agenda utah water quality standards workgroup april 18 ... · bard rasmussen aqua engineering ......

4/7/2016

AGENDA

Utah Water Quality Standards Workgroup

April 18, 2016 1:00-4:30

Great Salt Lake West Conference Room,

3rd Floor Multi-Agency State Office Building

Call in: 1-877-820-7831, 782887#

Time Subject Discussion

Lead

Supporting Documents

1:00-

1:10

Welcome and

introductions

Chris

Bittner,

DWQ

1:10-

1:25

Update on

Proposed

Standards for

Willard Spur,

Bear River Bay,

Great Salt Lake

Jeff

Ostermiller,

DWQ

Figure showing proposed Willard Spur boundaries

(pending)

Draft memorandum: Draft_Willard Spur_Standard

Revision Process_3-31-2016_jg

1:25-

1:35

Revised

Fluoride

Criterion for

Class 1C

Chris

Bittner,

EPA8

Fluoride MemoM.pdf

1:35-

1:45

Update of Work

on Adopting

EPA 2013

Ammonia

Criteria

Chris

Bittner,

DWQ

1:45-

1:50

Update on new

EPA cadmium

criteria for

protection of

aquatic life

Chris

Bittner,

DWQ

https://www.epa.gov/wqc/aquatic-life-criteria-cadmium

1:50-

2:10

Introduction to

Proposed

Changes to

Address

Temperature

Impairments of

Class 3A

Jordan River

Chris

Bittner,

DWQ

(pending)

2:10-

2:15 Next Meeting

Chris

Bittner,

DWQ

7/25/16, 8/15/16, 9/19/26, 9/26/16 (may not be able to

hold a summer meeting because of vacations)

4/7/2016

You need to check in with the 1st floor DEQ receptionist for a name badge prior to

coming to the DWQ 3rd

floor office.

\

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Chair: C Bittner Place/Room: Great Salt Lake West

E-MailName Company Attendanæ

Chris Bittner DEQ/DWQL"-,'.'

Paul Dremman Trout Unlimited

Lareina Guenzel USEPA RB

Lisa Kirschner PBL

Jay OlsenUtah Dept of Food andAgriculture

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Leland Meyers CDSDt--

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Jodi Gardberg DEQ/DWQ / t Q i*, í '! ¡, ; "l A Lri crh,,

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Page I of2

Meeting Summary

Utah Water Quality Standards Workgroup

April 18, 2016 See agenda and supporting materials at http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/WQS/workgroup.htm Willard Spur Chris Bittner and Jeff Ostermiller provided an update on the Willard Spur project. At the May, 2016 Water Quality Board meeting, DWQ will propose a use designation for Willard Spur based on the map provided to the Standards Workgroup. The Willard Spur designated use boundaries will include portions that already have uses designated for the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR). This area is South of the Southern-most refuge dike to the Southern refuge boundary. DWQ will propose that the Class 3D criteria be adopted for Willard Bay exclusive of temperature, pH, ammonia, and dissolved oxygen. The Class 3D criteria for these pollutants will need to be modified prior to adoption to Willard Spur waters because under the existing conditions, the criteria are exceeded. A Use Attainability Analyses will be prepared by DWQ to modify the existing applicable criteria for temperature, pH, ammonia, and dissolved oxygen for the waters between the southern-most BRMBR dike and southern property boundary. Based on the data collected, Jeff Ostermiller expects that the Perry Willard POTW will qualify for a variance from the Utah technology-based phosphorus effluent limits when Willard Spur has sufficient water to discharge to Gilbert Bay and when land application of the effluent is occurring. Leland Meyers had several comments and suggestions. Leland suggested that the POTW should request the Water Quality Board fund biological phosphorus treatment and any additional treatment necessary to protect the water quality of Willard Spur. He also thought that DWQ should provide the necessary evaluation for the variance request from the technology-based phosphorus limit. Jodi Gardberg agreed to consider that request if the necessary documentation was not already part of the Willard Spur reports. Mr. Meyers recommended that the final criteria be adopted in one rulemaking. Jeff Ostermiller explained that with the timing isn’t important because we aren’t adopting any criteria that will later require a UAA to revise. The timing of the adoptions will be discussed further with the Steering Committee and Water Quality Board. Mr. Meyers was also concerned with the ability of the POTW to meet e.g., copper limits if no dilution is available at the point of discharge. Jeff Ostermiller reported that the facility did not have any concerns with meeting the effluent limits. Jay Olsen asked if the POTW had water rights to land apply the effluent. Jeff Ostermiller agreed to verify and subsequent to the meeting did confirm that the POTW has water rights for the effluent. Jay Olsen asked if phosphorus assimilative capacities of the land that would be used to land apply the effluent was monitored. Jeff Ostermiller explained that some phosphorus would be exported when the alfalfa was harvested. Soil phosphorus concentrations will be monitored to avoid exceeding the loading capacity. Fluoride Chris Bittner reported back to the workgroup that the MCLG for fluoride appeared to have changed because now both the MCL and MCLG are 4.0 mg/L. Mr. Bittner reviewed the monitoring data for fluoride in Utah’s waters. Utah’s Class 1C waters, which is the classification where fluoride applies, are

http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/WQS/workgroup.htm

all less than 1 mg/L. The only location that was greater than 4 mg/L was in the State Canal of the Jordan River but the fluoride criterion would not apply to these waters. DWQ will recommend to the Water Quality Board that Utah’s fluoride criterion be revised to 4 mg/L. Update on Ammonia Criteria Chris Bittner updated the workgroup that the contract with Utah State University to conduct a historical (no field work) survey of Utah’s waters for unionoida mussels and nonpulmonate snails was issued. This work is anticipated to be completed in 2017. Mr. Bittner also noted that the Jordan River Farmington Bay Watershed Council had submitted a revised report on unionoida mussels and nonpulmonate snails in Millcreek that includes site-specific ammonia criteria. DWQ is currently reviewing this document. New Cadmium Criteria Chris Bittner provided a summary of the new cadmium criteria promulgated by US EPA. The acute criterion is slightly more stringent and the chronic criterion is 3-times less stringent. Currently, no UPDES permits have reasonable potential for cadmium. This change in criteria is not anticipated to affect Utah’s water quality programs. DWQ is still reviewing the new criteria and will return to the Water Quality Standards Workgroup prior to making a recommendation to the Water Quality Board. UAA for the Jordan River temperature criterion DWQ is preparing a use attainability analysis to address the temperature impairment on the Jordan River. Chris Bittner showed some example data that support that the highest attainable use for temperature would be between 23 and 24° C. The fish data do not support that cold water fish (i.e., trout) are existing uses or that the Jordan River supports viable populations of trout. Theron Miller requested the fish data and Chris Bittner agreed to provide. DWQ will likely propose changing the use from Class 3A to Class 3B. The other option is a site-specific criterion for the best attainable use. A temperature criterion at the best attainable use, the POTWs may have to implement some kind of thermal treatment to meet the criteria if discharge flows increase. Next Meeting The next workgroup meeting is scheduled for Monday September 19, 2016 at 1:00.

195 North 1460 West • Salt Lake City, UT

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144870 • Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4870 Telephone (801) 536-4300 • Fax (801) 536-4301 • T.D.D. (801) 903-3978

www.deq.utah.gov

Printed on 100% recycled paper

State of Utah

GARY R. HERBERT

Governor

SPENCER J. COX

Lieutenant Governor

Department of

Environmental Quality

Alan Matheson Executive Director

DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY Walter L. Baker, P.E.

Director

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Water Quality Standards Workgroup

FROM: Chris Bittner, Chair

DATE: April 6, 2016

SUBJECT: Proposed revision to fluoride criterion for Class 1C use class

At our last meeting in December, 2015 we discussed revising the existing criterion for fluoride.

U.S. EPA’s current drinking water standards list 4.0 mg/l for both the maximum contaminant

level (MCL) and maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG). The workgroup discussed whether

the MCL or MCLG was appropriate for the revised criterion applicable to Class 1C waters. Since

the MCL and MCLG are identical, there is no practical difference. DWQ proposes to base the

revised critierion

DWQ reviewed the available fluoride water quality data collated for the 2014 Integrated Report.

Frequency distributions are shown on the figures below for only Class 1C waters and for all

waters. All of Class 1C waters are less than 1 mg/L and only 1 sample from all waters exceeded 4

mg/l. This AU with the exceedance (State Canal, Jordan River) does not have the Class 1C use,

and therefore, the criterion does not apply. Based on current data, no Utah waters will be listed as

impaired based on 4 mg/l.

DWQ recommends that 4.0 mg/l based on the MCL be proposed to the Water Quality Board for

adoption. The MCL is consistent with the derivation of the other Class 1C criteria.

Jordan River Temperature April 15, 2016

Division of Water Quality

Jordan River Aquatic Life

Utah Lake Class 3B

From Utah Lake to Narrows Diversion Class 3B

Narrows Diversion to Little Cottonwood Creek Class 3A

Little Cottonwood Creek to Farmington Bay Class 3B, 3D

Narrows Diversion to Little Cottonwood Creek impaired for

temperature

2


August, 2009 Water Temperature

3

15

17

19

21

23

25

27

1-Aug 2-Aug 3-Aug 4-Aug 5-Aug 6-Aug 7-Aug 8-Aug 9-Aug 10-Aug 11-Aug 12-Aug 13-Aug 14-Aug 15-Aug 16-Aug 17-Aug 18-Aug 19-Aug 20-Aug 21-Aug 22-Aug 23-Aug 24-Aug 25-Aug 26-Aug 27-Aug 28-Aug 29-Aug 30-Aug 31-Aug

Te

mp

era

ture

(d

eg

. C

)

S. Jordan Canal to Upstream Midas CreekJR Below S. Jordan Canal 2228032JR Above Rose Creek 2228030 (CP Seg 7)JR Upstream Midas Creek 2228023Warm Water FisheryCool Water FisheryCold Water Fishery

15

17

19

21

23

25

27


Te

mp

era

ture

(d

eg

. C

)

Midas Creek to 9000 S.JR Above North Jordan Canal 2228018JR Below Dry Creek 2228015JR Below 9000 S Storm Drain 22280149000 S Storm Drain 2228062Warm Water FisheryCool Water FisheryCold Water Fishery


August, 2009 Water Temperature

4

15

17

19

21

23

25

27


Te

mp

era

ture

(d

eg

. C

)

Bingham Creek to Below SVWRF JR Above Bingham Creek 22280127800 S Storm Drain 2228074JR Above SVWRF 2228010 (CP Seg 5-7)JR Below SVWRF 2228073Warm Water FisheryCool Water Fishery

15

17

19

21

23

25

27


Te

mp

era

ture

(d

eg

. C

)

Above Little Cottonwood to Below Big Cottonwood JR Above Little Cottonwood (End of Seg 5)JR Little CottonwoodJR Below Little CottonwoodJR Big CottonwoodJR Below Big CottonwoodWarm Water FisheryCool Water Fishery


Number of fish captured during surveys completed on the Jordan River by the Utah DWR from 1963 – 1986

(Wilson 1987).

1963 1976 1985-86

Location

# N

on

-

Gam

e

# W

arm

Wate

r

# C

old

Wate

r

# N

on

-

Gam

e

# W

arm

Wate

r

# C

old

Wate

r

# N

on

-

Gam

e

# W

arm

Wate

r

# C

old

Wate

r

Cudahy Lane Rare 0 0 NA NA NA NA NA NA

17th South Many Rare 0 13 0 0 138 10 0

41st South Many 0 Rare 11 0 1 35 5 0

123rd South Common Many Rare 70 0 3 34 3 1

146th South Common 0 Uncommon 25 124 0 37 7 0

Narrows Uncommon Many Rare NA NA NA 11 28 0

5


Jordan River Fish Surveys

2007-2009 UDWR

• Some Small and Largemouth bass, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie,

Green Sunfish and Bluegill. All of these species were much less

abundant than species such as common carp, Utah sucker,

Longnose and speckled dace, Mt. sucker, Fathead minnow, Weather

loch and black bullhead (carp?)

• Occasional recent reports of a brown trout being caught 146th and

123rd South.

6


Jordan River Fish Stocking

1980-2004

• Appx. 79,000 Rainbow Trout stocked in Class 3A reaches

• Appx. 23,000 Rainbow Trout stocked in Class 3B reaches

2005-2016

• UDWR quit stocking trout circa 2005 because of limited survival and

return to fisherman

7


Use Attainability Analysis

Compile and analyze macroinvertebrate data

1. Best Attainable Use, cool water aquatic life?

• Between 23-24º C in summer

• Preliminary: cold water aquatic life is not an existing use

• May require additional treatment by e.g., Jordan Basin WWTF

(membrane)

2. Change the use from Class 3A to 3B?

• 27º C

• Preliminary: cold water aquatic life is not an existing use

• EPA acceptance?

8

Willard Spur Proposed WQS Revisions

WQS Workgroup, April 2016

Current Use and Standards

• What is the problem we’re trying to solve?

Brief Review

• Science Panel conclusions that are most germane to the discussion

DISCUSSION OUTLINE

Proposed Resolution: Permit

Proposed Resolution: Standards

• How were the permit protests resolved?

• How do we propose to resolve the standards discrepancies?

Willard Spur: Proposed Path Forward for Resolving Water Quality Standards Discrepancies

WQS Workgroup: April 2016

CURRENT STATUS

Image Callout

Classification Map

Image Callout

Beneficial Uses Class

Use

2B

Protected for infrequent primary contact recreation. Also protected for

secondary contact recreation where there is a low likelihood of ingestion of

water or a low degree of bodily contact with the water. Examples include, but

are not limited to, wading, hunting, and fishing.

3B

Protected for warm water species of game fish and other warm water

aquatic life, including the necessary aquatic organisms in their food chain.

3D

Protected for waterfowl, shore birds and other water-oriented wildlife not

included in Classes 3A, 3B, or 3C, including the necessary aquatic

organisms in their food chain.

5C

Open waters of Bear River Bay at or below an elevation of 4208 feet.

Protected for infrequent primary and secondary contact recreation,

waterfowl, shorebirds, and other water-oriented wildlife including their

necessary food chain.

5E

Transitional waters on Great Salt Lake shoreline at or below an elevation of

4208 feet. Protected for infrequent primary and secondary contact

recreation, waterfowl, shore birds and other water-oriented wildlife including

their necessary food chain.



KEY OBSERVATIONS

Is the Spur Meeting it’s Uses?

Yes, both of them…

…at least under current conditions.

KEY ATTRIBUTES

CLEAR WATER PHASE

• SAV: Keystone Assemblage

Habitat, Base of Food Web

• Piscivorous Avifauna

• Ecosystem Service: Nutrient Removal

Internal nutrient cycling

Low water column nutrients

Low sediment nutrients

KEY ATTRIBUTES

GREEN WATER PHASE

• SAV Senescence

• Nutrient Cycling back to Water Column and Reproductive

Structures (tubers & druplets)

• Denitrification: N to Atmosphere

• Shorebird Avifauna

What about numeric criteria?



PERMIT APPROACH: Are nutrient limits needed?

Some observations suggest risk is small

Little evidence of year-to-year

accumulation of nutrients • Flushing flows are protective

POTW sources are small relative

to others • Sometimes doesn’t reach the open

waters

Uptake >> Inputs • Especially in early growing season

On one hand…

But risk cannot be entirely discounted

On the other hand…

Observations of SAV Collapse • Largely driven by hydrologic isolation and

associated changes in habitat (increase

in pH, temperature, salinity)

• Could nutrients exacerbate these

problems?

Experimental Evidence • Early: moderate/high = depressed growth

• Later: high = decrease in SAV condition

Low Nutrient/High Production

Condition is Unique • Does it warrant explicit protection?

How to reasonably manage risk?

Waste Load Analysis • Apply 3B criteria

• No issues with current discharge

Use TBPEL to Address Phosphorus • Seasonal variance to TBPEL requirements

• Limits compliance to period of greatest concern

BMPs

• Discharge to adjacent field where possible

• Chemical P removal not required when this occurs



Standards Changes: A Phased Approach

Create New Use Class for the Spur

• Potentially at the next May WQB meeting

Remove Overlap with Refuge Boundary

• Generate future UAA • Removal/modify criteria that violate

because of natural conditions

Phases Changes to Standards

Develop a Site-Specific Narrative

• Meet obligation to ensure long-term protection

• Capture results to facilitate protection from future threats

• A stakeholder-driven effort

Image Callout

Step 1: Create a New Willard Spur Class

PROPOSED BOUNDARY

Proposed Numeric for New Uses

All 3B criteria, except: • pH oNaturally high during peak periods of SAV growth

• DO o Naturally low during plant senescence

• Temperature oNaturally as the Spur becomes isolated

• Ammonia o Naturally high (few observations, in limited locales) during SAV

decomposition

Will determine how to best incorporate, if at all, with UAA

Image Callout

Proposed Numeric Criteria

Stay the Same (for now)

Apply New Criteria



QUESTIONS?