The Sustainability Paradigm Dance

Robert Gearheart, Ph.D., P.E.Professor of Environmental Engineering

Humboldt State UniversityArcata, California

rag2@humboldt.edu

After hanging around for 30 years I am just beginning to see the light

The Promise of the Clean Water Act

Senator Muskie 1971

• Concept of zero discharge-contaminants not water

• Fishable waters

• Swim able waters

• Reuse/recycle

• Help small communities (1977)

• Prohibits discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts

Hydrological Scale

• Interstate/multi bioregions• Watersheds in a single bioregions• Large areas of silviculture and agriculture• Large urban watersheds-devoid of natural drainage• Small urban areas with elements of natural drainage• Neighborhood drainage areas• Individual domestic/commerical/industrial lots• Various infiltrative and impervious surfaces types

Natural Systems

• Hydrological Processes• Ecological Processes• Microbial Processes• Physical Processes• Chemical Processes• Biogeochemical Processes

Watershed Approach

The basic concept remains that watershed analysis is a mechanism to address inconsistencies between the current scales of planning and the direction to implement ecosystem management.

What can governments do-or undo- to provide incentives for planning and design of industrial and urban watersheds that incorporates the principles of ecological engineering?

i.e.- In most cases it is impossible to re-establish natural landscapes-perhaps identify ecological functions to put into place to replace and restore lost functions not just preserving poorly functioning ecological services-case in point-recent State Board wetland policy.

The Test

Watershed analysis fails if it becomes an end in itself. It succeeds if it orders and enlightens all the diverse array of activities that are done under the name watershed management.

The Challenge

“ For several decades, we have grappled with how land use activities on federal, state, and private lands interact to affect hydrologic and ecologic processes.” USGS

“ Grappling leaves its impact” RAG

Alphabet Sustainability Soup

Low Impact Development LIDEcological Footprint EFPLow Impact Feasibility Evaluation LIFE TM

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEEDPlanned Obsolescence's Minimized MOPLife Cycle Analysis LCAResource Utilization and Environmental Management RUEMWater and Wastewater Treatment Appropriate for Reuse WAWTTAR

The Implementation Gaunlet-an impediment to sustainability-

Local city and county zoning and public health rulesRegional Water Quality Control BoardCalifornia Fish and GameCalifornia Coastal CommissionCalifornia Department of ForestryState Water Resources Control BoardState Office of Planning and Research ( CEQA)National Marine FisheriesNational Atmospheric and Oceanic AdministrationCorps of EngineersEnvironmental Protection AgencyNon-government organizations, i.e., Riverwatch, Bay Keepers, EPIC

Sustainability

• Resource

• Technical

• Institutional

• Community

The Environmental Justice Perspective

Equitable access. Sustainability suggests fair and equitable access to water, water dependent resources and related infrastructure

PARADIGM SHIFT

PRESENT FUTURETechnical

Technological Standard Performance StandardSophisticated Equipment Appropriate EquipmentCapitalization-Equip Sustainable-NaturalComplex Operations Simple Operations

Societal/Economic

Healthy IndividualHealthy CommunityCentralization Decentralization Technology Based Community BasedSocietal Cost Community OpportunitySubsidized Self Supporting

Resource/Environment

Resource Protection Resource EnhancementEnergy Intense Low Energy NeedsDischarge/Disposal Reuse/ReclamationTechnological Approaches Ecological Approaches

PRESENT FUTUREResource/Environment

Resource Protection Resource EnhancementEnergy Intense Low Energy NeedsDischarge/Disposal Reuse/ReclamationTechnological Approaches Ecological Approaches

PRESENT FUTURESocietal/Economic

Healthy Individual Healthy CommunityCentralization Decentralization Technology Based Community BasedSocietal Cost Community OpportunitySubsidized Self Supporting

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PRESENT FUTURETechnical

Technological Standard Performance StandardSophisticated Equipment Appropriate EquipmentCapitalization-Equip Sustainable-NaturalComplex Operations Simple Operations

Case Studies

• Willits -Mendocino County

• Arcata-Humboldt County

• Oaxaca Mexico-

Willits• Small rural communities in Mendocino County-facility

planning process-Natural system

• Willits has been working with NCRWQB since 1996 to develop a natural treatment system -ponds and wetlands Board staff have rotated through project -

• Variance from dilution requirement (no science support) required extensive modeling-

• Staff changed which changed the requirement identified a wetland mitigation which was not possible-previous staff had not identified the issue-Wetland Policy-

• Cost 5 yrs and several million dollars-($5 M to over 10M)community is economically depressed-loss of confidence in Regional Board

Oaxaca MexicoUAJBO

Engineers Without BordersUpflow Anaerobic Sludge

Blanket (UASB)Oxidation Pond-deep cellFree Surface Constructed WetlandSubsurface Irrigation

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City of Arcata’s Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

Wastewater Treatmentand water reclamation

Passive RecreationPark activities

EnvironmentalEducation

Wetland habita t

Open space/aesthetics

Cummulative CommunityBenefits/values from theoverlays of uses andfunctions

Community/govt.investments inenvironmentalservices and restoration

Degraded-misused-over used and

under utilized riverine or estuarine or lakefringes and edges-a piece of real estate

CarbonSequestration

Increased Propert ValuesAdjacent to AMWS

Public Relations andCommunity Marketing

Value of Constructed Wetland Treatment System with Multiple Benefits - Arcata

Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary-2002

($/yr)

Alternative advance wastewater treatment 240,000(nitrification/denitrification/filtration)

Recreation/Public Use (180,000 pe x 1 hr x #6.50/hr) 1,170,000Environmental Education (10,000 pe x 2 hr x $28/hr) 560,000 Wetland Habitat (90 acres x $20,500/acre)(0.08) 147,000Public Relation (52 weeks x $750week) 39,000Carbon Sequestration

Total Annual Community Value of AMWS $ 2,156,000

So what is it about natural treatment systems?

• Is it their biogeochemical effectiveness ?• Is it their simplicity?• Is it their elegance?• Is it their biological complexity?• Is it the diversity of disciplines involved?• Is it because there is an element of

imagination and creative vision involved?• Are their aesthetic qualities expressed?• Others

Constraints, Uncertainties and Threats

Divergent regulatory agendas-Unfunded mandates-Discharge permits moving targets-Fines and moratoriums-Conflicting science-Political insecurities and short life cycles-Regulatory discretionary decisions-Permitting and approval quagmires -Bounty hunting NGO’s-Others-

Assessment• Aquatic natural resources are diminishing and

beneficial uses reduced

• Technical approaches are resource consuming costly and non-sustainable

• Communities participation is dwindling and non-supportive

• State regulatory agencies are often inconsistent, arbitrary and non-responsive to communities and landowners-where is the technical assistance??

• “blind to the needs of the community and the reality of the situation” quote from a Ferndale citizen

Recommendations• Develop a more facilitative and assistance driven State Board and

Regional Board approach to dealing with permit tees within the normal permit preparation and monitoring activities-wrench versus hammer approach

• In concert with other resource agencies develop systematic watershed approaches to permitted municipal, storm water, and industrial discharges-Promises of the FCWA

• Minimize lengthy and contested Board/Agency interactions which often affect the poor and specific ethnic groups-

• Develop a unit which deals specifically with small communities and communities with significant environmental justice issues-affording technical ,CEQA,legal, and permit expertise

• Within the Regional Boards develop a planning vision supported by qualified staff that promote watershed restoration/enhancement, natural systems/performance based treatment, and community participation-

Monitoring Data GapsNatural systems need to be monitored to demonstrate

effectiveness

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