Julia Kirkwood Environmental Quality Analyst

Nonpoint Source Pollution

The most significant source of WQ impairment

Addressing NPS: Federal

1987 - Clean Water Act Section 319

Directed states to: • Assess extent of NPS • Prepare management plan to

correct it

Provides for funding

Federal

Register: Guidelines to states for NPS Program and

Grants

Addressing NPS: State

• MI Natural Resources and Environmental

Protection Act 451 (NREPA) Part 88: Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) NPS Control Grants • Sets guidelines for watershed plans, best

management practices and grant funding.

1988: MI Creates Nonpoint Source Program

NPS Program

Two Main Goals

• Restore - Priority Impaired waterbodies

• Protect High quality waters

Impaired Waterbody?

1.Agriculture

2.Industrial water supply

3.Public water supply at the point of intake

4.Navigation

5.Warmwater fishery

6. Other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife

7. Partial body contact recreation

8. Total body contact recreation-May 1-Oct 31

9. Cold water fishery – where applicable

Doesn’t meet criteria to support its designated use/s

All surface

waters of the

state are

designated for

and shall be

protected for all

the following uses

Part 4 Rules, Part 31,

PA 451, as

amended****

What are Water Quality Standards?

State rules designed to: Protect the Great Lakes, the connecting waters, and all

other surface waters of the state. Set water quality goals for a lake or stream.

The goals are in three areas: 1. Uses of the lake or stream, such as swimming and fishing 2. Safe levels to protect the uses, such as the minimum oxygen level needed for fish to live 3. Procedures to protect high quality waters.

Water Quality Standards

Part 4 Rules PA 451, as amended:

sets the standards for chemical and physical components

Two types of criteria

1) Numeric –concentration-based (130 E coli/100 ml)

2) Narrative - aesthetic conditions - absence of odor, color, turbidity, oil films, floating solids, toxic substances

Assessment of Water Quality

Clean Water Act requires states to provide EPA with: Assessment of the quality of their

waters: 305(b)

List of waters not meeting

designated uses/attaining

standards: 303(d)

Assessment of status and trends

of publicly owned lakes: 314

Integrated

Report

Webinar May 20th

What Is A TMDL? Total Maximum Daily Load

• Process to determine the pollutant load a lake or stream can handle and still meet water quality standards

WHAT

• Required by EPA when a water body is not attaining designated uses-303 (d) list WHY

• Available information to determine potential sources of pollutants and causes

• Location, use impairments, pollutant, length of impairment

Includes

NPS Program

Two Main Goals

• Restore: Priority Impaired waterbodies

• Protect High quality waters

NPS Program Funding

Watershed Planning: No funds available Watershed Plan Implementation: FY 14 up to 3.1 million

• State: Clean Michigan Initiative • Federal: Section 319(h) and 205(j)

Approved Watershed Plans

Must Meet State and Federal

Criteria

NPS Program Funding

Projects Must: Be in eligible watersheds with priority given to

targeted watersheds Implement priority recommendations in approved

watershed plans Directly address priority NPS pollutants

Inland Lakes Fit

Funding connections:

• Listed on the non-attainment list

• Or identified as a high priority for protection

• Priority recommendations in approved watershed plans

Watershed Plans

• Must identify, inventory and prioritize sources and causes

• Identify priority solutions

• Sturgeon River Watershed

Includes: Silver, Huffman, Thumb, and Wildwood Lakes

• Maple River Watershed

Includes: Larks, Douglas, Munro, and Lancaster Lakes

• Crooked River Watershed

Includes: Crooked, Pickerel, and Round Lakes

• Burt Lake

Morrison Lake is the priority