Improving Water Quality: The Ultimate Outcome of

Stormwater ProgramsCraig Hesterlee, EPA R4 Watershed Management OfficeCraig Hesterlee, EPA R4 Watershed Management Office

South Carolina Watershed CoordinatorSouth Carolina Watershed Coordinator

USC Stormwater ForumUSC Stormwater Forum

5/08/20075/08/2007Columbia, SCColumbia, SC

http://www.epa.gov/athens/research/impervious/shapes.html

Regional Analysis Of Relationship Regional Analysis Of Relationship Between Imperviousness and Between Imperviousness and

ImpairmentImpairment 42.2% of subwatersheds with impairment can be found in

HUCs with >=5 percent total impervious area (TIA), even though those account for only 13.4% of the Region's subwatersheds

TIA >= 5% are about 2X as likely to have a Pathogens- or Habitat Alteration-impaired waterbody, and with TIA >=10% are about 2X as likely to have a Sediment-impaired waterbody

TIA >= 5% contain 49% of the Pathogens impairments, 38% of the Habitat Alteration impairments, and 32% of the Sediment impairments

SC Imperviousness future projections suggest continued and more prevalent rate of degradation• Population expected to increase by 1 million (2000 to 2025)• 866 additional miles of stream projected to be “threatened” by

development in 2025

Source: EPA/600/R-05/061 May2005

South Carolina Impervious Cover Projected to 2025

Source: EPA/600/R-05/061 May2005

Increasing Increasing Visibility For Visibility For

Water Quality Water Quality ConcernsConcerns

Urban Stormwater Management Urban Stormwater Management Strategy: MS4 OutreachStrategy: MS4 Outreach

EPA Stream Assessment

Tracking Tool Implementation

MS4 Phase 2 Urban waters

Development Stormwater Management Plan

Stormwater Management PlanImplementation

How are these measured?Solution Phase

“Data Collection”

Results

Major restoration Major restoration implementation implementation mechanismsmechanisms

Helping MS4s set Helping MS4s set measurable goals measurable goals with water with water quality outcomesquality outcomes

Water quality Water quality

outcomes outcomes increase local increase local funding potentialfunding potential

Need low-cost Need low-cost technical and technical and regulatory regulatory assistance!assistance!

Goals for MS4 ReportingGoals for MS4 Reporting

Less Information

More Information

Program Outcomes

TARGET!

Implementing TMDLs Through Implementing TMDLs Through SWMPsSWMPs

TMDLs are “living plans” that require measurable TMDLs are “living plans” that require measurable pollutant load reductions to be implementedpollutant load reductions to be implemented

TMDLs must be maintained after the restoration TMDLs must be maintained after the restoration goal is achievedgoal is achieved

TMDLs should be periodically updated to reflect TMDLs should be periodically updated to reflect changing water quality conditions or growth changing water quality conditions or growth scenariosscenarios

TMDL implementation requires MS4s to choose TMDL implementation requires MS4s to choose “rational” BMPs that will ultimately mitigate the “rational” BMPs that will ultimately mitigate the impact of the MS4 load on ambient water qualityimpact of the MS4 load on ambient water quality

MS4s are most likely measuring the MS4s are most likely measuring the implementation of program elements (outputs) implementation of program elements (outputs) rather than impacts (outcomes) “result”rather than impacts (outcomes) “result”

Specific Guidance needed for measuring pollutant Specific Guidance needed for measuring pollutant load reductionsload reductions

Regulators should emphasize program outcomes, Regulators should emphasize program outcomes, not outputsnot outputs

MS4 communities vulnerable to citizen lawsuits MS4 communities vulnerable to citizen lawsuits over TMDL implementationover TMDL implementation

Implementing TMDLs Through Implementing TMDLs Through SWMPsSWMPs

Evaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’sEvaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’s

Current EPA OWM GuidanceCurrent EPA OWM Guidance• OWM provided an extensive list of potential OWM provided an extensive list of potential

reportable MS4 activities (outputs) that imply reportable MS4 activities (outputs) that imply implementation of minimum control measuresimplementation of minimum control measures

• OWM did not define Maximum Extent OWM did not define Maximum Extent Practicable or indicate appropriate minimum Practicable or indicate appropriate minimum levels of effortlevels of effort

• SWMP’s are currently graded using best SWMP’s are currently graded using best professional judgment (BPJ), in lieu of specific professional judgment (BPJ), in lieu of specific guidanceguidance

Evaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’sEvaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’s

Post Construction Storm Water Runoff Control in New Development/Redevelopment Post Construction Storm Water Runoff Control in New Development/Redevelopment ALTERNATIVE TURNAROUNDSALTERNATIVE TURNAROUNDS

• The reduction in impervious cover. • The reduction in impervious cover. • The number of turnarounds modified. • The number of turnarounds modified. • Whether or not development codes were changed to allow alternative turnarounds. • Whether or not development codes were changed to allow alternative turnarounds. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from modified areas. • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from modified areas.

ALTERNATIVE PAVERSALTERNATIVE PAVERS • Whether or not development codes were changed to allow for alternative pavers. • Whether or not development codes were changed to allow for alternative pavers. • The amount of new alternative paver installations added or replaced. • The amount of new alternative paver installations added or replaced. • The number of new development sites that use alternative pavers. • The number of new development sites that use alternative pavers. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from areas with alternative paver • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from areas with alternative paver installations. installations.

ALUM INJECTIONALUM INJECTION • Whether or not an inventory of sites where alum injection was used was completed. • Whether or not an inventory of sites where alum injection was used was completed. • Changes in water quality. • Changes in water quality. • Changes in biological populations. • Changes in biological populations.

BIORETENTIONBIORETENTION • The reduction in impervious cover. • The reduction in impervious cover. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • The reduction in runoff quantity. • Changes in runoff water quality (nutrients, sediments, metals, organics, etc.). • Changes in runoff water quality (nutrients, sediments, metals, organics, etc.). • The number of new bioretention cells installed (both commercial and residential). • The number of new bioretention cells installed (both commercial and residential). • The number of acres that are drained by bioretention cells. • The number of acres that are drained by bioretention cells.

BMP INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEBMP INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE • The frequency of inspection and maintenance activities. • The frequency of inspection and maintenance activities. • The number of problems that were identified and remedied. • The number of problems that were identified and remedied. • The change in the proportion of BMPs that are well-maintained as a result of inspection and maintenance. • The change in the proportion of BMPs that are well-maintained as a result of inspection and maintenance. • Whether or not an inventory of BMPs requiring maintenance was completed and is regularly updated. • Whether or not an inventory of BMPs requiring maintenance was completed and is regularly updated. • Changes in water quality of effluent from BMPs. • Changes in water quality of effluent from BMPs.

BUFFER ZONESBUFFER ZONES • Whether or not development codes were changed to require buffer zones. • Whether or not development codes were changed to require buffer zones. • The acreage of land conserved as buffers. • The acreage of land conserved as buffers. • The acreage of land converted to buffers. • The acreage of land converted to buffers. • Changes in water quality of runoff leaving buffer areas. • Changes in water quality of runoff leaving buffer areas. • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from areas with buffer zones. • Changes in the physical characteristics of streams downstream from areas with buffer zones. • The frequency of inspections and maintenance activities in buffer zones. • The frequency of inspections and maintenance activities in buffer zones. • The acreage that drains to buffer zones …………………………………………………………………………………….• The acreage that drains to buffer zones …………………………………………………………………………………….

Example EPA-OWM Guidance

Evaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’sEvaluating Effectiveness of SWMP’s

Obstacles to Effective SWMPsObstacles to Effective SWMPs• Difficult for stormwater managers to Difficult for stormwater managers to

articulate funding needs due to lack of articulate funding needs due to lack of specificity regarding appropriate levels specificity regarding appropriate levels of effortof effort

• Some TMDLs may require load Some TMDLs may require load reductions that are technically and/or reductions that are technically and/or economically unachievable?economically unachievable?

• A regulatory emphasis is required to A regulatory emphasis is required to increase the outcomes over outputs increase the outcomes over outputs awarenessawareness

Obstacles to Urban Stream Obstacles to Urban Stream RestorationRestoration

TMDL implementation feasibility typically TMDL implementation feasibility typically unknownunknown

• Specific pollution sources uncharacterizedSpecific pollution sources uncharacterized• Cheap, fast screening tools often inadequateCheap, fast screening tools often inadequate• Public often uninformed, not involvedPublic often uninformed, not involved• Land-use changing faster than assessment Land-use changing faster than assessment

methodologies can detect and respond methodologies can detect and respond • Environmental budgets depleted, public resources Environmental budgets depleted, public resources

scarcescarce• Costs of restoration versus protection often undefinedCosts of restoration versus protection often undefined• Urban stormwater permit implementation – difficult to Urban stormwater permit implementation – difficult to

articulate true requirementsarticulate true requirements

Summary: An EPA Watershed Summary: An EPA Watershed Coordinator's Perspective On Coordinator's Perspective On

Restoration Research PrioritiesRestoration Research Priorities

Low-cost technical and financing assistance for urban Low-cost technical and financing assistance for urban stormwaterstormwater

Models and tools to anticipate water quality degradation Models and tools to anticipate water quality degradation trends, both current and predictivetrends, both current and predictive

Models and tools to associate restoration costs to Models and tools to associate restoration costs to development patterns (SMART Growth now or retrofit later)development patterns (SMART Growth now or retrofit later)

Research to guide sound water quality trading conceptsResearch to guide sound water quality trading concepts Find new mechanisms to collaborate with USDAFind new mechanisms to collaborate with USDA

Summary: An EPA Watershed Summary: An EPA Watershed Coordinator's Perspective On Coordinator's Perspective On

Restoration Research PrioritiesRestoration Research Priorities Improved outreach and coordination with land-use planners Improved outreach and coordination with land-use planners

and decision-makersand decision-makers• Economic incentives for LID and Smart GrowthEconomic incentives for LID and Smart Growth• Green Sustainable InfrastructureGreen Sustainable Infrastructure

Emphasis on educating citizenry with measurable behavior Emphasis on educating citizenry with measurable behavior changeschanges

Mechanisms to ensure that restoration projects are Mechanisms to ensure that restoration projects are sustainable, maintainablesustainable, maintainable

Others? Of course there are. Help us prioritize!Others? Of course there are. Help us prioritize!

EPA/ SCDHEC/ SCASM EPA/ SCDHEC/ SCASM PartnershipPartnership

SCASM at the table to help define SCASM at the table to help define appropriate levels of effort for appropriate levels of effort for implementing minimum control implementing minimum control measures and implementing TMDLs!measures and implementing TMDLs!

Not meant to be prescriptive, but a Not meant to be prescriptive, but a good starting pointgood starting point

Emerging Tools and Emerging Tools and Approaches to Achieve MS4 Approaches to Achieve MS4 TMDL Implementation and TMDL Implementation and

Urban Watershed RestorationUrban Watershed Restoration

What is Automated Feature Extraction?

Digital Image Classification & Analysisto Detect Features Based on –

• Pattern Recognition

• Spectral Content

• Spatial Context

• Texture

Forest Biomass

Urban Forestry

Fire Risk

Source: www.ncdcimaging.com

Applications Using High-Resolution Urban Land Cover Mapping

• Stormwater

• City Forestry / CITYgreen

• Water Conservation

• City & Environmental Planning

• Water Quality / Erosion Control

• City Parks & Recreation

Source: www.ncdcimaging.com

Impervious SurfacesParcel AnalysisSource

: ww

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.com

Source: www.ncdcimaging.com

Tree CanopyParcel AnalysisSource

: ww

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.com

Emerging Technology: Calculating Benefits of Tree CoverSource: www.ncdcimaging.com

Reports Acreage & Percentage of all Land Cover Types

Urban Forest Assessment, Middleton, WisconsinUrban Forest Assessment, Middleton, Wisconsin

CITYgreen Initial Report – Land Cover Class by AcresCITYgreen Initial Report – Land Cover Class by Acres

Source: American Forests

Average Rainfall Event

Curve Numbers

Additional Runoff fromCurve Number Change

Construction Cost to Build Retention Facility

Total Savings Provided by Trees

Stormwater Quantity (Runoff) Model, Citywide Stormwater Quantity (Runoff) Model, Citywide ResultsResults

L-THIA (Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment)L-THIA (Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment)

Water Quality Model, Citywide ResultsWater Quality Model, Citywide Results

Source: American Forests

Reports Percent Change in Contaminant Loading When Stormwater Increases

Thermography’s Promise!Thermography’s Promise!

Huge potential Huge potential savings for IDDE savings for IDDE programs!programs!

Must fly on clear, Must fly on clear, cold nights when cold nights when tree canopy is tree canopy is minimizedminimized

Promoting Local SolutionsPromoting Local Solutions

Looked at cost Looked at cost savings to savings to development development community by community by reducing reducing impervious paving impervious paving requirementsrequirements

Should be a NYT Should be a NYT Best Seller!Best Seller!

Source: saludareedy.org

Bass Creek Impaired Shellfish Beds

Encroaching Development

Monitoring Stations

NOAA Employing AR Techniques to Characterize Pathogen Sources on Kiawah Island

EPA Partnering with NOAA and SCDHEC to Develop and Implement Pathogen TMDL

New HomesConstructed

Wetlands

City Of North Augusta Influencing New Construction

Projects

Savannah River

Potential 5-Star Grantee

SENSA: Local Champion

Abandoned Brick Ponds

"Not many people have done what we're going to do," said town engineer Jeff McNesby. "But then again, there aren't many bodies of water like the May River."

Linking Enforcement and Linking Enforcement and Compliance Activities to Ambient Compliance Activities to Ambient

Water QualityWater Quality

We need tools to link outputs such as We need tools to link outputs such as illicit discharge detection reporting to illicit discharge detection reporting to outcomes such as ambient water outcomes such as ambient water quality improvement!quality improvement!

EPA R4’s Number One Priority for EPA R4’s Number One Priority for Water Program Enforcement is Water Program Enforcement is STORMWATER!!!STORMWATER!!!

SCDHEC Watershed Coordinators SCDHEC Watershed Coordinators By BasinBy Basin

Watersheds and Planning Contact Information(Program Coordinators, Analysts, and Managers)

Section Manager Mihir Mehta 803-898-4011

Watershed Manager - Santee and Salkehatchie Andy Miller 803-898-4031

Watershed Manager - Catawba and Edisto Carol Copeland 803-898-4203

Watershed Manager - Savannah and Broad Richelle Tolton 803-898-4213

Watershed Manager - Pee Dee and Saluda Roger Hall 803-898-4142

Resources and CitationsResources and Citations SCASM!!!SCASM!!! Subwatershed Vulnerability Analysis Tool from Center for Subwatershed Vulnerability Analysis Tool from Center for

Watershed ProtectionWatershed Protection• www.cwp.org/Vulnerability_Analysis.pdfwww.cwp.org/Vulnerability_Analysis.pdf

Methods to develop restoration plans for small urban watersheds Methods to develop restoration plans for small urban watersheds from CWPfrom CWP• www.cwp.orgwww.cwp.org

Southeastern Stormwater AssociationSoutheastern Stormwater Association• www.seswa.orgwww.seswa.org

American Forests CITYGreen ToolAmerican Forests CITYGreen Tool• www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/citygreen/www.americanforests.org/productsandpubs/citygreen/

EPA LID PagesEPA LID Pages• www.epa.gov/nps/lid/index.htmlwww.epa.gov/nps/lid/index.html

Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium Audit of Pavement Saluda-Reedy Watershed Consortium Audit of Pavement StandardsStandards• http://www.saludareedy.org/outreach/lid/lidauditweb.pdfhttp://www.saludareedy.org/outreach/lid/lidauditweb.pdf

Thank You For Your Time!Thank You For Your Time!

Craig Hesterlee, South Carolina Watershed Coordinator Craig Hesterlee, South Carolina Watershed Coordinator

USEPA Region 4, Watershed Management OfficeUSEPA Region 4, Watershed Management Office

Hesterlee.Craig@epa.govHesterlee.Craig@epa.gov

404-562-9749404-562-9749