Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund

Developing an Effective Targeting Tool and Monitoring Strategy

Bruce MichaelBruce Michael

Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesMaryland Department of Natural Resources

MASC WorkshopMASC Workshop

November 12-13, 2008November 12-13, 2008

Presentation SummaryPresentation Summary

2010 Trust Fund Status2010 Trust Fund Status

Prioritization MethodologyPrioritization Methodology

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria

Proposal Review ProcessProposal Review Process

Monitoring StrategyMonitoring Strategy

2010 Trust Fund Status2010 Trust Fund Status

Original Legislation - $50 Million/yearOriginal Legislation - $50 Million/year

targeted to small watershed (30,000 acrestargeted to small watershed (30,000 acres

or less), non-point source restoration activitiesor less), non-point source restoration activities

FY ’09 Appropriation - $25 MillionFY ’09 Appropriation - $25 Million

State Budget cuts - reduced to $12.8 MillionState Budget cuts - reduced to $12.8 Million

To be divided between MDA (coverTo be divided between MDA (cover

crops), MDE (stormwater), DNR (multi-crops), MDE (stormwater), DNR (multi-

project, watershed wide)project, watershed wide)

Targeted Watershed Prioritization Targeted Watershed Prioritization MethodologyMethodology

Targeted Watersheds were based onTargeted Watersheds were based on

geographic targetinggeographic targeting Greatest need for non-point source pollution Greatest need for non-point source pollution

reductionreduction Greatest water quality benefits to the BayGreatest water quality benefits to the Bay

Integration of 2 approachesIntegration of 2 approaches Bay Heath IndexBay Heath Index Sparrows ModelSparrows Model

The Bay Health Index (BHI) is a spatially-explicit index that represents the major Bay habitats by using information from:

1) water quality data: Secchi, chl-a, and water column (DO),

2) phytoplankton (PIBI), benthic community (BIBI) and

3) peripheral shallow-water areas (SAV)

Secchi, chl-a, PIBI

DO

SAV

BIBI

Index values used to calculate Index values used to calculate report card gradesreport card grades

15 regions of the Bay15 regions of the Bay

Index: 0 to 100Index: 0 to 100

Grade: A to FGrade: A to F

Release in AprilRelease in April

www.eco-check.orgwww.eco-check.org

2006

Funding Funding allocationallocation

Non-point sourceNon-point source

Prioritization:Prioritization: Based on Water Based on Water

Quality IndexQuality Index BMPs for BMPs for

agricultural and agricultural and urban runoffurban runoff

Top 5 tributaries selected for Top 5 tributaries selected for 2008 allocations2008 allocations

SPARROW ModelSPARROW ModelSPAtially Referenced Regressions On SPAtially Referenced Regressions On

Watershed AttributesWatershed Attributes

SPARROW relates in-stream water-quality SPARROW relates in-stream water-quality measurements to spatially referenced measurements to spatially referenced characteristics of watersheds, including characteristics of watersheds, including contaminant sources and factors contaminant sources and factors influencing terrestrial and stream transportinfluencing terrestrial and stream transport

The model empirically estimates the origin The model empirically estimates the origin and fate of contaminants in streams and fate of contaminants in streams

SPARROW Model OutputSPARROW Model Output

Future Watershed TargetingFuture Watershed Targeting

Include SPARROW Model TotalInclude SPARROW Model Total

Phosphorus Delivered YieldPhosphorus Delivered Yield

MBSS Stronghold Watersheds forMBSS Stronghold Watersheds for

protected landsprotected lands

2010 Trust Fund Proposal 2010 Trust Fund Proposal Assessment CriteriaAssessment Criteria

Four Evaluation Criteria:Four Evaluation Criteria: Scientific FeasibilityScientific Feasibility Implementation ReadinessImplementation Readiness Implementation AbilityImplementation Ability Characteristics of the watershedCharacteristics of the watershed

Size - Similar to the Corsica Size - Similar to the Corsica Watershed Watershed LocationLocation

Corsica River - RestorationCorsica River - Restoration

4,000 acres of Cover Crops and 4,000 acres of Cover Crops and 2,000 acres of Small Grain 2,000 acres of Small Grain EnhancementsEnhancementsTreat 300 acres of Urban Lands Treat 300 acres of Urban Lands with Stormwater Managementwith Stormwater ManagementEstablish 100 acres of Establish 100 acres of Conservation Reserve Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program BuffersEnhancement Program BuffersImplement 50 acres Horse Pasture Implement 50 acres Horse Pasture Management BMPsManagement BMPsRetrofit 30 Septic Systems with Retrofit 30 Septic Systems with Denitrification TechnologyDenitrification TechnologyEstablish 200 acres of Forested Establish 200 acres of Forested Buffers on non-Agricultural LandBuffers on non-Agricultural LandRestore 50 acres of Wetlands and Restore 50 acres of Wetlands and 2 miles of Stream Channel2 miles of Stream ChannelRestore 10 acres of SAV and 20 Restore 10 acres of SAV and 20 acres of Oystersacres of OystersUpgrade WWTP to ENRUpgrade WWTP to ENR

Review ProcessReview Process

Internal State agency review Internal State agency review Governor appointed Scientific AdvisoryGovernor appointed Scientific Advisory Panel (GSAP)Panel (GSAP) Trust Fund Evaluation WorkgroupTrust Fund Evaluation Workgroup Develop monitoring strategyDevelop monitoring strategy Provide guidance and assistance to applicants and Provide guidance and assistance to applicants and

grant recipientsgrant recipients Track progress on implementation and nutrient and Track progress on implementation and nutrient and

sediment reductionssediment reductions

Bay Workgroup, Bay Cabinet, BayStatBay Workgroup, Bay Cabinet, BayStat

2010 TF Monitoring Strategy2010 TF Monitoring Strategy

Limited Monitoring Resources – Must beLimited Monitoring Resources – Must be

targetedtargeted

Identify and assess existing monitoring dataIdentify and assess existing monitoring data

Tiered approachTiered approach ImplementationImplementation Functional Outcomes – focus on measurable nutrientFunctional Outcomes – focus on measurable nutrient

reductions to demonstrate effectiveness of projectreductions to demonstrate effectiveness of project

Monitoring flow and nutrient loads areMonitoring flow and nutrient loads are

criticalcritical

2010 TF Monitoring Strategy – cont.2010 TF Monitoring Strategy – cont.

Politicians would like to see progress/successPoliticians would like to see progress/success in 3 yearsin 3 years

Must temper expectationsMust temper expectations Monitoring habitat and living resources can alsoMonitoring habitat and living resources can also

provide valuable information and demonstrateprovide valuable information and demonstrate successsuccess

Adaptive Management includes adaptive Adaptive Management includes adaptive monitoringmonitoring

Draft Monitoring Strategy to be completed by theDraft Monitoring Strategy to be completed by the end of 2008 with review from GSAPend of 2008 with review from GSAP