biggest bang for the water quality
DESCRIPTION
69th SWCS International Annual Conference “Making Waves in Conservation: Our Life on Land and Its Impact on Water” July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, ILTRANSCRIPT
www.friendsofthefoxriver.org
Gary Swick, PresidentAndrew Paxson, Vice President
gswick@ friendsofthefoxriver.org
Biggest Bang for the Water Quality Protection Buck
. An Environmental Action initiative that helps municipalities meet EPA
regulations while developing a Watershed of Caretakers.
Water Quality Protection Whose ResponsibilityPublic Opinion - 84%
60s - Izaak Walton League
70s - The Fox
Clean Water Act I - Point Sources
Mandated, Enforced, Funded
Clean Water Act II - Non-point Sources
NPDES - unfunded, mandated, regulated
Fox River Water Quality History:Decline & Recovery
Decline
1820s – early 1970s
Recovery
“The Fox”
1972-Clean Water Act
USEPA / NPDES
Hypoxic Zone
Phosphorous
Dissolved Oxygen
Coming IEPA Permitting Pressure
Asking what are you doing?
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
Non-point sources of runoff
Agriculture
Stormwater
Mandated - Impaired Waters
Regulated ? - Self-reported
Funded ? - MS4
Biggest Bang for Your Buck ???WWTP Upgrades
Phosphorous
Combined Sewers
Fox River Study Group
Implementation Plan
Green Infrastructure
Dam Removal
Watershed Education
Watershed Watchdogs
Fox River Study Group
Total Daily Maximum Load Alternative
Phosphorous
Dissolved Oxygen
Stake Holders -
Municipalities, WWTP, NPG, State agencies
4 Stage Plan
Implementation
Dam Removal, Green Infrastructure, BMPs,
Green Infrastructure Components
• Two Basic Categories:
• Natural / restored green infrastructure
• Rivers, streams, wetlands, woodlands, etc.
• Man-made green infrastructure
• Stormwater detention basins, greenways, rain gardens, etc.
Green Infrastructure Plan
Storm sewer conveyance
Open channel conveyance
Traditional detention facility with concretelow flow channel
Recommended BMPs for the Elgin Area
Low Impact Development
Retrofitting existing detention basins
Structural WQ devices at storm outfalls
Water Quality Inlets
Pet Waste Management
Street sweeping
Streambank stabilization
Rain Garden / Rain Barrel Programs
Stream corridor restoration / management
Urban
Source: Tyler Creek Watershed Plan
Why remove them?
• Dollar for dollar, dam removal is the most cost effective way to restore a river.
Hofmann Dam on the Des Plaines River
16 Dams on the Fox River 13 in Illinois 2 recently removed 1 more planned for removal
80+ Dams on Fox Tributaries
The Fox River WatershedDams
Data Source: ISWS & USEPA BASINS Data
Creating a Watershed of Caretakers
Advocacy
Education
Research
Restoration
Prairie landscape makes way for agriculture
AdvocacyOpen Space
Watchdogging
IEPA Assistance
Legal Action
Education
The Fox RiverWatershed Monitoring Network
Environmental Education for Action
Providing Data for Decisions
Creating a Watershed of Caretakers
It’s fun!
It’s education at its finest!
It’s necessary action for an endangered
river!
Schools
Citizens and Families
Scouts
Home Schools
Organizations
Wanted: Watershed Watchdogs
Become a Watershed WatchdogWagging
Identify whats not normal. Sniff, listen & look.
Bark
Attract attention. Investigate.
Snarl
Demand respect. IEPA.
Bite
if you must protect Legal Action
Citizen Science
Water Quality Monitoring
350 Groups
1350 Efforts
Total in the US - 1750
Many other initiatives
Flora
Fauna
Why Watch a Stream?
Check its health
Identify changes in conditions (trends)
Collect data for decision making
Prepare for action
Why Watch a River?*The Frog Parable*
Drop into Boiling Water –
It will jump out!
Put in cool water and gradually heat it….
Boing!!
Boiled frog legs!!
What is River Monitoring?SAMPLING INDICATORS
CHEMICAL - Temp., pH, DO
PHYSICAL - Habitat, Flow
BIOLOGICAL - BMI’s
Hey, is this a healthy place?
The Fox RiverWatershed Monitoring Network
Biological Monitoring
Or ……
What Stream Life Tells Us About Water Quality
40
StoneflyNymph:
• Two pair claws on each of three jointed legs
• Two pair of developing wing pads present on thorax
• Two distinct “tails” called cerci, which are actually sensory feelers
• Color: Tan, brown, gold, or black
L th i t 1 i h
Very Intolerant
ModeratelyIntolerant
Tolerant
Very Tolerant
Join Students and Professionals in the……Fox Map Project GPS Collecting & GIS Mapping Dat
Linking Land Use to Water Quality
To protect the
Fox River Watershed
Educational Continuum
Awareness
Understanding
Appreciation
Action
Education -------> Action
Outreach Educator ---> Teachers
Teachers ------> Students
Peer Teachers ---------> Students
Students ------> Data ----> Trend Analysis------> Action
Students -----> Literacy -----> Educators
Students -----> Stewards ----> Engaged Citizenry
Measurable Success!Effective Education
Stewardship Ethic
Water Quality LiteracyCommunity Service
Sense of Place
Education for Environmental Action
Local ProtectionEngaged Citizens
Biggest Bang for Your Buck ???WWTP Upgrades
Phosphorous
Combined Sewers
Fox River Study Group
Implementation Plan
Green Infrastructure
Dam Removal
Watershed Education
Watershed Watchdogs
Water Quality Protection - Cost/ResidentRain gardens - $12-$40 / sq ft (typical range of 50-350 sq ft)
Example: $30 x 200 = $6000
Private drainage systems - $40-$60 /ft of pipe (typical
range of 200 ft) Example: $50 x 200 = $10,000
Public storm sewer improvements - $200-$1000 / ft of pipe Example: $500 x 60 ft frontage = $3000
Watershed Education - $3 / Student. $3 x 2 students = $6
Co$t to Community10,000 population/2000 Households
Rain gardens - $12-$40 per square foot typical range of 50-350 sq ft
Example: $30 x 200 = $6000 x 2000 = $12,000,000
Private drainage systems - $40-$60 / foot of pipe typical range of
150 - 300 ft Ex: $50 x 200 = $10,000 x 2000 = $20,000,000
Public storm sewer improvements -$200 - $1000 / ft of pipe Example: $500 x 60 = $3000 x 2000 = $6,000,000
Watershed Education - $3/Student. 2 students/ household$3 x 2000 students = $6000
Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network
Train the Trainers
Outreach Educator
Free service @ $3/student
@ capacity
Utilizing MS4 funds
Council of Governments
Sustainable Initiative
Water Quality Education BenefitsFriends of the Fox River Outreach Educators
Prep & In-Stream Support
Teachers & Students
Data & Trend Analysis
Curriculum Connections
Personal / Community Impacts
Water Quality Protection Literacy
Citizens, Advocacy, Education - BMPS, Biodiversity, Connections
Water Quality Protection Action - Policy, Ordinances, Home Care, Stewardship
Residential, Ordinances, Policy
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Meade
www.friendsofthefoxriver.org
Gary Swick, PresidentAndrew Paxson, Vice President
gswick@ friendsofthefoxriver.org