CODORUS CREEK NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Transcription

1 CODORUS CREEK NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA PADEP 319 Watershed Improvement Program Prepared by: York County Conservation District Prepared for: Codorus Creek Watershed Association PO Box 2881 York, PA February 2007 Version 4.0

2 Acknowledgements The Codorus Creek Watershed Association would like to acknowledge financial and technical assistance and support received from the following individuals and organization in producing the Codorus Creek Watershed Restoration & Protection Implementation Plan. Contributing Individuals: Gary R. Peacock, CCWA Director/Watershed Specialist, York County Conservation District Genevieve Ray, WRDA Sec. 206 Coordinator James Leaman, CCWA Chairman, Biology Teacher (retired) Jeff Hamon, CCWA Treasurer /Glatfelter Jeff Hines, CCWA Secretary /V.P. Engineering, The York Water Company Jeff Kuhn, PhD, CCWA Director /Science Teacher, York Suburban High School Michael Schaffer, CCWA Director/Planner, York County Planning Commission Lee Irwin, Owner, Aquatic Resource Restoration Company Matt Hoch PhD., Biology Professor, Penn State York Skip Missimer, V.P. EH&S, Glatfelter Codorus Watershed Restoration Partnership: Aquatic Resource Restoration Company Codorus Chapter Trout Unlimited Codorus Creek Improvement Partnership Codorus Creek Watershed Association Codorus Implementation Committee Glatfelter Izaak Walton League of America - York Chapter #67 Natural Resource Conservation Service - USDA Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Baltimore District York County Agricultural Land Preservation Board York County Chamber of Commerce York County Commissioners York County Community Foundation - Codorus Watershed Endowment York County Conservation District York County Economic Development Corporation York County Farm & Natural Lands Trust York County Parks & Recreation York County Planning Commission ii

3 Executive Summary The Codorus Creek watershed is located in southern York County, south-central Pennsylvania, and encompasses 278 square miles of drainage area. Watershed assessments of the South Branch (68 square miles), East Branch Codorus (44.5 square miles), and West Branch (165.5 square miles) were sponsored by the Izaak Walton League of America s York Chapter and were completed in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Through a Growing Greener grant received from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and other partnership funding sources, the Codorus Creek Watershed Association (CCWA) completed a watershed assessment and stream restoration plan for the remainder of the watershed (West Branch and main stem Codorus Creek) which covers square miles. The Codorus Creek watershed has a wide diversity of land uses including agricultural, forest, residential, commercial, and industrial. The water quality of the Codorus drainages varies from those supporting wild trout populations, to those heavily influenced by watershed modifications. Field observations indicate good water quality, supporting a diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish populations. The streams in the watershed however are far from reaching their full potential as a biological and recreational resource due to severe bank erosion, high sediment loads, and thermal warming. A regional hydraulic curve was developed to determine stream types (Rosgen, 1994), and will serve as a design tool for future restoration. This regional curve was a continuation of efforts which started in the South and East Branch Codorus Creek watersheds which are within the Uplands Section of the Piedmont Physiographic Province. All streams and tributaries were assessed, classified as to stream type (Rosgen, 1994), and mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS). Bank erosion rates were monitored at nine locations in the watershed. Results of the watershed assessment revealed that there is significant stream impairment, primarily stream bank erosion and channel migration. Over 447 miles of stream were assessed in the watershed. Approximately 65 miles (23%), 228 miles (51%) and 154 miles (26%) of streams assessed were found to be either severely impaired, moderately impaired, or slightly impaired/not impaired, respectively. A Watershed Assessment Map was prepared using ArcGIS to graphically show the locations, magnitude and extent of impaired streams and other important watershed features. Stream restoration work is currently planned and underway in the East, South and West Branches. It is estimated that it will take up to 20-years to completely implement the restoration of severely and moderately impaired streams in the watershed. The estimated cost of full restoration efforts is expected to be approximately $12,281,166 today. An additional $13,897,500 will be needed to fully implement Best Management Practices on the upland 115,092 acres of agricultural working lands, 65% of total the land used. The Codorus Watershed Implementation Plan was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through a 319 NPS Management Program grant. iii

4 Contents Acknowledgements Executive Summary Introduction 1. Identification of Causes and Sources of Impairment 1.1 Watershed concerns, issues, goals, and other problems 1.2 Land Use 1.3 Geology 1.4 Soils 1.5 Applicable Water Quality Standards 1.6 Water Quality Quantified and Mapped by Category 1.7 Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) and Previous Studies 1.8 Watershed Priorities 2. Pollutant Load Reductions Required to Meet TMDL s 2.1 Total Maximum Daily Load Reductions Needed 2.2 Watershed Assessment Findings 2.3 Consider impacts on downstream waters 2.4 Watershed Restoration and Protection Priorities 3. Management Measures to Achieve Watershed Goals 3.1 Levels of Stream Restoration Efforts 3.2 Best Management Practices 3.3 East Branch Management Measure Milestones by 3.4 South Branch Management Measure Milestones by 3.5 West Branch Management Measure Milestones by 3.6 Funding, Construction and Maintenance Activities 4. Implementation Schedule 4.1 Parties responsible for meeting implementation milestones 4.2 Consideration of local priorities for restoration, availability of funding/ personnel/ equipment, seasonal weather conditions, coordination opportunities, etc. 4.3 Schedule and parties responsible for monitoring and reporting progress 5. Interim Milestones to Track Implementation of Management Measures 5.1 Documented Best Management Practices (BMPs) already implemented or planned in the watershed and assessment of their effectiveness 5.2 Designate and Map Target Areas for Additional Controls 5.3 Selected appropriate BMPs for designated and mapped targeted areas for iv

5 additional controls based on nature and magnitude of the pollutant, nature and location of the source, engineering feasibility, cost effectiveness 5.4 Model performance of selected BMP s to estimate operational efficiencies, load reductions achieved, maintenance requirements, etc. 5.5 PRedICT Model Results 6. Criteria to Measure Progress Toward Meeting Watershed Goals 6.1 Milestones for pollutant load and water quality leading to achievement of DEP standards for water quality and recommended use 6.2 Milestones tailored to the character and magnitude of impairments in each subwatershed, specifing parameters, location and frequency of sampling 6.3 Consideration of local priorities for implementation, availability of funding/personnel/analytic capability, seasonal weather conditions, coordination with existing monitoring programs, etc. 6.4 Schedule and parties responsible for monitoring and reporting progress 7. Monitoring Component 7.1 Criteria for judging results of implementation and water quality monitoring against prescribed milestones 7.2 Select a Combination of Indicators 7.3 Codorus Creek Restoration Efficacy Program (CCREP) 7.4 Provisions for reevaluation of implementation efforts, project milestones, restoration measures and/or TMDLs if progress is less than expected 7.5 Logic Model Used to Develop an Evaluation Framework 8.0 Public information and participation 8.1 Stakeholders and sources of information and influence in the watershed 8.2 Designated watershed advisory group from those identified to sponsor project, review planning products, set priorities, gain landowner cooperation and secure funding for implementation 8.3 Strategy outline for informing citizens about watershed issues and soliciting their involvement in plan development and implementation 9. Technical and Financial Assistance Needed to Implement BMPs 9.1 Estimated costs of design, installation and maintenance 9.2 Evaluation of sources of funding for plan implementation 9.3 Implementation shortfalls identified References Glossary Appendices Appendix A Best Management Practices Typical Drawings Apendix B Project Planning Worksheets v

6 Figures Figure 1-1. Codorus Creek Watershed Figure 1-2. East Branch Codorus Creek Figure 1-3. South Branch Codorus Creek Figure 1-4. West Branch Codorus Creek Figure 1-5. Geology of Codorus Creek Watershed Figure 1-6. Soil Associations of Codorus Creek Watershed Figure 1-7. Opportunities for Stream Restoration of Codorus Creek Watershed Figure 1-8. South Branch Codorus Creek Watershed TMDL Areas Figure 1-9. Oil Creek TMDL Subbasin Figure Water Quality Hazards Analysis. Figure Land Use Analysis. Figure 2-1. Classification Key for Natural Waters Figure 2-2. Stream Evolution Changes Figure 2-3. Codorus Creek Watershed Regional Curves Figure 2-4. Stream Survey Procedures Figure 2-5. Watershed Assessment Field Data Form Figure 2-6. SBCC-026 Bank Erosion Monitoring Figure 2-7. SBCC-015 Bank Erosion Monitoring Figure 2-8. Chain of Events Due to Disturbance. Figure 5-1. Stream Restoration Opportunities in Codorus Creek Watershed Figure 7-1. Logical Model Components vi

7 Tables Table 1-1. Land Use East Branch Codorus Creek Table 1-2. Land Use West Branch Codorus Creek Table 1-3. Applicable Water Quality Standards of Codorus Creek Watershed Table (d) Impaired Streams Listings of Codorus Creek Watershed Table 1-5. Sources of Stream Bank Erosion of Codorus Creek Watershed Table 1-6. TMDL Load Allocations of South Branch Codorus Creek Subbasin 1 Table 1-7. TMDL Load Allocations of South Branch Codorus Creek Subbasin 2 Table 1-8. TMDL Load Allocations & Reductions of Oil Creek Table 2-1. Codorus Creek Watershed Drainage Areas Table 2-3. Stream Bank Erosion Monitoring Table 2-4. East Branch Estimated Sedimentation from Stream Erosion Table 2-5. East Branch Watershed Assessment and Restoration Priorities Table 2-6. West Branch Watershed Assessment Summary Table 2-7. West Branch Streambank Erosion Monitoring Table 2-8. Summary of Watershed Assessments Table 2-9. Watershed of Priority Restoration Activity By Subwatershed and Aggregate for the Watershed as a Whole Table 3-1. Recommended Stream Restoration and Protection BMPs for Various Stream Types Table 3-2. East Branch Watershed Goals and Management Measure Milestones by Table 3-3. East Branch Priority Stream Restoration Costs (2002). Table 3-4. South Branch Watershed Goals and Management Measure Milestones by Table 3-5. West Branch Watershed Goals and Management Measure Milestones by Table 3-6. Stream Reaches Recommended for Riparian Planting Table 3-7. Stream Reaches Recommended for Streambank Fencing Table 3-8. Stream Reaches Recommended for Stormwater Management Table 3-9. Estimated Costs of BMP Construction and Maintenance Activities by Subwatershed and Aggregated for Watershed as a Table Estimate Costs of Riparian Forest Buffer (RFB) Construction and Table Estimated Costs of Livestock Stream Crossings (LSC) Construction and Table Estimated Costs of Streambank Fencing (SBF) Construction and Table Estimated Costs of Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) Implementation and vii

8 Table Estimated Costs of Stormwater Management (SWM) Construction and Table Estimated Costs of Stream Restoration (FGM) Construction and Table Estimated Costs of Wetlands Restoration (WRP) Construction and Table 4-1. Parties Responsible for Meeting Implementation Milestones Table 4-2. Schedule and Parties Responsible for Monitoring and Reporting Progress. Table 4-3. Implementation Schedule of Priority Restoration Activity by Subwatershed and Watershed Table 5-1. Agricultural Best Management Practices Implemented ( ) and Planned ( ) in Codorus Creek Watershed. Table 5-2. Stream Restoration Best Management Practices Implemented ( ) and Planned ( ) in Codorus Creek Watershed Table 5-3. Selected Agricultural BMPs for designated and mapped targeted areas for additional controls. Table 5-4. PRedICT Model Data Fields Table 5-5. PRedICT Model Scenario Inputs for Ag-BMP Implementation in the Codorus Creek Watershed Table 5-6. PRedICT Model Scenario Inputs for Stream Restoration BMP Implementation in the Codorus Creek Watershed Table 5-7. PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag-BMPs Implemented in SBCC-1 TMDL Area Table 5-8. PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag Plus Stream Restoration BMPs Implemented in SBCC-1 TMDL Area Table 5-9. PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag-BMPs Implemented in SBCC-2 TMDL Area Table PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag Plus Stream Restoration BMPs Implemented in SBCC-2 TMDL Area Table PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag Plus Stream Restoration BMPs Implemented in Non-TMDL Area Table PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag-BMP Implemented in Oil Creek TMDL Area Table PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag-BMP Implemented in Oil Creek TMDL Area Table PRedICT Load Reductions for Ag-BMP Implemented in Oil Creek Non- TMDL Area Table 6-1. Milestones for Achieving Pollutant Load and Water Quality Standards by viii

9 Subwatershed and Watershed Table 6-2. Milestones to the character and magnitude of impairments in each subwatershed, specifying parameters, location and frequency of sampling. Table 6-3. Schedule and Parties Responsible for Monitoring and Reporting Progress. Table 7-1. Environmental Indicators Used to Identify Relationships Between Pollutant Sources and Watershed Conditions Table 7-2. Logical Model for Water Quality Improvements of Codorus Creek Table 7-3. Indicators Used To Track Implementation Progress Table 7-4. Performance Indicators Used to Develop Targets to Measure Progress in Meeting Watershed Goals Table 8-1. Stakeholders and Their Roles in the Codorus Creek Watershed Table 8-2. Designated Watershed Advisory Group Table 8-3. Anticipated Annual Costs for Information/Education Activities Table 9-1. Cost estimates for seven selected BMPs for designated and mapped targeted areas Table 9-2. Evaluation of sources of technical and financial assistance needed for plan implementation Table 9-3. Evaluation of other sources of funding for plan implementation ix

10 Introduction The Codorus Creek Watershed Association (CCWA) was formed in 1998 as a non-profit organization to promote the New Codorus Legacy: "To restore, enhance, sustain, and protect the Codorus Creek Watershed and its environs for future generations and as a living resource for biodiversity." Since its inception the CCWA has been very active in the stream cleanups, education workshops, monitoring, and general promotion of the Codorus as a valuable York County resource. With the completion of the assessment of the West Branch of the Codorus in 2003, the entire watershed has been assessed. The assessment of the South and East Branches of the Codorus (40% of the entire watershed) were completed between 1999 and These assessments were sponsored by the York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America to identify impaired reaches of stream and prioritize stream restoration efforts. Realizing that the key to long term restoration is to develop a restoration plan, the CCWA was successful in securing funding to complete the assessment of the remaining streams and in the Codorus Creek watershed. The assessment methodology used was consistent with the South and East Branch assessments. The assessment of the West Branch and main stem of the Codorus Creek was completed with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Program, Glatfelter, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The CCWA contracted with Aquatic Resource Restoration Company (ARRC) of Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania, to perform the actual watershed assessment and to develop a restoration plan. Under this grant, the physical condition of all streams and contributing tributaries were assessed. The primary goal of these assessments was to identify all stream reaches, map impaired stream reaches, prioritize restoration efforts, and develop watershed restoration plans. The Codorus Creek Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Watershed implementation Plan, York County, Pennsylvania (hereinafter the WIP and Plan ), will serve as a management tool for local governing agencies and entities, nonprofit organizations, watershed groups, and other stakeholders for future stream restoration efforts in the watershed. Numerous governments, nonprofit and private interests have established partnerships with the common goal of improving aquatic habitat, designated uses, and water quality of the Codorus Creek and its many streams and tributaries. x