TMDL Project for TMDL Project for Pathogens in Richardson BayPathogens in Richardson Bay

North Bay Watershed Association Meeting North Bay Watershed Association Meeting

November 7, 2007November 7, 2007

Farhad GhodratiFarhad Ghodrati Naomi FegerNaomi Feger

What is a TMDL Plan?What is a TMDL Plan?

TTotal otal MMaximum aximum DDaily aily LLoad plan is a water oad plan is a water quality improvement plan that:quality improvement plan that:

IIdentifies sources of impairmentdentifies sources of impairment

Sets desired water quality targetsSets desired water quality targets

Prescribes corrective actionsPrescribes corrective actions

Why Develop a TMDL Why Develop a TMDL Plan?Plan?

Clean Water ActClean Water Act Requires all Regional Requires all Regional Water Boards to:Water Boards to:

Identify impaired water bodiesIdentify impaired water bodies

Develop TMDL Plans for each impaired Develop TMDL Plans for each impaired waterbody waterbody

The The ProblemProblem

Richardson Bay does not meet Richardson Bay does not meet water quality standards for: water quality standards for: - water contact recreation - water contact recreation

- shellfish harvesting- shellfish harvesting

TMDLTMDL Required Required

Summer 2006 Data Vs. Winter 2007 Data

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Sampling Locations

Summer 2006 Data

Winter 2007 Data

Shellf ish Harvesting Standard

Water Contact Recreation Standard

Localized Impairment Due to Localized Impairment Due to PathogensPathogens

Pathogen Source Pathogen Source Categories Categories of Concernof Concern Sanitary sewer

line failures Stormwater runoff Houseboats (floating

homes) Vessels (recreational,

live-aboard, anchor-out boats)

(Wildlife)Photo of a substandard houseboat

sewage system

Solving the ProblemSolving the Problem——OverviewOverviewImplementation Plan:Implementation Plan: Continue and improve upon Continue and improve upon

existing actionsexisting actions

Rely on existing regulatory Rely on existing regulatory programs and waste discharge programs and waste discharge prohibitionsprohibitions

Establish monitoring and adaptive Establish monitoring and adaptive management programmanagement program

Actions to Reduce Actions to Reduce Contributions from Contributions from Stormwater RunoffStormwater RunoffComply with Comply with

stormwater stormwater management management plansplans

Update plans as Update plans as needed to include needed to include specific measures specific measures to reduce pet and to reduce pet and human wastehuman waste

Photo of storm drain inlet discharging to the Bay

Actions to Address Actions to Address Sanitary Sanitary Sewer Line FailuresSewer Line Failures

Comply with Board’s Sanitary Sewer overflow program

Comply with USEPA Enforcement Orders to Sanitary Districts

Actions to Reduce Actions to Reduce Contributions from Contributions from Houseboats and VesselsHouseboats and Vessels Comply with vessel waste discharge Comply with vessel waste discharge

prohibitionprohibition

Local authorities evaluate adequacy and Local authorities evaluate adequacy and integrity of waste handling systemsintegrity of waste handling systems

Owners make necessary improvements to Owners make necessary improvements to ensure no waste is discharged into the Bayensure no waste is discharged into the Bay

Evaluating Progress Through Evaluating Progress Through Monitoring and Adaptive Monitoring and Adaptive ImplementationImplementation

Water quality monitoring plan to track progress and prioritize implementation

Adaptive implementation: Take action now and continue to gather information

Implementation /Implementation / MonitoringMonitoring

Gather Data /Gather Data /ReviewReview

TargetsTargetsMet?Met?

Next StepsNext Steps

State Water Board approvalState Water Board approval

Office of Administrative Law Office of Administrative Law approvalapproval

USEPA approvalUSEPA approval

Recent USEPA Orders for Recent USEPA Orders for Sewage Collection AgenciesSewage Collection Agencies

Issued on April 10, 2008, to ten different agencies Issued on April 10, 2008, to ten different agencies Require Sewage Spill Reduction Action Plan (SSRAP):Require Sewage Spill Reduction Action Plan (SSRAP):

– Elimination of collection system spillsElimination of collection system spills– Spill response, recordkeeping, notification & reportingSpill response, recordkeeping, notification & reporting– Collection system maintenance and managementCollection system maintenance and management– Collection system assessmentsCollection system assessments– Capacity assuranceCapacity assurance– Infrastructure renewalInfrastructure renewal– Implementation study and reportImplementation study and report– Quarterly spill reports and annual progress reportsQuarterly spill reports and annual progress reports

Subject to review and approval by EPASubject to review and approval by EPA

Tiburon

Belvedere

Mill Valley

Sausalito

Unincorporated County

•

Southern Marin Sewer Agencies