Phase 2 Start-up Session Presentation November 15 th , 2012 Sharon - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Phase 2 Start-up Session Presentation November 15th, 2012 Sharon Coldren, President & Executive Director Patricia Reed, Environmental Projects Manager Coral Bay Community Council

Welcome & Introductions

 This is the “soft start” for Phase 2 of the WMP.  Process of gathering partners, identifying scope, mgt

• methods. Soliciting ideas, resources and funds.

 Need to create goal & “branding” - Catchy title and

slogan to energize all partners.

 After this, also have Ceremonial Start – with Governor

and NOAA & EPA & other dignitaries. (Feb. 2013)

Agenda

 Overview & Goals  Branding  Partners  Steering Committee & Team structure  Scope, Plan and Study ideas (team interests)

 PROJECT 1: Update of Watershed Management Plan  Description of NFWF-funded Watershed Mgt elements

 Group Review of progress on first plan goals  Identify core team to update Plan document (*)  Next Steps

History

 CBCC as Watershed Management agency since

founding 2003.

 2008 Watershed Management Plan  EPA CARE grant 2009-11 to implement plan and start

the Watershed Mgt Project

 NOAA ARRA Grant projects, community participation  DPNR and Public Works and other govt. efforts  Potable cistern water quality initial testing  Wetlands restoration grant, cleanups  Partner research ongoing

Why Continue the Coral Bay Watershed Management Project?

 Strong community goal to preserve the beautiful

natural environment of the Coral Bay Watershed, both sea and land.

 Protect water quality, which protects public health,

habitat for wild creatures, long term economic prosperity, and the well-being of our residents.

 Project has demonstrated success in dealing with the

major contaminant of bay waters: plumes of muddy sediment from roads and other development.

 There is still much work to be done…..

2012 – Second Phase Needed

 Much progress has been made in 5 years since plan

adopted - need to mark progress & update goals and

• bjectives

 Significant Marina and Coastal Development is being

planned by developers – and more will come…

 Hiatus of recession is lifting – need to have process to

engage all stakeholders in planning for protecting the environment during development, and having development that is compatible with Plan goals

 Studies are needed that will be assets for the community,

developers and future protection of the Coral Bay environment

What is Watershed Management?

The four core Watershed Management principles

from EPA’s Watershed Academy :

 Watersheds are natural systems that we can work with.  Watershed management is continuous and needs a

multi disciplinary approach.

 A watershed management framework supports

partnering, using sound science, taking well-planned actions and achieving results.

 A flexible approach is always needed.

Available on WEB and CD’s

EPA Watershed Academy: Overview of Watershed Planning

 Build a watershed planning group  Develop a watershed mgt plan

Stage 1: Concerns, Information, Objectives Stage 2: Game Plan, Action Alternatives, Selection, Tracking Progress Stage 3: Implement and Evaluate

Project Management

 CBCC is focal point, primary Watershed Mgt Agency  DPNR, NOAA, EPA full active partner resources  “ On the ground”: Public Works, other local agencies,

local land owners, businesses and developers are critical implementation partners.

 Community residents and all the above are

stakeholder partners in the outcome

Proposed Phase 2 Goals

Empower the community to

 1) Effectively reverse the past environmental

degradation caused by poor construction practices, badly designed roads, violated wetlands, and other human and development choices, and to

 2) Envision and plan for future physical and economic

development that does not exceed the carrying capacity of the land and environment, while still providing all infrastructure needs (water, waste water, solid waste, roads, public services)

Branding…

 Need to create an ID and image

“Catchy title” and slogan to energize all partners.

Ideas?

Discussion

First Phase: Partners and Stakeholders

High Participation Low Participation

 Government  Community segments  Homeowners assns  Construction contractors  Local Businesses  University of the VI & other

researchers

 Prospective developers  Affordable housing

apartments developer/ owner

 Large landowners

Second Phase: Partner list

 Government – Local & Federal

 NOAA, EPA, DOI, VI National Park. DOA  DPNR – various Divisions  PW, Waste Mgt, VITEMA, Ag, & other

 Community segments  Homeowners assns  Nonprofit agencies  University of the VI & other researchers  Local Businesses  Large property owners and developers, contractors

Choosing a Steering Committee Structure

 Incorporate Community and Professionals  Engagement of all stakeholders, and commitment  Practical  Should Teams to lead individual projects ?  How frequent should steering committee meetings be?  Other advice

 Discussion

In Phase 1: 2008- 2012

Coral Bay Watershed Management Project

Coral Bay Vision Begun Land and Water Use Planning discussed

Watershed Management Plan

Water Quality Testing/Research Publicity

Restoration & Retrofits

Stormwater Wetlands

Needs for Phase 2

 5 year old plan – needs evaluating and updating  More stormwater retrofit needs ( $10 Million Plus)  Planning for all purposes  WMP as structure for all planning  Understanding of water resource issues, beyond initial

look (water & sewer – ground water, cisterns, Reverse Osmosis)

 Environmental protection and enhancement  Follow EPA Watershed Academy guidelines

Activity Areas

Planning, Studies, Research Laws, Regulations & Enforcement Implementation

Broader Scope for Second Phase

Implementation Components:

 Stormwater Management Retrofits  Restoration of natural areas: Ghuts and Wetlands  Seeking solutions for Road maintenance

responsibility, funding, & redesign issues

 Relocation of solid waste bins out of wetlands and

adding recycle/reuse area continued

Broader Scope for Second Phase

Planning & Studies and Research Many ideas:

WMP

Coral Bay Vision Potable Water/Waste water Capacity planning Other Infrastructure Capacity Planning Land use planning Marine Uses Plan Historic Cultural Preservation Plan Turbidity & Floating Debris Targets - Updated WM Plan Integration with other Territorial Plans: Transportatio n, VIITEMA, WAPA etc. ???

Planning Ideas:

WMP

Coral Bay Vision Potable Water/Waste water Capacity planning Other Infrastructure Capacity Planning Land use planning Marine Uses Plan Historic Cultural Preservation Plan Turbidity & Floating Debris Targets - Updated WM Plan Integration with other Territorial Plans: Transportatio n, VIITEMA, WAPA etc. ???

Planning Ideas:

Broader Scope for Second Phase

Laws, Regulations, and Enforcement

 Steep slope development regulations  Upcoming Zoning Law rewrite review & analysis  Stormwater mgt authority possibility  ??? Continue/add objectives (in WM Plan doct.)

 Leadership by DPNR, NOAA, EPA

Discussion of Scope

 More Ideas?  Priorities?  Teams?

Project 1 - Update Watershed Management Plan

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) – Coral Reef Conservation Fund Grant

 EPA requires all CWA Section 319-funded watershed

projects to be supported by a watershed plan which includes nine minimum elements.

 NFWF CRCF Grant Proposal Category =

Enhance Watershed Management Planning

 Establish robust watershed management plans that will foster

the ability to measure and evaluate successful investment in priority watersheds.

 By enhancing the development of evaluation and monitoring

components of these plans.

 By focusing current planning efforts on EPA watershed

planning elements b-d and h-i.

EPA’s Nine Elements

 a - Impairment & Pollutant Source Identification  b – Load Reduction Estimates  c - Nonpoint Source Management Measures  d – Technical & Financial Assistance Estimates  e – Information & Education Component  f - Management Measures Implementation Schedule  g - Interim Measurable Milestones  h - Water Quality Benchmarks for Tracking Progress  i – Monitoring Component

CBCC’s Project

 Addresses two major threats

 Sediment in stormwater runoff  Floating debris solid waste pollution

 Uses the 2008 Coral Bay Watershed Management Plan as a

building block for:

 Incorporating EPA’s nine elements to address water quality threats

and impairments

 The result of this project will be a set of load reduction targets

and refined short and long-term strategies for dealing with sediment and floating debris.

Baseline Monitoring

 Shoreline Debris Monitoring

 3 Shorelines (Nanny Point, Coral Harbor, Friis Bay)  September “Clean Sweep” Cleanup  October 2012 – September 2013 Monthly Monitoring

Cleanups

 Turbidity Monitoring

 Turbidity and Bay Water Quality Monitoring from October

2012 through September 2013

 Targeting six storms

 Bay Water Clarity Monitoring

 Weekly secchi disk monitoring in three locations from

November 2012 through October 2013

Sediment & Floating Debris Management Plan

 Watershed Characterization Report (element a)  Load Estimates & Load Reduction Targets (element b)



Develop turbidity targets specifically for six subwatersheds

 GIS-based Hydrologic Modeling - using models applied to other USVI TMDLs

if applicable



Develop a single floating debris target for all of Coral Bay

 Current legislation for point sources is zero floatables; most TMDLs follow suit

for non-point sources

 Management Measure, Milestone, & Progress

Benchmark Development (elements c, g, & h)



Use targets to draft management measures with agency/community help:

 Agency Field Day & Meeting  Six Subwatershed Meetings

NOAA ARRA Watersheds

Sediment & Floating Debris Management Plan (continued)

 Technical & Financial Estimates (element d)  Schedule Development (element f)  Information & Education Activities Development

(element e)

 Monitoring & Adaptive Management Plan Development

(element i)

 Sediment & Floating Debris Management Plan

Document Development

Watershed Management Plan goals and Recommendations Review

Coral Bay Watershed Management Plan

RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS

• 1. Provide direct, on-site technical assistance to watershed residents, businesses, developers,

and others to implement watershed recommendations. (Goals # 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9)

• 2. Initiate a comprehensive community development planning process to specifically address

future roadway, stormwater, wastewater, and land use goals. (Goals # 2, 3, 9)

• 3. Evaluate and repair erosion and drainage problems that are threatening property, damaging

infrastructure, or delivering excessive sediment loads to Coral Bay. (Goals # 4, 5, 6)

• 4. Improve enforcement of existing environmental regulations. (Goals # 4, 5)
• 5. Establish a unified permitting approach to public and private road design, construction,
• wnership, and maintenance. (Goals #1, 2, 4, 5, 9)
• 6. Improve post-construction stormwater management design, permitting, and enforcement.

(Goals # 1, 2, 6)

• 7. Identify and protect critical areas that provide natural hydrologic function, unique habitat,

potential stormwater storage, historic value, infrastructure protection, and public shoreline access or other amenities. (Goals # 2, 7)

• 8. Implement construction and post-construction demonstration projects. (Goals # 6, 8)
• 9. Detect and eliminate illicit discharges. (Goals # 1, 3)
• 10. Adopt site design standards for new development applicable to steep slopes. (Goals # 2, 4)
• 11. Update agency mapping resources to more accurately reflect current conditions within the

Coral Bay and East End watersheds. (Goals #2, 5, 8, 9) Each recommendation is described below in more detail with supportive findings from field

• bservations, interviews, or review of existing materials. Each recommendation is followed by

specific implementation actions representing a variety of activities (i.e. regulatory changes, program enhancements, maintenance/restoration projects, and educational activities). Some of these actions are noted as being territorial or island-wide and not restricted to Coral Bay. Local agencies, stakeholders in Coral Bay, and other partners will need to decide which items to tackle first. Some actions, such as regulatory changes or enhanced enforcement, may be more time sensitive than construction of a stormwater retrofit, particularly in areas expecting significant development pressures in the short-term. Additionally some activities are on going, or require additional Center for Watershed Protection 12

Identify Core Team Members to Update Plan

 Subwatershed & local sediment reduction projects –

CBCC, PW, DPNR and community

 Governmental actions – DPNR lead to evaluate

progress of detailed govt. action recommendations in

• ld plan, at the same task meeting, provide 2013-2015
• Govt. objectives to be included in new plan. Circulate

for discussion by 2Q13.

Next Steps

 Add more partners  Clarify Key Project Components  Raise funds and resources  Create Teams  Convene Steering Committee  Ceremonial Start – with Governor and NOAA & EPA &

• ther dignitaries. (Feb. 2013)

Thank you for Participating!