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Owasco Lake Watershed Management Plan: Incorporation of the EPA Nine Key Elements Community Meeting August 13, 2018 ---PAGE BREAK--- Acknowledgments FUNDING This watershed planning effort is funded through a Title 11 Environmental Protection Fund grant from the New York State Department of State, awarded to the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development. PROJECT MANAGER Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development PROJECT CONSULTANTS EcoLogic, LLC, Cornell University Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering and the NYS Water Resources Institute 8/13/2018 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Project Overview 8/13/2018 3 Owasco Lake Watershed Management and Waterfront Revitalization Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- Owasco Lake Watershed Management and Waterfront Revitalization Plan 8/13/2018 4 • Completed in March 2016 • High priority recommendation: Incorporate the EPA’s Nine Key Elements of Watershed Planning • NYSDOS grant to implement recommendation ---PAGE BREAK--- Nine Elements A. Identify and quantify sources of pollution in watershed B. Identify water quality goals and pollutant reductions needed to achieve goals C. Identify Best Management Practices needed to reach goals D. Describe the necessary financial and technical assistance E. Describe stakeholder engagement in planning and implementation F. Estimate a schedule to implement BMPs G. Describe schedule and milestones for BMP implementation H. Identify criteria for assessing water quality improvements I. Describe the monitoring plan to track water quality improvement 8/13/2018 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- 8/13/2018 6 Source: NYSDEC ---PAGE BREAK--- How is the Nine Element Plan the Same as the WMP? • Community-driven priorities • Public engagement • Uses best available science • Commitment to adaptive management: build and measure 8/13/2018 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- How is the Nine Element Plan Different from the WMP? • USEPA framework for watershed planning: CWA Sec. 319 Funding Guidelines • Used in watersheds where loading is primarily from nonpoint sources • Quantitative analysis of nutrient sources: Watershed Model – Tool to identify land use/practices and subwatersheds contributing most nutrients – Focus remedial investments 8/13/2018 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- Why a Nine Element Plan and not a TMDL? • Both are “Clean Water Plans” • Both identify and quantify sources and identify actions to meet targets • TMDL- better for point sources, require DEC & EPA approval • Nine Element Plans- better for nonpoint sources, local stakeholder driven, require DEC approval • Watersheds with either plan are eligible for state & federal funding opportunities 8/13/2018 9 ---PAGE BREAK--- 8/13/2018 10 1. Where are we now? Descriptive Information, Community Values 2. Where are we going? Trend Information, Probable Scenario 3. Where do we want to be? Possible/ Preferred Scenarios, Community Vision 4. How do we get there? Goals, Strategies, Actions, Action Agendas & Priorities Owasco Lake Watershed Management Planning Framework NYS Dept. of State Guidebook Watershed Plans: Protecting and Restoring Water Quality ---PAGE BREAK--- Collaborative Effort 8/13/2018 11 ---PAGE BREAK--- Most Important Partners All who live, work, study, and play within the Owasco Lake Watershed and rely on the lake for potable water – 205 square mile watershed – Watershed population 16,400 – Drinking water source for 43,000 residents of Cayuga County It’s Your Plan 8/13/2018 12 ---PAGE BREAK--- Objectives of the Watershed Model • Capture site-specific data and knowledge • Estimate nutrient loading from specific practices and locations • Provide a tool to test management (“what-if”) scenarios 8/13/2018 13 ---PAGE BREAK--- Constructing a useful model • Site-specific data & information • Sample over range of conditions • Reflect range of land cover and practices 8/13/2018 14 ---PAGE BREAK--- Selected Model Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Developed by USDA-ARS, Texas A&M Widely used in 9EP and TMDL Projects Simulates dissolved & particulate P and various N fractions Adaptable to local conditions Flexible management input 8/13/2018 15 Google Images 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Land Use/Land Cover Affect Nutrient Export • Streams draining agricultural areas have higher N and P concentrations • Forested landscapes have much lower nutrient loss 8/13/2018 16 ---PAGE BREAK--- SWAT Model Data Needs • Fraction of agricultural lands managed by larger farms vs. smaller farms • Rate of application of manure • Frequency and timing of manure application per managed unit (field) 8/13/2018 17 ---PAGE BREAK--- 8/13/2018 18 Tributary Monitoring Partners • Cornell’s Soil & Water Lab • DEC Finger Lakes Water Hub • OWLA ---PAGE BREAK--- Progress to Date • James Knighton, Cornell doctoral candidate leading the effort • Monitoring and Modeling plans are approved • Hydrologic calibration is complete Simulate how streamflow responds to meteorology, compare to measured flows • SWAT model is set up, capturing historical data 8/13/2018 19 ---PAGE BREAK--- Simulation- Water Balance • Used model to simulate streamflow using two sources of meteorological data (Auburn and Aurora) – Large watershed ~ 205 sq. miles – Known variability • Compared predicted streamflow at the Inlet gauge to USGS measurements – Auburn data better match 8/13/2018 20 ---PAGE BREAK--- 8/13/2018 21 ---PAGE BREAK--- Incorporate Water Quality Parameters 8/13/2018 22 ---PAGE BREAK--- Water Quality Parameters • Total Phosphorus (TP) • Soluble Reactive P (SRP) • Total Suspended Solids (TSS) • Nitrate plus Nitrite- N (NOx) 8/13/2018 23 ---PAGE BREAK--- Water Quality Modeling • Data collected from various locations, range of land use, management practices, soil & slopes • Focus on high flow events • Compare predicted and observed nutrient and TSS concentrations to ensure model reflects conditions in this watershed 8/13/2018 24 ---PAGE BREAK--- How does the HABs Action Plan fit in? • Simple model projects major sources of TP • Estimated loading from on-site septic systems • SWAT model can help identify areas and practices with greatest potential for reduction in load Source: NYSDEC Owasco Lake HABs Action Plan, June 2018 (page 62) – Septic load = 2% – Agricultural = 83% – Natural areas = 7% – Developed land = 3% 8/13/2018 25 ---PAGE BREAK--- Next Steps • Revisit vision and goals • Cornell team: – Model calibration – Model testing/verification- separate water quality data set – Model projections- scenario testing and recommended actions – in consultation with OLWMC • Amend Watershed Management Plan to incorporate the Nine Elements 8/13/2018 26 ---PAGE BREAK--- Project Timetable • Fall 2018: Finalize model • December 2018: Develop draft recommendations • Winter 2019: Hold 2nd public meeting • May 2019: Issue Draft Plan. • June 2019: Hold 3rd public meeting. • July 2019: Issue Final Plan. 8/13/2018 27 Vision and Goals Existing State: Natural Resources & Institutional Management How to Bridge the Gaps? ---PAGE BREAK--- Discussion 8/13/2018 28