1. TMDL Science Needs and the Role of Research TMDL Science Needs and the Role of Research Douglas J. Norton USEPA Office of Water October 2005 Douglas J. Norton USEPA Office of Water October 2005

2. The Twenty Needs Report Purpose: summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL needs statements, provide to researchers and research planners Content: 20 primary science needs and how these can be met - ORD/OW/Region interaction needs - TMDL-specific needs - broader CWA needs Purpose: summarize/consolidate diverse TMDL needs statements, provide to researchers and research planners Content: 20 primary science needs and how these can be met - ORD/OW/Region interaction needs - TMDL-specific needs - broader CWA needs http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/20needsreport 8-02.pdf

3. The report’s bottom lines The TMDL Program needs low- to mid-complexity modeling, monitoring and statistics tech support ORD must continue to address all stressors, no matter whether EPA can regulate them Synthesis products are crucial and should be a primary responsibility of government research Better Water Quality Standards will enable a better TMDL program Research in recovery processes must accompany research on restoration/BMP effectiveness

4. I. Needs re. ORD/OW/Regional interactions - Develop ‘state of the science’ syntheses in several high priority subject areas, to aid busy TMDL developers - Mutually improve networking and access to expertise in ORD, OW and EPA Regions - Revitalize ORD technical support and technical information transfer I. Needs re. ORD/OW/Regional interactions - Develop ‘state of the science’ syntheses in several high priority subject areas, to aid busy TMDL developers - Mutually improve networking and access to expertise in ORD, OW and EPA Regions - Revitalize ORD technical support and technical information transfer The Twenty Needs Report

5. II. Science needs re. immediate TMDL process - Increase quantity and quality of completed TMDLs - Improve watershed and water quality modeling - Improve uncertainty analysis and statistical techniques - Improve the science base concerning all stressors (pollutants and pollution) - Improve information on BMP effectiveness II. Science needs re. immediate TMDL process - Increase quantity and quality of completed TMDLs - Improve watershed and water quality modeling - Improve uncertainty analysis and statistical techniques - Improve the science base concerning all stressors (pollutants and pollution) - Improve information on BMP effectiveness The Twenty Needs Report

6. II. Needs re. immediate TMDL process (cont’d) - Develop adaptive implementation approaches for TMDLs - Address numerous stressor-specific scientific issues - Improve consideration of atmospheric deposition - Improve guidance for allocation development and methods to translate allocations into control actions II. Needs re. immediate TMDL process (cont’d) - Develop adaptive implementation approaches for TMDLs - Address numerous stressor-specific scientific issues - Improve consideration of atmospheric deposition - Improve guidance for allocation development and methods to translate allocations into control actions The Twenty Needs Report

7. III. Science needs re. impaired waters program improvements - Assist states in translating narrative standards into numeric criteria - Revisit the scientific basis for use designations - Develop and improve biocriteria and other criteria gaps - Clarify and quantify selected parameters used in criteria definitions III. Science needs re. impaired waters program improvements - Assist states in translating narrative standards into numeric criteria - Revisit the scientific basis for use designations - Develop and improve biocriteria and other criteria gaps - Clarify and quantify selected parameters used in criteria definitions The Twenty Needs Report

8. III. Needs re. impaired waters program improvements(cont’d) - Make monitoring more program-relevant and results- relevant - Assist states in monitoring design development - Evaluate defensible scientific standards for listing - Improve support for protecting unimpaired waters against degradation III. Needs re. impaired waters program improvements(cont’d) - Make monitoring more program-relevant and results- relevant - Assist states in monitoring design development - Evaluate defensible scientific standards for listing - Improve support for protecting unimpaired waters against degradation The Twenty Needs Report

9. > > > > next 15 years > > > > > > Technical Difficulty, Uncertainty > > > How can research help the TMDL program? EPA-OW/Regns: tech transfer, tech support. Research & developm’t: address science gaps (feed ideas to research) (feed in ideas for tech support) (operationalized research to tech transfer) more TMDLs, fewer tech obstacles States/Regions: operational TMDL development

10. Emerging Directions in the TMDL Program: Four Watershed Branch Goals 1.Provide National Leadership for TMDL & Listing Programs Provide key TMDL technical and policy guidance to States/Regions 2. Promote Integrated Water Quality Assessments More consistent, statistically valid, and cost effective water quality assessment strategies 3. Support Partners with Science & Technical Tools Ensure that listing decisions and TMDLs are grounded in solid science 4. Measure Environmental Progress Develop next generation of TMDL environmental success measures 1.Provide National Leadership for TMDL & Listing Programs Provide key TMDL technical and policy guidance to States/Regions 2. Promote Integrated Water Quality Assessments More consistent, statistically valid, and cost effective water quality assessment strategies 3. Support Partners with Science & Technical Tools Ensure that listing decisions and TMDLs are grounded in solid science 4. Measure Environmental Progress Develop next generation of TMDL environmental success measures

11. Hot Topics in the TMDL Program - Pace of TMDL development - Implementation of TMDLs - Integrated Reporting - Category 4B Alternatives - Results analysis - Assessment tools (e.g., WARSSS) - Technical support in modeling (Athens center) - Continuing advancements in modeling approaches - Pace of TMDL development - Implementation of TMDLs - Integrated Reporting - Category 4B Alternatives - Results analysis - Assessment tools (e.g., WARSSS) - Technical support in modeling (Athens center) - Continuing advancements in modeling approaches