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Vermont Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Phase I Implementation Plan

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VDEC) staff prepared the slides contained in this presentation to describe the policy commitments contained in the Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Phase I Implementation Plan. The Plan was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on May 29, 2014. Data contained in this presentation came from a variety of sources and agencies. Some of the data are preliminary, undergoing review, and thus, are subject to possible change.

Expected Outcomes from the TMDL Phase I Plan

Summary of Phase I Plan • Plan expected to reduce

phosphorus loading by 36% over 20 years to meet State Water Quality Standards • Plan targets major source areas

using cost-effective actions 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Current Phosphorus Loads Expected Phosphorus Loads

Anticipated Improvements Over Time (Phosphorus load at Phase I completion,

as a percent of current level)

EPA, 2013

Phosphorus Sources in the Vermont Portion of the Lake Champlain Basin

3

Unpaved Roads

6%

Agricultural Lands 40%

Stream Instability

22%

Forest Lands 15%

Developed Lands Including Paved Roads

14%

Wastewater Treatment Facilities 3%

0

500

1,000

1,500

Missisquoi River Watershed

Land

Are

a (k

m2 )

4

Watershed Land Area of Land Use Categories

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Missisquoi River Watershed

Phos

phor

us lo

adin

g ra

te (k

g/ha

/yr)

TMDL Plan’s Strategic Focus is based on Relative Ranking of Critical Sources of Phosphorus

(per unit of land area)

EPA, 2013 5

EPA, 2014; VTDEC, 2014 6

Relative Cost-Effectiveness of Actions by Source

Range of Annualized Cost (per kilogram of Phosphorus Reduced)

$0 $4,000 $8,000 $12,000

Agricultural Land Practices

Backroad Practices

Additional Wastewater Treatment

Developed Land Practices

$/kg

$0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000

Agricultural Land Practices

Backroad Practices

Additional Wastewater Treatment

Developed Land Practices

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Relative Cost-Effectiveness of Actions by Source

Annualized Cost (per kilogram of Phosphorus Removed)

Developed Land Practices ($/kg)

Agricultural Land Practices ($/kg)

Range of Cost per Kilogram

Strategic Investment

Critical Source Area Targeting Critical Source Area Study in Missisquoi Bay Basin found that program effectiveness increases 1.5 to 3 times with targeting

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

Random

Targeted

Total P Reduction

kilo

gram

/yea

r

8 LCBP, 2011

Strategic Investment

Tactical Basin Planning

• Targets priority stressors to restore and protect water quality • Informed by assessment data

Deerfield and Lower Connecticut Rivers

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Program Area

Agricultural Programs Stormwater Management Rivers Management Wetlands Management

Lakes Management Forest Management

Lake Champlain Phosphorus TMDL Draft Phase I Implementation Plan

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Agricultural Programs Proposed Rule Update: State Accepted Agricultural Practices (AAPs) and Technical Assistance Example: Increase buffer size and crop rotation

• Achieves 40%-80% reduction in Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $6,000 (100 acres treated)

BEFORE AFTER

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

11

Corn crop showing bare soil & no buffer, increasing erosion and phosphorus loading

Hay crop & buffer reduce erosion and phosphorus delivery to streams

Agricultural Programs Proposed Rule Update: State Accepted Agricultural Practices Example: Grassed waterway to stabilize field gully • Achieves 35%-90% reduction in Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $24,000 (2 acres treated)

BEFORE AFTER

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

12 Gully erosion from concentrated water Grassed waterway to prevent gully formation

Agricultural Programs

Proposed Rule Update: State Accepted Agricultural Practices Example: Livestock Exclusion and Vegetated Buffer • Achieves 40%-80% reduction in Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $20,000 (fencing, stream crossing, 1 acre of buffer)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

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BEFORE AFTER

Uncontrolled livestock access to stream Installation of livestock fencing & buffer

Agricultural Programs

Proposed Rule Update: State Accepted Agricultural Practices Example: Vegetated buffer on Field and Roadside Ditches • Achieves 40%-80% reduction in

Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $1,350 (3 acres treated)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

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BEFORE AFTER

Runoff draining into ditch Vegetated buffer along ditch

Agricultural Programs Technical Assistance: Nutrient Management Example: Manure Injection • Achieves 71%-94% reduction in

Total Phosphorus • Equipment price = $250,000 • Estimated project cost = $6,000 (100 acres treated)

BEFORE AFTER

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

Land-applied manure is subject to runoff Manure injection reduces runoff

Agricultural Programs Technical Assistance: Nutrient Management Example: Cover Cropping • Achieves 40%-90% reduction in

Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $8,000 (100 acres treated)

BEFORE AFTER

16 Gully formation & runoff on bare soils Cover crop protecting soils from weathering

0%20%40%60%80%

100%120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

Agricultural Programs

Increase Inspections Barnyard Runoff Management • Achieves 35%-70% reduction

in Total Phosphorus • Estimated project cost =

$35,000-$50,000

UNMANAGED MANAGED

17 Phosphorus-laden silage leachate discharging to stream

Silage leachate treatment

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Treatment Effectiveness (Phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

Agricultural Programs

Water Quality Permitting Example: Animal Waste Systems Crystal Brook, Orleans County • Replaced failed manure pit with

larger, sealed lagoon • Over 80% reduction in Phosphorus • Estimated project cost = $70,000-$150,000

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

2006 2009 2010

Phosphorus in Stream (as a percent of 2006 level)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

2006 2009 2010

Stream Biological Health (as a percent of current level)

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Improved manure storage

Agricultural Programs

Summary: Agricultural Practices Reduce Phosphorus Pollution

Con

serv

atio

n til

lage

Filte

r stri

ps

Barn

yard

runo

ff m

anag

emen

t

Nut

rient

man

agem

ent p

lan

Con

tour

stri

p cr

op

Rip

aria

n fo

rest

buf

fers

Anim

al w

aste

sys

tem

s

Cro

p ro

tata

tion

Per

cent

Red

uctio

n

0

20

40

60

80

100

Gitau, Gburek, Jarrett, 2005

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Stormwater Management

Stormwater Runoff from Existing Developed Lands Englesby Brook, Blanchard Beach Burlington & South Burlington • Stormwater treatment achieved over 80% reduction in Phosphorus • Estimated cost for stormwater treatment for land already developed =

$30,000 per acre of impervious surface

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Effectiveness of Stormwater Treatment (Phosphorus load as a percent of pre-treatment level)

20 Expanded stormwater treatment pond

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Runoff from Existing Developed Lands Rice Brook, Sugarbush Ski Resort • Reduced annual phosphorus and

sediment concentrations by nearly 30% • Restored Water Quality Standards

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Stream Biological Health (as a percent of 2009 levels)

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Stormwater Treatment Pond

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Effectiveness of Stormwater Treatment (Phosphorus load as a percent of pre-treatment level)

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Runoff from Existing Developed Lands Potash Brook tributary, So. Burlington • Runoff causing water quality

degradation, stream instability • Reduced phosphorus load by 45% • Reduced sediment load by 70%

Figure 11. An actively eroding stream bank in Potash Brook Trib. 7 as it traverses the BF/OCV neighborhoods.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Stormwater Treatment Effectiveness (phosphorus load as a percent of

pre-treatment level)

IMPACT

TREATMENT

22 Streambank erosion from stormwater runoff Stormwater treatment ponds

Stormwater Management

Stormwater Runoff - Existing Developed Lands Municipal Stormwater Management

• 2 actions prevent 2,000-4,000 tons of sediment from reaching State waters annually

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2003-2008 avg 2009 2010 2011 2012

Catch Basin Cleaning Street Sweeping

MS4 Communities Water Quality Accomplishments

(Sediment Removed Annually, tons)

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Stormwater Management Stormwater Runoff - Municipal Roads Sediment and Erosion Control Washington County • UVM Controlled Study found a

dramatic reduction in polluted runoff from Best Practices such as rock-lining ditches on steep roads • Estimated project cost = $3,000 (1,000 linear feet treated)

Wemple, 2013

24 Eroding roadside ditch Ditch stabilization saves road and reduces erosion

IMPACT TREATMENT

050

100150200250300350400

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Sedi

men

t dr

y m

ass (

kg)

Sediment Production by Storm Event

Pre-Treatment Post-Treatment

Investments that Work Floodplain and River Corridor Restoration

Rivers Channel Stability Floodplain Restoration Lamoille River, Black Creek Franklin County • Reconnected 200 acres of floodplain • Monitored 3 of the 11 sites (21 acres) • 3 sites captured 1.3 metric tons of

total phosphorus • Estimated cost for levee removal =

$50,000/mile

25 Restored floodplain Black Creek, Fairfield

Removal of elevated railroad embankment

11 Floodplain Restoration Sites

Wetlands Management

RESTORED

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Maryland Study Illinois Study

Wetland Performance in Other States (Percent Phosphorus Removal)

Perc

ent R

emov

al

Woltemade, 2000

Wetland Protection & Restoration • 2,700 acres of Champlain wetlands

have been restored or conserved over the past 10 years

• UVM study found that wetland protection helps to reduce phosphorus loading to the Lake

• Estimated project cost = $4,000/acre

DEGRADED

26 Flooded cornfield, former wetland Restored wetland, former farmland

Lake Shoreland Management

Shoreland Protection • 80% of VT lakes have shoreland in fair or poor condition

due to clearing • On a per-acre basis, developed land can contribute more

phosphorus loading than agricultural land

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PREVENTION

IMPACT

Disturbed lake shoreland Preserved lake shoreland

Forest Management

Acceptable Management Practices (AMPs) • Can reduce phosphorus loading by 85% • 60% of VT forests are subject to AMP

compliance or equivalent, as required under Current Use Program and public land management practices

• Estimated project cost = $3,000 (per crossing)

0%20%40%60%80%

100%120%

No AMPs With AMPs

Edwards, Williard, 2010

Effectiveness of Forestry Practices (Phosphorus load as a percent of load from watersheds logged without AMPs applied)

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TREATMENT

IMPACT Unmanaged stream crossing at logging site Temporary skidder bridge

Vermont: A Small State Facing Big Challenges to Implement Plan

29 U.S. Census, 2010

• Vermont’s small population makes paying for clean water particularly challenging due to its small revenue base, compared with southern New England and Chesapeake states

• However, Vermont’s rural landscape means that the State has more cost-effective opportunities to reduce phosphorus loads than urbanized regions

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

VT VA DE MD CT MA

Popu

latio

n/sq

uare

mile

Population Density

Vermont: A Small State Facing Big Challenges to Implement Plan

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Federal

Private

Local State

State will need to tap into existing & new sources to implement plan