Curbing Stormwater Pollution in the Charles River
Stormwater pollution is the largest source of pollution in the Charles River. Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) works to reduce nutrients, including phosphorus, entering the river and its tributaries, wetlands, and other water bodies. An overabundance of nutrients has damaging effects on the Charles River ecosystem; causing low dissolved oxygen, poor habitat, toxic cyanobacteria blooms, and prolific invasive species growth, all of which can impact swimming and fishing, as well as the health of aquatic-terrestrial species. With increased precipitation and more frequent extreme weather events, these threats will only be exacerbated by climate change.
Stormwater pollution is the largest source of pollution in the Charles River. Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) works to reduce nutrients, including phosphorus, entering the river and its tributaries, wetlands, and other water bodies. An overabundance of nutrients has damaging effects on the Charles River ecosystem; causing low dissolved oxygen, poor habitat, toxic cyanobacteria blooms, and prolific invasive species growth, all of which can impact swimming and fishing, as well as the health of aquatic-terrestrial species. With increased precipitation and more frequent extreme weather events, these threats will only be exacerbated by climate change.
Phosphorus Control Plan Development & Implementation
CRWA, with support from the Charles River Municipal Stormwater Collaborative (CRMSWC), was awarded an FY22 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Municipal Assistance Grant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to work collaboratively with the Charles River and Lake and Pond communities to provide hands-on, interactive, and specific training and resources for the key steps in developing and implementing their PCPs in alignment with the PCP template and the MS4 General Permit.
CRWA, with support from the Charles River Municipal Stormwater Collaborative (CRMSWC), was awarded an FY22 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Municipal Assistance Grant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to work collaboratively with the Charles River and Lake and Pond communities to provide hands-on, interactive, and specific training and resources for the key steps in developing and implementing their PCPs in alignment with the PCP template and the MS4 General Permit.
Explore the Phosphorus Control Plan Workshop Series
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WORKSHOP #1: ALL ABOUT THE LOADS: BASELINE LOADS, IMPACT FROM EPA’S RDA
This guided workshop helps Charles River Watershed and Lake and Pond communities understand how to calculate or recalculate their baseline loads and discuss the process of updating baseline phosphorus calculations to present-day conditions. This workshop covers the potential impact of the Residual Designation Authority (RDA) on required reductions for Charles River watershed communities along with a methodology for incorporating them into a community’s planning efforts. Lastly, this workshop discusses the credit system for non-structural best management practices (BMPs).
The Team shared resources, including the Methods used in Neponset River Watershed Association Nutrient Source Identification Report to calculate phosphorus loading. |
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WORKSHOP #2 - MANAGING WITH NON-STRUCTURAL CONTROLS AND PRIVATE BMPS: HOW TO GET CREDITS
Most communities will struggle to achieve their required reductions on municipal land alone. Workshop #2 discusses how structural BMPs installed and maintained on private property have the potential to be a major contributor to phosphorus reduction requirements. Private BMPs are typically installed and maintained at little to no cost to the municipality and therefore have the potential to be low-cost credits for a municipality with proper procedures and data collection processes in place.
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WORKSHOP #3 - PUBLIC BMPS: MAXIMIZING THE COST BENEFIT EQUATION
One of the biggest deciding factors for selecting, prioritizing, and implementing structural and non-structural BMPs on public property is understanding associated costs and benefits. Workshop #3 discusses local data trends collected from local Charles River watershed communities. With this locally submitted data, Workshop #3 compares the phosphorus removal rate and costs of installation.
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QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION WITH EPA AND TECHNICAL EXPERTS
CRWA facilitated a Question & Answer session with EPA, MassDEP, and other technical experts to answer the Permittees’ phosphorus control planning questions. Some of the topics discussed what to expect in future permits and gave advice for specific municipality needs around non-structural controls, operation and maintenance, credits for privately owned BMPs, disconnection of impervious coverage, sewer separation in CSO communities, and challenges of incorrect GIS layers, among others.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: PHOSPHORUS CONTROL PLAN TEMPLATES
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) partnered with Kleinfelder, under an FY21 Municipal Assistance Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), to support permittees regulated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) municipal separate storm sewer system permit (MS4 Permit) in addressing phosphorus reduction requirements in the Charles River watershed and various lakes and ponds throughout Massachusetts. The following templates were developed:
Charles River Watershed PCP Template
Charles River Watershed PCP Template Reference Appendices (companion documents for template)
Additional Resources for Charles River
Lakes and Ponds PCP Template
Lakes and Ponds PCP Template Reference Appendices (companion documents for template)
Additional Resources for Lakes and Ponds
Opportunities for Regional Collaboration
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) partnered with Kleinfelder, under an FY21 Municipal Assistance Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), to support permittees regulated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) municipal separate storm sewer system permit (MS4 Permit) in addressing phosphorus reduction requirements in the Charles River watershed and various lakes and ponds throughout Massachusetts. The following templates were developed:
Charles River Watershed PCP Template
Charles River Watershed PCP Template Reference Appendices (companion documents for template)
- R.1 PCP Approach Guidance (PDF)
- R.1 PCP Approach Guidance (Word)
- R.2 Worksheets for Calculation Support (PDF)
- R.2 Worksheets for Calculation Support (Word)
- R.3 Funding Source Assessment: Overview and Guidance (PDF)
- R.4 Resource Library (PDF)
- R.5 Guidance Memorandum on Location Screening and Prioritization for Structural Controls (PDF)
- R.6 Implementation Schedule Spreadsheet (Excel)
- R.7 Cost-Benefit Resource Kit (PDF)
Additional Resources for Charles River
Lakes and Ponds PCP Template
- L&PPCP Template (Complete, PDF)
- L&PPCP Template (Word)
Lakes and Ponds PCP Template Reference Appendices (companion documents for template)
- R.1 PCP Approach Guidance (PDF)
- R.1 PCP Approach Guidance (Word)
- R.2 Worksheets for Calculation Support (PDF)
- R.2 Worksheets for Calculation Support (Word)
- R.3 Funding Source Assessment: Overview and Guidance (PDF)
- R.4 Resource Library (PDF)
- R.5 Implementation Schedule Spreadsheet (Excel)
Additional Resources for Lakes and Ponds
Opportunities for Regional Collaboration