park), Julie Benoit (H20- RAMPP), Erin Blackman (NCTCOG), Ramesh Chintala (Michael Baker), Melanie Ellis (USACE), Rob Cook (TCEQ), Bill Gase (City of Dallas), Noelle Gaspard (Halff Associates), Kathleen Graham (NCTCOG), Meredith Harper (Benchmark Environmental), Tad Heimburger (DART), Cory Herpel (City of Dallas), Brett Johnson (TPWD), Keith Kennedy (NCTCOG), Jodie Ledat (City of University Park), Scott Miller (NCTCOG), Biswajit Mukhopadhyay (HDR Engineering), John Mummert (TCEQ), John Promise (NCTCOG), Abel Saldana (Dallas County), Keith Schmidt (City of University Park), Gene Bud Smallwood (City of Highland Park), Richard Smart (City of Dallas), Jack Tidwell (NCTCOG), Mike Wilson (City of Plano), and Clint Wolfe (Texas AgriLife). Meeting Materials: 1. Agenda handout Regional Watershed Map handout 3. Regional Ecosystem Framework for North Texas handout 4. Trinity River Headwaters Watershed Vital Ecosystem Information Layers (VEIL) poster Agenda: 1. Welcome and Goals John Promise, NCTCOG, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming to the meeting. John asked everyone to introduce themselves and state what agency they were representing. John began the presentation and outlined the three main goals for today s meeting: Learn about local experiences in the watersheds; encourage more cooperation around watershed/subwatershed geographies; and help craft a long range strategy for restoring the Trinity River. 2. Overview of Regional Ecosystem Framework/Watershed Approach (Valuing Our Watersheds) John then introduced the Regional Ecosystem Framework (REF), which NCTCOG is establishing for North Texas. It is based on a collaboratively developed vision of desired future conditions that integrates ecological, economic, and social factors (Eco-Logical). REF was conceived by several federal and state agencies and is further outlined in the Eco-Logical document a guide to making infrastructure more sensitive to wildlife and ecosystems through greater interagency cooperative conservation. NCTCOG s geographic boundaries for conservation and cooperation are at the watershed/subwatershed level. In doing so, NCTCOG has clustered more than digit hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) delineated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service into 21 Regional Watersheds for the 12-county metropolitan planning area. John directed attendees to the 21 Regional Watershed Map handout, and explained that these regional watersheds have been further organized into watersheds that drain to the Trinity River from the urban area (identified as the orange colored group on the map), drain to water supply lakes of the Upper Trinity River Basin (identified as the tan colored group on the map), or drain to lakes or rivers surrounding the Upper Trinity River Basin (identified as the multi-colored group on

2 the map). Today s meeting is for the West Fork below Lake Worth watershed, which drains to the Trinity River from the urban area of the Upper Trinity River Basin. John further explained that the REF is being accomplished on a watershed basis by connecting people, places, and programs. The REF is the umbrella framework for a variety of regional initiatives that NCTCOG is facilitating. As an example, John mentioned the Federal Highways Administration, with local match, grant project designed to encourage a more robust consideration of environmental impacts in the metropolitan transportation planning process. The overall REF is intended to embody this quote from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which states, One conservation framework, endless possibilities for partnerships. As described on the REF for North Texas handout, NCTCOG is in the business of connecting people, places, and programs. 3. Perspectives on the Watershed John began this section of the presentation by mentioning that this brief look at the Trinity River Headwaters watershed is meant to help tell the story of the watershed. Sixteen cities and three counties are part of this watershed (either partially or completely). The communities are listed based on the percentage that that community is contained within the watershed. John also directed attendees to the VEIL poster of the watershed that map several layers (e.g. land use) to, again, help tell the story of the watershed. John explained that another aspect of telling the story of the watershed involves understanding the history. Doug Anthony, NCTCOG, has been designated watershed story teller and put together a couple important pieces of history for this watershed. For example, Browder Springs played an important role in the founding of Dallas. The springs served as major source of water before a pumping system was installed, and helped supply a million gallons of water a day during the drought of This is currently the site of Old City Park in Dallas. 4. Local Panel Discussion John turned the floor over to Jack Tidwell, NCTCOG, to introduce and moderate a panel discussion comprised of local stakeholders to provide local perspectives on items of interest to their communities. The panel members were Susan Alvarez, City of Dallas, Abel Saldana, Dallas, County, and Clint Wolfe, Texas AgriLife. Jack posed a series of questions to facilitate discussions. What are some of the current issues going on in your communities? Susan kicked off the discussions by indicating that Dallas manages 32 subwatersheds. Some of their current projects include: updates on floodplain mapping, recent levees, wetlands project coming online, asset inventory project (to update system maps), GIS coverage of impervious areas (base storm water fees off of this). Susan also mentioned that Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for bacteria and PCBs are supposed to come out this summer. Clint followed by describing some of the projects they are working on. Some of the research and work they have been focusing on includes: efficiency of Best Management Practices (BMPs), green infrastructure, agricultural BMPs, watershed modeling, and DNA bacteria tracking. Abel then described the erosion problems they are experiencing. For instance, they are working with a consultant to enclose exposed piers at the Belt Line Road Bridge. What do you think some important issues will be in the future? Both Susan and Clint agreed that transit-oriented development will be a more common practice in the future. Clint also mentioned stream restoration and we should look at storm water as an asset and not a liability. Able indicated interest in extending the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study to other areas, especially to the Belt Line Road area. How have your upstream/downstream partnerships helped or could help with your efforts? Now that Phase II storm water requirements have been implemented, Susan indicated that trading

3 expertise among entities will certainly help with Dallas, as well as other groups, activities. Abel would like to see communities cooperate more to pursue funding. What topic would you like to know more about to help you do your jobs better? Susan explained that education is often the first thing to get cut, especially when an organization is experiencing budget cuts. It would be worthwhile to base and target educational efforts off of water quality data. Abel has an interest in learning more about GIS, while Clint would like to know more about what everyone else is doing. 5. Trinity River COMMON VISION Program As an example of one of the many local accomplishments for protecting the Trinity River, Jack Tidwell discussed the Trinity River COMMON VISION Program. NCTCOG is very proud of this program, which is in its 20 th year of operation. Jack indicated that his portion of the presentation seeks to celebrate programs, partnerships, and potential. Jack pointed out that the meaning and purpose of the Trinity River has evolved over time (e.g. as a navigation canal or a development opportunity). The Trinity River COMMON VISION program formed in 1989 to protect and preserve the river corridor. One key to the program s success has been through intergovernmental partnerships among local governments and state and federal agencies. Other partnerships that have emerged from this program include the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study, Corridor Development Certificate (CDC) process, project management plans, and an ongoing National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP). The potential for future partnerships is something NCTCOG would like to explore. This could be related to project management plans, expanded boundaries, and watershed and subwatershed efforts. Jack then mentioned other NCTCOG programs designed to meet challenges local governments are facing. Some of those include: providing needed flood mapping resources through the Mapping Needs Assessment (MNA) Pilot Project, assisting with implementation of impending Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and supporting Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit requirements through the cooperative Regional Storm Water Management and Public Works programs. Jack provided examples of the work being done through these program areas. For instance, the MNA project was a cooperative effort to identify priority watersheds that need to be studied more effectively to produce better floodplain insurance rate maps for decision making. In addition, the Regional Storm Water Management Program has provided several opportunities (e.g. training, workshops, cooperative purchasing, etc.) to deal with the challenges of storm water and storm water quality now and into the future. Integrated Storm Water Management (iswm), as facilitated through the Public Works Program, seeks to bring people together to deal with water quantity and quality issues much earlier in a project s planning and development process. 6. Discussion/Feedback Exercise John asked attendees to record any efforts that have been accomplished or any opportunities that exist for protecting the Trinity River Headwaters watershed on the yellow post-it (or sticky ) notes placed at each table. NCTCOG staff would walk around the room to collect the feedback and place them on one of two boards, titled accomplishments or opportunities. The feedback gathered during this exercise will be compiled and considered in the development of a long range strategy for restoring the Trinity River. A discussion took place as attendees were recording their accomplishments and opportunities. A question was raised about NCTCOG s vision as outlined in the Strategic Plan for , which states, By 2025, North Texas will SEE SAFE waterways with CLEAN water within a regional ecosystem framework of GREEN watersheds. The attendee was wondering which vision would apply, SAFE, CLEAN, or GREEN? John responded by saying that we would need to

4 prioritize the subwatersheds to determine the concern for a particular subwatershed. A couple other comments were made. For instance, we should manage the land as we manage the water, and we should consider implementing a green streets program. The post-it note comments received are as follows: Accomplishments The Storm Water Public Education Task force through NCTCOG. Education and outreach events sponsored by AgriLife at training citizens and professionals. Water quality model development and data collection for North Central Texas. Certified Floodplain Managers in Texas increased awareness. NFIP Training. Partnering. CDC Empower communities to take ownership of flood risk, awareness, and consequences. Developing GIS mapping of storm sewer systems in Highland Park. Mapping Needs Assessment. Developments of local educational videos to share with COG to share with all member cities. Regional Wet Weather Program. Working on the Regional Watershed Permit. Regional analysis of watershed. Mill Creek/Peaks Branch Drainage Plan. iswm. Dallas Green Building Ordinance. Already seeing more green and sustainable referencing to project development. Coke Park Detention Vault. Mill Creek plan to day light streams. Stream assessments for quality region-wide. Targeting car wash fundraisers to prevent pollution into streams. Set up site for local car wash facilities to provide a location at reduced rates/free. Environmental Education is growing! Trinity River Audubon Center, Elm Fork Education Center, River Legacy Science Learning Center, Heard Museum, education through municipalities. Opportunities Watershed based GIS database for every watershed. Include all watershed data and make data available for all communities. Need to integrate plans for watersheds, especially with regard to common resources (e.g. Trinity River Mainstem). Training of consulting firms and city and county employees on water quality models, their use, and effectiveness. Ordinance and development guidance documents for region. We need to further pursue constructed wetlands to improve water quality and the ecology. We need to continue pursuing hike, bike, equestrian, and trail systems along the Trinity River corridors. GIS web-based map. Coordination region-wide between communities of what works: outreach, education, permitting procedures, inventories, BMPs, and green infrastructure. Stop limiting municipal education efforts to city limits - broader watershed approach. Starting to focus on particular groups/pollutants Volunteer storm water permit for Green LEED Building projects

5 Points for LEED Project- but less resources commitment by city (city not required to commit full oversight and inspection). TADH City Dallas coordinate of Green Building and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. Make water quality training/professional development available and easily accessible. Join forces (as we are today), share needs and desires, combine forces. Working with other governmental agencies- sharing water quality data, working outreach events together, cost-sharing with media/advertising (and using same messages). Work with local municipalities for collection of water quality data. Need to define parameters that can be used to define (i.e. measure) functions of ecologically sustainable watershed/streams. Functional Assessments streams and riparian areas, watersheds. Nutrient standards are ahead. Actions now will help avoid future 303d listings. We need a way to better pull local governments and people into these activities. For such a densely populated watershed, this meeting had rather sparse attendance. I ve seen the same problem at TRA coordinated monitoring meetings and TMDL stakeholder meetings. More public awareness at local level. Explore levee district partnership. Educate public on successes of Common Vision. Utilize City of Dallas watershed management outreach program. Do more than just collect data. Review data for subwatershed and focus on areas of concern. Work with other agencies that have responsibility for the watershed and upstream and downstream agencies. To build a cleaner future, safer community, heighten awareness, must modify behavior and thinking. Watershed rules that can regulate activities not in an ETJ and in which the county has no ordinance authority. Get the Ten Mile Creek watershed into the FP into via NCTCOG. Initiate a CDC process for permits for Ten Mile Creek watershed. We have a need to pursue reuse of our wastewater treatment plants instead of releasing the effluent back to the river. We have a need to address soil contamination along the Trinity corridor, particularly lead. Research into native plants for bioengineering techniques specific to the North Texas area. Green streets. Combine quality and quantity aspects of water management. Integration of watershed water quality models for all storm water master plans region-wide (Agrilife water quality models) Plan for the future-extend the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study to the confluence of the East Fork in/the Trinity River. Get Kaufman and Ellis counties to the table on the Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study. Dredging the Exall and Conner Lakes in Highland Park. Erosion control of creek banks. Coordination with Dallas and University Park on storm water issues. Have water quality models available region wide from AgriLife. Improvements of the streams that are deteriorating under extreme urbanization develop green belts. Develop integrated authority to take undertaking. Integration of GIS with all storm water modeling/inventories/assessments. Standardization of region-wide coordination downstream. Development of local green infrastructure guidance. TMDL implementation plans.