Delaware Water Resources Regional Committee Meeting

June 11, 2004
Welkinweir
Green Valleys Association Headquarters
1368 Prizer Road
Pottstown, PA 19465

DRAFT Meeting Summary

Attendance

Committee members in attendance:

Committee members not in attendance:

Others in attendance:

Administrative Items

1. Meeting April meeting summary was approved.
    Motion made by: Helen Haun
    Motion Second:
    Motion was carried

2. Public Comment - Federation of the Northern Chester County Communities. Push for further legislation that allows for proper watershed management planning.

• In the 1970's and 1980's developed comprehensive regional plans.
• This included French Creek Scenic River Guidelines.
• 1990's initiation of Water Resources Management Study, Act 537 phases I and II, and develop Surface Water Run Off Study.
• Updating regional land use plan was major component of Chester County landscape improvements.
• Currently sustainable watershed management provisions are being developed for the Schukyll River tributary and nearby watersheds. Municipal ordinances are being updated for regional implementation.

3. Public Comment - Highlands Coalition Act is supporting $10,000,000 of funding for 10 consecutive years to protect "Big Woods" forest that encompasses 30,000 acres. This is the largest unfragmented forest in the United States.

• Working with local governments and conservancies in Berks, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties to protect habitat and water. This area protects the largest bobcat population in the United States.
• The goal is to preserve 1,300 acres of Big Woods utilizing Growing Greener II grant money to purchase bulk of acreage.

4. Public Comment - Trout Unlimited is looking for continued support.

• Battle Creek is an exceptional value watershed that currently stocks 3 times as many trout.
• Extensive development will cause depletion of trout and other macro invertebrates and poorer quality watershed.
• Steep slope development, erosion, storm water, poor water quality and lack of proper municipal planning are key areas that require the regular inclusion of water and land use best management practices.

5. Two major improvements for next years PCPG Symposium are:

• Allow for breakout sessions with smaller groups to discuss key issues
• Provide more detail information on Act 220 and State Water Planning efforts.

Agenda Items

6. Green Valleys Association's Sustainable Watershed Management's central principle is both top down and bottom up approach.

• Monitor performance of this process.
• Major objective perpetuates sustainability for the environment during extreme conditions due to weather and development.
• Hydrologic cycle is an integral part of water and land management and should be component of planning process.
• Introduce program recommendations to federal level, but maintain active dialogue with municipalities.
• Examples: Ground water protection in all areas, storm water management planning, over development such as the resurrection of Nestles Corp. in CWP area, protecting first order streams in the headwaters and manage extreme flood and drought conditions to regulate base flow.
• Goals should include maintaining, minimizing, preventing and protecting.

7. There are 108 first order streams in Chester County. These unit areas measure the
successful water resource management efforts.

• Examine current pollutants during heavy rainfall and development.
• Phosphorous, nitrates and suspended solids are largest components of nonpoint source pollution.
• Planning addresses water chemistry during drought. Encourages multi-municipal planning and transfer of development rights.
• TMDLs address water quality and BMPs to correct watershed impairments.
• Valley Creek is a good example of channel widening and stream bank erosion.
• Water temperature change due to outside development negatively affects biological cycle of macroinvertabrate population.
• Planning strategy should mesh watershed system in to land management.
• Water and land science should be integrated to maximize environmental principals. DRBC plays critical role.
• DRBC's IRP requirement must be incorporated as a foundation to Comprehensive Plans of each municipality. This includes zoning and sub-development codes. IRP guidance should be provided to all regional committee members.
• Examine current zoning ordinances. Utilize TDR options and maximize zone size by clustering specified parcels for development. Northern Federation will implement this in to regional zoning.
• Institute appropriate water quantity and quality monitoring to evaluate stormwater, water use and waste water impacts.
• Southeastern PA's agricultural community is on the forefront of irrigation technology to curb consumptive water use necessary for the propagation of
  crops and sustain livestock.
• PA DEP and Commonwealth partners coordinating NPDES II permitting efforts to maintain compatibility during development.
• New Jersey has made great strides in Smart Growth Development. PA to follow suit to improve land management efforts.

• Geology and hydrology
• Surface and subsurface drainage patterns
• Soil attributes
• Parcels that have or have not been developed.
• Current zoning
• Public water and wastewater systems

9. Statewide Committee met on May 10, 2004 and voted on an Interim Chair and an Interim Vice Chair. Created a Policy and Integration Subcommittee and a Critical Water Planning Area Subcommittee. Next Statewide Committee meeting is on July 6, 2004.

• Incorporate bottom up approach to include municipal involvement with regional and statewide water planning objectives.
• Consider adding County Planning Directors to the membership roster of these ad hoc committees.
• Invite the Municipal Planners to regional and statewide committee meetings.
• Ad hoc committees could also schedule independent meetings with Municipal

Planners and County Planning Directors. Need to insure that meeting agenda and action plans from these events are integrated into the agenda of regional committee meetings to maintain communication.

10. Passed out DEP Fact sheet entitled, "The Pennsylvania State Water Plan & Act 220 of 2002".

11. Passed out possible watershed logos that may be under consideration by the Public Participation Subcommittee.

12. Chester County Storm Water Management update:

• Storm water is considered a "waste".
• NPDES II assists in storm water evaluation.
• Currently there is a requirement for perc tests for sewage but not for storm water.
• Chester County Conservation District is requiring that local municipalities submit Best Management Practices.
• Engineers and planning officials need to incorporate storm water management principals in to Comprehensive Plans.
• The bottom line is to consider how a developed parcel fits in to the surrounding infrastructure, whether this is undeveloped or developed.
• Water conservation education is an important aspect of successful drought and flood planning, design and construction efforts. Integrate these same education strategies in to local community training efforts to promote universal awareness.
• Presently all municipalities meet NPDES Phase II, MS4 ordinances per PA DEP.
• Cahill Associates is rating storm water handbook that the County Conservation District is currently assembling for distribution.
• 15 grams/liter to 65 gram/liter is the range of nitrates found in Delaware River Basin.
• The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has reported significant phosphorus management but minimal nitrate management.
• Wetland/sand mound type systems are reducing and or eliminating nitrates
To within the15 mg/l to 8 mg/l range.
The Foundation is advocating the use of such systems to reduce the high concentration of nitrates that are problematic in the Delaware River Basin.

13. Go over the "Act 220 Regional Plan Components" (green handout) with County Planning Directors and Municipal Planners to determine what roles they will play in State Water Planning efforts.

14. September 30 to October 1, 2004 - Delaware River Basin Watershed Conference in Allentown, PA. Requires representation from regional committee. Consider hosting a half-day meeting on September 30th (without lunch). Have Schukyll County Director and or Municipal Planner present. Please contact Desiree Henning-Dudley at 484-250-5826, and she will try to get a placeholder for you on the agenda.

15. Next Delaware Regional Committee meetings: August 13, 2004 hosted by John Coscia of DVRPC in Philadelphia. October 8, 2004 suggested location in Pike County.

16. The Delaware Regional Committee agreed to form three subcommittees:
Critical Water Planning Area
John Coscia
Jeff Featherstone
Mike Meloy
Darryl Jenkins
Bob Wendelgass
Len Johnson
John Hoekstra
Gary Kribbs
Dave Hodge
Maya von Rossum
Helen Haun

Policy and Integration
John Coscia
Mike Stokes
Kate Harper
Mike Meloy
Irvil Kear
Len Johnson
Dave Hodge
Maya von Rossum
Helen Haun
Ted Reed

Public Participation
Mike Stokes
John Coscia
Howard Neukrug
Maya von Rossum
Helen Haun

17. Draft letter to express the need to maintain the Delaware Regional Committee's continued involvement in the development of recommendations for consideration by the Statewide Committee before the final adoption of any formal State Water Planning policy is put in to effect.
      Motion made by: Honorable Kate Harper
      Motion Second: Leonard Crooke
      Motion was carried

18. Meeting adjourned at 2:30pm.
      Motion made by: Honorable Kate Harper
      Motion Second: Leonard Crooke
      Motion was carried