Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy - NLRS Amy Walkenbach Illinois Environmental Protection Agency- Watershed Management, Section Mgr. 217/782-3362 amy.walkenbach@illinois.gov

What is Hypoxia? an environmental phenomenon where the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water column decreases to a level that can no longer support living aquatic organisms.

Gulf Hypoxia Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force- May 1998 Hypoxia Task Force 2001 Action Plan A national strategy “to reduce the frequency, duration, size and degree of the oxygen depletion of the hypoxic zone of the northern Gulf of Mexico” Science Advisory Board report – 2007 Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan – 2008 A national strategy “to reduce, mitigate, and control hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico and improve water quality in the Mississippi River Basin” Reduce Hypoxic zone to 5,000 sq Km (1,93 sq miles) Reduce loads of Phosphorus and Nitrogen by 45% Stoner Memo- March 2011 Nancy Stoner Acting Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA Working in Partnership with States to Address Phosphorus and Nitrogen Pollution through Use of a Framework for State Nutrient Reductions Eight elements required to be addressed in Mississippi Basin States nutrient strategies Addresses both the Gulf of Mexico and LOCAL water quality concerns

Illinois Contribution- Science Advisory report

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy http://www.epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/excess- nutrients/nutrient-loss-reduction-strategy/index Illinois Nutrient Strategy Development begins, summit of stakeholders - March 2013 University of Illinois Science Assessment - July 2013 Policy Work Group established – August 2013 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy – July 2015 Establishes a 45% reduction in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Interim milestone for 2025 25% reduction in Phosphorus loads 15% reduction in Nitrogen loads Biennial Report 2015-2017 – August 2017 Document NLRS activities and progress

Illinois Science Assessment HUC8 Point Source P Yields HUC8 Non-Point Source P Yields

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone by year- This chart shows the historic size of the low-oxygen dead zone, also referred to as hypoxia, off the coast of Louisiana and Texas between 1985 and 2017. There were no cruises in 1989 and 2016.

2017 Hypoxic Zone- Gulf of Mexico Researchers measured the largest dead zone since 1985 during their 2017 cruise, with this year’s low-oxygen area totaling 8,776 square miles, larger than the state of New Jersey. Red on the map indicates hypoxia, where the oxygen level is less than 2 parts per million.

Tracking Measures

Urban Stormwater- 22 Illinois communities accessing utility fees $24 million for 22 communities MS4 Permits- 440 Outreach component Urban Stormwater Working Group list of outreach materials (Appendix B- Biennial Report) 319 NPS Grants and 1 year IGIG 319 NPS Grants and 3 years IGIG Grants

Agriculture- FSA BMP (acres) BMP (acres) 2011 2015 Cover 768 11,064   BMP (acres) 2011 2015 Cover 768 11,064 CRP Wetlands 57,463 45,790 CRP Buffers 145,813 279,534 Perennial/Energy/Pasture 985,531 1,524,379 Agriculture- 2016- 89 staff engaged in NLRS implementation.

Point Sources- Currently under new requirements Permit Limits- 1.0 mg/L Total Phosphorus Nitrogen monitoring Optimization Study A plan to optimize operations to achieve the lowest TP possible with existing equipment Feasibility Study Evaluation of technology-based treatment alternatives to meet 0.5mg/L and 0.1mg/L TP Includes economic and timeline studies for each alternative Nutrient Loss Reduction-related Activity Dollars Feasibility Studies and other Research $513,442 Capital Improvement $36,904,000 Total $37,417,442 Number of Events Attendance Outreach (fliers, tours, community education 17 484 Field Days 1 8 Workshops 15 343 Conferences 7 528 Total 40 1,363

Comparing 1980-1996 to 2011-2015 data in 8 major Illinois Rivers Science Assessment- mini update Comparing 1980-1996 to 2011-2015 data in 8 major Illinois Rivers 6 Nitrate losses are decreasing- 10% “likely due to improved agricultural N balances” Total P losses have increased- 17% “possibly due to increased population/flow and some facilities upgrades hadn’t come on line at that time” 5 Source: Drs. Mark David, Greg McIsaac, Corey Mitchell, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Policy Working Group Participation Agriculture Point Source Stormwater Public Water Supply University/ Technical Assistance Government Environmental Amy Walkenbach Illinois Environmental Protection Agency- Watershed Management, Section Mgr. 217/782-3362 amy.walkenbach@illinois.gov