Utilizing Financial and Technical
Resources to Improve Water
Quality in Alabama
(Joe’s Branch Watershed)
Alabama Water Resources Conference 2013
Patti Hurley, Nonpoint Source Program
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Nonpoint Source Pollution and
the Section 319 Program of the
Clean Water Act
• Reduce impacts of polluted runoff (storm water)
• Is not a “regulatory” effort
• Requires voluntary participation
• Requires stakeholders at the local level
• Establish local “pride/ownership” in the watershed
Nonpoint Source Pollution and
the Section 319 Program of the
Clean Water Act
• Target impaired waterways – 303 (d) & TMDL Lists
• Conduct pre-project monitoring
• Implement on-the-ground best management practices
• Conduct post-project monitoring
• Identify water quality improvements (Success Stories)
Key to Long Term Sustainability
• Provide local stakeholders with a vested interest in
protecting water quality at the local level
• Education & Outreach
Agricultural Practices
• Plenty of opportunities
• Relatively easy fixes
• Relatively inexpensive
Stream crossing for cattle
Agricultural Practices
Alternative
Watering Sources
Winter Cover
Crops
Alum Treatment of
Poultry Houses
Urban Practices and
Green Infrastructure
• Streams listed on the 303(d) & TMDL Lists of Impaired
Waters
• Urban Practice is not required by the Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit
• Target specific nonpoint source pollutants (N, P, Sediment)
• Goal is to improve water quality and de-list waterway from
303(d) List of Impaired Waters – (Success Story)
Urban Practices and
Green Infrastructure
• More difficult to address
• More expensive to address
• More difficult to define landowner participation
• More difficult to address political boundaries
Urban Practices
Gadsden Mall
bioretention areas
Urban Practices
Bioretention area at Eden Elementary
School -- Pell City
Demonstrate New Technology
• Provide financial and technical resources to partner with
local stakeholders
• Support demonstration projects
• Replicate them in other watersheds throughout the state
Stream Restoration
North Gadsden Park
Montgomery White Slough
Genetta Stream
Low Impact Development Manual
Green
Roofs
Bioretention
Ponds
Pervious
Parking
Swales
319 Projects in Urban Areas
Stakeholder Identifies Potential Urban Project
Stakeholder meets with local
Municipality and determines that
project is not required under permit
Stakeholder submits a summary of
the Urban project to NPS Unit
NPS Unit and Municipal Branch personnel study
proposal and determine eligibility based on
submittal, permit conditions, and 319 eligibility
NPS Unit notifies Stakeholder that funding is
possible/not possible under 319 program
If funding is possible, stakeholder Submits
Formal Project Proposal to NPS Unit
Proposal must include
letter from
municipality that they
agree the urban
project does not
appear to be required
under the NPDES
Permit
Success Stories
Flint River -- Madison County -- OE/DO
Crowdabout Creek -- Morgan County – TSS and DO
Caney Branch -- Baldwin County -- Pathogens
Dry Creek -- Blount County -- Ammonia
Joe’s Branch
• A tributary to D’Olive Creek in
Baldwin County
• Flows into Mobile Bay
• Severe erosion and excessive
sedimentation from urban
development
• Destroyed habitat and loss
of large areas of sea grass
Joe’s Branch Demonstration
Project
Eroded Stream Banks
Joe’s Branch Demonstration
Project
Wetland Before
Step Pools in Construction
Wetland After
Step Pools Complete
Publicity
Check Presentation
Agency and University Visitors
Field Tours
International Award
Joe’s Branch Project
• Stakeholder Collaboration – Ashley Campbell
• Design and Installation - Emery Baya & Wade Burcham
• Results – Marlon Cook