City of New Braunfels Watershed Management Programs Mark Enders Watershed Programs Manager Public Works Department

City of New Braunfels Watershed Management Programs 1) MS4 Stormwater Management Program 2) Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) 3) Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) for Dry Comal Creek & Comal River Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

MS4 Stormwater Mgmt Program MS4- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System A system of storm drains, pipes, ditches, channels, catch basins and streets that collect and convey stormwater runoff to waters of the State and U.S. In December 2014, the City of New Braunfels was required to obtain coverage under the TCEQ Small MS4 General Permit as City population >50,000. The TCEQ MS4 Permit requires the City to implement stormwater pollution prevention measures designed to protect water quality. Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

MS4 Stormwater Program The City’s Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) specifies ways in which the City will protect water quality & meet MS4 permit requirements. The SWMP includes: Public Outreach and Involvement Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Construction Site Stormwater Management Post-Construction SW Management for New Development Pollution Prevention for Municipal Operations Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

MS4 Stormwater Program Examples Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Program- Construction Stormwater Mgmt Program- Map SW outfalls, screen outfalls for signs of pollutants, prohibit illicit discharges to MS4 and rivers/ creek Inspect construction sites for adequate erosion/ sediment control & pollution prevention measures Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

MS4 Stormwater Program Examples Post-Construction Stormwater Control New WQ requirements for new developments New developments adding >5,000 ft2 impervious cover (IC) & with total IC >30% must install water quality treatment devices to treat ½” of runoff from new IC. Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

MS4 Program Ordinances and Policies CoNB Drainage and Erosion Control Manual (DCM): Revised in 2016 to include water quality mgmt requirements Section 13: Water Quality Controls Low-Impact Development (LID) Guidance Manual included as appendix to DCM “MS4” / Water Quality Protection Ordinances New ordinances (Ordinance No. 2016-74) adopted by Council in December 2016. Includes: Illicit Discharge prohibitions Construction stormwater mgmt requirements Permanent stormwater control inspection & maintenance Solms & Morningside – also very fast growing area

Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) The EAHCP includes both springflow & habitat protection measures implemented by SAWS, EAA, City of New Braunfels, City of San Marcos & TX State University to protect endangered species in Comal & San Marcos Rivers. The City of New Braunfels implements many ongoing habitat restoration projects within the Comal River as part of the EAHCP program CoNB EAHCP projects include Bank Stabilization Project, streambank restoration, aquatic plant restoration, invasive species removal and water quality planning.

EAHCP Springflow Protection Measures 1956 Drought of Record– Comal Springs ceased to flow for 6 months Increased demand San Antonio: population increasing Surrounding communities EAHCP establishes minimum and long-term average springflow limits for Comal Springs (30 & 225 cfs, respectively) EAHCP includes springflow protection measures: VISPO, Conservation, & SAWS ASR (amount to >100,000 acre-feet in pumping reductions)

City of NB EAHCP Habitat Protection Measures Aquatic Plant Restoration in Landa Lake & Old Channel of Comal River Flow Split Management Non-native Animal Species Control Riparian/ Streambank Restoration Water Quality Planning

Examples of CoNB Habitat Protection Projects- Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Includes removal of invasive aquatic plants and planting of native aquatic plants in Landa Lake and Old Channel of Comal River

Bank Stabilization Project along Old Channel Pre-existing: Eroding river bank slope Project under construction Nearly completed project

Riparian Restoration-Old Channel Remove invasive species: Ligustrum Chinese Tallow Chinaberry Elephant Ear Plant native species: Turks’ Cap Mountain laurel Emory Sedge Frostweed Switchgrass Mexican buckeye Installation of erosion control berms

Riparian Restoration-Spring Run #3 Remove invasive species: Ligustrum Elephant Ear Plant native species: Turks’ Cap Emory Sedge Frostweed Mexican buckeye Installation of erosion control berms Area of 2013-2017 Restoration

EAHCP Water Quality Planning Developed a Water Quality Protection Plan (WQPP) in early 2017. The WQPP identifies water quality management strategies to be implemented as part of the EAHCP. The WQPP focuses on water quality retrofit opportunities & opportunities for funding mechanisms to implement WQ improvements.

2018 Planned Water Quality Projects

Watershed Protection Planning for the Dry Comal Creek & Comal River

Dry Comal Crk and Comal River Watershed & Clean Rivers Prgm (CRP) Monitoring Locations

Bacteria Levels-Dry Comal Crk and Comal Rvr Dry Comal Creek Initially placed on the 303(d) list for bacteria in 2010. Comal River Bacteria levels have been increasing over the past 10 years. Texas Water Quality Standard for Bacteria (126 CFU)

Bacteria Source Tracking Results (3-Way Split)

Watershed Protection Planning for the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River The City and its project partners are developing a Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) to proactively address bacteria levels in the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River watersheds. Effort began in Summer 2015. WPP development is funded through grants from EPA/ TCEQ: Phase 1: $200,000 ($120,000 grant/ $80,000 match) Phase 2: $475,000 ($285,000 grant/ $190,000 match) A large group of local stakeholders and technical advisors assisted with the development of the WPP. WPP to be completed in August 2017.

Proposed Bacteria BMPs Overabundant Urban Wildlife Wildlife feeding restrictions & education Urban wildlife surveys – Deer & Ducks Urban Stormwater LID and Stormwater Treatment BMPs Pet Waste BMPs – education, ordinances, pet waste stations Livestock Voluntary Water Quality Mgmt Plans (WQMPs) for individual ranches Education and Outreach – ex. Lone Star Healthy Streams Partner with local Soil Water Conservation Districts Septic Systems/ OSSFs Septic system operation education Targeted inspections to identify failing OSSFs Partner with Comal County Education and Outreach

WPP Implementation Bacteria management measures identified in the WPP are scheduled to be implemented over a 10-year period. Submitted grant application to TCEQ for FY2018 319 Clean Water Act grant to fund first 3 years of WPP implementation. Requesting $850,000 in federal funds. CoNB staff will work with project partners to implement BMPs and seek additional grant opportunities. Continue to monitoring bacteria levels and modify management measures, as needed.

Watershed Programs Manager-Public Works Questions? Mark Enders Watershed Programs Manager-Public Works menders@nbtexas.org (830) 221-4639