ANACOSTIA RESTORATION

Indicators: How They Are Helping Achieve Water Quality Goals?

SWRR April 2006 Meeting

Ted Graham, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 2

Indicators and Water Quality Goals Restoration of the Anacostia Watershed

Water quality Habitat Stewardship

Institutional Framework for Restoration Setting for Indicators & Targets

Indicators and Targets: How are They Helping? Keeping score Setting program targets Communicating progress Incentive?

3SWRR April 2006 MeetingApril 25, 2006

Montgomery County

Prince George's County

District of Columbia

#

Potomac River

#

Anacostia Watershed

N

5 0 5 10 Miles

The Anacostia WatershedSize (square miles):

District of Columbia 30 (17%)

Prince George’s 86 (49%)

Montgomery 60 (34%)

TOTAL 176 (100%)

Population:

District of Columbia 292,811 (36%)

Prince George’s 311,573 (39%)

Montgomery 200,073 (25%)

TOTAL 804,457 (100%)

0.3% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed area (64,000 sq. mi.)

5.7% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed population (14,000,000)

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 5Campers at Greenbelt National Park

Springtime on the Northwest BranchCrew Team Preparing for Practice at Anacostia Waterfront Park

Canoeing the ‘Kingfisher Trail’ on the Tidal Anacostia River

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 6

Priority Problems Fecal bacteria Low oxygen levels Sediment Toxics Trash Degraded habitat

POOR WATER QUALITY

SOURCES

CARRIERS

RESULTS

CSOs Stormwater

Surface Pollutants

ErosionSewage

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 8

Restoration by Regulation CSO Long-Term Control Plan

DC-WASA (2001) Municipal Stormwater Permits (Beginning in 1990s)

DC-WASA, DOH & DPW Prince George's County Montgomery County

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 9

Restoration by Cooperation Regional cooperation since 1987 1987, 1991 & 1999 Agreements Local, state, federal partnership Common commitment to I&T

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 10

Agreements Agreement to Cooperate (1987) Six Point Action Plan (1991)

Goal 1 – Improve water quality Goal 2 - Restore & protect ecological integrity Goal 3 - Restore natural range of fish Goal 4 - Increase wetlands Goal 5 - Expand forest cover & riparian buffer Goal 6 - Increase public awareness and participation

Indicators and Targets (1999, 2001) Define indicators tied to the six goals Set targets to be achieved by 2010 Reconvene biennially to assess progress

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 11

I&T Expectations Encourage watershed-based planning Foster regional cooperation Develop public involvement and support Help set program & budget priorities Engage elected officials

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 12

Indicators & Targets Indicators

50 selected from over 100 candidates

Each measures a distinct aspect, e.g.: “Inputs” - Stream Miles Restored

Tied to management actions

“Outputs” - Dissolved Oxygen Tied to expected outcomes

2010 targets selected for each of the 50 indicators

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 13

Goal 1 – Reduce Pollutant Loads Ten Indicators, including:

Total suspended solids (sediment) Combined sewer overflows Fecal coliform contamination Dissolved oxygen Trash index Toxics and metals

Example Dissolved Oxygen 2001 Baseline - 75% of the time less than 5 mg/L 2010 Target - 10% of the time less than 5 mg/L

Distinct improvement since 1990

Low Dissolved Oxygen

Still many periods below standards

Mean DO Concentrations at Seafarer's Marina Station

012

3456

78

1990 1994 1999 2010

Year

DO

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

mg

/l)

2010 Projected

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 15

Urban Development

Potomac River

Anacostia River

Washington D.C.

Sediment

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 16

Toxics 1992 Sediment Study: Metals

Lead Mercury Zinc Cadmium

Organics DDT Chlordane PCBs

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 17

TrashSligo Creek Watershed

Trash problems are widespread and require

constant attention.

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 184,000 tires dumped in the Anacostia River drainage4,000 tires dumped in the Anacostia River drainage

Robert Boone, Anacostia Watershed Society

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 19

Goal 2 – Ecological Integrity 11 indicators, including:

Temperature Macroinvertebrate community health Resident fish community health Stream miles restored

Example: Stream Miles Restored 2001 Baseline: about 15 miles since 1987 Target: 20 additional miles by 2010

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 20

Stream Restoration

To To repairrepair degraded stream habitat degraded stream habitat

Restoration on Wheaton Branch of Sligo CreekRestoration on Wheaton Branch of Sligo Creek

Devastation - 1990Devastation - 1990 Restoration - 1992Restoration - 1992 Natural Healing - 1999Natural Healing - 1999

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 21Little Paint Branch Stream RestorationLittle Paint Branch Stream Restoration

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 22

Goal 3 – Fish Passage Three indicators, including:

Percent anadromous fish range open Percent anadromous fish habitat utilization

Example: Percent historic spawning range open 2001 Baseline: about 15 miles open Target: 20 additional miles

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 23

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 24

Goal 4 – Wetland Acreage Three indicators, including:

Created/restored tidal wetland acreage Created/restored non-tidal wetland acreage

Example: Restored Tidal Wetland Acreage 2001 Baseline: about 75 acres created since

1987 Target: create an additional 60 acres

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 25

Kenilworth Marsh in

D.C.

AfterAfterRestorationRestoration

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 26

Goal 5 – Forest Cover Five indicators, including:

Miles of created riparian forest Acres of created upland forest

Example: Miles of Created Riparian Forest 2010 Baseline: about~12 miles created since

1987 Target: create an additional 112 miles

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 27

One of Many Anacostia Tree Planting Events

Earth Conservation Corps Volunteers on Buzzard Point

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 28

Goal 6 – Public Involvement Eighteen indicators in three categories:

Use Stewardship Advocacy

Example: Active Subwatershed “Friend of” Groups 2010 Baseline: six active Target: fourteen, covering all subwatersheds

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 29

Volunteer Tree Planting

Gum Springs – Fall 2000Gum Springs – Fall 2000

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 30

I&T Accomplishments Promoted interagency coordination Stimulated public awareness

Systematic program for monitoring, tracking & reporting

50 indicators 2010 targets for each indicator

Basis for 2001 signing ceremony Framework for reporting progress &

continuing need

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 31

Restoration Indicators and Targets ‘Report Card’ (2002-2010)

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 32

Not a Panacea Biennial meetings have not occurred Incentives and pressures are indispensable

Grants Consent orders Permit conditions

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 33

Contact Information

Ted Graham

WashCOG

(202) 962-3352

tgraham@mwcog.org