Section 319
NONPOINT SOORG
GRAM SUMFSS STPRY
Restoration and Protection Activities in the Upper Branch of the
Delaware River Protects New York City's Drinking Water Supply
Waterbodv Improved The uPPerWest Branch of the Delaware River is a significant
source of drinking water for New York City (NYC). It directly feeds
the Cannonsville Reservoir, the third largest reservoir serving NYC. Historically, the Cannonsville
Reservoir experienced summertime eutrophic (low oxygen) conditions because of high phospho-
rus loads predominantly from nonpoint sources. New York State (NYS) placed the Upper West
Branch of the Delaware River (UWBDR) on its 1998 303(d) list due to concerns about the vulner-
ability of the reservoir to additional sources of phosphorus. Because efforts by the local commu-
nity and numerous other partners successfully reduced phosphorus loads, the state removed the
UWBDR from its 2004 impaired water list.
Problem
The UWBDR is in Delaware County in south-
central New York. The UWBDR and its tributar-
ies encompass a watershed area of 450 square
miles with approximately 662 linear miles of riv-
ers and streams that are the source waters for
the Cannonsville Reservoir. The 37.1-mile listed
segment of the UWBDR begins near the Village
of Stamford and runs to Chambers Hollow
Brook. NYS listed this segment on its 1998
303(d) list of impaired waters for not meeting
criteria to support its designated use—aquatic
life support—due to excess phosphorus levels.
The state's narrative standard states that phos-
phorus may not exist "in amounts that will result
in growth of algae, weeds, and/or slimes that
will impair the waters and their best usages."
NYC's Department of Environmental Protection
completed a TMDL for phosphorus, which EPA
approved in 2000. Forestry and agriculture
represent 95 percent of the UWBDR's land
use, and impacts from forestry, agricultural
areas, and septic systems contribute to nutri-
ent enrichment. NYC identified dairy farming
and failing onsite septic systems as the most
significant watershed sources of impairment to
the UWBDR. Runoff from these sources carried
excess phosphorus to the UWBDR, threatening
to alter the natural aquatic community and corn-
Prior to the restoration
work in the watershed,
the UWBDR's tributaries
frequently suffered from
algae blooms caused by
phosphorus inputs from
agricultural runoff. This
image shows a 1981
algae bloom that occurred
on Trout Creek (Photo
credit: Patricia Bishop, NY
Dept. of Environmental
Conservation).
promise the reservoir as a source of high-quality
drinking water.
Project Highlights
Delaware County worked with watershed
partners to develop the Delaware County Action
Plan (DCAP), a comprehensive watershed man-
agement program that provided a framework
for protecting water resources through local
decision making—within the context of state
and federal laws. Through the DCAP, Delaware
County has achieved many of the initiatives
highlighted below. The accomplishments of the
DCAP demonstrate the importance of managing
land uses and nonpoint pollution sources at the
local level.
-------
The New York-based nonprofit Watershed
Agricultural Council championed a voluntary,
incentive-based program through which farm-
ers implemented numerous best management
practices (BMPs). The Watershed Agricultural
Council encourages farmers to adopt and imple-
ment Whole Farm Plans (WFP) on dairy farms to
successfully integrate traditional and innovative
farm management approaches. These holistic
farm plans (along with other nonpoint and point
source reduction activities) helped reduce
dissolved phosphorus loads in the UWBDR by
53 percent and particulate phosphorus loads
by approximately 36 percent. The agricultural
BMPs implemented through the WFPs included
riparian buffers; alternate water sources for
dairy cows; barnyard management improve-
ments (waste removal, collection of polluted
runoff); precision feeding (controlling nutrient
excretions through diet management); and
stream relocation.
A septic system repair and replacement pro-
gram, overseen by the Catskill Watershed
Corporation, also served as a key element of the
UWBDR watershed protection and restoration
program.
To ensure continued success, the Delaware
County Soil and Water Conservation District
worked with watershed stakeholders and
cooperating agencies to develop a West
Branch of the Delaware River Stream Corridor
Management Plan, This plan provides a founda-
tion for local residents, municipalities, inter-
ested organizations, and cooperating agencies
to enhance stewardship of the UWBDR and its
tributaries.
Results
assessment surveys, and ambient monitoring in
the UWBDR and in the Cannonsville Reservoir.
These monitoring activities showed a reduction
in phosphorus enrichment in the UWBDR and
the achievement of the state guidance limit of
20 micrograms per liter (ji/g/L) for reservoirs.
These findings ensured that the drinking water
supply was safe from eutrophic conditions and
that the waterbody provided a healthy eco-
system for aquatic life. After the Cannonsville
Reservoir met the state's guidance limit, NYC
removed it from the phosphorus restricted list in
2002. This list, established by NYS regulations,
limits the amount of phosphorus released in
designated reservoir basins. In addition, survey
data collected on the UWBDR indicated that
the waterbody fully supported its designated
uses and had no water quality impairments
associated with the state's narrative standard
for phosphorus. Therefore, NYS removed the
UWBDR from the 303(d) list of impaired waters
in 2004.
Partners and Funding
Project partners conducted several monitor-
ing activities in the UWBDR Basin, including
a paired watershed study to evaluate water
quality impacts of agricultural BMPs, biological
Many agencies participated in the restoration
of UWBDR including the NYC Department
of Environmental Protection, Soil and Water
Conservation Districts, Delaware County
Planning Department and Department of
Public Works, Catskill Watershed Corporation,
Watershed Agricultural Council, Upper
Susquehanna Coalition, NYS Department of
Environmental Conservation, NYS Department
of Health, NYS Department of State, NYS
Department of Transportation, NYS Department
of Agriculture and Markets, NYS Soil and Water
Conservation Committee, Cornell University,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers. Funding for the phosphorus load
reduction efforts came from many sources,
including more than $420,000 from Clean Water
Act section 319 funds.
I
55
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-07-001Z
October 2007
For additional information contact:
Donna Somboonlakana, EPA Region 2
212-637-3700
Somboonlakana.Donna@epa.gov
Michael Shaw, EPA Region 2
212-637-3785
Shaw.Michael@epa.gov
------- |