horseback stakeholders meeting - wssc water€¦ · elixir, a history of water and humankind brian...

Horseback Stakeholders Meeting

July 28, 2011

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Reservoirs Protection Program Why You Should Care

UNow, during the early 21st century, we are ... finally realizing that water is a finite resource, something to be conserved and treated with a respect, even reverence, that we haven't displayed in a long time. "

Elixir, A History of Water and Humankind Brian Fagan, Professor of Anthropology

University of California, Santa Barbara. 2011

{~Washington Suburban ~ Sanitary Commission 2

Reservoirs Protection Program Why You Should Care

• Protect precious nonrenewable resources for customer water supply needs

• M DE & EPA: Patuxent Reservoirs "impaired"

• WSSC's duty to protect reservoirs against excess Phosphorus and sediment loading as determined by MDE and EPA

(~ Was.hl ngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 3

Reservoirs Protection Program Maintaining Storage Capacity

• Maintain water supply during drought periods/ climate change

• Soil erosion reduces storage capacity

• Vegetation loss increases erosion potential


Reservoir Protection Program Water Quality Protection

High quality source water:

• Reduces treatment/ energy costs- saves customers' money

• Protects against unknown/ emerging contaminants, beyond turbidity, taste & odor, known pathogens and chemicals

• First line of multi-barrier approach for providing safe drinking water

(~ Was.hlngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary CommiSSion 5

Reservoirs Protection Program Threats to Water Quality

Eutrophication (Oxygen depletion)

• Reservoirs, like Chesapeake Bay, hold pollutants for long time

• Must minimize non-point pollution

• Excess Nand P cause

• major alga l growth

• oxygen deplet ion/ organic matter production

• cont ribute to formation of potent ially carcinogenic DBPs

• taste & odor problems

• Water supply reservoirs need a higher level of protection than Bay

{~ Was_hl ngton Su~ur~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on

280

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Pathogens

• Common chlorine-resistant microbes, Cryptosporidium and Giardia can cause major outbreaks of waterborne disease

• Crypto in Milwaukee (1993)-400,000 sick, 100 died

• Major sources: animals, agriculture, wastewater/ septic systems

{~ Was.hlngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary CommiSSion 7


Natural Disasters

• Hurricanes, Wind and Ice Storms, Fires

• Need for Forest Management

Washi ngton Suburban Sanitary Commission

Hurricane of 1938

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Accidental 1 Intentional Spills

• toxic chemicals from major transportation and pipelines

• post-9/11 world- protect source water from threats of intentional contamination

{~ Was.hl ngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 9


Public Access

"While hiking use of approved trails has generally been considered an environmentally benign use, even this level of use has more recently been questioned. For example, the hiking of even the most conscientious environmentalist can carry the seed or spores of an exotic species."

Quote from Navigating Rough Waters- Ethical Issues in the Water Industry

by American Water Works Association

{~ Was.hl ngton Su~ur~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 10


• Two progressive utilities have fully banned horse trails

• Seattle, WA owns entire 90,000 acre watershed

• Organized tours only

• Boston, MA owns about 21,028 acres (28%) of its 74,880-acre Wachusett watershed

• No horseback riding

• Both have lowered level of treatment required/ saved money

• WSSC owns about 5000 acres (5 .9%) of its reservoirs' 85,000-acre

watershed.

• Prior to late '70s, only f ishing and boating were allowed

{~Washington Suburban ,.:f Sanitary Commission 11

TAIL

Reservoirs Protection Program The Beginning of a Partnership

SAMPLING POINT LOCATIONS AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN PROFILES

FOR AUGUST 23. 1994

RG2 JtGJ DAM 1 • .____. 0 0 -

> 5 mg.\. ........ 2 to 5 mgll 02 to 2 rngiL

<02 rngiL

ROCKY GORGE

TAIL DAM > 5 mg/1.

2 to 5 mgiL 02 to 2 rn;ll

<02 rngiL C-.J >5 mgiL

c=:::J 2 to 5 mgll. TRIADELPHIA - 0.2 to 2 mgJL

- <D2 mg/L

<f Washi ngton Suburban Sanitary Commission 12

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A Brief History

Statutory Authority

Maryland State Law -Annotated Code of Maryland

• Public Utilities Article, Division II - WSSC including:

• Publicly owned watershed property regulations

• Acquisition of property

• Infractions of watershed regulations

• Unburied fecal matter

Impoundments 1 Property Purchases

• Brighton Dam built 1943

• Duckett Dam built 1952

• 5,000 acres of buffer land acquired by purchase or condemnation

• Purchased with Rate Payer Dollars. not Tax Dollars


Reservoirs Protection Program A Brief History

1996- Multi-Agency Protection Group

• Montgomery, Howard, Prince George's Counties

• Montgomery/ Howard Soil Conservation Districts

• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

• Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

2003 - Action Plans

• Priority Resources identified by partner agencies, including • Reservoirs I Drinking Water Supply

• Terrestrial Habitat

• Stream Systems

• Aquatic Biota

• Rura l Character and Landscape

• Public Awareness and Stewardship

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• WSSC Watershed Activities include:

• Stream restoration/ aquatic life monitoring/replenishment

• Supporting agricultural Best Management Practices

• Reforestation including:

• Planting of Trees/ Native plants

• Education/ Research

• Clean-up Efforts

• Fire/ Rescue Training

• Reservoir water quality monitoring


• Examples of studies and surveys

• 1981 Patuxent Watershed Protection Program

• 1991 Water Quality Monitoring and Nutrient Loading Analysis of the Patuxent River Reservoirs Watershed

• 1995 Developing a Patuxent Reservoir Protection Strategy

• 1997 Comprehensive Management Planning Study for the Patuxent Reservoir Watershed

• 2004 Patuxent Reservoirs (Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge) Source Water Assessment

• 2007 Forest Conservation Plan for WSSC Reservoir Properties [includes 2006 recreational user survey]

• 2008 Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus and Sediments for Triadelphia Reservoir (Brighton Dam) and Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus for Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland

• 2009 Patuxent Reservoirs Interim Watershed Management Report [summarizes prior studies. new GIS analysis. compiles past and current study recommendations by categories]



• Technical Advisory Group efforts

• MOE, DNR, MDA

• Quarterly meetings, annual reports, recommendations to Policy Board

• Attempts to develop TMDL Implementation Plan

Advocacy groups support partnership efforts

• Patuxent River Commission

• Patuxent Riverkeeper

• lzaak Walton League

• "Friends" groups

(~ Washi ngton Suburban ~ Sanitary Commission

MDE

Patu~~nt RIVERKEEPER ®

...

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Reservoirs Protection Program Proposed Revitalization Effort

A study for enhancing buffer area protection

• Objective: Obtain recommendations from independent expert(s) on actions and resources required to ensure sustainability of Rocky Gorge Reservoir buffer area for protecting its water quality



Comprehensive Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation (TMDL) Plan

• Work with partners to develop and implement action items to meet requirements established by the TMDL determination prepared by MOE and approved by EPA


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TMDL Implementation Challenges

• TMDL nutrient load reductions and source allocations derived under Clean Water Act mandate

• Implementation of load reductions by various sectors not mandatory under CWA

• Public agencies have more pressing priorities for limited revenues in current economic climate

• Need for all stakeholders to become involved and share burden

{~Washington Suburban ~ Sanitary Commission 20

Reservoirs Protection Program Potential Enhancements

WSSC's FY'OG Annual Action Item #17-2b

• In-house Task Force recommendations:

• Move horse trails farther from water

• Close watershed to horseback riding during organized hunting events


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Reservoirs Protection Program Summary of 2011 Watershed Regulation Changes

• WSSC reserves right to close portion/ entire watershed if necessary for watershed health and safety of the WSSC's systems or customers

• New fees charged for winter mooring of boats and rental of the Azalea Garden/ Biobrick Building

• Horseback riders must comply with seasonal watershed closings and are allowed only on access roads. entered at designated locations

• Daily opening and closing of watershed will occur at sunrise and sunset

• Seasonal closing of the watershed from November 15 to April 1. except for managed hunts which are determined by Maryland DNR.

• Reference to WSSC laws properly cited to the Public Utilities Article of the Maryland Annotated Code

(~Washington Suburban ,.:f Sanitary Commission 22

Reservoirs Protection Program Fees and Charges

Permitted Use

Watershed use for season

Watershed use for day

Boat mooring, regular season

Winter mooring

Boat/ craft removal

Monthly storage for pulled boat

Day rental , Azalea garden. Biobrick building

* Indicates fee increase from 201 0

{4 Washi ngton Suburban ,.:f Sanitary Commission

Current Fee

$60

$5

$75

$50*

$100

$80

$125*

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Reservoirs Protection Program Other Observations

U.S. Forest Service

• Virginia Tech, Dept of Forestry conducted a study for the U.S. Forest Service

• "Research for the Development of Best Management Practices to Minimize Horse Trail Impacts on the Hoosier National Forest'

• The study indicates t hat " the major ecological impacts to trails from horse use are vegetation loss, trail widening, erosion, muddiness, and informal trail development"

(~ Was.hl ngton Su~ur~an ~ Samtary CommiSSion 24


federation of Animal Science Societies

Purdue University 2006 Webcast: Pathogens in Animal Manure, Should We Be Concerned?

• Pathogens survive weeks/ months in cool streams and river waters

• When horses are near streams, the amount of manure deposited may be small, but the pathway of contaminants to water is usually unimpeded

{4 Washi ngton Suburban ,.:f Sanita ry Commission 25


S Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA)

• MWRA serves about 2.2 million people

• Owns 21.028 acres of 74.880-acre watershed

Public access highly regulated

• MWRA regulation states :

.. Horseback riding is prohibited by regulation ... due to the threat of fecal coliform contamination and the potential of other pathogens such as Cryptosporidium associated with domestic animal manures. "

(~Washington Suburban ,.:f Sanitary Commission 26

Reservoirs Protection Program WSSC's Security and Safety Group

• Safeguards WSSC customers, employees, real property and assets

• Secures and patrols 250+ fixed facilities; 1,000 sq miles; 5,000 acres of watershed

• Protects against acts of terrorism, sabotage, unauthorized access, theft destruction

• Enforces rules and regulations

• Includes WSSC Police Department


Reservoirs Protection Program September 11, 2001

• Game changer- view and respond to terrorism differently

• New strict federal requirements and expectations

• Need became paramount to protect the public beyond traditional public health concerns

{~ Was.hl ngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary CommiSSion 28

Reservoirs Protection Program Bioterrorism Act of 2002

• Mandated Vulnerability Assessments for water utilities serving 3 ,300+ people

• Mandated emergency response """'~~~~~ planning and mitigation strategies


Reservoirs Protection Program Vulnerability Assessment

• Agency-wide assessment completed

• Vulnerabilities prioritized. quantified. and aggressively pursued to mitigate risks

• Difficult decisions to address limited personnel and financial resources

• New watershed protection concerns

• Watershed visitation challenge: no access vs. controlled access in this new reality


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Reservoirs Protection Program Watershed Security

• New competing priorities dictated future force planning to meet expanded mission

Watershed forces redeployed

• Boots on the ground supplemented by technology and physical hardening

{4 Was.hl ngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 31

Reservoirs Protection Program Criminal Activity

• Watershed not immune to those with bad intentions

• Crime on the watershed mirrors surrounding areas

{4 Was.hl ngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 32

Reservoirs Protection Program Accountability and Responsibility

• Citizens want to be the eyes and ears of the watershed - puts individuals at risk

• Citizens must observe laws and regulations of watershed

• Everyone should be vigilant of surroundings and report suspicious activity

• Citizens should never attempt to patrol the watershed - call WSSC Police


WSSC Watershed Comments/Discussions

(~ Was_hlngton Su~u~an ~ Samtary Comm1ss1on 34

horseback stakeholders meeting - wssc water€¦ · elixir, a history of water and humankind brian...

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