Beneficial Uses and You

Transcription

1 Beneficial Uses and You BY STEPHANIE REYNA-HIESTAND, CPESC CITY OF TRACY WATER RESOURCES ANALYST

2 AGENDA Background SWMP Components What s It All For? Beneficial Uses (Inland Surface Waters) San Joaquin Delta Region Waterways 2004 EPA WQ Assessment Impairments Hydromodification City of Tracy discharges Solutions Issues Conclusion

3 BACKGROUND In accordance with Clean Water Act Section 402, U.S. EPA promulgated regulations for a Municipal Stormwater Permitting Program to regulate stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). Issued in two phases Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) adopt the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for medium (serving between 100,000 and 250,000 people) and large (serving 250,000+ people) municipalities. Each Permittee has an individual permit designed specifically for their watershed area. Reissued as the permits expire Port of Stockton, City of Stockton and San Joaquin County

4 BACKGROUND 1999 In Phase II, the State Water Resources Control Board (Waterboard) adopted the General Permit for Discharge of Stormwater from small MS4s (between 10,000 and 100,000 people) to provide coverage for smaller municipalities. This included non-traditional Small MS4s such as: Military bases Public campuses Prisons, and Hospitals. Cities of Lodi, Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, Ripon and County of San Joaquin.

5 BACKGROUND The MS4 permits require the discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water Management Plan/Program (SWMP) with the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable (MEP). MEP is the performance standard specified in Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act. These management programs specify what best management practices (BMPs) will be used to address certain program areas. The program areas include public education and outreach; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction and postconstruction; and good housekeeping for municipal operations. In general, medium and large municipalities are required to conduct chemical monitoring, though small municipalities are not.

6 March 2003 BACKGROUND City of Tracy (Tracy) is designated as a Phase II Small MS4 permittee by the Waterboard DECEMBER 2003 Tracy SWMP is accepted by the Regional Waterboard

7 SWMP COMPONENTS NPDES Phase II required MS4s to develop and implement a SWMP that describes BMPs, measurable goals, and timetables in the Six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) Public Education Permittees must educate the public in its jurisdiction about the importance of stormwater pollution prevention and their role in it.

8 SWMP COMPONENTS Public Participation Permittees must comply with all State and local notice of requirements when implementing a public involvement/participation program. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Permittees must adopt and enforce ordinances or take equivalent measures that prohibit illicit discharges. The permittee further must implement a program to detect illicit discharges.

9 SWMP COMPONENTS Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control Permittees must develop a program to control the discharge of pollutants from construction sites greater than or equal to one acre in size within its jurisdiction. The program must include inspections and enforcement actions against violators on these sites. Post Construction Stormwater Management Permittees must require long-term post-construction BMPs that protect water quality and control runoff flow, to be incorporated into development and significant redevelopment projects These programs should stress: Low Impact Design (LID) Source Controls, and Treatment Controls

10 SWMP COMPONENTS Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations Permittees must examine its own activities and develop a program to prevent the discharge of pollutants from these activities. At a minimum, the program must educate staff on pollution prevention, and minimize sources. Reduce its discharge of pollutants to the MEP. Annually report on the progress of SWMP implementations.

11 WHAT S IT ALL FOR? Water Quality Control in California Directed toward achieving the highest water quality consistent with maximum benefit to the people of the state. This includes Aquatic Ecosystems and underground aquifers. BENEFICIAL USES Inland surface waters

12 BENEFICIAL USES Agricultural Supply Uses of water for farming, horticulture, or ranching, including, but not limited to, irrigation, stock watering, or support of vegetation for range grazing. Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) Areas designated by the State Water Board. These include marine life refuges, ecological reserves, and designated areas where the preservation and enhancement of natural resources requires special protection. Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD) Uses of water that support cold water ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish, or wildlife, including invertebrates.

13 BENEFICIAL USES Ocean, Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM) Uses of water for commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or other organisms in oceans, bays, and estuaries, including, but not limited to, uses involving organisms intended for human consumption or bait purposes. Estuarine Habitat (EST) Uses of water that support estuarine ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of estuarine habitats, vegetation, fish, shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., estuarine mammals, waterfowl, shorebirds), and the propagation, sustenance, and migration of estuarine organisms. Estuarine habitat provides an essential and unique habitat that serves to acclimate anadromous fishes (salmon, striped bass) migrating into fresh or marine water conditions. Freshwater Replenishment (FRSH) Uses of water for natural or artificial maintenance of surface water quantity or quality.

14 BENEFICIAL USES Groundwater Recharge (GWR) Uses of water for natural or artificial recharge of groundwater for purposes of future extraction, maintenance of water quality, or halting saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers. Industrial Service Supply (IND) Uses of water for industrial activities that do not depend primarily on water quality, including, but not limited to, mining, cooling water supply, hydraulic conveyance, gravel washing, fire protection, and oil well repressurization. Marine Habitat (MAR) Uses of water that support marine ecosystems, including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of marine habitats, vegetation such as kelp, fish, shellfish, or wildlife (e.g., marine mammals, shorebirds).

15 BENEFICIAL USES Fish Migration (MIGR) Uses of water that support habitats necessary for migration, acclimatization between fresh and salt water, and protection of aquatic organisms that are temporary inhabitants of waters within the region. Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) Uses of water for community, military, or individual water supply systems, including, but not limited to, drinking water supply. Navigation (NAV) Uses of water for shipping, travel, or other transportation by private, military, or commercial vessels. Industrial Process Supply (PRO) Uses of water for industrial activities that depend primarily on water quality.

16 BENEFICIAL USES Preservation of Rare and Endangered Species (RARE) Uses of water that support habitats necessary for survival and successful maintenance of plant or animal species established under state and/or federal law as rare, threatened, or endangered. Water Contact Recreation (REC1) Uses of water for recreational activities involving body contact with water where ingestion of water is reasonably possible. These uses include, but are not limited to, swimming, wading, water-skiing, skin and scuba diving, surfing, whitewater activities, fishing, and uses of natural hot springs. Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC2) Uses of water for recreational activities involving proximity to water, but not normally involving contact with water where water ingestion is reasonably possible. These uses include, but are not limited to, picnicking, sunbathing, hiking, beachcombing, camping, boating, tide pool and marine life study, hunting, sightseeing, or aesthetic enjoyment in conjunction with the above activities.

17 BENEFICIAL USES Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL) Uses of water that support habitats suitable for the collection of crustaceans and filter-feeding shellfish (e.g. clams, oysters, and mussels) for human consumption, commercial or sport purposes. Fish Spawning (SPWN) Uses of water that support high quality habitats suitable for reproduction and early development of fish. Warm Freshwater Habitat (WARM) Uses of water that support warm water ecosystems including, but not limited to, preservation or enhancement of aquatic habitats, vegetation, fish, or wildlife, including invertebrates. Wildlife Habitat (WILD) Uses of waters that support wildlife habitats, including, but not limited to, the preservation and enhancement of vegetation and prey species used by wildlife, such as waterfowl.

18 San Joaquin Delta Region Waterways

19 Old River 2004 EPA WQ Assessment

20 Old River Impairments Causes Organic Enrichment Low Dissolved Oxygen Possible Sources Hydromodification

21 Old River Impairments

22 What s Hydromodification Hydro = Water Modification = alter To change a water body's physical structure as well as its natural function. These alterations can cause: Changes in flow Increased sedimentation Higher water temperature Lower dissolved oxygen Degradation of aquatic habitat structure Loss of fish and other aquatic populations Decreased water quality

23 City of Tracy - Discharges Detention Basin 10 Stormwater Inlet

24 City of Tracy - Discharges Detention Basin 10 Stormwater Discharges

25 Solutions - BMPs Public Education Educate Owner/Developer Educate Contractors Erosion control Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Inspections Enforcement Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan Check Design, Source Control, Treatment Control

26 Solutions - BMPs Municipal Operations Good housekeeping Street Sweeping Sediment control Trainings Spill prevention Encourage Low Impact Development Emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. This approach implements engineered smallscale hydrologic controls to replicate the pre-development hydrologic regime of watersheds through infiltrating, filtering, storing, evaporating, and detaining runoff close to its source.

27 Issues Cost to implement all components General Fund vs Enterprise Funds Proposition 218 Most cities must use General Funds to implement program Developer fees increased Policymaker decisions Constituent support Most of the voters get behind Public Services over Environmental concerns Competing State/Federal Departments DWR vs Waterboard vs USBR vs Fish and Game Right hand vs left hand Competing programs

28 Conclusion Urban runoff has a direct effect on the Beneficial uses of all concerned. Local government agencies have been tasked with implementing management programs that will deter the continued degradation of water quality throughout the US. Lack of public knowledge regarding their direct effect (urban runoff) to local water sources. Cost to implement and enforce these unfunded mandates cause local agencies to seek out other resources for compliance. Many programs must compete with other General Fund demands such as Public Services.

29 Thank You