ESP 179- Winter 2013

Hydrology and Water QualityJanuary 22, 2012

Instructor: Trevor Macenski

Email Questions EIR Assignment

Only Review a Draft Environmental Impact Report It is ok if it’s a joint EIR/EIS document

Thresholds Matrix Two EIR’s Same Project Different Locations Compare and Contrast Matrix Worksheet-Kevin to provide

ISMND Assignment- Group Project 8-10 4 project choices Presentation

Changing Thresholds Question

Lecture Outline Review CEQA Checklist Questions Federal Clean Water Act CA’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act RWQCBs 303d List Flood Hazards Impact Analysis Approach Groundwater and WSA’s Sample Discussion and Analysis Extra Credit- Reminder

Appendix G Checklist: Hydrology and Water Quality Water Quality Standards and Waste Discharge

Requirements Groundwater: supply, recharge, concept of “net deficit”, Alter drainage patterns and result in erosion or siltation Alter drainage an result in flooding Exceed capacity of drainage systems Degrade water quality Place housing within 100 year flood hazard Structures that would impede flood flows Levee or Dam failure Inundation by seiche, tsunami, or mudflow

Hydrology and Water Quality

Appendix G: Checklist QuestionsProjects that discharge waste/storm water

Projects that are using groundwater: Residential/Commercial/ Industrial/ Energy

Projects that have large cut and fill. Redirecting water.

Projects that have large cut and fill. Redirecting water.

Projects that have increase impervious surfaces.

Water Quality StandardsPursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act,

water quality standards are "provisions of State or Federal law which consist of a designated use or uses for the waters of the United States and water quality criteria for such waters based upon such uses.  Water quality standards are to protect the public health or welfare, enhance the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Act."

Federal Clean Water ActThe Clean Water Act (CWA)is the major

federal legislation governing water quality. The objective of the CWA is “to restore and

maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”

Important applicable sections of the Act are as follows:Section 301 prohibits the discharge of any pollutant

by any person, except as in compliance with Sections 302, 306, 307, 318, 402, and 404 of the CWA. Sections 303 and 304 provide for water-quality standards, criteria, and guidelines.

Federal Clean Water ActSection 401 requires an activity which may result in a

discharge to “waters of the United States” to obtain certification from the State. Certification is provided by the RWQCB.

Section 402 establishes the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) a permitting system for the discharge of any pollutant (except for dredge or fill material) into waters of the United States. This permit program is administered by the RWQCB.

Section 404 establishes a permit program for the discharge of dredge or fill material into waters of the United States. This permit program is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

CA’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control ActPorter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act

(California Water Code Section 13000, et seq.) provides the basis for water quality regulation within California.

The Act requires a “Report of Waste Discharge” to land or surface waters that may impair a beneficial use of surface or groundwater of the State. In practice, these requirements are typically

integrated with the NPDES permitting process.

CA’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the

various RWQCBs throughout the State Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans).

These plans establish water quality standards for particular bodies of water. California water quality standards are composed of three parts:

the designation of beneficial uses of water water quality objectives to protect those uses implementation programs designed to achieve and maintain

compliance with the water quality objectives.

The RWQCB implements management plans to modify and adopt standards under provisions set forth in section 303(c) of the Federal CWA and California Water Code (Division 7, Section 13240). Under Section 303(d) of the 1972 CWA, the State is required to develop a list of waters with segments that do not meet water quality standards.

RWQCBs The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act

took effect on January 1, 1970. It combined the State Water Rights Board and the State Water Resources Control Board and created the nine Regional Water Boards: Region 1: North Coastal RWQCB Region 2: SF RWQCB Region 3: Central Coastal RWQCB Region 4: LA REWQCB Region 5: Central Valley RWQCB Region 6: Lahontan RWQCB Region 7: Colorado River RWQCB Region 8: Santa Ana RWQCB Region 9: SD RWQCB

303 (d) List and TDML’s Total Maximum Daily Loads

A total maximum daily load (TMDL) refers to the amount of a specific pollutant a river, stream, or lake can assimilate and still meet federal water quality standards as provided in the CWA.

The SWQCB’s 303(d) list is an EPA approved list of impaired water bodies in the State of California (2008-2010). The list includes a priority schedule for the development

of TMDLs for each contaminant or “stressor” impacting the water body. The major source of pathogens are typically:

septic wastewater treatment systemsrunoff from new urban development

National Flood Insurance Program The Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) administers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) FEMA issues flood insurance rate maps for communities

participating in the NFIP. These maps delineate flood hazard zones for each project site. Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) addresses floodplain issues related to public safety, conservation, and economics. It requires:

Avoidance of incompatible floodplain development; Consistency with the standards and criteria of the NFIP;

and Restoration and preservation of the natural and

beneficial floodplain values.

Inundation Hazards Seiche- (saysh): a series of standing waves (sloshing

action) of an enclosed body or partially enclosed body of water caused by earthquake shaking. Seiche action can affect harbors, bays, lakes, rivers, and canals.

Tsunami- (soo-NAH-mee): a Japanese word that means harbor wave; a sea wave of local or distant origin that results from large-scale seafloor displacements associated with large earthquakes, major submarine slides, or exploding volcanic islands. Typically generated by seismic or volcanic activity or by underwater landslides, a tsunami consists of a series of high-energy waves that radiate outward like pond ripples from the area in which the generating event occurred.

Folsom Dam- Video

Hydrology Precipitation

Mean annual rainfall Drainage Manuals- City and County Specific 100-year storm event

Soils Soil classification- NRCS Soil Surveys Hydrologic Soil Group

Infiltration SCS runoff curve numbers

Topography Surveying line elevations

Hydraulics Analysis Capture it:

Do you have enough capacity? Retention Basin= Hold and releaseDetention Basin= Holds for evaporation and percolationStormwater Cells= PercolationUrban Stormwater System

Infrastructure capacity- StormCAD

Discharge it: Does the river or stream have enough capacity?

Pre and Post Project Flow modeling: HEC-RAS Modeling

Groundwater and Recharge AnalysisGroundwater Recharge?

Large land development projectsLarge areas of impervious surfaces

Recharge wells?

Geotechnical Study Stormwater or Infrastructure Study Urban Water Management Plan

High recharge area?Impaired water basin?

Groundwater Use and WSA’s Vineyard Area Citizens (4 Approaches)

1) Applicable to multi-phased projects requiring procurement of additional supply for each phase. EIR to indicate whether there likely would be a

rough regional balance between water supply and demand by analyzing competing long-term water demands within the applicable region (e.g., the relevant water agency zone) and the potential effect of such competing demands on the project’s ability to obtain sufficient water.

Example: Conversion from Agricultural Use to Residential Use

Groundwater and WSA’s Cont.2) The second approach is to demonstrate a

“reasonable likelihood” that water will be available for the project from an identified source “by other means.”

Such a demonstration could be supported by: A description of infrastructure proposed to connect the water

supply to the project The scheduled timing for constructing such infrastructure a funding mechanism that is in place for the infrastructure

construction And evidence that available supply will not be allocated to

other competing development.

Evidence of contractual or other rights to water supply would also support a demonstration that an identified source is reasonably likely to be available

Example: Prison Expansion, planned infrastructure.

Groundwater and WSA’s Cont.3) The third possible approach to CEQA compliance could be

used in circumstances where it is not possible to demonstrate a reasonable likelihood that water from identified sources will be sufficient. In such circumstances, the EIR must identify:

Potential sources of water The environmental impacts of relying on those sources The likelihood the identified sources will be available.

Additionally, the EIR must disclose any uncertainty regarding the supply, and where uncertainty exists, identify possible replacement sources or alternatives to use of the anticipated water, discuss their environmental consequences, and identify mitigation measures to minimize each adverse impact.

Example: Basin in overdraft. Now what? Water right acquisition?

Groundwater and WSA’s Cont.4) The Court also indicated that a fourth

approach would be for the EIR to incorporate or rely on an existing urban water management plan (UWMP) provided the UWMP accounted for the expected

new demand of the development project at issueUrban water suppliers are required to prepare and

periodically update UWMPs Must :describe and project estimated past, present,

and future water sources, supply, and demand for at least a 20-year

Vineyard Area Citizens makes it clear that in relying upon the information in the UWMP, or for that matter in relying upon any evidence in other outside documents, the drafter of a CEQA water supply analysis must be careful to properly reference, summarize, or otherwise guide the reader to the relevant information in that document.

Example: Basin in overdraft. General Plan EIR?

Sample EIR Discussion

Significant Hydrology ImpactsWhat are a few types of projects?

Oil and Natural Gas Wells- Hydraulic Fracturing Concentrated Solar Thermal Sand and Gravel Mining Large Industrial/Residential Developments Many many more.

Questions?

Thank You