1. Innovative Data Management and Planning Strategies for TMDL Compliance
Jeffrey Tirschman, KCI Technologies, Inc.
Michele Aitkenhead, McCormick Taylor, Inc.
March 18, 2014

2. Discussion Topics TMDL In A Nutshell Requirements and Milestones
Program Management Challenges
Managing TMDL Data
Do Your Homework
Geodatabase Development
Innovative Planning & Modeling
Spatial Data Models
Streamlining Site Selection
Managing Progress towards Goals
TMDL Application Portfolio

3. Total Maximum Daily Load
What is a TMDL?
Total Maximum Daily Load
…the maximum level of a pollutant that can be discharged to a waterbody without causing it to exceed water quality standards

4. TMDL In A Nutshell Baseline (Current Condition)
Reduce Loads - Restoration Strategies
TMDL

5. TMDL In A Nutshell Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) “Pollution Diet”
Federal Clean Water Act
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (§402)
NPDES MS4 Permit (Transitioning to OED)
TMDL Compliance
Clean Water Act, Section 303(d)
“Pollution Diet”
Bay TMDL - EPA’s Largest TMDL
6 States and DC
Pollution Limits (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment)
Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP)
This bar graph illustrates how the TMDL works. The graph represents the amount of a pollutant for a particular waterway. Looking at the bar graph, the line that separates the green portion and the red portion of the bar is the point at which the waterway moves from healthy to impaired. That’s the TMDL. Anything above that line is considered an impairment.
The Three main pollutants the Bay TMDL focuses on are Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Sediment. These pollutants cause algae blooms that consume oxygen and create “dead zones” where fish and shellfish cannot survive, block sunlight that is needed for underwater Bay grasses, and smother aquatic life on the bottom of the BAY.

6. Requirements and Milestones
60% Implementation by 2017
Full Implementation by 2025
20% Restoration of Pre-2002 Impervious Surface
2-Year Milestones
Local TMDLs

7. Program Management Challenges
Aggressive requirements
Technical requirements can be difficult to comprehend – multiple sources
Non-standard data – various data owners
Resource challenges
Financial challenges

8. Where should you begin?

9. Data Management Data Inventory & Analysis
Consolidate Source Data (Multiple Formats)
MS Excel spreadsheets
MS Access databases
Shapefiles
Geodatabases
Work Order Management Systems
Lists
Analyze all Data Sources for Content, Currency, Completeness and Ownership

10. TMDL Database Modeling
Consider an Enterprise Spatial Database
Evaluate Program Needs & Permit Requirements
TMDL BMP Types
Load Reduction (Stream Restoration, Inlet Cleaning)
Efficiency (SWM Ponds & Facilities, Outfalls)
Landuse Change (Planting Trees, Remove Pavement)
Change Land Use
Reduce Loading Factor
Removal
Efficiency

11. Data Migration Data Consolidation & Migration
Evaluate Key Data Sources
Develop Data Migration Plan
Prepare Source-to-Target Mappings
Data Processing
Quality Control Plans

12. TMDL Geoprocessing Tools
Streamline Selection of Sites
Develop Layers of Suitable Project Locations in Consideration of:
Restoration Opportunities
Local TMDLs
Efficiency
Land Ownership
Develop Scripts to Analyze and Geoprocess the Data to Support Prioritization of Sites & Projects
Track Sites to Assets & Project Development

13. Innovative Planning & Modeling
Spatial Data Models:
Geographic Priorities
Site Programming Models
Strategy Specific
Watershed Based
Managing Progress Toward Goals:
Develop standard reporting/tracking forms
Business Plan
MDE Reporting
Annual Reporting
Develop a modeling framework for tracking nutrient and sediment reductions
More control over which efficiencies are used
Account for specific design elements
Accurate tracking

14. Innovative Planning and Modeling
TMDL Geodatabase
Implementation
Site Selection

15. Application Portfolio for TMDL
Innovative TMDL Applications
Data Management
GIS-Centric Data Maintenance Tools
Office Tools (Intranet, Internet)
Field Tools (mobile)
Planning & Selection Model Python Tools
Leveraging Database Framework
Reporting Tools
Public Transparency, Outreach
Data Sharing
Report Generation

16. Thank You! Jeff Tirschman KCI Technologies, Inc. 410.316.7944
Michele Aitkenhead
McCormick Taylor, Inc.