ANACOSTIA RESTORATION Indicators: How They Are Helping Achieve Water Quality Goals? SWRR April 2006 Meeting Ted Graham, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 2 Indicators and Water Quality Goals Restoration of the Anacostia Watershed Water quality Habitat Stewardship Institutional Framework for Restoration Setting for Indicators & Targets Indicators and Targets: How are They Helping? Keeping score Setting program targets Communicating progress Incentive?

The Anacostia Watershed Size (square miles): District of Columbia 30 (17%) Prince George’s 86 (49%) Montgomery 60 (34%) TOTAL 176 (100%) Population: District of Columbia 292,811 (36%) Prince George’s 311,573 (39%) Montgomery 200,073 (25%) TOTAL 804,457 (100%) 0.3% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed area (64,000 sq. mi.) 5.7% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed population (14,000,000)

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 5 Campers at Greenbelt National Park Springtime on the Northwest Branch Crew Team Preparing for Practice at Anacostia Waterfront Park Canoeing the ‘Kingfisher Trail’ on the Tidal Anacostia River

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 6 Priority Problems Fecal bacteria Low oxygen levels Sediment Toxics Trash Degraded habitat

POOR WATER QUALITY SOURCES CARRIERS RESULTS CSOsStormwater Surface Pollutants ErosionSewage

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 8 Restoration by Regulation CSO Long-Term Control Plan DC-WASA (2001) Municipal Stormwater Permits (Beginning in 1990s) DC-WASA, DOH & DPW Prince George's County Montgomery County

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 9 Restoration by Cooperation Regional cooperation since , 1991 & 1999 Agreements Local, state, federal partnership Common commitment to I&T

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 10 Agreements Agreement to Cooperate (1987) Six Point Action Plan (1991) Goal 1 – Improve water quality Goal 2 - Restore & protect ecological integrity Goal 3 - Restore natural range of fish Goal 4 - Increase wetlands Goal 5 - Expand forest cover & riparian buffer Goal 6 - Increase public awareness and participation Indicators and Targets (1999, 2001) Define indicators tied to the six goals Set targets to be achieved by 2010 Reconvene biennially to assess progress

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 11 I&T Expectations Encourage watershed-based planning Foster regional cooperation Develop public involvement and support Help set program & budget priorities Engage elected officials

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 12 Indicators & Targets Indicators 50 selected from over 100 candidates Each measures a distinct aspect, e.g.: “Inputs” - Stream Miles Restored Tied to management actions “Outputs” - Dissolved Oxygen Tied to expected outcomes 2010 targets selected for each of the 50 indicators

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 13 Goal 1 – Reduce Pollutant Loads Ten Indicators, including: Total suspended solids (sediment) Combined sewer overflows Fecal coliform contamination Dissolved oxygen Trash index Toxics and metals Example Dissolved Oxygen 2001 Baseline - 75% of the time less than 5 mg/L 2010 Target - 10% of the time less than 5 mg/L

Distinct improvement since 1990 Low Dissolved Oxygen Still many periods below standards Mean DO Concentrations at Seafarer's Marina Station Year DO Concentration (mg/l) 2010 Projected

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 15 Urban Development Potomac River Anacostia River Washington D.C. Sediment

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 16 Toxics 1992 Sediment Study: Metals Lead Mercury Zinc Cadmium Organics DDT Chlordane PCBs

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 17 Trash Sligo Creek Watershed Trash problems are widespread and require constant attention.

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 18 4,000 tires dumped in the Anacostia River drainage Robert Boone, Anacostia Watershed Society

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 19 Goal 2 – Ecological Integrity 11 indicators, including: Temperature Macroinvertebrate community health Resident fish community health Stream miles restored Example: Stream Miles Restored 2001 Baseline: about 15 miles since 1987 Target: 20 additional miles by 2010

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 20 Stream Restoration To repair degraded stream habitat Restoration on Wheaton Branch of Sligo Creek Devastation Restoration Restoration Natural Healing

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 21 Little Paint Branch Stream Restoration

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 22 Goal 3 – Fish Passage Three indicators, including: Percent anadromous fish range open Percent anadromous fish habitat utilization Example: Percent historic spawning range open 2001 Baseline: about 15 miles open Target: 20 additional miles

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 23

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 24 Goal 4 – Wetland Acreage Three indicators, including: Created/restored tidal wetland acreage Created/restored non-tidal wetland acreage Example: Restored Tidal Wetland Acreage 2001 Baseline: about 75 acres created since 1987 Target: create an additional 60 acres

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 25 Kenilworth Marsh in D.C. AfterRestoration

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 26 Goal 5 – Forest Cover Five indicators, including: Miles of created riparian forest Acres of created upland forest Example: Miles of Created Riparian Forest 2010 Baseline: about~12 miles created since 1987 Target: create an additional 112 miles

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 27 One of Many Anacostia Tree Planting Events Earth Conservation Corps Volunteers on Buzzard Point

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 28 Goal 6 – Public Involvement Eighteen indicators in three categories: Use Stewardship Advocacy Example: Active Subwatershed “Friend of” Groups 2010 Baseline: six active Target: fourteen, covering all subwatersheds

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 29 Volunteer Tree Planting Gum Springs – Fall 2000

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 30 I&T Accomplishments Promoted interagency coordination Stimulated public awareness Systematic program for monitoring, tracking & reporting 50 indicators 2010 targets for each indicator Basis for 2001 signing ceremony Framework for reporting progress & continuing need

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 31 Restoration Indicators and Targets ‘Report Card’ ( )

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 32 Not a Panacea Biennial meetings have not occurred Incentives and pressures are indispensable Grants Consent orders Permit conditions

April 25, 2006 SWRR April 2006 Meeting 33 Contact Information Ted Graham WashCOG (202)