Utilizing Financial and Technical Resources to

Improve Water Quality in Alabama

(Joe’s Branch Watershed)

Alabama Water Resources Conference 2013Patti Hurley, Nonpoint Source Program

Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Nonpoint Source Pollution and the Section 319 Program

of the Clean Water Act

• Reduce impacts of polluted runoff (storm water)

• Is not a “regulatory” effort

• Requires voluntary participation

• Requires stakeholders at the local level

• Establish local “pride/ownership” in the watershed

Nonpoint Source Pollution and the Section 319 Program

of the Clean Water Act

• Target impaired waterways – 303 (d) & TMDL Lists

• Conduct pre-project monitoring

• Implement on-the-ground best management practices

• Conduct post-project monitoring

• Identify water quality improvements (Success Stories)

Key to Long Term Sustainability

• Provide local stakeholders with a vested interest in protecting water quality at the local level

• Education & Outreach

Agricultural Practices

• Plenty of opportunities

• Relatively easy fixes

• Relatively inexpensive

Stream crossing for

cattle

Agricultural Practices

Alum Treatment of Poultry Houses

Alternative Watering Sources

Winter Cover Crops

Urban Practices and Green Infrastructure

• Streams listed on the 303(d) & TMDL Lists of Impaired Waters

• Urban Practice is not required by the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit

• Target specific nonpoint source pollutants (N, P, Sediment)

• Goal is to improve water quality and de-list waterway from 303(d) List of Impaired Waters – (Success Story)

Urban Practices andGreen Infrastructure

• More difficult to address

• More expensive to address

• More difficult to define landowner participation

• More difficult to address political boundaries

Urban Practices

Gadsden Mall bioretention areas

Urban Practices

Bioretention area at Eden Elementary School -- Pell City

Demonstrate New Technology

• Provide financial and technical resources to partner with local stakeholders

• Support demonstration projects

• Replicate them in other watersheds throughout the state

Stream RestorationNorth Gadsden Park Montgomery White

Slough

Genetta Stream

Low Impact Development Manual

Green Roofs

Pervious Parking

Bioretention Ponds Swale

s

319 Projects in Urban Areas

Stakeholder Identifies Potential Urban Project

Stakeholder meets with local Municipality and determines that project is not required under permit

Stakeholder submits a summary of the Urban project to NPS Unit

NPS Unit and Municipal Branch personnel study proposal and determine eligibility based on submittal, permit conditions, and 319 eligibility

NPS Unit notifies Stakeholder that funding is possible/not possible under 319 program

If funding is possible, stakeholder Submits Formal Project Proposal to NPS Unit

Proposal must include letter from municipality that they agree the urban project does not appear to be required under the NPDES Permit

Success Stories

Flint River -- Madison County -- OE/DO

Crowdabout Creek -- Morgan County – TSS and DO

Caney Branch -- Baldwin County -- Pathogens

Dry Creek -- Blount County -- Ammonia

Joe’s Branch• A tributary to D’Olive

Creek in Baldwin County

• Flows into Mobile Bay

• Severe erosion and excessive sedimentation from urban development

• Destroyed habitat and lossof large areas of sea grass

Joe’s Branch Demonstration Project

Eroded Stream Banks

Joe’s Branch Demonstration Project

Wetland Before

Wetland After

Step Pools in Construction

Step Pools Complete

Publicity

Check Presentation

Field Tours

Agency and University Visitors

International Award

Joe’s Branch Project

• Stakeholder Collaboration – Ashley Campbell

• Design and Installation - Emery Baya & Wade Burcham

• Results – Marlon Cook