1. Use and Standards Attainment Project Presentation to New Jersey CSO LTCP Workgroup Meeting Case Study – Paerdegat Basin October 25, 2001 William E. McMillin, Jr., P.E. HydroQual, Inc. Mahwah, New Jersey

2. 2 Long Term CSO Control Planning l New York City is Conducting CSO Abatement Planning and Implementation Throughout New York Harbor l Paerdegat Basin Planning Illustrates Long Term-CSO Control Issues Being Addressed by New York Citys CSO Abatement Program: Paerdegat Basin is a confined tributary impacted by CSO discharges Anoxia and nuisance conditions are key issues Paerdegat Basin New York Harbor Paerdegat Basin is a Tributary of Jamaica Bay Jamaica Bay

3. 3 Paerdegat Basin: Waterbody/Watershed Watershed Drainage: No freshwater flow 5,500 combined sewer acres 375 separately sewered acres Approximately 70% impervious Waterbody Characteristics: 6,600 feet long 450 foot average width Shallow depths at mouth and head, 16 feet maximum Primarily natural shoreline with some bulkheads Combined Separate Paerdegat Basin CSO storm sewer

4. 4 Paerdegat Basin: Existing Conditions l Designated Uses (Class I) Secondary Contact Recreation Fishing/Fish Propagation and Survival l Actual Uses: Boating, Canoeing & Kayaking Shoreline Access l CSO Discharges Cause/Impair: Low Dissolved Oxygen Fish/Aquatic Life High Coliform Bacteria Recreation Floatables, Oil & Grease Aesthetics Sediment Mound OdorsAestheticsAccess CSO Event in Paerdegat Basin Existing Uses

5. 5 Paerdegat Basin: CSO Controls l EPAs Watershed Approach in the Long Term Control Plan Was Used: Characterization of all pollutant sources Stakeholder participation Alternative selection l DEP is Implementing EPAs Demonstration Approach for Long Term CSO Control at Paerdegat Basin l DEP Is Constructing A CSO Storage Facility 20 MG in-line storage + 30 MG off-line facility = $293,000,000 cost Reduce discharges (>70%) of TSS, BOD, floatables, settleable solids, etc. Improve dissolved oxygen Reduce indicator bacteria and sediment deposition Provide permanent floatables control Combined with other abatement measures DEP will achieve 87% wet weather capture Conceptual Facility Plan

6. 6 Paerdegat Basin: The Problem and Issues l Facility Plan Was Developed Using Knee-of-the-Curve Procedure Consistent with EPA Guidance Paerdegat Basin was presented as an EPA CSO policy case study in 1994 Accepted by NYSDEC as a CSO abatement plan l CSO Abatement Will Significantly Improve Water Quality But: Dissolved oxygen standard will not be met 100% of the time 95% annually 40% in wet months Coliform bacteria concentrations will periodically exceed swimmable standards Floatables and settleable solids will be discharged during extreme events l CSO Policy Issues - How Much Control Is Enough? CSO discharges are episodic events Large range of rainfall intensity and duration Cannot design for largest event Knee-of-the-curve is accepted and makes sense

7. 7 Paerdegat Basin: The Questions l What Is the Significance of Non-Attainment of the Dissolved Oxygen Standard on Fish/Aquatic Life After Controls Are Implemented? Is Paerdegat Basin a suitable habitat? How significant is Paerdegat Basin to the ecosystem? l Is a Swimmable Use Appropriate for an Urban Tributary? l Is Zero Discharge for Floatables and Settleable Solids Needed To Protect Uses? l What Regulatory Opportunities Exist To Bring What Is Attainable into Compliance? Mixing Zones/Outfall RelocationSpecial Water Use Designations Site-Specific Water Quality CriteriaUse Attainability Analysis l What Other Opportunities May Be More Effective to Enhance Water Use and Ecological Values in Paerdegat Basin?

8. 8 EPAs Guidance: Coordinating CSO Long-Term Planning with Water Quality Standards Reviews EPAs CSO LTCP Process DEP is at this stage in the Paerdegat Basin Planning Process

9. 9 What Will the USA Project Do? l Review Beneficial Waterbody and Riparian Uses for Paerdegat Basin with Stakeholder/Public Participation: Fish, Aquatic Life and Wildlife Protection Bathing and Recreation Aesthetics l Include Non-Numerical Aspects of Beneficial Uses into Planning Process l Recommend the Highest Water Quality Standards That Are Reasonably Attainable and Consistent with Regulations and Desired Uses l Serve as the Basis for Potential Use Attainability Analyses l Maximize Environmental Return of Water Quality Improvement Plans Considering Beneficial Uses and Water Quality

10. 10 Waterbody/Watershed Assessments Develop waterbody-specific information and preliminary data. Review WQS, policies, local concerns/interests/issues, goals. Identify, prioritize and rank all issues. Develop and execute waterbody/watershed-specific data analysis. Develop approaches to attain goals. Evaluate alternatives to achieve goals. Recommend uses and Water Quality Standards. Develop waterbody/watershed plan. Conduct preliminary environmental review. Waterbody and Watershed Analyses Computer Modeling and GIS Facility Plan Assessment Ecosystem Analyses Land Use Analyses Data Collection Receiving Water Quality Biology and Habitat Shoreline Characterization Relational Database Engineering Analyses Engineering Technologies Innovative Approaches Best Management Practices Watershed Controls Technology Ranking Stakeholders Waterbody/Watershed Stakeholder Teams USA Project Waterbody/Watershed Assessments

11. 11 Integrated Waterbody Monitoring Program for Assessing Water Uses and Goal Achievement l Fish and Aquatic Life Protection Dissolved Oxygen and Related Variables Sediment Characterization Benthic and Epibenthic Biology Ichthyoplankton Fish Abundance and Diversity Habitat Evaluation l Bathing and Recreation Total and Fecal Coliform Bacteria l Fish, Aquatic Life, and Wildlife Protection Water Column Toxicity (Chronic) Sediment Toxicity (Chronic) Sediment Pore Water Analysis Fish Tissue Analysis Paerdegat Basin Biological Sampling USA Project Sampling Vessel

12. 12 Mathematical Modeling l Mathematical Models Were Used to Simulate Existing and Projected Water Quality for Paerdegat Basin: Paerdegat Basin Receiving Water Model Jamaica Bay Receiving Water Model Paerdegat Basin Receiving Water Model Jamaica Bay Receiving Water Model (Boundary Conditions) Watershed Models SWMM & Rainfall-Runoff Model (CSO & Stormwater Loads) Evaluate Alternatives & Use Attainability

13. 13 Work Elements Addressing Riparian Uses l Purpose Identify opportunities for public use and ecological enhancement Identify locations which constrain attainment of designated / enhanced water use l Land Use Analysis Define existing land uses Identify proposed development plans Identify areas of opportunity l Shoreline Characterization Physical characterization of existing shorelines Natural, altered, developed Biological characterization Marshes, wetlands Identify proposed modifications New York City Department of Parks and Recreation U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Harbor Estuary Program Identify areas of opportunity for enhancement

14. 14 Fish and Aquatic Life Protection Water Uses l Regulatory Issues: Identify desired uses aquatic life propagation fish survival Determine required level of protection Select and apply appropriate criteria Determine attainability of criteria and uses l Relevant Factors: Dissolved Oxygen Habitat substrate composition organic carbon deposition sediment pore water chemistry Toxics EPAs Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen (Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras

15. 15 Bathing and Recreation Water Uses l Regulatory Issues Identify desired uses bathing, wading, kayaking, canoeing fishing, boating Apply appropriate use designation primary vs. secondary contact recreation Determine needed level of protection related to desired uses Assess attainability of criteria and uses l Relevant Criteria Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Enterococci (EPA recommended)

16. 16 USA Project Planning l Waterbody/Watershed Plans Are Being Developed for 23 USA Project Waterbodies l Plans Integrate Long-Term CSO Control Plans and Other Water Quality Improvement Programs in a Watershed Approach l Opportunities for Enhancing Beneficial Uses Are Being Identified (e.g. habitat, riparian) l Use and Standards Attainment Is Being Evaluated Consistent With Clean Water Act Goals and CSO LTCP Requirements