West Virginia Department West Virginia Department of Environmental of Environmental

ProtectionProtection

August 6, 2014

Moorefield City Hall

South Branch Potomac &South Branch Potomac &Shenandoah Hardy WatershedsShenandoah Hardy WatershedsTMDL Status Update MeetingTMDL Status Update Meeting

Agenda Agenda

““Introduction to TMDLs” recapIntroduction to TMDLs” recap

Overview of South Branch Overview of South Branch Potomac /Shenandoah Hardy Potomac /Shenandoah Hardy Watersheds TMDL Project & Watersheds TMDL Project & StatusStatus

Overview of Allocation Strategies Overview of Allocation Strategies

Discussion – Free form questions Discussion – Free form questions and answers and answers

What’s a TMDL?What’s a TMDL? ““Total Maximum Daily Load” Total Maximum Daily Load”

How much pollutant a stream can How much pollutant a stream can receive and remain healthyreceive and remain healthy

Pollution Budget - prescribes reductions Pollution Budget - prescribes reductions (where needed) of pollutants that result (where needed) of pollutants that result in the restoration of an impaired stream in the restoration of an impaired stream

TMDL development required by TMDL development required by Clean Water Act for streams Clean Water Act for streams impaired by a pollutantimpaired by a pollutant

TMDL = TMDL = WLA + WLA + LA + MOS LA + MOS = “sum of”= “sum of”

WLA = “wasteload WLA = “wasteload allocations” allocations”

LA = “load allocations”LA = “load allocations”

MOS = “margin of MOS = “margin of safety” safety”

WLAs - pollutant loads WLAs - pollutant loads from “point sources” from “point sources” Discharge from pointDischarge from point Need NPDES permitNeed NPDES permit

LAs - pollutant loads LAs - pollutant loads from “nonpoint sources” from “nonpoint sources” and backgroundand background Precipitation/runoff Precipitation/runoff

drivendriven No permit requiredNo permit required

What’s an impaired stream?What’s an impaired stream? Stream that doesn’t meet Stream that doesn’t meet water quality standardswater quality standards

West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47 West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47

CSR 2CSR 2 http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/

Rules/WVDEP_47CSR2_WQS_FinalRule%206_27_2011.pdfRules/WVDEP_47CSR2_WQS_FinalRule%206_27_2011.pdf

Standards include “Designated UsesStandards include “Designated Uses“

for WV waters and “water quality criteria”for WV waters and “water quality criteria”

to protect those usesto protect those uses

Criteria can be numeric or narrative Criteria can be numeric or narrative

Impaired streams enumerated in the 303(d) listImpaired streams enumerated in the 303(d) list

West Virginia Section 303(d) List / Integrated Report

Numeric Criteria of ConcernNumeric Criteria of Concern Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform

Water Contact Recreation/Public Water SupplyWater Contact Recreation/Public Water Supply Shall not exceed 200 counts/100ml as a monthly geometric Shall not exceed 200 counts/100ml as a monthly geometric

mean (5 samples/month) mean (5 samples/month) Nor to exceed 400 counts/100 ml in more than 10% of Nor to exceed 400 counts/100 ml in more than 10% of

samples in a monthsamples in a month

Total IronTotal Iron Aquatic Life/Public Water SupplyAquatic Life/Public Water Supply

Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l as a 4 day average concentration Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l as a 4 day average concentration more than once in a three year period more than once in a three year period

Not to exceed 1.0 mg/l as a 4 day average concentration Not to exceed 1.0 mg/l as a 4 day average concentration more than once in a three year period (S. F. Lunice - trout)more than once in a three year period (S. F. Lunice - trout)

Public Water Supply - 1.5 mg/l Public Water Supply - 1.5 mg/l

Numeric Criteria of ConcernNumeric Criteria of Concern

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen All usesAll uses

Unt/Robinson Run RM 2.84 Unt/Robinson Run RM 2.84 (Warmwater)(Warmwater)

Not less than 5.0 mg/l at any timeNot less than 5.0 mg/l at any time South Fork/Lunice Creek (Troutwaters)South Fork/Lunice Creek (Troutwaters)

Not less than 7.0 mg/l in spawning areas Not less than 7.0 mg/l in spawning areas and in any case not less that 6.0 mg/l at and in any case not less that 6.0 mg/l at any timeany time

Numeric Criteria of Concern (fecal)Numeric Criteria of Concern (fecal)

Fecal coliform is primary pollutant of concernFecal coliform is primary pollutant of concern

Fecal TMDLs for Anderson Run & Mill Creek Fecal TMDLs for Anderson Run & Mill Creek will superceede EPA TMDLswill superceede EPA TMDLs Undertaken in these watershed due to number of Undertaken in these watershed due to number of

impaired tributariesimpaired tributaries

All All otherother EPA fecal TMDLs will remain in EPA fecal TMDLs will remain in place place InsufficientInsufficient resources to re-evaluate resources to re-evaluate

Numeric Criteria of concern Numeric Criteria of concern (Iron & D.O.)(Iron & D.O.)

IronIron Certain fecal impaired streams were listed as iron Certain fecal impaired streams were listed as iron

impairedimpaired Comprehensive iron modeling was conducted on all 2014 Comprehensive iron modeling was conducted on all 2014

TMDL watershedsTMDL watersheds With no AMD sources in the watersheds, iron impacts are With no AMD sources in the watersheds, iron impacts are

related to sedimentrelated to sediment Draft will present TMDLs for streams impaired by modelingDraft will present TMDLs for streams impaired by modeling

Dissolved Oxygen evaluationDissolved Oxygen evaluation Evaluation will be conducted to determine if sources Evaluation will be conducted to determine if sources

addressed in fecal TMDL will result in improved DO (no addressed in fecal TMDL will result in improved DO (no formal modeling or TMDL for D.O.)formal modeling or TMDL for D.O.)

Narrative CriteriaNarrative CriteriaPrevious 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i AssessmentPrevious 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i Assessment

Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)

Stream scored based on abundance and type of Stream scored based on abundance and type of

bugs presentbugs present

Streams with impaired communities were placed on Streams with impaired communities were placed on

the 303(d) list and slated for TMDLsthe 303(d) list and slated for TMDLs

Narrative CriteriaNarrative Criteria2012 Legislative Changes2012 Legislative Changes

Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Act Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Act

Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative approval of Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative approval of new rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.inew rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.i

Section 22-11-7b : Section 22-11-7b : http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=22&art=11chap=22&art=11

No biological TMDLs are part of this effortNo biological TMDLs are part of this effort Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will

undergo Stressor Identification processundergo Stressor Identification process

Stressor Identification ProcessStressor Identification Process

Method to evaluate stressor/s of Method to evaluate stressor/s of biologically impacted streamsbiologically impacted streams

Process used to evaluate if numeric Process used to evaluate if numeric criteria TMDLs (iron, fecal) will criteria TMDLs (iron, fecal) will address biological stressorsaddress biological stressors

Information will be retained and may Information will be retained and may be used to delist streams in the futurebe used to delist streams in the future

Impaired WatersImpaired Waters

27 named streams in South Branch Potomac & 4 named streams in the Shenandoah Hardy watersheds27 named streams in South Branch Potomac & 4 named streams in the Shenandoah Hardy watersheds

(Mainstems not included)(Mainstems not included)

MDAS ModelMDAS Model

Watershed Model Watershed Model

Runs dynamically on a 1-hour time stepRuns dynamically on a 1-hour time step

Represents land use (hydrologic Represents land use (hydrologic

processes) and river processesprocesses) and river processes

Can include nonpoint and point sourcesCan include nonpoint and point sources

Streambank Erosion component - Bank Streambank Erosion component - Bank

Pin StudyPin Study

Modeling ApproachModeling Approach

Segment watershedSegment watershed

Configure model to represent all sourcesConfigure model to represent all sources

Calibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water qualityCalibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water quality Iron Iron FecalFecal SedimentSediment

Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing)Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing)

Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)

South Branch South Branch Potomac/Shenandoah Hardy Potomac/Shenandoah Hardy Watersheds Project StatusWatersheds Project Status

Completed:Completed:

Monitoring Monitoring

Source tracking Source tracking

Baseline Modeling Baseline Modeling

Bio. Stressor IdsBio. Stressor Ids

Status Update Status Update

MeetingMeeting

Next Steps:Next Steps:

AllocationsAllocations

Draft Document Draft Document

Public MeetingPublic Meeting

EPA ApprovalEPA Approval

Top-down approachTop-down approach

Headwater subwatersheds Headwater subwatersheds

analyzed firstanalyzed first

Allocation strategy dictates Allocation strategy dictates

order and magnitude of reductionorder and magnitude of reduction

If necessary, loads are reduced then routed If necessary, loads are reduced then routed to downstream subwatershedto downstream subwatershed

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

WVDEP priorities:WVDEP priorities: Ensure criteria compliance at all sws outletsEnsure criteria compliance at all sws outlets

Target the primary causative sourcesTarget the primary causative sources

Strategy in generalStrategy in general Critical conditions must be consideredCritical conditions must be considered

Sometimes only one significant source in swsSometimes only one significant source in sws

Always some amount of professional Always some amount of professional judgementjudgement

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

Fecal Coliform SourcesFecal Coliform Sources Point sourcesPoint sources

Package Plants Package Plants

Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe

illicit dischargesillicit discharges

Stormwater runoff from urban/residential Stormwater runoff from urban/residential landslands

Stormwater runoff from agricultural landsStormwater runoff from agricultural lands

Fecal Coliform StrategyFecal Coliform Strategy

100% reduction of all untreated sewage 100% reduction of all untreated sewage discharges (failing septics, straight pipes) discharges (failing septics, straight pipes) as required by WV Bureau for Public as required by WV Bureau for Public Health regulationsHealth regulations

Reductions based on Sensitivity analysis Reductions based on Sensitivity analysis to address severity of agricultural vs. to address severity of agricultural vs. urban/residential impacts urban/residential impacts

Metals (Fe) SourcesMetals (Fe) Sources Point sourcesPoint sources

Discharges from active quarry operationsDischarges from active quarry operations

Non-mining stormwater industrial dischargesNon-mining stormwater industrial discharges

Construction StormwaterConstruction Stormwater

Nonpoint sourcesNonpoint sources Streambank erosionStreambank erosion Sediment sources (forestry, oil and gas, roads, Sediment sources (forestry, oil and gas, roads,

agriculture, urban/residential) agriculture, urban/residential)

Iron Allocation StrategyIron Allocation Strategy

Reduction of streambank erosion to best Reduction of streambank erosion to best available in watershedavailable in watershed

Reduction of sediment sources, where Reduction of sediment sources, where necessary, to meet TSS loadings equal to 100 necessary, to meet TSS loadings equal to 100 mg/lmg/l

Future growth allowances for stormwater Future growth allowances for stormwater construction of 2.5% of subwatershed acreageconstruction of 2.5% of subwatershed acreage

WVDEP TMDL Process (4 WVDEP TMDL Process (4 yrs)yrs)

Stream Selection - (4/2011)Stream Selection - (4/2011)

Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and

characterization - (7/2011 – 6/2012)characterization - (7/2011 – 6/2012)

Contract to model water quality and hydrology – Contract to model water quality and hydrology –

(1/2013) (1/2013)

Determine baseline condition and allocate Determine baseline condition and allocate

pollutant loads – in progresspollutant loads – in progress

Report developmentReport development

Finalization and EPA approvalFinalization and EPA approval

South Branch Potomac/Shenandoah South Branch Potomac/Shenandoah Hardy Watershed TMDL Path Hardy Watershed TMDL Path

ForwardForward DEP/Tetra Tech will allocate loads and DEP/Tetra Tech will allocate loads and

wasteloads and develop draft reportwasteloads and develop draft report

Formal public comment period and public Formal public comment period and public meeting on the draft TMDLs in meeting on the draft TMDLs in Fall 2014Fall 2014

DEP will address comments, prepare final DEP will address comments, prepare final draft and submit to EPA for approval draft and submit to EPA for approval (final draft will include Response (final draft will include Response Summary)Summary)

Contact InformationContact Information

Comments should be submitted to Steve Young Comments should be submitted to Steve Young at Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov at Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov (10 meg limit for (10 meg limit for email)email)

Questions - contact Dave Montali, Jim Laine, Questions - contact Dave Montali, Jim Laine, Mike McDaniel Mike McDaniel (304) 926-0499(304) 926-0499 David.A.Montali@wv.gov, David.A.Montali@wv.gov,

James.C.Laine@wv.gov, or James.C.Laine@wv.gov, or Michael.L.McDaniel@wv.govMichael.L.McDaniel@wv.gov

Discussion/Discussion/Questions...Questions...