How Does Sprawl Affect Water Quality

1. How Does Sprawl Affect Water Quality Eric Hammerling, Executive Director Farmington River Watershed Association

2. Protecting the Farmington for Over 50 Years 1953 2005 Research Education Advocacy

3. The Farmington River Watershed

4. Are we Sprawling or Have we Sprawled? Simsbury Statistics: Size of Simsbury: 22,002 acres Population in 1950: 4,822 Population in 2004: 23,504 People per 5 acres in 1950: 1 People per 5 acres in 2004: 5.3 Change in developed land (1985-2002): +13%

7. Where does the rain go? • 70% returns to atmosphere • 29.7% runs off over land to rivers • Only 0.3% infiltrates into groundwater & aquifers

8. How does Sprawl affect the environment? Sprawl Fragmented natural areas More Impervious Surfaces Loss of Biodiversity Water Quality problems + Higher Risk of flooding

9. The Impacts of Sprawl on Rivers • Increased stormwater runoff • Increased flood peaks • More frequent flooding • Lower dry weather flows • Less groundwater recharge

10. Less Groundwater – As more water runs off the urban/suburban landscape, less water is able to soak into the soil and replenish public and private well water systems.

11. The “stuff” in stormwater: • Sediment • Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) • Metals • Pesticides/herbicides • Bacteria • Hydrocarbons Sprawl = Stormwater runoff

12. Q: Why does water quality get worse in the River every time it rains? A: Hmmm.. . I wonder.

13. Sprawl = Water Quality

14. One Acre Parking Lot vs. One Acre Meadow Source: Center For Watershed Protection

15. As If You Needed More Evidence . . . • 2003 UConn Study by Clausen, et al.: Found direct relationship between increases in impervious cover and increases in Fecal Coliform, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in CT rivers and streams. • 2004 UConn Study by Hurd, et al.: Found direct relationship between increases in imperviousness and increases in Chloride, Fecal Coliform, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Total Residues, and Turbidity.

19. The Result: Water Quality Problems In Fall of 2002, a 19.6 mile stretch of the Farmington River was added to the State’s “impaired waters” list for elevated bacteria levels.

21. What is an aquifer? Aquifer literally means “water bearer.” Underground aquifers store groundwater and supply wells or springs. 1/3rd of Connecticut’s population depends on groundwater for drinking water. If contaminated, aquifers can be very difficult/expensive to clean-up.

22. 1 Simsbury’s Aquifers 1. Bissell Brook 2. Hoskins 3. Tariffville 4. Stratton Brook 5. Nod Road * Designated for areas serving over 1,000 people 2 3 4 5

23. Stratton Brook Aquifer Stats • 1,977 acres • 2.9 mgd capacity • 10,500+ water users in Simsbury • 815 acres “developed” (41%) • 1,162 acres “undeveloped” (59%) • of this undeveloped land area, 168+ acres may soon be considered for development Stratton Brook Aquifer 4

24. What can be done?

25. To Protect Sensitive Groundwater Resources • Consider amending existing zoning regulations to include additional site plan review, best management practices (BMP’s), a preference for low-risk uses, and/or permit standards that help protect groundwater quality in aquifer protection areas; • Educate businesses, private landowners, and local officials on ways to prevent groundwater contamination; • Avoid large construction projects including, but not limited to, sanitary sewer infrastructure extensions; • Consider protecting undeveloped areas within aquifer protection zones as open space forever.

26. To Reduce Stormwater Pollution • Encourage vegetated buffer areas adjacent to wetlands, rivers, and streams; • Discourage new construction or septic fields within the vegetated buffer areas; • Utilize Best Management Practices to infiltrate stormwater locally rather than shunt it directly into local streams; • Use permeable pavement and other available materials to foster groundwater recharge in areas that are over the 10% impervious threshold.

27. And Of Course . . . • Support local conservation organizations like Keep the Woods, FRWA, Simsbury Land Trust, and many others; • Request and show up at local meetings on key issues like Aquifer Protection and open space protection; • Learn to love your lawn with dandelions on it, especially if you live in an aquifer protection area.

28. The Farmington River Watershed A Precious Resource Worth Protecting It takes all of us

29. ANY QUESTIONS? Contact Info Eric Hammerling, Executive Director Farmington River Watershed Association 749 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT 06070 Phone: 860.658.4442, ex. 205 Fax: 860.651.7519 Email: ehammerling@frwa.org Website: www.frwa.org