A Tributary Strategy for District of Columbia

1. DOH Watershed Protection Division Hamid Karimi, Program Manager hamid.karimi@dc.gov A Tributary Strategy forDistrict of Columbia

2. DC Tributary Strategy - Scope • The District of Columbia is responsible for developing a Tributary Strategy that covers all District watersheds. • This contrasts with other jurisdictions that have multiple “Trib Teams.”

3. DC Tributary Strategy – Draft Review • A draft Tributary Strategy was submitted to DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) for review and comments. • Upon completion of review by WASA the draft will be released to other stakeholders for further review and comments.

4. DC Draft Strategy - Major Components • Anacostia River restoration • CSO Long-Term Control Plan implementation • Urban stormwater management

5. Government Stakeholders • DC Primary Stakeholders • DOH • DPW • DOT • DC-WASA • DC Public Schools • DC Parks and Recreation • Federal Agencies • National Park Service • U.S. Department of Agriculture • Army Corps of Engineers [Washington Aqueduct] • Other Federal Agencies

6. Cap Load Allocations Cap Load Allocations for The District of Columbia:

7. Nitrogen Equivalents ”…the allocation for nitrogen and phosphorus were adopted with the concept of nitrogen equivalents and a commitment to explore how actions beyond traditional best management practices might help meet Bay restoration goals.” –Memorandum dated April 29, 2003, by Secretary Murphy, Chair of the PSC • This issue is under further review but: • We will be under our cap-load for total phosphorous [TP]. • The equivalent reduction is a total nitrogen [TN] credit claimed for surplus reduction below the TP cap-load allocation. • Nitrogen equivalent-based credits will allow us to partially meet our TN cap-load allocation.

8. Types of Sources • Point sources • Blue Plains • CSO • Nonpoint sources • Urban stormwater runoff • Roads • Parking lots • Rooftops • Construction sites Stormdrain

9. Strategy Overview • Tributary Strategy focuses on reducing inputs from a number of sources in the District: • Blue Plains – this represents the lion’s share of DC inputs • Outfall from the Combined Sewer Overflow [CSO] • Streets • Construction • Dalecarlia Construction activity

10. Types of Practices • Point source controls • Nonpoint source controls – Urban BMPs • Watershed planning and natural resource protection

11. Point Source Controls • Blue Plains WWTP • Combined Sewer Overflows • Washington Aqueduct Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant [DCWASA]

12. Nonpoint Source Controls - Urban BMPs • Stormwater management • Erosion and sediment control • Inspection and enforcement program • Stormwater retrofits • LID promotion • Street sweeping • Catch basin maintenance Sandfilter

13. Watershed Planning andNatural Resource Protection • Urban riparian forest buffers • Tree planting • Wetland restoration • Stream restoration • Marine pump-outs • Pollution prevention • Nutrient management • Green marinas • Environmental education Fringe wetlands

14. Getting the Numbers • CBP:model runs • Blue Plains:point source loads • DOT:road maintenance • DOT & DPW:street sweeping • DC-WASA • Long Term Control Plan • Catch basin clean-up • Capital fund to maintain current Blue Plains efficiencies • Explore further efficiencies in operation • WPD • BMP approval, installation and maintenance • Pilot projects • Large scale stream and wetland restoration Low-impact development

15. District of Columbia Water Quality Criteria • DC is undertaking its triennial review of its WQ standards. • DC has adopted the Bay Program’s water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, Chlorophyll a and clarity (secchi depth) for all of its “tidally influenced Class C (aquatic life use) waters.” • DC is in the process of legal review for publication of The District of Columbia Water Quality Standards. • The document has been reviewed and reflects comments received from main Chesapeake Bay Program stakeholders. • We anticipate a publication date in Summer 2004.

16. DC TMDLs for Its Tidally Influenced Waters • Potomac River • The entire Potomac reach requires a TMDL for Organics and Bacteria. • The draft Bacterial TMDL is out for public review. • The organic TMDL is not due to FY 2007. • Middle Potomac River • The middle Potomac will require a TMDL for pH in FY 2007. • Anacostia River • The entire Anacostia reach has approved TMDLs for Organics, Bacteria, Heavy Metals, BOD, TSS, and Oil/Grease.

17. DC Tributary Strategy - Elements • DC WASA will implement all components of the LTCP and aggressively seek federal funding to shorten the construction timeline. • At the Blue Plains WWTP continue to use BNR as a nitrogen reduction strategy and strive to achieve at least an annual average total nitrogen concentration in its effluent of 7.5 mg/L for the District share of the flow and begin to optimize nitrogen removal voluntarily as technically feasible and cost effective. • The Washington Aqueduct will implement its new NPDES permit requiring the treatment plant to remove at least 85 percent of the incoming sediment from its treatment train and not return sediment to the river. • Continue current regulatory and assistance programs to reduce nonpoint source pollution to Rock Creek, and the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and fulfill MS4 permit requirements: • stormwater best management practices (BMPs) • sediment and erosion control for new construction • catch basin conversion • financial support for LID installation at public facilities.

18. DC Tributary Strategy – Elements Continued • Incorporate watershed management plans for Fort Dupont, Pope Branch, Watts Branch, Hickey Run and Kingman Island into tributary strategy implementation. • Wetland creation • Stream habitat restoration • RFB creation • Tree planting • LID installation • Continue to support public education and pollution prevention programs to reduce nonpoint source pollution from nutrients and sediments, even though the pollutant load reduction benefits cannot be quantified at this time. • Through the restoration strategies described above, continue to reduce phosphorous loadings below 0.34 million pounds per year, encouraging nutrient exchange and trading to achieve the nitrogen allocation.

19. DC Tributary Strategy – Elements Continued • Monitor progress in the restoration of the Anacostia River. The District of Columbia has established TMDL for: • Biochemical Oxygen Demand • Total Suspended Solids • Bacteria • Toxics • These TMDL establish the reductions necessary from District sources and Maryland sources to achieve water quality standards and restore the Anacostia River. The majority of pollution loads to the Anacostia River originate upstream in Maryland.

20. Strategy Review: What’s next? • DC WASA is reviewing draft strategy. • WASA comments will be incorporated in draft final strategy. • Draft final strategy will be provided to stakeholders for review. • Thirty (30) days after draft final review the final strategy will be submitted to EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.

21. Communication • Draft Tributary Strategy • DC Tributary Strategy webpage http://www.chesapeakebay.net/wqctributarydc.htm

22. Forums • Local • MS-4 Taskforce monthly meetings • Regional • MWCOG • WRTC • Bay Policy Committee • Bay-wide • Various Chesapeake Bay workgroups and committee meetings

23. Contact Hamid Karimi, Ph.D. Program Manager Watershed Protection Division DC Department of Health 51 N Street NE Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 1-202-535-2244 Fax: 1-202-535-1364 E-mail: hamid.karimi@dc.gov