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STATEWIDE STORMWATER TREATMENT

STATEWIDE STORMWATER TREATMENT. Existing SFWMD Regulation…. Existing SFWMD Regulation… Insufficient. Does not ensure that current legal standards are met: - 80% removal of nutrients causing violations - 95% removal in Outstanding Florida Waters. ?.

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STATEWIDE STORMWATER TREATMENT

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  1. STATEWIDE STORMWATER TREATMENT

  2. Existing SFWMD Regulation…

  3. Existing SFWMD Regulation… Insufficient Does not ensure that current legal standards are met: - 80% removal of nutrients causing violations - 95% removal in Outstanding Florida Waters ?

  4. Existing SFWMD Regulation… Insufficient • Emphasis on retention/detention ponds • Shown to only remove only 20-40% Nitrogen, 60-70% Phosphorus

  5. Existing SFWMD Regulation… Insufficient • Outdated practices and science for TSS, not nutrients based on 1” (though interim is 1 1/2” in some cases based on settlement) • No incentives for preventative or alternative BMPs to wet detention Pervious Pavement Littoral Zones Swales / Rain Gardens

  6. Alternatives? Southwest Florida Basin Rule and Lake Okeechobee and Estuary Watershed Rule V. “Harper Methodology”

  7. Effective Approaches Proposed • Southwest Florida Basin Rule • Lake Okeechobee Ecosystem Watersheds (LOEW) Rule …But, instead…

  8. Effective Approaches Proposed Southwest Florida Basin Rule type of approach should be utilized • - Designed to meet state standards (80% removal requirement) • - Stakeholders cooperated to develop • Gives incentives for reduction of runoff… prevention of problem - Requires developers to be responsible for their own pollution, regardless of if previously polluting land use prior (no vesting of pollution rights)

  9. In Development… Florida DEP begins development of the Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule

  10. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule We’ve been active with SSR since its inception and we sit on the TAC. This has allowed us to: - Better provide verbal and written comments - Learn of and deal with issues directly - Offer a conservationist perspective in the process

  11. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule Why? Because now it is generally accepted that new development is not adequately treating the stormwater pollution it is generating, thereby increasing our regional water quality degredation and the burden and costs of retrofitting required by the TMDL process and to be paid for by local govts (i.e. the taxpayers). MOSTLY A MATTER OF WHO PAYS… AND HOW CAN WE BE MOST CERTAIN AND EFFICIENT IN GETTING IT DONE (i.e. Source Controls).

  12. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule “This rule will be based upon a performance standard that the post-development nutrient load will not exceed the nutrient load from natural, undeveloped areas.” - From DEP Website* ‘Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule Development Background’ However, this is still not certain and is essential to whether this rule will result in more effective treatment standards. * http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/erp/rules/stormwater/background.htm

  13. Harper Methodology Makes estimates of ‘pre-development’ loading rates using current land uses ↔ PREVIOUS LAND USE NATURAL CONDITION

  14. ‘Pre-development’ = all the difference ↔ PREVIOUS LAND USE NATURAL CONDITION Vesting pollution rights, just don’t worsen conditions. Clean what you generate, regardless of what the guy before you did = potential improvement!

  15. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule WETLANDS POLLUTE?! • Still using Harper approach of using event mean concentrations rather than mass balances… which doesn’t work for characterizing wetlands. WETLAND MASS BALANCE EXAMPLE 100 lbs of TN inflow from adjacent uplands into wetland (Harper does not account for the inflow) 40 lbs of TN “exported” from wetland Wetlands = ? 40lbs of TN or -60 lbs of TN

  16. Harper Methodology Inaccurately characterizes wetlands as pollution sources. Example: Saturnia Falls pollution concentrations: Wetlands 1.55 mg/l Nitrogen Commercial development1.23 mg/l Nitrogen These load rates are being used to calculate TMDLs and permit developments today!

  17. Harper Methodology Natural wetlands are more polluting than commercial development? Scientific community universally recognizes wetlands as ‘sinks’ of nutrients… i.e. wetlands remove nutrients from water.

  18. Harper Methodology Wet prairies, Hydric hammocks or Hydric flatwoods… Uplands or Wetlands? Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Harper says: Uplands!

  19. Harper Methodology Previous negative peer review and Outstanding Concerns by EPA No response to comments - Problems not addressed - 2006 revisions not adequate EPA said they cannot confirm 2007 Harper Rpt. due to their concerns, and requests FDEP to conduct peer review. FDEP says it will not.

  20. Harper Methodology Overall results of this approach: - Reduced stormwater treatment - Increased water quality degradation - Accelerated destruction of wetlands

  21. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule We are advocating for a standard that would: • Require developers to treat at least 80% of the pollution of their own pollution (over natural based on TN, irregardless of previous land use) - Incentivize runoff and stormwater pollution PREVENTION • Not allow natural wetlands to be assigned a positive loading rate, or to be used for stormwater treatment other than “polishing”

  22. Which wetlands are ‘Waters of the State’? Not “isolated” wetlands (any jurisdictional wetland surrounded entirely by non-jurisdictional are despite any hydrological connection - no size limitation) …AND…

  23. Which wetlands are ‘Waters of the State’? Wholly-Owned Wetlands (any wetland that is entirely owned by a single person/entity who is not the State) …ARE…

  24. Which wetlands are ‘Waters of the State’? NO LONGER CONSIDERED TO BE WATERS OF THE STATE …THUS…

  25. Which wetlands are ‘Waters of the State’? They are no longer given water quality protection. Natural wetlands have been opened to use as stormwater treatment.

  26. Incentives for Destruction Proposes active incentives for putting partially or untreated stormwater pollution into wetlands.

  27. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule We are advocating for a standard that would: • Require developers to treat at least 80% of the pollution of their own pollution (over natural based on TN, irregardless of previous land use) - Incentivize runoff and stormwater pollution PREVENTION • Not allow natural wetlands to be assigned a positive loading rate, or to be used for stormwater treatment other than “polishing”

  28. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule Littoral shelves should be used as part of stormwater treatment - provide additional treatment - ecological benefit - aesthetic benefit However, this is still uncertain and being suggested as being an optional recommendation.

  29. Statewide Stormwater Treatment Rule The Rule should require a limitation on pond/lake depth • - Groundwater aquifer protection • Protection of nearby wetlands • Prevent lake stratification Soil borings and design features or 12 Feet Maximum

  30. Extended Timeline • TAC meetings will continue into Spring • Rulemaking will commence in Summer • Fall 2009: Finalized Statewide Stormwater Rule

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