West Virginia Department West Virginia Department of Environmental of Environmental

ProtectionProtection

October 13 & 14, October 13 & 14, 20152015

Draft TMDLs for Draft TMDLs for Tygart Valley River Tygart Valley River

WatershedWatershed

AgendaAgenda

Project Timeline/HistoryProject Timeline/History TMDL/Water quality standards recapTMDL/Water quality standards recap Overview of TMDL effortOverview of TMDL effort Explanation/demonstration of Explanation/demonstration of

electronic documents, spreadsheets, electronic documents, spreadsheets, tools tools

Questions and answers Questions and answers

WVDEP TMDL Process (4 WVDEP TMDL Process (4 yrs)yrs)

Stream Selection - (4/2012)Stream Selection - (4/2012)

Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and Pre-TMDL monitoring, source identification and

characterization - (7/2012 – 6/2013)characterization - (7/2012 – 6/2013)

Contract to model water quality and hydrology – Contract to model water quality and hydrology –

(1/2014) (1/2014)

Determine baseline condition and allocate pollutant Determine baseline condition and allocate pollutant

loadsloads

Draft Report comment period – (Draft Report comment period – (10/2 - 11/210/2 - 11/2))

Draft TMDL Public Meeting - 10/13 &14Draft TMDL Public Meeting - 10/13 &14

Finalization and EPA approvalFinalization and EPA approval

What’s a TMDL?What’s a TMDL? ““Total Maximum Daily Load” Total Maximum Daily Load”

(1) How much pollutant a stream can (1) How much pollutant a stream can receive receive and remain healthy and remain healthy

(2) Pollution Budget - prescribes (2) Pollution Budget - prescribes reductions reductions (where needed) of (where needed) of pollutants that result in pollutants that result in the the restoration of an impaired stream restoration of an impaired stream

TMDL development required by Clean TMDL development required by Clean Water Act for streams impaired by a Water Act for streams impaired by a pollutantpollutant

TMDL = TMDL = WLA + WLA + LA + MOS LA + MOS

= “sum of”= “sum of” WLA = “wasteload WLA = “wasteload

allocations” allocations” LA = “load LA = “load

allocations”allocations” MOS = “margin of MOS = “margin of

safety” safety”

WLAs - pollutant loads WLAs - pollutant loads from “point sources” from “point sources” Discharge from pointDischarge from point Need NPDES permitNeed NPDES permit

LAs - pollutant loads LAs - pollutant loads from “nonpoint sources” from “nonpoint sources” and backgroundand background Precipitation/runoff Precipitation/runoff

drivendriven No permit requiredNo permit required

What’s an impaired stream?What’s an impaired stream? Stream that doesn’t meet Stream that doesn’t meet water quality standardswater quality standards

West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47 West Virginia Water Quality Standards are codified in 47

CSR 2CSR 2 http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/Rulehttp://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Documents/Rule

%20Approved%20Letter%20and%20Rule%20Itself%20Approved%20Letter%20and%20Rule%20Itself%202014/WVDEP_WQS_2014Tri-%202014/WVDEP_WQS_2014Tri-Review_FinalRule47CSR2_June_2014.pdfReview_FinalRule47CSR2_June_2014.pdf

Standards include “Designated UsesStandards include “Designated Uses“

for WV waters and “water quality criteria”for WV waters and “water quality criteria”

to protect those usesto protect those uses

Criteria can be numeric or narrativeCriteria can be numeric or narrative

Impaired streams are enumerated on the 303(d) listImpaired streams are enumerated on the 303(d) list

West Virginia Section 303(d) List / Integrated Report

Numeric Criteria of ConcernNumeric Criteria of Concern Total IronTotal Iron

Aquatic Life/Public Water SupplyAquatic Life/Public Water Supply Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l (warmwater) nor 1.0 mg/l Not to exceed 1.5 mg/l (warmwater) nor 1.0 mg/l

(troutwater) as a 4 day average concentration (troutwater) as a 4 day average concentration more than once in a three year period more than once in a three year period

Public Water Supply - 1.5 mg/l Public Water Supply - 1.5 mg/l

Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform Water Contact Recreation/Public Water SupplyWater Contact Recreation/Public Water Supply Shall not exceed 200 counts/100ml as a monthly Shall not exceed 200 counts/100ml as a monthly

geometric mean (5 samples/month) geometric mean (5 samples/month) Nor to exceed 400 counts/100 ml in more than 10% Nor to exceed 400 counts/100 ml in more than 10%

of samples in a monthof samples in a month

Numeric Criteria of ConcernNumeric Criteria of Concern Dissolved AluminumDissolved Aluminum

Aquatic Life Aquatic Life Not to exceed 750 ug/l as a 1 hr avg concentration more Not to exceed 750 ug/l as a 1 hr avg concentration more than once in a three year period (warmwater/troutwater)than once in a three year period (warmwater/troutwater)Not to exceed 750 ug/l as a 4 day average concentration Not to exceed 750 ug/l as a 4 day average concentration more than once in a three year period (warmwater)more than once in a three year period (warmwater)Not to exceed 87 ug/l as a 4 day average concentration Not to exceed 87 ug/l as a 4 day average concentration more than once in a three year period (troutwater)more than once in a three year period (troutwater)

pHpHAquatic Life/Water Contact Recreation/Public Water Supply (All Uses)Aquatic Life/Water Contact Recreation/Public Water Supply (All Uses)

No values below 6.0 nor above 9.0.No values below 6.0 nor above 9.0.

Numeric criteria of concernNumeric criteria of concern

Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen Aquatic Life/Water Contact Recreation/Public Water Aquatic Life/Water Contact Recreation/Public Water

SupplySupply Not less than 6.0 mg/l at any time (troutwaters)Not less than 6.0 mg/l at any time (troutwaters) Not less than 5.0 mg/l at any time (all other Not less than 5.0 mg/l at any time (all other

applicable uses)applicable uses)

BerylliumBeryllium Aquatic Life/Public Water SupplyAquatic Life/Public Water Supply Not to exceed 130 ug/l as a 1 hour average more Not to exceed 130 ug/l as a 1 hour average more

than once in a three year period than once in a three year period Not to exceed 4.0 ug/l (Public Water Supply) Not to exceed 4.0 ug/l (Public Water Supply)

Narrative CriteriaNarrative Criteria Previous 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i Assessment Previous 47 CSR 2 - 3.2.i Assessment

Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs)

Stream scored based on abundance and type of bugs Stream scored based on abundance and type of bugs

presentpresent

Streams with impaired communities were placed on Streams with impaired communities were placed on

the 303(d) list and slated for TMDLsthe 303(d) list and slated for TMDLs

Narrative CriteriaNarrative Criteria2012 Legislative Changes2012 Legislative Changes

Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Senate Bill 562 passed by the 2012 West Virginia Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Legislature amended the WV Water Pollution Control Act Act

Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative Requires DEP to develop and secure legislative approval of new rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.iapproval of new rules to interpret 47 CSR 2-3.2.i

Section 22-11-7b: Section 22-11-7b: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=22&art=11

No biological TMDLs are part of this effortNo biological TMDLs are part of this effort Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will undergo Streams currently listed as biologically impacted will undergo

Stressor Identification processStressor Identification process

Stressor Identification ProcessStressor Identification Process

Method to evaluate stressor/s of Method to evaluate stressor/s of biologically impacted streamsbiologically impacted streams

Process used to evaluate if numeric criteria Process used to evaluate if numeric criteria TMDLs (iron, fecal) will address biological TMDLs (iron, fecal) will address biological stressorsstressors

Information will be retained and may be Information will be retained and may be used to delist streams in the future (used to delist streams in the future (Table Table 4.1 draft4.1 draft))

Tygart Tygart WatershedWatershed

Tygart Lake – not Tygart Lake – not listed as impaired listed as impaired

and not part of and not part of this effortthis effort

Impaired WatersImpaired Waters

251251 named named

streamsstreams

Table 3.3 Table 3.3

beginning beginning

on on page 12page 12

MDAS ModelMDAS Model Watershed Model Watershed Model Runs dynamically on a 1-hour time stepRuns dynamically on a 1-hour time step Represents land use (hydrologic Represents land use (hydrologic

processes) and river processesprocesses) and river processes Recognizes exposure duration and Recognizes exposure duration and

exceedence frequency components of exceedence frequency components of criteriacriteria

Can include nonpoint and point sourcesCan include nonpoint and point sources Streambank Erosion componentStreambank Erosion component

Modeling ApproachModeling Approach Segment watershedSegment watershed Configure model to represent all sources Configure model to represent all sources Calibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water Calibrate model for hydrology (flow) and water

qualityquality

Surrogate approaches – Dis. Oxygen and BerylliumSurrogate approaches – Dis. Oxygen and Beryllium Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing)Run MDAS for Baseline conditions (existing) Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)Run MDAS for TMDL scenario(s)

IronIron Dis. AluminumDis. Aluminum FecalFecal

pHpH SedimentSediment

251 streams251 streams

84 TMDL 84 TMDL WatershedsWatersheds

520 520 subwatershesubwatershe

dsds

Baseline ConditionBaseline Condition Design precipitation Design precipitation

periodperiod Hourly precipitation Hourly precipitation

data for a six-year data for a six-year periodperiod

Design period includes Design period includes wet and dry yearswet and dry years

Applied to present Applied to present day land usesday land uses

Permitted discharges Permitted discharges equal to permit limitsequal to permit limits

Annual precipitation totals for the Ekins-Randolph County Airport (WBAN 13729) weather station

TMDL ConditionTMDL Condition

Existing pollutant sources reduced Existing pollutant sources reduced such that TMDL endpoints are such that TMDL endpoints are achieved in each modeled achieved in each modeled subwatershed recognizingsubwatershed recognizing Criteria value, duration and exceedence Criteria value, duration and exceedence

frequency frequency Margin of safetyMargin of safety

Required component of TMDLsRequired component of TMDLs Explicit 5% used in most TMDLsExplicit 5% used in most TMDLs TMDL endpoints for numeric criteria TMDL endpoints for numeric criteria

are 95% of criterion value are 95% of criterion value

(ex.1.425 mg/l for 1.5 mg/l Fe (ex.1.425 mg/l for 1.5 mg/l Fe criterion)criterion)

Margin of SafetyMargin of Safety

Universal Reduction of targeted sourcesUniversal Reduction of targeted sources Streambank erosion, Failing Septics, etcStreambank erosion, Failing Septics, etc

Top-down approachTop-down approach Headwater subwatershedsHeadwater subwatersheds

analyzed firstanalyzed first

Allocation strategy dictates Allocation strategy dictates

order and magnitude of reductionorder and magnitude of reduction

If necessary, loads are reduced then routed If necessary, loads are reduced then routed to downstream subwatershedto downstream subwatershed

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

WVDEP priorities:WVDEP priorities: Ensure criteria compliance at all sws outletsEnsure criteria compliance at all sws outlets Target the primary causative sourcesTarget the primary causative sources

Strategy in generalStrategy in general Critical conditions must be consideredCritical conditions must be considered Sometimes only one significant source in Sometimes only one significant source in

swssws Always some amount of professional Always some amount of professional

judgementjudgement

Allocation Methodology Allocation Methodology

Fecal Coliform SourcesFecal Coliform Sources Point sourcesPoint sources

HAUsHAUs Package Plants Package Plants Municipal Sewage PlantMunicipal Sewage Plant Combined Sewer OverflowsCombined Sewer Overflows Mining BathousesMining Bathouses MS4 areas MS4 areas (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer

System)System)

Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe Failing septic systems and/or straight pipe

illicit dischargesillicit discharges Stormwater runoff from urban/residential Stormwater runoff from urban/residential

lands outside of MS4 areaslands outside of MS4 areas Stormwater runoff from agricultural landsStormwater runoff from agricultural lands

Fecal Coliform StrategyFecal Coliform Strategy

100% reduction of all untreated sewage 100% reduction of all untreated sewage discharges (failing septics, straight discharges (failing septics, straight pipes) as required by WV Bureau for pipes) as required by WV Bureau for Public Health regulationsPublic Health regulations

Sensitivity analysis to address severity Sensitivity analysis to address severity of agricultural vs. urban/residential of agricultural vs. urban/residential impacts impacts

Iron SourcesIron Sources Streambank erosionStreambank erosion Abandoned Mine Lands and seepsAbandoned Mine Lands and seeps Bond Forfeitures Lands and seepsBond Forfeitures Lands and seeps Upland Sediment SourcesUpland Sediment Sources

Harvested ForestHarvested ForestOil and GasOil and GasAgricultureAgricultureUrban Residential outside MS4 areasUrban Residential outside MS4 areasRoadsRoads

Active MiningActive Mining MS4 areasMS4 areas Construction Stormwater General PermitsConstruction Stormwater General Permits

Iron Allocation StrategyIron Allocation Strategy Streambank erosion loadings reduced to best Streambank erosion loadings reduced to best

available in watershedavailable in watershed

Sediment sources set to iron loadings equivalent to Sediment sources set to iron loadings equivalent to 100 mg/l TSS 100 mg/l TSS

Harvested Forest and skid roads were reduced to Harvested Forest and skid roads were reduced to loadings associated with Forestloadings associated with Forest

AMD seeps set to WQ criteria end of pipe (1.5 mg/l)AMD seeps set to WQ criteria end of pipe (1.5 mg/l)

Active mining permits and other point sources Active mining permits and other point sources reduced to 1.5 mg/l end of pipe in impaired reduced to 1.5 mg/l end of pipe in impaired watershedswatersheds

Iron Allocation Strategy Iron Allocation Strategy continuedcontinued

Future growth for Construction Stormwater Future growth for Construction Stormwater area initially allocated at 2.5% of area initially allocated at 2.5% of undeveloped subwatershed areaundeveloped subwatershed area

Model output evaluatedModel output evaluated Possible additional reductions for troutwaters, Possible additional reductions for troutwaters,

on an as needed basison an as needed basis mining permits / AMD seep reduced to 1.0 mining permits / AMD seep reduced to 1.0

mg/l on a subwatershed basismg/l on a subwatershed basis

Dissolved Aluminum/pH Sources and StrategyDissolved Aluminum/pH Sources and Strategy SourcesSources

AMLAML Acid precipitationAcid precipitation Instream chemical reactions (metals precipitation)Instream chemical reactions (metals precipitation) Active MiningActive Mining

StrategyStrategy Evaluate effects on pH and Al(d) of any concurrent iron Evaluate effects on pH and Al(d) of any concurrent iron

TMDLs being developed TMDLs being developed Add alkalinity to counter acid effects of AML seeps, and Add alkalinity to counter acid effects of AML seeps, and

evaluate Al(d) attainmentevaluate Al(d) attainment Alkalinity addition to counter effects of acid Alkalinity addition to counter effects of acid

precipitation and instream processes (metal precipitation and instream processes (metal precipitation)precipitation)

Permitted outlets remain at baseline concentrations Permitted outlets remain at baseline concentrations levels (1.39 mg/l) levels (1.39 mg/l)

Beryllium Sources & StrategyBeryllium Sources & Strategy LocationLocation

4 streams in 3 TMDL watersheds (also 4 streams in 3 TMDL watersheds (also impaired for pH)impaired for pH)

SourceSource Legacy miningLegacy mining

Reductions Strategy (Surrogate Reductions Strategy (Surrogate Approach)Approach) Data analysis indicates pH TMDL Data analysis indicates pH TMDL

implementation (acidity abatement) will implementation (acidity abatement) will ensure Total Be WQ criteria are attainedensure Total Be WQ criteria are attained

Low Dissolved Oxygen Sources and Low Dissolved Oxygen Sources and StrategyStrategy

SourcesSources Failing septic systems and agricultureFailing septic systems and agriculture

Reduction Strategy (Surrogate Approach)Reduction Strategy (Surrogate Approach) All dissolved oxygen streams also have fecal All dissolved oxygen streams also have fecal

coliform impairmentscoliform impairments

Excessive amounts of organic matter increase Excessive amounts of organic matter increase fecal coliform and reduce dissolved oxygen fecal coliform and reduce dissolved oxygen levelslevels

The reductions of organic loading required by The reductions of organic loading required by fecal coliform TMDL implementation will fecal coliform TMDL implementation will assure dissolved oxygen criteria are attainedassure dissolved oxygen criteria are attained

Future Growth HighlightsFuture Growth Highlights New facility anywhere in watershed if New facility anywhere in watershed if

meeting water quality criteria end of pipemeeting water quality criteria end of pipe

Subwatershed-specific future growth Subwatershed-specific future growth allowances have been provided, where allowances have been provided, where possible, for site registrations under the possible, for site registrations under the Construction Stormwater General PermitConstruction Stormwater General Permit

Further details on Future Growth can be Further details on Future Growth can be found beginning on page 89 of the Draft found beginning on page 89 of the Draft reportreport

Tygart Valley River Watershed Tygart Valley River Watershed TMDL Path ForwardTMDL Path Forward

Formal public comment period ends Formal public comment period ends 11/2/201511/2/2015

Address comments, prepare final draft Address comments, prepare final draft and submit to EPA for approval (final and submit to EPA for approval (final draft will include Response Summary)draft will include Response Summary)

TMDL ProductsTMDL Products

Main Report – Overall Main Report – Overall description of the description of the TMDL development TMDL development process for the Tygart process for the Tygart Valley River Valley River watershedswatersheds

Technical Report with Technical Report with detailed appendicesdetailed appendices

TMDL ProductsTMDL Products Allocation Allocation

spreadsheets:spreadsheets:

Fecal Coliform, Iron, Fecal Coliform, Iron, Dis. Al and pH Dis. Al and pH

TMDL for each stream,TMDL for each stream,

WLAs and LAs by SWSWLAs and LAs by SWS

FilterableFilterable

GIS shapefiles, along GIS shapefiles, along with Technical Report with Technical Report and Appendices, and Appendices, available on CDavailable on CD

Public CommentPublic Comment Public Comment period ends November 2, 2015November 2, 2015 Documents may be reviewed/downloaded from DEP

webpage: www.dep.wv.gov/tmdl

CD available upon request – CD includes GIS Shapefiles and Technical Report

Comments should be submitted to Steve Young at Stephen.A.Young@wv.gov

Questions - contact Dave Montali, Jim Laine, Mike McDaniel

(304) 926-0499 (Ext 1063, 1061, 1055) David.A.Montali@wv.gov James.C.Laine@wv.gov Michael.L.McDaniel@wv.gov

Spreadsheet/GIS Spreadsheet/GIS DemonstrationDemonstration

Discussion/Questions Discussion/Questions