Wanaque Reservoir TMDL and Wanaque Reservoir TMDL and Cumulative WLAs/LA for the Cumulative WLAs/LA for the Passaic River Watershed Passaic River Watershed Presented by Presented by NJ Department of Environmental Protection NJ Department of Environmental Protection Division of Watershed Management Division of Watershed Management Marco Al- -Ebus Ebus Marco Al August 4, 2005 August 4, 2005
The Problem The Problem � Most of the major waterways within Most of the major waterways within � the Passaic River Basin are impaired the Passaic River Basin are impaired for total phosphorus- - 303d List 303d List for total phosphorus � Phosphorus concentrations in the Phosphorus concentrations in the � Wanaque Reservoir exceed the Wanaque Reservoir exceed the phosphorus Lake Criterion phosphorus Lake Criterion
WANAQUE RIVE R RAMAPO RIVE R P E QUANNOCK RIVE R % Non-Tidal % % P OMP TON RIVE R Passaic River ROCKAWAY Basin RIVE R % % % DUNDEE DAM % WHIPPANY RIVE R % P AS S AIC RIVE R % % GRE AT B ROOK B LACK B ROOK % DE AD RIVE R
Phosphorus Criteria Phosphorus Criteria � Streams: Streams: � TP ≤ ≤ 0.1 mg/l 0.1 mg/l unless unless it can be demonstrated it can be demonstrated TP that TP is not a limiting nutrient and and that TP is not a limiting nutrient TP will not otherwise render the waters TP will not otherwise render the waters unsuitable for designated uses unsuitable for designated uses Except where watershed or site- -specific criteria are developed specific criteria are developed Except where watershed or site
Existing freshwater lake criteria Existing freshwater lake criteria � (N.J.A.C. 7:9B (N.J.A.C. 7:9B- -1.14(c)5.i). For FW2 freshwater lakes: 1.14(c)5.i). For FW2 freshwater lakes: � � “ “Phosphorus as total P shall not exceed 0.05 (mg/L) in any lake, Phosphorus as total P shall not exceed 0.05 (mg/L) in any lake, pond pond � or reservoir, or in a tributary at the point where it enters such bodies or h bodies or or reservoir, or in a tributary at the point where it enters suc water, except where watershed or site- -specific criteria are developed specific criteria are developed water, except where watershed or site pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9B- -1.5(g)3. 1.5(g)3.” ” pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:9B � N.J.A.C. 7:9B N.J.A.C. 7:9B- -1.5(g)3 states that. 1.5(g)3 states that. � � “ “The Department may establish watershed or site The Department may establish watershed or site- -specific water quality specific water quality � criteria for nutrients in lakes, ponds, reservoirs or streams, in addition to n addition to criteria for nutrients in lakes, ponds, reservoirs or streams, i or in place of the criteria in N.J.A.C. 7:9B- -1.14, when necessary to 1.14, when necessary to or in place of the criteria in N.J.A.C. 7:9B protect existing or designated uses. Such criteria shall become part of part of protect existing or designated uses. Such criteria shall become these Water Quality Standards. these Water Quality Standards.
Are the Designated Uses Rendered Are the Designated Uses Rendered Unsuitable Due to Phosphorus Unsuitable Due to Phosphorus � Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen � � Does diurnal DO violate criteria? Does diurnal DO violate criteria? � � Are algal densities excessive? Are algal densities excessive? � � Phytoplankton concentration Phytoplankton concentration- - 24 µg/l 24 µg/l chl chl- -a seasonal a seasonal � mean OR 32 µg/l OR 32 µg/l chl chl- -a 2 a 2- -week mean week mean mean � Periphyton density Periphyton density- - 150 mg/m² 150 mg/m² chl chl- -a seasonal mean a seasonal mean � OR OR 200 mg/m² chl chl- -a single event a single event 200 mg/m²
Eutrophication in Streams and Lakes Eutrophication in Streams and Lakes � Acceleration of natural aging process Acceleration of natural aging process � � excessive loading of silt, organic matter, and nutrients, causin excessive loading of silt, organic matter, and nutrients, causing g � high biological production and decreased basin volume high biological production and decreased basin volume � Symptoms of eutrophication (primary impacts) Symptoms of eutrophication (primary impacts) � � oxygen super oxygen super- -saturation during the day saturation during the day � � oxygen depletion during night oxygen depletion during night � � high sedimentation (filling in) rate high sedimentation (filling in) rate � � Large pH swing Large pH swing � � algae and aquatic plants are the catalysts algae and aquatic plants are the catalysts � � secondary biological impacts secondary biological impacts � � loss of biodiversity loss of biodiversity � � structural changes to communities structural changes to communities �
The Plan The Plan � Phase 1 Phase 1 � � TP reductions needed to satisfy water TP reductions needed to satisfy water � quality concerns in the Wanaque reservoir? quality concerns in the Wanaque reservoir? � LA/WLAs based on Reservoir Endpoint LA/WLAs based on Reservoir Endpoint � � Phase 2 Phase 2 � � TMDL to address all nutrient TMDL to address all nutrient- -related water related water � quality impairments in non- -tidal Passaic tidal Passaic quality impairments in non river basin river basin � LA/WLA as applicable LA/WLA as applicable �
Phase 2 TMDL Phase 2 TMDL � Phase 2 will: Phase 2 will: � � Employ a dynamic model Employ a dynamic model � � Identify other critical locations Identify other critical locations � � Include non Include non- -tidal Passaic and tributaries downstream tidal Passaic and tributaries downstream � of confluence of confluence � Establish TMDLs for in Establish TMDLs for in- -stream impairments stream impairments � � May modify WLAs and LAs set in Phase 1 May modify WLAs and LAs set in Phase 1 � � Provide the tool to assess proposed trades Provide the tool to assess proposed trades �
Simulated Baseline Total Phosphorus Concentrations (surface) 10-Year (1993-2002) Cumulative Distribution 100% 89.3% 90% 81.4% Raymond Dam 80% West Brook 70% Erskine 60% 56% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 (mg/l)
PASSAIC RIVER AT TWO BRIDGES Flow vs. Chl-a concentration 2000- 2003 90 80 70 60 Chl-a (ug/L) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 Flow (cfs)
Passaic River at Little Falls summer 1995 2500 100 90 2000 80 70 Chl-a (ug/L) 1500 60 Flow (cfs) 50 1000 40 30 500 20 10 0 0 5/1/1995 5/21/1995 6/10/1995 6/30/1995 7/20/1995 8/9/1995 8/29/1995 9/18/1995 10/8/1995 10/28/199 5
Potential Water Quality Drivers Potential Water Quality Drivers � Water Supply Concerns: Water Supply Concerns: � � Reservoir Algae blooms (taste and order) Reservoir Algae blooms (taste and order) � � Potable water treatment (cost) Potable water treatment (cost) � � In In- -stream & lake eutrophication stream & lake eutrophication � � Algae (floating and attached) Algae (floating and attached) � � Rooted plants (macrophytes) Rooted plants (macrophytes) � � Dissolved oxygen (DO) Dissolved oxygen (DO) � � pH pH � � Downstream considerations Downstream considerations � � NY/NJ Harbor Nutrient TMDL NY/NJ Harbor Nutrient TMDL �
Wanaque Reservoir Selected Wanaque Reservoir Selected Endpoint Endpoint � Candidate Endpoints Candidate Endpoints � � Existing criterion Existing criterion � � Existing criterion met on seasonal basis Existing criterion met on seasonal basis � � Selected Existing Criterion Selected Existing Criterion � � Existing criterion is achievable and will restore Existing criterion is achievable and will restore � Reservoir to mesotrophic condition Reservoir to mesotrophic condition � Alternate criterion would, at best, achieve marginally Alternate criterion would, at best, achieve marginally � mesotrophic/eutrophic condition mesotrophic/eutrophic condition � Alternate criterion not “… Alternate criterion not “… necessary to protect existing or necessary to protect existing or � designated uses.” ” designated uses.
Phase 1 Approach Phase 1 Approach � Re Re- -verify an existing Reservoir Water verify an existing Reservoir Water � Quality Model “ LA- -WATERS” WATERS” Quality Model “ LA � Refine & expand an existing Mass Refine & expand an existing Mass- - � Balance Model for the Passaic River and Balance Model for the Passaic River and its tributaries its tributaries � Link the Reservoir and River Models to Link the Reservoir and River Models to � determine Reservoir loading capacity & determine Reservoir loading capacity & distribute load to sources distribute load to sources
Passaic Watershed Passaic Watershed WMA3 Monksville Reservoir Wanaque Reservoir # NY # NJ # Pompton Lakes # WMA6 Two Bridges WMA4
Wanaque Reservoir Wanaque Reservoir Ringwood Creek Monksville Reservoir Erskine West Brook Wanaque Reservoir Raymond Dam Dam 4
Tributary Watershed Tributary Watershed NY NJ
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