Kinnickinnic River Watershed Action Team Meeting

Summary Presentation of the Watershed Restoration Plan

March 16, 2010 UWM Great Lakes WATER Institute

Agenda
1. 2. 3. 4.

Introductions Sweet Water Report Out Recap of Recent KK WAT Activities Summary Presentation of Watershed Restoration Plan (WRP) Next Steps

5.

Sweet Water Report Out

Executive

Director hired Facilitated/coordinated proposals to GLRI Continue on 501(c)3 status Conference planning WRP orientation

Recap of Recent WAT Activities

Review

& Comment on Draft WRP WAT Work Plan Recruitment Considerations

Primary Purpose of the WRP

Identify specific actions to be implemented by 2015 to improve water quality and habitat within the Kinnickinnic River Watershed

Background of the WRP

Culmination of historical and recent activity to protect and restore water quality within the Greater Milwaukee region:
Regional

Water Quality Plan (December

2007)
MMSD

2020 Facilities Plan (December

2007)
Input

from the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. (Sweet Water), Watershed Action Team and Science Committee (February 2008 present)

General Structure of the WRP

Follows

the Clean Water Act guidelines for developing effective watershed plans Establishes initial goals and recommended actions based on the Regional Plan WRP is intended to be a flexible, adaptive document

Starting point Plan-Do-Check-Act

Focus Areas
Public

Health/Bacteria Habitat & Aesthetics Nutrients (Phosphorus)

Public Health/Bacteria

Source: MMSD

Habitat

Source: MMSD

Concrete Lining

Dissolved Oxygen

Source: SEWRPC

Habitat Total Suspended Solids

Plume of Suspended Solids

Source: MMSD

Nutrients - Phosphorus

Cladophora near Bradford Beach

Source: MMSD

Baseline Year 2000 Conditions

Data

characterized for 10 assessment point areas

Baseline Year 2000 Conditions (cont.)

Fact

Sheets for each Assessment Point

Area

Maps Applicable water quality standards Summary of water quality data with brief assessment

Baseline Year 2000 Conditions (cont.)

Kinnickinnic River Watershed Assessment Points & Areas

Kinnickinnic Kinnickinnic River River Watershed Watershed Assessment Assessment Points & Points & Areas Reaches

KK-5 Holmes Avenue Creek

Source: SEWRPC

Kinnickinnic River Watershed Holmes Avenue Creek Assessment Point & Area

Source: MMSD, Watershed Restoration Plan Fact Sheet for Assessment Point KK-5

Baseline Year 2000 Conditions (cont.)

Highly urbanized land uses Unknown sources of fecal coliform bacteria Predominant nutrient loading from land surface; however, need to consider phosphorus compounds added to drinking water Habitat (fish) conditions vary throughout the watershed

Management Strategies to Achieve Goals

Existing regulatory management strategies

E.g. NR 151 (DNR runoff management rules)

Other management strategies in various stages of implementation

Bacteria identification at stormwater outfalls

Management strategies recommended for implementation by the Regional Plan, but not yet implemented

Establish long-term aquatic habitat monitoring stations

Expected Benefits
WRP

presents the individual pollutant reductions and other anticipated benefits for each of the specific management measures identified

Expected Benefits (cont.)

KK-5: Holmes Avenue Creek Water Quality
Fecal Coliform (May-Sep) TP TSS

Baseline Year 2020 Score

Very Good Good Moderate Poor

86% 85%

77% 78%

100% 100%

Percent Compliance Minimum Maximum

95 85 75 0 100 94 84 74

Expected Benefits (cont.)

Kinnickinnic Watershed Annual Pollutant Loads

What are the Issues in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed?

Fecal Coliform
Rank Assessment Point

Nonpoint Load per Acre (billion counts)

337 299 296 290 280

1 2 3 4 5

KK-5 KK-2 KK-6 KK-1 KK-3

Location of Priority Areas

Fecal Coliform

Top 5 areas generating fecal coliform per acre of land Based on model

What are the Issues in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed?

Total Suspended Solids
Rank Assessment Point

Nonpoint Load per Acre (tons)

0.30 0.25 0.23 0.21 0.20

1 2 3 4 5

KK-5 KK-2 KK-6 KK-10 KK-8

Location of Priority Areas

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Top 5 areas generating TSS per acre of land Based on model

What are the Issues in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed?

Total Phosphorus
Rank Assessment Point

Nonpoint Load per Acre (lbs)

0.94 0.88 0.82 0.79 0.78

1 2 3 4 5

KK-5 KK-6 KK-2 KK-8 KK-10

Location of Priority Areas

Phosphorus

Top 5 areas generating phosphorus per acre of land Based on model

Location of Priority Areas

Combined Results

Indicates areas that WATs may want to focus on first Hot spots

Location of Priority Areas

Riparian Corridor

Riparian corridor widths

Source: SEWRPC

Location of Priority Areas

Concrete-lined Channels

Concrete-lined channels locations

Source: SEWRPC

Future Actions
Priority

Actions

Based on the Regional Plan, modified by Sweet Water Targeted toward the three focus areas

Foundation

Actions

Subset of Priority Actions Predecessor actions to be completed first in order to realize the full benefit of the other actions identified

Prioritization of Actions (cont.)

Foundation Actions
Public

Health

Identify unknown sources of bacteria, including illicit connections Increase recreational use Reduce bacteria sources from land-based sources

Foundation Actions (cont.)

Habitat

and Aesthetics

Moderate flow regimes to decrease flashiness Reduce nonpoint water quality impacts (focus on chlorides) Reduce impacts through green infrastructure Restore fish passage throughout the watershed

Foundation Actions (cont.)

Nutrients

(Phosphorus)

Reduce use of phosphorus compounds in drinking water Reduce phosphorus loads from regulated discharges

Additional WRP Recommendations

Policy

issues identified

Total Maximum Daily Load Development (TMDL) Watershed permits Water quality trading NR 151 implementation Alternatives to adding phosphorus compounds to drinking water Alternative indicator to fecal coliform bacteria 303(d) list listing/delisting criteria

Action Plan Prioritization

Review

WRP Rec / Science

Prioritize (as a team)

Policy

Consideration

Pollutant Trading Phosphorus Ban

Pre/Post

Monitoring Fill Data Gaps Funding is Key

Why we need YOU as a Partner!

Diversity of opportunities for involvement

Community connections Identify & coordinate with other efforts Leverage resources through partnerships Diverse interests & skill sets needed Access to resources

Next Steps
Final

WRPs Posted March 31st Meeting: April 21st (4:00 pm)

www.swwtwater.org/home/documents.cfm
Review of Current Initiatives Tied to WRP Recommendations Discuss Prioritization of Activities

Next

Subsequent

Meetings: TBD (monthly)

Continue Prioritization & Implementation Planning