TCMA Chloride Management Plan - Prioritizing and Implementing Restoration and Protection - Implementation strategies TCMA Chloride Management Plan - Prioritizing and Implementing Restoration and Protection - Implementation strategies

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This section provides the overall framework for the implementation strategies that are necessary to protect and restore our water resources. These high-level strategies are intended for both protection and restoration and are described by audience. The next section will provide more detailed implementation activities for the various sources of chloride. The over-arching implementation strategy is a performance-based approach. This approach allows stakeholders and regulators flexibility in the type of BMPs and the timing of implementation, and allows individuals an opportunity to develop chloride management strategies that are practical for their individual situation. Success under the performance-based approach will be measured in terms of the BMPs implemented.

A tool called the WMAt has been developed by the MPCA and is available for use by winter maintenance professionals across the state. The WMAt can be used voluntarily to understand current practices, identify areas of improvement, and track progress. While optional, everyone involved in winter maintenance is highly encouraged to use the WMAt. The tool is intended to streamline and simplify implementation goals and strategies. The tool can also be used to compare practices with other entities and learn from each other in order to achieve the greatest chloride reductions while providing a high level of service. Utilization of this planning tool will allow the user to track their progress over time and show the results of their efforts. The tool can serve as both a reporting mechanism to understand the current practices and as a planning tool to understand future practices. The planning side of the tool will help understand the challenges and costs associated with improved practices.

The overall performance-based implementation strategy for the primary audiences and a suggested timeframe is presented in the Performance-Based Chloride Reduction Strategies table with descriptive text following the figure. Secondary audiences are described at the end of this section and are not presented in a table.

Performance-Based Chloride Reduction Strategies
Link to this table

Audience	years 1-2	years 1-2 years 3-5	years 6-10	Beyond year 10
Winter Maintenance Leadership (state, county, city, schools, private): those not involved in day to day operations of maintenance crew.	Review responsibilities Develop policies Assess the situation Create goals Set priorities Implement changes Use WMAt	Follow plan Share successes	Re-assess operations Revise goals Continue to implement changes Share successes	Re-assess operations Revise goals Continue to implement changes Share successes.
Winter Maintenance Professionals (state, county, city, schools, private): plow drivers, mechanics, supervisors of crew.	Attend training Keep an open mind towards change Look for ways to make salt use more efficient Use WMAt tool Create list with the desired changes Prioritize the action plan Implement changes Use less salt	Follow plan Eliminate poor practices Share successes Use less salt	Re-assess operations Adjust goals Follow plan Eliminate all poor practices Share successes Use less salt	Re-assess operations Revise goals Continue to implement changes Share successes Use less salt
WMOs/WDs, Environmental Organizations and Institutions, and Educators	Modify plan Put salt education and outreach goals in the operating plans Develop/modify grant program Develop a cost share program If there is an existing grant program, modify Continue monitoring	Implement plan Educate	Implement plan Educate	Review and revise the outreach plan Continue to educate Encourage testing of new technologies
Municipalities	Create a plan Start implementing the plan Track progress Use the WMAt Prioritize actions Continue monitoring	Follow plan Continue to improve practices MS4s report progress to MPCA	Review and revise plan Continue to improve practices MS4s report progress to MPCA	Follow plan Continue to improve practices MS4s report progress to MPCA
Wastewater Treatment Plants and Industrial Dischargers	Understand the sources Create a plan to reduce and remove chloride Monitor chloride in effluent	Implement plan Discharge less salt	Continue implementing plan for lower salt discharge Share successes Discharge less salt	Review and revise plan Continue making progress Discharge less salt
Water Treatment Facilities (water supply)	Research to determine if centralized softening or individual softening would be a lower salt solution Develop plan for minimal salt use in water distribution area.	Implement plan	Implement plan	Continue to work towards lower salt solutions.
Citizens	Follow recommendations Use less salt Encourage others to use less salt	Reduce salt use Encourage others to reduce salt use	Reduce salt use Encourage others to reduce salt use.	Continue to reduce salt use.
MPCA	Create and share the CMP for the TCMA Create an internal plan to assist stakeholders Continue monitoring chloride Help various groups better understand the salt problem Educate and promote lower salt solutions	Support TCMA CMP Follow internal chloride reduction plan	Support TCMA CMP Follow internal chloride reduction plan	Determine if TCMA CMP was effective Adjust as needed Re-evaluate chloride reduction efforts
Policy Makers (city, county, state, other)	Understand why we use salt Understand what the options are for lower salt use	Improve policy	Improve policy	Improve policy