SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
Dissolved Oxygen
Total Maximum Daily Load
Stakeholder Process

SJR Dissolved Oxygen TMDL Steering Committee
Executive Committee Meeting Notes – DRAFT 1
March 31, 1999
Participants: Bob Murdoch, Roger Bennett, Ronda Lucas, Glen Birdzell, Earle Cummings, Kevin Wolf
Draft Notes by: Kevin Wolf

Next Meeting: The Executive Committee will meet two weeks before the monthly Steering Committee meeting and after the other committee meetings. With this in mind, the Executive Committee wants to meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 1–3 pm at the Stockton RWCF. Thus the next meeting is scheduled for May 5.

I. What the Steering Committee Needs to Produce for the RWQCB in 3 Years

  1. The Executive Committee understands that the RWQCB wants a TMDL load allocation to be finished and an implementation plan drafted by 2002.
    1. The Technical Committee with Jones and Stokes doing the drafting, will work on creating a Technical Strategic Master Plan for all the research, monitoring, studies and analysis needed plus the timeline for completion of each element.
    2. NOTE: The Technical Committee will review the draft Technical Strategic Master Plan at the April 20 Steering Committee from noon to 1 pm.
  2. The CVRWQCB staff is presenting the Draft Final Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plan - March 1999 to the Board for their end of April meeting. Below are the components from the Draft Final Plan that pertain to the Steering Committees efforts.
    1. "A TMDL implementation plan including load allocations" is due to RWQCB staff "by the year 2002."
    2. According to the USEPA (1998) "the goal of the TMDL is the attainment of water quality standards. A TMDL is a written quantitative assessment of water quality problems and the contributing pollutant sources. It specifies the amount of reduction needed to meet water quality standards, allocates load reductions among sources… and provides the basis for taking actions to restore a water body." The USEPA suggest that the successful completion of a TMDL requires:
      • "identification of a target (attainment of the Basin Plan DO water quality objective)
      • location of sources
      • quantification of the amount of reduction needed
      • allocation of loads among sources
      • an implementation plan
      • monitoring and evaluation to track results and compliance"
    3. The Regional Board staff believe that a seventh element is needed - the formation of a Steering Committee to help guide the control effort and "develop a financial plan to secure funding for collecting information needed to implement the TMDL."
    4. "If it appears likely that the Steering Committee will be unable to make recommendations in a timely fashion, then RWQCB staff will develop the load allocation and TMDL implementation plan in the absence of this information."
    5. "Collect all nutrient and BOD data needed to fill information gaps. … In addition, feasibility studies should be undertaken to evaluate the cost and efficacy of load reductions at the most important sources."
    6. "The TMDL strategy should include evaluations of creative engineering solutions. At a minimum, the Steering Committee should evaluate the feasibility of river aeration and changes in SJR hydrology." Hydrology may include:
      • Real time management of flows at the head of Old River
      • Pumping water south through the Delta Mendota Canal and back to the SJR through the Newman Wasteway to augment base flows in the SJR during critical periods."
    7. "The Steering Committee will make recommendations on load allocations to the Regional Board staff after considering the following
      • importance of the source
      • cost of correction per unit of dissolved oxygen increase obtained
      • probability of success of the action"
    8. "The Steering Committee may also consider creative solutions such as:
        funding aeration
      • funding hydrological changes
      • the development of non-point sources (best) management practices"
    9. "The load allocation process will include a safety factor to account for population growth in the Basin during the next 30 years."
    10. "The Steering Committee will make recommendations on load reduction allocations and the schedule and funding for implementing the TMDL."
    11. "It will be assumed that satisfactory progress is being made (by the Steering Committee) if the majority of studies to determine load allocations are underway by December 1999, and it appears likely that the Steering Committee will recommend a TMDL implementation plan, including load allocations, to Regional Board staff by the year 2002."

II. Organizational Structure

  1. The Steering Committee
    1. Will be made up of representatives of interested organizations and interest groups. According to the Draft Final Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plan, "the Steering Committee shall be composed of representatives from the Stockton RWCF, upstream and adjacent NPDES dischargers, the diary industry, irrigated agriculture, the environmental community, and state and federal resource agencies."
    2. The Executive Committee has talked about having other interest groups that have a role in low dissolved oxygen levels to also attend. These include: the Port of Stockton, delta exporters including the MWD, CUWA and the USBR, and upstream diverters.
    3. The Steering Committee will meet monthly. It is suggested that the afternoon of the third Wednesday of each month be reserved. The meetings will occur at the Stockton RWCF unless otherwise noted.
  2. The Executive Committee
    1. This Committee helps ensure the smooth functioning of the overall Stakeholder process. Its responsibilities include:
      1. coordinating of committees
      2. preparing for the Steering Committee meetings
      3. developing and implementing the budget
      4. handling in-between Steering Committee urgent issues
      5. providing direction to the facilitator
    2. The Executive Committee will meet two weeks before the Steering Committee. Presently this is scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month at 2500 Navy Dr in Stockton from 1-3 pm.
    3. Presently the Executive Committee members include Earle Cummings (DWR), Roger Bennett (Lathrop), Bob Murdoch and Glen Birdzell (Stockton), Ronda Lucas (Farm Bureau). The meetings are facilitated by Kevin Wolf.
  3. The Technical (Advisory) Committee
    1. According to the Draft Final Regional Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plan, "the responsibilities of the TAC will be to:
        identify information needs
      • determine and prioritize special funding needs
      • recommend load allocations
      • direct and assist in the review of the Stockton RWCF model
      • collate and analyze existing data
      • conduct special studies
      • critique special studies and data analysis results
      • establish a common data bank
      • develop cost estimates
      • draft implementation and monitoring plans
      • review monitoring data
      • advise on effectiveness of the implementation plan"
    2. The TAC has also taken on the task of helping write and review grants.
    3. The TAC is presently being chaired by Peggy Lehman.
  4. Demonstration/Pilot Project Committee
    1. The Executive Committee proposes that the Technical Committee work on the above except for researching and analyzing Best Management Practices and other possible implementation measures. These activities would be the responsibility of a new set of sub-committees working under a Demonstration/Pilot Project Committee. Four sub-committees cover the following:
      1. Non-point Urban Loading
      2. Point Source Urban Loading
      3. Non-point Agricultural Loading
      4. Point Source Agricultural Loading (e.g. dairies, Mud and Salt Slough)
    2. The Demonstration/Pilot Project Committee should work closely with the Technical Committee with overlap between committee members helping ensure coordination between the two groups.
    3. The Demonstration Committees tasks include:
      1. Research and review existing studies on BMPs.
      2. Determine what key BMPs have not been researched in terms of their empirical benefits to nutrient load reduction.
      3. Work with the legislative work group to craft language for legislation that would fund demonstration and pilot project research.
      4. Develop the research methodology for collecting the needed data from the selected demonstration projects. Include in the methodology a determination of the economics involved in the BMPs including costs and dissolved oxygen benefits.
      5. Analyze the results and make recommendations to the Steering Committee
      6. Provide recognition for the help and involvement of the different participants. Many groups will value recognition more than other benefits.
  5. Funding Committee
    1. The Funding Committee oversees the pursuit of opportunities to gain funds needed to implement the three-year strategic plan needed to meet the RWQCB's requirements in the TMDL process. The Committees responsibilities include:
      1. Get grants written. Work with Technical Committee where appropriate.
      2. Develop and implement a cost sharing plan among all dischargers.
      3. Work with the legislative sub-committee to write and pursue legislation that would help fund components of the overall work plan.
      4. Pursue other funding options including USEPA discretionary funds.
      5. Understand and provide input into the overall budget.
    2. The Funding Committee should meet after the Steering Committee and before the Executive Committee and on an as-needed basis.
    3. The Funding Committee members presently include: Doug Brewer (JSA/Stockton), Peggy Lehman (DWR), Paul Marshall (CALFED), Paul Simmons (Stockton), John Pulver (San Joaquin County)
  6. Outreach Committee
    1. This committee will work on the following:
      1. Ensure that all stakeholders are invited to participate and receive the monthly meeting notes. The committee will also determine who are the key people in each group who should be on the mailing list and personally spoken with.
      2. Develop the information that explains the importance of being involved in the stakeholder process.
      3. Oversee newsletter development, website, email and other education and outreach efforts.
      4. Develop material that helps explain the importance of the stakeholder process and the value of being involved.
    2. Stakeholders the Outreach Committee will pursue include:
      1. Cities, counties and towns within the watershed
      2. Waste treatment plants
      3. Farm Bureaus
      4. Resource Conservation Districts
      5. Environmental groups
      6. Agencies, including the USBR
      7. Port of Stockton
      8. Water districts
      9. Water exporters
    3. Committee meeting dates and members will be discussed at the next Steering Committee meeting.
    4. The Technical Committee has begun to outreach to dischargers in the watershed to gain letters of support for the CalFed grant. Their efforts will be coordinated with the Outreach Committee.
  7. Legislative Committee
    1. The Legislative Committee will work closely with the Executive and Funding Committees. The Executive Committee believes that legislation should involve stakeholders in the writing and lobbying.
    2. The Committee's membership is not set but John Pulver and Paul Simmons have agreed to begin doing the research needed to pursue legislation in 1999.
    3. The Committee will take the lead on:
      1. Drafting legislation
      2. Working with legislators and staff.
      3. Involving stakeholders in the process.
      4. Lobbying for the legislation.
    4. The Committee should look into the opportunities that might lie in the Watershed bills, urban streams legislation (urban BMPs), federal EQIP legislation, CDFA related bills, and other ancillary opportunities.
    5. Funding from legislation could go through:
      1. The State Dept. of Conservation which has a history of working in this area.
      2. NRCS on the federal side.
      3. A revamped San Joaquin River Management Program
      4. Urban streams program in the DWR
      5. UC Cooperative Extension
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