Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
5th Annual Wisconsin River
Symposium
March 19, 2015
Ann Hirekatur, TMDL Project Manager
Photo by James Brodzeller
Water Quality Features within the WRB
Cherokee ParkFall Colors at
Tomahawk Fishing at
Ice
Eagle
Fishing
Fishing
Viewing
inat
Wausau
Near
Fishing
at
Lake
Wisconsin
Petenwell
Students
on
Lower
Wisconsin
Prairie
Castle
Rock
Sac
Mosinee
Canoe
on Lower
Wausau
KayakWisconsin
Rundu
Reservoir
Dells of the Eau Claire
Photo
by
Photo by James
Brodzeller
Photo by Jean
Photo by James
Brodzeller
James
Brodzeller
UnmuthPhoto by Wausau
Chamber
of Freihoefer
Photo
byby
Adam
Photo
James
Brodzeller
Photo by Jean
Commerce
Unmuth
Photo by
Photo by Jason Schillinger
James Brodzeller
Water Quality Concerns within the WRB
Petenwell
Fish Kills
andinCastle
Big Eau
Rock
Pleine
Flowages
Reservoir
Runoff in the Baraboo
The Wisconsin River Basin (WRB)
Water Quality Improvement Project
Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
Part I
PROJECT OVERVIEW
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
Project Framework = Total Maximum Daily Load
TMDL
A TMDL answers the
following questions:
• How much is the existing
pollutant load? What is the
contribution from each
source?
• How much does pollution
need to be reduced in
order for waterways to
achieve water quality
standards?
The Framework for Wisconsin River
Basin Water Quality Improvement
Project
• How will the pollutant load
reductions be achieved?
Why develop a TMDL?
Baseline
Pollutant
Load
Total
Maximum
Daily
Load
Does not
meet water
quality standards
Meets water
quality standards
Developing a TMDL
Baseline
Pollutant
Load
?
TMDL
Load
What is the magnitude of the
Total Maximum Daily Load ?
Developing a TMDL
Baseline
Pollutant
Load
?
?
?
How will the load be
apportioned among sources?
WRB Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
Each subwatershed is assessed for:
Background Load
• Naturally occurring from
wetlands, forests
Load Allocation
Waste Load Allocation
• Runoff from the landscape
• Municipal Wastewater
• Industrial Wastewater
• Permitted Municipal Storm
Sewer Systems
• CAFO Production Areas
TMDL
Load
Allocation
+
Waste Load
Allocation
+
Margin of
Safety
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2001&2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
X
2010
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basin-wide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
2005
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015) →
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
2005
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2010
2015
2020
2025…
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
Baseline
2015-2016
Allocation Development
TMDL
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015-2016
Allocation Development
2025…
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
TMDL
Implementation
2015-2016
Allocation Development
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
TMDL
Implementation
2015-2016
Allocation Development
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
TMDL
Implementation
2015-2016
Allocation Development
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
TMDL
Implementation
2015-2016
Allocation Development
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Detailed Technical Timeline
2013
2014
2015
2016
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Detailed Technical Timeline
Watershed Model
Validation and Refinement
Discharge and
Water Quality Analysis
Allocation Database Setup
Land Use & Land
Management
Inventory/Mapping
2013
Draft Modeling Report
Watershed and Urban
Model Set-up & Calibration
2014
Allocation Development
2015
2016
CE-QUAL-W2
Reservoir
Modeling
Pollutant Load
Calculations
• BATHTUB
Reservoir
Modeling
• Reservoir Sediment
Monitoring
Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
Part II
COMMUNICATION &
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
INVOLVEMENT
Updated Website
GovDelivery
•
•
•
•
•
•
Launched August 2014
Anyone can subscribe/unsubscribe at any time
Initial invite sent to 281 emails
Currently 650+ subscribers
More timely communication than via website
Approximately one announcement per month
→
→
→
→
Quarterly Newsletters
Events (e.g. Wisconsin River Symposium)
Notification of new information posted to website
Opportunities for Stakeholder Input/Involvement (draft model
review/comments)
Quarterly Newsletters
Quarterly Newsletters
Draft Models - Accessible for Review
Model
Model
Development
Estimated
Date
Model
Calibration
Estimated
Date
SWAT
Model
Setup
Jan 2015
Model
Calibration
Summer 2015
Urban
Model Area
& Reach
Mapping
Jan 2015
SLAMM Model
Summer 2015
April 2015
Model
Calibration
Summer 2015
April 2015
Water Quality
Calibrated
Model
Summer 2015
SLAMM
BATHTUB
Model Setup
CE-QUALW2
Hydrodynamic
Calibrated Model
Draft Models – Response to Comments
Nonpoint Stakeholders
Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
Part III
TMDL IMPLEMENTATION
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
Past, Present and Future…..
2014-2015
2001-2004
Unsuccessful
Funding
Proposals
2008
First Pontoons
and Politics
• State Legislature appropriates
$235,000 (FY 2015)
• Water Quality Data Assessment
• Watershed & Reservoir Modeling
2016-2017
Draft/Final TMDL
1995
1991-1996
Petenwell
Castle Rock
Comprehensive
Management
Planning
2000
2005
2010
2009-2014
• State Legislature appropriates
$750,000 over 5 years →
• Comprehensive Basin Monitoring
• Basinwide Land Use & Land
Management Mapping
2015
2020
2025…
TMDL
Implementation
2015-2016
Allocation Development
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
TMDL Implementation
What is
our
starting
point?
Where
are we
headed?
How do
we get
there?
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
TMDL Implementation
What is
our
starting
point?
Where
are we
headed?
How do
we get
there?
Main Stem Monitoring Results
Total Phosphorus Concentration
Tomahawk
65
Merrill
64
Wausau Dam
62
Rothchild
70
Mosinee
75
Below Dubay
95
Point Dam
80
Biron
90
Nekoosa
95
Below Petenwell
81
Below Castle Rock
67
Dells
76
Sauk City
78
0
20
40
60
80
2010-2013 May-Oct Median TP (mg/L)
100
Major Reservoir Monitoring Results
Petenwell
Total Phosphorus Concentration
Northern
95
North Central
111
Central
121
South Central
Southern
Northern Main
113
82
Castle
Rock
76
CTH G
Yellow River Arm
Castle
Rock
Petenwell
121
98
Central Main
80
Southern Main
81
0
50
100
150
2010-2013 Mid-June – Mid Sept (mg/L)
Tributary Monitoring Results – Total P Concentration
West Tributaries
63
78
Rib
Big Eau Pleine
252
129
79
102
Fenwood
175
Prairie
52
Pine
38
Eau Claire
54
Plover
32
Tenmile
51
Big Roche-A-Cri
31
Freeman
BEP Outlet
Little Eau Pleine
268
East
Tributaries
Spirit
Mill
116
Yellow
126
Lemonweir
117
WB Baraboo
169
Baraboo Reedsburg
176
Baraboo
300
200
100
0
2010-2013 May-Oct Median TP (mg/L)
0
100 200 300
2010-2013 May-Oct Median
TP (mg/L)
Major Reservoir Monitoring Results
Total Phosphorus Concentration
Upper
199
Above Park
Big Eau Pleine
Below Park
Lower
Lake DuBay
145
121
104
Northern
85
Central
92
Southern
91
Big Eau
Pleine
Lake
DuBay
0
50
100 150 200 250
2010-2013 Mid-June – Mid Sept (mg/L)
Major Reservoir Monitoring Results
Lake
Wisconsin
Total Phosphorus Concentration
Northern
90
Central
109
Southern
98
80
90
100
110
2010-2013 Mid-June – Mid Sept (mg/L)
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
TMDL Implementation
What is
our
starting
point?
Where
are we
headed?
How do
we get
there?
Statewide Phosphorus Criteria
Rivers
Streams 1
Reservoirs
100 μg/L
75 μg/L
• Not
Stratified =
40 μg/L
• Stratified =
30 μg/L
1All
Inland
Lakes2
Ranges from
15-30 μg/L
Great Lakes
• Lake
Michigan = 7
μg/L
• Lake
Superior = 5
μg/L
unidirectional flowing waters not in NR 102.06(3)(a). Excludes Ephemeral Streams.
2Excludes wetlands and lakes less than 5 acres
Clean Water
Fish & Wildlife
Recreation
Phosphorus
Toxic algae blooms
Public health risks
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
TMDL Implementation
What is
our
starting
point?
Where
are we
headed?
How do
we get
there?
WRB Water Quality Improvement Project
TMDL Implementation
What is
our
starting
point?
Where
are we
headed?
How do
we get
there?
….and whose responsibility is it?
Proportional Reduction Allocation Method =
Everyone Does their Fair Share
•
Proportional allocation method is
developed from baseline conditions
•
Baseline Conditions reflect current
regulatory requirements, NOT current
performance
•
The TMDL load for each reach is divided
proportionally according to each
source’s baseline load contribution
Baseline
TMDL
TMDL Implementation – Wasteload Allocations
How? ….
Who?
TMDL waste load allocations are
incorporated into permits
• DNR – sets limits based on allocations
• Municipal and Industrial Wastewater
• Permitted Municipal Storm Sewer Systems
• CAFO Production Areas (zero allowable
discharge)
• Permitted facilities – implement
limits
TMDL Implementation – Nonpoint Source
How? Establish partnerships to
Who?
implement best management practices
on the landscape
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Fair Share- Everyone does what they
reasonably can
• Targeting – Use available resources to put
extra effort towards watersheds/areas
with the most potential to achieve
pollutant reductions
County Staff
Agricultural producers
Agricultural organizations
Conservation Organizations
Crop Consultants
Citizens/Groups
DNR/DATCP
NRCS
What does NPS implementation look like?
Every county, and every “reach –shed” faces unique challenges and
opportunities. A few examples….
Physical Conditions
• Sandy /Clayey Soils
• Shallow groundwater
• Steep slopes
• Drainage tiles/ditches
• High wind erosion
Land Use/Management
• Dairy/Beef
• Cash Grain
• Potato/Vegetables
• Cranberries
Social - Political
• LCC/County Board
• Financial Resources
• Institutional capacity
• Social Norms / Values
One size fits all?
What does NPS implementation look like?
Examples of NPS Implementation Tools/Resources
• 9-Key Element Planning
• County Land and Water Plan
Updates
• State Grant Funded Projects
(Planning/Implementation)
– TRM/NOD
– UNPS
– Lake Protection
– River Protection
• Farmer Led Initiatives
• Federal Funding Programs
(NRCS)
One size fits all?
Fenwood Creek Watershed 9-Key Element Plan
What Can Citizens Do?
Get Involved in Land and Water
Resource Planning
• Get a copy of your county plan and see what
it says about issues important to you!
• Become a planning committee member
Encourage your county to apply for
grants
• TRM
• Lake Protection
• River Protection
Get involved in volunteer citizen
monitoring
Get involved in local lake planning
and management
Join your local Lake or Watershed
group
Ask yourself, what is my fair share?
What can I do personally?
Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
Who Can I Contact?
Pat Oldenburg
Ann Hirekatur
Monitoring/Wastewater
Coordinator
Project Manager
Ann.Hirekatur@wisconsin.gov
608-266-0156
Patrick.oldenburg@wisconsin.gov
715-831-3262
Aaron Ruesch
Modeling/Technical Lead
Aaron.Ruesch@wisconsin.gov
608-266-0152
Terry Kafka
Brad Johnson
Stacy Martin
Susan Sandford
NPS Sector Lead
Stormwater Sector Lead
CAFO Sector Lead
Outreach Coordinator
Terrence.Kafka@wisconsin.gov
BradleyA.Johnson@wisconsin.gov
Stacy.Martin@wisconsin.gov
Susan.Sandford@wisconsin.gov
608-355-1363
715-359-2872
715-359-2874
608-266-8107
Wisconsin River Basin Water Quality Improvement Project
QUESTIONS?