nonpoint source management plan: issues and opportunities greg anderson nonpoint source coordinator...
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Nonpoint Source Management Plan: Issues and Opportunities
Greg Anderson
Nonpoint Source Coordinator
MO DNR
Common Nonpoint Source Impairments
• Sediment
• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen• Pesticides
• Acidity and Salts
• Heavy metals
• Low Dissolved Oxygen
• Various Urban Stormwater
Sedimentation and Soil Erosion
Several water quality problems can be associated with cattle and grazing: bank instability, soil
compaction, loss of vegetation, manure and enteric bacteria in streams.
Overgrazing keeps grass roots short by keeping the leaves short. Short leaves can't generate enough energy to feed deep roots.
Streambank erosion is often caused by loss of riparian vegetation, grade and channel modifications.
In 200 years, the U.S. has lost over 1/3 of its topsoil. About half of U.S. fertilizer simply replaces nutrients lost to soil erosion. (NOAA 2002)
Phosphorus
Excessive nutrient loading stimulates algae growth, such as this filamentous blue green algae
And causes algae blooms such as this.
And this.
Sediment and Nutrients - loading often varies with landuse and management practices.
Nitrogen
Gulf hypoxic zone - the “brown water ” is carrying excess nutrients and sediment
Every year 1.57 million metric tons of nitrogen (nitrate and organic nitrogen) enter the Gulf of
Mexico from the Mississippi basin.
• Soil mineralization
• Fertilizer (the largest annual inputs)
• Legumes and pasture
• Animal manure
• Atmospheric deposition
• Septic systems
• Municipal and industry point pollution
Red = 10mg/m3
phytoplankton pigment
Low Dissolved Oxygen
• Fish mortality due to lack of oxygen in the water.
• Eutrophication and oxygen depletion
• Excessive nutrients cause increased plant growth. The decaying organic matter, often primarily phytoplankton and zooplankton, depletes oxygen in the system.
Pesticides
Pesticides find their way into streams and drinking water supplies.
In addition to toxic compounds, pesticides may also contain mutagenic compounds and endocrine disrupters.
Other emerging problems include antibiotic and hormone loading.
Acid mine drainage, iron precipitate, heavy metals and iron loving
bacteria.
Mine spoil eroding into stream. This spoil contains large amounts of sulfates, manganese, and iron in addition to contributing heavy metals and acidic drainage.
Urban Stormwater
• Heavy metals• Nutrients• Pesticides• Sediment• Hydrocarbons• Others
Urban Stormwater
319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Program - “319 Grant”
• Nonpoint Sources
• Nonprofits, Educational Institutions, Local Governments
• Watershed Approach - Locally Led
• Consistent with Missouri’s Nonpoint Source Management Plan
Nonpoint Source Management Plan
Required by the Clean Water Act
Nonpoint Source Management Plan
In order to prevent or control NPS pollution, pollutants or conditions must be identified, their role in water quality must be understood and the sources of pollutants or conditions must be identified.
Nonpoint Source Management PlanComponents
• Goals and Objectives
• Prioritization
• Assessment
• Funding
• Milestones
• Partners
• Evaluation
Nonpoint Source Management PlanRevisions
• Annual updates are required
• Fifth year requirement is a major revision
Nonpoint Source Management Plan-Issues-
• Content - Contributions of time and input to write a good plan
• Committed long-term participation to follow through, evaluate, and adapt
• There is a great need to share watershed information, data, and join in committed and consolidated watershed based efforts
Nonpoint Source Management Plan-Opportunities-
• Watershed approach
• A good plan
• Annual reports of accomplishments and challenges
• Opportunities to work together toward an honorable goal - clean water
