The Pennsylvania Plan for….
description
Transcript of The Pennsylvania Plan for….
The Pennsylvania Plan for….
Management, Conservation, and Restoration
WATERSHED
Management, Conservation, and Restoration
Presented by:
Presented by:
Intro Case Study: Darby Creek square miles 1
Home to approx. half a million humans, mostly between Narberth and Philly 2
Intro Case Study: Darby CreekUpstream: Barrack StreamDownstream: Tinicum Marsh
Myriad of Pollution ThreatsUnfortunately, not unique to the Darby Creek
WatershedThreaten the REGIONAL subbasin and ultimately the
water quality of the ENTIRE STATE of Pennsylvania!
Will look at this more in detail as the presentation progresses…
Our PurposeLearn and Present the
Pennsylvania State Government’s “PLAN” for water management, conservation, and restoration
Pinpoint principle problemsAnalyze aforementioned plan to
form our own…
The Gov’t
Article I, section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution says the following: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”23a
Existing Legislation Pennsylvania Code Title 25 –
Environmental Protection Enacted on November 15, 2008Last updated on December 12,
200924
WHO has THE PLAN to save our watershed???
?
State Bureaus
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
and PA Fish and Wildlife Commission
Referred us to Department of Environmental Protection
Act 18The Conservation and Natural Resources
Act which created: The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
The DCNR was created in 1995 to: serve as a cabinet-level advocate for: State parks, forests, rivers, trails, greenways and community recreation and heritage conservation programs 27
Act 275The Department of Environmental
Resources (now known as the Department of Environmental Protection)
The department was created in 1970 The DEP is responsible for: the state’s land
and water management programs, all aspects of environmental protection, and the regulation of mining operations. 28
PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
The Bureau of Water Standards and Facility RegulationThe Bureau of Watershed Management
The Bureau of Waterways Engineering The Water Planning Office
DEP Bureau of Watershed ManagementBroad mission:To restore and protect Pennsylvania's watersheds through: proper planning and management of water resources and
their uses; reducing the impacts of nonpoint sources of pollution on
water resources; regulating activities for soil conservation and waterway and
wetlands protection;forming partnerships and building local capacity to restore
and protect water resources, including drinking water sources;
educating Pennsylvania citizens about watersheds and watershed management.7
DEP Bureau of Watershed Management
Dave Jostenski was our key, metaphorically unlocking the doors of the Harrisburg bureaucracy
8, 9
Onwards!To the Plan’s Details!
Plan OverviewUpdated on Jan 28nd 2009 by DEP
secretary John HangerHad not been updated since 1980’s New act no. 220—Water Resources Planning Act
requires the DEP to update Pennsylvania’s water plan10
Act 220 The Water Resources Planning Actupdate state water plan within 5 yearsusers of 10,000 gallons or more of water a
day to register and report their usage to the department
utilizes 6 regional committees and a statewide committee to develop the plan
identifies critical water areas
Act 220 Continued lays out a process to create more specific
critical water area plans Expansion and reenactment of the DEP
Agricultural Advisory Board Act Adds members to the board from
agricultural and chemical industries25
Questions Plan TacklesHow much water we have?How much water we use?How much water we need? 11
Priorities of PlanCollect and understand info on water
resources for continuous useSustainable way to manage water
resources Adopt policies to encourage
technological advances to help water resources 12
Regional CommitteesEach drainage basin in PA is unique
Individual regional needs are part of state plan
Understand unique qualities of different drainage basins in PA
Ohio, Delaware, Great Lakes, Lower Susquehanna, Upper/Middle Susquehanna, Potomac.13
Water Conservation + Efficiency
Water Resource Technical Assistance Center: promotes voluntary water conservation and provides technical assistance on water resources use issues
Technology + policies to cut water uses/demands during droughts and overall
Support entities that have started water conservation practices14
Water Withdrawal and Use ManagementWater use registration and reporting regulations should be adopted
Development of water use projections in each watershed15
Water QualityProvide funding to Reduce nutrients/sediments
in PA:a. Loans, grants, tax incentives for
infrastructure improvements of sewage, stormwater treatment facilities
b. Loans, grants, tax incentives for agriculture BMP (Best Management Practices)
Funding for treatment for abandoned mine drains
Develop tools for groundwater assessment16
Water Quality cont.Legislation certification for water well-drillers
Establish private water well construction standards
Proficiency based license for water-drillers
Standards for Protecting wellsWell siting/ location-wells-
protected from contamination sources
Construction- specifications for screening materials to stop containments from entering the water
Reporting- reports after drilling-document water quality and quantity
Critical Water Planning Area (CWPA)Water Resources Planning Act designates
“Critical Water Planning Areas” (CWPA)- Place where where future water demands or
withdrawals exceed the water's safe yield of water resources
Need to have Critical Area Resource Plan (CARP) for a watershed in a Critical Water Planning Area
CARP suggests alternatives for adequate supply of water to “satisfy existing and future reasonable and beneficial uses.”17
How a Watershed Becomes a CWPA 1. Potential CWPAs nominated by
regional committee11 2. Screening for the Identification of
CWPAs (screen watersheds based on guideline)
3. Data Verification, Development and Review (review the screening)
4. Review and recommendations by regional committee
5. Final by statewide committee and DEP Hold statewide meeting discuss
recommendations approve to DEP secretary for final decision
Floodplain Management Review and update parts of
Pennsylvania Enhanced All-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mitigation=lessening impact of natural disasters on peopleInvest in better Flood Forecast and Warning System—major river basinsProtect floodplainFlood coordinator=flood prevention and recovery activities18
Stormwater Management Storm water—water that accumulates on
land due to storms19Educate and train local gov’t officials
and engineering professionals involved in land development to understand effective storm water management practices
Combine State and Federal stormwater management regulations
Legislation and regulation
Stormwater Management cont.Amend or update storm water
management program:Target critical watersheds with
quality, quantity problemsMust comply with TMDL (total max
density load) where water body is impaired by storm water16
TMDL= amount of pollution that a body of water can take in but still meet water quality standards
Economic incentives to improve enforcement/encouragement to adopt and amend implement storm water management plans
Stormwater Management cont.Fund updates to PA storm water Best Management Practices manual
Preserve and restore buffers along waterways
Legislation and regulation to reduce excess runoff and pollutants
Effective storm water management
Should view storm water runoff as resource not as a waste
Need new technology to advance storm water management
Incentives for pursuing sustainable development practices
Point and Non-Point Pollution Sources3
Pollution/RunoffSewer overflow during stormsIndustryMunicipal sewage treatment plants
ErosionDevelopment:
blacktop and sidewalks lead to increased stormwater runoff
urbanization destroys floodplain
Point and Non-Point Pollution Sources
Stormwater runoff: great amounts of water after precipitation or snowmelt are prevented from naturally soaking into ground4
Hydromodification: natural flow of water altered because of buildings and pavement5Causes increased stormwater runoff and at faster rates6
Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution
First NPS plan from DEP: Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan in 1991
Revised in 2008Polluted runoff from no
single point20
Problem in PA: agriculture run off, abandoned mine drainage (AMD)21
NPS Management GoalsReduce sediments in waterCoordinate with local governments’
development and implementation of watershed plans to protect/restore water quality
Monitor efforts-how programs improve water quality, reduce pollution /Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
New technologies to address NPS22Provide list of streams to Water Quality
Standards (of DEP) for reassessmentDocument sediment, nutrient, acidity,
metal load23
Watershed
(OUR Plan)
Change and HopeMAJOR threat to watershed:
STORMWATERRUNOFFOur Focus:
Specific Ways to Improve this Issue
and Enforce Improvements
Protecting WatershedProtect from Stormwater
Runoff at a few points:Specific SitesIn the NeighborhoodAt the Watershed
All done through:GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE!
Green Infrastructure – What it isRoof-top Gardens: reduce runoff; provide
natural ecosystems; lower AC cost
Rain Gardens: reduce runoff by up to 30%; eliminate pollutants from entering watershed
Rain harvesting: reuse rain water; reduce runoff
Gutter Gravel Drainage: reduce runoff; allow rain to replenish groundwater
Green Infrastructure- How it’s DoneMimics natural hydrologic functions,Greatly reduce runoff,Replenish groundwater,Can provide natural ecosystems.
ALAS, they cost $$$. So… provide economic incentives to aid homeowners switching to Green Infrastructure
Around the Neighborhood
Neighborhood Permeable Pavements: reduce runoff; replenish groundwater; filters out pollutants
Green Parking: Reduces
stormwater runoffEliminates heat-island effect
provides natural ecosystem
Neighborhood cont.Green Streets/Highways:
reduce water pollution and decrease runoff;
protect and provide habitat create “interesting places to live, work
and play.”Pocket Wetlands:
directly protect watershed; protect and provide habitat; reduce water pollution
Urban Forestry: protect groundwater; eliminate
pollutants; provide natural habitat; greenspace.
Implementation and EnforcementAll new developments require implementation of Neighborhood Green Infrastructure
EPA provide mandated grants for this development
Existing neighborhoods refitted with Green Infrastructure (as long as economically feasible).
Riparian buffersSource of Watershed protected within
park
Streams must have buffer of (at least) 10ft of native plants
Farmers must retain buffer of native plants around all open water
Our Main Comments Re: PA plan
Good things Things to Improve Upon
Concerns
- Education and training local gov’t officials and engineering professionals involved in land development-Preservation and restoration of buffers along waterways--Regional Committees
-More specifics on how to enforce-Too broad mention of “economic incentives”
-In touch economic times “economic incentives” will be difficult to come by- Following through with agenda set forth
And in Conclusion…
TO PROTECT WATERSHEDS!
Conclusion- Main pointsWatersheds sustains life:
Provide water!Many threats exist for watershed
Watersheds must be protected
PA Gov’t has plan to address key problems
“Our Plan” provided specificsWhich brings us to…
Conclusion- How YOU Can HelpFollow “Our Plan” ideas:
Create Rain-gardensreplace grass with native groundcovers,
reuse rain-waterFor the more brave-hearted, install a roof-top garden!
Join the Fantastic and Fabulous caring citizens at the Darby Creek Valley Association!
Shabbos Kodesh, April 24: DCVA 26th Annual Darby-Cobbs Watershed-Wide Cleanup, 9 to 1
[Contact John Haigis (610) 583-0788] Visit the site: www.dcva.org for more
info(rmation)!
Works Cited1) "Darby Creek, PA." American Rivers. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/projects/darby-creek-pa.html>.2) Watershed Restoration Action Strategy: Subbasin 03G; Darby, Crum, Ridley, Chester and Cobbs Creeks Watersheds (Delaware River); Delaware, Chester and
Philadelphia Counties, PA. Rep. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 1999. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/WC/Subjects/WSNoteBks/WRAS-03G.htm>.
3) Ibid (DEP plan)4) "Watersheds." United States Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html>.5) "Nonpoint Source Management Program :: Hydromodification." N.C. Division of Water Quality. 7 July 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.
<http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/What_is_NPS/hydro.htm>.6) Hydromodification Management Requirements. Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program, Nov. 2007. 10 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.ci.livermore.ca.us/CDD/green_building/water_resources/HMFactSheet.pdf>.7) "Watershed Management." Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 10 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/watershed_management/10593>.8) McKibben Jr., Craig S. 2008. Photograph. Harrisburg. Sun-Gazette. 18 Sept. 2008. 10 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/515825.html?nav=5011>.9) Dave Jostenski's Facebook Page. Photograph. Facebook. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://en-gb.facebook.com/jostenski?ref=fs>.10) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf11) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/LearnMore.pdf12) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf13) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf14) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf15) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf16) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf17) http://www.pawaterplan.dep.state.pa.us/docs/Publications/3010-BK-DEP4227.pdf18) http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/emd/chapter_6_05.pdf19) http://www.riversides.org/rainguide/riversides_hgr.php?cat=4 ]20) http://www.epa.gov/nps/whatis.html21) http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/Watershed%20Management/lib/watershedmgmt/nonpoint_source/initiatives/final_fy2008_annual_report.pdf 22) http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/Watershed%20Management/lib/watershedmgmt/nonpoint_source/initiatives/final_fy2008_annual_report.pdf 23) http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/Watershed%20Management/lib/watershedmgmt/nonpoint_source/initiatives/final_fy2008_annual_report.pdf 23a-http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/legal/constitution.aspx24-http://www.pacode.com/index.html25-http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/SUBJECT/LEGSREGS/laws.htm27- http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/legal/cnract.aspx28-http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/office_of_chief_counsel/13802