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The Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Partnership: Successes & Challenges

The Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Partnership: Successes & Challenges. 2011 EPA Region 3, States Source Water Protection Meeting June 9, 2011. Steve Nelson Environmental Group Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Presentation Outline.

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The Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Partnership: Successes & Challenges

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  1. The Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Partnership: Successes & Challenges 2011 EPA Region 3, States Source Water Protection Meeting June 9, 2011 Steve Nelson Environmental Group Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

  2. Presentation Outline • Brief History of Patuxent Reservoirs Partnership • Watershed Characterization • Successes • Challenges

  3. Brief History of Partnership • 1993-1995 MC DEP formed the Patuxent Reservoirs Protection Group (PRPG) • Multi-jurisdictional working group • Outcome • Decided to form a partnership for protecting the reservoirs and their watershed

  4. History • 1996 – Agreement Ratified creating the partnership • 7 Partner Agencies • Established a Policy Board & Tech Advisory Committee • WSSC filled admin. and coordination roles

  5. History • 1997 - Comprehensive Mgmt Planning Study for Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed • Defined 6 Priority Resources and 10 Action Items • 1998 – Cooperative Agricultural MOU Established Patuxent Reservoirs Ag Cost-Share Program • New funding source for BMPs targeting small farms • Funded Shared SCD Planner focused on watershed

  6. Priority Resources Reservoirs & Water Supply • Terrestrial • Habitat • Stream System • Aquatic Biota 6

  7. Priority Resources Rural Character & Landscape Public Awareness & Stewardship 7

  8. Watershed Characterization • 132 square mile watershed in MD Piedmont • 99% of watershed w/in Howard and Montgomery Counties (split by river) • Triadelphia reservoir (up-river) serves as SWM facility, sediment trap, and nutrient sink for Rocky Gorge reservoir (down-river)

  9. Successes! • Agricultural Progress • Patuxent Ag Cost-Share Program • Filling a need with small horse farms • Many education & outreach efforts • Horse pasture management • Horse owner survey • Howard and Montgomery SCD accomplishments since 1999…

  10. More Successes… • Restoration Projects • Hawlings River Stream Restoration • Cherry Creek Watershed Restoration • Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Plantings • WSSC-Owned Land surrounding Reservoirs • DNR Forest Service developed Concept Forest Management Plan for Sustainable Forests (2007) • Active deer management program • WSSC-funded an Interim Watershed Management Report (2009)

  11. and More Successes… • Outreach efforts to citizens in watershed • Septic system care workshops • Earth Month Events • Watershed Day and H2O Fest (WSSC Sponsored) • Stream clean-ups (IWLA, other volunteers) • Annual Family Camp Fire at Triadelphia Reservoir • U.S. EPA recognized the Patuxent Partnership as a Clean Water Partner working cooperatively to protect their water resources (2003)

  12. Funding Commitment Level Example (2009) • Annual Total Funding Estimate = $686,200 • Reservoir monitoring (WSSC) = $93K • Trends Analyses (WSSC) = $56K • Outreach (WSSC) = $135K • Admin., Annual Rpt & Coord. (WSSC) = $52K • Watershed restoration planning (PGC) = $50K • Biological Monitoring (HC, MC) = $62K • Ag. Program Oversight (HSCD, MSCD) = $80K • Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Planting = $100K (M-NCPPC, MC, MSCD, DNR)

  13. Local Challenges • Howard Co. = large % of watershed, BUT very small customer • PG Co. = very small % of watershed, BUT the largest customer (of Patuxent water) • Geography of basin and political boundaries

  14. Local Challenges • Limited shared partner agency funding (joint contributions) • Difficulty quantifying agriculture load reductions associated with non-point source (NPS) BMPs • Equine community plays important role in NPS load reductions

  15. Regional Challenges • TMDLs • Needed direction from State/Fed agencies to determine compliance with TMDLs • TMDL Implementation • Who’s responsible? • Recent emphasis on Chesapeake Bay TMDL

  16. Triadelphia’s TMDL TP Allocation

  17. Regional Challenges • County Governments face increasing competition for fewer “environmental” dollars with leaner staff • Daunting MS4 NPDES Permit requirements • Many TMDLs per county • “New and improved” SWM regulations

  18. Partnership Challenges • Delegation of Policy Board participation from executive level to senior professional staff who have limited authority to commit funding and resources

  19. Questions? Contact Information: Steve Nelson Environmental Scientist & Admin. Liaison for Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Group Technical Advisory Committee Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Environmental Group 14501 Sweitzer Lane Laurel, MD 20707 snelson@wsscwater.com 301-206-8072

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