W ATER R ESOURCES P LANNING (ACT 220) and the S TATE W ATER P LAN

1. WATER RESOURCES PLANNING (ACT 220) and the STATE WATER PLAN

2. Questions that need to be answered… • How much water do we have ? • How much water do we use ? • How much water do we need?

3. Question? • When will the next drought hit Pennsylvania?

4. THE ACT

5. Act 220 of 2002Water Resources Planning Act • Update the State Water Plan by 2008 • Register and Report Certain Water Withdrawals • Identify Critical Water Planning Areas • Create Critical Area Resource Plans • Establish Voluntary Water Conservation Program

6. THE PLAN

7. State Water Plan • Updates every 5 years • 6 Regional Components (Chapters) will be developed that will be incorporated into a State Water Plan

8. State Water Plan • Inventory Water Resources (surface/GW/safe yield) • Assessment/Projection of Future Use/Needs/ Demands • Identify Potential Conflicts/Problems • Identify Critical Water Planning Areas • Assessment of Current/Future Capabilities of Public Water Supplies

9. State Water Plan • Assessment of Floodplain/Stormwater Problems • Assessment of Navigation Needs • Assessment of Significant Water Resources

10. State Water Plan • Process for Identifying Water Reduction Projects/Practices • Identification of Practical Water Supply Alternatives to meet Existing/Future Needs • Structural/Nonstructural Alternatives to Address Availability Problems • Review/Evaluation of Statutes/Regulations/Policies • Review/Evaluation of Water Management Program Alternatives to meet Regional Needs • Implementation Plan

11. State Water Plan Considerations • Interconnection –Ground/Surface Water • Regional Water Resource Needs and Priorities • Federal, State, and Interstate Water Resource Policies, Plans, Priorities, Etc. • Needs and Priorities of Comprehensive Plans and Zoning • Water Quantity/Quality Necessary to Support Reasonable/ Beneficial Uses • Balance Multiple Uses • Distinction Between Long /Short Term Uses • Benefits/Costs/Environmental and Social Impacts • Equal/Uniform Treatment of All Water Users

12. Uses of State Water Plan • Policy and Guidance Document • Provides Information, Objectives, practices and recommendations to help the private sector and government make informed decisions • Does not contain prohibitions or prescriptions

13. Registration

14. Registration • All public Water supply agencies • All hydropower facilities • All users of 10,000 gallons a day or more in a 30 day period

15. Registration • Paper forms • Web registration through GreenPort • Forms and registration available on the DEP website http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/watermgt/wc/Act220/Registration/Default.htm 1-888-457-6653

16. Registration • Registration for existing users is overdue and the Statewide committee and DEP are evaluating options for increasing compliance for those who must register • Agricultural and Non-agricultural forms are available for registration

17. Registration • The Environmental Quality Board (EQB) must adopt regulations addressing: • Registration • Periodic Reporting • Record-keeping

18. Critical Water Planning Areas, Critical Area Resource Plans, & Critical Area Advisory Committees

19. Critical Water Planning Areas (CWPA) • A “Critical Water Planning Area” is • A significant hydrologic unit • where existing or future demands • exceed or threaten to exceed • safe yield of available water resources

20. Critical Water Planning Areas • Developed on a Watershed basis • Upon designation as a CWPA, Critical Area Resource Plans or “water budgets” will be developed, and • Critical Area Advisory Committees will be formed

21. Critical Water Planning Areas • CWPAs may be designated: • In the State Water Plan • In advance of the State Water Plan by the Statewide committee and DEP, upon recommendation of a Regional Committee, if justified by evidence developed during the planning process

22. Critical Area Resource Plans (CARP) • CARPs will be developed by the Regional Committees and approved by the Statewide Committee and DEP

23. Critical Area Resource Plans • Include a water availability evaluation • Identify existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses • Identify anticipated future needs • Assess water quality and water quantity issues • Identify existing and potential adverse impacts on water resources uses

24. Critical Area Advisory Committees • Purpose: • Evaluate policy, program and management alternatives and advise the regional committee and DEP • Membership: Gov. Agencies, Agricultural, Public Water Supply, Industrial and other users, Environmental, and others with background in water resources planning and management

25. Voluntary Water Conservation

26. Voluntary Water Conservation Program • Formal program to promote water conservation and water use efficiency • Establish a Water Resource Technical Assistance Center to promote water conservation and efficiency education and technical assistance • Grants for water resources education and technical assistance

27. THE STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEES

28. Statewide Water Resources Committee • Purpose: • Recommend to the Secretary the approval and adoption of the State Water Plan, including the regional components

29. Statewide Water Resources Committee • Membership (24 voting): • 6 from regional committees appointed House and Senate Leadership • 6 from cross section of water user interest appointed by the Governor • 6 from local government, environmental and professional groups appointed by the Governor • DEP, AG, DCNR, PFBC, PUC, PEMA voting members • DCED, GCLGS, Compact Commissions (ex officio non voting members)

30. Subcommittees • Policy & Integration • Critical Water Planning Area • Public Outreach

31. Statewide Committee Role • Recommend approval of the State Water Plan, including regional components, to the Secretary of DEP; • Assist with public outreach activities; • Recommend approval of Policies and Guidelines for Preparing the State Water Plan to the Secretary of the DEP; and • Review and comment on regulations for the registration and reporting of water usage.

32. Regional Water Resources Committees • Purpose: • Guide the development of Regional Plan Component and recommend to Statewide Committee for Incorporation into the State Water Plan

33. Delaware Upper/Middle Susquehanna Lower Susquehanna Ohio Lake Erie/Genesee Potomac 6 Regional Water Resources Committees

34. Water Planning Regions

35. Regional Water Resources Committees • Membership (22 voting): • Four Planning Commission and Conservation District Members (minimum of 2) • Two Agriculture (1) Production and (1) Horticulture • One Public Water Supply Agency Rep. • One Public Waste Water Agency Rep. • Three Industrial, Commercial, Energy Development and Production • Three Environmental and Conservation Interest • Four Water Resource Professional (1) Registered Geologist • Three Local Government (other than counties) • Department Employee (non-voting) • Compact Commission Representative

36. Regional Committee Role • Recommend the regional components of the State Water Plan to the Statewide Committee; • Consult with DEP and the Statewide Committee during the planning process; • Recommend CWPAs to DEP and the Statewide Committee; and • Conduct appropriate public outreach during development of the regional components of the Plan.

37. Committee Activities

38. Regional Committee Priorities • (Insert regional priorities for your region)

39. Public Involvement • 3 formal stages of public involvement: • Educate the Public • Fact Sheets • Universal Message – “Planning Today for Generations Yet to Come” • Presentations and discussions • Focused Meetings on Regional Issues • Presentation of DraftRegional Plans and Public Comment Period • The Public may also participate in Regional and Statewide Committee Meetings

40. Act 220 Contact Information Act 220 Hotline: (888)457-6653 DEP Water Planning Office (717)783-4693 Name (###)###-#### Chair, ___Regional Committee Don Bluedorn (412)394-5400 Chair, Statewide Committee

41. Questions?