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Watershed-Based Plans: Nine Key Elements

Watershed-Based Plans: Nine Key Elements. Bill Carter Nonpoint Source Program Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Trade Fair and Conference, May 2014. Watershed-Based Plans. Usually called Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) in Texas Identify and quantify measures to reduce pollution

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Watershed-Based Plans: Nine Key Elements

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  1. Watershed-Based Plans:Nine Key Elements Bill Carter Nonpoint Source Program Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Trade Fair and Conference, May 2014

  2. Watershed-Based Plans • Usually called Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs) in Texas • Identify and quantify measures to reduce pollution • Voluntary; not legally binding • Impaired or other priority waterways • Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality • Texas NPS Management Plan https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/nonpoint-source/mgmt-plan/index.html [2012 Plan]

  3. Watershed Protection Plans • Have a geographic scope — a watershed • Are developed by stakeholders • Require nine key elements for success • Are adaptive Make Changes Develop Plan Make Changes Implement Plan Implement Plan Evaluate Plan Evaluate Plan

  4. Geographic Scope • Best for watersheds small enough to allow a manageable budget and timeframe • 40,000 acres (60 square miles) or less • All source areas for pollutants degrading thewater body • “HUC 12” http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

  5. Stakeholders • People or organizations with a stake in what happens • Who contribute time, ideas, and effort to develop and implement solutions • Commonly work by forming a task force with subcommittees

  6. Nine Key Elements Pollutant Load & Sources Load Reductions Best Management Practices Schedule For Action Resources Needed Engagement & Education Measureable Milestones Criteria forSuccess Monitoring Progress

  7. Nine Key Elements & EPA • The first 3 are science: analyzing pollutant loads and possible ways to reduce them • The next 4 are planning and organization • The last 2 are more science: how success will be measured and evaluated • EPA review guide: insight for each element www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/nonpoint-source/mgmt-plan/watershed-pp.html

  8. Building Blocks

  9. Begin with the End in Mind • Knowing your goal can help you get from here to there

  10. A. Pollutant Loads • Instream loads • Time frame, flow rate, location • Current vs. target • Source loads • Type and number of source units • Amount per source unit • Area containing source units • Treatment level of source units • Comprehensive and Comparable • Animals • Septic Systems • Wastewater

  11. B. Load Reductions • Load generated by each source unit • Reduction per source unit from management practice • Number of source units

  12. C. Best Management Practices • B • M • Actions that reduce pollution • Chosen from tested practices with quantifiable results • Can include point and nonpoint source BMPs • P

  13. Linking A, B, and C • How changes in load will affect instream concentrations • Simplest: ratio of instream load to total source load • Models for complex variables 8 16 4 2 2

  14. Apply Findings: Select BMPs • Source load reduction needed • Maximum likely reduction for each BMP being considered • Sum reductions from all BMPs • Compare to reduction needed Where Science meets Planning

  15. Another Look at the Load Chart

  16. D. Resources • Financial and technical • Determined primarily by BMPs selected • Identify resources: grants, loans, training… • Check eligibility and feasibility

  17. E. Education and Engagement • Equip and motivate those who will implement the plan and BMPs • Education-inspired behavior can change loads; education alone cannot

  18. F. Schedule for Implementation • Basic timeline • Realistic timeframes • Take into account when resources will be available

  19. G. Measureable Milestones • Signs of progress toward goal • Actions • Outcomes

  20. H. Criteria for Success • Should include instream water quality • Should describe evaluation methods • Should include contingency plans for course correction

  21. I. Monitoring Progress • How, what data • BMP performance (source load reduction) • Ambient conditions (instream loads)

  22. Final Thoughts • Short and Simple • Minimize material that does not support answers to the core questions • Build the plan around elements A to C — pollutants, load reductions, and BMPs • Build on the stakeholders’ priorities to increase buy-in • Adapt

  23. Bill Carter • Nonpoint Source Program • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • nps@tceq.texas.gov • 512-239-6771

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