Yahara WINs 2013 Annual Report

Transcription

1 Yahara WINs 2013 Annual Report

2 1 Yahara WINs Background The Yahara WINs Pilot Project is testing a new, innovative and collaborative compliance approach called watershed adaptive management to meet regulatory requirements for phosphorus reduction in the Yahara Watershed in a cost effective manner. Over thirty entities are participating in the pilot project including wastewater treatment plants, industry, cities, villages, towns and numerous other partners. Since its inception in 2012, Yahara WINs has maintained all partners and continues to add interested parties. The current list of participants includes: Towns: Blooming Grove, Bristol, Burke, Cottage Grove, Dunn, Middleton, Westport, Windsor Villages: Arlington, Cottage Grove DeForest, Maple Bluff, McFarland, Oregon, Shorewood Hills, Waunakee Cities: Fitchburg, Madison, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton Others: Clean Lakes Alliance, Clean Wisconsin, Dane County, Madison Gas & Electric, MMSD, Sand County Foundation, Stoughton Utilities, U.S. Geological Survey, Yahara Pride Farms, Wisconsin DNR Interested Parties: Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC), Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), The River Alliance of Wisconsin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Yahara Lakes Association, Rock River Coalition, Friends of Badfish Creek 2013 was the first complete year for the pilot project. During 2013, Yahara WINs funded research, water quality monitoring, installation of phosphorus reducing practices, baseline inventories of agricultural land and other initiatives. By its completion in 2015, the pilot project will provide the data needed to help Yahara WINs participants make informed decisions relating to the use of adaptive management to meet the Rock River TMDL reduction requirements related to phosphorus and total suspended sediment. This report complements other Yahara WINs documents and takes time to recognize what is going on within the watershed. Additional information on Yahara WINs can be found at Initiatives/Yahara WINs.

3 2 Contents Yahara WINs Background...1 Contents...2 Yahara WINs Key Accomplishments Yahara WINs 2013 Budget Outlook...5 Yahara WINs 2014 Budget...5 Dane County Land Conservation Department...6 Feature Article Water Quality Monitoring...8 Water Resources Management Practicum Phosphorus Harvesting Interactive Monitoring Map Updated SWAT Model Baseline Alternative Funding Delivery Methods Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Adaptive Management Timeline Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) Project UW Zoology Yahara WINs Project Review SnapPlus Improvements Yahara Pride Demonstration Days Leaf Management Project... 21

4 3 Yahara WINs Key Accomplishments 2013 Phosphorus reductions were quantified for the period from 2008 thru These reductions can be credited against reductions required under the Rock River TMDL. In the pilot watershed, this amounts to a reduction of 4653 pounds per year, or about 42% of the reduction goal for the pilot project. Dane County completed background inventory work on 7,625 acres or 70% of the agricultural land base in the pilot watershed project area with the remaining acreage scheduled for completion in Evaluation of the inventory and phosphorus index (PI) information reveals that fields within the pilot area have a PI range of 0 to 16 with an average of 3.3. MMSD laboratory analyzed over 450 water quality samples in support of the adaptive management pilot project. Data generated was used by USGS to evaluate phosphorus loads under baseflow and storm conditions. Phosphorus loads were calculated for all four major tributaries to Lake Mendota. This load data shows that 75,000 pounds of phosphorus was delivered to Lake Mendota during water year 2013 (October 1, 2012 September 30, 2013). Yahara WINs provided funding to Yahara Pride Farms that helped producers test phosphorus reducing practices on almost 3,000 acres of land. Preliminary estimates are that these practices provide 3,000 pounds per year of phosphorus reduction. Dane County awarded $1.5 million in urban water quality grants throughout the watershed which are expected to reduce phosphorus losses by over 1,100 pounds per year. Rock River Coalition s Citizen Water quality monitoring program placed 21 volunteer monitors at sites throughout the watershed. With funding from Yahara WINs the UW Water Resources Management Practicum studied transient sediments in the pilot project area, identified sites where phosphorus containing sediment accumulates, and developed potential mitigation approaches which could cost effectively control phosphorus. The Yahara CLEAN SWAT model was expanded to include the entire Yahara Watershed. Information from this effort will be used to revise phosphorus reduction requirements associated with a full scale adaptive management project. With Yahara WINs funds, Dane County completed a study to increase nutrient recovery from the manure digesters. A reverse auction funding program for phosphorus reduction practices was tested and two urban projects received funding. The urban leaf management project completed one full year of data collection under baseline conditions. This project indicates higher concentrations of phosphorus from leaves in runoff than previous studies. The Yahara WINs website was updated: Initiatives/Yahara WINs

5 4 Yahara WINs 2013 Budget During 2013, Yahara WINs funds were collected from each of the partners. In addition, the Sand County Foundation contributed $79,000 in additional funds to support the increased monitoring effort. These funds supported a variety of activities aimed at helping the pilot project succeed. The major categories include water quality monitoring, research and phosphorus reducing practices. A detailed breakdown of the 2013 revenues and expenditures follows: Adaptive Management Revenue & Expenses through 12/31/2013 Revenue Carryover from 2012 $55, Sand County Foundation $79, Annual Assessment to Other MOU Participants $431, Total Revenue $565, Expenses MMSD Lab Services for Water Quality Analysis $33, USGS Gaging Stations Installation & O&M $108, Phosphorous Reduction Practices & Mgmt. $79, Yahara Pride Farms Inc. $70, Inventory Payments $9, Dane County Land & Water Resources Dept. $174, UW Water Resources Management $6, City of Madison Leaf Study $20, Citizen Monitoring Program $20, Montgomery Associates SWAT Model $16, Misc. $1, Total Expenses $460, Committed in 2013 but not paid until 2014 UW WRM Practicum $2, MARS $18, City of Madison Reverse Auction $10, City of Monona Reverse Auction $9, $40, Unencumbered 2013 carryover to 2014 $64, Table 1 Yahara WINs 2013 Budget

6 Outlook A new Memorandum of Understanding is being developed with Wisconsin DNR to document areas of agreement which will help guide a full scale adaptive management project. Yahara WINs will continue to fund phosphorus reducing practices and will test funding delivery mechanisms, with the goal of targeting low cost practices. Water quality monitoring efforts will be expanded, working both with United States Geological Services (USGS) and the Rock River Coalition s Citizen Monitoring program. Dane County Land Conservation Department will complete inventories on remaining farmland in the pilot project area and will be working with landowners on a new initiative to install harvestable buffers along stream corridors. Yahara Pride Farms will work with farmers interested in testing phosphorus reducing practices, with the goal of increasing the number of acres in the test program by 50% relative to Cost projections associated with a full scale adaptive management project will be improved using information generated through the pilot project, which will help Yahara WINs partners make informed decisions regarding participation in a full scale adaptive management. Yahara WINs 2014 Budget In 2014, Yahara WINs MOU partners will again contribute their assessment to support pilot project activities. The Sand County Foundation is providing an additional $50,000 to support water quality monitoring activities. The 2014 Budget, which also reflects a carryover of unencumbered funds from 2013, was recommended for approval by the Strategic Planning Workgroup and approved by the Executive Committee at their December 2013 meetings. While not reflected in the budget, additional funds are being invested in the Yahara Watershed to support phosphorus reducing practices. These sources include Dane County, US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservations Service s (USDA/NRCS) Mississippi River Basin Initiative, the Yahara Pride Farm Team, Clean Lakes Alliance and other entities Yahara WINs Proposed Budget Income Unencumbered carryover from 2013 $64,677 Sand County Foundation additional contribution $50,000 Annual Assessment to MOU Participants $431,200 Total Income $545,877 Proposed Expenditures USGS gaging stations annual cost for 4 pilot project gages $77,500 USGS monitoring additional monitoring services $20,000 Rock River Coalition citizen volunteer monitoring program $14,348 MMSD laboratory services for water quality analysis $35,000 Dane County providing conservation practice support and technical services $150,000 Farm producer inventory payments $20,000 Phosphorus reduction practices and demonstrations urban and rural $211,029 Miscellaneous $3,000 Contingency and potential unencumbered carryover to 2015 $15,000 Total expenses $545,877 Table 2 Yahara WINs 2014 Budget

7 6 Dane County Land Conservation Department As the primary broker for the Yahara WINs Pilot Project, the Dane County Land Conservation Department (LCD) launched many activities in 2013 to move the Yahara WINs pilot project forward. One of the LCD s initial 2013 tasks included quantifying phosphorus reduction achieved between 2008 and 2012 (after the TMDL was complete and before the Yahara WINs pilot project started). In the pilot watershed, these practices totaled 4653 lbs/year which accounts for about 42 percent of the reduction goal of the pilot project. Large percentages of these reductions came from practices like conservation crop rotation, residue management/tillage changes, nutrient management as well as streambank and shoreland improvements. In addition, Dane County LCD conducted whole farm inventories on 70% of the agricultural land based in the pilot area. During this process, LCD staff placed phosphorus sources into eight categories. These categories, noted below, will be used to prioritize implementation and assist with planning. Cropland Animal exercise lots Farms with livestock Farms without livestock Pastures Forested areas Wetlands, streams, drainage ditches Concentrated flow area Figure 1 Eight Inventory Categories for Phosphorus If producers desire to implement phosphorus reducing practices, they can be funded through a variety of sources including federal, state, local, private funds, Yahara WINs funds, USDA/NRCS Mississippi River Initiative funds and other sources. Some of the learnings made during the 2013 inventories include: Quantification of reductions is not easy. Various models are not interchangeable. Reductions found in one model may not translate exactly with reductions from other models. Future work will need to include procedures for translating data between the models. There are three pathways by which the vast majority of phosphorus runoff occurs and that are worth focusing on for meaningful phosphorus reduction. These pathways are fields with high phosphorus

8 7 indices, runoff from animal lots and runoff from concentrated flow areas. These will be high priority focus areas moving forward. The existing baseline phosphorus index in the pilot watershed is relatively low ~PI=3.3. This shows diligence on the part of the farming community as well as the impact of the significant efforts through the Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI) and Priority Watershed programs. This also illustrates some of the challenges with finding the low cost mix of practices throughout the watershed. Figure 2 Inventory PI s for Yahara WINs Pilot Project Area Many sources require different practices to reduce phosphorus runoff. Some of the approaches used in 2013 include nutrient management plans, roof runoff structures, wetland restoration and lot relocation. These reductions are achieved by the hard work of the producers and LCD staff through their strong relationships with the farming community and by leveraging multiple sources of funding (Yahara WINs funds as well as federal, state and local funds). Yahara WINs gives the county another tool to improve onthe ground conservation. Focus areas for LCD in 2014 and 2015 include: Obtain PI information on the remaining Pilot Watershed acreage. Evaluate the feasibility in reaching the phosphorus/water quality goals. Expand practice implementation to entire Yahara Watershed to build capacity for the potential transition to a full scale adaptive management project. Implement a harvestable buffer program. Assist with efforts to develop a revised adaptive management cost model. Verify and document phosphorus reductions. Dane County LCD is completing a full annual report for their Yahara WINs involvement in When complete, this document will be available on the Yahara WINs website.

9 8 Feature Article Water Quality Monitoring By: Todd Stuntebeck, Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey During 2013, one of the key accomplishments of Yahara WINs involved water quality monitoring. The following article goes into depth on this subject. Weather Weather conditions play an important role in the characteristics of water quality that we observe. In particular, extended or especially intense periods of rainfall or snowmelt runoff can wash sediment and nutrients from land surfaces into streams and lakes. Contrary to the drought year of 2012, 2013 can be considered a wet year throughout the Yahara River Watershed, and the water quality data observed are a reflection of the large amounts of precipitation and runoff that occurred. The Dane County Regional Airport in Madison receives about 35 inches of precipitation annually ( average), but the 2013 water year total (Oct. 1, 2012 Sep. 30, 2013) was nearly 48 inches, about 40 percent greater than the average. This is in stark contrast to 2012, when only 26 inches of precipitation was measured. Figure 3 Yahara River Subbasins Winter and spring of 2013 was particularly wet. During January and February we experienced two large rain on snow events that caused significant runoff and created an icy layer on the landscape which limited infiltration for the remainder of winter. The large snowpack caused by the 70 inches of snow (Madison average is about 50 inches) started to melt at the end of March and continued into early April. An additional 5 6 inches of rainfall occurred through mid April, while fields were still saturated from the recent snowmelt. Although the observed Monthly Rainfall: Madison Airport rainfall for April, May, and June were all 12.0 above average, the greatest amount of 10.0 WY12 runoff among these months was generated 8.0 WY13 by two back to back storms in June, where Year average precip. some locations in the watershed received 4.0 more than 6 inches of heavy rainfall in a 6 day period. 2.0 Rainfall, Inches 0.0 Figure 4 Monthly Rainfall Madison WY 2012 and 2013

10 9 Runoff The precipitation/snowmelt patterns caused five large runoff periods that comprised a majority of the storm runoff volume for water year 2013: late January, mid March, late March to early April, mid April, and late June. The graph below shows the sum of the daily discharges entering Lake Mendota among the four major tributaries. Although historical discharge data are not available for all of the stations, data are available for the Yahara River at Windsor dating back to For this station, water year 2013 had the 5 th highest annual runoff total: behind 2008, 2009, 1993, and 2010, in that order. Daily Discharge, CFS Days 1,400 1,200 1, Lake Mendota Tributary Discharge Dorn Cr., Sixmile Cr., P. Branch Cr., Yahara Windsor Oct. 1, 2012 Sep. 30, 2013 Daily Discharge 0 09/26/13 08/27/13 07/28/13 06/28/13 05/29/13 04/29/13 03/30/13 02/28/13 01/29/13 12/30/12 11/30/12 10/31/12 10/01/12 Figure 5 Lake Mendota Tributary Discharge WY 2013 Sampling Water samples were collected from the monitored streams monthly during baseflow (low flow) periods and on a variable time step basis by an autosampler during significant storm runoff periods. For baseflow periods, one sample was submitted per month to be analyzed by MMSD for total phosphorus, dissolved ortho phosphorus, nitrate plus nitrite, ammonium, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, suspended sediment, total suspended solids, and chlorophyll. For storm runoff periods, 8 12 samples were generally submitted for each significant runoff period. Among all of samples collected by the autosampler during storms, those that appeared to best represent the variability in constituent concentrations throughout the event were selected for submittal. Submitted samples were analyzed for the same analytes as for baseflow samples, less chlorophyll. A total of 450 samples were analyzed in 2013 for the four Adaptive Management Pilot stations.

11 10 Table 3 Samples submitted in 2013 for the Pilot Project Area Samples submitted for Water Year 2013 Adaptive Management Pilot Q M 19 M Baseflow Stormflow Baseflow Phosphorus Concentrations One of the objectives of the Adaptive Management Pilot project is to determine the baseflow concentrations of phosphorus during the months of May October and compare them to the DNR standard. According to the DNR numeric water quality standards approved by EPA in December 2010, the median concentration of total phosphorus for samples collected during these months should not exceed mg/l. This standard is based on previous research indicating that adherence to this value would likely result in higher biotic indices (fish, insects, for example) in the affected streams. Below is a table of the median baseflow concentrations for the pilot streams for the relevant monitored periods to date. Table 4 Median Total Phosphorus Concentration for Baseline samples July to Oct and May to Oct Total P Concentration, mg/l Dorn Hwy Q Dorn Hwy M Sixmile Hwy Sixmile Hwy M In all of the monitored Pilot streams, the median May October phosphorus concentrations exceeded the state standard. At three locations, the standard is exceeded by nearly double or more. Each of these three locations is downstream from large wetland complexes. Pilot Project Loads Continuous discharge data and concentration data from the analyzed samples can be used to compute daily loads (in pounds). The daily loading data, when assembled for an entire year, can then be summed and an annual load determined. Monthly and/or seasonal loads can be evaluated as well. This data can then be compared to historic data, used to determine if goals are being met, serve as inputs to models and a variety of other useful functions.

12 11 Figure 6 Samples from Sixmile at Hwy 19 during March 26 April 3, 2013 Total phosphorus loads were computed for water Year 2013 for the four Adaptive Management Pilot Project stream monitoring stations. Total P loads ranged from a low of about 8,000 pounds at the Dorn Creek at Hwy Q gage to a maximum of about 30,000 pounds at the Sixmile Creek at Hwy M gage (see graph below). The discrepancy in loads between Dorn Creek and Sixmile Creek was expected, as the watershed area of Sixmile Creek at Hwy M is roughly four times that at Dorn Creek at Hwy M. Total P load, pounds 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Total P Load Adaptive Management Stations WY13 Dorn (Hwy Q) Dorn (Hwy M) Sixmile (Hwy 19) Sixmile (Hwy M) Total P Yield, pounds per acre Total P Yield Adaptive Management Stations WY13 Dorn (Hwy Q) Dorn (Hwy M) Sixmile (Hwy 19) Sixmile (Hwy M) Figure Phosphorus load and yield in Pilot Project Area To compensate for differences in loading among sites of different watershed areas, it is common practice to normalize the data by dividing the load by each respective area. The result is a yield (pounds per acre, in this case). Total P yields were similar among most of the sites for water year 2013 approximately 1.25 pounds per acre. Total P yields at Sixmile Creek at Hwy M were slightly lower

13 12 about one pound per acre indicating that some phosphorus loading condition is different for this site compared to the rest (graph above). The upstream/downstream configuration of the gaging stations allows for an evaluation of the areas between the gages. In the case of Sixmile Creek, the area between Hwy 19 and Hwy M are comprised primarily by the Village of Waunakee and some agricultural land. By dividing the difference in TP load between the Hwy 19 gage and the Hwy M gage by the difference in area between each respective gage, the total P yields of the Village proper can be determined. Indeed, total P yields from the Village of Waunakee and additional agricultural areas between the Hwy 19 gage and the Hwy M gage were lower than for other gages, approximately 0.7 pounds per acre. This is consistent with previously collected data for Pheasant Branch Creek that showed that phosphorus yields from primarily urban areas were typically lower than those from nearby agricultural areas. Tributary Loads to Lake Mendota For the first time in history, loads for the four major tributaries to Lake Mendota were concurrently measured using intensive sampling techniques. The graph below shows discharge and the cumulative loading of total P to Lake Mendota among these four tributaries. Total loading to the lake for water Year 2013 was about 75,000 pounds of total P. The extended period of phosphorus loading data at the Yahara River at Windsor gage allows some historical perspective. Compared to all data collected at the Windsor gage since 1991, water Year 2013 had the 5 th highest annual total phosphorus loading: behind 1993, 2009, 2008, and 1997, in that order. It can reasonably be assumed that the total P loading to Lake Mendota during 2013 was also at or near the 5 th highest in the past twenty three years. Daily Discharge, CFS Days 1,400 1,200 1, Lake Mendota Tributary Discharge and TP Load Dorn Cr., Sixmile Cr., P. Branch Cr., Yahara Windsor Oct. 1, 2012 Sep. 30, 2013 Daily Discharge Cumulative TP Load 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Cumulative TP Load, Pounds 09/26/13 08/27/13 07/28/13 06/28/13 05/29/13 04/29/13 03/30/13 02/28/13 01/29/13 12/30/12 11/30/12 10/31/12 10/01/12 Figure 8 Cumulative 2013 Phosphorus/Flow in Lake Mendota

14 13 Timing of Loads to Lake Mendota Steep increases in the cumulative phosphorus load in the chart above indicate periods when a significant amount of phosphorus was entering the lake through the four tributaries. The biggest loading periods were those associated with runoff events in late January, mid March, late March to early April, mid April, and late June. The sum of the total P loads for these five large runoff periods (comprising roughly thirty days) was nearly 60,000 pounds: approximately eighty percent of the total annual total P load. Total P Load to Lake Mendota: Seasonal Distribution, WY % 8% 2% 54% Jan Mar Apr Jun Jul Sep Figure 9 Seasonal Lake Mendota Phosphorus Distribution 2013 The chart above shows the timing of phosphorus loadings to Lake Mendota grouped in three month periods roughly representing the seasons. For water year 2013, the period from Jan. Mar. contributed more than half of the annual phosphorus load to the lake, followed by Apr. Jun. when an addition 36% was contributed. In total, approximately 90% of the phosphorus load contributed to Lake Mendota from the four major tributaries occurred between January 1 and June 30. This percentage is greater than the average distribution of loads for historical data at the Yahara River at Windsor, where the same months contributed an average ( ) of about three fourths of the annual phosphorus load. These current and historical data demonstrate that the early part of the calendar year is typically an important period for phosphorus runoff into Lake Mendota. Management practices that target phosphorus runoff reductions during this period likely have the best chance to significantly reduce phosphorus loads to the lake. Distribution of Loads to Lake Mendota Among the four major tributaries to Lake Mendota, Sixmile Creek has the largest watershed, comprising approximately 48.3 square miles (about 31,000 acres). The next largest is the Yahara River at Windsor (37 square miles, about 24,000 acres), followed by Pheasant Branch Creek (18.3 square miles, about 12,000 acres) and finally Dorn Creek (12.6 square miles, about 8,000 acres). The percentage of total P loads contributed by the 13% 14% Total P Load Distribution, WY 2013 ~75,000 lb Total 33% Yahara (Windsor) Sixmile (M) Dorn (M) Pheasant Branch 40% Figure 10 Phosphorus Distribution in Lake Mendota 2013 tributaries to the lake follow this same order (Sixmile, Yahara, Pheasant, Dorn), although the load distribution is somewhat different than the watershed area distribution. Of the total P load, nearly 75% of the phosphorus load was delivered to the lake by the Yahara and Sixmile watersheds in water year 2013.

15 14 Water Resources Management Practicum The University of Wisconsin Nelson Institute s Water Resources Management Program (WRM) partnered with Yahara WINs to investigate the feasibility of practices aimed at capturing in stream sediment laden with phosphorus across the pilot watershed. The WRM project focused on capturing and removing this phosphorus laden sediment in the streams, wetlands, and agricultural ditches. This year long graduate level cohort chose sites based on previous research demonstrating the movement of phosphorus from the upper Dorn Creek wetland in a form directly associated with sediment movement out of the wetland. The wetland and stream channel act as sediment sinks during typical low flows. During large storm events the sediment is subsequently flushed out. Mitigating this movement of sediment should reduce the phosphorus load to the Yahara Lakes and, ultimately, to the Rock River. The WRM project sites included the upper Dorn Creek wetland with its associated stream channel, bridge crossing, and agricultural ditches and bridge crossings on Dorn Creek below the upper wetland and on Six Mile Creek. Figure 11 Upper Dorn Creek Wetland Final results identified phosphorus levels ranging from 700 mg/kg to greater than 3000 mg/kg within the sediment deposited in the Dorn Creek stream channel and associated agricultural ditches. The phosphorus result from the sampling within the wetland was 820 mg/kg at a depth of 0 27 cm. Within the accessible wetland stream channel and agricultural ditches, approximately 1000 cubic yards of sediment was with 2000 pounds of associated phosphorus was found. Recommendations Based on these results, the WRM cohort made the following recommendations: 1) Reconnect the hydrology in the upper Dorn Creek wetland through floodplain restoration and maintenance to reduce sediment associated phosphorus loading to the Yahara Lakes. Preliminary estimates indicate that for a cost of approximately $1,000,000, this will contain 2,000,000 pounds of trapped sediment with 3078 pounds of trapped phosphorus annually for 25 years.

16 15 2) Dredge the Dorn Creek and Six Mile Creek stream channels at bridge crossings. A preliminary estimate indicates the dredging cost for removal of approximately 18,000 pounds of phosphorus over a 25 year period is $1,000,000. 3) Continue to support the use of measures to prevent the influx of sediment from agricultural land to all waters within the Six Mile Creek watershed. The final report on this project will be available on Yahara WINs website once it is available. Phosphorus Harvesting With all the phosphorus reduction efforts going on in the watershed, we often forget that phosphorus is an essential and scarce element. Recovering and reusing this critical element not only helps alleviate excess phosphorus on land and in waterways, but also stretches the world s dwindling high quality phosphorus reserves. During 2013, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies developed a phosphorus recovery facility at MMSD s Nine Springs plant the sixth full scale operating facility for Ostara. The recovery process reduces the phosphorus content in the Figure 12 Ostara Recovery Process at MMSD biosolids that are spread on local farm fields. This recovered phosphorus is sold outside the watershed as, a phosphorus rich, specialty fertilizer. Interactive Monitoring Map Wisconsin DNR, Dane County, the Clean Lakes Alliance, Yahara WINs, USGS and others are working to develop an interactive map of the Yahara River Watershed which shows current monitoring efforts. This map will help illustrate gaps and will be used to focus future monitoring efforts. In addition, there are a variety of groups monitoring our waters and no central repository for the data. Currently, the desire is to integrate this map and associated data with Dane County s interactive mapping program. This map will allow viewers to review data on water chemistry as well as biological factors. Yahara WINs will provide updates on this project as they are available. Figure 13 Draft Map of Active Water Quality Monitoring in Yahara Basin

17 16 Building Capacity for a Full Scale Adaptive Management Project During 2013, the Yahara WINs Strategic Planning Workgroup and Executive Committee supported expanding phosphorus reduction and water quality monitoring to cover areas outside the pilot watershed to assist in further evaluating the potential for future expansion to a full scale adaptive management project. The following sections describe some of these activities. Updated SWAT Model Baseline During 2013, Yahara WINs contracted with Montgomery Associates Resource Solutions to update the baseline phosphorus loading to reaches of the Yahara River Watershed using the detailed Soil and Water Analysis Tool (SWAT). The baseline load reflect current loading to watershed areas from sources, including permitted municipal and industrial wastewater point sources, nonpoint sources, permitted municipal areas and several other land use categories. Accurately determining current baseline loads is important as this is the point of departure for Figure 14 Reaches of Yahara River Watershed, MARS load reductions required in implementation of the Rock River Total Maximum Daily Load and is used to set phosphorus reduction targets for adaptive management. Consistent with previous load estimates, this analysis found that agriculture contributes nearly half of all the phosphorus delivered to reaches in the Yahara Basin, but these loads are not distributed evenly across the watershed. The overall baseline load from this study is less than what was included in the TMDL. One major reason for this is that the point source discharge contributions were modeled at their actual flow and loadings instead of permitted maximums. This analysis also found a discrepancy in the previous modeling for the agricultural runoff from two of the subwatersheds. Overall, this modeling found loads that are not significantly different than what was used to develop the cost model for Yahara WINs. When complete, the entire report will be available on the Yahara WINs website. Figure 15 Load comparison WINs to TMDL

18 17 Alternative Funding Delivery Methods As we look to full scale adaptive management, Yahara WINs needs to understand how to best deliver our funds to make significant reductions in phosphorus and sediment inputs to our waterways. During 2013, Yahara WINs tested an alternative delivery method where Yahara WINs partners that had ideas for phosphorus reducing practices could apply directly to Yahara WINs for funding, with proposals reviewed and ranked based on the lowest cost per pound of phosphorus reduced with the costs ranging from $9 per pound to $1000 per pound. This program funded two projects in Each recipient will provide a detailed report by mid 2014 which will be available on the Yahara WINs website: $10,000 for the City of Madison Increased Erosion Control Inspection project $9000 for the City of Monona Rain Garden Pilot Project Yahara WINs is expanding the test of this delivery method by allocating another $50,000 toward this program in 2014, capping unit costs at $150/lb of phosphorus reduced. Applications for 2014 funding are due by April 30. Information related to the 2014 Request for Proposals is available at: ahara%20wins%20grant.pdf Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Yahara WINs provided funding to the Rock River Coalition (RRC) to expand the Citizen Water Quality monitoring network in the Yahara River Basin. RRC followed the Wisconsin s Water Action Volunteers (WAV) protocols for sampling and were successful in establishing ten baseline (WAV Level 1) Water Quality Sites, five trends (WAV level 2) sites, six Nutrient Sampling (WAV Level 3) sites and collaborating with local non profit groups to organize a workshop to share information on our watershed s health. RRC retained all of their volunteers during In addition, they collected 36 nutrient samples which were analyzed for 7 parameters by MMSD s laboratory. They entered into the Water Action Volunteer s database for 70 monthly baseline (WAV Level 1) and 25 monthly trends (WAV Level 2) datasets. During 2013, RRC presented a proposal to continue the 2013 work and expand the program during Yahara WINs approved a contact to participate in the project along with the other partners that RRC has compiled. More information on this project as well as opportunities to become a volunteer monitor are available at: stream monitoring/ or by contacting Nancy Sheehan at nancy@rockrivercoalition.org Figure 16 RRC Citizen Monitors in Action

19 18 Adaptive Management Timeline During 2013, DNR offered more clarity on the schedule for a full scale adaptive management decision for the Yahara Watershed. Since Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District will be the entity moving a full scale project forward, the schedule for the reissuance of MMSD s permit is critical to understanding this schedule. The District s current WPDES permit expires on September 30, It was originally anticipated that the District would formally notify WDNR regarding its intent to pursue adaptive management as a phosphorus compliance strategy in early 2015 when it submitted an application for WPDES permit reissuance. Subsequent discussions with WDNR staff have indicated that the WDNR plans to include a common phosphorus compliance schedule with respect to adaptive management in all permits reissued within a given watershed. The compliance schedule dates have not been finalized, but the WDNR has indicated that current tentative submittal dates for the Adaptive Management Request Form and the Adaptive Management Plan are June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2018 respectively. The request form and adaptive management plan could be submitted by MMSD in advance of the dates noted. Figure 17 Possible Adaptive Management Timeline Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) Project As part of this multi disciplinary, National Science Foundation funded research project, Professor Adena Rissman and her team undertook a survey of stakeholders in the Yahara River Watershed, including many Yahara WINs partners. This survey looked at questions relating to how people value the Yahara River Watershed and what is known regarding the Yahara WINs project and the factors underlying its progress. We anticipate that results of this survey may help guide portions of the pilot project and/or roll out to full scale adaptive management project. The team is currently compiling results and we will provide survey results when they are available. More information on the overall WICCI project can be found at: UW Zoology Yahara WINs Project Review Under the direction of Professor Jake Vander Zanden, a team of PhD candidates undertook an interim progress review for the Yahara WINs pilot project as part of their Collaborative Approaches to Decision Making Course. Their review investigated the current project in relation to the success factors identified in the Memorandum of Understanding. These documents are available on the Yahara WINs website.

20 19 SnapPlus Improvements Adaptive Management success requires being able to correctly model results and target reductions. Phosphorus loads from agricultural fields are modeled with SnapPlus software program. To improve the modeling accuracy of this program, the UW Madison Departments of Soil Science and Biological Systems Engineering are undertaking two research projects along with a variety of partners including USDA, Dane County Land Conservation Department, UW Platteville and Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. Laura Ward Good, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin Madison, Soil Science Department and one of the developers of SnapPlus, provided the updates described below. When additional information is available, it will be provided on Yahara WINs website. Sediment and Phosphorus Loads from Cattle Exercise Lots: Assess and Parameterize This project is funded by Wisconsin DNR and will lead to more accurate assessment and ranking of barnyard, exercise lot and night pasture contributions of phosphorus loading to the Sixmile Creek Adaptive Management Pilot Study watershed. Three lots are being monitored (one concrete and two soil) for runoff phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment. The runoff data will be used to test and improve existing barnyard and lot runoff nutrient loss assessment tools. The improved assessment tools will, in turn, be applied to lots within the Yahara WINs pilot watershed. In addition, this project will improve the existing dry lot/exercise area runoff Phosphorus loss estimates (P Index) in SnapPlus. P Index and Snowmelt Runoff Risk Assessment: Demonstration and Refinement This project is funded through USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service s Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) and will lead to more accurate assessment of the contribution of snowmelt runoff and winter manure applications to phosphorus loading in the watershed. Three fields with differing fall tillage are being monitored for winter and spring melt runoff. Using this field runoff data and comparing it to the in stream flow monitored for the pilot project, the researchers will be able to test, and if necessary improve, existing methods for assessing the effects of field management on the quantity of snowmelt runoff. In addition, the project will estimate the proportion of the total average annual phosphorus delivery to streams in the watershed from cropland and pastures that occurs in winter and spring thaw runoff events. This project has added three field monitoring sites and will improve existing runoff modeling and estimating tools.

21 20 Cover Crops Strip Tillage Manure Application Vertical Tillage Test Plots and on farm 2375 acres Demonstration 200 acres Vertical Manure Injection Demonstration 300 acres Demonstration 80 acres Yahara Pride Demonstrations 2013 Yahara Pride Demonstration Days In October 2013, Yahara Pride Farms (YPF) hosted their first Demonstration Days. Yahara WINs provide $70,000 towards these projects in These two days showcased new technologies for the watershed including strip tillage, vertical tillage, cover cropping and vertical manure injection. Over 200 people participated in this year s Demonstration Days. Through this program, the following practices were tested: 300 acres of vertical manure injection, which is a manure management method that places manure below the surface so it does not interact with runoff water during storms 80 acres of vertical tillage, which is a land preparation method for growing crops that cuts down on residue to increase soil moisture 200 acres of strip tillage, which is a land preparation method that enhances seed germination. 2,375 acres of cover crops, which are planted in the crop rotation, to improve soil and water quality. All of these conservation practices improve soil stability, which reduces phosphorus runoff. Yahara Pride is currently working with UW and UW Extension specialists to quantify the phosphorus reductions from these practices. Their preliminary estimates show approximately 1 lb per acre of reduction. This would amount to approximately 3000 lbs per year of phosphorus reduction. In 2014, YPF plans to increase acreage for all practices by at least 50%. Yahara Pride Farms also plans to increase involvement in these conservation practices through the Yahara Pride Farm Certification program and Fall Field Demonstration Days.

22 21 Leaf Management Project Numerous studies have identified a variety of potential sources of nutrients in urban settings such as organic detritus and particulate matter. Most agree these sources can be major contributors of phosphorus and nitrogen to nearby receiving waters, especially in urban areas with dense overhead tree canopy. Although data on sources of phosphorus and nitrogen is extensive, few studies have quantified the water quality benefits of their removal. For example, one way to remove organic detritus and particulate matter before it becomes entrained in runoff is to implement a city wide leaf collection, terracing or bagging of leaves, and street cleaning program. This option may be preferable to structural BMPs since most cities already conduct some level of leaf collection and street sweeping program and may receive the benefit of phosphorus removal requirements with minor changes to existing practices. The City of Madison, Dane County, The Fund for Lake Michigan, Wisconsin DNR, and Yahara WINs have partnered with the U.S Geological Survey to measure the potential benefits of nutrient reduction in stormwater runoff through leaf collection and street cleaning practices. The 4 year study will quantify baseline conditions without a leaf management program, then measure changes in nutrient load after normal city wide leaf collection operations resume. Data will be used to determine the value in leaf collection, optimize collection practices, and enhance existing datasets in urban hydrology and waterquality models. During the fall of 2012, the USGS installed monitoring stations in four residential drainage basins in Madison, Wisconsin. Since then a total of 67 water quality samples have been collected and analyzed for a variety of nutrient concentrations including phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment. These samples will be used to characterize concentrations, loads, and yields of nutrients leaving each study basin during the no leaf collection scenario. Data will be lumped into seasonal categories representing both spring (37 samples) and fall (30 samples). USGS s Bill Selbig notes that preliminary results indicate phosphorus concentrations are generally higher in the fall than in spring and phosphorus speciation is primarily dominated by the dissolved phase making it highly mobile during runoff events. As such, the role of leaf removal from city streets could prove to be a critical element when addressing phosphorus mitigation in the urban environment. Beginning in spring 2014, normal leaf collection and street cleaning operations will resume and continue through the 2014 calendar year. At that point, statistical inferences can be made on the potential for phosphorus and nitrogen reduction as a result of leaf collection. Figure 18 Avg. Concentration dissolved phosphorus by season in one basin during the no leaf collection phase USGS