oconomowoc watershed protection project · a brief history •how the city decided on the adaptive...
TRANSCRIPT
OCONOMOWOC WATERSHED PROTECTION PROJECT
Government Affairs Seminar February 26, 2015
Presented by Tom Steinbach
City of Oconomowoc
Oconomowoc and Phosphorus A Brief History
• How the City decided on the Adaptive Management option
• The 2014 Firestorm
• RCPP Grant
• 2015 YTD
2012 & 13 - A Time of Exploration
Interplant project potential
Bio P feasibility
Industrial loading and molasses
Coagulation / filtration feasibility
Effluent Trading
The Watershed and Mason Creek
March 19, 2013 Kick Off Meeting
2006
Brook Trout Populations Source: WDNR
2008
2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
January 9th 2014 Meeting with Tall Pines Conservancy
A Turning Point
2014 “Firestorm of Momentum” •March - City decides to Seriously Explore Adaptive
Management
•April - Our Project Team comes together
•May - City hires consultant to assist with program
development and management
•May 22nd – Meeting with DNR – open discussion on
Adaptive Management
•June - RCPP Grant opportunity announced
2014 continued •July 24th Public Information Meeting •July - RCPP prelim. proposal submitted w / 30 Partners signed on. •September – Chosen for Full submittal for RCPP •Nov. – Meeting w/DNR on Adaptive Management •Nov. - City hires Soil Scientist Ken Denow for field surveys •Dec. - City Council approves budget including Adaptive Management
2015 YTD – “The Cows Are Out!”
• January 14th – USDA announces The City has been selected to receive an RCPP Grant.
• January 21st - We attend the Leadership for Midwest Watersheds Conference, Sycamore, IL.
• January 27th – We hold our first Farmers Leadership Group Meeting.
2015 – “To Infinity and Beyond” •Continuing Adaptive Management Plan for
DNR consideration •February 27 – meeting NRCS for RCPP Grant
•March 11 – AG Resources Day •March 19 – Presentation to Greener
Oconomowoc Committee - Farmers Breakfast Meeting – Town of
Concord -Partners Coordination Meeting
- AMP Submittal to DNR • June – July ??? - DNR Approval for Adaptive
Management
The Oconomowoc
River Watershed
Rock River Watershed
Oconomowoc River Watershed
Land Use: 46% Agriculture 19% Wetland 14% Forest 11% Urban, suburban 10% Water or open land 49 Miles in length 17 Lakes (10 impoundments)
Mason Creek
OWWTP
Washington County
Waukesha County
Ocon. River
Oconomowoc Watershed Health
3 Impaired streams
Flynn Creek
Battle Creek
3 Pending Lakes
Mason Creek at North Lake
OWWTP
Water Quality Monitoring Sites
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
18 16 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 2 0 01
Tota
l Ph
osp
ho
rus
(mg/
L)
Monitoring Site
Oconomowoc Watershed - Official Data River Monitoring Sites
2014
.075 Major Lakes Chain
Upper Watershed Lower Watershed
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
18 16 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 2 0 01
Tota
l Ph
osp
ho
rus
(mg/
L)
Monitoring Site
Oconomowoc Watershed - Official Data River Monitoring Sites
2014
.075
OWWTP
Battle Ck Mason
Ck
Flynn Ck
Watershed Health at the Rock River Confluence
0.09 Mg/l TP Criteria for compliance with RR TMDL - 0.075 mg/l.
Fish Barrier
Critical Source Areas Washington and Waukesha County
Note: This information not for public viewing.
Critical Source Areas Waukesha and Jefferson County
Note: This information not for public viewing.
Total Phosphorus
By The Numbers
• Confluence Criteria – 0.075 mg/l
• Current TP 0.079 to 0.090 mg/l
• USGS flow modeling done in December 2014
• Results: TP to remove =
2,200 to 4,750 lbs per year
What we’ve learned so far…
• Offer a suite of options to landowners
• Need to educate landowners on how Nutrient Management affects the watershed
• “Pay for performance”: Conservation as a product
• Need to master the art of “Leading without Authority”
Our Project Steering Committee
Susan Buchanan Executive Director
Tall Pines Conservancy
Dave Arnott Project Engineer Ruekert and Mielke
Jill Bedford Environmental Consultant
Tall Pines Conservancy
Ken Denow Soils Scientist
Don Gallo Farmer and Legal Consultant & BOD
Tall Pines Conservancy
Mark Frye City Director of Public Works
“Adaptive Management” Taking the Plunge toward
CLEAN WATER
Stay tuned for future updates.