Transcript October 25, 2001 NJDEP CSO LTCP Workshop

Use and Standards Attainment Project
Presentation to
New Jersey CSO LTCP Workgroup Meeting
Case Study – Paerdegat Basin
October 25, 2001
William E. McMillin, Jr., P.E.
HydroQual, Inc.
Mahwah, New Jersey
Long Term CSO Control Planning


New York City is Conducting CSO Abatement Planning and
Implementation Throughout New York Harbor
Paerdegat Basin Planning Illustrates Long Term-CSO Control
Issues Being Addressed by New York City’s CSO Abatement
Program:
Paerdegat Basin is a confined tributary impacted by CSO discharges
Anoxia and nuisance conditions are key issues
New York Harbor
Paerdegat Basin is a Tributary of Jamaica Bay
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Paerdegat Basin: Waterbody/Watershed
Combined
CSO
storm sewer
Separate
Watershed Drainage:
No freshwater flow
5,500 combined sewer acres
375 separately sewered acres
Approximately 70% impervious
Waterbody Characteristics:
6,600 feet long
450 foot average width
Shallow depths at mouth and head, 16 feet maximum
Primarily natural shoreline with some bulkheads
3
Paerdegat Basin: Existing Conditions

Designated Uses (Class I)
Secondary Contact Recreation
Fishing/Fish Propagation and Survival

Actual Uses:
Boating, Canoeing & Kayaking
Shoreline Access

CSO Discharges Cause/Impair:
Low Dissolved Oxygen
Fish/Aquatic Life
High Coliform Bacteria
Recreation
Floatables, Oil & Grease
Aesthetics
Sediment Mound
Odors
Aesthetics
Access
Existing Uses
CSO Event in Paerdegat Basin
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Paerdegat Basin: CSO Controls

EPA’s Watershed Approach in the Long Term Control Plan Was Used:
Characterization of all pollutant sources
Stakeholder participation
Alternative selection

DEP is Implementing EPA’s Demonstration Approach for Long Term
CSO Control at Paerdegat Basin

DEP Is Constructing A CSO Storage Facility
20 MG in-line storage + 30 MG off-line facility = $293,000,000 cost
Reduce discharges (>70%) of TSS, BOD, floatables, settleable solids, etc.
Improve dissolved oxygen
Reduce indicator bacteria and sediment deposition
Provide permanent floatables control
Combined with other abatement measures DEP
will achieve 87% wet weather capture
Conceptual Facility Plan
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Paerdegat Basin: The Problem and Issues

Facility Plan Was Developed Using Knee-of-the-Curve Procedure
Consistent with EPA Guidance
Paerdegat Basin was presented as an EPA CSO policy case study in 1994
Accepted by NYSDEC as a CSO abatement plan

CSO Abatement Will Significantly Improve Water Quality But:
Dissolved oxygen standard will not be met 100% of the time
95% annually
40% in wet months
Coliform bacteria concentrations will periodically exceed “swimmable” standards
Floatables and settleable solids will be discharged during extreme events

CSO Policy Issues - How Much Control Is Enough?
CSO discharges are episodic events
Large range of rainfall intensity and duration
Cannot design for largest event
Knee-of-the-curve is accepted and makes sense
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Paerdegat Basin: The Questions

What Is the Significance of Non-Attainment of the Dissolved Oxygen
Standard on Fish/Aquatic Life After Controls Are Implemented?
Is Paerdegat Basin a suitable habitat?
How significant is Paerdegat Basin to the ecosystem?

Is a Swimmable Use Appropriate for an Urban Tributary?

Is Zero Discharge for Floatables and Settleable Solids Needed To
Protect Uses?

What Regulatory Opportunities Exist To Bring What Is Attainable into
Compliance?
Mixing Zones/Outfall Relocation
Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria

Special Water Use Designations
Use Attainability Analysis
What Other Opportunities May Be More Effective to Enhance Water
Use and Ecological Values in Paerdegat Basin?
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EPA’s CSO LTCP Process
DEP is at this
stage in the
Paerdegat Basin
Planning
Process
EPA’s Guidance: Coordinating CSO Long-Term Planning with Water Quality Standards Reviews
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What Will the USA Project Do?

Review Beneficial Waterbody and Riparian Uses for Paerdegat
Basin with Stakeholder/Public Participation:
Fish, Aquatic Life and Wildlife Protection
Bathing and Recreation
Aesthetics

Include Non-Numerical Aspects of Beneficial Uses into Planning
Process

Recommend the Highest Water Quality Standards That Are
Reasonably Attainable and Consistent with Regulations and
Desired Uses

Serve as the Basis for Potential Use Attainability Analyses

Maximize Environmental Return of Water Quality Improvement
Plans Considering Beneficial Uses and Water Quality
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USA Project
Waterbody/Watershed Assessments
Stakeholders
Waterbody/Watershed Stakeholder Teams
Data Collection
• Receiving Water Quality
• Biology and Habitat
• Shoreline Characterization
Waterbody/Watershed Assessments
• Relational Database
• Develop waterbody-specific information and preliminary data.
• Review WQS, policies, local concerns/interests/issues, goals.
• Identify, prioritize and rank all issues.
Waterbody and Watershed
Analyses
• Develop and execute waterbody/watershed-specific data analysis.
• Computer Modeling and GIS
• Develop approaches to attain goals.
• Facility Plan Assessment
• Evaluate alternatives to achieve goals.
• Ecosystem Analyses
• Recommend uses and Water Quality Standards.
• Land Use Analyses
• Develop waterbody/watershed plan.
• Conduct preliminary environmental review.
Engineering Analyses
• Engineering Technologies
• Innovative Approaches
• Best Management Practices
• Watershed Controls
• Technology Ranking
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Integrated Waterbody Monitoring Program for
Assessing Water Uses and Goal Achievement

Fish and Aquatic Life Protection
Dissolved Oxygen and Related Variables
Sediment Characterization
Benthic and Epibenthic Biology
Ichthyoplankton
Fish Abundance and Diversity
Habitat Evaluation

Bathing and Recreation
Total and Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Paerdegat Basin Biological Sampling
Fish, Aquatic Life, and Wildlife Protection
Water Column Toxicity (Chronic)
Sediment Toxicity (Chronic)
Sediment Pore Water Analysis
Fish Tissue Analysis
USA Project Sampling Vessel
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Mathematical Modeling

Mathematical Models Were Used to Simulate Existing and
Projected Water Quality for Paerdegat Basin:
Watershed Models
SWMM & Rainfall-Runoff Model
(CSO & Stormwater Loads)
Jamaica Bay
Receiving Water Model
(Boundary Conditions)
Jamaica Bay Receiving
Water Model
Paerdegat Basin
Receiving Water Model
Evaluate Alternatives
&
Use Attainability
Paerdegat Basin
Receiving Water Model
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Work Elements Addressing Riparian Uses

Purpose
Identify opportunities for public use and ecological enhancement
Identify locations which constrain attainment of designated / enhanced water use

Land Use Analysis
Define existing land uses
Identify proposed development plans
Identify areas of opportunity

Shoreline Characterization
Physical characterization of existing shorelines
Natural, altered, developed
Biological characterization
Marshes, wetlands
Identify proposed modifications
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Harbor Estuary Program
Identify areas of opportunity for enhancement
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Fish and Aquatic Life Protection
Water Uses

Regulatory Issues:
Identify desired uses
aquatic life propagation
fish survival
Determine required level of protection
Select and apply appropriate criteria
Determine attainability of criteria and uses

Relevant Factors:
Dissolved Oxygen
Habitat
EPA’s Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for
Dissolved Oxygen (Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras
substrate composition
organic carbon deposition
sediment pore water chemistry
Toxics
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Bathing and Recreation Water Uses

Regulatory Issues
Identify desired uses
bathing, wading, kayaking, canoeing fishing, boating
Apply appropriate use designation
primary vs. secondary contact recreation
Determine needed level of protection related to desired uses
Assess attainability of criteria and uses

Relevant Criteria
Total Coliform
Fecal Coliform
Enterococci (EPA recommended)
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USA Project Planning

Waterbody/Watershed Plans Are Being Developed for 23
USA Project Waterbodies

Plans Integrate Long-Term CSO Control Plans and Other
Water Quality Improvement Programs in a Watershed
Approach

Opportunities for Enhancing Beneficial Uses Are Being
Identified (e.g. habitat, riparian)

Use and Standards Attainment Is Being Evaluated
Consistent With Clean Water Act Goals and CSO LTCP
Requirements
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