MEDICINE LAKE EXCESS NUTRIENTS TMDL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Transcription

1 MEDICINE LAKE EXCESS NUTRIENTS TMDL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Project Contact Information: Financial Agent/Project Lead: MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Type of Organization: State Agency Project Manager: Brooke Asleson Project Partner: Type of Organization: Project Representative: Project Partner: Type of Organization: Project Representative: Project Consultant: Project Representative: Project Consultant: Project Representative: Project Partner: Type of Organization: Project Representative: Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) Joint Powers Agreement WMO Len Kremer Three Rivers Park District (TRPD) Local Unit of Government (non-ms4) John Barten LimnoTech Hans P. Holmberg CR Planning, Inc. Brian Ross MN Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) State Agency Darrin Hoverson Project Information: Project Title: Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Project Lake Assessment Unit ID: Impaired Uses: Aquatic recreation due to Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators Project Dates: July, 2008 to September 30, 2009 Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 1

2 Medicine Lake Background Information Medicine Lake, the second largest lake in Hennepin County, is considered one of the most important recreational water bodies in the county. The lake has multiple public accesses, and is intensively used during both summer and winter months. Fishing, boating, swimming, waterskiing and aesthetic viewing are some of the major recreational uses made of the lake. In addition, Three Rivers Park District s (TRPD) French Regional Park and Regional Trail and the City of Plymouth s East and West Medicine Lake Parks, and East Medicine Lake Regional Trail are all located along the lakeshore. The Metropolitan Council considers Medicine Lake a Top Priority Lake because of its multiple recreational uses and public access. As noted in the BCWMC Watershed Management Plan (WMP, 2004) the City of Plymouth, TRPD, the City of Medicine Lake and the BCWMC have been partners working to improve the water quality of Medicine Lake for many years. The Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens (AMLAC) also values lake water quality and has been involved in monitoring the health of Medicine Lake and promoting the implementation of best management practices to improve the water quality of the lake. Medicine Lake and most of its watershed are located within the city limits of Plymouth, Minnesota, and is surrounded by a mix of private lakeshore lots and parkland. The lake has a surface area of 902 acres (365 hectares), a maximum depth of 49 feet (14.9 meters), and an estimated mean depth of 17.5 feet (5.3 meters). The littoral (shallow) zone covers approximately 45 percent of the Medicine Lake surface area. Because Medicine Lake has a long fetch (exposure to winds), and has a relatively shallow mean depth, it is subject to intermittent mixing during normal summer conditions. In addition to Plymouth, the City of Medicine Lake and portions of Golden Valley, New Hope, and Minnetonka constitute the remaining watershed area. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and Hennepin County represent the remaining Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) that will require wasteload allocations as part of the TMDL project. The Medicine Lake watershed is essentially fully developed and has a total area of 11,613 acres (including lake surface area). Runoff from the watershed enters the lake from creeks, storm sewer outfalls, and culverts at various points along the lakeshore. Stormwater from approximately 90 percent of the Medicine Lake watershed currently drains through some form of wet detention before it enters Medicine Lake. The BCWMC completed a draft Medicine Lake Watershed and Lake Management Plan in 2000 and the City of Plymouth adopted a Phase I Medicine Lake Watershed Implementation and Management Plan in 2001, followed by the Phase II Medicine Lake Watershed Implementation and Management Plan in The BCWMC incorporated the recommendations from the City of Plymouth Medicine Lake plans into its WMP implementation program. Since adoption of the BCWMC and the City of Plymouth Medicine Lake plans, both entities have been implementing Medicine Lake water quality improvement recommendations. P8 modeling for three portions of the Medicine Lake watershed was developed as part of the BCWMC Management Plan: the Plymouth Creek watershed, the Ridgedale Creek watershed, Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 2

3 and the remainder of the Medicine Lake watershed. The P8 modeling was optimized to match FLUX modeling results and watershed monitoring data collected from the Plymouth Creek and Ridgedale Creek monitoring locations during At the time that the modeling was developed, P8 had limitations in the number of BMPs that could be included in each model (from P8 Version 1.1). As a result, the models do not include all of the BMPs that are currently present within each portion of the watershed. For example, in the case of the Plymouth Creek watershed, the current P8 modeling includes less than 30 treatment devices even though there are significantly more natural wetlands and BMPs that have been implemented within that watershed. The limit within Version 3.4 of the P8 Model has been expanded to 75 treatment devices. Also, the subwatershed delineation that was used to develop the P8 modeling does not follow MS4 boundaries. Therefore, the existing P8 models for Medicine Lake need to be updated for this project. In late 2005 the city of Plymouth recalibrated the Plymouth Creek portion of the BCWMC s water quality modeling for the Medicine Lake plan to estimate the expected benefit from creating a ponding area at West Medicine Lake Park (Barr Engineering Company, 2006). Newer watershed monitoring data, collected through 2004 for the city of Plymouth (TRPD, 2004), was used in the model calibration. However, this effort did not involve adding any new BMPs or changing the subwatershed divides in the Plymouth Creek watershed. Medicine Lake has traditionally been monitored in the main lake basin every year and occasionally in the southwest bay (see figure below). Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 3

4 In addition the BCWMC, the city of Plymouth and TRPD have been conducting water resource/quality management activities throughout the watershed of Medicine Lake as well as in the lake to achieve the water quality standards. Below is a list of some of the work which has been completed and is in alignment with the work necessary to complete a TMDL: Lake monitoring Medicine Lake has been monitored biweekly throughout the growing season since the early 1990s, and additional lake data extend back to The TRPD and the BCWMC have conducted the lake monitoring cooperatively. Inflow monitoring Streams and storm sewers tributary to the lake have been monitored with continuous flow recorders and both automated storm-flow sampling and manual low-flow sampling for several years, including 11 sampling sites (see figure above and table below) in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, and multiple sites also in previous years. The TRPD, under contract with the City of Plymouth, has conducted and will continue to conduct the inflow monitoring. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 4

5 Site Sampling Period Plymouth Creek X X X X X X X Fernbrook X X X X X X Industrial Park-1 X X X Industrial Park-2 X X X X 18 th Avenue X X X X Ridgedale Creek X X X X X X X Medicine Lake-1 X X X X X X Medicine Lake-2 X X X X X X Medicine Lake-3 X X X X X X Medicine Lake-4 X X X X X X Medicine Lake-5 X X X X X FLUX analysis of P and other loadings The TRPD has analyzed the stream and storm sewer monitoring data using the computer code FLUX, yielding high-quality loading estimates for phosphorus (P) and other pollutants. BATHTUB model development and updating The TRPD has conducted water quality modeling of Medicine Lake using the BATHTUB software. The Medicine Lake model is well-developed and is checked and updated by the TRPD following each round of annual monitoring. Implementation Plan development Water quality goals, P load reduction goals, and measures for improving Medicine Lake s water quality have been investigated in detail as part of a study initiated by the City of Plymouth. Plymouth encompasses most of Medicine Lake s watershed and shoreline. The in-lake total P concentration goal enunciated in this study is a maximum summer-season surface average of 38 ug/l, which is consistent with the MPCA s draft water quality standard of 40 ug/l for deep lakes in the North Central Hardwood Forests ecoregion. The study also identified a specific P load reduction goal of 2000 lb/yr, needed to meet the water quality goal. Public participation (substantial involvement to date) To carry out the above study, Plymouth convened a working group with representation from the City, the BCWMC, the TRPD, the Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens, and others. This working group had a total of 19 meeting throughout the two phases of the study. So there was strong local involvement in formulating the Implementation Plan. BMP implementation (substantial projects completed) A specific set of water quality improvement projects emerged from the above study including: installation of water quality treatment ponds on the East side of the lake, the formation of a Medicine Lake Aquatic Vegetation Management Group (AVM) consisting of members from the City of Plymouth Engineering Department, TRPD, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), BCWMC, AMLAC, City of Medicine Lake, and several lakeshore residents who developed an aquatic plant management plan to control exotic species and promote Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 5

6 the growth of native species, and several stream restorations projects on tributaries to the lake. There are also projects in development one of which is the installation of water quality treatment ponds on the West side of the lake and the County Road 9 and 61 erosion control project. Problem Statement In 2004, Medicine Lake was placed on the MPCA s impaired waters list as the available data indicated that Medicine Lake exceeded the state s narrative criteria for nutrients (based on total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and Secchi disc transparency) for the growing season mean. Similarly, Medicine Lake has typically not met the BCWMC water quality goals. Trend analyses of historical water quality data for Medicine Lake indicate that its overall condition has not changed significantly (see following figure), but brief periods of poor water quality occur annually during late-summer. Internal sources of phosphorus are important to address in meeting the water quality standards as macrophyte senescence, benthic fish and sediment phosphorus release may affect lake water quality during various times of the year. Medicine Lake will continue to be affected by the problems that occur when a lake s watershed has become urbanized. The increased volume and pollutant levels of storm water runoff from the watershed, combined with internal sources of phosphorus, result in periods of poor lake water quality. This scope of work concentrates on addressing the total phosphorus loadings (internal and external) to the lake. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 6

7 Reference Documents Barr Engineering Company Final Draft Medicine Lake Watershed and Lake Management Plan Volume I: Lake and Watershed Conditions, Water Quality Analysis, Improvement Options and Recommendations. Prepared for the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission. Barr Engineering Company Final Draft Medicine Lake Watershed and Lake Management Plan Volume II: Technical Supplement: Historical Limnological Data, Water Quality Analysis Methodology and Appendices. Prepared for the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission. Barr Engineering Company Plymouth Creek Phase 1 Feasibility Report for Construction of the West Medicine Lake Park Pond. Prepared for the City of Plymouth. Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission Bassett Creek Watershed Management Plan. Blue Water Science Curlyleaf Pondweed Density in 2007 in Medicine Lake, Plymouth, Minnesota. Prepared for the City of Plymouth. Bonestroo Feasibility Report. Medicine Lake Water Quality Ponds. Prepared for the City of Plymouth. Bonestroo Memo Regarding Medicine Lake Water Quality Ponds Feasibility Report Expansion. Prepared for the City of Plymouth. City of Plymouth Phase I Medicine Lake Watershed Implementation and Management Plan. City of Plymouth Phase II Medicine Lake Watershed Implementation and Management Plan. Medicine Lake Watershed Sub-Committee. City of Plymouth Medicine Lake Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan. Plymouth Aquatic Vegetation Management Group. City of Plymouth Feasibility Report. Medicine Lake Curlyleaf Pondweed Control Project. City Project No Peterson, D. et. al Delivering Timely Water Quality Information to Your Community. The Lake Access-Minneapolis Project. United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA/625/R-00/013. RUSS unit data. Three Rivers Park District City of Plymouth Water Quality Monitoring Prepared for City of Plymouth. Three Rivers Park District City of Plymouth Water Quality Monitoring Prepared for City of Plymouth. Three Rivers Park District City of Plymouth Water Quality Monitoring Prepared for City of Plymouth. Three Rivers Park District (in press) City of Plymouth Water Quality Monitoring Prepared for City of Plymouth. Three Rivers Park District Medicine Lake Endothall Treatment to Control Curlyleaf Pondweed in Three Rivers Park District Medicine Lake Endothall Treatment to Control Curlyleaf Pondweed Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 7

8 Three Rivers Park District (in press) Medicine Lake Endothall Treatment to Control Curlyleaf Pondweed Wenck Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for Plymouth Creek Water Quality Ponds Project. Prepared for the City of Plymouth. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 8

9 Project Activities This section discusses the project activities necessary to complete the work for the Medicine Lake TMDL project. The process and tasks outlined in this Work Plan are intended to update and build upon past work in the Medicine Lake watershed completed by the BCWMC, City of Plymouth, TRPD, MPCA, and MDNR, and follow the MPCA s Lake Nutrient TMDL Protocols and Submittal Requirements (December, 2006) to prepare the final work products. Reviewing and updating the existing Medicine Lake Implementation Plan will be conducted concurrently with the TMDL development. This task allows the BCWMC, MS4s and other stakeholders in the watershed to participate in determining what specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) and in-lake improvements will be necessary to meet water quality standards, cost-benefit and feasibility, before the wasteload and load allocations are finalized. An approvable final TMDL and Implementation Plan included will be submitted to the MPCA and EPA as a final product of this project. The overall goal is to complete a comprehensive study, following a rational, step-wise process of data analysis, response modeling and comparison to the water quality standards, followed by impairment diagnosis, modeling of improvement options and loading allocations. Following the analysis and stakeholder/public participation process, the MPCA and local stakeholders will understand: Under what conditions water-quality impairments exist The extent and statistical significance of the water-quality impairments, including the magnitude, duration, and frequency of water-quality-standard exceedances The trophic status of the lake, its user perception, and how its water quality compares to a minimally impacted, background or reference condition The potential interrelationships between phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, Secchi disc transparency, dissolved oxygen, biological metrics and the dynamics of lake mixing The seasonal variations in the lake How the climatic conditions for the current water-quality-monitoring periods compare to the entire period of record How the pollutant loadings (or concentrations/readings) and potential pollutant sources within each watershed area compare, based on the data collected at each monitoring station Whether there are trends in the historical water-quality-monitoring data and what considerations need to be made for future redevelopment The uncertainty associated with the analysis and the margin for safety The reasonable assurances that the TMDL will be achieved What wasteload and load allocations and future efforts will be needed, and the relative priority for each action, to maintain or improve water quality and provide follow-up assessment The effectiveness and cost specifics of the BMPs and in-lake improvement options in- Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 9

10 cluded in the implementation plan That the watershed modeling can be used by MS4s to determine how much effect their land management and implementation activities will have on water quality in Medicine Lake Task 1: Past Study and Existing Data Review, Analyses, and Summary To be completed by: Three Rivers Park District For this task, existing project databases will be obtained and updated after compiling, reviewing, and analyzing all existing and newly collected water-quantity, -quality and biological information that pertain to the Medicine Lake watershed, including flow, water quality, background technical information, and relevant geographic, soils and climatic data. Background information and the results of past studies will be summarized. Synopses of past studies and comparisons between historic water quality conditions and the water quality goals and standards will be developed for distribution during the stakeholder and public participation process. As part of this task, the following will be completed: Compile existing and proposed land-use/land-cover data Obtain specific data on urban stormwater runoff inputs and current implementation of BMPs Identification of the impairment problem and establishment of water-quality goals is one of the first objectives in this study. A summary of the data and past work will be prepared that will enable the MPCA and stakeholders to better understand the impairment problems and define water-quality targets. Further problem identification and water-quality target efforts will include: Determining the extent and statistical significance of the water-quality impairment throughout the lake, including the magnitude, duration, and frequency of water-qualitystandard exceedances Comparing current lake water quality with reference or background conditions estimated by MINLEAP (Heiskary and Wilson, 1990) and Vighi and Chiaudani (1985) Evaluating trends Determining the critical conditions for compliance with the water quality standards with respect to watershed and internal phosphorus loading Evaluating watershed loadings under various flow and seasonal conditions using FLUX Evaluating the relationship between the various water quality and biological constituents The watershed monitoring data will be used in FLUX to estimate the observed surface water loadings of phosphorus and solids for each water year, as well as the relationship between flow and concentration at each monitoring location. The diagnostics and coefficients of variation from FLUX will be reported for the available monitoring at each tributary site. Tributary water quality variation will also be analyzed in relation to flow variation to evaluate of the conditions Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 10

11 responsible for poor water quality and possibly to provide insight into stream bank/bed erosion. This analysis will provide a means for determining what kind of additional load reductions might be necessary in the tributary watershed under various flow conditions. It may also assist in the evaluation of the existing monitoring plan, and the possible modification to the plan under Task 5. For this task, a summary report will be prepared to discuss the available data and provide a summary of the analyses. The technical memorandum will also identify input data needs for the model(s). In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: Compile existing and newly collected water quality, quantity and biological data Summarize past studies Evaluate algal bloom frequency and user perception data Compare current lake water quality with reference or background conditions Evaluate water quality trends Determine "critical conditions" for compliance with water quality standards Report FLUX modeling diagnostics and coefficients of variation for use in BATHTUB modeling and development of margin of safety Evaluate relationships between water quality constituents Develop report to discuss the available data and summary of analyses to-date Timeline: July 2008 September 2008 Contractor: Three Rivers Park District Written summary of past studies, prepare graphs and tables depicting past and current lake quality data, prepare graphs and tables summarizing hydrologic and nutrient loading quantities from inflow streams, summarize on-going and completed BMP installation in the watershed, and summarize recommended management activities from previous studies. Task 2: Watershed and In-Lake Modeling Task 2A: Watershed modeling to be completed by: LimnoTech Task 2B: In-Lake Modeling to be completed by: Three Rivers Park District Past studies for Medicine Lake have included the development and use of the P8 Urban Catchment Model (P8) for the watershed phosphorus and solids loadings in three separate model files covering the tributary subwatersheds and BATHTUB for the in-lake response modeling of phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and Secchi disc transparency in four areas of the lake. Since the completion of the 2005 Plymouth Creek study, three more years of monitoring data are available to calibrate and validate the P8 water quality models. There is also additional lake water quality data available to update and calibrate BATHTUB for the main lake basin and southwest bay. As previously discussed, the P8 model will also need to be revised to determine the current level of storm water treatment that is provided by each MS4. The current watershed and in-lake monitor- Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 11

12 ing data will need to be used to update, develop and apply the watershed and in-lake models that will predict responses in phosphorus and suspended solids, over a range of flow conditions, to determine the critical conditions based on current and changing land-use and land-management conditions. The modeling approach will make use of the available P8 models of the watershed to estimate the wash-off loadings to the tributaries, and the existing BATHTUB to predict the inlake response. Task 2A: Watershed Modeling The P8 modeling will be updated based on current land use/land cover information, MS4 boundaries and sub watershed divides to be available for the potential development of individual waste load allocations if it is determined by the stakeholder to be the desired approach. It is expected that new P8 modeling files (Version 3.4) will need to be developed or updated to reflect the current level of BMP treatment within each of the lake tributaries based on input from each of the MS4s, up to the limit of 75 treatment devices for each model file. Where available the MS4s will supply development plans showing the relevant model input data for each of the new or revised BMPs in the modeling. In a few cases, the BMP model input data may need to be obtained through limited field surveys completed as part of this project. Where existing data allow, stream bank and bed erosion phosphorus contributions may be accounted for separately during P8 model calibration to the observed FLUX results. The calibrated/validated P8 model will be used in combination with long-term climate data or precipitation probability functions to predict the tributary loadings under the flow conditions that are important for the water quality impairments and evaluate the load reductions necessary to meet the acceptable TMDL endpoints using all of the available BMP information. In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: Watershed Modeling Convert existing P8 models to Windows-based version (3.4 or newer) Compile and modify as necessary the MS4 boundaries, subwatershed divides and existing/proposed land-use data Provide specific information to each MS4 regarding BMPs that are included in current modeling and obtain specific data on current implementation of BMPs and develop P8 model inputs Develop P8 model watershed input data based on new subwatershed boundaries and land use Modify BMP inputs in P8 Models to include all new and existing BMPs in each subwatershed Calibrate and validate P8 Models Run P8 model for critical conditions Timeline: July 2008 December 2008 Contractor: LimnoTech Prepare Technical Memorandum to discuss the modeling results, calibration/validation statistics and uncertainty analysis, total loading capacity, phosphorus loading components by phosphorus Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 12

13 source and MS4, critical conditions and recommendations for future model improvements and/or alternative approaches to address the model limitations. Task 2B: In-Lake Modeling The existing BATHTUB modeling will be updated based on the current lake characteristics, measured lake water quality sample results, and P8 model estimates of phosphorus loadings for the same time periods. The modeling should also include the coefficients of variation from FLUX. BATHTUB will be calibrated/validated to predict the lake water quality response to specific changes in nutrient loading from the watershed and the various sources of internal loading under proposed management scenarios. BATHTUB will also be used to review the load reduction in the existing Medicine Lake Plan and to recommend the phosphorus load reductions necessary to meet the water quality standards, with an appropriate margin of safety, as required for the TMDL document. In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: In-Lake Modeling Calibrate and validate BATHTUB; estimate internal loading components Determine Margin of Safety for TMDL loading capacity Run BATHTUB for critical conditions; Determine total loading capacity of Medicine Lake Evaluate in-lake improvement options Timeline: September 2008 January 2009 Contractor: Three Rivers Park District Prepare Technical Memorandum to discuss the modeling results, calibration/validation statistics and uncertainty analysis, total loading capacity, phosphorus loading components by phosphorus source and MS4, critical conditions and recommendations for future model improvements and/or alternative approaches to address the model limitations. Task 3: Stakeholder/Public Participation Process Lead and Coordination to be completed with MPCA and BCWMC by: CR Planning, Inc. Technical support to be provided by: LimnoTech, TRPD and MPCA CR Planning will develop and execute a stakeholder and public participation work plan that facilitates positive interactions and ownership of the final TMDL recommendations and implementation efforts. The primary method of engaging stakeholders is through facilitated discussion in combined stakeholder/technical advisory committee meetings. The meetings will include identification of risks and opportunities, education on modeling and scientific data, and decisionmaking on preferred strategies and allocations. CR Planning will help develop and will take primary responsibility for facilitating eight committee and/or public meetings in the watershed. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 13

14 The eight meetings will be designed to permit state agency staff, the Citizen-Stakeholder- Technical Advisory Committee, and/or members of the public to comment on the work completed and to help shape the final recommendations. Task 3-1: Project initiation, project management, and coordination with the MPCA, BCWMC, TRPD and the MPCA Master Contractor Project Team The goal of this task is to ensure the coordination and facilitation project is completed on time, within budget, and is well coordinated with the tasks of the larger TMDL project. Project initiation includes finalizing the work plan, budget and schedule and preparing contracts. Project initiation tasks are not billable to the project. Only time incurred after a contract is signed shall be billable. Project management and quality control review will occur throughout the project at regular intervals through review of intermediate products. Coordination will occur through regular contact and meetings with the MPCA, BCWMC, TRPD, and the MPCA Master Contractor Project Team. CR Planning will attend appropriate Project Team meetings to discuss stakeholder recommendations, project progress and receive direction. Timeline: August 2008 August 2009 Contractor: CR Planning, Inc. Contract reflecting final work plan, budget and schedule, and monthly invoices. The MPCA, TRPD, and LimnoTech will prepare the appropriate materials for meetings and present the material when necessary. They will attend all meetings and provide technical support for the facilitator. Task 3-2: Form the Citizen-Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee, develop a meeting timeline, and refine the participation process. The goal of this task is to create a diverse stakeholder committee as well as a feasible meeting timeline and work plan for the committee. CR Planning will assist the MPCA and BCWMC in identifying and recruiting individuals to serve on the Citizen-Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee. Working with the Committee as well as the MPCA and BCWMC, CR Planning will develop a meeting schedule that will allow the Committee to provide timely feedback on the TMDL project. The meeting timeline will include a detailed description of tasks to be completed at each meeting. Finally, CR Planning will meet with the Project Team and stakeholders to identify the value-based decisions that are the province of the Committee, and to refine the process to ensure a solid foundation for the partnership process. Timeline: August 2008 October 2008 Contractor: CR Planning, Inc. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 14

15 A diverse stakeholder committee, Meeting timeline and work plan, Meet with MPCA and BCWMC and others as necessary to refine the participation process, Citizen-Stakeholder- Technical Advisory Committee meetings are detailed under Task 3-3. Task 3-3: Coordinate and facilitate Citizen-Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee meetings and technical training sessions. CR Planning will assist in the preparation for and facilitation of seven meetings with the Citizen- Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee and one public meeting to present the final draft TMDL plan. In addition to facilitating meetings, CR Planning will develop and distribute meeting agendas and minutes. Prior to each Committee meeting, CR Planning will meet with MPCA, BCWMC, TRPD, and the MPCA Master Contractor to finalize the Committee's agenda, discuss project progress, coordinate technical presentations, and receive further direction. CR Planning will provide timely follow-up and minutes in a format for posting on the MPCA's project website after each Committee meeting A project kickoff open house or other forum to introduce the project to all interested parties, including but not limited to, members of the Citizen-Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee, City Council members, City Environmental Board members, local citizens, local businesses, etc Meeting to discuss existing data and analysis; results of past studies and water quality targets (technical staff from MPCA, MPCA Master Contractor, BCWMC and TRPD will assist) Training to educate the Citizen-Stakeholder-Technical Advisory Committee on key decision issues (technical staff from MPCA and TRPD will provide training) Meeting to discuss and educate the committees regarding the model calibration/validation and model phosphorus loading results, total loading capacities (technical staff from MPCA, BCWMC, MPCA Master Contractor and TRPD will assist) Meeting to discuss and determine potential improvement options and implementation planning; methods for setting load and wasteload allocations in the watershed (technical staff from MPCA, BCWMC, MPCA Master Contractor and TRPD will assist) Meeting to discuss and determine BMP and lake improvement option modeling results, margin of safety, allocations of total phosphorus loading capacity (technical staff from MPCA, BCWMC, MPCA Master Contractor and TRPD will assist) Meeting to discuss comments and questions about draft TMDL report, including long-term monitoring plan recommendations Public meeting prior to official public notice process to discuss final draft TMDL report (this is an EPA requirement, the facilitator may not be needed for this meeting; MPCA, BCWMC, MPCA Master Contractor and TRPD will lead). Timeline: August 2008 July 2009 Contractor: CR Planning, Inc. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 15

16 Meeting agendas, facilitation of meetings, meeting minutes in a format for posting on the MPCA's website, one meeting with the Project Team prior to each Committee meeting to finalize the agenda and discuss project progress. Task 3-4: Additional facilitation time outside of the scheduled meetings for conflict mediation. Stakeholders are likely to be unable to resolve some issues and conflicts within the meeting process. Stakeholders will also be given responsibility to review material and documents and develop comments and recommendations outside the meetings. Both of these circumstances will require mediation and facilitation outside the meetings. CR Planning will provide additional facilitation time outside of scheduled meetings for conflict mediation. Timeline: October 2008 August 2009 Contractor: CR Planning, Inc. Up to 20 hours of facilitation time and meetings will be arranged if necessary. Task 3-5 Develop outreach media and prepare semi-annual and final summary report for the final TMDL report CR Planning will assist in developing four quarterly newsletters to keep citizens, stakeholders, and committee members updated on the project's progress. The Project Team will provide content for the newsletters. The newsletters will be produced in an 8 ½ by 11 inch format with a four page per newsletter maximum. CR Planning will provide an electronic version of the newsletter to the Project Team and will not be responsible for reproducing or mailing the newsletters. CR Planning will prepare semi-annual and final stakeholder process summary reports, the first to meet the February 1 st and August 1 st semi-annual report requirement, and the final summary to be included in the final TMDL report. Timeline: October 2008 August 2009 Contractor: CR Planning, Inc. Four quarterly newsletters, Semi-annual (mid-term) stakeholder process summary reports, Final stakeholder process summary report. Task 4: Evaluate Improvement Options/Develop Allocations and Implementation Plan To be completed by: LimnoTech This task consists of updating and verifying the effectiveness of the BMPs recommended in the City of Plymouth, the BCWMC Medicine Lake plans and in the September 2004 Watershed Management Plan. The calibrated P8 modeling, from Task 2, will be used to identify and evalu- Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 16

17 ate the effectiveness of potential BMP practices and the amount of potential load reduction that could be expected from various BMP types and locations within the watershed. The lake s response to the expected load reduction determined in the P8 analysis will then be evaluated with the calibrated BATHTUB model produced in Task 2. Potential in-lake improvement options will also be evaluated by the BATHTUB model in Task 2. This process allows for the evaluation of the direct effect of a specific BMP or in-lake improvement option on Medicine Lake s water quality and will be used in updating the implementation plan for the watershed wide load reduction required by the TMDL and may also be used in developing the wasteload and load allocations. This task will allow stakeholders to understand what specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) and in-lake improvements will be required to ensure that the water quality standard is met so that a proper dialogue about cost-benefit and feasibility can occur. This effort will produce recommendations for when specific activities should be done, and who will do each respective activity or project and their associated cost estimates. In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: P8 modeling to evaluate watershed improvement options Review implementation costs and benefit estimates for proposed improvement options Update existing Implementation Plan Develop load allocations and wasteload allocations for MS4s and other NPDES permittees appropriately based on stakeholders recommendation Timeline: December 2008 June 2009 Contractor: LimnoTech Modeling and descriptions that include a mass-balance accounting that addresses wasteload and load allocations, recommends individual improvement options and provides expected phosphorus load reductions, implementation activities and recommendations for when specific activities should be done, the expected cost-benefit and who may implement each activity or project. Task 5: Develop Monitoring Plan To be completed by: Three Rivers Park District The current Medicine Lake watershed monitoring plan involves monitoring stations at six major inlets to the lake, and bi-weekly lake monitoring. For this task, it is assumed that the current monitoring plan will be evaluated, and revised if necessary, to ensure that it will document the progress toward achieving the load reduction and water quality goals identified in the TMDL report for Medicine Lake. At a minimum, the current monitoring plan will be refined to incorporate monitoring of the areas downstream of BMPs that have recently been implemented near the lake outfalls. Draft and final versions of the monitoring plan will be prepared and submitted for MPCA and stakeholder review before it is included in the TMDL report. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 17

18 In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: Review existing monitoring plan Finalize monitoring plan Timeline: March 2009 April 2009 Contractor: Three Rivers Park District Report summarizing on-going monitoring activities and providing recommendations for a long term monitoring program for Medicine Lake and tributaries. The recommendations will include sampling frequency, recommended sampling locations, and analytical parameters for each lake and inflow site. Task 6: Write Draft TMDL Report/Final TMDL Assistance/Reporting To be completed by: LimnoTech Final TMDL report will include background information, a summary of impairments, a description of the Medicine Lake watershed and its common land uses, including documentation and/or graphics depicting the magnitude of the existing impairment. A discussion of water-quality indicators as they relate to aquatic recreation and development of the numeric targets used in the load and wasteload-allocation processes will also be included in the final TMDL report. The final TMDL report will also include existing loads and the development of the loading capacity and load and wasteload allocations. The documentation will also detail the pollutant reductions required to meet water quality standards, according to the most accepted loading-reduction scenarios. For this task, it is assumed that two draft and one final TMDL report will be prepared that summarizes the results of the above tasks with appropriate tabulations, colored maps, charts, figures, and attachments. The draft and final TMDL report sections will include the following elements: EPA TMDL summary table Identification of impaired water bodies (including HUC codes) Spatial extent of watershed Land-use distribution Population (including growth trends), wildlife resources, and recreational uses Pollutants of concern Description of applicable water-quality standard(s) Description of designated use(s) Pollutant sources (point and nonpoint) Specific loading capacity for Medicine Lake, including (completed under Tasks 1and 2): o Description and accounting for of critical conditions (e.g., flow, climate) Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 18

19 o Load Allocations (internal and atmospheric loading) o Waste Load Allocations (MS4s and other NPDES permitted entities) o Margin of Safety o Discussion of Reserve Capacity, if necessary o Characterization of the geographic extent, magnitude, and persistence/timing (including seasonal variation) of the impairments o Estimation of current loading by subwatershed and source Reasonable Assurance Monitoring Plan (completed under Task 5) Implementation Plan (completed under Task 4) Summary of stakeholder/public participation process (completed under Task 3) Technical documentation of the modeling (completed under Task 2) Recommendations for further improvements to the watershed modeling if appropriate It is expected that a significant number of the elements listed above will be completed under previous tasks in the project and the selected Master Contractor will organize these into one final report formatted as described above. The final draft project report will incorporate the MPCA staff and stakeholder comments on the draft project report. The final TMDL, following necessary revisions, will be submitted by the MPCA to the USEPA for their approval. The final report will include a TMDL for the Medicine Lake watershed, including all the required elements in the USEPA review document for TMDLs. Three copies of the report will be submitted for MPCA staff review and comments. Communications with the MPCA staff throughout the entire project will be necessary to discuss the progress on the work effort and incorporate MPCA recommendations. Electronic files and other pertinent project materials will be shared with the MPCA throughout the project as it is available. Monthly summaries of project accomplishments and a breakdown of staff hours spent per task by each staff member will be submitted for reimbursement each month. In summary, the following subtasks will be completed as part of this task: Prepare Draft TMDL Report for Stakeholder and MPCA review and comment Prepare Final Draft TMDL Report to address questions and incorporate comments Prepare Final TMDL Report Routine communications with MPCA staff Submit electronic files and other pertinent project materials to the MPCA Submit semi-annual reports to MPCA Timeline: May 2009 June 30, 2009 (*Reference Note at bottom of page 17) Contractor: LimnoTech Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 19

20 Components of the TMDL document, draft and final versions of TMDL report submitted for MPCA staff and stakeholders. Provide MPCA electronic files and project materials as they become available throughout the project. Semi-annual progress reports submitted by February 1 st and August 1 st. A final financial report within 30 days of final TMDL approval. *The Impaired Waters Master contract expires on June 30, Therefore, the work order issued for this work plan cannot exceed that date. Any work beyond that date will need to be done either under a new master contract work order or an alternative contract mechanism. Medicine Lake Excess Nutrients TMDL Development Project 20