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SSM GROUP, INC. | Engineering and Environmental Services
• Lyn O’Hare, Water Resources Specialist | [email protected]
Over 2,770 miles of streams and creeks are in 11
counties
Berks makes up 40% of the entire
watershed
Berks County
BERKS COUNTY
Agriculture is the
main industry
accounting for 36%
of land use.
Lake Ontelaunee
and Blue Marsh
Lake are the two
largest drinking
water sources in the
area.
Agricultural Workgroup
STRATEGY 1: Support implementation of projects that demonstrate Agriculture BMPs in priority areas.
STRATEGY 2: Provide a forum for partner and agency communication around Ag impacts.
STRATEGY 3:Promote Ag BMPs via education and outreach.
STRATEGY 4:Monitor impacts of Ag BMPs on water quality.
SAN Progression (Growing Greener II)
SWIG projects in the Maiden Creek Watershed
• Small Project Fund ($2,500) for Berks County Farmers.
• Partnership between the Berks Conservancy and SSM Group.
• Businesses and other organizations make donations to sustain fund.
Donations can be made through Lorri Swan at the Berks County [email protected]
• Surface Water Assessment ––Berks County Conservation District conducted chemical and biological sampling for 20 sites in Tulpehocken and Maiden Creek watersheds.
• Bacteria sampling annually (BCCD/ Del Riverkeepers/Maiden Creek Watershed Association).
• Ongoing WQ grab sampling and macro studies in 12 Maiden Creek sites (MCWA).
• Protect 1 mile (5,300 feet) of stream via restoration and vegetative buffers
• Complete or update 20 conservation and/or nutrient management plans by the Conservancy and the Conservation District; 50 plans through the Natural Resource Conservation Service
•Revisit 3 previous project sites for an updated macroinvertebrate study
•Develop 5 Comprehensive Farm Management plans through Natural Resource Conservation Service
Several water systems have participated in the Source Water Protection Technical Assistance Program, funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
This program is available to all Community Water Systems state-wide.
• The most cost-effective method to ensure safe drinking water is to protect the source from contamination.
• Treatment alone cannot always be successful in removing all contaminants.
• Improve public perception of the safety of drinking water.
• Because safe drinking water is essential to the public health and economic well-being of communities.
ICVWA
Plan for the future
Choose water protection strategies
Review Potential Sources of Contamination
Create Protection Zones for water sources
Form a Steering Committee
• Serves approximately 25,000 customers in several municipalities
• Blue Marsh Lake has multiple uses
• Lake is controlled by US Army Corps of Engineers
Zone A( 5-hr TOT)
Zone B(25-hr TOT)
Zone C(Over 25-hr TOT)
• Agriculture practices can contribute animal waste or sediment from crop fields.
• Local roads can add salt, dirt, and vehicle fluids to the rain or snow melt.
• Recreation – Swimming, boating, organic plant and wildlife waste, and litter can affect the lake.
WBWA Protection Strategies
Water Quality Monitoring Program Partners with Albright College for continuous monitoring events
Schuylkill Action NetworkMember of the Agricultural Workgroup
Watershed Forum Plans on hosting a Watershed Protection conference for Berks County water systems
Education
WBWA has teamed up with two local high schools to paint murals on their building.
• Source water protection zones
• Communities served by the water system.
Source Water Protection
Implementation Strategies
Reading Area Water Authority
• Lake Ontelaunee TMDL completed in 2004
• Lake Ontelaunee included on Pennsylvania’s 303(d) list
• Completed a Source Water Protection Plan in 2007
• Source water supply is Lake Ontelaunee, located north of Reading
• Provides water to 125,000 residents in and around the City of Reading
Lake Ontelaunee Management Strategies Data Collection
Water Quality Monitoring Program• Development of a consistent, comprehensive water quality monitoring program• Coordination with others conducting sampling in the watershed• Nine monitoring locations selected throughout the watershed.• Parameters: Total coliform, E. Coli, Ortho Phosphate, Total Phosphorus,
Nitrogen (Nitrate), and Total Suspended Solids monitored monthly
Water Quality Database• Development of a database for watershed
water quality data• Current partners include RAWA,
watershed industries, watershed municipalities, the Schuylkill Action Network, and watershed groups
Lake Ontelaunee Management Strategies Education
Steering Committee• Meets annually to advise RAWA
Cooperation with Emergency Management Officials• Both Berks County and Lehigh County
staff consulted
Educational Brochures• Funded development of stream buffer
brochure developed by the Maiden Creek Watershed Association
Water Supply Area Signs• 13 signs placed on state roads• 6 signs placed on township roads
• Schuylkill Action Network
• Active member of the Agricultural Workgroup
• Agriculture Restoration Projects
• Assists SAN, the Berks County Conservation District, and the Berks Conservancy with exotic species removal on restoration sites.
• Contributes funding to stakeholders for the development of conservation plans on watershed farms.
Lake Ontelaunee Management Strategies Agricultural Restoration
• Land Preservation
• RAWA has purchased land in the protection zones to keep it in a natural state.
• Reforestation
• RAWA staff plant approximately 1,000 trees on city property around Lake Ontelaunee each year.
Lake Ontelaunee Management Strategies Watershed Protection
SSM GROUP, INC. | Engineering and Environmental Services