Department of Environmental Quality Tools for Better Restoration and Protection Planning

1. January 5, 2016 Department of Environmental QualityTools for Better Restoration and Protection Planning

2. 4b versus 5r 4b Demonstration Have to do it. • 1. Identification of segment and statement of problem causing the impairment • 2. Description of the pollution controls and how they will achieve WQS, including a description of the “requirements” under which the controls will be implemented • 3. An estimate or projection of the time when WQS will be met • 4. Schedule for implementing pollution controls • 5. Monitoring plan to track effectiveness of pollution controls • 6. Commitment to revise pollution controls, as necessary Department of Environmental Quality

3. 4b versus 5r 5r Have to do it eventually • Identify and quantify sources of pollution in watershed • Identify water quality target or goal and pollutant reductions needed to achieve goal • Identify the best management practices (BMPs) that will help to achieve reductions needed to meet water quality goal/target • Describe the financial and technical assistance needed to implement BMPs identified in Element 3 • Describe the outreach to stakeholders and how their input was incorporated and the role of stakeholders to implement the plan • Estimate a schedule to implement BMPs identified in plan • Describe the milestones and estimated time frames for the implementation of BMPs Department of Environmental Quality

4. 4b versus 5r 4b Demonstrations being developed as opportunities arise – not WQ27 5r based plans being developed by NC for 8 Assessment Units. These are the Watershed Action Plans Potential to evolve a WAPs into 4b Demonstrations Both approaches require the same basic components (elements) WAP schedule and resources are phased as they become available 4b schedule is more certain and resources are committed as part of the approval process Department of Environmental Quality

5. 4b versus 5r Advantages of developing WAPs (5r) • Quick way to get a restoration plan underway with limited resources • Implementation not required but heavily encouraged • Very flexible and can address multiple parameters and issues • Only requires EPA amenability- it is not a delisting Advantages of developing a 4b Demonstration • It’s a delisting • Puts restoration responsibility in the hands of local entity • Implementation is required • Commitment to revisit the approach is built in • Monitoring component can be more robust than WAP Department of Environmental Quality

6. General Approach There are a lot of water resource restoration and protection needs Money is limited Resource problems can often cover large areas Plans are complicated often expensive develop Plans are not being implemented Money is limited Work that is happening is not being accounted for in a meaningful way Not able to leverage the capacity of the masses (crowd sourcing) Resources, Opportunity and Capacity not coordinated Money is limited Department of Environmental Quality

7. Current Conditions 2,198 Waters not on 303d list 167 Water Resource condition We do not Know 9,718 OK Not OK 1,261 Waters on 303d list Time Department of Environmental Quality

8. Total Maximum Daily Loads -TMDL Water Resource condition OK Time ??? Not OK TMDL Plan Time Department of Environmental Quality

9. TMDL Alternatives Water Resource condition OK 4b Demonstrations Not OK Watershed Action Plans (9 element) Time Department of Environmental Quality

10. Protection Plans Protection Plans Water Resource condition OK Not OK Time Department of Environmental Quality

11. Plan Problems They may need to cover large areas Some drainage areas may require 1,000+ potential fixes Doing a detailed and realistically implementable plan at these scales would and has used a lot of resources Reality check- some the fixes that get identified in great detail have low probability of ever being implemented do to multiple constraints- mostly a lack of opportunity Tracking implementation and plan updates require resources Trouble getting cooperators and commitments Department of Environmental Quality

12. Watershed Action Plans • Identify the priority work area • General identification of the water quality problems and stressors • A deliberate workflow to later identify specific solutions • General ballpark discussion of costs • A schedule to start getting projects lined up in the WAP • Get the team together based on who can do what kind of fixes • Help target funding sources • Outline the process for success criteria and how we will track success • Make the process available to all comers • Mechanism to develop protection assurance • Send this information to the “CLOUD” Department of Environmental Quality

13. Implementation Plan Implementation Plan for specific project areas • The Resource, Opportunity and Capacity (ROC) has been found • 319 Grant Applications • Construction Plans • Fill out the 9+ elements in as much detail as possible • Get accurate costing numbers Department of Environmental Quality

14. Work Flows and Tools • Speed up and cost down plan development • Online mapped based • Self-building • Tablet/phone applications • Flesh out all the elements/components • Education Tool • Leverage citizen science • Schools The general idea is to not spend a lot of resources on the plan Department of Environmental Quality

15. Work Flows and Tools Web Demo GSOT Roles and Responibilities Department of Environmental Quality