MSD Water Quality Standards Academy

MSD Water Quality Standards Academy Patrick Fitzgerald, Senior Environmental Scientist, AECOM Kristen Dunaway, Water Policy Analyst, AECOM Kentucky Association of Mitigation Managers 2015 Annual Conference Jamestown, Kentucky

Presentation Overview Introduction Why Water Quality Standards (WQS) training? Training Development MS4 Co-Permittee Training 14-hour Training Benefits of Training Next Steps

Team Introductions MSD Stormwater Program Project support, review and funding Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) Materials review, resource materials US Environmental Protection Agency Resource materials AECOM Project management, materials development, review, presentation GeoMorphics, Inc. Materials development, review, presentation Moore Enterprises Review and coordination

Why Water Quality Standards Training? Are MSD Programs improving the streams in Jefferson County? How do we know if streams are improving or getting worse? What are Water Quality Standards? How do they affect MSD Programs and permits? What does "fishable" and "swimmable" really mean? Zorn Avenue Intake, Louisville, KY Kayaking on Floyds Fork Louisville Ironman

What are WQS? Clean Water Act foundation for all water quality regulatory programs The yardstick: Is water fishable, swimmable, suitable for water supplies? Wolf Pen Branch at Wolf Pen Branch Rd

Why CWA? Then Now

Why are WQS Important? Protect streams, rivers, lakes for human uses and natural resources Form the basis for permits Stormwater Wastewater Goose Creek at Westport Road

Multiple Programs Directed and Influenced by Water Quality Standards (WQS)! MS4 Program Wastewater Monitoring Construction Stormwater Water Quality Standards (WQS) Drainage CSO Abatement SSO Elimination

Training Goal: De-Mystify Water Quality Standards Explain major provisions of WQS Include KY information Describe how WQS affect MS4 Phase 1 and Phase 2 communities Outline varied resources

In Summary, WQS are The yardstick The foundation for water quality permits & programs Developed by states and approved by USEPA Reviewed every 3 years, updated as needed

Two Levels of Training Overview of WQS 2-hour short course MSD Directors MS4 Co-Permittees 17 participants MSD WQS Academy 14-hour course 4 days MSD Managers & Staff Invited Participants 86 participants

Overview of WQS 2-Hour short course Overview of WQS Major Provisions Implementing WQS Handouts Participant Survey St. Matthews Shively CSO Anchorage Jeffersontown MSD and Co-Permittees MS4 Service Area

MSD Water Quality Standards Academy 14-Hour Training (4 sessions) Waters of the US (WOTUS) Designated Uses Water Quality Criteria Antidegradation WQS Implementation Permits Monitoring Impaired Waters, TMDLs Tools for Water Quality Protection

Training Materials Presentations Exercises Homework Handouts Turning Point Software Daily Participant Surveys Certificate of Completion

Training Development USEPA 40 hour training National perspective MSD added KY WQS Program MSD Implementation water.epa.gov/learn/training/standardsacademy/ Local Flavor! KDOW Review & participation Help with questions Macroinvertebrate collection

Criteria Presentation Topics Designated uses establish water quality goals: Fishable Swimmable Water Supply Outstanding State Resource Water Implementation Criteria protect designated uses: Numeric Narrative Antidegradation limits lowering of water quality WQS apply to Waters of the US Waters of the US

Five Interactive Exercises 1. Is this a WOTUS? 2. Are the KY Metals Criteria Met? 3. Good Bugs/Bad Bugs 4. Bacteria Sources 5. Find the WQS in Permits

Interactive Exercises Designed to Reinforce Key Concepts Turning Point Software Participants used a Clicker Instant way to answer questions Instant response graphs Anonymous Pilot use by MSD at public meeting and trainings

Water Quality Standards reviewed every years? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. 5 1 2 40% 40% 20% 3 0% 4 0% 5

WQS Apply to Waters of the US US Constitution gives Congress authority to regulate interstate commerce. Navigable Waters are an important aspect of interstate commerce. Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates navigable waters and tributaries flowing to navigable waters (WOTUS)

Is THIS a WOTUS? A. Yes B. No 60% 40% Yes No South Fork Beargrass Creek

Projects Affected by WOTUS Regulations USACE Section 404 Permit Discharge of dredged or fill material in a WOTUS KY DOW 401 Permit to Construct along a Stream Construction within a WOTUS Signed by local Floodplain Coordinator MSD Local Floodplain Permit

Exercise: Good Bugs/Bad Bugs

My kicknet contains: scuds, aquatic worms, snails, leeches, and midges. My stream is likely: A. Urban Runoff B. A relatively undisturbed stream C. An Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW) 60% 40% Urban Runoff A relatively undisturbed... An Outstanding National... 0%

Criteria Major Provisions of WQS Implementation Criteria protect designated uses Designated uses establish water quality goals Antidegradation limits lowering of water quality WQS apply to Waters of the US Waters of the US

Designated Use vs. Existing Use Designated Use may be different from Existing Use!! Designated Use Water quality goals from the Clean Water Act Existing Use Actually attained on or after 11/28/1975 Baseline water quality Existing uses cannot be removed Rope swing after rain event into Beargrass Creek

Warm Water Aquatic Habitat (WAH) Designated Use (Goal) Surface water and substrate that can support naturally occurring aquatic organisms Most KY streams, lakes, including Jefferson County Muddy Fork Beargrass Creek at Mellwood Avenue Little Goose Creek at US 42

Cold Water Aquatic Habitat (CAH) Designated Use (Goal) Surface water and substrate that can support naturally occurring aquatic organisms or Self-sustaining or reproducing trout populations on a yearround basis Few KY streams None in Jefferson County

Primary Contact Recreation (PCR) Designated Use (Goal) Waters suitable for full body contact recreation May 1 to October 31 recreation season Most KY streams, lakes, including Jefferson County Louisville Ironman Competition

Secondary Contact Recreation (SCR) Designated Use (Goal) Suitable for partial body contact recreation All year Most KY streams, lakes, including Jefferson County Cedar Creek at Thixton Road Floyds Fork at Ash Avenue

Domestic Water Supply (DWS) Designated Use (Goal) Suitable for human consumption after conventional treatment Near existing intakes Ohio River at 2 Jefferson County locations

Format of Water Quality Criteria Narrative Numeric Equations Seasonal shall not be exceeded in surface water Y = 1.2 (Total ammonia- N)/(1 + 10 pka-ph ) shall not exceed 0.15 micrograms per liter May 1 through October 31 OR November 1 through April 30

Water Quality Criteria Key Points Over 150 water quality criteria adopted in KY Designed to protect designated uses Narrative, numeric, equations, seasonal criteria

Antidegradation Required component of WQS Policy to maintain and protect: Existing uses High quality waters Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW) 40 CFR 131.12 Federal Antidegradation Requirements 401 KAR 10:030 Kentucky Antidegradation policy implementation methodology

Homework Reinforcing Additional Key Concepts Homework Assignments for Days 1-3 1. Designated Uses 2. Metals Criteria 3. Dissolved Oxygen Reviewed in the next class Low participation rate Future rewards, competition?

Handouts & File Sharing Handouts Presentations Homework & Answers Links and Notes Acronyms & Glossary 2012 Integrated Report Tables for Jefferson County WOTUS Fact Sheet WQS Regulation File Sharing w/ Participants Posted to DropBox Posted on MSD Network

Daily Participant Surveys 2-page survey allowed participants to rate the WQS Academy Check boxes Narrative comments About 50% response rate Provided excellent feedback

Benefits of Training & Lessons Learned Increased awareness of water quality programs Internal cross training / job awareness Time for interactive discussion and questions Availability of KDOW to assist with questions

Next Steps Develop into ongoing, cross departmental training Facilitate interaction with partners on Water Quality Standards WQS Changes that Affect MSD and MS4 Draft 2014 303(d) List WQS Triennial Review Clean Water Rule WOTUS TMDLs 404/401 Permits Lab Certification Regulations

Questions???????????????

Thank You!