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Minnesota Stormwater Manual

Difference between revisions of "Baseline year"

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Baseline year is the year from which stormwater practices can be credited toward meeting a <span title="the amount of a pollutant from both point and nonpoint sources that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards"> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Total_Maximum_Daily_Loads_(TMDLs) '''total maximum daily load''']</span> (TMDL) <span title="the portion of a receiving water's assimilative capacity that is allocated to one of its existing or future point sources of pollution"> '''wasteload allocation'''</span> (WLA). That is, any <span title="one of many different structural or non–structural methods used to treat runoff"> '''best management practice'''</span> (BMPs) or activity implemented during or after the baseline year that results in a reduction in pollutant loads from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to the impaired waterbody can be considered as progress towards meeting the MS4 wasteload allocation (WLA).
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Since the stormwater program advocates an accounting process for achieving the WLA, with a percent reduction in loading being the target, it is important to define the baseline condition from which calculations will be made. The baseline must include a year but may include additional information, such as a summary of BMPs considered in deriving the WLA. Baseline year is the year from which stormwater practices can be credited toward meeting a <span title="the amount of a pollutant from both point and nonpoint sources that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards"> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Total_Maximum_Daily_Loads_(TMDLs) '''total maximum daily load''']</span> (TMDL) <span title="the portion of a receiving water's assimilative capacity that is allocated to one of its existing or future point sources of pollution"> '''wasteload allocation'''</span> (WLA). That is, any <span title="one of many different structural or non–structural methods used to treat runoff"> '''best management practice'''</span> (BMPs) or activity implemented during or after the baseline year that results in a reduction in pollutant loads from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to the impaired waterbody can be considered as progress towards meeting the MS4 wasteload allocation (WLA).
  
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Most TMDL reports, TMDL Implementation Plans, or Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPs) reports now provide a baseline year. Many earlier TMDL reports did not provide this information. When clear baselines are not indicated in these reports, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Stormwater Program staff provide interpretations based on information in the TMDL report. The [[List of Approved TMDLs with MS4 WLAs (updated November 2019)]] includes the baseline year identified in the TMDL, or the MPCA recommended baseline year.
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Most TMDL reports, TMDL Implementation Plans, or Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPs) reports now provide a baseline year. Many earlier TMDL reports did not provide this information. For TMDLs developed with short-term monitoring data, such as two or three years, the baseline year will be one of those years. When long-term monitoring data is used it is difficult to determine the appropriate baseline year. TMDL authors, TMDL project managers, Stormwater Program staff, and stakeholders work together to determine an appropriate baseline year.
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Since the stormwater program advocates an accounting process for achieving the WLA, with a percent reduction in loading being the target, it is important to define the baseline condition from which calculations will be made. The baseline must include a year but may include additional information, such as a summary of BMPs considered in deriving the WLA. Those BMPs generally cannot be applied toward the WLA. For TMDLs developed with short-term monitoring data, such as two or three years, the baseline year will be one of those years. When long-term monitoring data is used it is difficult to determine the appropriate baseline year. TMDL authors, TMDL project managers, Stormwater Program staff, and stakeholders should work together to determine an appropriate baseline year. When a baseline is not clearly defined in the TMDL or implementation plan, Stormwater Program staff will determine the baseline.
 
  
 
Examples of baselines from TMDLs developed in Minnesota are provided below. In general, more recently-approved TMDLs provide clearer target loads and baselines.
 
Examples of baselines from TMDLs developed in Minnesota are provided below. In general, more recently-approved TMDLs provide clearer target loads and baselines.
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*Hardwood Creek – this TMDL does not clearly define the target load from a baseline condition. The TMDL provides categorical WLAs for TSS and BOD across five flow regimes. The TMDL defines 2002 as the baseline year and provides a watershed TSS load for that year. Subtracting the WLA from the 2002 load and dividing by the 2002 load gives a reduction of 15.7 percent.
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*Minnesota River Dissolved Oxygen TMDL – The report states that no BMPs were considered in the modeling. The model scenario chosen for setting the allocations was based on 1988 data. The baseline is therefore a no-BMP situation in 1988.
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*Minnesota River Dissolved Oxygen TMDL – this TMDL provides a categorical WLA on a lb/day basis. The TMDL report states the reduction goal is 30 percent. The report also states that no BMPs were considered in the modeling. The model scenario chosen for setting the allocations was based on 1988 data. The target load is therefore assumed to be 30 percent from a no-BMP situation in 1988.
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*Long-Farquar Lakes – Individual WLAs are provided for each MS4 on a lbs/day basis. The TMDL does not define a specific year. The TMDL was based on data for three years – 2001, 2003, and 2005. The baseline is therefore either a WLA on a lb/day basis or a percent or mass reduction from 2003, which represents an intermediate year.
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*Long-Farquar Lakes – Individual WLAs are provided for each MS4 on a lbs/day basis. Current watershed loads are given. Thus, a percent reduction can be calculated as well as an overall mass reduction. The TMDL does not define a specific year. The TMDL was based on data for three years – 2001, 2003, and 2005. The target load for the MS4s is thus either their WLA on a lb/day basis, or a percent or mass reduction from 2003, which represents an intermediate year.
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*Kohlmann Lake TMDL – The WLA is expressed as lbs/day and as a percent reduction. The TMDL states that 2001 provides a reasonable starting point for tracking reductions.
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*Kohlmann Lake TMDL – Individual WLAs are given to each MS4s. The WLA is expressed as lbs/day and as a percent reduction. The TMDL states that 2001 provides a reasonable starting point for tracking reductions.
 
  
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Many Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) define a baseline year.  
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While BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year generally cannot be applied toward meeting the WLA, there may be exceptions, including but not limited to the following:
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*the TMDL model does not account for BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year;
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*the TMDL report, implementation plan, or WRAPs specifies certain BMPs or conditions under which BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year can be credited; or
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*the permittee can demonstrate that specific actions or BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year were not reflected in the monitoring data used to set the TMDL.
  
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The guidance belows can be used to assist Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permittees in completing the MS4 General Stormwater Permit Application and the Commissioner-approved [[Upload page with TMDL forms|TMDL Annual Reporting Form]] (TMDL Form). The guidance contains information about baseline years for approved TMDLs that did not explicitly define a baseline year in the TMDL report. included in the guidance below.  
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The [[List of Approved TMDLs with MS4 WLAs]] includes the baseline year identified in the TMDL, or the MPCA recommended baseline year. Please click here to download the baseline year guidance document: [[file:TMDLbaselinesMS4.xlsx]]
  
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Please click here to download the baseline year guidance document: [[file:TMDLbaselinesMS4.xlsx]]
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[[Category:Level 3 - Regulatory/Municipal (MS4)/TMDLs]]

Latest revision as of 20:03, 1 December 2022

Since the stormwater program advocates an accounting process for achieving the WLA, with a percent reduction in loading being the target, it is important to define the baseline condition from which calculations will be made. The baseline must include a year but may include additional information, such as a summary of BMPs considered in deriving the WLA. Baseline year is the year from which stormwater practices can be credited toward meeting a total maximum daily load (TMDL) wasteload allocation (WLA). That is, any best management practice (BMPs) or activity implemented during or after the baseline year that results in a reduction in pollutant loads from a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) to the impaired waterbody can be considered as progress towards meeting the MS4 wasteload allocation (WLA).

Most TMDL reports, TMDL Implementation Plans, or Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPs) reports now provide a baseline year. Many earlier TMDL reports did not provide this information. For TMDLs developed with short-term monitoring data, such as two or three years, the baseline year will be one of those years. When long-term monitoring data is used it is difficult to determine the appropriate baseline year. TMDL authors, TMDL project managers, Stormwater Program staff, and stakeholders work together to determine an appropriate baseline year.

Examples of baselines from TMDLs developed in Minnesota are provided below. In general, more recently-approved TMDLs provide clearer target loads and baselines.

  • Minnesota River Dissolved Oxygen TMDL – The report states that no BMPs were considered in the modeling. The model scenario chosen for setting the allocations was based on 1988 data. The baseline is therefore a no-BMP situation in 1988.
  • Long-Farquar Lakes – Individual WLAs are provided for each MS4 on a lbs/day basis. The TMDL does not define a specific year. The TMDL was based on data for three years – 2001, 2003, and 2005. The baseline is therefore either a WLA on a lb/day basis or a percent or mass reduction from 2003, which represents an intermediate year.
  • Kohlmann Lake TMDL – The WLA is expressed as lbs/day and as a percent reduction. The TMDL states that 2001 provides a reasonable starting point for tracking reductions.

While BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year generally cannot be applied toward meeting the WLA, there may be exceptions, including but not limited to the following:

  • the TMDL model does not account for BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year;
  • the TMDL report, implementation plan, or WRAPs specifies certain BMPs or conditions under which BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year can be credited; or
  • the permittee can demonstrate that specific actions or BMPs implemented prior to the baseline year were not reflected in the monitoring data used to set the TMDL.

The List of Approved TMDLs with MS4 WLAs includes the baseline year identified in the TMDL, or the MPCA recommended baseline year. Please click here to download the baseline year guidance document: File:TMDLbaselinesMS4.xlsx

Retrieved from "https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Baseline_year&oldid=63206"

This page was last edited on 1 December 2022, at 20:03.