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Upper Mississinewa River Watershed Project. Stakeholder Meeting March 13, 2014. Selection Process Watershed Description Watershed Impairments Baseline Monitoring Timeframe. Agenda. Selection Process. Why Was Your Watershed Chosen?.
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Upper Mississinewa River Watershed Project Stakeholder Meeting March 13, 2014
Selection Process Watershed Description Watershed Impairments Baseline Monitoring Timeframe Agenda
Why Was Your Watershed Chosen? • Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) applied to IDEM for a watershed planning grant • The application was ranked against dozens from across the state • The grant was awarded due to the strong local partnerships, previous work that had been completed, and the ability to leverage with IDEM sampling needs
The Watershed Approach • Water quality problems generally do not begin in the stream • A problem-solving tool/decision-making model • Assessment • Identification • Stakeholder involvement • Implementation
Selection of Baseline Study Area Impairments Exist in Watershed PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP IDEMDevelopsTMDL Document Watershed Group works with community to develop WMP IDEM WSS works with group to get funding for planning Implement TMDL Document Watershed Group works with community to implement WMP IDEM WSS works with group to get funding for implementation Improve Water Quality
Identifying the pollutant Determining the current level of the pollutant Calculating the amount of the pollutantthat a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards A report of pollutant sources, needed reductions, and actions necessary to improve water quality A tool to guide watershed planning What Is a Total Maximum Daily Load?
Indiana’s NPS Program Program vision: “To restore waters impaired by nonpoint source pollution and maintain water quality in healthy watersheds through locally led partnerships.” • Goals of the State NPS Plan: • Utilize partnerships • Monitor/assess waters for impairments and improvements • Develop and conduct outreach and education programs • Improve Indiana’s water quality by reducing NPS pollutants • Protect sensitive, vulnerable and high quality waters
Stakeholders Who are stakeholders? • local decision makers • citizens • ag/urban representatives • drainage board • health department • business interests • schools/universities • neighborhoods • outdoor groups • parks department • builders/developers
TMDL vs. WMP TMDL WMP Public Concerns Water quality, physical and social data Problem identification Identify pollution sources Select critical areas Set goals and objectives Measures success • Water quality, physical and social data • Problem identification • Identify pollution sources • Identifies implementation areas and recovery potential • Recommends goals and objectives • Identifies current water quality actions
TMDL vs. WMP TMDL WMP Public Concerns Water quality, physical and social data Problem identification Identify pollution sources Select critical areas Set goals and objectives Measures success • Water quality, physical and social data • Problem identification • Identify pollution sources • Identifies implementation areas and recovery potential • Recommends goals and objectives • Identifies current water quality actions
Other Water Quality Sampling • Mississinewa River Watershed LARE Diagnostic Study (2004) • Upper Mississinewa River Watershed LARE Diagnostic Study (2009)
Draft 2012 303(d) Listings Approximately 139 stream miles impaired: 108 stream miles E. coli 7 stream miles Impaired Biotic Community (IBC) 82 stream miles Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) in fish tissue 82 stream miles Total Mercury (Hg)
Monitoring Overview • Monitoring willtake place April 2014 through March 2015 • 35 sampling sites • Data from 2 IDEM fixed stations will also be incorporated • Project Webpage: http://www.in.gov/idem/nps/2652.htm
2014-15 IDEM Monitoring • Water chemistry • Biological communities (fish and aquatic insects) • Bacteria concentrations (E. coli) • Flow at a subset of 10 sites
IDEM Sampling Sites in the Upper Mississinewa River Watershed
Monitoring Results • Watershed reassessment • Define impairments based on new data • Data Analysis • Use precipitation and flow to calculate pollutant loadings • Analysis of chemical, physical and biological measures to identify stressors/sources • Recovery Potential Tool • Restorability of water bodies • Write TMDL document
Review 303(d) list and sampling data Kickoff stakeholder meeting Gather information Conduct additional monitoring Reassess waterbodies Gather additional information and produce draft TMDL report Hold the draft TMDL stakeholder meeting 30-day comment period Revise draft TMDL and respond to comments on draft final TMDL Submit TMDL to U.S. EPA and receive final TMDL approval What Is the Process?
We need information on: Water quality data Possible pollution sources Potential stakeholders Studies, reports, documents Projects/BMP that have improved water quality IDEM Needs Your Help
Kickoff meeting: March 2014 Monitoring begins: April 2014 Monitoring ends: March 2015 Draft TMDL Meeting: Summer 2015 30-day Comment Period: Summer 2015 Final TMDL Report Submittal to U.S. EPA: Fall 2015 Upper Mississinewa River Watershed Schedule
Upper Mississinewa RiverProject Information • Project Webpage: http://www.in.gov/idem/nps/2652.htm • Location of Sampling Sites • Meeting Schedules • Project Workplan • Site Photos • Quarterly Data Results • Presentations
Selection of Baseline Study Area Impairments Exist in Watershed PARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP IDEMDevelopsTMDL Document Watershed Group works with community to develop WMP IDEM WSS works with group to get funding for planning Implement TMDL Document Watershed Group works with community to implement WMP IDEM WSS works with group to get funding for implementation Improve Water Quality
Ali Meils TMDL Project Manager Office of Water Quality IDEM 100 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251 Phone: (317) 308-3204 Fax: (317) 308-3219 E-mail: ameils@idem.IN.gov Contact Information Joe Schmees Watershed Specialist Office of Water Quality IDEM 100 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251 Phone: (317) 308-3197 Fax: (317) 308-3194 E-mail: jschmees@idem.IN.gov www.watersheds.IN.gov/2347.htm