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Explore the roles and responsibilities of different water management agencies at the local, regional, state, and multistate levels. Learn about their funding sources, infrastructure management, and pollution prevention initiatives.
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Chapter 10 Local, Regional, State, and Multistate Water Management Agencies
Chapter Headings • Local water agencies • Regional water agencies • State water agencies • Multistate water agencies • Water management in Mexico and Canada
Municipal Water Departments • Provide drinking water to residents and manage wastewater • Funding derived from fees (water bills) and local taxes • Responsibility may include construction and operation of • Reservoirs • Transmission pipelines • Drinking water treatment plants • Wastewater treatment plants • Sewer lines • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)
MS4 • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) • Federal program to reduce urban stormwater pollutants to Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP) • Required to have point source NPDES permit • Permit comes up for review every 5 years
MS4 • Cities must develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) • SWPP must cover • Public education and participation • Detection and elimination of illicit discharges • Construction site runoff • Post-construction site runoff • Pollution prevention
MS4 • SWPPP must identify best management practices (BMP) to be used • BMPs for controlling illicit discharge • Develop a map of sewer system • Pass an ordinance prohibiting illicit discharges • Develop a plan to detect illicit discharges • Develop an education program Wash water from a commercial car wash discharging down a storm drain is an illicit dishcarge
MS4 • BMPs for construction phase • Sediment basins • Rock rip rap • Composting • Hydroseeding • Sodding • Silt fences • Etc.
MS4 • BMPs for post construction phase • Nonstructural BMPs such as planning and ordinances • Structural BMPs such as various forms of Low Impact Development (LID) • LID practices try to restore the predevelopment hydrograph • Infiltrate runoff water close to the source
MS4 • Key to success of MS4 program is funding • MS4 program is funded by a local charge on city dwellers • Usually part of water bill • Referred to as “Stormwater utility fee” • Athens Clarke County MS4 program • https://www.athensclarkecounty.com/1862/Stormwater-Utility-Fee
Green Roofs • Gwinnet Environmental and Heritage Center • http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=408 Rooftop garden Cambridge MA
Rain garden Bioretention area or rock garden
Rain garden Asheville NC Arboretum
Chapter Headings • Local water agencies • Regional water agencies • State water agencies • Multistate water agencies • Water management in Mexico and Canada
Regional Water Agencies • Serve several counties and/or cities • Consolidation minimizes costs of administration • Examples are • Ditch and Irrigation Companies in the west • Water Management Districts in FL • Levee Districts along the Mississippi
Ditch and Irrigation Companies • Only found west of the Mississippi River • In 1800’s funding for construction of early diversion dams and irrigation ditches in the west was provided by investors • Sold stock in ditch and irrigation companies • As a stock owner you had a right to water once the system was built • Irrigation districts evolved during the early 1900’s • Became the local partner for Bureau of Reclamation • USBR constructed dams and canals with federal funds • Irrigation districts run day-to-day operations and collect local taxes and fees
Ditch and Irrigation Companies • Example is the Farwell Irrigation District in Farwell, Nebraska • Provides irrigation water to 50,000 acres • Diversion dam on the Middle Loup River • 400 miles of delivery canals • 38 pumping plants • Governed by federal law and USBR policy • Staff of 20 employees • Governed by a 3-member board of directors
Regional Water Agencies • Water Management Districts – Florida • Although FL has high average annual rainfall (53 in) it has severe water supply problems • Severe drought in 1960s caused water supply shortages and fires in Everlgades • Water Resources Act in 1972 created water management districts
Regional Water Agencies • Water management districts collect taxes • Manage surface and groundwater • Districts follow water basin boundaries roughly • Regulate water use through • Permits • Contract with federal water agencies • Develop water management plans
Chapter Headings • Local water agencies • Regional water agencies • State water agencies • Multistate water agencies • Water management in Mexico and Canada
State Water Agencies • Most states have several agencies that manage water • Usually these consist of • Agency dealing with water quality • Agency dealing with wildlife • Agency dealing with water quantity
Georgia Water Management • Georgia Department of Natural Resources has the following divisions (among others): • Environmental Protection Division • Water quality, administers federal Clean Water Act, TMDLs, NPDES permits, animal waste regulations • Wildlife Resources Division • Regulates hunting and fishing, protects non-game and endangered species • Coastal Resources Division • Manages marshes, beaches, and marine fisheries
Georgia Water Management • In 2004, Georgia Legislature passed a bill directing EPD to develop a statewide comprehensive water management plan by 2006 • House Bill 237 • http://www.georgiawaterplanning.org/
Chapter Headings • Local water agencies • Regional water agencies • State water agencies • Multistate water agencies • Water management in Mexico and Canada
Multistate Water Agencies • Chesapeake Bay Commission formed in 1980 • Advises state legislatures in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania on managing Bay and watershed • Overall goal is to improve water quality in the Bay by preventing upstream pollution • Focus on reducing phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to BayRecent report concluded that plan is not working • Facing Facts in the Chesapeake Bay
Chapter Summary • Water management agencies exist at different levels from local to multistate • Municipal water and sewer agencies and irrigation districts are important local agencies • State agencies manage water quality, quantity, wildlife, and in some cases water quantity • Georgia is in the process or developing a comprehensive water management plan