St. Albans Bay Participatory Watershed Analysis

1
St. Albans Bay Participatory Watershed Analysis

• A Summary of Results

Hilary Harp and Erica Gaddis St. Albans Working
Group Members, Kathy Hakey and Bonnie
Waninger St. Albans Town Hall May 17, 2006
2

• With participation from
• Agency of Agriculture, State of Vermont
• Agency of Natural Resources, State of Vermont
• - Basin Planning
• - River Management
• Bellows Free Academy
• Citizens
• City of St. Albans
• Farmers
• Franklin County Conservation District
• Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
• Northwest Regional Planning Commission
• St. Albans Area Watershed Association
• Town of St. Albans
• Town of Georgia
• UVM Extension

3
Overall Project Goals

• Identify current phosphorus loads to streams
• Identify the importance of historical v. current
  management
• Identify cost effective nutrient management
  strategies
• Involve a diverse group of St. Albans community
  members and stakeholders
• Disseminate the results and engage the public in
  discussion

4
Participatory Modeling Process
Meeting 1 Define Goals (1/05)
Meeting 2 Hydrology (3/05) Meeting 4 Phosphorus
(11/05)
Worked Individually w/ Working Group Members
Stream Monitoring (04 -05) Soil Testing (04-05)
Meeting 3 Regulations Management
(5/05) Meeting 5 Scenario development (1/06)
5
Spatial Watershed Model
Watershed Analysis
Aggregate Watershed Calcs

1. Tile drainage
2. Surface erosion
3. Surface runoff
4. Road sand washoff

1. Wastewater discharge
2. City stormwater
3. Farmstead discharge
4. Geese

6
Spatial Watershed Model
Local Dynamics
Hydrology (snow), plants, phosphorus
7
Summary of Watershed Analysis

• Large net imbalance in watershed (70 mt P/year)
• Road Sand most important developed source
• Dissolved P - most important agricultural source
• Driven by high soil P concentrations representing
  land management for past 5-8 decades
• Need to correct mass-imbalance in the watershed
• Will take decades to adjust soil P levels
• In-stream erosion is important process not
  captured by model - current area of research

8
Summary of Social Process Findings

• Historic dimensions of conflict surrounding
  natural resource issues
• Collaborative processes during the computer
  modeling process brought stakeholders together
  across distinct planning categories
• Stakeholders described increases in general
  understanding, as well as increased awareness of
  others goals
• Timing played an important role in the success of
  this project

9
The Long-term Issue
INPUTS Animal Feed/Bedding Atmospheric
Dep. Urban Fertilizer Households 111
mt/year 121 t/year Ag Fertilizer
OUTPUTS Milk Wastewater sludge 43
mt/year 47 t/year Other Ag Products
Annual Accumulation of at least 68 mt/year 75
t/year
-

TMDL Allocation for St. Albans Watershed 8 mt/year
10
Overall Summary of Model Results
In-stream erosion ?????????????
11
Modeled Sources of P to Streams
Landuse Distribution
In-stream erosion ?????????????
Total Metric Tons 10.25 Total US Tons
11.30 Percent of Watershed Total 100 Plus
in-stream erosion
12
In-Stream Erosion Landscape Position
13
Developed Landscape
NON-CITY STORMWATER Total Metric Tons 1.1 Total
US Tons 1.2 Percent of Watershed Total
11 Plus in-stream erosion
WASTEWATER DISCHARGE Total Metric Tons .9 Total
US Tons 1.0 Percent of Watershed Total 9
CITY STORMWATER Total Metric Tons 0.43 Total US
Tons 0.47 Percent of Watershed Total
4 Plus in-stream erosion
14
Estimated Annual Total P (g/m2) to Streams
15
Stormwater Non-Point Sources
Surface Erosion
Dissolved Runoff
Road Sand Washoff
16
Tile Drainage
Agricultural Non-Point Source
Surface Erosion
Dissolved Runoff
Total Metric Tons .77 Total US Tons .85 Percent
of Watershed Total 7.5
Total Metric Tons .85 Total US Tons .93 Percent
of Watershed Total 8.3
Total Metric Tons 4.37 Total US Tons
4.82 Percent of Watershed Total 43
17
Direct Barnyard Discharge
Total Metric Tons 1.28 Total US Tons
1.41 Percent of Watershed Total 12
18
TARGET REDUCTION
Allocated (mt) Current Estimate (mt) Required Reduction (mt) Required Reduction
TMDL - TOTAL NPS (stormag) Point Source 8 5.2 (14.2) 2.79 8 7.2 (1.45.8) 0.484 0 2 0 0 27 0
Model - TOTAL NPS (stormag) Point Source 8 5.2 (14.2) 2.79 10.46 9.0 (1.2 7.8) .91 2.46 3.8 0 23 42 0
Monitoring Data TOTAL 8.1
Doesnt include impact on in-stream
erosion Discrepancy between monitoring and
model is likely in-stream processes
19
Homeowner and Small Business Actions
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Reduce lawn fertilizer Dissolved P from developed landscape Min 1 P-free fertilizer 29/bag 1,250 ft2
Reduce use of road sand Washoff from developed 5 Depends on alternative.
Rain barrels, rain gardens In-stream erosion Not-modeled SIGNIFICANT Rain barrels 60 Rain gardens Vary
Rain barrels, rain gardens Erosion from developed landscape 1 Rain barrels 60 Rain gardens Vary
20
City of St. Albans Actions
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Eliminate road sand Road sand washoff 2.7 Depends on alternative.
Sediment Traps Stormwater runoff 0.53 - 3 620,000 land cost
Diversion Structure (implemented by the Town of St. Albans) In-stream erosion Not modeled SIGNIFICANT 330,000
Diversion Structure (implemented by the Town of St. Albans) Stormwater runoff upstream load Max 5 330,000
Stormwater Treatment In-stream erosion Not modeled SIGNIFICANT No estimate.
Stormwater Treatment Stormwater runoff Max 5 No estimate.
21
Developers and Planners
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Target store Low Impact Development In-stream erosion Not-modeled Green roofs 15-20/ft2 Porous Concrete 2 - 7/ft2
Target store Low Impact Development Stormwater runoff Not-modeled Green roofs 15-20/ft2 Porous Concrete 2 - 7/ft2
22
Town of St. Albans, Swanton, and Georgia
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Road sweepers Road sand washoff 3.5 170,000 each
Eliminate use of road sand Road sand washoff 7.3 Depends on replacement.
23
Agricultural Community
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Riparian and Vegetative Buffer Strips Erosion from Ag Land 7 Increase manure application 136 Trees 2500/acre, Grass 150/acre
Farmstead Treatment Direct Barnyard Discharge 10 250,000 for average farm 6 million estimate for watershed
Reduce Fertilizer Application Dissolved P runoff 1 No cost.
Reduce Manure Application Dissolved P runoff 11 over 15 years Extremely high - need to consider export costs and methods
24
Agricultural Community
Action Process Addressed Potential Impact Cost/Funding
Soil Tolerance Cross-slope cropping and tillage, crop rotation, cover crops, residues, reduce illage Dissolved P runoff Erosion from Landscape At least 1 Specific crop practicees _at_ average of 300/acre
25
Social Process Results Conflict
Relationship Conflict
Interest Conflict
Cognitive Conflict
Values Conflict
Blame Responsibility
Regulations Financial
Lack of Understanding
Family History Resistance to change
Addressed Through
Taking responsibility Engagement of different
people A neutral process
Positive Conversations
Increased Understanding
Not addressed
Important considerations Timing, other processes
26
Social Process Results Integration
TECHNICAL
SOCIAL
Tying information together Causal
Relationships Future Decision Making
Increased awareness of others perspectives Workin
g together across distinct planning categories
27
MANY THANKS
To all of the stakeholders who have given us
their time and energy and who care deeply about
solving environmental problems in St. Albans
28
St. Albans Watershed Analysis

• To download this presentation or for more
  information www.uvm.edu/landmod
• Contact
• Erica Gaddis (egaddis_at_uvm.edu)
• Hilary Harp (hharp_at_uvm.edu)

29
Why Low Impact Development?

• Practices reduce stormwater generation by
  maintaining predevelopment hydrology
• Basic Principle Designing after nature
• Located at the lot level
• Previous focus on 10 and 100 year storm events
  have drained the system
• Can help eliminate the volumes of discharge
  potentially reduce size of permits

COST FOR ESTIMATED REDUCTION Costs Green roofs
15-20/ft2 Porous Concrete2 - 6.50/ft2
Target Store green roof
30
City Stormwater
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Metric Tons .06 -
.31 US Tons .06 - .35 Percent of Watershed
Total 0.53 - 3
Sediment Separator Addresses city component of
road sand washoff
620,000 total (land value)
Diversion Structure Installation of proposed
diversion structure Removal rate not yet known

MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Max Particulate P Max Dissolved P
Metric Tons 0.34 0.22
US Tons 0.38 0.24
of Wshed 3.4 2.1
15,050 for plantings engineering and
construction of structure
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Metric Tons .05 US
Tons .06 Percent of Watershed Total 0.51
Stormwater Retention Water is retained at the
water quality volume in the landscape (rain
barrels, rain gardens, etc.)
Vary substantially. 3-4/ft2 residential10-40/ft2
commercial
31
In-Stream Erosion
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Max Particulate P Max Dissolved P
Metric Tons ??? ???
US Tons ??? ???
of Wshed ??? ???

Diversion Structure Installation of proposed
diversion structure Removal rate not yet known
15,050 for plantings engineering and
construction of structure
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Metric Tons ??? US
Tons ??? Percent of Watershed Total ???
Stormwater Treatment Water is retained at the
water quality volume in the landscape (rain
barrels, rain gardens, etc.)
Vary substantially. 3-4/ft2 residential10-40/ft2
commercial
32
City and Non-City Developed
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION
No Road Sand Used Sand is replaced by an
alternative w/o P
City Only Wshed
Metric Tons 0.16 .93
US Tons 0.18 1.04
of Wshed .8 7.3
With no sand used, reduction in cost Liquid
Deicers vary in cost (Magic Salt)
33
Agriculture and Development Dissolved Runoff
Tile Drainage
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION
5-yrs 15-yrs
Metric Tons 0.026 .23
US Tons 0.028 .25
of Wshed 0.25 1.4
Eliminate Fertilizer Use Eliminate use of urban
lawn fertilizer and agricultural
fertilizer Influences soil P concentration over
time to reduce dissolved P runoff
Reduction in cost due to less fertilizer used
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION
Tile Drainage Surface Runoff
Metric Tons 0.62 3.5
US Tons .68 3.9
of Wshed 6 34
Phosphorus Filters (A. Drizzo) Implemented in
ditches to capture surface runoff and tile
drainage
50,000 for Tile Drainage, 200,000 for Surface
Runoff (for entire watershed)
34
Agriculture Surface Erosion
Buffers and Land Displacement Add 30 m buffers
to all agricultural lands Increase manure
application up to 136
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Metric Tons 0.7 US
Tons 0.78 Percent of Watershed Total 6.86

• Description
• Model assumption
• Data sources
• Results
• Costs

Trees 2500/acre, Grass 150/acre
35
Direct Barnyard Discharge
MODEL ESTIMATED REDUCTION Metric Tons 1.02 US
Tons 1.13 Percent of Watershed Total 9.8
Farmstead Treatment Reducing current farmstead
phosphorus discharge by 80 Require significant
investment to improve existing treatment
250,000 for an average size farm 6 million
estimate for watershed
36
Stormwater Non-Point Sources
Surface Erosion
Dissolved Runoff
Road Sand Washoff
37
(No Transcript)