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Home My Public Portal AboutMeeting 2 PresentationTown of Brewster, MassachusettsIntegrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP)Community Meeting No. 26:00 pm June 3, 2010 Welcome by:Comprehensive Water Planning Committee (CWPC)Members:Patricia Hughes, ChairDavid Michniewicz, Vice ChairDavid Bennett, SecretaryJane JohnsonJohn LipmanLemuel Skidmore, Board of Health Rep.Elizabeth Taylor, Planning Board Rep.Amy Usowski, Conservation Comm. Rep. CWPC SupportTown Staff Advisors–Sue Leven, Town Planner, CWPC Coordinator–Chris Miller, Natural Resources Director–Jim Gallagher, Conservation Agent–Nancy Ellis Ice, Health AgentSelectmen’s Liaison–Ed LewisTown’s Consultant –CDM Meeting Purpose and Presentation OverviewReview why Brewster is undertaking this important programProvide an overview on water resource parametersPresent some preliminary findings to dateRemind local residents and business owners of the importance for them to participate and how they can do so Goal of the IWRMPTo develop a long‐term program for the protection and/or restoration of our groundwater and surface water resources. Why we are doing an IWRMP? Preserve valuable water resources–Estuaries–Drinking Water Supplies–Freshwaster PondsDevelop a dynamic and formal program for water, wastewater and stormwater management to meet future needs of the communityAddress the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) nitrogen reduction goals Phase 1 IWRMP Includes:Define existing conditionsDevelop and implement a water protection needs analysisDefine existing and future water management needsPrioritize water management needsContinuous public participation Water Quality Parameters of ConcernNitrogen for drinking water and saltwater estuariesPhosphorus for fresh water pondsBacteria for fresh and saltwater bodies Sources of NitrogenControllable:Effluent from on‐site septic systemsStormwater run‐off from impervious surfacesFertilizersAnimal wastesUncontrollable:Atmospheric deposition Controllable Sources of PhosphorusEffluent from on‐site septic systemsFertilizersStormwater run‐off from impervious surfacesDishwater detergentsAnimal wastesRegeneration from pond sediments Controllable Sources of BacteriaFailed on‐site septic systemsStormwater run‐off from impervious surfacesAnimals, dogs, birds, etc.Human activitiesWastes from boats Protection of Groundwater and EstuariesWhy Protect the Groundwater?–Public health–Source of drinking water–Source water for ponds and estuariesWhy Protect the Estuaries?–Some impaired; MEP defines actions to restore–Environmental–Economic impacts to Cape Cod What is Groundwater? Septic Systems and GroundwaterOn‐site septic systems permit nitrogen to travel with groundwater to the coast.yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to EstuaryYour Home’s Septic SystemSource: Nick Evans, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Animation by Molly Kitchel and Pat Harcourt Brewster Pond and MEP Watersheds Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP)A partnership between–Massachusetts DEP –UMASS/Dartmouth School forMarine Science and Technology(SMAST) –Local communities–Also CCC and USGSMonitoring and evaluating environmental health of estuaries Brewster MEPs–Pleasant Bay (2006)–Namskaket Creek (2008)–Herring River (Summer 2010) MEP Watersheds Brewster’s Ponds and Evaluating their HealthGeneral Information on PondsEvaluating Pond Health Brewster Ponds (82 total incl. ponds with neighboring communities) Brewster Pond FactsNatural ponds29 ponds monitored by Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS)>14 stocked with fish>11 for public swimmingPond AreaAcres# of Ponds Features of PondsPhysical Setting–Flow through (seepage pond)–Outlet only (groundwater recharge pond)–Inlet and outlet (drainage pond)DepthPond health via trophic status 1. Flow‐through PondWater sources–Primarily groundwater–Precipitation–RunoffNo stream outlet/inletIn Brewster:–Many large ponds–Nearly all small ponds 2. Groundwater Recharge PondWater sources–Primarily groundwater–Precipitation–Limited runoffHas stream outlet Examples of Brewster’s Groundwater Recharge Ponds 3. Drainage PondWater sources–Streams–Groundwater–Precipitation–RunoffStream drainedOnly a few in Brewster Inflow from Upper Mill PondOutlet to Stony BrookDrainage Pond Example Pond Depth –Physical characteristicsDeep ponds–Summer temperature gradient–When stratified, bottom waters are isolated–> 9 meters deepShallow ponds–Mixed top to bottom Deep Ponds in Brewsterwith WQ Data Deep PondsDeep cold waters potential habitat for coldwater fish (e.g., trout, lake chub)When a deep pond is eutrophic,–Organic material (leaves, dead algae/plants) decay in bottom waters reducing oxygen–When oxygen absent, much greater release of phosphorus from sediment–Internally generated phosphorus can be dominate source, fueling more algal growth Shallow PondsTypically exist as–Clear water lakes with lots of plants and little algaeExample, Grassy Nook Pond–Turbid, green water lakes with few plants and lots of algaeExample, Walkers Pond Protecting Pond Designated UsesFishing ‐‐Habitat for fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife, including for their reproduction, migration, growth and other critical functions–Ponds in Herring River and Stony Brook subwatersheds provide ASMFC defined essential habitat for alewife and blueback herring–Some deep ponds provide coldwater fishery habitatSwimming ‐‐primary (and secondary) contact recreation.Aesthetics ‐‐consistently good aesthetic value Trophic StatusOligotrophic –low nutrient concentrations, low productivityMesotrophicEutrophic –high nutrient concentrations, high productivityIndicators of a eutrophic lake–Increasing nutrient load–Increasing algal abundance–Decreasing oxygen in bottom layer Decreasing pond health Phase 1 Evaluation ProcessDivide the Town Into Individual Watersheds–Pond watersheds–MEP watershedsEvaluate indicator parameters for each watershedWork with CWPC to rank and prioritize watersheds and other areas for protection of water resources Pond and MEP Watersheds Parameters to Evaluate Protection of Groundwater and EstuariesZone II / District of Critical Planning ConcernTown zoningSoils / drainageDepth to groundwaterImpervious coverDevelopment densityOthers Zone II / District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC)Zone II–Protected area of recharge in vicinity of municipal wells DCPC–Protected area (by Brewster)Drinking water supplyBrewster’s portion of Pleasant Bay Zone II District of Critical Planning Concern Zoning Soil Drainage Depth to Groundwater Impervious Cover Development Density Pond Classification ProcessIdentify impaired ponds (Category 1/1A)Identify ponds with some water quality impairment (Category 2)Identify deep ponds that have high water quality (Category 3)Remainder: ponds that meet uses (Category 4) or ponds with no water quality data (Category 5) Pond Water Quality Data (2001‐2007)Samples collected by Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) program for 29 different ponds in BrewsterLaboratory analyses performed by School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) or the North Atlantic Coastal Laboratory at Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS) Other Data SourcesMA Division of Fisheries & WildlifeCape Cod Commission & MassGIS dataMA Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental HealthDiscussion with DEP Division of Watershed Management Primary Indicators of Impaired Pond HealthLow DO –MA DEP 314 CMR 4.00–< 6 mg/l in deep ponds to support cold‐water fish–< 5 mg/l in shallow ponds to support warm‐water fishHigh chlorophyll a–discussion with MA DEP–> 16 µg/l more than 1 time per growing seasonTrophic Status Index Other Pond Health FactorsShallow pond and no oxygenDeep pond and no oxygen in bottom watersHarmful algal bloom present (toxic)Fish kill recordedIncreasing phosphorus with depthBacteria > state standardSecchi depth (transparency) < swimming standardAdjacent cranberry bog (external nutrient source) Category 1 –Impaired Ponds Category 1A –Impaired Ponds with Special Factors Category 2 –Ponds with some Water Quality Impairment Category 3 –High Quality Deep Ponds Category 4 –Ponds that Meet Uses Category 5 –No Data Opportunities for Public ParticipationLocal organization announcementsCommunity meeting participationWebsite—www.town.brewster.ma.usCable TV Next Community MeetingSave the date: August 2010 (to be confirmed)Topic:Summary of Preliminary Water Needs AssessmentContacts:CWPC Coordinator –Sue Leven–Email: sleven@town.brewster.ma.us SummaryTremendous amount of data has been collected on existing water resources in BrewsterWorking closely with Committee to evaluate data and utilize key parameters to help prioritize water resource needsNext meeting will present preliminary recommendations of water resource needs QuestionsandComments Future IWRMP PhasesDevelop and screen potential preliminary alternatives to address water needsBegin initial environmental permitting agency review and inputConduct detailed evaluations of feasible solutions for prioritized water needsFinalize overall recommended IWRMPComplete environmental impact reports and approvals