Bruce Michael Maryland Department of Natural Resources MASC Workshop November 12-13, 2008

1. Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust FundDeveloping an Effective Targeting Tool and Monitoring Strategy Bruce Michael Maryland Department of Natural Resources MASC Workshop November 12-13, 2008

2. Presentation Summary • 2010 Trust Fund Status • Prioritization Methodology • Evaluation Criteria • Proposal Review Process • Monitoring Strategy

3. 2010 Trust Fund Status • Original Legislation - $50 Million/year targeted to small watershed (30,000 acres or less), non-point source restoration activities • FY ’09 Appropriation - $25 Million • State Budget cuts - reduced to $12.8 Million • To be divided between MDA (cover crops), MDE (stormwater), DNR (multi- project, watershed wide)

4. Targeted Watershed Prioritization Methodology • Targeted Watersheds were based on geographic targeting • Greatest need for non-point source pollution reduction • Greatest water quality benefits to the Bay • Integration of 2 approaches • Bay Heath Index • Sparrows Model

5. The Bay Health Index (BHI) is a spatially-explicit index that represents the major Bay habitats by using information from: 1) water quality data: Secchi, chl-a, and water column (DO), 2) phytoplankton (PIBI), benthic community (BIBI) and 3) peripheral shallow-water areas (SAV) Secchi, chl-a, PIBI SAV DO BIBI

6. Index values used to calculate report card grades 2006 • 15 regions of the Bay • Index: 0 to 100 • Grade: A to F • Release in April • www.eco-check.org

7. Funding allocation • Non-point source • Prioritization: • Based on Water Quality Index • BMPs for agricultural and urban runoff

8. Top 5 tributaries selected for 2008 allocations

9. SPARROW ModelSPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed Attributes • SPARROW relates in-stream water-quality measurements to spatially referenced characteristics of watersheds, including contaminant sources and factors influencing terrestrial and stream transport • The model empirically estimates the origin and fate of contaminants in streams

10. SPARROW Model Output

12. Future Watershed Targeting • Include SPARROW Model Total Phosphorus Delivered Yield • MBSS Stronghold Watersheds for protected lands

13. 2010 Trust Fund Proposal Assessment Criteria • Four Evaluation Criteria: • Scientific Feasibility • Implementation Readiness • Implementation Ability • Characteristics of the watershed • Size - Similar to the Corsica Watershed • Location

14. Corsica River - Restoration • 4,000 acres of Cover Crops and 2,000 acres of Small Grain Enhancements • Treat 300 acres of Urban Lands with Stormwater Management • Establish 100 acres of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Buffers • Implement 50 acres Horse Pasture Management BMPs • Retrofit 30 Septic Systems with Denitrification Technology • Establish 200 acres of Forested Buffers on non-Agricultural Land • Restore 50 acres of Wetlands and 2 miles of Stream Channel • Restore 10 acres of SAV and 20 acres of Oysters • Upgrade WWTP to ENR

15. Review Process • Internal State agency review • Governor appointed Scientific Advisory Panel (GSAP) • Trust Fund Evaluation Workgroup • Develop monitoring strategy • Provide guidance and assistance to applicants and grant recipients • Track progress on implementation and nutrient and sediment reductions • Bay Workgroup, Bay Cabinet, BayStat

16. 2010 TF Monitoring Strategy • Limited Monitoring Resources – Must be targeted • Identify and assess existing monitoring data • Tiered approach • Implementation • Functional Outcomes – focus on measurable nutrient reductions to demonstrate effectiveness of project • Monitoring flow and nutrient loads are critical

17. 2010 TF Monitoring Strategy – cont. • Politicians would like to see progress/success in 3 years • Must temper expectations • Monitoring habitat and living resources can also provide valuable information and demonstrate success • Adaptive Management includes adaptive monitoring • Draft Monitoring Strategy to be completed by the end of 2008 with review from GSAP