1. The Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Partnership: Successes & Challenges 2011 EPA Region 3, States Source Water Protection Meeting June 9, 2011 Steve Nelson Environmental Group Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

2. Presentation Outline Brief History of Patuxent Reservoirs Partnership Brief History of Patuxent Reservoirs Partnership Watershed Characterization Watershed Characterization Successes Successes Challenges Challenges

3. Brief History of Partnership 1993-1995 MC DEP formed the Patuxent Reservoirs Protection Group (PRPG) 1993-1995 MC DEP formed the Patuxent Reservoirs Protection Group (PRPG) Multi-jurisdictional working group Multi-jurisdictional working group Outcome Outcome Decided to form a partnership for protecting the reservoirs and their watershedDecided to form a partnership for protecting the reservoirs and their watershed

4. History 1996 – Agreement Ratified creating the partnership 7 Partner Agencies Established a Policy Board & Tech Advisory Committee WSSC filled admin. and coordination roles

5. History 1997 - Comprehensive Mgmt Planning Study for Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed 1997 - Comprehensive Mgmt Planning Study for Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Defined 6 Priority Resources and 10 Action Items Defined 6 Priority Resources and 10 Action Items 1998 – Cooperative Agricultural MOU Established Patuxent Reservoirs Ag Cost-Share Program 1998 – Cooperative Agricultural MOU Established Patuxent Reservoirs Ag Cost-Share Program New funding source for BMPs targeting small farms New funding source for BMPs targeting small farms Funded Shared SCD Planner focused on watershed Funded Shared SCD Planner focused on watershed

6. 6 Terrestrial Habitat Stream System Aquatic Biota Priority Resources Reservoirs & Water Supply

7. 7 Priority Resources Rural Character & Landscape Public Awareness & Stewardship

8. Watershed Characterization 132 square mile watershed in MD Piedmont 132 square mile watershed in MD Piedmont 99% of watershed w/in Howard and Montgomery Counties (split by river) 99% of watershed w/in Howard and Montgomery Counties (split by river) Triadelphia reservoir (up- river) serves as SWM facility, sediment trap, and nutrient sink for Rocky Gorge reservoir (down-river) Triadelphia reservoir (up- river) serves as SWM facility, sediment trap, and nutrient sink for Rocky Gorge reservoir (down-river)

13. Successes! Agricultural Progress Agricultural Progress Patuxent Ag Cost-Share Program Patuxent Ag Cost-Share Program Filling a need with small horse farmsFilling a need with small horse farms Many education & outreach efforts Many education & outreach efforts Horse pasture managementHorse pasture management Horse owner surveyHorse owner survey Howard and Montgomery SCD accomplishments since 1999… Howard and Montgomery SCD accomplishments since 1999…

15. More Successes… Restoration Projects Restoration Projects Hawlings River Stream Restoration Hawlings River Stream Restoration Cherry Creek Watershed Restoration Cherry Creek Watershed Restoration Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Plantings Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Plantings WSSC-Owned Land surrounding Reservoirs WSSC-Owned Land surrounding Reservoirs DNR Forest Service developed Concept Forest Management Plan for Sustainable Forests (2007) DNR Forest Service developed Concept Forest Management Plan for Sustainable Forests (2007) Active deer management program Active deer management program WSSC-funded an Interim Watershed Management Report (2009) WSSC-funded an Interim Watershed Management Report (2009)

16. and More Successes… Outreach efforts to citizens in watershed Outreach efforts to citizens in watershed Septic system care workshops Septic system care workshops Earth Month Events Earth Month Events Watershed Day and H2O Fest (WSSC Sponsored)Watershed Day and H2O Fest (WSSC Sponsored) Stream clean-ups (IWLA, other volunteers)Stream clean-ups (IWLA, other volunteers) Annual Family Camp Fire at Triadelphia Reservoir Annual Family Camp Fire at Triadelphia Reservoir U.S. EPA recognized the Patuxent Partnership as a Clean Water Partner working cooperatively to protect their water resources (2003) U.S. EPA recognized the Patuxent Partnership as a Clean Water Partner working cooperatively to protect their water resources (2003)

17. Funding Commitment Level Example (2009) Annual Total Funding Estimate = $686,200 Annual Total Funding Estimate = $686,200 Reservoir monitoring (WSSC) = $93K Reservoir monitoring (WSSC) = $93K Trends Analyses (WSSC) = $56K Trends Analyses (WSSC) = $56K Outreach (WSSC) = $135K Outreach (WSSC) = $135K Admin., Annual Rpt & Coord. (WSSC) = $52K Admin., Annual Rpt & Coord. (WSSC) = $52K Watershed restoration planning (PGC) = $50K Watershed restoration planning (PGC) = $50K Biological Monitoring (HC, MC) = $62K Biological Monitoring (HC, MC) = $62K Ag. Program Oversight (HSCD, MSCD) = $80K Ag. Program Oversight (HSCD, MSCD) = $80K Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Planting = $100K Reddy Branch Stream Buffer Planting = $100K (M-NCPPC, MC, MSCD, DNR)

18. Local Challenges Howard Co. = large % of watershed, BUT very small customer Howard Co. = large % of watershed, BUT very small customer PG Co. = very small % of watershed, BUT the largest customer (of Patuxent water) PG Co. = very small % of watershed, BUT the largest customer (of Patuxent water) Geography of basin and political boundaries Geography of basin and political boundaries

19. Local Challenges Limited shared partner agency funding (joint contributions) Limited shared partner agency funding (joint contributions) Difficulty quantifying agriculture load reductions associated with non-point source (NPS) BMPs Difficulty quantifying agriculture load reductions associated with non-point source (NPS) BMPs Equine community plays important role in NPS load reductions Equine community plays important role in NPS load reductions

20. Regional Challenges TMDLs TMDLs Needed direction from State/Fed agencies to determine compliance with TMDLs Needed direction from State/Fed agencies to determine compliance with TMDLs TMDL Implementation TMDL Implementation Whos responsible?Whos responsible? Recent emphasis on Chesapeake Bay TMDL Recent emphasis on Chesapeake Bay TMDL

21. Triadelphias TMDL TP Allocation

22. County Governments face increasing competition for fewer environmental dollars with leaner staff County Governments face increasing competition for fewer environmental dollars with leaner staff Daunting MS4 NPDES Permit requirements Daunting MS4 NPDES Permit requirements Many TMDLs per county Many TMDLs per county New and improved SWM regulations New and improved SWM regulations Regional Challenges

23. Partnership Challenges Delegation of Policy Board participation from executive level to senior professional staff who have limited authority to commit funding and resources Delegation of Policy Board participation from executive level to senior professional staff who have limited authority to commit funding and resources

24. Questions? Contact Information: Steve Nelson Environmental Scientist & Admin. Liaison for Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed Protection Group Technical Advisory Committee Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Environmental Group 14501 Sweitzer Lane Laurel, MD 20707 snelson@wsscwater.com 301-206-8072