San Francisco Estuary Institute Annual Meeting October 7, 2008

1. Water Quality Science and Management in the Delaware Estuary Thomas J. Fikslin, Ph.D. San Francisco Estuary InstituteAnnual MeetingOctober 7, 2008

2. Themes • Background • Delaware River Watershed • Management Issues • National Water Quality Monitoring Network • Delaware River Basin Pilot • Achieving water quality standards for PCBs

3. Basin Facts • Largest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi – 330 miles • 13,539 square mile drainage • 17 million water users • 216 tributaries • Three reaches included in National Wild and Scenic River System • One of the world’s largest freshwater tidal estuaries • Delaware Bay- 782 sq. miles

4. Contaminants Tidal Wetlands Ecologically significant species and their habitats Freshwater Inflow Physical/Chemical/Biological Linkages Food Web Dynamics Nutrient Enrichment Ecosystem functions Habitat Restoration Non-indigenous Species Management Issues

5. Themes • Background • Delaware River Watershed • Management Issues • National Water Quality Monitoring Network • Delaware River Basin Pilot • Achieving water quality standards for PCBs

6. DRB Pilot Study Area Boundary • Entire Delaware Basin • 4 states—NY, PA, NJ, DE • Several Physiographic Provinces and Ecoregions • Major inflows—Lehigh, Schuylkill, Maurice, C&D Canal • Plans for enhanced coastal endurance line

7. Monitoring Organizations and Resource Components Monitored

8. Gap Analysis – All Pilots • Monitoring in Pilot Studies does not fully meet the Network design • Gaps in number of sites, sampling frequency, and need for additional analytes • Need for local flexibility in adding tributary rivers (Delaware and Lake Michigan)

9. FY 08 PlansDelaware Estuary and Bay • Add nutrient monitoring to existing program in river, estuary, and Bay. • Improve the watershed-to-ocean observing system web site to facilitate data sharing. • Continue to investigate Emerging Contaminants (PBDEs, PFOAs/PFOSs, PPCPs). • Establish capacity to monitor wetland condition.

10. Themes • Background • Delaware River Watershed • Management Issues • National Water Quality Monitoring Network • Delaware River Basin Pilot • Achieving water quality standards for PCBs

11. Background • Delaware Estuary portion of the Basin is 133 miles long and is bordered by DE, NJ and PA. • It consists of 5 water quality management units called Zones. • EPA Regions II & III establish Stage 1 TMDLs for Zones 2 – 5 in December 2003. • EPA Regions II & III establish Stage 1 TMDL for Zone 6 in December 2006.

13. Upstream Boundary Load Delaware River at Trenton, NJ Upstream Boundary Load Schuylkill River Atmospheric Gas phase Contaminated Site Loads flux Atmospheric Tributary Loads Non-Point Source Loads Wet / Dry C&D Canal Deposition (tidal boundary) Point Discharge Loads CSOs LEGEND External Loads Sediment (forcing functions) Flux Fluxes and tidal boundaries Sediment Ocean Boundary Mouth of Delaware Bay Principal Mass Loadings and Fluxes

14. Penta-PCB Load by Source CategorySept 2001 through March 2003

15. Achieving PCB WQ Criteria • Reductions in PCB loadings will not immediately result in lower ambient water concentrations or in reduced tissue levels of PCBs in resident fish species. • This is due to the continuing flux of PCBs from the sediments to the water column. As solids uncontaminated by PCBs settle to the bottom, this flux will ultimately reach equilibrium with the water column. • A long-term strategy for permitting point source discharges and addressing non-point sources such as contaminated sites and air sources is needed to ensure continued progress in reducing PCBs.

16. The Problem • Federal regulations require permits to be consistent with WLAs established with TMDLs, and achieve the underlying WQ criteria within a permit cycle (5 years). • The Concept: WQS Implementation Plan • Under the WQS regulations at 40 CFR 131.13, states may, at their discretion, adopt policies affecting the application and implementationof designated uses and criteria. • States could adopt a “standards implementation plan” as a component of their WQS to address long-term attainability issues.

17. How it Works • Lead by DRBC, monitoring using Method 1668A and Pollutant Minimization Plans were required following the establishment of the TMDLs. • For selected pollutants and water bodies, a WQS Implementation Plan (WQSIP) would be required under regulations to be adopted by DRBC. • The plan would allow phased attainment of a WQ criterion by specifying numeric and narrative restoration objectives for one or more restoration periods. Periods of 10 years in length are proposed.

18. Are We Making Progress? • Progress in achieving the PCB WQ criterion is expected to be slow due to the modulating effects of estuary sediments and the adaptive management approach of identifying sources and reducing PCB loadings. • Adoption of the Stage 1 TMDLs and regulations requiring point sources to conduct Pollutant Minimization Plans (PMPs) may be driving source reduction.

19. Relative Source Contributions • Point Source Discharges: • Although 128 discharges are currently being evaluated for PCB loadings, 95% of the loading is contributed by a relatively few discharges (16).

20. N = 16

21. Relative Source Contributions • Point Source Discharges: • Although 128 discharges are currently being evaluated for PCB loadings, 95% of the loading is contributed by a relatively few discharges (16). • Loadings calculated from monitoring data collected during 2005 – 2006 indicate that 90 of 108 discharges have reduced loadings compared to Stage 1 loadings.

22. n = 90 n = 18

23. Addressing Non-Point Sources • The WQSIP would also identify reduction strategies and measures for other source categories such as tributaries, contaminated sites, non-point source runoff, and air deposition. • Recent Initiatives: • Passive Air Sampling – to identify the location of air sources of PCBs. • Refining Loadings from Contaminated Sites – thru application of RUSLE2.

24. Passive Air Sampling • In cooperation with Rutgers University and EPA Region II, studies were initiated in 2005 to evaluate sampling techniques to identify air sources of PCBs. • 34 sites were sampled between March and June 2005. • 48 sites were sampled between March and June 2008 in a second survey.

25. 2008 Sampling Locations

26. Current Schedule

27. Summary • DRBC, in cooperation with EPA Headquarters, Regions II & III, and state agencies are implementing PCB TMDLs by: • Requiring low level monitoring and PMPs, and • Adopting a revised PCB criterion, and regulatory language for an adaptive implementation approach within the framework of the CWA to achieve WQS for hydrophobic contaminants like PCBs. • The cornerstone of this approach is a WQS implementation plan that addresses long-term attainment of WQS through point and non-point source controls over multiple permit cycles.

28. Contact Information: Thomas.Fikslin@drbc.state.nj.us (609) 883-9500, ext.253 Information on the TMDLs, model development, sampling and analytical information, and PMP requirements and resources are available on the DRBC website at: http://www.state.nj.us/drbc