Minutes of Nutrient Criteria Stakeholder’s meeting
10/18/05
Participants:
Bob Bacon, Environmental Resources Coalition;
Claire Baffaut, FAPRI;
Dorris Bender, City of Independence;
Georgeanne Bowman, MDNR;
Robert Brundage, Newman, Comley & Ruth,
P.C.;
Mohsen Dkhili, MDNR;
Guy Frazier, MDNR;
Mubarak Hamed, MDNR;
Ted Heissel, Missouri Coalition for the Environment (on conference call connection);
Leslie Holloway, Missouri Farm Bureau;
Angel Kruzen, Water Sentinels;
Bonnie Liscek, US-EPA;
Ryan Milhallin, UMC;
Dan Obrecht, UMC;
Mark Osborn, MDNR;
Gary Pendergrass, City Utilities of Springfield;
John Reece, Little Blue Valley Sewer District;
Bill Reeves;
Peter Scharf, UMC;
Trent Stober, Midwest Environmental Consultants;
Tony Thorpe, UMC;
John Waitman, City of Springfield;
Betty Wyse, Environmental Resources Coalition.
Bonnie Liscek outlined the rationale for developing nutrient criteria for the state. Basically, section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act requires that all waters be fishable and swimmable, where ever attainable. Nutrient enrichment impacts aquatic communities, recreation, and drinking water uses. EPA directed the states to adopt nutrient criteria by Dec. 31, 2003. However, that date was postponed to 2008, to allow more time to develop state-specific criteria. Therefore, rigorous enforcement of these directives is not expected in the near term.
Dr. Dan Obrecht provided an oversight of lake processes. The presentation is attached.
Dr. Tony Thorpe provided an overview of lakes and reservoirs in Missouri. The presentation is attached.
Mark Osborn gave an overview of the current state nutrient criteria plan as it applies to lakes. There are a number of challenges to the task, particularly in light of the findings of Dr. Jack Jones. For instance, the use of EPA’s suggested criteria would place about 75 percent of the state’s lakes in violation. Initial analysis will involved dividing the state into the plains, big river lowlands, and Ozark regions. Standards will be designed for designated uses, however, these may at times conflict with each other. Consideration of designated uses for lakes will start with whole body contact, to be followed by support for aquatic life and then drinking water supply. It will be based in part on the results of analysis of cause and response variables. The plan also calls for the possible incorporation of analysis developed by Jones, Obrecht, et al., that accounts for watershed size, land use, and reservoir depth and holding time.
The presentations were followed by a discussion of the proposed approach. Issues brought up included the following:
- How will priorities by set when criteria for designated uses (such as whole body contact and aquatic life support) clash with each other?
- Proposed criteria for whole body contact, a secchi depth of 1 meter, may be considered insufficient in the Ozarks but is probably not achievable in the Plains, mainly because of sediment.
- Should the amount of livestock (number of animal units) in a watershed be factored in, or regulated in order to meet nutrient criteria?
- Consider using geometric means for developing nutrient criteria.
- Criteria need to be protective of lakes that already have low concentrations of nutrients (eg, Table Rock Lake).
- How much nitrogen and phosphorus are contributed by waterfowl?
- How do we establish the best nutrient mix for fishing, swimming, and drinking water?
- Is it appropriate to incorporate land use in developing nutrient criteria for lakes?
Follow-up:
- Dan Obrecht (or a colleague) will present more detail on lake nutrient analysis approach based on lake hydrology, watershed size, and land use. (As shown last March to the water quality coordinating committee.)
- Tony Thorpe will provide information on land cover in relation to regional differences.
- Georgeanne will provide the nutrient criteria flow chart developed by the State of Ohio.
- Mark Osborn will provide the web site, or other information, from the Regional Technical Assistance Group (RTAG).
The next meeting will be at the DNR Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm, Jefferson City, at 1:00, Nov. 15. |
