PROJECT PLAN: PROJECT PLAN: The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy

Corps of Engineers Corps of Engineers ICPRBICPRB

Presentation Presentation

Potomac Watershed RoundtablePotomac Watershed RoundtableJanuary 9, 2009January 9, 2009

QUANTITYQUANTITYPotomac River BasinPotomac River Basin

Traditional Thinking: We have adequate, Traditional Thinking: We have adequate, even surplus watereven surplus water

1960s plan for 16 reservoirs 1960s plan for 16 reservoirs Past efforts to divert from the EastPast efforts to divert from the East Potomac as supply for RegionPotomac as supply for Region Growth Growth Shared resource Shared resource Groundwater DepletionGroundwater Depletion

CONFLICTSCONFLICTS

Riparian RightsRiparian Rights

Development – Historic and NewDevelopment – Historic and New

Drought and Aquatic LifeDrought and Aquatic Life

Consumptive UsesConsumptive Uses

SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS

Stop Development Stop Development

Court CasesCourt Cases

Integrated Water Resources PlanningIntegrated Water Resources Planning

Flow Management Data & DecisionsFlow Management Data & Decisions

Potomac JurisdictionsPotomac JurisdictionsMarylandMarylandPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaVirginiaVirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaDistrict of ColumbiaDistrict of ColumbiaAll Acting!! Not the Same!!All Acting!! Not the Same!!

MARYLANDMARYLAND Governor’s Advisory Committee on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on the

Management and Protection of the Management and Protection of the State’s Water ResourcesState’s Water Resources

Undertaken in Response to Drought Undertaken in Response to Drought Final Report July 1, 2008 by State Final Report July 1, 2008 by State

Agencies and others Agencies and others Planning ToolsPlanning Tools

MD RECOMMENDATIONSMD RECOMMENDATIONS Develop more robust program based Develop more robust program based

on sound, comprehensive dataon sound, comprehensive data

Adequately and reliably fund staff, Adequately and reliably fund staff, program and information needsprogram and information needs

Legislative, regulatory & program Legislative, regulatory & program changeschanges

PENNSYLVANIAPENNSYLVANIA Act 220, November 2002 (20+ Years)Act 220, November 2002 (20+ Years) Update State Water Plan; 5-Year Update State Water Plan; 5-Year

CycleCycle Initial Draft Plan September 2008Initial Draft Plan September 2008 Water Budget ToolWater Budget Tool Critical Water Planning AreasCritical Water Planning Areas Past & New Instream Flow ProjectsPast & New Instream Flow Projects

PA PA PRIORITIESPRIORITIES Collect, interpret, & disseminate water Collect, interpret, & disseminate water

resources information (Base of SWP)resources information (Base of SWP)

Integrated water resources Integrated water resources managementmanagement

Technology to conserve/ enhance Technology to conserve/ enhance water resources & conservationwater resources & conservation

VIRGINIAVIRGINIA Drought and response to Supreme Court Drought and response to Supreme Court

decision; Water is a finite resource.decision; Water is a finite resource.

Non-consumptive uses increasingly in Non-consumptive uses increasingly in conflict for the same surface water with conflict for the same surface water with consumptive uses.consumptive uses.

Water resource issues need to be better Water resource issues need to be better integrated into the comprehensive planning integrated into the comprehensive planning process.process.

VA VA VISION:

Achieve full economic and environmental potential through sustainable water supply planning to meet current and future beneficial uses of water.

Local/regional water supply plan Local/regional water supply plan individually or as part of a region.

Develop a state water resources plan Develop a state water resources plan Water reuse regulation Water reuse regulation Legislation to address consumptive Legislation to address consumptive

use in the Potomacuse in the Potomac

VA PLANNING ACTIVITIESVA PLANNING ACTIVITIES

WEST VIRGINIAWEST VIRGINIA

Legislative Issue – Inventory 2005 Legislative Issue – Inventory 2005 (Past Issues and VA vs. MD) (Past Issues and VA vs. MD)

2008 Legislation – SB 6412008 Legislation – SB 641

No Changes to Riparian and No Changes to Riparian and Common Law Common Law

METRO AREA PLANNINGMETRO AREA PLANNING Low Flow Allocation Agreement & Low Flow Allocation Agreement &

Water Supply Coordination Water Supply Coordination AgreementAgreement

Minimize chances of a shortfall Minimize chances of a shortfall Mandates coordinated operation of Mandates coordinated operation of

all facilities all facilities Demand Forecast and Resource Demand Forecast and Resource

Assessments (5-year Cycle)Assessments (5-year Cycle) ICPRB RoleICPRB Role

POTOMAC LOW FLOW ISSUEPOTOMAC LOW FLOW ISSUE Origin in 1980 with LFAA and WSCAOrigin in 1980 with LFAA and WSCA

Raised during drought 1999 -2002Raised during drought 1999 -2002

ICPRB led groupICPRB led group

Need for sound-science baseNeed for sound-science base

POTOMAC FLOW MANAGEMENTPOTOMAC FLOW MANAGEMENTGIVENSGIVENS

Potomac will be supply for region Potomac will be supply for region Impacts from growth, climate changeImpacts from growth, climate change Protect values – quality of life, ecology, Protect values – quality of life, ecology,

Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Basin-wide need and approach Basin-wide need and approach The Nature Conservancy expertise, The Nature Conservancy expertise,

interest, & fundsinterest, & funds Corps of Engineers studies & funds Corps of Engineers studies & funds

(Middle Potomac)(Middle Potomac)

THE PROJECT FRAMEWORKTHE PROJECT FRAMEWORK1.1. Assemble Planning Team/Conduct Initial Assemble Planning Team/Conduct Initial

Workshop (ICPRB Lead)Workshop (ICPRB Lead)2.2. Assess & Compile Biological & Water Quality Assess & Compile Biological & Water Quality

Data (ICPRB Lead)Data (ICPRB Lead)3.3. Develop/Refine Hydrologic Model & Database Develop/Refine Hydrologic Model & Database

(ICPRB Lead w/ VA DEQ?)(ICPRB Lead w/ VA DEQ?)4.4. Develop Future Water Use Projections (ICPRB Develop Future Water Use Projections (ICPRB

CO-OP 2010 Study)CO-OP 2010 Study)5.5. Basin-wide Hydrologic Alteration Assessment Basin-wide Hydrologic Alteration Assessment

(ICPRB Lead, TNC Support)(ICPRB Lead, TNC Support)

ContinuedContinued

6.6. Basin-Wide Literature Review (TNC RFP)Basin-Wide Literature Review (TNC RFP)7.7. Environmental Flows Workshop (TNC Lead)Environmental Flows Workshop (TNC Lead)8.8. Classify Streams – System Types (ICPRB Classify Streams – System Types (ICPRB

Lead)Lead)9.9. Develop Tributary Ecological Response Develop Tributary Ecological Response

Curves (ICPRB Lead)Curves (ICPRB Lead)10.10. Environmental Flows Workshops (Tribs – TNC Environmental Flows Workshops (Tribs – TNC

Lead)Lead)

ContinuedContinued

11.11. Middle Potomac Basin Watershed Middle Potomac Basin Watershed Assessment (ICPRB Lead)Assessment (ICPRB Lead)

12.12. Scope Full Basin Comprehensive Water Scope Full Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan (ICPRB Lead)Resources Plan (ICPRB Lead)

13.13. Transfer Knowledge (ICPRB Lead to States, Transfer Knowledge (ICPRB Lead to States, COE, Stakeholders, Others)COE, Stakeholders, Others)

14.14. Decision Support Tool For Water Allocations Decision Support Tool For Water Allocations Considering Ecological Limits Of Hydrologic Considering Ecological Limits Of Hydrologic Alteration (ICPRB Lead – Unfunded to date)Alteration (ICPRB Lead – Unfunded to date)

BENEFITS AND PRODUCTSBENEFITS AND PRODUCTS

Better, comprehensive basin planning Better, comprehensive basin planning Involve Stakeholders (Many!)Involve Stakeholders (Many!) ToolsTools Decision-making supportDecision-making support Regulatory certaintyRegulatory certainty

States advise and supportStates advise and support