Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL Implementation

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Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation
Photo courtesy of Essex Co. website
Rappahannock River Basin Commission Tappahannock,
VA
May Louise Sligh VA Dept. of Conservation
and RecreationJune 18, 2008
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The TMDL Process 3 Steps

• TMDL study
• TMDL implementation plan
• Implement plan

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What is a TMDL Implementation Plan?

• TMDL study tells us what we need to do, TMDL
  implementation plan tells us how
• Outlines actions that can be taken to meet TMDL
  allocations
• Serves as a guide for implementation efforts

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Why Implementation Plans?

• Implementation Plan development is required by
  state legislation
• Supported by federal, state and local
  organizations
• Procedures outlined in DCR DEQ Implementation
  Plan Guidance Document
  

www.deq.virginia.gov/tmdl/implement
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Implementation Plan Development

• Implementation Plan will be done locally
• Stakeholders will have the opportunity to
  participate in the plan development
• Public meetings
• Working groups
• Steering committee

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Integration with other Watershed Plans

• Need to account for and acknowledge other
  planning activities within the watershed
• Coordinate with other water quality plans
• Watershed plans/roundtables
• Local Comprehensive Plans
• Water Supply Plans

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What goes into an implementation plan?

• Existing plans or improvement projects
• Actions to improve water quality
• Project timeline
• Implementation goals
• Implementation milestones
• Roles and responsibilities
• Funding opportunities

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Best Management Practices to Address Bacteria
Agricultural

• Riparian buffers
• Exclusion of livestock from streams
• Rotational grazing
• Waste storage facilities

Photo Jeff Vanuga, NRCS (2002)
Riparian buffer adjacent to pasture
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Best Management Practices to Address Bacteria
Residential
PhotoJulie Jenkins, Shenandoah Valley SWCD

• Septic tank pumpout
• Septic system repair/replacement
• Alternative on-site septic systems
• Pet waste programs
• No-discharge zones

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Best Management Practices to Address Sediment
Photo by Jeff Vanuga, NRCS (2002)
Agricultural

• Cover crops
• Streambank stabilization
• Grass filter strips
• Riparian buffers

No-till planting of corn into a cover crop of
barley
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Best Management Practices to Address Sediment
Residential and Urban

• Rain gardens
• Bioretention filters
• Erosion and sediment control
• Riparian buffers/no-mow zones
• Rain barrels

Rain garden at private residence in Lexington VA
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Potential Funding Sources

• Potential funding sources for best management
  practices identified in Implementation Plan

• USDA Programs - CREP/EQIP
• EPA Section 319 Funds
• Water Quality Improvement Fund
• State Revolving Loan Funds
• State Cost-Share Program
• State Tax Credits
• National Fish Wildlife Foundation

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The TMDL Process 3 Steps

• TMDL study
• TMDL implementation plan
• Implement plan

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What can you do in the meantime?

• Show interest to agencies
• (comments to both DCR/DEQ)
• Continue BMP implementation
• Initiate outreach activities
• Continue stream monitoring
• Identify funding opportunities

Photo Mike Phillips, Shenandoah Valley SWCD
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The Challenge

• Using funds for Implementation Plan development
  out of the General Assembly 2006-2008 TMDL
  appropriation, but can only use for funds for
  Agricultural BMPs implementation
• We need a dedicated source of state funds for
  implementation planning

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The Commonwealth of Virginia has established
criteria to rank TMDLs for implementation plan
development based on

• Location and Resource Priorities
• Reasonableness of Obtaining Load Allocations
• Implementation Support strong local interest
• In future, see less for bacteria and more for
  sediment TMDLs

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Currently,DCR has completed 19 IPs, including
47 impaired stream segments

• Roanoke (4)
• Shenandoah (4)
• James (3)
• New (3)
• 3 under development now Bluestone River, Mossy
  Creek and tribs, Upper Hazel River
• DEQ has prepared 14 plans
• DCR and DEQ have done 2 together

• Tennessee Big Sandy (2)
• Potomac (1)
• Rappahannock (1)
• Chesapeake Bay Coastal (1)

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DEQs 2008 Assessment Database GIS Application

• Contains 305(b) water quality data assessment
  information
• View impaired streams, estuaries, reservoirs
• Zoom into an area to retrieve data
• Contains historical data on dischargers,
  monitoring stations
• www.deq.virginia.gov/wqa/adbims2008

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One last point to remember
TMDLs and IPs are a mechanism for restoring
water quality and are an opportunity for diverse
groups of people to come together to improve
watershed health
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Contact Information
Photo courtesy of DCR-CBLA website

• May Louise Sligh, VA Dept. of Conservation and
  Recreation
• Email may.sligh_at_dcr.virginia.gov
• Phone [phone]