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Home My Public Portal AboutMeeting 3 PresentationTown of Brewster, MassachusettsIntegrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP)Community Meeting No. 310:00 AM ‐Saturday September 11, 2010 Welcome by:Comprehensive Water Planning Committee (CWPC)Members:Patricia Hughes, ChairLemuel Skidmore, Board of Health Rep. ‐Vice ChairDavid Bennett, SecretaryJoanne HughesJane JohnsonJohn Lipman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–Robert Bersin, Dept. of Public Works–Paul Anderson, Water DepartmentSelectmen’s Liaison–Ed LewisTown’s Consultant –CDM Why we are doing an IWRMP? Preserve valuable water resources –town assets–Groundwater–Estuaries–Freshwater ponds–Coastal resourcesDevelop a dynamic and formal program for water, wastewater and stormwater management to meet future needs of the communityAddress MassDEP nitrogen reduction requirements established in total maximum daily load (TMDL) studiesMaintain quality of life in town Goal of the IWRMPDevelop a long‐term program for the protection and/or restoration of our critically important groundwater and surface water resources Meeting Purpose and Presentation OverviewProvide a project overview of Phase 1Present some preliminary findings Discuss some draft recommendationsProvide a forum for local residents and business owners to participate today and inform them of other opportunities for engagement Phase 1 IWRMP Includes:Define existing water resource conditionsDevelop and implement a water protection needs analysisDefine existing and future water management needsPrioritize needs and recommendations to address themFoster continuous public participation Growth in Brewster in 1951 and 1999 Brewster IWRMP Phase 1 SummaryAbout 50% of the subwatersheds need nitrogen removal to protect groundwater and estuariesAbout 30% of subwatersheds have groundwater potentially at riskOnly 5 of 29 ponds with data are considered healthy and meet intended usesCoastal resources (beaches/shellfish beds) affected by pathogens Brewster’s Water ResourcesGroundwater–Monomoy LensDrinking water supplySource water to estuaries and pondsCape Cod Bay Coast–>5 miles of shoreline–325 acres of beach and marshlandEstuaries–Quivett Creek–Namskaket Creek–Pleasant Bay–Herring River–Bass RiverFreshwater Ponds–81 ponds Why Protect Our Water Resources?GroundwaterEstuariesCoastsPondsDrinking water sourcePublic healthRecreationEcological healthEconomic vitalityAddress DEP regulatory requirements Water Quality Parameters of ConcernNitrogen for drinking water and saltwater estuariesPhosphorus for fresh water pondsBacteria for fresh and saltwater bodies Water Resources Needs EvaluationAssessment focuses on:Defining nitrogen reduction based on wastewater needs assessment to protect groundwater and estuariesIdentifying impaired ponds for restoration and high quality ponds for protectionReducing bacteria at coastal resources (beaches) Water Quality Parameters of ConcernNitrogen for drinking water and saltwater estuariesPhosphorus for fresh water pondsBacteria for fresh and saltwater bodies Pollutant Sources Groundwater Needs AssessmentEvaluated each subwatershed for potential risks that could degrade groundwater quality–Characteristics of the watershed–Regulations to protect groundwater resources–Human activitiesObjectives of needs assessment –Identify potential future wastewater infrastructure needs–Determine if other sources threaten the resource Groundwater Needs Assessment Criteria and Draft ThresholdsCriteria to Assess 50 SubwatershedsDraft ThresholdZone II and DCPC areas >40%Zoning Refuse disposal or industrial activitiesImpervious area >10%Poor soil suitability >20%Protected open space <25%15,000 ft2parcel size >25% or >100 parcelsDevelopment density >0.75 buildings per acreDepth to groundwater <5 feet (GW problem area) >25% XXXDRAFT Massachusetts Estuaries Project–Determines if N reduction neededPleasant Bay (2006)Namskaket Creek (2008)Herring River (expected Fall 2010)Bass River (expected Fall 2010)TMDL–Developed by DEP if nitrogen reduction neededPleasant Bay (2007)Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) Estuary Needs Assessment ResultsEstuaryResultPleasant Bay • 40 to 52% N removalNamskaket Creek • No N Removal• Pathogen TMDLHerring River • In process with HarwichBass River • In process with Dennis and YarmouthQuivett Creek • Pathogen TMDL Needs Assessment Findings – Groundwater and EstuariesGroundwater analysis:‐15 of 50 subwatersheds‐potentially at riskEstuaries analysis:‐22 of 50 subwatersheds – nitrogen sensitive and subject to TMDL‐11 of 50 subwatersheds – waiting for results of MEP studies Wastewater Infrastructure Needs Findings ‐DraftSubwatersheds were classified as:1. Areas that can remain with onsite systems (17 of 50 subwatersheds)1A. Areas that can remain with onsite systems, pending MEP results (11 of 50 subwatersheds)2. Areas that may need on‐site innovative/alternative (I/A) systems or off‐site solutions (22 of 50 subwatersheds)3. Areas that may need off‐site or de‐centralized (regional) wastewater solutions (no subwatersheds) IWRMP Groundwater and Estuary Needs Assessment Findings ‐DraftPleasant Bay requires up to 52% removal of septic system nitrogen and thus requires an alternatives evaluation for wastewater treatmentHerring River watershed will depend on MEP resultsBass River watershed will depend on MEP resultsOther watersheds don’t require nitrogen removal and can remain with on‐site or I/A systems Brewster Ponds (81 total incl. ponds with neighboring communities) Water Quality Parameters for Assessing Pond HealthDissolved oxygenPhosphorousNitrogen Chlorophyll aSecchi depth Trophic Status–Indicators of an eutrophic pondIncreasing nutrient loadIncreasing algal abundanceDecreasing oxygen in bottom layer Brewster Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) volunteers have collected samples in up to 29 lakes twice per year Integrated Waters ListSeveral ponds are listed as having poor water quality on Massachusetts DEP integrated waters listPondImpairmentsLower Mill PondNutrientsNoxious aquatic plantsTurbidityLong Pond Organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygenSheep PondMetals - MercuryOrganic enrichment/low dissolved oxygenUpper Mill PondNutrientsOrganic enrichment/low dissolved oxygenNoxious aquatic plantsTurbidityWalkers PondNutrientsNoxious aquatic plantsTurbidity Pond Health/Threat AssessmentHealth assessment updated per comments from Committee–Takes account of Cape Cod Commission “healthy” pond criteriaCompleted threat assessment by extending health assessment of ponds with data to ponds with no data–Impervious cover–Cranberry bog presence Pond Health/Threat Assessment ResultsCategoryDescriptionNo. of Ponds1 High quality 52 Meets most uses 23 Some WQ impairment 53ANo data but possible impairment244 Impaired (WQ data) 124A Impaired (other factors) 55 No data 28 Pond Health Assessment Results Pond Health Assessment Results Pond Health Assessment Results Pond Health Assessment Results Criteria for Ponds Needs AssessmentIncreases PrioritySizePublic Access RecreationPond Condition–Health/Threat AssessmentZone IIKnown problemDecreases PriorityPrivate/State OwnershipRecent Pond Treatment Prioritizing Ponds for Future ActionsTwo types of ponds to be prioritized1.Impaired ponds–Collect missing data–Conduct diagnostic study –Recommend actions for restoration2.Existing high quality ponds–Conduct watershed assessment for threats–Recommend actions for protection Coastal Water ResourcesBrewster –8 public beaches–Located ‐north side of town –Shellfishing–Swimming–Recreation–TourismOnly Namskaket Estuary studied by MEPGenerally high quality, but occasional exceedances for bacteria that temporarily close beaches–Existing TMDLs for pathogensQuivett CreekNamskaket Creek Summary of Coastal FindingsOccasional high bacteria need to be addressed at beaches along the bayDEP issued bacteria TMDL for Quivett and NamskaketCreekBacteria sources are unknown, but likely related to:‐birds or other animals‐increased stormwater runoff from impervious areas related to development‐potentially, septic systems in high density development areas DraftRecommendations Presented to CWPCTimingImmediateFutureRegionalTypePlanningEducation/citizen participationFiscalInfrastructure Draft Immediate RecommendationsPlanningComputerize water resource databases such as:‐‐Water use by parcels in GIS‐‐Title 5 septic system failure and waivers data‐‐Stormwater system and discharges, including outfallsReview and update buildout analysis by watershedsAnalyze and document non‐conforming uses in various zoning districts and evaluate potential impactsContinue to evaluate alternatives to address nitrogen removal requirements to estuariesContinue pond monitoring by PALS volunteers and add key ponds as resources allow Draft Immediate Recommendations (cont’d)Planning (cont’d)Meet with cranberry bog growers association to discuss practices in Brewster’s bogs that could affect water resourcesInitiate diagnostic studies for impaired ponds and watershed evaluations to protect high quality pondsEducation/citizen participationDevelop citizen education programs on:‐‐Fertilizer use‐‐Alternative landscaping‐‐How to monitor your pond(s)FiscalIdentify funding mechanisms to implement water resources programs DraftFuture RecommendationsPlanningComplete the data collection for diagnostic studies for ponds with high‐priority needsRecommend a program for Brewster to address nitrogen removal to meet established TMDLsExpand the monitoring program to identify and remedy the sources of bacteriaDevelop and implement restoration action plans for impaired ponds and watershed protection actions for high quality ponds DraftFuture Recommendations (cont’d)InfrastructureFinalize development of a stormwater management program and implement best management practices (BMPs)Divert or disconnect stormwater systems that directly discharge to pondsEducation/citizen participationContinue to foster stakeholder participation in Brewster’s IWRMP DraftRegional RecommendationsPlanning/FiscalContact neighboring towns immediately to discuss long‐term wastewater planning in the Pleasant Bay, Namskaket Creek and possibly the Bass River and Herring RiverConfirm alternative solutions that will meet the TMDL requirements by running MEP model scenarios Brewster IWRMP SummaryAbout 50% of the subwatersheds need nitrogen removal to protect groundwater and estuariesAbout 30% of subwatersheds have groundwater potentially at riskOnly 5 of 29 ponds with data are considered healthy and meet intended usesCoastal resources (beaches/shellfish beds) affected by pathogens Community Meeting Follow‐upOpportunities for public participation Local organization announcementsCommunity meeting participationWebsite www.town.brewster.ma.usCable TVContact:CWPC Coordinator –Sue Leven–Email: sleven@town.brewster.ma.us QuestionsandComments General Education Slides What is Groundwater? to EstuaryYour Home’s Septic SystemSource: Nick Evans, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Animation by Molly Kitchel and Pat Harcourt Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)“A Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still safely meet water quality standards”Source: United States Environmental Protection AgencyConsiders both point and non‐point sourcesImplementation being addressed on Cape Cod via the IWRMP process 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 3. Drainage PondWater sources–Streams–Groundwater–Precipitation–RunoffStream drainedOnly a few in Brewster Pond Depth –Physical characteristicsDeep ponds–Summer temperature gradient–When stratified, bottom waters are isolated–> 9 meters deepShallow ponds–Mixed top to bottom Brewster Specific Slides XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX 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Meets CCC guidelines at all depths for at least two of three criteria: TP, TN, and chlorophyll Other Factors Indicating Impaired Pond QualityHarmful algal bloom occurrencesFish kill recordedBacteria exceeded State Water Quality Standards for swimmingSecchi depth < 4 Feet (discourages swimming)Increasing phosphorus with depthHydraulically connected to cranberry bog