Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan Development

Transcription

1 Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan Development Bay Area Resource Council TAC Paul Thorpe Chief, Bureau of Environmental May 17, 2017 and Resource Planning May 17, 2017

2 Surface Water Improvement and Management

3 Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) GEBF Restoration Strategy: SWIM Plan Updates (NWF & Suwannee WMDs) Seagrass Assessment (Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) Goal: Prioritized Project List 3

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5 SWIM in Northwest Florida The District developed SWIM plans for all major watersheds/ waterbodies; two remain in a draft status. Waterbody Most Recent Plan/ Update Date Apalachicola 1996 Pensacola 1997 Choctawhatchee 2002 St. Marks 2009 St. Andrew Bay 2000 Lake Jackson 1997 Perdido Draft 2011 Ochlockonee Draft

6 Perdido River and Bay Watershed 1,165 square miles 70% in Alabama; 30% in Escambia County, Florida Perdido River serves as the state line Perdido River annual average discharge to Perdido Bay 783 cubic feet per second (506 million gallons per day) Other major tributaries Styx River and Blackwater River (AL), Elevenmile Creek, and Bayou Marcus 2010 watershed population estimated at over 118,000 in Florida alone 6

7 Pensacola Bay System 7,000 square mile watershed 65% in Alabama; 35% in Florida Four of Florida s major rivers Five interconnected estuaries with a combined surface area of approximately 186 square miles 2010 watershed population estimated at over 420,000 in Florida alone 7

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10 Watershed Challenges 10

11 Watershed Challenges Water quality o Verified impairments for dissolved oxygen and bacteria in drainages discharging into Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon o Verified impairments for bacteria, nutrients and dissolved oxygen affecting Escambia Bay, Pensacola Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, the Yellow River basin, and bayous Chico and Grande o TMDLs established for fecal coliform at Brushy Creek, Elevenmile Creek, and Tenmile Creek o Over 12,000 (Perdido) and 44,000 (Pensacola Bay System) septic systems identified within the Florida portion of the watersheds in 2015 (FDOH Water Management Inventory) 11

12 Watershed Challenges Water quality (continued) o Nonpoint source pollution from urban development and agricultural land uses o Sedimentation from unpaved roads, streambank erosion, and other erosion sites; hydrologic and water quality impacts on streams discharging to Perdido Bay o Industrial and domestic wastewater facilities--potential to develop additional water reclamation and reuse 12

13 Watershed Challenges Habitat quality o Historic alteration of tidal wetlands o Long-term losses of seagrasses in Perdido Bay (up to ~80%) indicative of past and present water quality limitations, as well as physical impacts o Extensive historic loss of seagrasses (~95%) in the Pensacola Bay System o Exposure to oil impacts from 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the vicinity of the Gulf inlet and Big Lagoon, Santa Rosa Sound, as well as (primarily) at the Gulf beaches o Nutrient enrichment within sediments in the upper bay and near the mouth of Elevenmile Creek 13

14 Watershed Specific Objectives Conceptual Objectives Continued investments in urban stormwater retrofit Septic to sewer connections Advanced passive onsite wastewater treatment technologies Prioritize and address unpaved road stream crossings and other sedimentation sources Continued progress in urban bayou restoration: o Bayou Chico BMAP o Community-based restoration efforts o Urban stormwater retrofit o Headwater stream and wetland restoration 14

15 Watershed Specific Objectives Conceptual Objectives (continued) Restore seagrass habitats Protect and restore major wetland drainages including Jones Swamp, Garcon Point, Yellow River basin, Bayou Garcon, Weekly Bayou basins, and the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie Implement enhanced agricultural best management practices, building upon efforts ongoing in other parts of the state Continued investments for wastewater system improvements addressing inflow and infiltration and water reclamation and reuse Long-term, sustainable forestry practices 15

16 Project Planning Identify umbrella projects addressing priority issues and objectives and encompassing known specific project priorities. Priority Goals/Issues Proposed Objectives Management Options Proposed Projects 16

17 Project Planning Identify umbrella projects addressing priority issues and objectives and encompassing known specific project priorities. Tenmile Creek Regional Pond Bayou Chico BMAP Stormwater Improvements Hollice T. Williams Park Multipurpose Retrofit Santa Rosa Sound Water Quality Improvements 17

18 Project Planning PROJECTS WATERSHED PRIORITIES WQ FLO HAB SED EDU CR Urban Stormwater Retrofits Septic Tank Abatement Advanced Onsite Treatment Systems Reuse of Reclaimed Water Wastewater System Upgrades Agriculture and Silviculture BMPs Basinwide Sedimentation Abatement Riparian Buffer Zones WQ Water Quality FLO Floodplains and Flood Protection HAB Wildlife and Habitat SED Erosion & Sedimentation EDU Education and Outreach CR Coastal Resiliency 18

19 Project Planning PROJECTS WATERSHED PRIORITIES WQ FLO HAB SED EDU CR Hydrologic & Wetland Restoration Estuarine Habitat Restoration Strategic Land Conservation Watershed Stewardship Initiative Sub-basin Restoration Plans Interstate Coordination Analytical Program Support Comprehensive Monitoring Program WQ Water Quality FLO Floodplains and Flood Protection HAB Wildlife and Habitat SED Erosion & Sedimentation EDU Education and Outreach CR Coastal Resiliency 19

20 Criteria for Project Planning and Evaluation Infrastructure projects (stormwater and wastewater) o Projects should have responsible parties that will implement, own, operate, and maintain the facilities o Responsible parties should have dedicated funding source for operation and maintenance Restoration and habitat enhancement o Completed project should be naturally self-sustaining; not requiring frequent human intervention o Restoration should reflect ecosystems or habitats that are naturally supported in the watershed and physical environment o Completed restoration sites should be adaptable to natural change and variability short-term and long-term 20

21 SWIM Plan Updates Schedule AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Designated Grant Period Watershed Characterizations Project Planning Draft Plans Final Plans Technical Meetings Public Stakeholder Review 21

22 Thank you! For more information: Paul Thorpe Chief, Bureau of Environmental and Resource Planning Northwest Florida Water Management District (850) Karen Kebart Water Resource Planner IV Northwest Florida Water Management District (850)