| AUTHOR: Issues & Strategies #3 of 7 |
Oct. 3, 2:20 PM |
| Water Quality |
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Issues: The waters within the North Coastal Watershed generally do not support their designated uses (MA DEQE 1989). Water quality problems are pervasive throughout the watershed often the result of cumulative impacts from point and nonpoint sources. The most likely causes are exceedences of standards for bacterial contamination excessive nutrients/low dissolved oxygen, invasive species and priority pollutants. Sections of the North Coastal watershed have extensive areas of impervious surfaces created by dense housing developments, roads and commercial parking areas. The runoff from these areas alters the water quality and biological integrity of areas once noted for anadramous fish runs, swimming and shellfishing. Thermal discharges from two major NPDES permittees located on opposite shores of the Saugus River Estuary may adversely impact fish migration. Contaminated stormwater is estimated to account for over 50% of the water quality problems in Massachusetts. A total of 25 waterbodies both fresh and marine are listed on as impaired waters (DEP 1996 303d list) (See Appendix xx). The North Coastal Watershed has 5 municipal sewage treatment facilities and several large industries, all are classified as major dischargers under the NPDES permitting program. Record keeping and updates on the actual number and status of minor NPDES permits needed to be updated. DEP/DWPC/NERO was responsible for overseeing a number of Administrative Consent Orders filed against municipalities and business for noncompliance with both State and Federal Water Quality Laws and Regulations. Changes in program management and personnel had lead to a lack of “up to date oversight”.
A number of water quality monitoring programs were planned or underway, most of them operating independently of each other. The DEP Watershed Management Water Quality Assessment program has adopted a 5year monitoring cycle for the watersheds in the Commonwealth. Assessments are conducted as part of DEP’s requirements with respect to reporting on the quality of the Commonwealth’s water resources under Section 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act. The 305(b) report compiles data from a variety of sources, and provides an evaluation of water quality, progress made towards maintaining and restoring water quality, and the extent to which problems remain at the statewide level. At the watershed level, instream biological, habitat, physical/chemical, toxicity data and other information is evaluated to assess the status of water quality conditions. Limitations in personnel and analytical resources precluded the monitoring of marine and coastal waters or the ability to prepare detailed assessments of all waterbodies. A complete listing of DEP DWM publications is available at http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dep/brp/brppubs.htm (DEP 1999a).
Coincidentally, the Division of Marine Fisheries was conducting the “Salem Sound Marine Resource Study”. The study had two goals:
· update a 1968 assessment by DMF on the status of tidally influenced waters and the marine resources within Salem Sound and;
· provide baseline information on nutrient inputs prior to the new South Essex Secondary Sewage Treatment Plant going on line.
Specific objectives of the study are:
· to provide a nutrient profile of the Sound and freshwater tributaries for resource managers and community officials to identify sources of water quality degradation in Salem Sound.
· use the nutrient data as parameters in correlations of habitat quality to marine resource community health, such as the decline of suitable smelt spawning habitat in local rivers and streams.
Salem Sound 2000 had been conducting an inventory of all storm water discharges within the Salem Sound drainage area and monitoring the discharges for fecal coliform bacteria. Hired staff and volunteers typically conduct monitoring. The Saugus River Watershed Council had been collecting water quality sampling in the Saugus River for several years looking for potential sources of contamination and for observing trends in water quality. Neither group had a DEP/EPA approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). Neither group had the capability of expanding coverage or the range of parameters in response to the DEP/WSM effort.
Strategies: The North Coastal Watershed team would supplement the monitoring efforts of DEP/WSM, DMF, SS2000 and SRWC by engaging additional partners, providing communication linkages between the respective programs and expanding the list of water quality parameters. Provide direct technical assistance for DEP/DWPC/NERO compliance activities by the collection of water quality samples biological assessments and flow measurements. Secured the assistance of USGS and MDEM personnel to provide additional flow monitoring concurrently with the water quality samples from the Saugus River and Salem Sound subregions. By pooling efforts and tailoring some of the sampling, we would enhance the individual group efforts towards meeting their targeted goals and provide a more comprehensive assessment of conditions within these targeted areas. Assist DEP and EPA in the review and comment of compliance reports, daily reporting requirements, previous studies, update files and follow up on previous permit recommendations and requirements to issue protective NPDES permits for the nine major NPDES permittees.
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