Raritan River Basin. How to protect quality & quantity of water resources? Land Protection and Management to Protect Water Resources

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1 Land Protection and Management to Protect Water Resources New Jersey Water Supply Authority: Kathy Hale, Principal Watershed Protection Specialist (908) x228 Jen Zhang, Watershed Protection Specialist (908) x229 jzhang@raritanbasin.org i North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development Council: Grace Messinger, Watershed Specialist (908) x110 gmessinger@northjerseyrcd.org Land Conservation Rally March 20, 2010 Raritan River Basin Largest river basin located entirely in the state of NJ ~1,100 mi 2, parts of 7 counties & 100 municipalities, 3 WMAs Surface water systems provide water to ~1.5 million people NJ Water Supply Authority Manage Spruce Run, Round Valley & Manasquan Reservoirs, D&R Canal as water supply sources Delaware & Raritan System serves 1.5+ million people, Manasquan System serves ~300,000 Management of water supply infrastructure Watershed restoration/protection planning & implementation Acquisition & management of preserved properties River-Friendly Programs North Jersey RC&D 6 county non-profit - Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, and Union Counties 1. Land Conservation - Protects the resource base and 2. Community Development - Improves economic and community development in rural areas. 3. Water Management - Helps local people conserve, utilize and improve the quality and quantity of available water. 4. Environmental Enhancement - Improves the environment. How to protect quality & quantity of water resources? Stormwater improvements Riparian buffer improvements Stream assessment & restoration ti Land acquisition & management Municipal ordinance improvements Better land management by existing land uses River- Friendly programs 1

2 Raritan Basin Source Water Protection Efforts Raritan Basin C&A reports Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan, 2002, 6 critical issues: Surface Water Pollution, Loss of Riparian Areas, Biological Impairment of Streams, Loss of Ground Water Recharge, Water Supply Limitations, Stormwater Impacts Spruce S Run Initiative Spruce Run Corridor Study Water Resources Protection Open Space Criteria Land acquisition EPA Targeted Watershed Grant Municipal assessment River-Friendly programs Stream assessment & restoration Watershed Restoration Plans & Implementation Riparian Restoration Plan for Agricultural Lands Rockaway Creek VSA Model Today s Presentation RBWA Riparian Health Initiative characterize HUC-14s based on GIS data RBWMP Water Resources Open Space Criteria identify open space parcels to protect water resources NJWSA Critical Resources Criteria identify open space parcels to protect water resources Rockaway Creek VSA Model predict higher runoff areas and tie to ordinances Raritan Basin CCPI Model identify & prioritize riparian agricultural lands for buffer restoration Raritan Basin Watershed Alliance Riparian Restoration Initiative RBWA Riparian Restoration Initiative RBWA critical issues: Proving the need and setting objectives and priorities (technical issues) Capacity building Implementation and sustainability NJ-AWRA Stream Restoration Committee volunteered to address the technical issues: 1. Inventory & Assessment 2. Criteria for Site Selection and Prioritization 3. Restoration Methods & Techniques 4. Indicators for Success Monitoring & Evaluation 2

3 Question 1: How do we figure out where stream restoration is needed? Inventory & Assessment A Proposed Methodology for Determining Needs for Riparian Restoration and Preservation in the Raritan Basin Baseline: Identification of Riparian Areas Raritan Basin Watershed Management Project Riparian Methodology (2002) Wetlands Wildlife Corridors Floodplain Areas Soils NOTE: Based on 1995 NJDEP Stream Data Set Duke s Brook Baseline Spruce Run & Mulhockaway Creek Watersheds 3

4 Level I: Evaluating Watershed Conditions Baseline Characterization of 137 HUC14s based on available GIS data Landscape Condition: 7 parameters used to characterize conditions of an entire HUC14 to quantify potential stressors to streams Riparian Zone Condition: 5 parameters used to evaluate existing function and value of streamside land areas Level I: Landscape Condition Parameters 1. Land Use Bad (Urban) Good (Forest, Wetlands) 2. % Impervious Cover Bad (>20%) Good (0%-4.99%) 3. Habitat Quality (% of HUC14 identified as critical habitat based on NJDEP Landscape Project) Bad (<20%) Good (>80%) 4. Population Density (people per acre) Bad (>3) Good (<0.49) 5. Frequency of Road Crossings per Stream Mile Bad (3+) Good (<1) 6. Dams per HUC 14 Bad (3+) Good (None) 7. Loss of Forest ( ) Bad (Loss of 500+ ac) Good (Gain of 100+ ac) Level I: Landscape Condition Ranking Generated a score on a scale of 1(bad) to 5 (good) for each parameter Composite score for each Huc-14 ranging from 7 to 35 Light Low score, Dark Higher score Rankings Count (16) (25) (44) (46) (5) Level I: Riparian Zone Condition Parameters 1. Land Use Bad (Urban) Good (Forest, Wetlands, Waters) 2. Water/Wetland Dependent Species (% of HUC14 riparian zone identified as critical habitat based on NJDEP Landscape Project) Bad (<20%) Good (>50%) 3. Riparian Conversion ( loss of natural areas) Bad (>3%) Good (Gain or no loss) 4. % of Impervious Cover Bad (>8%) Good (Gain or no loss) 5. Erosion Potential Bad (High-Medium) Good (None) 4

5 Level I: Riparian Zone Condition Ranking Generated a score on a scale of 1(bad) to 5 (good) for each parameter Composite score for each HUC-14 with a potential range of 3 to composite scores, Light Low score, Dark Higher score Rankings Count (1) (8) (36) (46) (36) (9) Level I: Summary Score = Landscape Score + Riparian Score Total summary score =12-60 Categorize HUCs: Target for Preservation Under Stress Target for Restoration 137 composite scores, Light Low score, Dark Higher score Rankings Count (16) (25) (44) (46) (5) RBWA Stream Health Lower Raritan WMA Uses of the RBWA Riparian Health Assessment Selection of watershed for projects target for preservation or restoration depending di on goals & funding Background information for source water protection/restoration planning use overall scores plus scores for each parameter 5

6 GIS-Based Models to Identify Sensitive Water Resource Properties in Need of Protection Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan Started in 1999, completed in 2002 One model developed from the RBWMP is a Water Resources Protection Open Space Criteria NJWSA started acquiring critical parcels in 2001, then developed the OS Acquisition Program The First Model A new model was finished in 2009 designed just for the NJWSA acquisition program The Second Model Model Development History and Procedures One set of Water Resources Protection Open Space Criteria was developed for the whole basin with the intention of being later tailored to each WMA as necessary. Original target area: 6,900 acres (240 parcels) and in five municipalities 6

7 Original target area extends from five to forty municipalities, and the target area extends from original 6,900 acres to a total of 185,500 acres 2,700 acres preserved to date (2009) 1,189 acres in active negotiations Focus on: Sensitive Water Resource Area Additional criteria added for the NJWSA Acquisition Program The Difference b/w Two Models Primary Aquifer Recharge Highly Erodible Soils Isolated Wetlands Raritan Basin Wide Water Resources Protection Open Space Criteria Updated with new data layers and completed in 2009 Kept the same criteria Riparian Areas Primary Groundwater Recharge Critical Habitats The four criteria used for Raritan Basin wide model Wellhead Protection Areas NJWSA Open Space Acquisition Program Criteria New Criteria, completed in 2009 Additional 3 criteria, and dropped WHP 7

8 Acquisition Approach and GIS Models Focus preservation of contiguous lands on water resource protection, it does not address all land conservation goals The GIS model focused on remaining lands instead of the existing preserved (open space and farmland) or developed lands Strategy link land acquisition and zoning benefits NJWSA customers support through water supply rates Partner with State, County & local governments, land trusts Acquire Sensitive Water Resources Stream corridors Headwaters Wetlands Flood hazard areas Critical habitats Riparian forests Prime ground water recharge and aquifer recharge areas Highly erodible soils The Database Model and Layers 8

9 Riparian Area: Parameters to be Mapped Flood Hazard Areas and Floodplains Streams and buffer areas Streamside wetlands and wetland transition areas Lakes, ponds, other open water bodies and buffer area Highland Preservation Area Open Water Bodies and Buffers Hydric and alluvial soils 9

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11 The Composite Map of Water Resource Area The Composite The Composite Map 11

12 Property Analysis Property Boundary Overlay with Sensitive Water Resource Area The type and the location of water resource area on each property. % of Properties in Sensitive Water Resource Area Application of this GIS Model Rank properties by their % included in water resource area Rank properties by property size Check what water resource environmental features located in each property and where Assess and evaluate potential properties for future acquisition Avoid isolated open space consider proximity to existing preserved open space Use the findings from this project to assist in soliciting state funds Can lead to improvements to municipal ordinances, master plans, environmental resource inventories, zoning density, open space preservation plans, etc Application of the GIS Model - Continued All potential properties will be first evaluated through this database to determine the number of criteria present If a property ranks highly enough, a second level of evaluation will be applied. This second tier will be a case-by-case critical review. 12

13 Uses for Other Agencies Natural resource inventory Open space preservation plan Prioritizing acquisition programs Public awareness Customizing model to fit your need! GIS Models Don t Leave Your Plan Without Them! But don t expect them to: Answer all your questions Be perfect Foretell the future Always be feasible to build Substitute for common sense Substitute for policy decisions and political will to solve problems Rockaway Creek - Protection of Critical Source Areas for Achieving Long-term Sustainability of Water Resources Rockaway Creek Watershed Hunterdon County 34.4 square miles Low density residential development transected by interstate corridors Tewksbury Township, Clinton Township, Readington Township and Lebanon Borough 13

14 What is the Variable Source Area Hydrology concept? Connecting Science to Land Use Planning Discussions and Documents at the local level. Concept that incorporates the suite of hydrological processes leading to the development and expansion of saturated zones in the landscape that generate run-off Variable Source Area * As the water drains from the watershed during a runoff-causing event, the area that contributes runoff to the stream changes... Trout Creek tributary to Delaware River, NY During the Storm... Antecedent Moisture Conditions Rising Limb During the course of a storm event, the area contributing to the storm hydrograph changes, as does the hydrograph... 14

15 Hydrologically Sensitive Areas (Hewlett, 1982) Critical Source Areas CSA is the intersect between HSAs and pollution source areas Hydrologically Sensitive Areas (HSAs) Hydrologically Sensitive Areas (HSAs) Critical Source Area (CSA) Walter et al J. Soil Water Conserv. 3: Pollution Source Area Steps to Model the Critical Source Areas HSA a. Variable source area (VSA) pattern + b. Hydrologically sensitive area (HSA) c. Pollutant source areas Topographic Index: identifies the saturated zones in the watershed. Darker green area indicates areas of greater saturation. Saturated Zones correspond to topography, soil, land use/land cover and hydrology in the landscape CSA d. Critical source area (CSA) 15

16 Critical Source Areas: The overlap of Hydrologically Sensitive Areas with Pollution Source Areas Identified by land use type in project area Hydrologically Sensitive Areas overlaid with local land use planning regulations. Mapping shows areas that are not protected by existing state or local land use regulations Opportunities and Challenges CSA information presents many opportunities to improve environmental and water resources management Land use planning Site-specific BMP design Prioritization of the conservation efforts such as conservation buffer placement TMDL reduction allocation There are tremendous challenges to overcome the technical, institutional, cultural and social barriers to implement those ideas beyond the study area. 16

17 Municipal Land Use Ordinances & Regulations Critical Area Stream Corridors Stormwater Management Low Impact Development Regulationsrecharge Zoning-Environmentally Sensitive Areas Woodland Protection Vegetation/Landscaping Provisions Steep Slope Municipal and Regional Planning Documents Conservation Element of Master Plan Open Space Plans Natural Resource Inventories Farmland Preservation Plans Stormwater Management Plans Regional Water Resource Plans Community Engagement Planning Process Raise Municipal Awareness & Understanding Encourage Feedback & Discussion Provide Support Obtain Municipal Buy-In Adapt New Ordinances Outcome of Community Engagement Planning Process Municipalities are embracing model results, especially when applied to entire municipality Sample planning language is being crafted for municipalities to include in their updated Master Plans Incorporation into municipal Natural Resource Inventory Results of the model are being used by municipality to asses proposed development project impacts. 17

18 Conclusion Science can inform the decision making process at municipal level. Utilizing the Community Engagement Planning Process we have been able to build community support and buy-in for the overall goal of water resource protection through the use of science based planning. Rockaway Creek Project: Contacts New Jersey Institute of Technology Dr. Zeyuan Qiu, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science; (voice); ( ) North Jersey RC&D Grace Messinger, Watershed Specialist; x 110 (voice); gmessinger@northjerseyrcd.org ( ) Municipal Land Use The College of New Jersey Donna Drewes, PP. Community Planner; (609) (voice) drewes@tcnj.edu ( ) Natural Resources Conservation Service Christine Hall, RC&D Coordinator; x 105 (voice) chall@northjerseyrcd.org ( ) New Jersey Water Supply Authority Kathy Hale, Watershed Specialist; (908) x228 (voice) khale@raritanbasin.org ( ) Funding Support: US EPA National Center for Environmental Research through the Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability Program Riparian Restoration Plan For Agricultural Lands in the Raritan Basin Background Raritan Watershed Agricultural Committee (RWAC): Recognizes riparian restoration as a much needed BMP, and Supports the installation of stream corridor management practices on agricultural lands. Project partners: NJRC&D, NJWSA, NJIT Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Grant Objectives: 1) Develop riparian restoration plan for agricultural lands in the Raritan Basin 2) Prioritization of ag lands for restoration projects 3) Identification and evaluation of available funding sources and institutional needs and methods for implementation of riparian projects 18

19 CCPI Model Baseline Raritan Project riparian area delineation used as base for riparian ag NJDEP LU/LC used to develop ag land use layer Project partners classified 4 components which best represent need for riparian buffers CCPI Model Components Soil Erodibility USDA-NRCS Soil Erodibility Index (EI) Hydrologic Sensitivity/Runoff Potential Modified Topographic Index (TI) from USDA-NRCS Wildlife Habitat NJ-DEP Non-game and Endangered Species Program s Landscape Project Impervious Surface NJ-DEP Land Use/Land Cover Data Erodibility index (EI) score was calculated for each 10 m 2 grid These scores were split into 5 ranks Ranks 1 5 demonstrate the severity of soil erodibility Higher rank indicates greater erodibility Soil Erodibility Hydrologic Sensitivity/Runoff Potential USDA-NRCS Topographic Index (TI) was modified to incorporate Variable Source Area (VSA) hydrology A modified TI was calculated for each 10 m 2 grid. These scores were split into 10 ranks Ranks 1-10 demonstrate the differing hydrology Higher rank indicates greater sensitivity or runoff potential 19

20 Wildlife Habitat Ranks 1 5 based on NJ DEP Landscape Project categories Rank 5 = 1+ occurrences of at least one Federal T&D wildlife species Rank 4 = 1+ occurrences of at least one State endangered species. Rank 3 = 1+ occurrences of at least one State threatened species. Rank 2 = 1+ occurrences of species of concern. Rank 1 = habitat-specific suitability requirements Impervious Surface Based on % Impervious Cover from NJ DEP Land Use/Cover Data Rank 1 = 0% Rank 3 = 5% Rank 5 = 10% Rank 7 = 15% Rank 9 = > 20% Greater impervious surface indicates a greater need for BMPs Prioritizing ALL Ag Prioritizing Riparian Ag All four components were summed to establish a FINAL score Scores ranged from 3 27 for all ag land These were split into Low/Medium/High (approximately equal) All four components were summed to establish a FINAL score Scores ranged from 3 24 for riparian ag These were split into Low/Medium/High (approximately equal area) 20

21 Results 9,003 acres of riparian agriculture are classified as high priority for buffer placement 32,958 acres of all agriculture are classified as high priority for BMPs Implementation I l t ti is dependent on producer cooperation Suitable funding sources must be available for the greatest impact Long Valley/South Branch Wt Watershed hd CCPI Results CCPI Model Uses Best management practice siting not just on ag land, but in parks and other open space, within developments Prioritization of BMP locations AWEP Ag Mini-Grants Project Riparian buffer prioritization Sidney Brook Riparian Buffer Project Mulhockaway Creek Riparian Buffer Project Today s Presentation RBWA Riparian Health Initiative characterize HUC-14s based on GIS data RBWMP Water Resources Open Space Criteria identify open space parcels to protect water resources NJWSA Critical Resources Criteria identify open space parcels to protect water resources Rockaway Creek VSA Model predict higher runoff areas and tie to ordinances Raritan Basin CCPI Model identify & prioritize riparian agricultural lands for buffer restoration 21

22 Case Study Neshanic River Case Study Manalapan Brook Case Study Mulhockaway Creek Case Study Mulhockaway Creek, Old Farm Road 22

23 Case Study Old Farm Road, Agricultural Property Case Study Mulhockaway Creek, Hoffman Park Case Study Mulhockaway Creek, Agricultural Land Case Study Sidney Brook 23

24 Case Study Sidney Brook, Site 27 Case Study Sidney Brook, Site 6 Summary Questions? Different models, different scales use with caution Common data layers across models, utilized for different purposes Utilize in conjunction with other data to create a comprehensive source water protection plan Adapt for your watershed/area of interest Future questions How do the various models correlate? E.g. do parcels that rank high for OS also rank high for BMP/buffer implementation? Round Valley Reservoir 24