Water Quality in Athens- Clarke County Mayor and Commission Work Session 1 December 8, 2015 Purpose Provide background on why the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (ACCUG) is involved with water quality issues Discuss water quality issues in Georgia Discuss water quality issues in Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Review potential causes of stream impairments in ACC Outline measures that ACCUG undertakes to improve and maintain water quality 2 Public Utilities Department activities Transportation and Public Works Department activities 1
Background Through permit mechanisms, ACCUG is responsible for helping Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) assess water quality for the Federal Clean Water Act Stormwater and wastewater permits focus on watershed management ACC Public Utilities Department wastewater permittee Water quality and biological monitoring since 2005 Watershed Protection Plan approved in 2011 ACC Transportation and Public Works stormwater permittee Water quality management through its stormwater permit since 2003 Watershed data collection since 2009 3 Water Quality in Georgia The State has assessed ~14,000 miles of streams in Georgia 59% of the assessed streams have poor water quality 33% of the assessed streams have poor water quality due to fecal coliform bacteria 4 2
Water Quality in Georgia 5 Water Quality in Athens-Clarke County Fecal Coliform Impairment (19 stream segments) 46 miles of stream segments within ACC 31 miles of stream segments with portions located outside of ACC Other Impairments Carr Creek for poor fish communities Kingswood Branch for elevated ph Middle Oconee River, as it enters ACC from Jackson County, for poor macroinvertebrate communities Noketchee Creek, originating in Madison County, for poor fish communities 6 3
Water Quality in Athens-Clarke County 7 Potential Sources of Impairment Fecal Coliform Levels above state standards are found in urban areas, agricultural areas, and national forest areas Not unique to Georgia, similar levels are seen in streams across the nation EPD is evaluating other indicators of human waste materials and bacteria that can be correlated to human illness (GAEPD, 2014) Data from some PUD screening sites suggest that bacteria concentrations are high as streams enter the County 8 4
Potential Sources of Impairment Fish Communities in Carr Creek Industrial watershed could contribute to water quality concerns Drains an abandoned commercial fertilizer production site; historical site operations led to groundwater contamination likely contributing to ongoing water quality problems in Carr Creek (GAEPD, 2003) Per GAEPD, the results of a corrective action plan that was implemented at the site are being evaluated; water quality improvements have yet to be documented 9 How PUD is Improving & Maintaining Water Quality PUD implements multiple programs to improve water quality Measures to comply with NPDES wastewater permit Additional activities above and beyond their permit Water quality measures are focused on identifying and correcting inflow and infiltration (I&I) to PUD sewers Reduce the volume of sanitary sewer overflows Reduce the volume of wastewater at plants 10 5
How PUD is Improving & Maintaining Water Quality Wastewater Permit Compliance Instream Water Quality Monitoring Six years of data (2005, 2011-2015), currently ongoing Dissolved oxygen, ph, conductivity, turbidity, temperature at 10 locations Fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) at 10 locations Nutrients, organic matter, and metals during wet- and dry-weather at 6 locations Instream Biological Monitoring Three years of data (2005, 2012, 2014), currently ongoing, required every 2 years Fish community assessments at 7 locations Benthic macroinvertebrate assessments at 7 locations Physical habitat assessments at 7 locations Watershed Protection Plan Annual Report to GAEPD 11 How PUD is Improving & Maintaining Water Quality Additional Activities Instream Water Quality Monitoring Six years of data (2005, 2011-2015); currently ongoing Dissolved oxygen, ph, conductivity, turbidity, temperature at 8 locations Fecal coliform and E. coli at 8 locations Comprehensive Flow Monitoring (2002, 2010, and 2012) Dynamic Sewer Modeling Sewer System Inspections Closed-circuit television (CCTV), pole camera, and off-road camera equipment Smoke and dye tests Rodder and flush trucks Sewer System Rehabilitation Projects 12 6
13 PUD sampling stations (2005 present) How PUD is Improving & Maintaining Water Quality Success & Next Steps Sanitary sewer overflows were reduced by 89% from 2010 to 2014 Continue to implement water quality measures previously discussed and submit Annual Reports to GAEPD The 2015 Service Delivery Plan outlines major sewer rehabilitation projects Identified through field surveys and modeling Expected to greatly decrease the amount of I&I in the sewer system 14 7
Best Management Practices for Impaired Waterways and Watershed Management Transportation and Public Works, Stormwater Management Program 15 How T&PW is improving water quality Infrastructure Improvements Areawide Stormwater Master Plan Drainage Improvements to address water quantity deficiencies Measuring Stream Health Watershed Characterizations Stream walks, data collection, best management practice recommendations Monitoring Water Quality Creating Impaired Waters Monitoring Plan Delisting our streams through monitoring 16 8
Infrastructure improvements T&PW developed Areawide Stormwater Master Plan to address flooding concerns throughout the county. The plan resulted in 59 Level I drainage improvements Since 2000, T&PW has completed 60% of the Level 1 priority drainage improvements throughout the county. 17 Images of flooding on Baxter Street Measuring stream health Watershed characterizations use physical, chemical and biological data to determine stream health and make recommendations for improving or maintaining water quality. These characterizations allow ACC to be proactive with water quality and go above and beyond the permit requirements. 18 ACC Staff conducting a stream walk in Trail Creek 9
Measuring stream health The county has completed 6 watershed characterizations and is working on completing 3 more. Completed Tanyard Creek Hunnicutt Creek Brooklyn Creek West fork of Trail Creek Shoal Creek Cedar Creek In progress McNutt Creek Carr Creek Big Creek 19 Monitoring water quality Impaired Waters Monitoring Plan State required sampling plan to address the 82 miles of impaired stream segments ACC streams are impaired for Fecal Coliform (FC), ph, Fish Bioassessments (BioF), and Macroinvertabrate Bioassessments (BioM) Fecal coliform impairment (19 stream segments) 46 miles of stream segments completely within ACC 31 miles of stream segments with portions located outside of ACC 20 10
Developing the Monitoring Program Step 1: Identify the impaired waters within Athens-Clarke County 21 Impaired Waters List Creek Name Pollutant Extent (miles) Cause Brooklyn Creek Fecal Coliform 2 Urban Runoff Carr Creek Fecal Coliform, Fish Biota 2 Industrial Facility, Urban Runoff Cedar Creek Fecal Coliform 4 Urban Runoff Cloverhurst Branch Fecal Coliform 2 Urban Runoff East Fork Trail Creek Fecal Coliform 3 Urban Runoff Hunnicutt Creek (Mitchell Bridge Branch) Fecal Coliform 1 Urban Runoff 22 Kingswood Branch Fecal Coliform, ph 1 Urban Runoff McNutt Creek Fecal Coliform 12 Nonpoint Sources, Urban Runoff Middle Oconee River Fecal Coliform, Macroinvertebrate Biota 11 Nonpoint Sources Middle Oconee River Fecal Coliform 12 Nonpoint Sources Middle Oconee River Fecal Coliform 4 Urban Runoff Noketchee Creek Fish Biota 5 Nonpoint Sources, Urban Runoff North Bypass Branch Fecal Coliform 2 Urban Runoff North Oconee River Fecal Coliform 2 Nonpoint Sources North Oconee River Fecal Coliform 8 Municipal Facility, Urban Runoff Oconee River Fecal Coliform 4 Urban Runoff Tanyard Creek Fecal Coliform 1 Urban Runoff Trail Creek Fecal Coliform 2 Urban Runoff Tributary to Middle Oconee River Fecal Coliform 1 Nonpoint Sources, Urban Runoff West Fork Trail Creek Fecal Coliform 3 Urban Runoff 11
Clarke County Impaired Waters 23 Developing the Monitoring Program Step 2: Determine sample locations, sample types, and frequency of sample collection 24 12
Impaired Water Monitoring 25 Developing the Monitoring Plan Step 3: Future Steps to Delist Streams 26 13
Plan s future elements Fecal Source Tracking Stream Restorations Public Education and Outreach Programs Septic Tank Maintenance Pet Waste Management 27 Fecal Source Tracking Fecal Source Tracking lets us know where the fecal is coming from Potential sources Human Dogs Wildlife Agricultural runoff 28 14
Stream restorations Stream restoration brings back natural stream functions and improves water quality Stream restoration requires Restoration of native vegetation Restoration of riparian habitat Result in restoration of fish and other animal communities 29 Planned stream restoration Target streams for stream restoration: Brooklyn Creek Carr Creek Cedar Creek Trail Creek stream buffer work day. Native species planting along Trail Creek. 30 15
Planned stream restoration 31 Public outreach Continue targeted public outreach Septic inventory and education program Pet waste program Rain harvesting program Education and outreach programs exceed permit requirements 32 16
Next steps Will have a Water Quality Master Plan in 2 years Mirrors the Stormwater Quantity Master Plan that guided successful flood control measures Builds on the watershed characterizations and the impaired waters monitoring plan for all 17 drainage basins Use the Water Quality Master Plan to identify key improvement projects Projects could include stream restorations, man-made wetlands, and other mitigation measures Projects would be funded through a combination of Stormwater Utility and SPLOST funds 33 Questions 34 17