Presented by Jack Pflaumer

Transcription

1 Presented by Jack Pflaumer Bureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards Division of Water Monitoring and Standards New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection February 23, 2017

2 Agenda Assessment Process Water Quality Data Water Quality Conditions Restoration and Protection Water Monitoring and Standards 2

3 General Assessment Process Assessment Methods Document it all starts here Getting the data Assessment process - Crunching the numbers Station level HUC14 level rollup Designated Use support Comprehensive Assessment - Bringing in other lines of evidence Final Assessment Results November 2016 Water Monitoring and Standards 3

4 Rotating Basin Approach Atlantic Coastal 2014 Northeast 2022 Raritan 2016 Upper Delaware 2020 Lower Delaware 2018

5 Comprehensive Assessment Water quality and biological data don t tell the whole story Comprehensive Assessment what is it? Team of Professionals the more the better (need the right expertise) Other lines of evidence need to be incorporated to get the big picture and validate results GIS is the best tool available 5

6 Other Lines of Evidence Land use Hydrology Point sources Nonpoint sources Aerial photography Geology/Soils Weather data Restoration activities Sampling Notes/Conditions Water Monitoring and Standards 6

7 Comprehensive Assessment Results Outcomes Updated assessment results higher confidence Identify monitoring gaps more data or new locations Identify potential pollutant sources Identify possible restoration efforts Water Monitoring and Standards 7

8 Water Quality Measures Physical/Chemical Monitoring Direct measure of water quality Indirect measure of designated use Temporally discrete event or continuous Biological Monitoring Indirect measure of water quality Direct measure of designated use Summarize water quality conditions over time Sediment Monitoring Indirect measure of water quality Summarizes long-term conditions and historical impacts No water quality criteria Water Monitoring and Standards 8

9 Chemical/Physical Metrics Nutrients Phosphorus Numeric and Narrative Criteria Aquatic Life Use Nitrate Numeric and Narrative Criteria Drinking Water Use Dissolved Oxygen Numeric Criteria (24-hr avg) Aquatic Life General and Trout Uses ph Numeric Criteria (Pinelands, S. Jersey) Aquatic Life Use Water Monitoring and Standards 9

10 Chemical/Physical Metrics Temperature Numeric Criteria (7-day avg, daily) Aquatic Life General and Trout Uses Suspended Solids / Turbidity Numeric Criteria (30-day avg) Aquatic Life General and Trout Uses Toxics Numeric and Narrative Criteria (one-hour avg, 4-day avg, 30-day avg, 70-year avg) Aquatic Life and Human Health uses Flow No criteria Water Monitoring and Standards 10

11 Biological Metrics Benthic Macroinvertebrates Genus Level Three Geographic Regions High Gradient Coastal Plain Pinelands Volunteer Indices Water Monitoring and Standards 11

12 Biological Metrics Fish Index of Biotic Integrity Fish Assemblages (Species) Amphibian, Crayfish (Headwaters only) Three Indicies Northern (High Gradient) Headwater (< 4 sq mi watershed) Inner Coastal Plain (Low Gradient) Habitat assessment May 2016 Water Monitoring and Standards 12

13 Whose Data Do We Use? Organization Organization Type Data Used If not, why not? Waterbody Name Monitoring Dates Parameters AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program Volunteer Monitoring Organization Yes n/a Region wide Macroinvertebrates Kleinfelder (Omni) Consultant Yes n/a Raritan TMDL watersheds , Conventional chemical/physical/diurnal Monmouth County Health Department County Government Yes n/a Monmouth County Streams in Raritan region Conventional chemical/physical, pathogens NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring State Government Yes n/a Region wide Metals/conventional chemical/physical/pathogens State Government Yes n/a Region wide Diurnal DO, ph, and Temperature State Government Yes n/a Region wide Macroinvertebrates State Government Yes n/a Region wide Fish NJDEP Office of Science State Government Yes n/a Region wide Fish tissue New Jersey Harbor Dischargers Group Municipal Authority Yes n/a New York/New Jersey Harbor and Tidal Tributaries Pathogens, conventional chemical/physical Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association Volunteer Monitoring Organization No No approved QAPP Stony Bk, Millstone R watershed Conventional chemical/physical Upper Raritan Watershed Association Volunteer Monitoring Organization Yes n/a WMA Macroinvertebrates US Geological Survey (USGS) Federal government Yes n/a Region wide Conventional chemical/physical/diurnal/toxic s/metals 13

14 How Much Data Do We Use? Numerous networks and partners Last 10 Years: Over 3 million discrete data (over half in WQDE) Over 6,000 monitoring stations Over 1.5 million continuous data > 100 continuous monitoring stations > 90 parameters Biological data Results/Data Points in NJ-WQDE 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000, , , , ,

15 Where Do We Get Our Data Water Quality Portal (2012) EPA (STORET), USGS (NWIS), USDA (STEWARDS) One Stop Shop for data (except for continuous) Standardized data protocol Easy to use interface Univhttps:// X

16 Integrated Report and 303(d) List Statewide Water Quality Report Clean Water Act 305(b) and 303(d) Impaired Waters (parameter/huc14) Water Quality Trends NJDEP Water Quality Management Programs Water Monitoring and Standards 16

17 Common Causes of Impairment Point Sources - Dischargers Urban/Suburban Development & Agriculture Loss of Stream Habitat Loss of riparian cover Excess temperature a threat to Trout classified water Stormwater Alteration of Stream Hydrology Nutrient Enrichment Siltation Toxics and Pesticide Use Water Monitoring and Standards 17

18 Sustainable Raritan River Initiative State of the Raritan Report, December 2016 Water Monitoring and Standards 18

19 Population Water Monitoring and Standards 19

20 Population Change Water Monitoring and Standards 20

21 Land Use Water Monitoring and Standards 21

22 Land Use Changes Water Monitoring and Standards 22

23 Impervious Surface 10% impervious = impaired 25% impervious = degraded Raritan 12.1% impervious - Overall 22.4% impervious- Lower Raritan Water Monitoring and Standards 23

24 Impervious Surface Changes Water Monitoring and Standards 24

25 Riparian Zone Changes C1 Waters C2 Waters Water Monitoring and Standards 25

26 Point Source Dischargers (Major) Water Monitoring and Standards 26

27 Number of Assessment Units Assessment Results Raritan Region Top Pollutants E.Coli Arsenic Biology TP ph DO Temperature TSS Water Monitoring and Standards 27

28 Recreation Designated Use 2014 Full Support Insufficient Data Non Support Not Applicable

29 Water Supply Designated Use 2014 Full Support Insufficient Data Non Support Not Applicable

30 Aquatic Life General Designated Use Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

31 Aquatic Life Trout Designated Use Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

32 Biological Conditions Statewide Biological (2014) Raritan Biological (2016) 36% 26% 28% 61% 11% 38% Water Monitoring and Standards 32

33 Trends for Macroinvertebrates The Raritan Region showed results similar to the statewide trend, with a steady increase in Fair results accompanied by an overall decrease in the number of Poor sites and a decrease in the number of Excellent stations. The number of Good stations remained stable throughout the time period. 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% Excellent Good Fair Poor 0% Rnd1 ( ) Rnd2 ( ) Rnd3 ( ) Rnd4 ( ) AMNET Rounds

34 2016 Biological Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

35 Chemical/Physical Statewide TP 31% 27% 42% DO 32% 16% 52% DO, Trout 50% 6% 44% ph 29% 17% 54% Raritan DO DO, Trout ph 30% 15% 13% 19% 47% 23% 14% 71% 41% 46% 20% 61% Water Monitoring and Standards 35

36 Chemical/Physical Statewide Temperature 31% 2% Temperature, Trout 35% 30% TSS 7% Turbidity 3% 38% 67% 35% 41% 52% 59% Raritan Temperature Temperature, Trout TSS Turbidity 4% 8% 7% 8% 2% 31% 36% 56% 61% 42% 56% 89% 36

37 Nutrient Trends Location Neshanic Reaville Lamington Burnt Mills Raritan Queens Bound Brook Rahway Rahway Mulhockaway Van Syckel Manalapan Federal Rd nr Manalapan Total Nitrogen Nitrate Total Phosphorus Total Nitrogen Nitrate Total Phosphorus no trend no trend no trend down down no trend ND no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend up down up no trend no trend ND no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend down no trend down down ND no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend no trend Water Monitoring and Standards 37

38 Total Phosphorus Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

39 Temperature Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

40 DO Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

41 ph Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

42 TSS Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

43 Turbidity Assessment Results Full Support Full Support Improvement Non Support Non Support - Declining

44 Water Quality Changes Parameter (d) List (d) List TP ph DO 2 26 Temperature TSS Turbidity 0 3 TP impairment increase based on new data, not declining conditions Continuous data has revealed impairments for DO and Temperature Water Monitoring and Standards 44

45 Restoration/Protection Tools Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Watershed Plan (WP) Nonpoint Source Grants Green Acres/Blue Acres Point Source Permitting Site Remediation Land Use Management Compliance and Enforcement Water Monitoring and Standards 45

46 Raritan TMDL Parameters Reductions Map Water Monitoring and Standards 46

47 Raritan Watershed Plans Parameters Map Water Monitoring and Standards 47

48 Raritan 319 Projects Water Monitoring and Standards 48

49 Priority List Process 27 HUCs Identified Feasible, Achievable, Sensible (worthwhile) Areas where we believe we can show improvements considering available resources, possible pollutant sources, reasonable time period Data shows on-the-cusp, improving trend, other delistings and fully supports: On the Bubble Impacts upstream and downstream, Identify sources and causes Cover entire Region as best as possible Address different sources and restoration efforts Selected: Headwaters, tributaries Water Monitoring and Standards 49

50 Result Restoration Candidates Water Monitoring and Standards 50

51 Recovery Potential Screening Tool EPA tool to prioritize restoration and/or protection Technical method for comparing large numbers (hundreds to thousands) of watersheds Ecological, stressor, and social indicators Determine if watershed is in reasonably good condition and a protection or restoration effort may succeed Prioritized schedule for creating TMDLs Recovery Potential Integrated (RPI) score calculated by combining three indices Water Monitoring and Standards 51

52 Information Needed Other Restoration Efforts (historical and current) Stakeholder Data/Information Local Priorities Verify Potential Sources Additional Water Quality Monitoring Funding Costs Expected Cooperation Other Social, Economic, Environmental Factors Water Monitoring and Standards 52

53 Benefits of Riparian Zones Intact Riparian Zones Moderate Temperature Reduce Stormwater Runoff Stabilize Base Flow Protect Stream Morphology Reduce Siltation Reduce Pollutants Nutrient Enrichment Toxics and Pesticides Water Monitoring and Standards 53

54 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Monitoring and Standards Bureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards

55 Tale of Two Rivers Neshanic River Musconetcong River Neshanic R Musconetcong R Agriculture 37% 37% Urban 13% 10% Undeveloped 50% 53% 55

56 Tale of Two Rivers Neshanic River Similar Landuse Riparian Zone Severely Damaged Macroinvertebrates: Impaired Total Phosphorus, ph, DO, bacteria exceed criteria Upstream: riparian zone destroyed Musconetcong River Similar Landuse Riparian Zone Severely Damaged Macroinvertebrates: Fully Supporting Total Phosphorus, ph, DO meet criteria Bacteria exceed criteria Upstream: riparian zone damaged but intact Water Monitoring and Standards 56

57 Primary Region vs Statewide Primary Region Other Regions All data undergoes a comprehensive QA process All data undergoes a comprehensive QA process 5 years of data and historical data 5 years of data only Evaluate all sampling stations with data that meet the minimum sample size 1 Evaluate sampling stations that meet the new target sample size 1 ; otherwise, use the final assessment from previous assessment Complete a comprehensive assessment by incorporating all available lines of evidence for the entire region Update the assessment of designated use support for all uses Complete a comprehensive assessment on a case-by-case basis for a specific, geographically limited area where warranted Update designated use support assessment only where there are new assessments 57