Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant Application

Transcription

1 Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant Application Submitted to: Steve Konrady, Issuing Officer Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wallace State Office Building 502 E. 9 th St. Des Moines, IA Submitted by: Polk County on behalf of the Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Attention: Robert Rice Polk County Public Works Director 5885 NE. 14 th St. Des Moines, IA Robert.rice@polkcountyiowa.gov February 23 rd, 2018 Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority

2 Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Planning Grant Application Contents Executive Summary.. 1 Eligibility The Watershed The Issues A Valued Resource Beaver Creek Sub Watershed Success Story. 3 Highlights of Other Watershed Efforts.. 4 Scope of Work and Technical Requirements.. 8 Creating the Plan. 8 Task 1: Development of Stakeholder Process. 9 Task 2: Review Existing Studies and Future Land Use Plans Task 3: Watershed Resource Inventory and Assessment of Issues Task 4: Watershed Action Plan Task 5: Education Plan.. 10 Task 6: Final Plan 11 Baseline for Measurement 11 Project Environmental Impact (Outcomes).. 12 Implementation Schedule + Milestones Table 1: Implementation Schedule and Milestones. 12 Financial Assistance Request.. 13 Table 2: Request + Projected Use of Funds 13 Cash + In Kind Match. 14 Table 3: Match Contribution Table.. 15 Integrating Related Plans 16 State of Iowa s Nonpoint Source Management Plan 16 Table 4: WMA Actions Towards NPSMP 16 Smart Planning Principles Attachments 18 Applicant Information Certification Letter Risk Assessment Questionnaire Maps Letters of Support Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority

3 Executive Summary The Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority (WMA) is applying for the Comprehensive Water Quality Management Planning Grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). On behalf of the Beaver WMA, Polk County will serve as the fiscal agent and individual grant applicant. Beaver Creek is a HUC-10 watershed in Central Iowa encompassing five counties and fourteen communities. Across the watershed, the landscape covers both agricultural and urban areas before eventually draining to the Des Moines River. With a diverse set of issues including flooding and water quality, the Beaver Creek watershed has a significant impact on the lives of over 500,000 local residents. In response to these environmental concerns, the Beaver Creek WMA seeks funds to develop a comprehensive watershed plan to focus on agricultural and urban conservation issues within watershed. Through the proposed project, the Beaver Creek WMA will complete a comprehensive assessment of the watershed characteristics. This information, along with stakeholder input, will be used to develop goals and action steps to address watershed issues. With several nearby WMA s successfully implementing watershed plans, the Beaver Creek WMA will work with these partners to learn and improve from their experience. By utilizing the expertise of WMA members who have been through the watershed planning process, the WMA will create a realistic plan that will successfully guide implementation. Through the planning process, the Beaver Creek WMA will focus on the scope of work outlined in this application including: Task 1: Development of a Stakeholder Process- a planning process driven by stakeholder involvement and an established open line of communication between key groups. Task 2: Review Existing Studies and Future Land Use Plans- Building on existing plans will garner quick buy-in from stakeholders, and expeditiously complete a watershed baseline. Task 3: Watershed Resource Inventory and Assessment of Issues- Conducting a watershed resource inventory will provide a deeper understanding of the watershed and pollutant sources. Task 4: Watershed Action Plan- Utilizing completed assessments, this plan will encompass both short term and long-term priorities to meet watershed needs. Task 5: Education Plan- A successful education plan developed with watershed stakeholders will provide a diverse framework for future implementation efforts. Task 6: Final Plan- Prepare a document that outlines the planning process, summary of watershed assessment and data, and implementation guidance. The Beaver WMA is requesting $100,000 from the Iowa DNR to complete the plan over the 18-month planning process, but also sees the need for additional funding to achieve the goals outlined in this application. To leverage local funds, the Beaver Creek WMA requested match funds, both cash and inkind, from its local partners and members to further contribute to the planning process. During the application process local partners pledged an additional $32,900 of cash and $116,532 of in-kind match. Some of these in-kind contributions will make great additions to the plan, including Des Moines partnering with the Iowa Flood Center to complete the Agriculture Planning Framework Tool on five HUC-12 sub-watersheds and water monitoring by Polk County Conservation Board, Iowa Soybean Association, and the City of Johnston. This show of collaboration, even from communities that are very new to the idea of watershed improvements, truly embodies the effort of this local effort and the work they want to accomplish. This planning grant opportunity provides a key opportunity at a perfect time to continue to facilitate the growth and success of the Beaver Creek WMA. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 1

4 Eligibility The Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority was established as a legal entity pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 466B.22. In-kind technical support has been provided by the Polk Soil & Water Conservation District (Polk SWCD), which continues to serve as the convener and facilitator of the Beaver Creek WMA. The group official formed in July 2016 and has actively held meetings on a quarterly basis since. The Watershed The Beaver Creek (HUC ) watershed encompasses 244,609 acres in Boone, Dallas, Greene, Polk, and Webster Counties. Portions of the following communities fall within the watershed: Beaver, Berkley, Bouton, Boxholm, Dana, Des Moines, Grand Junction, Granger, Grimes, Johnston, Minburn, Ogden, Perry, Urbandale, and Woodward. The Beaver Creek watershed has a diverse landscape composed largely of agricultural with numerous small towns before draining down to the larger communities of the Des Moines metro. Some large natural areas reside within the watershed including an expansive woodland in the lower stream corridor that houses a blue heron nesting rookery on the Camp Dodge property. The Issues Historically, the Beaver Creek watershed has Image 1: Aerial view of the Beaver Creek Watershed had both water quality and flash flooding concerns. These issues have had a significant impact on small communities and farms in the upper watershed and a large urban population downstream. As a large watershed providing source water to Des Moines Water Works, pollutant loads impact drinking water for over 500,000 central Iowa customers. Beaver Creek and tributary Little Beaver Creek are also on the 2014 Iowa Impaired Waters List for bacteria. At the October 2017 WMA meeting, members highlighted some of the key issues that they have experienced in the watershed. While these issues ranged across urban and rural divides, a consensus that improving water quality and reducing flooding would take a collaborative effort across the watershed was seen. Improving soil health, increasing adoption of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and conservation practices were highlighted as key issues the group would like to incorporate into a plan. Beaver Creek also has several unique habitat areas and recreational opportunities. Portions of the watershed retain excellent habitat and need to be protected, while other isolate areas offer stabilized banks and forested buffers. However, many areas have been subject to channel alterations, lack stream Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 2

5 buffers, and have experienced severe erosion. Protection of these areas and incorporating more recreational opportunities were also listed as key issues. A Valued Resource Even without the benefit of a proactive, collaborative watershed plan, many of the partners are already working aggressively to improve Beaver Creek. The receipt of this grant would support strategic, targeted efforts approached from a regional perspective instead of by individual partners. Beaver Creek Sub-Watershed Success Story In 2010 the City of Granger was involved in the creation of the Oxley Creek Watershed Management Plan, a HUC-12 sub-watershed within Beaver. Since then, the Oxley Creek plan has proven to be an invaluable tool for city land use and development planning. Having the completed watershed plan later led to funding acquisition and implementation of priority practices that were identified during the planning process. To date, installed practices include stream stabilization, bioswales, and a stormwater wetland. The Oxley Creek watershed spans 3,335 acres in area and is located in northeastern Dallas County and western Polk County. The top of the watershed is just southwest of the Des Moines River along Highway 17. Oxley Creek flows southerly through the community of Granger and empties into Beaver Creek. In 2010, Granger began a process with the assistance of IDALS and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts to assess and create a watershed management plan for Oxley Creek Watershed. A diverse watershed advisory committee was formed that guided the assessment and management plan development. The goals were to find ways to improve water quality, reduce flood potential in development areas, decrease sediment delivery, illustrate alternative development strategies, and to educate local leaders on hydrology and water quality issues to enable them to make more informed decisions regarding the future management of the City of Granger and the Oxley Creek watershed. Using the assessment as guidance, the watershed management plan was completed. The management plan provides guidelines and an approach for implementing projects that reduce flooding, protect water quality, and guide future development. These are the five main components to the watershed management plan for Oxley Creek: Image 2: Aerial view of the Oxley Creek Watershed 1) Flood mitigation 2) Stream corridor stabilization 3) Reducing and treating runoff from agricultural land 4) Reducing and treating stormwater runoff from urban land 5) Changing policies and ordinances to foster sustainable stormwater management as Granger grows. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 3

6 In the hydrologic analysis, the 100-year flood plain was delineated based on the future conditions. It shows that proposed development sites would be in the flood plain and that flooding of existing homes will be exacerbated in the future. Four sites were identified for installation of flood control structures to protect Granger at a cost of $2 million. Urbanization will become the dominant land use of the Oxley Creek Watershed in the future. Therefore, a low impact development (LID) analysis study showed how green infrastructure (i.e. flood plains) can be preserved for passive uses (i.e. recreational fields and parks) while maintaining the conveyance capacity for flood flows and preventing costly damages to homes and infrastructure placed within a flood plain. The study provided a new model for future growth that will add water quality protection to the flood control strategies. The two LID concepts showed how costs can be reduced to offset lower lot yields and how profit potentials can remain comparable to traditional development strategies that offer higher lot yields. Other management plan recommendations included stream corridor stabilization and stormwater management for urban runoff. These identified priorities led to the award of funding Image 3: Example of low impact development neighborhood through the Iowa DNR SRF program and IDALS Water Quality Initiative to implement 1,400 feet of stream stabilization on Oxley Creek. A 1,000 ft. bioswale was also constructed to treat runoff from 13.5 acres of residential property prior to flowing into the creek. A 6-acre stormwater wetland built northwest of the highway 17 and 141 intersection treats stormwater from 70 acres of residential and commercial development before entering Oxley Creek. A comprehensive land use plan update was completed for Granger after the watershed management plan was created. The update utilized information from the plan to incorporate smart growth strategies. Policy and ordinances are nearly completed that will improve stormwater management for development in Granger. Highlights of other watershed efforts include: The City of Ogden is currently in the construction phase of an approximately $5,405,400 wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) improvements project to improve the city's WWTP secondary treatment and reduce discharge loading to the downstream Beaver Creek watershed. This includes improvements to the preliminary treatment process, new activated sludge process, additional final clarifiers, and the addition of UV disinfection. As part of the application for the sponsored project program through the Iowa Finance Authority, the City of Ogden completed a watershed assessment for the East Beaver Creek watershed, a tributary of Beaver Creek with a watershed area of approximately 16.4 square miles. The assessment included a review of historical imagery, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topographic information, land cover, soils information, identification of flow pattern, gathering of available water quality monitoring data available, and an evaluation of the stream channels within the City of Ogden. The City of Ogden is currently in the initial phases of design for a State Revolving Fund Water Resource Restoration Sponsored Project. This project will allow the city to recover funds from the WWTP improvement project loan and apply the recovered funds to a water resources project. The city is Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 4

7 considering several options for the sponsored project including stormwater wetlands, stream channel restoration, bioswales, bioretention, and permeable pavers. The City has committed up to $480,900 in project funding to Beaver Creek Watershed Improvements as part of this project. In addition, the city of Ogden has implemented many projects in the last 20 years with a commitment of over $2,000,000 to reduce localized flooding and promote stormwater conveyance within the City of Ogden. In recent year the City of Perry has improved their stormwater management within the Beaver Creek watershed, including the implementation of bioswales in the parking lot of the local community center. Recently the city has seen the expansion of their industrial park area and is investigating the implementation of additional practices to manage the 35o acre area. The City of Johnston has worked for years to make improvements to the Beaver Creek watershed. In 2010, the Johnston City Council adopted the Watershed Assessment and Stormwater Management and Action Plan, this planning process was the first ever dedicated to studying and improving the City s watersheds and stormwater management system. Johnston is located at the confluence of Beaver Creek and the Des Moines River. 71 % of the land (13 sq. miles) within the Johnston corporate limits drains into Beaver Creek, yet Johnston only makes up 3.4% percent of the total 372 sq. mile watershed. Since the adoption of Johnston s action plan, a significant paradigm shift has occurred within the City on how they perceive, address and manage stormwater. Stormwater is no longer an afterthought, it is treated as a valuable resource and both the City and its citizens are investing in improvements to water quality. Examples of work completed within the Beaver Creek Watershed by the City of Johnston include: Updated stormwater management requirements to develop consistency in all stormwater management modeling, resulting in improved stormwater management facility design and requiring the capture and infiltration of the water quality volume on site. Beaver Creek Bank Stabilization two projects have been completed (immediately upstream and downstream of NW 62 nd Avenue) since 2011 and a third project is currently under construction. Combined these projects total a nearly $1.2 million investment and were necessary to reduce erosion and to protect public infrastructure (roadway, sanitary sewer and trails) from being further damaged from bank erosion. Greenwood Hills Greenbelt / Green Meadows West Channel Stabilization One project has been completed and one is currently under construction on a major tributary to Beaver Creek which drains approximately 380 acres directly to Beaver Creek. These improvements have included stabilization of a stream corridor, installation of a rain garden, forebay and multi staged outlet pond and other water quality improvements to reduce erosion and improve water quality in this sub-watershed. Combined, these projects have totaled an investment of $5.2 million. Developed a water quality sampling program which samples 10 sites throughout the community three times a year with all the sampling locations being within the Beaver Creek Watershed. This program will be entering its sixth year of data collection in Results and information about the program are available at Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 5

8 Implemented water quality features on numerous public improvement projects, including rain gardens, underground detention, bioswales, and permeable pavers. Created several public education videos used to educate the public about the benefits of the stormwater improvements, these are available at In July 2016, a new homeowner grant program to fund stormwater improvements on private residential properties was created. To date nearly $12,000 in grant funds have been awarded and funded improvements totaling more than $59,000. These improvements include rain barrels, soil quality restoration, permeable pavers and erosion control. Beginning in Fall 2018/Spring 2019, construction of several Water Trails related improvements to Beaver Creek will begin. This effort is part of the Des Moines metro s effort to improve access to and use of the areas streams and rivers. The first project will be the construction of a parking lot, trail and canoe/kayak launching point located at NW 70 th Avenue on Beaver Creek. Information about the regional water trails effort is available at The City of Grimes has worked extensively within the Beaver Creek watershed to make policy improvements and implement practices. The city adopted the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual as part of the City of Grimes Post Construction Ordinance in January of 2010 to assist the city in regulating stormwater management for development. This includes the development criteria that accomplishes a reduction in stormwater peak flow and volume within the watershed by reducing the discharges to a pre-settlement condition. In 2010, the city undertook a planning process to review and analyze the city s stormwater needs due to recent community flooding. The city received property owner surveys, held public informational meetings, collected field data, identified constraints, and determined probable costs associated with improvements. As part of the planning process, the city conducted a physical inventory and inspection of more than 15 miles of drainage channels across the community. This effort led to identification of a number of drainage channel improvement projects to minimize the possibility of future flooding to properties. The city has completed over $500,000 in projects to reduce erosion from stream channels and to prevent sediment transport downstream The City of Grimes completed a watershed assessment for a portion of the Little Beaver Creek watershed as part of the application for the sponsored project program through the Iowa Finance Authority. The assessment included a review of historical imagery, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topographic information, land cover, soils information, identification of flow pattern, gathering of water quality monitoring information available, and an evaluation of the stream channels within watershed area. This sponsored project is in the initial phases of design and will allow the city to recover funds from a WWTP improvement project loan and apply the recovered funds to a water resources project. The city is constructing a wetland within a park area and restoring a portion of a stream channel to allow the water quality treatment for the upstream impervious and agricultural areas. The City has committed up to $580,000 in project funding to Beaver Creek Watershed Improvements as part of this project. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 6

9 In addition, the City of Grimes is in the initial design phase of a channel restoration project for a 4,500 LF segment of Little Beaver and Prairie Creek. The city has committed up to $900,000 in funding to restore the stream channel that has suffered heavy erosion and bank degradation. The city has held a public meeting to discuss the preliminary plans for the project, conducted a public survey, completed a field channel walk with stakeholders, and is in the process of obtaining the necessary easements to complete the project. Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has recently begun a program focusing on improving soil health across Dallas County, including the Beaver Creek watershed, through a project called the 1% Challenge. This project connects farmers with one another and with the NRCS to adopt soil health practices, such as no-till farming, cover crops, rotational grazing, and crop rotations to increase organic matter by 1%. With an increase in soil organic matter, infiltration increases, runoff decreases, and plant health is expected to improve. These benefits lead to cleaner water leaving farms and entering waterways. We hope to share this project with other entities within the Beaver Creek Watershed to improve soil health and water quality. Working with the SWCD, NRCS staff has begun outlining the 900 farm parcels in their portion of the Beaver Creek watershed for future efforts to promote programs such as the 1% Challenge. Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has extensive experience partnering with local watershed efforts. Staff has worked to facilitate Beaver Creek WMA meetings, providing guidance and assistance for planning efforts and grant submittals. Polk SWCD will continue to help through plan development, using experience to help create a plan that will empower a successful implementation campaign. Urban Conservationist Jennifer Welch is also working extensively with several cities within the watershed to implement SRF Sponsored Projects and IDALS Urban Water Quality Initiative Projects as well as providing guidance for stormwater management. Polk County Conservation (PCC) is dedicated to environmental health and recognizes water quality as a fundamental priority in this region. As part of their organization's mission statement, and as a prominent theme in the Polk County Conservation Board Strategic Plan, staff is committed to monitoring the quality of streams within Polk County to document trends over time in our waterways. Twice per month PCC staff trained in IOWATER monitoring procedures will test almost 60 sites across Polk County, 7 of which reside within the Beaver Creek Watershed. Staff and trained volunteers will record water turbidity and temperature, ph, dissolved oxygen, nitrates/nitrites, chloride and phosphates. Observations such as water odor and color as well as the presence of animals, tile lines and piping will be noted. The data collected will be used to determine overall health of the watershed and identify areas of concern. Continual monitoring should be able to determine water quality changes in the future and how we can respond accordingly. If immediate issues are detected, data will be distributed to appropriate organizations. For one local effort, Beaver Creek is viewed as one of our region s truly untapped gems, with ample opportunities for recreation, wildlife viewing, and fishing, all within an urban setting in the heart of Johnston. Through the Metropolitan Planning Organization s Regional Water Trails and Greenways Master Plan, a suite of amenities are proposed that improve access for recreation, enhance habitat for fish, and better connect the community to the creek. Specifically, new cast-in-place canoe and kayak access points are proposed at the corner of NW 86 th Street and 70 th Avenue and are part of a more comprehensive redevelopment efforts near Merle Hay Road. In addition to these improvements, a Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 7

10 series of limestone stair access points are proposed that will provide opportunities for anglers and waders to interact with the creek. Green stormwater infrastructure, enhanced fish habitat, and interpretive signage are also proposed throughout the corridor. Once implemented, Beaver Creek has the potential to serve as a vibrant community focal point and local economic driver as well as model for the benefit of investments in water quality and restoration. The Nature Conservancy has been working in partnership with Central Iowa Watershed Management Authorities since 2016 to assist with fundraising and the implementation of conservation practices, specifically oxbow wetland restorations. This partnership has fundraised over $300,000 directly towards installation of these oxbows, and has funding allocated to restoring the first oxbows in the Beaver Creek watershed in 2018/2019. Scope of Work and Technical Requirements The Goals + Objectives + Outputs The goal of this project is to create a strategic plan for the Beaver Creek WMA. This plan will enable the Beaver Creek WMA to achieve the following objectives: Water quality improvement Flood mitigation Restoration and protection of natural resources Formation of urban and rural partnerships Recreation and greenway development Promotion of soil health Creating the Plan To develop the watershed management plan, methodology will be based on the EPA Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters, the State of Iowa Smart Planning Principles, and a systems-based approach process that merge known natural resource data with applied science, engineering, and monitoring. The multi-step process is shown in tasks below. Task 1: Development of a Stakeholder Process The Beaver Creek WMA seeks a planning process driven by stakeholder involvement and feels that a large portion of project success is directly attributed to the makeup of these stakeholder groups. Once established, the first step to success is to establish an open line of communication between all stakeholders involved. Output: Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be established to assist with the technical review of the data and provide science/research based answers to questions or options provided during the 18-month planning process. The TAC Is not intended to push any specific agenda but rather be a sounding board for all ideas to stimulate creative thinking filtered through technically sound input. Typical membership might include people from the following partnering organizations: 1) Watershed Management Authority jurisdiction technical staff, 2) Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 3) State Hygienic Laboratory, 4) Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5) County Conservation Boards, 6) Soil & Water Conservation Districts, 7) Corps of Engineers. Throughout the course of the project, meetings will be held with this group to discuss the project vision, identify water quality targets, review proposed alternatives/costs, and create an implementation plan. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 8

11 Local Resource Groups- The Beaver Creek WMA understands the importance of partners who have resources to assist with watershed plan development and implementation. During this stakeholder input session, two groups will be targeted to provide realistic direction for the planning process and future implementation goals. These groups will meet at key points in the planning process. A rural resource group will target NRCS/SWCD field office staff and local agricultural groups such as Iowa Corn Growers and Heartland Co-Op to gain a better understanding how a watershed plan could best partner with existing efforts. By assessing these resource groups and understanding their priorities, a completed watershed management plan will be more direct to meet local needs and have the needed framework for future staff and implementation. An urban resource group will target communities throughout the watershed to fully understand the urban impacts of the Beaver Creek watershed. A diverse range of communities are present in the watershed ranging from large communities at the bottom to small communities throughout. This urban group is composed of the staff that will make future land use plans in the watershed, and their input will be vital to promote adoptable recommendations. Public Input- Public meetings will be held at key points in the planning process at strategic locations. The WMA will seek input to create a management plan that is mutually acceptable to urban and rural residents with varying viewpoints and priorities. Task 2: Review Existing Studies and Future Land Use Plans Watershed communities have demonstrated its support for a number of plans, including Oxley Creek Watershed Plan and the new Water Trails Plan. Building on these plans will enable the Beaver Creek WMA to garner quick buy-in from residents, and expeditiously complete a baseline state of the watershed assessment. This evaluation will provide an invaluable understanding of the watershed as the WMA moves into the next tasks. Output: Identify priority areas through existing planning studies o Oxley Creek Watershed Plan o Johnston Stormwater Management Plan o MPO Water Trails Plan Review road and trail impacts from future growth and land use plans Review existing data to identify opportunities for water quality improvement, habitat creation, land use synergies, and stream restoration Natural resources identification and protection Task 3: Watershed Resource Inventory and Assessment of Issues Conducting a watershed resource inventory will provide a deeper understanding of the watershed and pollutant sources. This information will help the Beaver Creek WMA to prioritize areas for improvements. Physical mapping efforts will result in the following: wetlands, floodplains, streams, detention basins, soil type, hydric soils, erosion class, monitoring sites, corn suitability rating, land use, land ownership (public and private), aerial photos, topography, recreational areas, habitat, transportation networks, and land use data within the watershed. This data will be used to create a watershed protection and planning overlay, quantifying pollutant reduction estimates and water quality targets, and identifying the locations for best management practices. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 9

12 Output: Watershed Resource Inventory Identify existing natural systems Identify green infrastructure opportunities Completed Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) assessments Create a watershed baseline Assessment of Issues Create watershed baseline Identify potential impairment issues by reviewing urban and rural sources. Explore issues including but not limited to: flood mitigation, water quality, soil health, agricultural and urban drainage, wetlands, public education, land use management, and funding. Identify the location of integrated best management practices that address critical areas Assemble opportunities into an action plan Task 4: Watershed Action Plan The watershed action plan will provide the Beaver Creek WMA with the tools needed for immediate implementation. Utilizing completed assessments, this plan will encompass both short term priorities and long-term agendas to meet watershed needs. Output: A defined action plan will be developed for the Beaver Creek WMA. This task will outline goals, objectives, and actions needed to address key issues outlines in the assessment. Detailed implementation activities will be outlines with recommended budgets and specific community or agency responsibilities. Identify short-term project list- 5-year implementation strategy Outline priority needs for future watershed management plan expansion Policy and ordinance recommendations Protection of green infrastructure (identify hubs and links) Task 5: Education Plan Education provides the foundation for implementation. In an environment where meeting watershed goals largely relies on changing mindsets and creating partnerships and innovation, the Beaver Creek WMA emphasizes the importance of education. A successful education plan developed by watershed stakeholders will provide a diverse set of ideas for future implementation efforts. Output: Outline of identified education needs for the general public around watershed issues Engage partners who can collaborate to share uniform messaging Provide key actions and goals to be completed by the WMA Outline key watershed audiences, matching geographies outlined for BMP implementation in Task 4 Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 10

13 Task 6: Final Plan Prepare a document that outlines the planning process, summary of watershed assessment and data, and implementation guidance. Output: Written plan provided to WMA jurisdictions 20-year implementation strategy document GIS data Presentations to member jurisdictions Baseline for Measurement The Beaver Creek WMA understands the importance of setting a baseline that will be used to measure future implementation efforts. We also see value in setting a baseline for the ongoing planning process that will continue following the plan completion. The success of the Beaver Creek Watershed Management Plan itself will likely be measured in multiple ways based on the following anticipated benchmarks: Land Use and Conservation Mapping. Mapping of existing land use conditions and the location of conservation practices in the watershed will be completed during plan development. This will help develop an appropriate and targeted plan that includes a baseline of existing watershed conditions at the time of plan development. Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF). The ACPF tool will be ran on a minimum of five of the twelve HUC 12 sub-watersheds to determine the feasibility of conservation practices on the landscape. Urban Stormwater and Watershed Plans. Detailed plans previously developed by the cities of Johnston, Grimes, and Granger will be integrated into the larger watershed plan to understand the needs of the larger urban areas in the downstream portions of the watershed. Water Sampling. We anticipate working with the City of Johnston, the State Hygienic Laboratory, and Polk County Conservation to analyze water quality sampling and bioassessment information that has been completed in past years. In addition to the future implementation baseline, the Beaver WMA would like to establish a baseline for the capacity of the group to work together collaboratively. Through the planning process, gaining an understanding of the ability and capacity of WMA partners will determine their future role in implementation. Collaboration may be measured in: Funding support Technical assistance Attendance and participation in WMA meetings Policy change Monitoring assistance Engagement in public education Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 11

14 Project Environmental Impact (Outcome) After determining a baseline for the Beaver Creek watershed during the planning process, we can anticipate that implementation of the plan would help us achieve the following outputs and outcomes: Increased adoption of BMP s in the rural areas of the watershed Adoption of new environmental policies and ordinances Increased greenspace/buffers along the stream corridor Nutrient, bacteria, and sediment reductions Increased adoption of stormwater management practices The planning process itself should also generate the following outcomes: WMA implementation guidance Commitment to watershed based community planning Pursuit of funding mechanisms for watershed improvements Ongoing WMA engagement and education of staff, elected officials, and the general public Among our target audiences, we expect improvement in the overall understanding of challenges facing the watershed as well as commitments to implement solutions. Implementation Schedule + Milestones The Beaver Creek WMA completed these six tasks as key milestones during the 18-month planning process. Table 1: Implementation Schedule and Milestones Obligation Task 1: Public Outreach + Input Sessions Task 2: Review Existing Studies + Collect Data Task 3a: Watershed Resource Inventory Task 3b: Pollutant Loading and local assessment Task 4: Watershed Action Plan Task 5: Education Plan Task 6: Final Watershed Plan Updates to DNR Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 12

15 Integrating Related Plans State of Iowa s Nonpoint Source Management Plan The Beaver Creek Watershed Management Plan will support the goals and objectives of the State of Iowa s Nonpoint Source Management Plan (NPSMP). The Beaver Creek WMA will encourage urban-rural partnerships to address NPS pollution issues and to deliver approaches for the reduction of nonpoint source pollution. The following table outlines how the Beaver Creek WMA will address the NPSMP goals, objectives, and action steps. Table 4: WMA Actions Towards NPSMP Goals/Objectives Beaver Creek WMA Actions Goal 1: Build partnerships to enhance a collaborative watershed approach to nonpoint source water pollution Objective 1.2 Organize Soil and Water Ensure all Soil and Water Conservation Districts Conservation Districts to cooperate within are invited to meetings and equip them to watershed boundaries provide watershed wide educational outreach. Objective 1.3 Develop local comprehensive Utilize expertise of state, federal, and local visions and action plans for nonpoint source groups (private and public) to enhance water quality within the HUC-12 watershed collaborative visions and plans for the watershed. Goal 2: Improve technical assistance, outreach and education to facilitate NPS assessment, planning and implementation Objective 2.3 Develop a consistent, understandable message about conservation set for delivery by multiple groups Objective 2.5 Develop and implement a statewide campaign to inform people about water quality issues, motivate involvement, and change behavior Objective 2.6 Develop and implement conservation plans to adequately preserve soil productivity and to protect water quality for targeted priority areas Goal 3: Science-based performance measures Objective 3.2 Develop local natural resource goals with targeted solutions to meet watershed needs Goal 4: Funding Objective 4.2 Improve interaction among private sector groups to invest in NPS issues and solutions Engage credible partners and interested parties to create consistent and accurate messaging. Promote utilization of the completed watershed management plan and the future project coordinator to accomplish this. Continue to actively participate in WMAs of Iowa and promote statewide efforts. Promote use of NRCS comprehensive conservation plan standards to all interested parties, promoting watershed improvements. Utilize modeling and assessment tools to determine priority areas within the watershed and target implementation. Educate private and public entities about the watershed and develop partnerships. Determine key groups during the planning process and list them within the completed plan. Collaborate on future funding opportunities with private sector groups. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 16

16 Smart Planning Principles As part of the Beaver Creek watershed planning process, the WMA will seek to incorporate several Smart Planning principles into the final watershed management plan. Several key elements that we foresee being incorporated are listed below. Principle 8: Natural Resources and Agricultural- Ensuring the protection of natural resources and agriculture will be a priority of the Beaver Creek Watershed Management Plan. Under Task 3 of plan creation, the WMA will work to create a baseline understanding of the resources that need protected, or enhanced. These resources may encompass natural resources, agricultural areas, cultural landscapes, or other important areas. Specifically, the planning recommendation outlines the need to identify opportunities to prioritize areas for protection including linkages and hubs. This will ensure connectivity across the watershed centered around key resource hubs. Once the baseline has been established, Task 4 will outline the actions that need to be completed to protect, enhance, or restore the key resource areas. Stakeholder involvement throughout the planning process will be used to prioritize resources as well as ensure a feasible action plan. A key stakeholder group will focus on multi-jurisdictional planning setting a baseline for how the WMA members can work together, outline roles, create opportunities for collaboration, and develop watershed scale partnership. Across jurisdictional boundaries, policy decisions impact natural resources protection as urban areas grow. By developing policy recommendations that are created collaboratively by watershed jurisdictions the WMA hopes to create a level playing field with unified expectations for growth and protection of resources. Principle 9: Sustainable Design- The Beaver Creek watershed has seen urban growth over the past decade and it will continue. Utilizing sustainable design that incorporates methodology outlined in the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual (ISWMM) will begin to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of urban expansion. Again, the first step to incorporating sustainable design into the watershed management plan is to create a baseline. This baseline will incorporate information collected during planning Task 2, which includes reviewing local comprehensive plans to better understand the goals of local communities. Future goals outlined in these plans will impact infrastructure, land use and development decisions that will be made in the watershed. A plan that has been developed by local partners will set the stage for implementation success. In Iowa, it is well understood that farmers must play a role in the planning process to create an action plan that will result in positive change to the watershed. To successfully incorporate sustainable design in urban areas, city leadership and staff must also be involved in the planning process. Creating a plan that crosses agriculture and urban divides will be a key to addressing the issues of the Beaver Creek watershed. With a diverse landscape, sustainable design recommendations must resonate with urban stakeholders as much as conservation planning should resonate with agricultural producers. The Beaver WMA hopes to incorporate these elements into the final watershed management plan. Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority Page 17