Town of Brewster, Massachusetts. Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) Community Meeting No. 3 10:00 AM Saturday September 11, 2010

Transcription

1 Town of Brewster, Massachusetts Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) Community Meeting No. 3 10:00 AM Saturday September 11, 2010

2 Welcome by: Comprehensive Water Planning Committee (CWPC) Members: Patricia Hughes, Chair Lemuel Skidmore, Board of Health Rep. Vice Chair David Bennett, Secretary Joanne Hughes Jane Johnson John Lipman Elizabeth Taylor, Planning Board Rep. Amy Usowski, Conservation Comm. Rep.

3 CWPC Support Town Staff Advisors Sue Leven, Town Planner, CWPC Coordinator Chris Miller, Natural Resources Director Jim Gallagher, Conservation Agent Nancy Ellis Ice, Health Agent Robert Bersin, Dept. of Public Works Paul Anderson, Water Department Selectmen s Liaison Ed Lewis Town s Consultant CDM

4 Why we are doing an IWRMP? Preserve valuable water resources town assets Groundwater Estuaries Freshwater ponds Coastal resources Develop a dynamic and formal program for water, wastewater and stormwater management to meet future needs of the community Address MassDEP nitrogen reduction requirements established in total maximum daily load (TMDL) studies Maintain quality of life in town

5 Goal of the IWRMP Develop a long term program for the protection and/or restoration of our critically important groundwater and surface water resources

6 Meeting Purpose and Presentation Overview Provide a project overview of Phase 1 Present some preliminary findings Discuss some draft recommendations Provide a forum for local residents and business owners to participate today and inform them of other opportunities for engagement

7 Phase 1 IWRMP Includes: Define existing water resource conditions Develop and implement a water protection needs analysis Define existing and future water management needs Prioritize needs and recommendations to address them Foster continuous public participation

8 Growth in Brewster in 1951 and 1999

9 Brewster IWRMP Phase 1 Summary About 50% of the subwatersheds need nitrogen removal to protect groundwater and estuaries About 30% of subwatersheds have groundwater potentially at risk Only 5 of 29 ponds with data are considered healthy and meet intended uses Coastal resources (beaches/shellfish beds) affected by pathogens

10 Brewster s Water Resources Groundwater Monomoy Lens Drinking water supply Source water to estuaries and ponds Cape Cod Bay Coast >5 miles of shoreline 325 acres of beach and marshland Estuaries Quivett Creek Namskaket Creek Pleasant Bay Herring River Bass River Freshwater Ponds 81 ponds

11 Why Protect Our Water Resources? Drinking water source Groundwater Estuaries Coasts Ponds Public health Recreation Ecological health Economic vitality Address DEP regulatory requirements

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13 Water Quality Parameters of Concern Nitrogen for drinking water and saltwater estuaries Phosphorus for fresh water ponds Bacteria for fresh and saltwater bodies

14 Water Resources Needs Evaluation Assessment focuses on: Defining nitrogen reduction based on wastewater needs assessment to protect groundwater and estuaries Identifying impaired ponds for restoration and high quality ponds for protection Reducing bacteria at coastal resources (beaches)

15 Water Quality Parameters of Concern Nitrogen for drinking water and saltwater estuaries Phosphorus for fresh water ponds Bacteria for fresh and saltwater bodies

16 Pollutant Sources

17 Groundwater Needs Assessment Evaluated each subwatershed for potential risks that could degrade groundwater quality Characteristics of the watershed Regulations to protect groundwater resources Human activities Objectives of needs assessment Identify potential future wastewater infrastructure needs Determine if other sources threaten the resource

18 Groundwater Needs Assessment Criteria and Draft Thresholds Criteria to Assess 50 Subwatersheds Zone II and DCPC areas >40% Draft Threshold Zoning Refuse disposal or industrial activities Impervious area >10% Poor soil suitability >20% Protected open space <25% 15,000 ft 2 parcel size >25% or >100 parcels Development density >0.75 buildings per acre Depth to groundwater <5 feet (GW problem area) >25%

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20 Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) Massachusetts Estuaries Project Determines if N reduction needed Pleasant Bay (2006) Namskaket Creek (2008) Herring River (expected Fall 2010) Bass River (expected Fall 2010) TMDL Developed by DEP if nitrogen reduction needed Pleasant Bay (2007)

21 Estuary Needs Assessment Results Estuary Pleasant Bay Namskaket Creek Herring River Bass River Quivett Creek Result 40 to 52% N removal No N Removal Pathogen TMDL In process with Harwich In process with Dennis and Yarmouth Pathogen TMDL

22 Needs Assessment Findings Groundwater and Estuaries Groundwater analysis: 15 of 50 subwatersheds potentially at risk Estuaries analysis: 22 of 50 subwatersheds nitrogen sensitive and subject to TMDL 11 of 50 subwatersheds waiting for results of MEP studies

23 Wastewater Infrastructure Needs Findings Draft Subwatersheds were classified as: 1. Areas that can remain with onsite systems (17 of 50 subwatersheds) 1A. Areas that can remain with onsite systems, pending MEP results (11 of 50 subwatersheds) 2. Areas that may need on site innovative/alternative (I/A) systems or off site solutions (22 of 50 subwatersheds) 3. Areas that may need off site or de centralized (regional) wastewater solutions (no subwatersheds)

24 IWRMP Groundwater and Estuary Needs Assessment Findings Draft Pleasant Bay requires up to 52% removal of septic system nitrogen and thus requires an alternatives evaluation for wastewater treatment Herring River watershed will depend on MEP results Bass River watershed will depend on MEP results Other watersheds don t require nitrogen removal and can remain with on site or I/A systems

25 Brewster Ponds (81 total incl. ponds with neighboring communities)

26 Water Quality Parameters for Assessing Pond Health Dissolved oxygen Phosphorous Nitrogen Chlorophyll a Secchi depth Trophic Status Indicators of an eutrophic pond Increasing nutrient load Increasing algal abundance Decreasing oxygen in bottom layer Brewster Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) volunteers have collected samples in up to 29 lakes twice per year

27 Integrated Waters List Several ponds are listed as having poor water quality on Massachusetts DEP integrated waters list Pond Lower Mill Pond Long Pond Sheep Pond Upper Mill Pond Walkers Pond Impairments Nutrients Noxious aquatic plants Turbidity Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen Metals - Mercury Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen Nutrients Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen Noxious aquatic plants Turbidity Nutrients Noxious aquatic plants Turbidity

28 Pond Health/Threat Assessment Health assessment updated per comments from Committee Takes account of Cape Cod Commission healthy pond criteria Completed threat assessment by extending health assessment of ponds with data to ponds with no data Impervious cover Cranberry bog presence

29 Pond Health/Threat Assessment Results Category Description No. of Ponds 1 High quality 5 2 Meets most uses 2 3 Some WQ impairment 5 3A No data but possible 24 impairment 4 Impaired (WQ data) 12 4A Impaired (other factors) 5 5 No data 28

30 Pond Health Assessment Results

31 Pond Health Assessment Results

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33 Pond Health Assessment Results

34 Pond Health Assessment Results

35 Criteria for Ponds Needs Assessment Increases Priority Size Public Access Recreation Pond Condition Health/Threat Assessment Zone II Known problem Decreases Priority Private/State Ownership Recent Pond Treatment

36 Prioritizing Ponds for Future Actions Two types of ponds to be prioritized 1. Impaired ponds Collect missing data Conduct diagnostic study Recommend actions for restoration 2. Existing high quality ponds Conduct watershed assessment for threats Recommend actions for protection

37 Coastal Water Resources Brewster 8 public beaches Located north side of town Shellfishing Swimming Recreation Tourism Only Namskaket Estuary studied by MEP Generally high quality, but occasional exceedances for bacteria that temporarily close beaches Existing TMDLs for pathogens Quivett Creek Namskaket Creek

38 Summary of Coastal Findings Occasional high bacteria need to be addressed at beaches along the bay DEP issued bacteria TMDL for Quivett and Namskaket Creek Bacteria sources are unknown, but likely related to: birds or other animals increased stormwater runoff from impervious areas related to development potentially, septic systems in high density development areas

39 Draft Recommendations Presented to CWPC Timing Immediate Future Regional Type Planning Education/citizen participation Fiscal Infrastructure

40 Draft Immediate Recommendations Planning Computerize water resource databases such as: Water use by parcels in GIS Title 5 septic system failure and waivers data Stormwater system and discharges, including outfalls Review and update buildout analysis by watersheds Analyze and document non conforming uses in various zoning districts and evaluate potential impacts Continue to evaluate alternatives to address nitrogen removal requirements to estuaries Continue pond monitoring by PALS volunteers and add key ponds as resources allow

41 Draft Immediate Recommendations (cont d) Planning (cont d) Meet with cranberry bog growers association to discuss practices in Brewster s bogs that could affect water resources Initiate diagnostic studies for impaired ponds and watershed evaluations to protect high quality ponds Education/citizen participation Develop citizen education programs on: Fertilizer use Alternative landscaping How to monitor your pond(s) Fiscal Identify funding mechanisms to implement water resources programs

42 Draft Future Recommendations Planning Complete the data collection for diagnostic studies for ponds with high priority needs Recommend a program for Brewster to address nitrogen removal to meet established TMDLs Expand the monitoring program to identify and remedy the sources of bacteria Develop and implement restoration action plans for impaired ponds and watershed protection actions for high quality ponds

43 Draft Future Recommendations (cont d) Infrastructure Finalize development of a stormwater management program and implement best management practices (BMPs) Divert or disconnect stormwater systems that directly discharge to ponds Education/citizen participation Continue to foster stakeholder participation in Brewster s IWRMP

44 Draft Regional Recommendations Planning/Fiscal Contact neighboring towns immediately to discuss longterm wastewater planning in the Pleasant Bay, Namskaket Creek and possibly the Bass River and Herring River Confirm alternative solutions that will meet the TMDL requirements by running MEP model scenarios

45 Brewster IWRMP Summary About 50% of the subwatersheds need nitrogen removal to protect groundwater and estuaries About 30% of subwatersheds have groundwater potentially at risk Only 5 of 29 ponds with data are considered healthy and meet intended uses Coastal resources (beaches/shellfish beds) affected by pathogens

46 Community Meeting Follow up Opportunities for public participation Local organization announcements Community meeting participation Website Cable TV Contact: CWPC Coordinator Sue Leven

47 Questions and Comments

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49 General Education Slides

50 What is Groundwater?

51 Your Home s Septic System to Estuary Source: Nick Evans, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Animation by Molly Kitchel and Pat Harcourt

52 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) A Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still safely meet water quality standards Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency Considers both point and non point sources Implementation being addressed on Cape Cod via the IWRMP process

53 1. Flow through Pond Water sources Primarily groundwater Precipitation Runoff No stream outlet/inlet In Brewster: Many large ponds Nearly all small ponds

54 2. Groundwater Recharge Pond Water sources Primarily groundwater Precipitation Limited runoff Has stream outlet

55 3. Drainage Pond Water sources Streams Groundwater Precipitation Runoff Stream drained Only a few in Brewster

56 Pond Depth Physical characteristics Deep ponds Summer temperature gradient When stratified, bottom waters are isolated > 9 meters deep Shallow ponds Mixed top to bottom

57 Brewster Specific Slides

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67 Primary Indicators of Impaired Pond Health Low DO MA DEP 314 CMR 4.00 < 6 mg/l in deep ponds to support cold water fish < 5 mg/l in shallow ponds to support warm water fish High chlorophyll a discussion with MA DEP > 16 µg/l more than 1 time per growing season Trophic Status Index Meets CCC guidelines at all depths for at least two of three criteria: TP, TN, and chlorophyll

68 Other Factors Indicating Impaired Pond Quality Harmful algal bloom occurrences Fish kill recorded Bacteria exceeded State Water Quality Standards for swimming Secchi depth < 4 Feet (discourages swimming) Increasing phosphorus with depth Hydraulically connected to cranberry bog