2016 ANNUAL REPORT

The Standards Oversight Council is an interagency

effort that facilitates a team approach for developing

effective technical practice standards that protect

Wisconsin’s natural resources.

HIGHLIGHTS80+

attendees at SOC presentations

63revised technical

standards

21full day team

meetings

8draft standards

released for review

499comments on draft

standards

◆ ◆

2016 OVERVIEWSOC’s 20th year was one for the books – together, partner agencies revised or updated 63 technical standards! NRCS made significant strides to meet its requirement to review and update each of its standards every five years, as needed to comply with National updates. DNR updated multiple standards to reflect local research and stakeholder input. Beyond updating technical standards, SOC was also busy preparing to support trainings and new outreach materials for several revised standards. Finally, we updated the SOC Handbook to more accurately define the processes used when a revision does not warrant a Full Process. A new term, Modified Process, replaces the former EZ Process and allows SOC the flexibility to select the steps most appropriate for each revision. See Figure 1 for more details.

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The 313 team is revisiting design criteria to improve waste storage facilities, such as the one shown above.

Figure 1. SOC process steps for technical standards development

Agricultural StandardsIn 2016, SOC convened a work team to revise NRCS 635 Vegetated Treatment Area (VTA) and meet two major goals: update the state standard to comply with the recently released National VTA standard, and meet EPA’s effluent guideline of no discharge for large CAFO’s. The team was challenged to develop separate criteria for smaller animal feeding operations while still providing appropriate water quality protections. They did so through four months of accelerated work and feedback from 14 individuals and organizations. The standard was released in September, and the team made recommendations for trainings on these new criteria.

Another new work team began in August to update NRCS 313 Waste Storage Facility. They were charged with ensuring the Wisconsin standard meets or exceeds new National criteria released in early 2016. The team also began aligning 313 with the new 635 VTA standard. This standard will likely be split into multiple standards, with an independent standard for each liner type. The draft will be available for review in early 2017.

Additional standards were released for public review via the Modified Process (see back page).

Participants in the 2016 Fall Technical Tour view a restored trout stream in Dunn County.

Credit: Dunn Co.

2016 FINANCIALS

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2017

StandardRevisions

Outreach

ProgramDevelopment

Operations

Training

Expenses

Income

NRCS

WDNR

Counties

DATCP

WisDOT

Urban Stormwater StandardsDNR 1005 Vegetated Swale was released in 2016, which replaced the interim standard that was specific to infiltration swales. It provides technical specifications for new swales, and includes an option to determine the static infiltration rate for modeling when soil compaction within the swale is not addressed. A subset of team members began creating an example to accompany the standard that walks users through calculations in more complex sites, such as those with multiple swales. As a result of stakeholder input via the SOC Biennial Technical Standards Needs Survey, a team was formed to revise DNR 1002 Site Evaluation for Infiltration. Team members collected the latest data on siting infiltration devices, including potential infiltration testing devices and how other states determine infiltration rates. The team also proposed updates to the structure of the standard to better reflect how the process is carried out in the field; feedback on these changes will be considered during upcoming review periods. After its first team check-in in 2015, DNR 1008 Permeable Pavement was released with a minor revision based on local research. This team met again at the end of 2016 to evaluate additional data and make recommendations for continuing the research for several more years, including the potential for testing new products. DNR and WisDOT coordinated on the release of minor updates to DNR 1060 Inlet Protection, which now references WisDOT’s Product Acceptability List. Outreach and CollaborationDunn County collaborated with the Technical Committee to host the 2016 Technical Tour. Nearly 40 participants visited seven sites showcasing conservation practices and partnerships. Participants brainstormed solutions for a challenging stream bank stabilization project and learned how partnerships with local sporting groups improved safety and community relations.

Updates to the SOC Handbook will improve collaboration among council members. SOC now ensures that previous team members are contacted when a standard undergoes a Modified or Full Process. In addition to previous teams’ meeting minutes, which have always been available, this brings additional insight to the latest research and personal experiences brought forth by new teams.

SOC arranged a preliminary 635 VTA training for NRCS and DATCP engineering staff in November. Staff learned the details of these major revisions, asked questions, and cooperatively brainstormed options to meet new criteria. SOC information was also presented at several meetings statewide.

Technical Photo GallerySOC and the Technical Committee will unveil an online photo gallery to share technical achievements and advice. Users will be able to submit and view images of engineering practices in challenging situations, including contact inforomation.

TrainingTo ensure that several significantly revised standards are properly implemented, SOC will support trainings for NRCS 590, NRCS 635, and WDNR 1005. This is a short-term opportunity; SOC will continue to provide SITCOM with recommendations on training needs after these unique needs are met.

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Credit: Dunn Co.

61%

8%

25%

4%2%

5%9%

17%

32%

37%

Contact: Standards Oversight Council, 131 W. Wilson St. #601, Madison, WI 53703www.socwisconsin.org • (608) 441-2677 • soc@wisconsinlandwater.org

2016 UPDATED STANDARDSThe following standards were announced through the SOC listserv and website as updates occurred. Several standards were open for public comment. All comments received careful consideration and review.

Back cover photo credit: Wisconsin DNR

Special thanks to our cooperating agencies &

partners

NRCS Standards Process NRCS Standards Process472 Access Control Minor · 379 Multi-Story Cropping Minor

316 Animal Mortality Facility Minor · 590 Nutrient Management Full

575 Animal Trails and Walkways Minor · 500 Obstruction Removal Minor

450 Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) Erosion Control Minor · 582 Open Channel Minor

396 Aquatic Organism Passage Minor · 378 Pond Modified

584 Channel Bed Stabilization Minor · 520 Pond Sealing or Lining, Compacted Soil Treatment Minor

326 Clearing and Snagging Minor · 338 Prescribed Burning Minor

656 Constructed Wetland Minor · 533 Pumping Plant Minor

332 Contour Buffer Strips Minor · 329 Residue and Tillage Management, No Till Minor

330 Contour Farming Minor · 345 Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till Minor

331 Contour Orchard and Other Perennial Crops Minor · 367 Roofs and Covers Minor

334 Controlled Traffic Farming Minor · 604 Saturated Buffer Minor

342 Critical Area Planting Minor · 350 Sediment Basin Minor

588 Cross Wind Ridges Minor · 646 Shallow Water Development and Management Minor

589C Cross Wind Trap Strips Minor · 572 Spoil Spreading Minor

605 Denitrifying Bioreactor Minor · 442 Sprinkler System Minor

362 Diversion Minor · 570 Stormwater Runoff Control Minor

368 Emergency Animal Mortality Management Minor · 395 Stream Habitat Improvement and Management Minor

592 Feed Management Minor · 585 Stripcropping Minor

386 Field Border Minor · 607 Surface Drain, Field Ditch Minor

376 Field Operation Emissions Reduction Minor · 608 Surface Drain, Main or Lateral Minor

398 Fish Raceway or Tank Minor · 660 Tree/Shrub Pruning Minor

511 Forage Harvest Management Minor · 635 Vegetated Treatment Area Modified

410 Grade Stabilization Structure Modified · 601 Vegetative Barrier Minor

412 Grassed Waterway Minor · 634 Waste Transfer Minor

315 Herbaceous Weed Control Minor · 638 Water and Sediment Control Basin Modified

603 Herbaceous Wind Barriers Minor · 657 Wetland Restoration Modified

436 Irrigation Reservoir Minor

441 Irrigation System, Microirrigation Minor WDNR Standards Process527 Karst Sinkhole Treatment Minor · 1008 Permeable Pavement Minor

516 Livestock Pipeline Minor · 1060 Storm Drain Inlet Protection for Construction Sites Minor

457 Mine Shaft and Adit Closing Minor · 1005 Vegetated Swale Full

484 Mulching Minor