Containing the largest estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay watershed includes almost the entire state of Maryland. This important cultural, economic and natural resource was in decline due to an increase in nutrients entering the Bay. In an effort to restore water quality, Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) was established in 2004, creating a dedicated fund to upgrade wastewater treatment plants to meet nutrient reduction goals. Join host Jeff Berckes as he interviews four environmental professionals from Maryland who share their experience working with the BRF and the changes, challenges and successes of the program they’ve seen along the way.

About our guests:

• Kathy Stecker is a natural resources planner within the Water and Science Administration of the Maryland Department of the Environment.

#WaterQuality #ChesapeakeBay #TMDL #NEIWPCC #Maryland

Addressing nutrient pollution resulting from underperforming septic systems in Montana’s scenic Flathead Lake Basin is the topic of episode two. Host Jeff Berckes is joined by three environmental science professionals to discuss issues associated with septic systems, how they can impact water quality, and the role homeowners can play in preventing this type of pollution. They also share their latest research and innovative partner projects that tackle this source of nutrients.

About our guests:

Emilie Henry serves as the program coordinator of the Western Montana Conservation Commission, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Henry develops and supports on-the-ground projects and programs, including surrounding septic leachate, that protect aquatic resources in western Montana.

Nanette Nelson is a research scientist at the Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana. She is an environmental economist with interests in non-market valuation of environmental goods and services and economic impacts of aquatic invasive species.

Mike Koopal is executive director and founder of the Whitefish Lake Institute, a science and education based nonprofit organization. Koopal serves as a governor-appointed member of the Water Pollution Control Advisory Committee and chairs the Western Montana Conservation Commission’s On-site Wastewater Treatment Committee and Technical Committee.

Host Jeff Berckes kicks-off season two by discussing the role of nutrients in water quality. He is joined by professors Jamie Vaudrey and Jim Cotner to speak about phosphorus and nitrogen – two common nutrients found in freshwater and coastal ecosystems. They explore what these nutrients are, where they come from, and how they impact water quality.

About our guests:

Jamie Vaudrey is an assistant research professor with the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut. She also serves as the research coordinator for NOAA’s Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve. Vaudrey is involved with EPA’s National Estuary Program, serving on Narraganset Bay’s science advisory committee and the Long Island Sound Study’s science and technical advisory committee. She received a Bachelors in biology with a minor in philosophy from Wellesley College, and completed her Ph.D. in oceanography at the University of Connecticut.

James (Jim) Cotner is a professor of ecology, evolution and behavior at the University of Minnesota. He has studied freshwater and marine ecosystems for more than 30 years, primarily focused on heterotrophic bacteria and ecological stoichiometry. Cotner holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org.

In the final episode of season one, host Jeff Berckes begins by speaking with Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water at the Environmental Protection Agency, Benita Best-Wong. The season has covered the programs and successes of the first 50 years of the Clean Water Act, and culminates with perspectives from Best-Wong and excerpts from previous guests about the biggest clean water challenges for the next 50 years.

About our guest:

Benita Best-Wong is the deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In this role she provides oversight and management of the office’s budget and operations as well as assisting the Assistant Administrator in policy development and implementation. Best-Wong has worked in the environmental field for over 30 years, and has served in leadership positions in the Office of Wastewater Management and the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. She began her EPA career in the Office of Water in 1990 and has also worked in Region 2 as a water permit writer and a manager of the Region’s geographical programs. 

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org.

States, territories and tribes receive Section 319 grant money to support a wide variety of activities – such as technical assistance, education, training and monitoring – for specific nonpoint source implementation projects. During this episode, hear about the role of local support, volunteer monitoring, and building strong partnerships that make nonpoint programs succeed!  

About our guests: 

Steve Konrady joined the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Quality Bureau in 2016 and is currently the western Iowa basin coordinator for the Water Quality Improvement Section. His duties include managing several regional and statewide water projects funded by multiple federal grants to Iowa from the U.S. EPA, including the Section 319 grant.  

Michaela Lambert is the nonpoint source and basin team section supervisor with the Kentucky Division of Water. In this role, she oversees the implementation of Kentucky’s Nonpoint Source program, including the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program, education and outreach initiatives, and basin coordination efforts for Kentucky’s major river basins. 

Learn more about the Section 319 Grant Program: https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-program-states-and-territories  

Learn more about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) here: https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/harmful-algal-blooms 

Hear more success stories from the Nonpoint Program: https://www.epa.gov/nps/success-stories-about-restoring-water-bodies-impaired-nonpoint-source-pollution 

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org. 

Join host Jeff Berckes and guests to get to the "point" of "point source pollution." The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program, commonly referred to by its acronym, “NPDES,” addresses water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. During this episode, learn about the types of NPDES permits, who needs a permit, and how they are developed.

About our guests:

Joe Haberek joined the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) in 1997 in the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) Program, working his way up to eventually become the supervisor of the RIPDES Program. Haberek is currently the Administrator of Surface Water Protection in the RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources. In this role, he supervises the RIPDES, Operations and Maintenance, Wastewater Design, and Shellfishing Programs.

Jeff Poupart is the section chief of Water Quality Permitting with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). In that position he oversees permitting and compliance for the NPDES and Non-Discharge wastewater, sewer collection systems, 401 Certifications, Wetlands and Buffer, transportation permitting and Animal Feeding operations. Poupart has been with DEQ since 1992 and has served in various supervisory positions including industrial pretreatment and emergency response.

Learn more about the NPDES program: https://www.epa.gov/npdes

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org.

How much is too much? A Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, is both the calculation and the plan to meet water quality standards. A TMDL defines the maximum amount of a specific pollutant allowed to be in a waterbody for it to meet designated water quality standards. While a specific equation, a TMDL is also what we call the plan that outlines how to reduce pollutant loads. TMDLs are typically developed by states and approved by the EPA, and represent a watershed-level strategy to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act.

Podcast guests share their experiences developing and implementing TMDLs in two regions of the country, as well as the role of assessment and monitoring, innovative tools, and collaboration.  

About our guests:

Traci Iott is the supervising environmental analyst with the Water Quality Group at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), where she oversees the implementation of the Water Quality Standards and 303(d) programs. Iott also serves as the co-chair of the Watersheds Committee with the Association of Clean Water Administrators.

Ron Steg is the TMDL and assessment program manager for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. He has over 35 years of experience working with water quality issues throughout the country and has spent the last 22 years focusing on implementing the various aspects of the Clean Water Act 303(d) program in the Rocky Mountain West.

Learn more about TMDL’s at https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/overview-total-maximum-daily-loads-tmdls

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org.

You can’t solve a problem until you know what’s there, and the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list helps to define the state of our waters. To get to fishable, swimmable waters we need to figure out which waters are impaired by what pollutants. The impaired waters list connects the goals of water quality standards with monitoring data to help states understand and prioritize water quality improvement projects. 

About our guests:  

Miranda Nichols is the Data Analysis Unit Supervisor with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). She joined MPCA in 2006 and has spent most of her career managing water quality monitoring and assessment data. 

Dustin Shull is an Environmental Group Manager in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PA DEP) Water Quality Division. Dustin has been with PA DEP for 13 years and is currently responsible for developing assessment methodology as it relates to surface water quality and creating Pennsylvania’s Integrated Report. 

Learn more about the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired water.

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org 

This month we’re diving into the world of water quality monitoring. The "how" of achieving clean water can be messy – but crucial – work. Monitoring helps guide decisions surrounding the implementation of the rest of the Clean Water Act. We’ll explore the elements of successful water quality monitoring programs, where these programs are heading, and hear a couple success stories along the way.  

About our guests:  

Monty Porter – Monty has worked for the Oklahoma Water Resource Board for the past 25 years. Currently, he is the Assistant Division Chief of Water Quality Programs and Section Head of Data Science and Management.  

Kellie Merrell – Kellie has worked for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation since 2001. She is an Aquatic Ecologist who monitors the status and trends of Vermont’s inland lakes.  

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Learn more about NEIWPCC at neiwpcc.org

We're back to continue diving into the Clean Water Act! In this episode we discuss water quality standards – an important program that helps set the course for work within the Clean Water Act. Follow us @cleanwaterpod on Twitter to keep up to date with the latest from The Clean Water Pod!

About our guests:

• Jennifer Wigal is the Water Quality Administrator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Jennifer has spent the last 14 years working for DEQ in their standards program.

Learn more about topics discussed this week:

• EPA's Designated Use and Water Quality Standards

Learn more about NEIWPCC.