water quality criteria to address nitrogen and phosphorus ......principal goal: develop nutrient...
TRANSCRIPT
Water Quality Criteria:Nitrogen & Phosphorus Pollution
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Presentation OutlinePresentation OutlineI. Key “Take Home” Messages
II. History of the Nutrient Criteria Program
III. Approaches for Nutrient Criteria Development
IV. CA Nutrient Numeric Endpoint Framework
V. CA NNE Regulatory Status
VI. Klamath River NNE Case Study
VII. Stream and Wetlands Policy – Protecting Physical Integrity
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Key Take Home Messages
Nutrient related impairments are Nutrient related impairments are pervasive;pervasive;Numeric Nutrient Criteria provide Numeric Nutrient Criteria provide quantifiable targets for incorporation into quantifiable targets for incorporation into NPDES Permits and TMDLs;NPDES Permits and TMDLs;Nutrients are not inherently toxic, therefore Nutrients are not inherently toxic, therefore are are ““uniqueunique”” as pollutants, and require a as pollutants, and require a unique approach;unique approach;
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Key MessagesNutrients, which are necessary for aquatic life, generally don’t cause impairment, it’s the secondary impacts (e.g., low DO) that cause concern.“Excess” concentrations of nutrients vary by waterbody type, climate, geologic areas, and other local risk cofactors (e.g., degraded riparian).Therefore, Nutrient Criteria cannot be developed as a single number for the Nation due to variability in background conditions and the role of other risk co-factors which affect nutrient processing within ecosystems.
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Key Messages Nutrients have a complex and nonlinear relationship to Beneficial Uses that is influenced by other risk cofactors!
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Key MessagesNutrient related impacts are many and varied:
Algal blooms (scum); Low dissolved oxygen; Extreme pH conditions; Fish disease & fish kills; “Weeds” affecting boating and swimming;Taste/odor; and Additional relationships include: pathogens (e.g. microcystin), methyl mercury, arsenate, and trihalomethanes.
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History of Nutrient CriteriaNutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) were consistently one of the top pollutants on the CWA Section 303(D) Lists to Congress Reports beginning in the early 1990’s.The “Nutrient Criteria Program” was initiated in 1995.1998 – The “National Strategy for the Development of Nutrient Criteria” identified need for numeric targets to measure effectiveness of watershed management programs
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Initial EPA Nutrient MissionInitial EPA Nutrient MissionPrincipal Goal: Develop Nutrient Criteria across the nation in 3 years.Criteria needed to address nutrient pollution, not natural enrichment.Primary Parameters: Total P, Total N, Chlorophyll-a and some measure of water clarity (e.g., Secchi disk depth, turbidity) Types: Numeric criteria, or narrative with numeric translator
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Primary ConceptsTailor criteria by nutrient ecoregion and waterbody typeIdentify minimally impacted conditions (reference)Address causal and response variablesUtilize local expertise, as in Regional Technical Advisory Groups (RTAGs), or other locally available experts
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Initial ApproachEPA drew upon the experience of the already successful Biocriteria Program, and used their ecoregional, frequency distribution approach – which was evaluated as “scientifically defensible” by EPA’s Science Advisory Board
EPA calculated “estimated reference conditions” using a frequency distribution of ecoregional data – and recommended they be used as starting points for states to develop their own criteria, using this, or other scientifically defensible methods.
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Ecoregional Classification
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CA Level IVEcoregionsEcoregions
01 Coast Range04 Cascades05 Sierra Nevada06 Southern & Central CA
Chaparral & Oak Woodlands
07 Central CA Valley08 So. CA Mountains09 Eastern Cascades
Slopes & Foothills13 Central Basin & Range14 Mojave Basin & Range78 Klamath Mountains80 Northern Basin & Range81 Sonoran Basin & Range
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Distributional ApproachThe 25th or 75th percentiles were an estimate of
reference conditions – protective of all uses.
Nutrient Variable Distributions
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Concentration
Prob
abili
ty All (pmf)
Ref (pmf)
All (cdf)
Ref (cdf)
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Distribution Approach CritiqueThis approach automatically delineates 75% of your waterbodies as impaired;Many also argued that it was not directly linked to the protection of designated uses, and was therefore potentially over-protective;Some argued that this approach would generate criteria that harm designated uses, such as recreational or commercial fishing.
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Shift in PolicyEPA Responded in 2001 with a policy of “flexibility”, encouraging states to use different approaches.
Many states adopted a “stressor-response”approach, where they began extensive field studies to identify the algal (diatom and periphyton) responses to N and P. Some states also began looking for responses in macroinvertebrates (or stream insects).
EPA has established a technical support center (N-STEPS) to assist states with the extensive technical challenges involved in these stressor-response approaches.
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Range of Technical ApproachesRange of Technical ApproachesStressor Response Approach:
Biomonitoring: algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish;Statistical analysis, indices, regression analysis, etc.;Dynamic Models;Scientific Literature; and Multiple Lines of Evidence – Weight of Evidence
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CA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsCA Nutrient Numeric Endpoints
Regional Technical Advisory Group initiated in 1999 to collaboratively develop nutrient criteria – all Regional Boards participated
Studies undertaken to evaluate alternative options
Existing approach adopted by Regional Boards and other participating agencies -- still under development but basic framework is in place.
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CA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsCA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsDecision framework includes:
Risk Based Approach: targets for response variables / secondary indicators – benthic algal biomass, DO, pH
Beneficial Use Risk Categories: (BURCs) BURC 1 – Presumptive Unimpaired; BURC 2 – Potentially Impaired; BURC 3 – Presumptive Impaired
Spreadsheet tools: convert response variable limits (secondary indicator targets) to initial site-specific nutrient concentration goals.
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CA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsCA Nutrient Numeric Endpoints
Category I: Category I: Presumptively Presumptively UnimpairedUnimpaired
Category II: Category II: Potentially ImpairedPotentially Impaired
Category III: Category III: Presumptively Presumptively ImpairedImpaired
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Example 303(d) ScreeningBURC Boundaries
BA1025202510II / III
BA51010105I / IIPlanktonicAlgal Biomassin Lakes andReservoirs
(as μg/L Chl-a)summer
mean
B150150CC200150II / III
B100100CC150100I / IIBenthic AlgalBiomass
in streams (mg chl-a/m2)
Maximum
MIGR SPWN MUNREC-2 REC-1 WARM COLD
BENEFICIAL USE BURC
BOUNDARYRESPONSEVARIABLE
BA1025202510II / III
BA51010105I / IIPlanktonicAlgal Biomassin Lakes andReservoirs
(as μg/L Chl-a)summer
mean
B150150CC200150II / III
B100100CC150100I / IIBenthic AlgalBiomass
in streams (mg chl-a/m2)
Maximum
MIGR SPWN MUNREC-2 REC-1 WARM COLD
BENEFICIAL USE BURC
BOUNDARYRESPONSEVARIABLE
A = No direct linkageB= More research needed to quantify linkageC= Addressed by existing Aquatic Life Criteria
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CA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsCA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsRegulatory Status
Estuarine Framework in Development
Possible adoption options:Narrative Nutrient Objectives with Nutrient Numeric Endpoint Framework adopted as implementation option.
Narrative Nutrient Objectives with default Beneficial Use Risk Category Boundaries and NNE Framework as implementation option.
Other?
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CA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsCA Nutrient Numeric EndpointsNext Steps
Peer Review of five case studiesSeveral TMDLs are being developed using the CA NNEBiomonitoring capabilities are being developed to expand lines of evidenceDevelop regional ranges for Beneficial Use Risk CategoriesGet EPA to check the Yes column!
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Klamath River NNE Case StudyKlamath River NNE Case Study
Klamath River Entering Pacific Ocean
Upper Klamath Lake Hanks Marsh
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Klamath CA Klamath CA NNE NNE
Case StudyCase StudyBasin: 12,680 sqr. MilesRiver ~250 milesFive damsPopulation 114,0002/3 Federal land ownershipSeveral Federally recognized TribesTMDL listed tributaries
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Klamath River Impairments
California
DO
Temperature
Nutrients
Sediment *
OregonDO
Chlorophyll a
Temperature
pH
Ammonia
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Klamath River Fish KillsKlamath River Fish Kills
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Klamath River Klamath River –– NNE Conceptual ModelNNE Conceptual Model
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Klamath River Klamath River –– NutrientsNutrients
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
Stateli
ne
Abov
e Iro
n Gate
Belo
w Iron G
ate
Abov
e Shas
ta A
bove S
cott
Seiad Vall
ey
Abov
e Salm
on O
rlean
s
Abov
e Trin
ity
Belo
w Trinity
Turwer
Estuary
Tota
l Pho
spho
rous
(mg
/ L)
Sum
mer
Ave
rage
"Natural"
Existing - Monitored 96-07
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Klamath River Klamath River -- NutrientsNutrients
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
Stateli
ne
Abov
e Iro
n Gate
Belo
w Iron G
ate A
bove S
hasta
Abov
e Sco
tt Seia
d Vall
ey A
bove S
almon
Orle
ans
Abov
e Trin
ity B
elow Trin
ity Tu
rwer
Estuar
y
Tota
l Nitr
ogen
(mg
/ L)
Sum
mer
Ave
rage
"Natural"
Existing - Monitored 96-07
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Klamath River Klamath River -- PeriphytonPeriphyton
0100200300400500600700800900
100011001200
Below Iro
n Gate
Further
Below Ir
on G
ateAbo
ve Sco
ttSeia
d Valley
Above
Salmon
Below Salm
on (Orle
ans)
Above
Trinity
(Weit
chpec
)
Below Tr
inity (M
artin
s)
Turwer
Chl
orop
hyll-
a m
g/m
²
MeanMaximumBackground Target Value: 150
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Klamath River Klamath River –– Diurnal DO & pHDiurnal DO & pHSeiad Valley – Typical Summer Diurnal Pattern
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
8/20/02 8/22/02 8/24/02 8/26/02
Diu
rnal
DO
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
Diu
rnal
pH
DOpHpH Objective
DO Objective
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Klamath River Klamath River -- DODO
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
At Iron G
ate
Above
Shasta
River
Above
Scott R
iver
At Seia
d Valley
At Orle
ans
Above
Trinity
At Weit
chep
ec
Below W
eitch
pec
At / ab
ove Tur
wer% Measurements < 85%saturation at medianbarometric pressure
n=4498
n=5533
n=4457
n=4713
n=5535n=4533 n=5400
n=3529
n=5543
Year: 2005
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
At Iron G
ate
Above Shas
ta Rive
r
Above Sco
tt Rive
r
At Seia
d Valley
At Orle
ans
Above Trin
ityAt W
eitch
epec
Below W
eitch
pec
At / ab
ove Turw
er
% Measurements < 8 mg / Ln=4498
n=4533
n=5400n=3529
n=5543
n=4713n=4457n=5533
n=5535
Year: 2005
Frequent violation of both existing and proposed DO Water Quality Objectives during summer months.
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Klamath River – Fish disease
Life cycle of the parasite Ceratomyxa shasta:The parasite is the primary fish health issue in the
Klamath River according to USFWS
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Klamath River – Fish disease
Severity of Severity of CeratomyxosisCeratomyxosis in Klamath River in Klamath River suggests a shift in the host: parasite balance suggests a shift in the host: parasite balance towards towards C. C. shastashasta
HostsSalmon & Polychaetes
EnvironmentParasite
(pathogen)
Negative impactNegative impact
HostsSalmon & Polychaetes
EnvironmentParasite
(pathogen)
Negative impactNegative impact
Disease
Positive impact
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Klamath River (reservoirs) Klamath River (reservoirs) Chlorophyll aChlorophyll a
Klamath River Reservoirs
020406080
100120140160180200
Iron GateNear Dam
Iron GateUpper Half
Copco NearDam
Copco UpperHalf
Chl
orop
hyll
a (u
g/L)
MeanMaximum
602 uG/L
Target 10uG/L
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Klamath River Klamath River –– BlueBlue--green algaegreen algaeMicrocystin Toxin Maximums-Iron Gate and
Copco Reservoirs, 2006
110
1001000
10000
100000
IRJW
7/2
7/20
06
IRJW
8/7
/200
6
IRJW
8/2
3/20
06
IRC
C 8
/23/
2006
IRCC
8/7
/200
6
IR01
7/2
7/20
06
IR01
8/2
4/20
06
IR01
8/8
/200
6
CRM
C 8
/7/2
006
CRM
C 8
/23/
2006
CR
CC 8
/8/2
006
CRC
C 8
/23/
2006
CRC
C 7
/27/
2006
CRC
C 7
/13/
2006
CR01
7/2
7/20
06
CR0
1 8
/8/2
006
CR01
8/2
4/20
06
Date and Location
Mic
rocy
stin
Con
cent
ratio
n(lo
garit
hmic
in
ppb)
Moderate Probability of Adverse Health Effects (20 ppb)
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CA NNE Targets for Reservoirs
Proposed BURC II/III Boundary:10 µg/L summer average chlorophyll a
Potential additional target: Reduced predicted cyanobacterial fraction of biomass to < 50% using regression equations relating BGI “blue green index” to TN and TP (see Downing et al., 2001)
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BATHTUB Scoping Tool Predicts BATHTUB Scoping Tool Predicts Observed TN, TP, Chlorophyll Observed TN, TP, Chlorophyll aa
Total N
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
Copco 02 Copco 05 Iron Gate 02 Iron Gate 05
mg/
L observedpredicted
Total P
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
Copco 02 Copco 05 Iron Gate 02 Iron Gate 05
mg/
L observedpredicted
Chlorophyll a
0
5
10
15
20
25
Copco 02 Copco 05 Iron Gate 02 Iron Gate 05
µg/L observed
predicted
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Tool Predicts TN and TP Loads that Tool Predicts TN and TP Loads that Achieve TargetAchieve Target
N and P Loads That Meet the Chl-a Target
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000
P Load (kg)
N L
oad
(kg)
Allow able N-P to Meet Target Observed N-P
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Reductions to Meet Chl-a Target in Reservoirs
Reduce TP by 80 to 92%; or Reduce TN by by 53 to 67%.
Reductions very similar to reductions needed to achieve DO targets using CE-QUAL-W2 model
Average cyanobacterial fraction of algal biomass predicted to be reduced to about 50%
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Klamath NNE Periphyton BiomassKlamath NNE Periphyton BiomassTarget Analysis below Iron GateTarget Analysis below Iron Gate
Predicted and Observed Maximum Chlorophyll a (mg /m2)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
KR18952(below Iron
Gate)
KR17608(above
Shasta)
KR14261(aboveScott)
KR12858(SeiadValley)
KRWE(aboveTrinity)
KRTC(belowTrinity)
KRTG(Turwar)
Ben
thic
Chl
orop
hyll
a (m
g/m
2 ) Standard QUAL2K
Revised QUAL2K
Revised QUAL2K with AccrualAdjustmentDodds 2002
Observed Maximum
Observed Average
Note: Predicted maxima are spatial averages for reach. Observed data are point measurements. Data for 2004 sampling is shown.
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Preliminary NNE Nutrient GoalsTN and TP Goals (mg/L) for Target of 150 mg/m2 Maximum Benthic Chlorophyll a
Station Revised QUAL2KRevised QUAL2K
with Accrual Adjustment
Dodds 2002
Below Iron Gate 0.18 / 0.025 0.18 / 0.025 0.34 / 0.047Above Shasta River 0.23 / 0.032 0.23 / 0.032 0.30 / 0.042Above Scott River 0.23 / 0.032 0.28 / 0.039 0.33 / 0.046@ Seiad Valley 0.38 / 0.053 0.44 / 0.061 0.38 / 0.053Above Trinity River 0.24 / 0.033 0.28 / 0.039 0.50 / 0.069Below Trinity River 0.24 / 0.033 0.41 / 0.057 0.49 / 0.068@ Turwar 0.24 / 0.033 0.51 / 0.071 0.53 / 0.074
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Estimated Reductions from 2005-2007 Levels to achieve 150 mg/m2
Station Percent Reduction TN / TP Current TN / TP Goal
Below Iron Gate 83% (N) 1.08 / 0.14 0.18 / 0.025Above Shasta
River 78% (N) 1.05 / 0.14 0.23 / 0.032Above Scott
River 70% (N) 0.94 / 0.16 0.28 / 0.039
@ Seiad Valley 21% (N) 0.56 / 0.091 0.44 / 0.061Above Trinity
River 30% (P) 0.24 / 0.056 0.28 / 0.039Below Trinity
River - 0.21 / 0.050 0.41 / 0.057
@ Turwar - 0.23 / 0.041 0.51 / 0.071
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Klamath River NNE ConclusionsThe following nutrient risk co-factors impact Water impact Water
Quality / Beneficial Use Support and will need to be Quality / Beneficial Use Support and will need to be addressed in any recovery plan: addressed in any recovery plan:
Reduced wetland area and function in upper basinRiver hydrologic regimeImpoundmentsTemperature Riparian shadingExcess Sediment Stream channel degradation
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For Further Information
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