# B ASIN 

# M ANAGEMENT 

# A CTION 

# P LAN

for the Implementation of Total Daily Maximum Loads for Fecal
Coliform Adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental

Protection

in the



# Lower St. Johns River

Basin Tributaries

developed by the 

## Lower St. Johns R **iver Tributaries**  **Basin Working Group** 

i n cooperation with the 

## Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration

Bureau of Watershed Restoration Tallahassee, Florida 32399

December 2009Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

ii 

### A CKNOWLEDGMENTS : The Lower St. Johns River Tributaries Basin Management Action Plan was prepared as part of a statewide watershed management approach to restore and protect Florida’s water quality. It was developed by the Lower St. Johns River Tributaries Basin Working Group , identified below, with participation from affected local, regional, and state governmental interests; elected officials and citizens; and private interests.

B AS IN W OR K ING G R OUP M E MB E R S

O RGANIZATION /

I NTE REST G ROUP B ASIN W ORKING G ROUP
R EPRESENTATIVE A LTERNATE City of Jacksonville Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi Derek Igou Duval County Health Department Gale Tucker Disney Grazyna Pawlowicz Florida Department of Transportation Mitch Stamitoles Pete Southall

JEA P aul Steinbrecher Ed Cordova

O THE R P AR TICIP ANTS

**Past Technical Meeting**  **Co**

**- Chair**  **:** Fred Calder

**Current Technical Meeting Co** 

**- Chairs**  **:** Vince nt Seibold and John Abendroth

**FDEP Basin Coordinator:** Amy Tracy

**Key Staff:** Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( FDEP ) Northeast District: Melissa Long,

Khalid Al

- Nahdy, Patrick O’Connor, Jeremy Parrish, Lee Banks, Jeff Martin, and Jodi Conway

FDEP

– Tallahassee: Wayne Magley, Katrina Sanders, Jessica Rich

- Ziegler, John Hallas, Tricia
McClenahan , and Linda Lord

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FD ACS ) : Terry Pride and Jody Lee

Wildwood Consulting, Inc.: Tiffany Busby and Marcy Policastro

Walk the WBIDs: Tributary Assessment Team :

FDEP Northeast District : Patrick O’Connor, Jeremy Parrish, and Thomas Kallemeyn

City of Jacksonville : Dana Morton, Betsy Deuerling, Barry Cotter, and Justin Levine

JEA : Ron Nelson, Garnet Odum, and Ed Cordova.

Other Technical and Walk the WBID Participants:

FDEP Northeast District Division of Law Enforceme nt : Special Agent Brett Starling, Special Agent Darryl Jones, Officer John Brechler, and Officer Roger Hayes

Duval County Health Department : Scott Turner, David Helwig, Justin Campbell, and
Chandra Menefee

Florida Department of Transportation District 2 : Alan Obaigbena, Tom Wiley,

Karen Kohoutek

- Luckin, and Hillary King

City of Jacksonville Public Works : Mark Hartley, Jason Geiger, Jerry Dorman, Artemus Holly, Kelly Swea t, and Brad Nolan

JEA: Jack Cullum, Kenney Crawford, Kevin Holbrooks, and Scott Anahei mFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

iii For additional information on Total Maximum Daily Loads and the watershed management approach in the Lower St. Johns River tributaries , contact :

Amy Tracy, Basin Coordinator Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Bureau of Watershed Restoration

, Watershed Planning and Coordination Section 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Station 3565 Tallahassee, FL 32399

- 2400

Email: amy.tracy@dep.state.fl.us Phone: (850) 245

– 8506Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

iv 

## T ABLE OF 

## C ONTENTS

E XE C UTIVE S UMMAR Y

............................................................................................ XVI

CHAPTE R 1 : CONTE XT, PUR POS E , AND S COPE O F THE PLAN

............................ 1

1.1 Water Quality Standards and Total Maximum Daily Loads

..................... 1

1.2 TMDL Implementation

................................................................................. 2

1.3 The Lower St. Johns River Tributaries Basin Management Action

Plan

................................................................................................... 2

1.3.1 Stakeholder Involvement

.............................................................................. 2

1.3.2 Plan Purpose and Approach

......................................................................... 3

1.3.3 Plan Scope

................................................................................................... 5

1.3.4 Sufficiency of Effort Approach and Determination of Sufficiency

................... 6

1.3.5 Pollutant Reduction and Discharge Allocations

............................................ 7

1.3.6 TMDLs in the Tributaries of the LSJR Basin

................................................. 8



### 1.4 Assumptions and Considerations Regarding TMDL Implementation

.............................................................................. 10

1.4.1 Assumptions

................................................................................................ 10

1 .4.2 Considerations

............................................................................................ 11



### 1.5 Future Growth in the Tributaries

.............................................................. 12

CHAPTE R 2 : WATE R QU ALITY TR E NDS IN THE TR IB UTAR IE S

............................ 14

2.1 Water Quality Trends

................................................................................ 14

2.1.1 Newcastle Creek

......................................................................................... 14

2.1.2 Hogan Creek

............................................................................................... 14

2.1.3 Butcher Pen Creek

...................................................................................... 15

2.1.4 Miller Creek

................................................................................................ . 15

2.1.5 Miramar C reek

............................................................................................ 16

2.1.6 Big Fishweir Creek

...................................................................................... 16

2.1.7 Deer Creek

.................................................................................................. 17

2.1.8 Te rrapin Creek

............................................................................................ 17

2.1.9 Goodbys Creek

........................................................................................... 18

2.1.10 Open Creek

................................................................................................ . 18



### CHAP TE R 3 : POLLUTANT S O UR CE S AND ANTICIP ATE D OUTC OME S

............... 20

3.1 Pollutant Sources Common to the Tributaries

....................................... 20

3.1.1 Sanitary Sewer Sy stems

............................................................................. 20

3. 1.2 Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems

....................................... 21

3.1.3 Stormwater

.................................................................................................. 21



### 3.2 Anticipated Outcomes

.............................................................................. 22

CHAPTE R 4 : AS S E S S IN G PR OGR E S S AND MAK IN G CHANGE S

.......................... 23

4.1 Tracking Implementation

.......................................................................... 23

4.2 Water Quality Monitoring

.......................................................................... 26

4.2.1 Water Quality Monitoring Objectives

............................................................ 26Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

v 4.2.2 Water Quality Indicators

.............................................................................. 26

4.2.3 Monitoring Network

..................................................................................... 27

4.2.4 Quality Assurance/Quality Control

............................................................... 30

4.2.5 Data Management and Assessment

............................................................ 30



### 4.3 Ongoing Assessments in the Tributaries

................................................ 30

4.4 Data Tracking and Reporting Systems Modifications

............................ 31

4.5 Implementation Milestones

...................................................................... 32

4.6 Adaptive Management Measures

............................................................. 33

C HAP TE R 5 : C OMMITME NT TO P L AN IMP L E ME NT ATION

.................................... 35

CHAPTE R 6 : NE WCAS TL E CR E E K (WB ID 2235)

..................................................... 40

6.1 WBID Description

...................................................................................... 40

6.2 Potential Sources

...................................................................................... 43

6.2.1 Point Sources

.............................................................................................. 43

6.2.2 Illicit Discharges

.......................................................................................... 43

6.2.3 Centralized Sewage Infrastructure and Overflows

....................................... 43

6.2.4 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 43

6.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

........................................................................................ 44



### 6.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

.......................................... 44

6.3.1 JEA Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed

....................................... 44

6.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed

................................... 47

6.3.3 COJ Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed

....................................... 48

6.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed

.................................... 51



### 6.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

.............. 51

6.4.1 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 51

6.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................... 52

6.4.3 Stormwater

.................................................................................................. 53



### CHAPTE R 7 : HOGAN CR E E K (WB ID 2252)

.............................................................. 55

7.1 WBID Descr iption

...................................................................................... 55

7.2 Potential Sources

...................................................................................... 58

7.2.1 Point Sources

.............................................................................................. 58

7.2.2 Illicit Discharges

.......................................................................................... 58

7. 2.3 Centralized Sewage Infrastructure and Overflows

....................................... 58

7.2.4 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 58

7.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

........................................................................................ 58



### 7.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

.......................................... 60

7.3.1 JEA Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed

............................................. 60

7.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed

......................................... 62

7.3.3 COJ Activities in the Hogan Creek Wate rshed

............................................ 63

7.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed

.......................................... 65



### 7.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

.............. 66Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

vi 7.4.1 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 67

7.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................... 67

7.4.3 Stormwater

.................................................................................................. 68

7.4.4 Wildlife and Other Anthropogenic Sources

.................................................. 68



### C HAP TE R 8 : B UTC HE R P E N C R E E K (WB ID 2322 )

.................................................. 70

8.1 WBID Description

...................................................................................... 70

8.2 Potential Sources

...................................................................................... 73

8.2.1 Point Sources

.............................................................................................. 73

8.2.2 Illicit Discharges

.......................................................................................... 73

8.2.3 Centralized Sewage Infrastructure and Overflows

....................................... 73

8.2.4 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 74

8.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

........................................................................................ 74



### 8.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

.......................................... 75

8.3.1 JEA Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed

.................................... 75

8.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed

................................ 78

8.3.3 COJ Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed

................................... 79

8.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed

................................ . 81



### 8.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

.............. 82

8.4.1 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 82

8.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................... 82

8.4.3 Stormwater

.................................................................................................. 83



### C HAP TE R 9 : MIL L E R C R E E K (WB ID 2287)

.............................................................. 85

9.1 WBID De scription

...................................................................................... 85

9.2 Potential Sources

...................................................................................... 88

9.2.1 Point Sources

.............................................................................................. 88

9.2 .2 Illicit Discharges

.......................................................................................... 88

9.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

.......................................... 88

9.2.4 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 88

9.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

........................................................................................ 89



### 9.3 Projects To Address Fecal Coliform Loading

......................................... 89

9.3.1 JEA Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed

............................................... 89

9. 3.2 DCHD Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed

........................................... 91

9.3.3 COJ Activities in the Miller Cree k Watershed

.............................................. 92

9.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed

............................................ 94



### 9.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of E fforts

.............. 95

9.4.1 OSTDS

........................................................................................................ 95

9.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................... 96

9.4.3 Sto rmwater

.................................................................................................. 96

9.4.4 Wildlife and Other Anthropogenic Sources

.................................................. 97



### C HAP TE R 10 : MIR AMAR CR E E K (WB ID 2304)

........................................................ 99Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

vii 

### 10.1 WBID Description

...................................................................................... 99

10.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 102

10.2.1 Point Sources

............................................................................................ 102

10.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 102

10.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 102

10.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 102

10.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 103



### 10.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

........................................ 104

10.3.1 JEA Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed

........................................ 104

10.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed

..................................... 106

10.3.3 COJ Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed

........................................ 107

10.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed

..................................... 111



### 10.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 112

10.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 112

10.4.2 Sewer Infrastruc ture

.................................................................................. 113

10.4.3 Stormwater

................................................................................................ 113

10.4.4 Wildlife and Other Anthropogenic Sources

................................................ 114



### C HAP TE R 11 : B IG FIS HWE IR CR E E K (WB ID 22 80)

............................................... 116

11.1 WBID Description

.................................................................................... 116

11.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 119

11.2.1 Point Sources

............................................................................................ 119

11.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 119

11.2.3 Centralize d Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 119

11.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 120

11.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 120



### 11.3 Projects to Address Fecal Coliform Loadings

...................................... 121

11.3.1 JEA Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed

.................................. 121

11.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed

.............................. 124

11.3.3 COJ Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed

.................................. 125

11.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Big Fishweir creek Watershed

................................ 129



### 11.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 130

11.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 130

11.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................. 131

11.4.3 Stormwater Infrastructure

.......................................................................... 131

11.4.4 Wildlife and Other Anthropogenic Sources

................................................ 132



### CHAPTE R 12 : DE E R CR E E K (WB ID 2256)

............................................................. 134

12. 1 WBID Description

.................................................................................... 134

12.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 138

12.2.1 Point Sources

............................................................................................ 138

12.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 138Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

viii 12.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 138

12.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 139

12.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 139



### 12.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

........................................ 140

12.3.1 JEA Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed

.............................................. 140

12.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed

.......................................... 142

12.3.3 COJ Activ ities in the Deer Creek Watershed

............................................. 142

12.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed

........................................... 145



### 12.4 Summary of Restoration Activit ies and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 146

12.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 146

12.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................. 146

12.4.3 Stormwater

................................................................................................ 147

12.4.4 Additional Assessments

............................................................................ 147



### CHAPTE R 13 : TE R R API N CR E E K (WB ID 2204)

..................................................... 149

13.1 WBID Description

.................................................................................... 149

13.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 154

13.2.1 Point source s

............................................................................................ 154

13.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 154

13.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 154

13.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 154

13.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 154



### 13.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

........................................ 155

13.3.1 JEA Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed

........................................ 155

13.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed

..................................... 157

13.3.3 COJ Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed

........................................ 158

13.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed

..................................... 160

13.3.5 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed

.............................................................. 161



### 13.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 161

13.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 161

13.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................. 161

13. 4.3 Stormwater

................................................................................................ 162

13.4.4 Agriculture

................................................................................................ . 162



### CHAPTE R 14 : GOODB YS CR E E K (WB ID 2326)

..................................................... 164

14.1 WBID Description

.................................................................................... 164

14.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 167

14.2.1 Point Sources

............................................................................................ 167

14.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 167

14.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 167

14.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 168

14.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 169Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

ix 

### 14.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

........................................ 169

14.3.1 JEA Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed

....................................... 169

14.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed

.................................... 171

14.3.3 COJ Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed

....................................... 172

14.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed

.................................... 174



### 14.4 Summary of Restoration Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 175

14.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 175

14.4.2 Sewer Infrastruct ure

.................................................................................. 176

14.4.3 Stormwater

................................................................................................ 176



### CHAPTE R 15 : OPE N CR E E K (WB ID 2299)

............................................................. 179

15.1 WBID Description

.................................................................................... 179

15.2 Potential Sources

.................................................................................... 183

15.2.1 Point Sources

............................................................................................ 183

15.2.2 Illicit Discharges

........................................................................................ 183

15.2.3 Centralized Sewer Infrastructure and Overflows

........................................ 183

15.2.4 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 184

15.2.5 Nonpoint Sources

...................................................................................... 184



### 15.3 Projects To Reduce Fecal Coliform Loading

........................................ 185

15.3.1 JEA Activities in the Open Creek Watershed

............................................. 185

15.3.2 DCHD Activities in the Open Creek Watershed

......................................... 187

15.3.3 COJ Activities in the Open Creek Watershed

............................................ 188

15.3.4 FDOT Activities in the Open Creek Watershed

.......................................... 190



### 15.4 Summary of Restoratio n Activities and Sufficiency of Efforts

............ 191

15.4.1 OSTDS

...................................................................................................... 191

15.4.2 Sewer Infrastructure

.................................................................................. 191

15.4.3 Stormwater

................................................................................................ 192



### AP PE NDICE S

............................................................................................................. 194
Appendix A: TMDL Basin Rotation Schedule

................................................. 195
Appendix B: Summary of Statutory Provisions Guiding BMAP Development and Implementation

............................................. 196
Appendix C: Stakeholder Involvement in BMAP Developm ent

..................... 199
Appendix D: Summary of EPA

- Recommended Elements of a Comprehensive Watershed Plan

................................................ 201
Appendix E: Programs To Achieve th e TMDL

................................................. 204
Appendix F: Walk the WBID Guidelines

........................................................... 231
Appendix G: Glossary of Terms

....................................................................... 233
Appendix H: Bibliography of Key References and Websites

......................... 238

Key References:

..................................................................................................... 238
Stormwater and Water Quality Protection Websites:

............................................... 240Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

x 

## L IST OF 

## F IGURES
**Figure 1: LSJR Basin Tributaries Included in the BMAP**

**....................................................... 4** 
**Figure 2: Location of the Newcastle Creek Watershed**

**........................................................ 41** 
**Figure 3: Newcastle Creek WBID Locator Map**

**..................................................................... 42** 
**Figure 4: Location of the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**............................................................... 56** 
**Figure 5: Hogan Creek WBID Locator Map**

**........................................................................... 57** 
**Figure 6: Location of the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed**

**..................................................... 71** 
**Figure 7: Butcher Pen Creek WBID Locator Map**

**.................................................................. 72** 
**Figure 8: Location of the Miller Creek Watershed**

**................................................................ 86** 
**Figure 9: Miller Creek WBID Locator Map**

**............................................................................. 87** 
**Figure 10: Location of the Miramar Creek Watershed**

**........................................................ 100** 
**Figure 11: Miramar Creek WBID Locator Map**

**..................................................................... 101** 
**Figure 12: Location of the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**................................................ 117** 
**Figure 13: Big Fishweir Creek WBID Locator Map**

**.............................................................. 118** 
**Figure 14: Location of the Deer Creek Watershed**

**.............................................................. 136** 
**Figure 15: Deer Creek WBID Locator Map**

**........................................................................... 137** 
**Figure 16: Location of the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**....................................................... 152** 
**Figure 17: Terrapin Creek WBID Locator Map**

**.................................................................... 153** 
**Figure 18: Location of the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**...................................................... 165** 
**Figure 19: Goodbys Creek WBID Locator Map**

**................................................................... 166** 
**Figure 20: Location of the Open Creek Watershed**

**............................................................. 181** 
**Figure 21: Open Creek WBID Locator Map**

**......................................................................... 182** 
**Figure E**

**- 1. SSO Roo**  **t Cause Analysis**

**................................................................................. 206** 
**Figure E**

**- 2. Problems Identified through the Pop** 

**- Top Program** 

**........................................ 208** 
**Figure E**

**- 3. Lift Station SSOs, FY02** 

**– FY08** 

**........................................................................... 209** 
**Figure E**

**- 4. Reportable SSOs by Third Parties, 2003** 

**– 08** 

**.................................................... 210** Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xi 

## L IST OF 

## T ABLES
**Table 1: Designated Use Attainment Categories for Florida Surface Waters**

**...................... 1** 
**Table 2: Phases of the Watershed Management Cycle**

**......................................................... 2** 

**Table 3: TMDLs for the LSJR Tributaries** 

**.............................................................................. 10** 

**Table 4: Percent Human Land Uses by WBID**

**....................................................................... 12** 
**Table 5: Summary of Newcastle Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 14** 
**Table 6: Summary of Hogan Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 15** 
**Table 7: Summary of Butcher Pen Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**................................................. 15** 

**Table 8: Summary of Miller Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified**  **Period (January 1, 1996**

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 16** 
**Table 9: Summary of Miramar Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verifi ed**  **Period (January 1, 1996**

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 16** 
**Table 10: Summary of Big Fishweir Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**................................................. 17** 
**Table 11: Summary of Deer Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 17** 
**Table 12: Summary of Terrapin Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 18** 
**Table 13: Summary of Goodbys Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (Januar**  **y 1, 1996**

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 18** 
**Table 14: Summary of Open Creek Fecal Coliform Data by Year for the Verified Period (January 1, 1996** 

**–**

**June 30, 2003)**

**............................................................... 19** 
**Table 15: Proposed BMAP Annual Reporting Form**

**............................................................. 24** 
**Table 16: Water Quality Indicators and Field Parameters**

**.................................................... 26** 
**Table 17: Monitoring Stations in Newcastle Creek**

**............................................................... 27** 
**Table 18: Monitoring Stations in Hogan Creek**

**..................................................................... 27** 
**Table 19: Monitoring Stations in Butcher Pen Creek**

**........................................................... 28** 
**Table 20: Monitoring Stations in Miller Creek**

**....................................................................... 28** 
**Table 21: Monitoring Stations in Miramar Creek**

**.................................................................. 28** 
**Table 22: Monitoring Stations in Big Fishweir Creek**

**........................................................... 28** 
**Table 23: Monitoring Stations in Deer Creek**

**........................................................................ 29** 
**Table 24: Monitoring Stations in Terrapin Creek**

**.................................................................. 29** 
**Table 25: Monitoring Stations in Goodbys Creek**

**................................................................ .**  **29**
**Table 26: Monitoring Stations in Open Creek**

**....................................................................... 30** 

**Table 27: Percent Fecal Coliform Reduction since the TMDL Verified Period**

**.................... 33** 

**Table 28: Land Uses in the Newcastle Creek Watershed**

**..................................................... 40** 
**Table 29: SSOs Reported in the Newcastle Creek Watershed, 2001**

**– 07** 

**............................. 44** 

**Table 30: JEA Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed**

**................................ ...............**  **46**

**Table 31: DCHD Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed**

**............................................ 48** 

**Tabl e 32: COJ Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed** 

**............................................... 50** Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xii **Table 33: FDOT Activities in the Newcastle Creek Watershed**

**............................................. 51** 

**Table 34: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Newcastle Creek Watershed** 

**............ 53** 
**Table 35: Land Uses in the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**........................................................... 55** 

**Tabl e 36: SSOs reported in the Hogan Creek Watershed, 2001** 

**– 07** 

**..................................... 59** 
**Table 37: JEA Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**...................................................... 61** 
**Table 38: DCHD Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**.................................................. 62** 
**Table 39: COJ Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**..................................................... 64** 
**Table 40: FDOT Activities in the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**................................................... 66** 
**Table 41: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Hogan Creek Watershed**

**.................. 69** 

**Table 42: Land U ses in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed** 

**................................................. 70** 
**Table 43: SSOs reported in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed, 2001**

**– 07** 

**........................... 74** 

**Table 44: JEA Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed**

**............................................ 76** 

**Table 45: DCHD Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed**

**........................................ 78** 

**Table 46: COJ Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed**

**........................................... 80** 

**Table 47: FDOT Activities in the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed**

**......................................... 81** 
**Table 48: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Butcher Pen Creek Watershed** 

**........ 83** 

**Table 49: Land Uses in the Miller Creek Watershed**

**............................................................. 85** 

**Table 50: SSOs Reported in the Miller Creek Watershed, 2001** 

**– 07** 

**..................................... 88** 

**Table 51: JEA Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed**

**....................................................... 90** 

**Table 52: DCHD Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed**

**.................................................... 91** 

**Table 53: COJ Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed**

**....................................................... 93** 

**Table 54: FDOT Activities in the Miller Creek Watershed**

**..................................................... 94** 
**Table 55: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Miller Creek Watershed**

**.................... 97** 

**Table 56: Land Uses in the Miramar Creek Watershed** 

**........................................................ 99** 
**Table 57: SSOs Reported in the Miramar Creek Watershed, 2001**

**– 07** 

**............................... 102** 

**Table 58: JEA Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed**

**................................................. 105** 

**Table 59: DCHD Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed**

**............................................. 106** 

**Table 60: COJ Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed**

**................................................ 109** 

**Table 61: FDOT Activities in the Miramar Creek Watershed**

**.............................................. 111** 
**Table 62: Summary of Restoration Ac tivities for the Miramar Creek Watershed** 

**............. 114** 
**Table 63: Land Uses in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**............................................... 116** 
**Table 64: SSOs reported in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed, 2001** 

**– 07** 

**......................... 119** 
**Table 65: JEA Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**.......................................... 122** 
**Table 66: DCHD Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**...................................... 124** 
**Table 67: COJ Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**......................................... 127** 
**Table 68: FDOT Activities in the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**....................................... 129** 
**Table 69: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Big Fishweir Creek Watershed**

**...... 132** 

**Table 70: Land Uses in the Deer Creek Watershed**

**............................................................ 135** 
**Table 71: SSOs Reported in the Deer Creek, 2001**

**– 07** 

**........................................................ 138** 

**Table 72: JEA Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed**

**....................................................... 141** 

**Table 73: DCHD Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed**

**................................................... 142** Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xiii **Table 74: COJ Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed**

**...................................................... 144** 

**Table 75: FDOT Activities in the Deer Creek Watershed**

**.................................................... 145** 
**Table 76: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Deer Creek Watershed**

**................... 147** 
**Table 77: Land Uses in the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**...................................................... 151** 
**Table 78: JEA Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**................................................ 156** 
**Table 79: DCHD Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**............................................. 157** 

**Table 80: COJ Activities in the Te rrapin Creek Watershed** 

**................................................ 159** 
**Table 81: FDOT Activities in the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**.............................................. 160** 
**Table 82: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Terrapin Creek Watershed**

**............. 162** 
**Table 83: Land Uses in the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**..................................................... 167** 
**Table 84: SSOs reported in the Goodbys Creek Watershed, 2001**

**– 07** 

**.............................. 168** 
**Table 85: JEA Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**............................................... 170** 
**Table 86: DCHD Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**............................................ 171** 
**Table 87: COJ Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**............................................... 173** 
**Table 88: FDOT Activities in the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**............................................. 174** 
**Table 89: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Goodbys Creek Watershed**

**............ 177** 
**Table 90: Land Uses in the Open Creek Watershed**

**........................................................... 180** 
**Table 91: SSOs reported in the Open Creek Watershed, 2001**

**– 07** 

**..................................... 183** 
**Table 92: JEA Activities in the Open Creek Watershed** 

**...................................................... 186** 
**Table 93: DCHD Activities in the Open Creek Watershed**

**.................................................. 187** 
**Table 94: COJ Activities in the Open Creek Waters hed** 

**..................................................... 189** 
**Table 95: FDOT Activities in the Open Creek Watershed**

**................................................... 190** 
**Table 96: Summary of Restoration Activities for the Open Creek Watershed** 

**.................. 192** 

**Table A**

**- 1: Major Hydrologic Basins by Group and FDEP District Office** 

**.......................... 195** 

**Table A**

**- 2: Basin Rotation Schedule For TMDL Development and Implementation** 

**......... 195** 

**Table H**

**- 1: Stormwater and Water Quality Protection Websites** 

**........................................ 240** Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xiv 

## L IST OF 

## A CRONYMS

ARV Air Release Valve

BMAP Basin Management Action Plan

BMP Best M anagement P ractice

BWG Basin Working Group

CAFO C oncentrated A nimal F eeding O peration
CARE Citizen Action Response Effort

CBP Concrete Batch Plant

CIPP Cured In Place P ipe
CDM Camp, Dresser & McKee

CIP Capital Impro vement Plan
CMOM Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance

COJ City of Jacksonville

CPAC Citizen Policy Advisory Committee

DCHD Duval County Health Department

DCP Drainage Connection Program

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPB Envi ronmental Protection Board
EQD Environmental Quality Division

ETM England

- Thims and Miller
F.A.C. Florida Administrative Code

FDACS Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

F DEP Florida Department of Environmental Protection

FDOH Flor ida Department of Health

F DOT Florida Department of Transportation

FEHA Florida Environmental Health Association

FOG Fats, Oils, and Grease

FOWA Florida Onsite Wastewater Association

F.S. Florida Statutes

FSE Food Service Establishment

FWRA Florida Watershed Restoration Act

FY Fiscal Year
GIS Geographic I nformation S ystem

IMZ Industrial/Manufacturing Z one IP Industrial Pretreatment

IWR Impaired Surface Waters Rule

LF Linear Feet
LSJR Lower St. Johns River

MEP Maximum E xtent P racticable

MF Me mbrane Filter
M/H Manhole

mL Milliliter

MPN Most Probable Number
MS4 Municipal S eparate S torm S ewer S ystemFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xv 

## L IST OF 

## A CRONYMS

MSMP Master Stormwater Management Plan

MST Microbial Source Tracking

NHD National Hydrography Dataset

NOI Notice of Intent
NPDES National Po llutant Discharge Elimination System

NPS Nonpoint Source

OSTDS On s ite S ewage T reatment and D isposal S ystem
PBS&J Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan

PBTS Performance

- Based Treatment and Disposal System

PHP Preferred Hauler Program
PIC P otential I llicit C onnection
PSA Public Service Announcement

PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

PWD Public Works Department
QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control

R&R Repair and Replacement
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SCS U.S. Soil Conservation Service

SJRWM D St. Johns River Water Management District

SOP Standard Operating Procedure

SSO Sanitary Sewer Overflow

SWIM Surface Water Improvement and Management

SWMP Stormwater Management Program

TAT Tributary Assessment Team

TMDL Total M aximum D aily L oad
USF University of South Florida

UV Ultraviolet

WAV Watershed Action Volunteer

WBID Waterbody I dentification
WSEA Water and Sewer Expansion Authority

WWTF Wastewater Treatment FacilityFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xvi 

## E XE CUTIVE 

## S UMMAR Y

T RIBUTARIES OF T HE L OWER S T

. J OHNS R IVER B ASIN
Th e 10 tributaries discussed in this Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) occupy approximately 6% or more than 166 square miles of the Lower St. Johns River (LSJR) Basin

. The urban planning units are streams in the Duval County area, which include Trout Rive r, Ortega River, North Mainstem, and Intracoastal Waterway. These urban streams are smaller and their water quality affected by urbanization. At least part of the drainage from these tributaries flows through urban Jacksonville and many are tidally influenced for substantial

distances.

Th e area addressed by th is Lower St. Johns River Tributaries BMAP comprises the following

four planning units, which include several smaller lakes and canals :

**1.** The **Trout River Planning Unit**  , which contains the Trout River tr ibutary watershed, is located west of the St

. Johns River in northwestern Duval County. It covers approximately 94 square miles. The watershed, which joins the St

. Johns River where it turns east toward the Atlantic Ocean, is heavily influenced by tidal fluctuations (Bergman, 1992). A portion of Hogan Creek is located in th e planning

unit.

**2.** The **Ortega River Planning Unit**

, consisting of the Ortega River tributary

watershed

, is located west of the St

. Johns River in south

- central Duval County

and covers approximately 99 square miles. Cedar River, the largest tributary of the Ortega River, flows predominately southeast (Bergman, 1992). Tributaries of

the Cedar River include Butcher Pen Creek and most of Big Fishweir Cr eek

.

**3.** The **North Mainstem Planning**  **Unit** lies almost entirely in Duval County and
includes the main stem of the St

. Johns River from the mouth to Piney Point. It also includes many of the urbanized streams in downtown Jacksonville, such as Hogan Creek, Deer Creek, Goodbys Creek, Terrapin Creek, Newcastle Cree k

, Miramar Creek, and Miller Creek (Bergman, 1992).

**4.** The **Intracoastal Waterway Planning**  **Unit**

, which is south of the St. Johns River near its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean, covers approximately 99 square miles, primarily in St

. Johns County. It includes the cities of Atlantic Beach , Neptune

Beach , and Jacksonville Beach (Bergman, 1992). Open Creek is located in this planning unit

.

T OTAL M AXIMUM D AILY L OADS Total Maximum Daily Loads ( TMDLs ) are water quality targets for specific pollutants (such as fecal coliform) that are established for impaired waterbodies that do not meet their designated

uses based on Florida water quality standards. During Cycle 1 of the watershed management cycle in the LSJR Basin, a s required by federal law, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( F DEP) identified 55 tributaries that have verified fecal coliform impairments

.

I n 2006 , FDEP adopted TMDLs for the following waterbodies included in the BMAP :

**•** Miramar Creek

**•** Butcher Pen Creek **•** Hogan Creek

**•** Goodbys C reekFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

i FDEP the n adopted additional TMDLs for the BMAP in 2009 for the following waterbodies:

**•** Miller Creek

**•** Big Fishweir Creek

**•** Newcastle Creek **•** Deer Creek

**•** Terrapin Creek

**•** Open Creek

TMDLs also adopted in 2006 and 2009 for other fecal coliform impaired tributaries in the LSJR

Basin include :

**•** Williamson Creek

**•** Moncrief Creek

**•** Wills Branch

**•** Cedar River

**•** Ribault River

**•** McCoy Creek **•** Durbin Creek

**•** Deep Bottom Creek

**•** Blockhouse Creek

**•** Trout River

**•** Big Davis Creek

T HE L OWER S T

. J OHNS R IVER T RIBUTARIES B ASIN M ANAGEMENT A CTI ON P LAN
Th is BMAP for the tributaries to the L SJR addresses 10 of the 55 tributaries impaired for fecal

coliform

. These initial 1 0 tributaries were identified as the worst -case waterbody identification ( WBID ) numbers, based on a ranking method establishing the severity of bacterial

contamination

. The projects and activities outlined in this BMAP are sufficient to address all of the identified sources and, with full implementation of this BMAP, the 10 WBIDs are expected to meet the TMDL requirements. Thr ough ongoing studies, the five year BMAP milestone

evaluation and the annual review s we will be able to identify and address any additional sources

that occur. Any f uture BMAPs will address additional subsets of the tributaries verified impaired

for fecal coliform

.

BMAP B ASIN W ORKING G ROUP M EMBERSHIP FDEP worked with the Basin Working Group to prepare this BMAP. The BWG members represent the following groups and organizations:

**•** City of Jacksonville

**•** Duval County Department of Health

**•** Florida Department of Tr ansportation

**•** JEA

BMAP A PPROACH This BMAP provides for phased implementation pursuant to Section 403.067(7)(a)1, Florida Statutes (F.S.). The adaptive management approach for TMDL implementation described in this BMAP will address fecal coliform bacteria reductions and the iterative evaluation process will continue until attainment of the TMDL. The phased BMAP approach allows for implementation of projects designed to achieve reductions while simultaneously implementing source assessment, monitoring, and conducting studies to better understand fecal coliform variability and water quality dynamics in each impaired waterbody.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xviii A five

- year milestone in this BMAP will assess and verify that adequate progress is being made towards achieving the TMDLs. During the fifth year following the BMAP adoption (2014), the water quality data will be evaluated for in

- stream reductions of fecal coliform levels within each WBID. By this year, the median value for the fecal coliform counts in the first four years of

BMAP im plementation should be 50 percent of the median expressed in the TMDL, which was based on the verified period of record (January 1, 1996 to June 30, 2003) in each WBID. If this 50 percent reduction is not achieved by the time of this year five analysis, a dditional efforts may be required. Achieving 50 percent of the required reductions will be an important milestone for this BMAP and will provide an opportunity to improve source assessment and management measures going forward.

S UFFICIENCY OF E FFORT E VA LUATION The tributary fecal coliform TMDLs are expressed as a percent reduction based on in

- stream fecal coliform concentrations. This method of TMDL allocation prevents detailed allocations, as it is complicated to equitably allocate to stakeholders based on a percent reduction of in

- stream concentration. Fecal coliform can be highly variable and easily transported, which makes it difficult, in many cases, to identify the source of the bacteria. Additionally, there are nearly no data that show the efficiency of stormwater BMPs and management actions in removing or reducing fecal coliforms.

FDEP evaluated fecal coliform reduction activities using a “sufficiency of effort” approach, which

is a WBID

- specific assessment of the identified potential sources and the specific activities that reduce or eliminate sources of fecal coliform loading. This sufficiency of effort evaluation is not an assessment of each entity’s individual activities; instead, the focus is whether the submitted activities corresponded t o the potential sources identified in the WBID and whether the total efforts were adequate to eliminate the known sources, assess unknown sources, and prevent the development of new sources. If any of the likely sources were not sufficiently addressed,

FD EP identified the need for additional actions, which were added to the responsible entity’s project table for that WBID. The sum of the actions in this BMAP is sufficient to address the potential sources, based upon the information available. Additional actions may be necessary in the next cycle if reductions do not occur as expected.

K EY E LEMENTS OF THE BMAP This BMAP addresses the key elements required by the Florida Watershed Restoration Act ( FWRA ), Chapter 403.067, Florida Statutes ( F.S

. ), including the following :

**•** Document how the public and other stakeholders were encouraged to participate or participated in developing the BMAP ( **Section 1.3.1**  and **Appendix C** );

**•** Equitably allocate pollutant reductions in the basin ( **Section 1.3.4**  );

**•** Identify the mechanisms by which potential future increases in pollutant loading will be addressed ( **Section 1.5**  );

**•** Document management actions/projects to achieve the TMDLs ( **Chapter 6** through **Chapter 15** );

**•** Document the implementation schedule, funding, responsibilities, and milestones ( **Sections 6.3** 

**, 7.3** 

**, 8.3** 

**, 9.3** 

**, 10.3** 

**, 11.3** 

**, 12.3** 

**, 13.3** 

**, 14.3** 

**,** and **15.3** );

and

**•** Identify monitoring, evaluat ion, and a reporting strategy to evaluate reasonable progress over time ( **Section 4.2**  ).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xix A NTICIPATED O UTCOMES OF BMAP I MPLEMENTATION Through the implementation of projects, activities , and additional source assessment in this BMAP, stakeholders expect the following outcomes:

**•** Improved water quality trends in the tributaries of the L SJR that will also help improve water quality in the main stem of the river ;

**•** Decreased loading (levels) of the target pollutant (fecal coliform);

**•** Enhanced public awareness of fecal coliform sources and impacts on water quality ;

**•** Enhanced effectiveness of corresponding corrective actions by stakeholders ;

**•** Enhanced understanding of b asin hydrology, water quality, and pollutant

sources; and

**•** Th e ability to evaluate management act ions

, estimate their benefits and identify additional pollutant sources

.

BMAP C OST Costs were provided for 79% of the activities identified in the BMAP, with an estimated total cost of more than $ 31 million for capital projects and approximately $59 million for ongoing programs

and activities

. In addition, some of the activities identified in the BMAP only had countywide

costs available

, for a total of almost $ 5.5 million. The funding sources range from local

contribu tions to legislative appropriations. Technical stakeholders and Basin Working Group (BWG) members will continue to explor e new opportunities for funding assistance to ensure that the activities listed in this BMAP can be maintained at the necessary level of effort.

BMAP F OLLOW

- UP As a part of BMAP follow

- up, FDEP and stakeholders will track implementation efforts and

monitor water quality to determine additional sources and water quality trends. The sampling locations in the monitoring plan were selected to identify other potential sources of

contamination through source assessment monitoring in key locations throughout the

watersheds and to track trends in fecal coliform in the WBIDs by using existing stations with extensive historical data. The source assessment monitoring will follow the established Tributaries Assessment Team (TAT) protocol in which any observed fecal coliform colony

counts

, over 5,000

, will be followed

- up with bracketed sampling in an effort to determine the source of the high fecal coliform count. FDEP and COJ are responsible for the trend and source assessment sampling in the monitoring plan and JEA has committed to processing up to 32 samples each month in their laboratory for FDEP and COJ.

The results of these efforts will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMAP activities in reducing fecal coliform loading in the tributaries. The BWG will meet at least every 12 months to discuss implementation issues, consider new information, and determine what other management strategies are needed if monitoring indicates that additional measures are

necessary to reduce fecal coliform

.

B ENEFITS OF THE BMAP P ROCESS With the implementation of activities outlined in this BMAP, in addition to the anticipated outcomes noted above, the foll owing benefits are expected:Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

xx **•** Increased coordination between state and local governments and within divisions of local governments in problem solving for surface water quality restoration;

**•** Securing additional state and local funding for water quality restoration;

**•** Improved communication and cooperation among state and local agencies

resp onding to restoration needs; and

**•** Determination of effective projects through the stakeholder decision

- making and priority

- setting processes

. C OMMITMENT TO BMAP I MPLEMENTATION The Basin Working Group members will provide endorsement of the BMAP on behalf of the entities they represent and are committed to ensuring the plan is implemented to achieve

reductions of fecal coliforms in the tributaries. In addition to this endorsemen t, the entities will also provide FDEP with letters of commitment or resolutions of support to ensure that as staff and board members change over time, the entity has a way to ensure support for the BMAP and

the efforts included.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

1 

## CHAPTER 1 : C ONTE XT



## , P UR POSE



## , AN D 

## S COPE OF THE 

## P LAN



## 1.1 W ATER 

## Q UALITY 

## S TANDAR DS AND 

## T OTAL 

## M AXIMUM 

## D AILY 

## L OADS

Florida's water quality standards are designed to ensure that surface waters can be used for their designated purposes, such as drinking water, recreation, and agriculture. Currentl y, most surface waters in Florida, including those in the Lower St

. Johns River (LSJR) Basin, are categorized as Class III waters, which mean s they must be suitable for recreation and must support the propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well

- balanced population of fish and

wildlife. Table 1 shows all designated use categories.

Under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, every two years each state must identify its “impaired” waters, including estuaries, lakes, rivers, and streams, that do not meet their designated uses and are not expected to improve within the subsequent two years. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( F DEP) is responsible for developing this “303(d) list” of impaired waters.

T ABLE 1: D E S IGNATE D U SE A TTAINME NT C ATE GOR IE S FOR F LOR IDA S UR FACE W ATERS

C ATEGOR Y D E S C R IPTION

Class I* Potable water supplies

Class II* Shellfish propagation or harvesting

Class III Recreation, propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well

- balanced population

of fish and wildlife

Class IV Agricultural water supplies

Class V Navigation, utility, and industrial use ( no current Class V designations )

* Class I and II waters include the uses of the classifications listed below them.

Florida's 303(d) list identifies hundreds of water body segments that fall short of water quality standards. The three most common water quality concerns are coliform, nutrients, and oxygen

demanding substances. The listed water body segments are candidates for more detailed assessments of water quality to determine whether they are impaired according to state statutory and rule criteria. F DEP develops and adopts Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for the waterbody segments it identifies as impaired. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a specific pollutant that a waterbody can assimilate while maintaining its designated uses.

The water quality evaluation and decision

- making processes for listing impaired waters and establishing TMDLs are authorized by Section 403.067, Florida Statutes (F.S.), known as the

Florida Watershed Restoration Act (FWRA) , and contained in Florida’s Identification of Impaired
Surface Waters Rule (IWR)

, Rule 62

- 303, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The impaired

waters in the tributaries of the LSJR Basin addressed in this plan are all Class III waters.

TMD Ls have been established for the se waters, identifying the amount of fecal coliform and other pollutants they can receive and still maintain Class III designated uses.

TMDLs are developed and implemented as part of a watershed management cycle that rotates through the state’s 52 river basins every 5 years (see Appendix A ) to evaluate waters, determine impairments, and develop and implement management strategies to restore impaired waters to their designated uses. Table 2 summarizes t he five phases of the watershed management cycle.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

2 T ABLE 2: P HAS E S OF THE W ATE R S HE D M ANAGE ME NT C YCLE

Phase 1 Preliminary evaluation of water quality

Phase 2 Strategic monitoring and assessment to verify water quality impairments

Phase 3 Development and adoption of TMDLs for waters verified as impaired

Phase 4 Development of management strategies to achieve the TMDL(s)

Phase 5 Implementation of TMDL(s), including monitoring and assessment



## 1.2 TMDL I MPLE ME NTATION

R ule

- adopted TMDLs may be implemented through B asin M anagement A ction P lans (BMAPs), which contain strategies to reduce and prevent pollutant discharges through various costeffective means. During Phase 4 of the TMDL process, FDEP and the affected stakeholders in the various basins jointly develop BMAPs or other implementation approaches. A basin may have more than one BMAP, based on practical considerations. The FWRA contains provisions that guide the development of BMAPs and other TMDL implementation approaches. Appendix

B summarizes the statutory provisions related to BMAP development.

Stakeholder involvement is critical to the success of the TMDL Program, and varies with each phase of implementation to achieve different purposes. The BMAP development process is

structured to achieve cooperation and consensus among a broad range of interested parties

. Under statute, F DEP invites stakeholders to participate in the BMAP development process and encourages public participation to the greatest practicable extent. F DEP must hold at least one noticed public meeting in the basin to discuss and receive comments during the planning

process. S takeholder involvement is essential to develop, gain support for, and secure commitments to implement the BMAP.



## 1.3 T HE 

## L OWER 

## S T



## . J OHNS 

## R IVE R 

## T R IB UTAR IE S 

## B AS IN 

## M ANAGE ME NT 

## A CTION


## P LAN



### 1.3.1 S TAK E HOLDE R 

### I NVOLVE ME NT

In 2005, the Tributaries Assessment Team (TAT) was formed to investigate potential sources of

fecal coliform in the LSJR tributaries. The TAT membership comprises several agencies and organizations

, including FDEP, City of Jacksonville (COJ) Environmental Quality Division (EQD), COJ Public Works Department (PWD)

, Duval County Health Dep artment (DCHD)

, and

JEA ( the regional utility provider)

. The TAT has collected much of the water quality data that provide the basis for the analyses presented in this BMAP.

As part of its efforts, the TAT samples a number of tributaries ( 10 WBIDs are included in the 2009 sampling plan)

. When a sample is above a fecal coliform colony count of 5,000, the TAT collects additional samples upstream and downstream of the high count in an effort to bracket

the location of the source. In addition to intensive water quality sampling, the TAT analyzes the water quality data in conjunction with GIS information to identify opportunities for eliminating

source s and carrying out additional focused sampling . This effort requires interagency

coordination and communica tion to effectively address a source

, because the TAT member who identifies the source may not be associated with the appropriate entity to implement the

corrective action. The TAT’s interagency, coordinated effort has identified and eliminated fecal

coli form sources in the tributaries, which has helped to improve water quality in the tributaries.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

3 I n July 2006 , FDEP initiated BMAP technical meetings involving key stakeholders. The purpose of the technical meetings is for stakeholders to gather information on the impaired tributaries to aid in the development of the BMAP and to identify management actions to improve water quality.

In addition to stakeholder input on the technical issues of BMAP development, FDEP solicited further input from key stakeholde r groups at the management level by creating the Basin Working Group (BWG) in October 2007. The BWG provide s recommendations to FDEP on issues related to BMAP development. The BWG developed the following mission statement :

The mission of the Lower St. Johns River Tributaries Basin Working Group is to encourage participation of all interested parties in working to restore impaired waterbodies through recommendations for an equitable and cost

- effective B asin

M

anagement A ction P lan to achieve Total Maximum Daily Load reduction goals in
the tributaries of the Lower St. Johns River.

Except as specifically noted in subsequent sections, this BMAP doc ument reflects the input of the technical stakeholders and the BWG, along with public input from workshops and mee tings held to discuss key aspects of the TMDL and BMAP development

. Appendix C provides

f urther details

.



### 1.3.2 P LAN 

### P UR POSE AND 

### A PPROACH

As reflected in the BWG’s mission statement, the purpose of this BMAP is to implement load

reductions to achieve the fecal c oliform TMDLs for the LSJR Basin tributaries

. The plan also outlines specific actions that will achieve load reductions and a schedule for implementation. In addition, it details a monitoring approach to identify additional sources of fecal coliform and to track trends in water quality

. The BWG will meet at least annual ly to review progress made

towards achiev ing the TMDL s.

Th is BMAP for the LSJR tributaries addresses 10 of the 55 tributaries impaired for fecal

coliform

. Specifically, it focuse s on actions that reduce fecal coliform levels

, with a goal of meeting the associated TMDLs. O ther water quality concerns will benefit from the se BMAP

actions , such as issues with nutrients and low dissolved oxygen . H owever, it must be emphasized that this BMAP d oes not address all of the water quality issues in the basin. F uture
fecal coliform BMAPs in the L SJR tributaries will include additional subsets of the tributaries

listed as impaired for fecal coliform

.
For assessment purposes, FDEP has divided the LSJR Basin into water assessment polygons with a unique w ater b ody id entification (WBID) number for each watershed or stream reach

. Figure 1 shows t he 10 most severely impacted WBIDs discussed in this BMAP

.
Though considerable effort was taken to understand the dynamics of the TMDL waterbodies,

the relation ship of fecal coliform water quality exceedances to pollutant sources is not well

understood. Where specific fecal coliform sources were identified, the BWG and stake holders have proposed projects and activities to eliminate those sources. In areas where specific

sources were not definitively identified, programs to prevent further fecal coliform loading

, including assessments and sampling to identify and eliminate so urces

, are listed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

4 F IGUR E 1: L SJR B AS IN T R IB UTAR IE S I NCLUDE D IN THE B MAPFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

5 For the projects and programs in this BMAP, quantitative values for pollutant load reduction

activities cannot be calculated due to a lack of scientific information on the bacteria removal rates for best management practices (BMPs) and activities that reduce fecal coliform levels. While it is known that certain BMPs prevent or remove fecal coliform sources, it is not known exactly how much of a reduction will occur in the tributaries. As a result, the expected dates on

which the TMDLs will be achieved are not provided; however, there is a milestone to evaluate progress in Year 5 of the BMAP ( Section 4.5 ). Des pite the uncertainties, stakeholders do expect to achieve water quality improvements by the end of the first five

- year BMAP cycle through past and future activities

, projects, and programs to eliminate sources outlined in this

BMAP.



### 1.3.3 P LAN 

### S COPE

The initial subset of 1 0 tributaries included in this BMAP was identified as the worst

- case WBID s. This determination us es a ranking method that establishes the severity of water quality impairment based on the number of exceedances of fecal coliform colony counts

. The water quality ranking method uses the total number of fecal coliform samples in the waterbody during the period of record to categorize how many samples were over 800, 5,000, and 10,000 colony

counts. A combined rank is then created based on the numbe r of exceedances in each category. The WBID s are sorted from worst to best to provide a guideline for assessment priorities , with the worst

- case waterbody ranked as number one

.
In an effort to address the known impairments in these tributaries

, F DEP contracted with Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan ( PBS&J ) to develop technical reports that describe and interpret the water quality, spatial, and geographic data from F DEP, D CHD , COJ, and JEA. The available

data are analyzed in the reports to identify the most probable source s of fecal coliform , which

fall into five main categories (not in order of magnitude ) , as follows : (1) stormwater ; (2) onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems ( OSTDS ); (3) sewer infrastructure ; (4) nonpoint sources such as pet waste ; a nd (5) natural background such as wildlife

.
These reports were peer reviewed by the technical stakeholders in the basin , who also provided additional input based on their knowledge of the tributaries. Each of the technical reports provide s individual wa terbody

– specific information in a stand

- alone document. The technical

stakeholders used the reports to establish a baseline and to assist in identifying project s and additional monitoring needs, which are included in th is BMAP. Chapter 6 through Chapter 15

summarize key findings from the technical reports. Additional detailed information for each

WBID is located in the full versions of the technical reports, which are available from FDEP.

The technical reports use a “weight

- of

- evidence” approach to help identify likely sources of fecal coliform and guide follow

- up reconnaissance and investigation toward corrective actions . This approach utilizes statistical and Geographic Information System (GIS) data analyses to focus watershed management efforts, classify priorities , and support decisions related to fecal

coliform reduction efforts

. These analyses are a product of the best information available at the time to summarize impairments and identify potential sources. The l imitations of the available

datasets were identified in the technical report s to provide context for data interpretation. T he weight

- of

- evidence method

, in conjunction with the best professional judg ment of the

stakeholders who have local knowledge of these WBIDs

, was used to aid in source identification

to the maximum extent possible

.
At this time, water quality mo deling has not been used to assess the temporal relationship between the source of fecal coliform and the associated impact on the waterbody. Due to the inherent variability of fecal coliform and the diffuse nature of nonpoint sources, modeling was

not considered viable

, and the weight

- of

- evidence approach was utilized to provide informatio nFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

6 on the most likely sources. Modeling may be considered in the future to help refine the understanding of sources and impacts in the tributaries.



### 1.3.4 S UFFICIE NCY OF 

### E FFOR T 

### A PPROACH AND 

### D E TE R MINATION OF 

### S UFFICIE NCY Fecal coliform can be highly variable and ea sily transported, mak ing it difficult, in many cases, to identify the source of the bacteria. Based on the potential sources in each WBID, the

stakeholders were asked to identify their activities to reduce or remove bacteria sources that have been implemented since 1996 (the start of the TMDL verified period) and additional efforts that are currently under way or planned in the next five years . COJ, DCHD, Florida Department of Transportation ( FDOT ) District 2, and JEA all submitted project sheets and prog ram descriptions for the prevention, reduction, and source removal activities they conduct in each of

the 10 WBIDs or on a countywide basis. FDEP then used a “ sufficiency of effort ” approach to
conduct a WBID

- specific assessment of the potential sources

, and cumulative projects and activities that address or eliminate fecal coliform loading. This sufficiency of effort evaluation

wa s not an assessment of each agency ’s individual activities; instead, it focused on whether the activities submitted by all the entities correspond ed to the potential sources identified and whether the total efforts were adequate to eliminate the known sources, assess unknown sources, and prevent the development of new sources

.
During the sufficiency of effort evaluation, FDEP r eviewed the following information about each

WBID:

**•** D ocumentation of the most likely sources ;

**•** A GIS database to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of the

sources ;

**•** Pe rmit and water quality information ;

**•** R elevant field information ; and

**•** T he c ompleted corrective actions.

As the evaluation wa s conducted, the agencies’ programs and activities for each type of source

were recorded in a table summarizing restoration activities ( see the sections on Summary of

Restoration Activities in Chapter 6 through Chapter 15 )

. Because the controllable sources (sewer infrastructure, septic tanks, and stormwater conveyances) vary considerably among the WBIDs, the action s an d responsibilit ies of the stakeholders also vary considerably from WBID to

WBID. T o describe each WBID accurately and assess the efforts appropriately, each WBID is described in its own chapter and evaluated separately

.

The criterion for sufficiency for OSTDS

- related efforts include d the following: d esigna tion as a septic tank (OSTDS) failure or nuisance area in accordance with COJ Ordinance Code ( further

described in Appendix E )

, which prioritizes these areas for transition to sewer service ; s tatus of
OS TDS phase

- out to sewer; n umber of complaint investigations and any resulting enforcement actions; and n umber of septic tank repair permits and proximity of the repair sites to surface

waters or stormwater inlets

. In addition, program implementation was evaluated for efforts such

as inspections, training programs, plan review s and site visit s, and the regulation of annual operating permits. Local ordinances were also evaluated for their ability to proactive ly address potential OSTDS failures.

The evaluation of efforts for sewer infrastructure include d a determination of the percentage of the infrastructure within the waterbody boundary with recent sewer line upgrades ( cured in placeFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

7 pip e , pipe bursting, and open cut and removal )

. In addition, the number of rebuilt pump stations in each WBID was compared with the sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) history to determine if a previous problem was addressed through repairs and upgrades

. Rehabilitated m anholes can also prevent overflows from occurring at the manhole and potentially into surface waters or the stormwater system; therefore, manhole rehabilitation and monitoring efforts were quantified

. Additional sanitary sewer programs that occur on a systemwide or countywide basis , including

a ir release valve (ARV) i nspection and rehabilitation, SSO investigations, and sewer line inspection and cleaning, were also evaluated as measures to prevent and control sewer infrastructure as a potential fecal coliform source

.
The stormwater sufficiency evaluations included a re view of f lood control projects ( which reduce fecal coliform loading by preventing water from inundating septic systems) and stormwater

BMPs

, such as wet/dry retention and baffle boxes ( which reduce sediment buildup that can provid e a breeding ground for fe cal coliform )

. C onsideration was also given to the maintenance

of s tormwater ditch es , pond s , and closed conveyance s to prevent debris, vegetation, dense tree canopy, and sediment from potentially providing conditions that would allow new sources of

fecal coliform bacteria.

Another important activity that was evaluated was t he detection and removal of i llicit

connections to stormwater conveyances to eliminate illegal discharges that can contribut e fecal coliform and other pollutants into surface waters. Stormwater

- related program implementation

also includes public education campaigns

, the A dopt -A-H ighway P rogram, street sweeping, and

the Drainage Connection Permit Program , all of which reduce contaminants entering the stormwater system

. Additionally, CO J is developing a pet waste public education campaign using public service announcements, website content, and printed handouts to raise awareness and promote compliance with the Pet Waste Ordinance.

In addition to efforts specific to each source, the entities also participate in special source assessment activities. The activities include TAT sampling of several WBIDs and follow

- up sampling at locations where high counts occur, in an effort to identify potential sources. A “ W alk the WBID” exercise was completed in 2008 to gain a better understanding of the WBIDs and potential sources. Additional sampling and thermal imaging ( see Section 4.3 ) are currently being implemented in 10 tributaries (including several that are part of this BMAP) to further identify sources of fecal coliform.

For each waterbody evaluation , F DEP used the technical report source summary and compared

it with the summary of restoration activities table to ensure that appropriate programs a nd

activities were being implemented for the most likely sources to either decrease or eliminate the

known sources

, or further assess fecal coliform loadings. If any of the likely sources was not sufficiently addressed, FDEP identified the need for additi onal actions. The full implementation of the management actions/projects identified in this BMAP is deemed sufficient to address the

fecal coliform bacteria reductions needed to meet the TMDLs.



### 1.3.5 P OLLUTANT 

### R E DUCTION AND 

### D IS CHAR GE 

### A L LOC ATIONS



### 1.3.5.1 Categories for Rule Allocations

The rules adopting TMDLs must establish reasonable and equitable allocations that will alone, or in conjunction with other management and restoration activities, attain the TMDL. Allocations may be to individual sources, source categories, or basins that discharge to the impaired waterbody. The allocations identify either how much pollutant discharge in colonies per day each source designation may continue to contribute (discharge allocation ), or the colonies perFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

8 day or the percent of its loading the source designation must reduce (reduction allocation )

. Currently, the TMDL allocation categories are as follows :

**• Wasteload Allocation**  – T he allocation to point sources permitted under the

N

ational Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program includes the following :

o Wastewater Allocation is the allocation to industrial and domestic wastewater

facilities.

 NPDES Stormwater Allocation i s the a llocation to NPDES stormwater permittees that operate municipal separate storm sewer systems (M S4s)

. These permittees are treated as point sources under the TMDL P rogram.

o Load Allocation is t he allocation to nonpoint sources, including agricultural runoff and stormwater from areas that are not covered by an MS4

.



### 1.3.5.2 Initial and Detailed Allocations

Und er the FWRA, the TMDL allocation in rule may be an “initial” allocation among point and nonpoint sources. In such cases, the “detailed” allocation to specific point sources and specific categories of nonpoint sources must be established in the BMAP. The FWRA further states that the BMAP may make detailed allocations to individual “ basins ” (i.e., sub

- basins) or to all basins as a whole, as appropriate. Both initial and detailed allocations must be determined based on a

number of factors listed in the FWRA , including cost

- benefit, technical and environmental feasibility, implementation time frames, and others (see Appendix B ).

Due to the nature of the fecal coliform impairment, this BMAP does not specify detailed allocations. It is difficult to attribute the fecal coliform loads to specific sources because bacteria are highly variable and can be easily transported. In addition, research is not available that quantifies the expected fecal coliform reduction from project implementation. Instead of assignin g detailed allocations, a sufficiency of effort evaluation (as described in Section 1.3.4 ) was conducted to assess whether the management actions provided by the entities in the basin were sufficient to address the potential sources of fecal coliform identified in each WBID.



### 1.3.6 TMDL S IN THE 

### T R IB UTAR IE S OF THE 

### L SJR B AS IN The water quality criterion for fecal coliform bacteria is detailed in Rule 62

- 302, F.A.C. The requirements for exceeding maximum fecal coliform co ncentrations in a Class III waterbody are

stated as follows:

The most probable number (MPN) or membrane filter (MF) counts per 100 milliliters ( mL ) of fecal coliform bacteria shall not exceed a monthly average of 200, nor exceed

400 in 10 % of samples, nor exceed 800 on any one day.

FDEP has verified the 10 tributaries of the LSJR included in this BMAP as impaired for fecal

coliform bacteria. The TMDLs for Hogan Creek, Butcher Pen Creek, Miramar Creek, and Goodbys Creek were adopted by FDEP in 2006

. In July 2009, FDEP adopted t he TMDLs for Newcastle Creek, Miller Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, Deer Creek, Terrapin Creek, and Open
Creek.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

9 Table 3 lists the TMDLs and pollutant load allocations adopted by rule for the 10 tributaries that

are the focus of this BMAP

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

10 T ABLE 3: TMDL S FOR THE L SJR T R IB UTAR IE S

WB ID

N UMB E R WB ID N AME W ATER B ODY
T YPE W AS TE LOAD A LL OC ATION

L OAD
A LL OC ATION (%) W ASTEWATER *
( C OL ONIE S / DAY ) NPDE S

S TOR MWATE R (%)

2235 Newcastl e Creek Stream N/A 84 84

2252 Hogan Creek Stream 200 92 92

2322 Butcher Pen Creek Stream Meet permit limits 83 83

2287 Miller Creek Stream N/A 92 92

2304 Miramar Creek Stream N/A 92 92

2280 Big Fishweir Creek Stream N/A 87 87

2256 Deer Creek Stream N /A 86 86

2204 Terrapin Creek Stream N/A 71 71

2326 Goodbys Creek Stream N/A 87 87

2299 Open Creek Stream N/A 60 60

* Cannot exceed 200 counts/100mL as a monthly average, 400 counts/100mL in more than 10 % of the samples, or 800 counts/100mL at any given time.
N/A – Not applicable



## 1.4 A S S UMPTIONS AND 

## C ONS IDE R ATIONS 

## R E GAR DING 

## TMDL I MPLE ME NTATION

The water quality impacts of BMAP implementation are based on several fundamental assumptions about the pollutants targeted by the TMDLs, modeling approaches, waterbod y response, and natural processes. In addition, there are important considerations to keep in mind about the nature of the BMAP and its long

- term implementation.



### 1.4.1 A S S UMPTIONS The following assumptions were used during the BMAP process:

**•** Load reductions for stormwater discharges are typically expressed as a percent reduction because it is very difficult to quantify the loads from MS4s (given the numerous discharge points) and to distinguish loads from MS4s from other nonpoint sources (given the nature of stor mwater transport).

**•** Quantified bacteria loads from specific sources are generally not known because they are highly variable. As the bacteria loads from individual

sources are not well understood

, it is not possible to calculate a specific load for a specific source. Rather, a percent reduction in load, calculated from stream load, not source to stream

, is the best way to quantify the necessary reduction.

**•** The technical stakeholders evaluate d the known sources of bacteria contributing to the impairment in each waterbody and w here there was strong evidence of responsibility . T he stakeholders and BWG then determined projects to address these problems and included these projects in the BMAP

.

**•** In cases where the sources were unknown

, the stakeholders and BWG determined appropriate assessment program s to investigate the sources of bacteria loadings.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

11 **•** It is difficult to determine the quantitative load reductions expected from

m anagement actions to decrease fecal coliform due to a lack of literature

values and high variability ; therefore, the benefits of these management actions were evaluated on a qualitative basis by matching elimination, reduction, and prevention activities to known or potential sources

.

**•** Flood control projects are included as activities that help achieve the TMDL because these projects help to reduce flooding after a storm event, which reduces the amount of fecal coliform loading to the nearby waterbody through

stormwater runoff. P rograms such as Adopt –A- Highway and street sweeping are also included because they remove trash, sediment, debris, and pollutants from roadways that would otherwise be transported to stormwater systems and surface waters. Fecal coliform can be transported in sediments and

debris

, and these materials can also create a breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, flood control projects and roadway clean

- up programs were given

credit in this BMAP as actions to reduce fecal coliform.

**•** The penetration of ultraviolet (UV) light into waters and sediments may assist in aiding fe cal coliform die

- off and prevent ing bacteria regrowth.



### 1.4.2 C ONS IDE R ATIONS
This BMAP requires all stakeholders to implement their projects and programs to achieve reductions as soon as practicable. However, the full implementation of this BMAP will be a long -t erm process. While some of the projects and activities contained in the BMAP we re recently completed or are currently ongoing, several projects require more time to design, secure funding, and construct. While funding the projects could be an issue, fund ing limitations

do not affect the requirement that every entity must implement the activities listed in the BMAP

.

Sinc e BMAP implementation is a long

- term process, the TMDL targets established for th e LSJR

B asin may not be achieved in the next five years

. I t may take even longer for the tributaries to respond to reduced loading s and fully meet applicable water quality standards . R egular follow

up and continued coordination and communication by the BWG and stakeholders will be

essential to ensur e the imple mentation of m anagement strategies and assessment of their

incremental effects. Any a dditional management actions required to achieve TMDLs , if

necessary

, will be d eveloped as part of BMAP follow

- up.

During the BMAP process, several items were identified that should be addressed in future watershed management cycles to ensure that future BMAPs use the most accurate information:

1. **Source Identification –**  Sources of fecal coliform impairment are particularly difficult to trace. For this reason, source identification studies are included as management actions. The TAT is monitoring 10 WBIDs as part of its 200 9 sampling plan. In addition, FDEP has contracted with PBS&J to conduct detailed

assessments of 1 1 WBIDs (several of which are included in this BMAP) th rough a combination of field reconnaissance, microbial source tracking (MST), and thermal imaging. These studies will provide additional information that will aid in identifying potential sources in the impaired tributaries.

2. **Septic Tanks –**  FDEP is impleme nting a study, Evaluation of Septic Tank Influences on Nutrient Loading to the Lower St. Johns River Basin and Its

Tributaries

, to provide a better understanding of the nutrient and bacteria loading from septic tanks via ground water by monitoring conditio ns at representative

sites. The study seeks to answer questions related to potential OSTDS impactsFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

12 and the attenuation of nitrogen, phosphorus

, and bacteria (fecal coliform) by soil type , under the range of conditions that represent typical OS T DS sites ne ar impaired surface waters. This study will also document the nutrient s and bacteria in the receiving LSJR tributaries at each site. The results will provide information about the relative contribution of fecal coliform from septic tanks located near the impaired tributaries.

3. **GIS information –**  During the BMAP process, the available GIS data, which provide a basis for some of the source analyses, ha ve improved. As more information becomes available, the updated GIS database for the tributaries will

be utilized to aid in source identification. This information will include d etermin ing the locations for private wastewater systems and infrastructure

, collecti ng jurisdictional or systemwide programs and activities on a WBID scale for future reporting and assessment, and systematic ally updat ing all GIS information

databases used to compile the BMAP.

4. **BMP evaluations –**  During the five

- year BMAP implementation cycle, studies to evaluate the effectiveness of BMPs to remove fecal coliform may present new

science for consideration in the BMAP process. As more information becomes available, the new science will be incorporated into the annual review process.



## 1.5 F UTUR E 

## G R OWTH IN THE 

## T R IB UTAR IE S

The FWRA (Paragraph 403.067 [7 ][ a ][ 2] , F.S .) requires that BMAPs “identify the mechanisms by which potential future increases in pollutant loading will be addressed.” To meet this requirement, fecal coliform loadings associated with future growth in the 10 tributaries were analyzed. Currently, human land uses predominate in the vast majority of these WBIDs ( Table

4 ). These uses include residential (high, medium, and low density ), commercial/utility/ institutional, transportation, recreational , industrial, feeding operations

, and cropland/ pastureland (Terrapin Creek only). Since these watersheds are mostly developed, any future growth in these areas is not expected to substantially increase fecal coliform loadings to the

creeks.

T ABLE 4: P E R CE NT H UMAN L AND U SES BY WB ID

WB ID % IN H UMAN U SES
Newcastle Creek 94.5 Hogan Creek 98.2

Butcher Pen Creek 94.4

Miller Creek 94.1

Miramar Creek 95.4 Big Fishweir Creek 96.9

Deer Creek 87.1 Terrapin Creek 36.2 Goodbys Creek 78.8 Open Creek 42.6

New development in these tributaries would most likely be connected to existing or future JEA sanitary sewer system infrastructure

, as opposed to septic tanks, where the wastewater will be treated to high levels. Several WBIDs include failure areas and, as funding is available, s ewer lines will be install ed in these areas to remove fa iling septic tanks, which will reduce fecal coliform loading from current development. Where sewer service is not available

, DC H D reviews septic tank plan s and evaluates site s before issuing new perm its , so that the new systems are correctly designed, placed, and operated to prevent further fecal coliform loading.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

13 In addition, ordinances, regulations, and guidelines address fecal coliform loading from new development and redevelopment. COJ has ordinances for pet waste management and septic tank phase

- out that address sources of fecal coliform. COJ also participates in the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program and has ordinances for landscape irrigation and fertilization

that reduce sediment loads to waterbodies

. Sediment loading may increase survival rates and may support the regrowth of fecal coliform bacteria. DCHD also has ordinances for repair ing faulty septic tanks and phasing out systems in septic tank nuisance areas

.
These programs and regulations, in conjunction with the COJ and FDOT stormwater and flood control projects described later in this BMAP, will effectively address potential fecal coliform loadings from any future growth in these tributaries.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

14 

## CHAPTER 2 : W ATE R 

## Q UAL ITY 

## T R E NDS IN THE 

## T R IB UTAR IE S



## 2.1 W ATER 

## Q UALITY 

## T R E NDS



### 2.1.1 N EWCASTLE 

### C REEK FDEP verified Newcastle Creek as impaired for fecal coliform using the IWR database. Table 5 summarizes the results, by year, for the verified period. There is a n 88.46 % overall exceedance

rate for fecal coliform in New c astle Creek during the verified period. There are 26 samples, ranging from 140 to 11,000 counts/100mL, with 23 samples exceeding the fecal coliform

criterion. Exceedances occur in all months in which samples have been collected

, except for March. March and April are the only months where 100 % exceedance rates d o not occur.

When aggregating data by season, the summer and fall seasons demonstrate the highest percentages of exceedances. T he yearly data sh ow that exceedance rates started declining in

the last 2 years of the verified period. The s ample size is small, ranging from 1 to 7 samples per year, making it difficult to verify potential trends. From the available data, the trend shows that

exceedanc es remain at 100 % until 2002. In 2002, there is a 71.43 % exceedance rate, and in

2003 the exceedance is 50 %.

T ABLE 5: S UMMAR Y OF N EWCASTLE C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR N 1 M INIMUM M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCE S

1996 1 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 1 100

1997 1 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 1 100

1998 3 1, 300 2, 400 2, 400 2, 033 3 100

1999 4 800 2, 400 1, 400 1, 500 4 100

2000 4 800 10

, 100 3, 250 4, 35 0 4 100

2001 4 532 7, 000 2, 350 3, 058 4 100

2002 7 260 11

, 000 2, 200 3, 479 5 71.43

2003 2 140 800 470 470 1 50

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.2 H OGAN 

### C REEK

Table 6 summarizes the fecal coliform data results in Hogan Creek, by year, for the verified period. The highest exceedances are observed during the summer (100 % ) and fall (83.33 % ). The yearly data show that t he median fecal coliform conce ntration fluctuate s over the verified period of record

, with a high percentage of exceedances in most years.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

15 T ABLE 6: S UMMAR Y OF H OGAN C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EA R N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF
E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCES

1996 1 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,300 1 100

1997 1 800 800 800 800 1 100

1998 3 2,600 11,000 8,000 7,200 3 100

1999 4 2,600 17,000 8,500 9,150 4 100

2000 4 300 9,000 530 2,590 3 75

2001 5 100 7,100 202 2,514 2 40

2002 4 96 24,000 3,020 7,534 3 75

1 Number of samples

2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.3 B UTCHE R 

### P E N 

### C REEK

Table 7 summarizes the fecal coliform data results for Butcher Pen Creek, by year, for the

verified period. There is a 95 % overall exceedance rate for fecal coliform

, with a 100 % exceedance rate for all months except April, which has a 66.67 % exceedance rate. In addition,

there is a 100 % exceedance rate for all years except 1999, which has a 75 % exceedance rate.

While the median concentration of fecal coliform decrease s over the verified period, the levels remain consistently above fecal coliform standards.

T ABLE 7: S UMMAR Y OF B UTCHE R P E N C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR * N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 % E XCEEDANCES

1996 1 800 800 800 800 1 100

1998 4 500 90,000 5,36 8 25,309 4 100

1999 4 270 3,000 2,350 1,993 3 75

2000 4 1,300 4,800 2,050 2,550 4 100

2001 4 500 6,000 1,263 2,256 4 100

2002 4 460 5,200 1,180 2,005 4 100

* Table represents years for which data exist

. 1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.4 M ILLE R 

### C REEK

Table 8 summarizes t he fecal coliform data results for Miller Creek , b y year, for the verified period. There is a 75 % overall exceedance rate during the verified period. There are 20 samples, ranging from 88 to 200,000 counts/100mL, with 15 samples exceeding the criteri on for

fecal coliform. When the data are examined by season, the summer and fall seasons demonstrate the highest percentages of exceedances

. For the yearly data, exceedance rates start declining in the last 3 years of the verified period; however, sample size is small, ranging

from 1 to 4 samples per year, making it difficult to verify potential trends. From the available data, t he trend shows exceedances dip down to 75 % in 1999, return to 100 % in 2000

, and then gradually drop to 0 % by 2003.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

16 T ABLE 8: S UMMAR Y OF M ILLE R C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR * N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF
E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCE S

1996 1 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 5, 000 1 100

1997 0 - - - - - -

1998 3 500 30

, 000 16

, 000 15

, 500 3 100

1999 4 270 5, 000 1, 050 1, 843 3 75

2000 4 800 2, 400 950 1, 275 4 100

2001 4 3 00 200

, 000 706 50

, 428 3 75

2002 3 88 6, 900 280 2, 423 1 33.33

2003 1 112 112 112 112 0 0

* Table represents years for which data exist

. “– “ means n o data are available.

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.5 M IR AMAR 

### C REEK

Table 9 summarizes the fecal coliform results for Miramar Creek, by year

, during the verifi ed period . There is a 95.7 % overall exceedance rate for fecal coliform . E xceedances occu r in all

seasons which

, except for spring (April through June), have a 100 % exceedance rate. The spring season has a n 80 % exceedance rate. The yearly data show 100 % exceedances in all years, except 2002, which has a 90 % exceedance rate. The highest coun ts occu r in 1998, 1999, and 2000. The fecal coliform concentration remains well above standards during the verified period.

T ABLE 9: S UMMAR Y OF M IR AMAR C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCES

1996 1 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 1 100

1998 3 8,000 16,000 9,000 11,000 3 100

1999 4 2,600 16,000 15,000 12,150 4 100

2000 4 2,000 16,000 6,700 7,850 4 100

2001 4 500 4,000 2,350 2,300 4 100

2002 10 384 7,000 1,565 2,406 9 90

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.6 B IG 

### F IS HWE IR 

### C REEK

Table 10 summarizes the results in Big Fishweir Creek, by year, for the verified period. There is

an 83.7 % overall exceedance rate for fecal coliform. There are 64 samples collected in the verified period, ranging from 10 to 160,000 counts/100mL; 53 of the 64 observations exceed the

state criteri on of 400 counts/100mL. Seasonally, exceedances occur in all seasons;

exceedance s are highest in the summer and fall, with the lowest percentage of exceedance s occurring in the spring. When considering the data by year, all years have at least a 62 %

exceedance rate.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

17 T ABLE 10 : S UMMAR Y OF B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR T H E V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF
E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDAN CES

1996 2 1,300 2,400 1,850 1,850 2 100

1998 6 40 90,000 5,350 25,173 4 66.67

1999 8 330 5,000 3,000 3,041 7 87.5

2000 8 140 160,000 500 22,293 5 62.5

2001 12 10 160,000 2,500 16,450 10 83.33

2002 22 264 17,200 927 3,607 19 86.36

2003 6 700 5,000 3 ,000 3,183 6 100

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.7 D EER 

### C REEK

Table 11 s ummarizes t he fecal coliform results for Deer Creek , by year, during the verified period

. There is a 71 % o verall exceedance rate for fecal coliform. There are 50 samples, ranging from 80 to 200,000 counts/100mL, with 41 samples exceeding the criterion for fecal

coliform. Summer has the highest exceedance rate

, and f all and spring ha ve the lowest percentage of exceedances. Over the years, exceedance rates have generally fallen. In 1996, 1998, and 1999

, 100 % exceedance rates are observed, while 2003 only has an exceedance
rate of 20 %

.

T ABLE 11 : S U MMAR Y OF D EER C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR FOR

THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR * N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCE S

1996 1 8, 000 8, 000 8, 000 8, 000 1 100

1997 - - - - - - -

1998 6 300 24

, 000 7, 550 13

, 513 6 100

1999 8 140 16

, 000 7, 550 13

, 513 8 100

2000 10 80 160

, 000 5, 650 29

, 148 8 80

2001 9 300 13

, 000 7, 100 6, 711 8 88.89

2002 11 130 200

, 000 1, 700 20

, 494 9 81.82

2003 5 100 830 230 334 1 20

* Table represents years for which data exist . “– “ means n o data are available.

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.8 T E R R APIN 

### C REEK

Table 12 summarizes t he fecal coliform results for Terrapin C reek , by year, during the verified period. There is a 65.52 % overall exceedance rate. There are 29 samples, ranging from 30 to 160,000 counts/100mL, with 19 samples exceeding the criterion for fecal coliform. When aggregating data by season, winter, summer, and fall demonstrate the highest percentages of exceedances (all above 66 %), and spring has the lowest (40 % ). Exceedance rates appear to be relatively uniform throughout the verified period. Sample size is small, ranging from 1 to 11 samples per year, making it difficult to verify potential trends. However, from the data that areFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

18 available, exceedances remain between 50 and 75 % , except for 1996 , which has an exceedance rate of 100 % , based on only 1 sample.

T ABLE 12 : S UMMA RY OF T E R R APIN C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR * N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCE S

1996 1 1, 300 1, 300 1, 300 1, 300 1 100

1997 - - - - - - -
1998 3 300 24

, 000 1, 700 8, 667 2 66.67

1999 4 140 16

, 000 1, 000 4, 535 3 75

2000 4 40 160

, 000 7, 550 43

, 785 3 75

2001 4 30 1, 000 356 436 2 50

2002 11 30 66

, 600 1, 367 6, 983 7 63.64

2003 2 70 580 325 325 1 50

* Table represents years for which data exist . “– “ means n o d ata are available.

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.9 G OODB YS 

### C REEK

Table 13 summarizes t he fecal coliform results for Goodbys Creek, by year, du ring the verified period

. Summer has the highest percent exceedance rate (60 %), and fall has the lowest (28.57 % ). Exceedances occur in all years, except 1996

. While a decrease in the median levels

of fecal coliform is observed, the concentrations from 1 998

– 2001 exceed standards

, with maximum counts ranging from 3,000 to 35,000 counts/100mL

.

T ABLE 13 : S UMMAR Y OF G OODB YS C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D ATA BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF E XCEEDANCES 3 % E XCEEDANCES

1996 1 300 300 300 300 0 0

1998 3 130 3,000 3,000 2,043 2 67

1999 8 63 35,000 470 6,900 4 50

2000 4 70 9,000 835 2,685 2 50

2001 4 170 3,000 400 993 2 50

2002 7 160 720 250 297 1 14

1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.



### 2.1.10 O PE N 

### C REEK

Table 14 summarizes t he fecal coliform results for Open Creek , by year, during the verified period

. There is a 57.1 % overall exceedance rate for fecal coliform. There are 21 samples, ranging from 70 to 5,000 counts/100mL. When examining the data by season, the greatest percentage of exceedances occur s in the spring and winter

, with the lowest percentage in t he

summer

. By year, there appears to be no general trend in exceedances. However, sample size is very small, ranging from 1 to 5 , making it difficult to identify potential trends.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

19 T ABLE 14 : S UMMAR Y OF O PE N C REEK F ECAL C OLIFOR M D AT A BY Y EAR

FOR THE V E R IFIE D P E R IOD (J ANUAR Y 1, 1996 –J UNE 30, 2003)

Y EAR * N 1 M INIMUM 2 M AXIMUM 2 M EDIAN 2 M EAN 2 N UMBER OF
E XCEEDANCES 3 %

E XCEEDANCE S

1996 1 500 500 500 500 1 100

1998 3 230 700 500 477 2 66.7

1999 4 70 500 335 310 2 50

2000 4 1,200 5,000 1,650 2,375 4 100

2001 4 130 700 455 435 2 50

2002 5 140 688 180 274 1 20

* Table represents years for which data exist

. 1 Number of samples

. 2 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. 3 Exceedances represent values above 400 counts/100mL

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

20 

## CHAPTER 3 : P OLLUTANT 

## S OUR CE S AND 

## A NTIC IPATE D 

## O UTCOME S



## 3.1 P OLLUTANT 

## S OUR CES 

## C OMMON TO THE 

## T R IB UTAR IE S

The following sections summarize the general types of sources associated with the fecal

coliform impairments in the tributaries. Additional details on these sources, specific for each tributary, can be found in Chapter 6 through Chapter 15 and the supporting documents

available from FDEP

.



### 3.1.1 S ANITAR Y 

### S EWER 

### S YSTEM S A centralized sewer system (i.e., public and privately owned sewer infrastructure) may contribute fecal coliform pollution to the environment through the slow and continuous leakage of sanitary sewer infrastructure, treatment failure in wastewater treatment plants, and SSOs. Common causes of SSOs may i nclude the following:

1. H eavy rainfall resulting in the inflow of stormwater or infiltration of ground water into sewer lines;

2. B reaks or blockages in sewer lines due to aging infrastructure or the accumulation of grease; and

3. M alfunctioning equipment and pumps (possibly due to power failures).

It is not clear how much leaking sewer infrastructure below ground may contribute to surface water contamination. Although there is evidence that in some soils, bacteria do not readily transport to nearby surface waters, there are no local data for bacterial transport in the soil types and ground water conditions of the LSJR Basin ( PBS&J

, March 2008 ).

Underground sanitary sewer pipes can leak

. When ground water levels are low or the pressure in the sanitary sewer pipes is greater than the surrounding pressure of ground water, wastewater in the sanitary sewer pipes can exfiltrate out through the leaks in the pipes into the surrounding ground water and potentially migrate to adjacent surface waters. When ground

wat er levels are high, ground water surrounding the pipes can infiltrate into the leaks in the sanitary sewer pipes

. Surface water associated with flooding also can inflow into the sanitary sewer pipes when stormwater pipes are connected illegally to the sanitary sewer pipes

. In addition, s urface water and/or ground water can inflow into the sanitary sewer pipes when the caps are off sanitary sewer laterals or when there are holes in the sanitary sewer pipe s.

A study in California (Brown and Caldwell, 2005) confirmed that high water tables do not usually result in the exfiltration of sewage from pipes or couplings into ground water

. Rather, as indicated above, ground water is more likely to infiltrate into the collection system

. Some studies suggest that the transport of sewage and fecal coliform bacteria into ground water depends on many factors, with one of the largest being the difference in hydraulic head be tween the sewage and the ground water table

. According to a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) study, “The occurrence of exfiltration is limited to those areas where sewer elevations lie above the g round water table

. Since ground water elevations near surface water bodies are typically near the ground surface, sewers near surface water bodies generally are below the ground water table, and infiltration (rather than exfiltration) will dominate the mode of sewer leakage in these areas (Amick and Burgess, 2003).” It is important to note that the majority of the Jacksonville area has a relatively high ground water table

, and therefore infiltration may be the primary form of sewer leakage in many areas

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

21 The sewer system serves the m ajority of the watershed (more than 50 % ) in a number of WBIDs

, including Newcastle Creek, Hogan Creek, Butcher Pen Creek, Miller Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, Deer Creek, Goodbys Creek

, and Open Creek . Therefore, it is possible that the sewer system and the associated infrastructure contribute to the impairments in these areas , especially where

this infrastructure cr osses or is located near the creeks. A number of these tributaries have had SSOs with the potential to impact surface waters. The y i nclude Newcast le Creek , Hogan
Creek , Butcher Pen Creek , Big Fishweir Creek , Deer Creek

, Goodbys Creek , and Open Creek

.



### 3.1.2 O NS ITE 

### S EWAGE 

### T R E ATME NT AND 

### D IS POS AL 

### S YS TE MS OSTDS consist of a septic tank and a subsurface wastewater infiltration system, or drain field,

where most of the treatment occurs in the soil above the water table. The drainfield and underlying soils are the most critical components of septic systems for the treatment of

wastewater. Under S ubsection 64E

- 6.002(23)

, F.A.C., a failing septic system is one that is not functioning in a sanitary manner and that may result in the transport of untreated or partially

trea ted wastewater to surface waters

.

OSTDS f ailure can be due to a number of causes, including unsuitable soil conditions, flooding, improper design and installation, or inadequate maintenance practices. Improperly functioning septic systems are recognized as a significant contributor of pollutants, including microbiological pathogens (Nicosia et al.

, 2001 ; McDowell et al.

, 2005) . These failing systems may result in obvious sanitary hazards

, such as po n ding on the ground and runoff into surface waters or stormwater collection systems

, and less conspicuous nuisances, including the leaching of untreated wastewater into ground water ( PBS&J

, March 2008 ). As noted above, the Jacksonville area has a relatively high ground water table, which could potentially transport fecal

coliform from se ptic tanks through shallow ground water into the creeks.

The majority of households in both Miramar Creek and Terrapin Creek are on septic tanks. OSTDS in areas near the creeks are likely contributing to the fecal coliform concentrations and the impairment in the se waterbodies. Septic tank failure areas, as determined by DCHD, are located in Newcastle Creek, Butcher Pen Creek, Miller Creek, Miramar Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, and Goodbys Creek. DCHD has issued repair permits for septic tanks in Newcastle Creek, Butcher Pen Creek, Miller Creek, Miramar Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, Terrapin Creek, Goodbys Creek, and Open Creek. The locations of the repair permits closely correspond with the failure areas in Miller Creek, Miramar Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, a nd Goodbys Creek.



### 3.1.3 S TOR MWATE R

T he term “nonpoint sources” is used to describe intermittent, rainfall

- driven, diffuse sources of pollution (e.g., stormwater runoff) associated with everyday human activities, including runoff from urban land uses, agriculture, silviculture, and mining; discharges from failing septic systems; and atmospheric deposition. Additional nonpoint sources may include areas with concentrated wildlife (e.g., bird rookeries) or domestic animals (e.g., dog parks). Certain land uses are likely to contribute fecal coliform loading to surface waters, including agricultural

activities and marinas. Runoff from agricultural areas containing animals (e.g., livestock grazing, dairies, cattle farms, or concentrated animal feeding operations [CAFO s] ) can contribute a significant amount of fecal contamination to surface waters. Marinas that provide onsite waste disposal areas (flush

- out pumps) can leak or overflow and can dump raw sewage directly into a waterbody. Marinas that do not provide onsite waste disposal areas can be much larger sources of contamination if boaters discharge their waste directly into waterbodies.

S ediments in streambeds can allow stormwater conveyance systems, especially those underground, to act as reservoirs for contamin ation as bacteria persist and possibly regrow inFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

22 sediment environments. These sediment bacteria sources can periodically result in the influx of high levels of bacteria to receiving waters (Anderson et al.

, 2005 ; Brownell et al.

, 2007).

Bacteria from sed iments could be an issue in areas where the majority of the watershed (more

than 50 %) is served by stormwater treatment areas, such as Hogan Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, Deer Creek, Terrapin Creek, and Open Creek

.

Illicit connections to a stormwater system can also contribute to fecal coliform loading. COJ and FDOT have a program to identify potential illicit connections (PICs) to MS4 conveyances and

tributaries . As part of this program, they have verified and removed illicit connection s in all the

WBIDs discussed in this BMAP, except for Terrapin Creek

. O pen PIC cases are pending in several WBIDs, and the results of these investigations will be reported in the first annual BMAP progress report. The Walk the WBIDs event also uncovered additional PICs. C OJ is currently following up on these findings and will report the status of any identified PICs in the first annual

BMAP progress report.



## 3.2 A NTICIP ATE D 

## O UTCOME S

Although the relationship between fecal coliform loading and sources is not fully understood f or the se WBIDs, the implementation of the projects, programs, and additional source assessments in this BMAP should improve water quality in the impaired tributaries. The following outcomes are expected from BMAP implementation :

**•** Improved water quality tre nds in the tributaries of the L SJR that will also help improve water quality in the main stem of the river;

**•** Achievement of TMDLs;

**•** Decreased loading of the target pollutant (fecal coliform bacteria );

**•** Increased coordination between state and local governments and within divisions of local governments in problem solving for surface water quality restoration;

**•** Securing additional state and local funding for water quality restoration;

**•** Improved communication and cooperation among local agencies responding

to resto ration needs;

**•** Determination of effective projects through the stakeholder decision

- making and priority

- setting processes;

**•** Enhanced public awareness of pollutant sources, pollutant impacts on water quality, and corresponding corrective actions; and

**•** Enhance d understanding of b asin hydrology, water quality, and pollutant

sources.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

23 

## CHAPTER 4 : A S S E S S ING 

## P R OGR E S S AND 

## M AK ING 

## C HANGES

Successful BMAP implementation requires commitment and follow

- up. In the Commitment to Plan Implementation ( see Chapter 5 ), B WG members have expressed their intention to carry out the plan, monitor its effect, and continue to coordinate within and across jurisdictions to achieve water quality targets. The FWRA requires that an assessment be conducted every five years to determine whether there is reasonable p rogress in implementing the BMAP and achieving pollutant load reductions. This chapter contains the water quality monitoring component sufficient to make this evaluation.



## 4.1 T R ACK ING 

## I MPLE ME NTATION

FDEP will work with the stakeholders to organize the monitoring data and track project implementation. This information will be presented to the BWG in an annual report. The BWG has agreed to meet at least every 12 months after the adoption of the BMAP t o follow up on plan implementation, share new information, and continue to coordinate on TMDL

- related

issues. The following types of activities may occur at annual meetings :

**• Implementation Data and Reporting** 

o Collect project implementation information from the stakeholders and MS4 permit reporting and compare with the BMAP schedule. Table 15 provides a sample annual reporting form on BMAP project implementation (to be completed by the entities).

o Discuss the data collection process, including any concerns and possible improvements to the process.

o Review the monitoring plan implementation

, as detailed in Section 4.2

.

**• Sharing New Information** 

o Report on results from water quality monitoring and trend information.

o Pr ovide updates on new projects and programs in the basin that will help reduce fecal coliform loading.

o Identify and review new scientific developments on addressing fecal coliform

contamination and incorporate any new information into annual progress
report s.

o Discuss new sampling technologies that will improve source identification.

**• Coordinating**  **TMDL**

**- Related Issues** 

o Provide updates from FDEP on the basin cycle and activities related to any impairments, TMDLs

, and BMAP.

o Obtain reports from other basins where tools or other information may be applicable to the LSJR tributaries ’ TMDLs.

Covering all of these topics is not required for the annual meetings of the BWG

, but they provide examples of the types of information that should be considered for the agenda to assist with BMAP implementation and improve coordination among the agencies and stakeholders.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

24 T ABLE 15 : P R OPOS E D B MAP A NNUAL R E P OR TING F ORM



### 2009 Tributaries of the **L SJR**  **B MAP** 

___Y EAR

__ A NNUAL I MPLEMENTATION R EPORT

R EPORTING E N TITY :

___________________________________________________ D ATE :

__________________ Note: Relevant MS4 activities, whether contained in the BMAP or not, may be included in this report.

I MPLEMENTATION S TATUS

– BMAP M ANAGEMENT S TRATEGIES

1 BMAP

P ROJECT # A FFECTED
A REA ( WBID ) 2 B RIEF D ESCRIPTION 3 P ROJECTED S TART /

E ND 4 P ROJECT /

A CTIVITY S TATUS 5 P ROJECT
M ONITORING R ESULTS 6 C OMMENTS

Shade if

also an MS4

activity

N EW M ANAGEM ENT S TRATEGIES

1 BMAP

P ROJECT # A FFECTED
A REA ( WBID ) 2 B RIEF D ESCRIPTION 3 P ROJECTED S TART /

E ND 4 P ROJECT /

A CTIVITY S TATUS 5 P ROJECT
M ONITORING R ESULTS 6 C OMMENTS

Shade if

also an MS4

activityFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

25 Directions for BMAP Annual Reporting Format :

1 BMAP Projects : This includes projects and other management strategies. Use the project number assigned in the BMAP Activities Table s (e.g., COJ

- 1). Please include all management strategies for which you have lead responsibility in the BMAP, regardless of

their status. New Management Strategies : Include new projects/activities that are not included in the BMAP in the New Management Strategies table. Create a project number for new management strategies by using the prefix, then

- N# (e.g., COJ

- N1). If a management action listed in either table is part of your MS4, please shade the project number box in grey

.

2 Include a brief description of the management action being reported (e.g. , street sweeping removing gross debri s on all streets with "L curbs" – 5 miles performed each month)

.

3 If applicable, include the start and end dates for the management action. If not applicable, put “N/A” or, if it is a continuous activity, put “Continuous” and indicate how often the activity takes place (e.g., for street sweeping).

4 C lear ly summar ize the status of the management action, in a way that makes sense for the item listed. For instance, for educational activities, list pertinent publications, events,

etc ., including name and/or topic for each. Include specific or general time frames (e.g., two public workshops on pet waste disposal in March 2009). Also, describe any significant changes to the management action that have taken place

.

5 As a pplicable : I f monitoring is required as part of a management action (e.g., in a cost

share situation), or is conducted voluntarily (e.g., as part of an effort to collect information

on BMAP effectiveness)

, include the monitoring results to date, as practicable.

6 Inc lude comments on any implementation obstacles, including weather, funding, technical difficulties, etc. Identify needs for assistance from the BWG as a whole, or from individual entities represented on the BWG. Include any other comments you consider imp ortant.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

26 

## 4.2 W ATER 

## Q UALITY 

## M ONITOR ING



### 4.2.1 W ATER 

### Q UALITY 

### M ONITOR ING 

### O B J E CTIVE S Focused objectives are critical for a monitoring strategy to provide the information needed to evaluate implementation success. The primary and secondary objectives of the monitoring

st rategy for the tributaries are described below. These objectives will be used to evaluate the success of the BMAP, help interpret the data collected, and provide information for potential

future refinements of the BMAP.

**Primary Objective**

**•** Identify addition al sources in the 10 tributaries to guide the implementation of

future actions to reduce fecal coliform.

**Secondary Objective**

**•** Track trends in fecal coliform colony counts in the tributaries through ambient monitoring to determine if reductions are occurring with the implementation of

BMAP actions.



### 4.2.2 W ATER 

### Q UALITY 

### I NDIC ATOR S
The water quality indicators listed in Table 16 will be sampled to achieve the monitoring plan objectives. These parameters will be analyzed to d etermine if there is a correlation with the observed fecal coliform concentrations. In addition, descriptions of the field conditions are important because factors outside of water quality could affect the observed bacterial colony

counts.

T ABLE 16 : W ATER Q UALITY I NDICATOR S AND F IE LD P AR AME TE R S

W ATER Q UALITY I NDIC ATOR S

Fecal coliform ( colony

- forming units per 100 milliliters [ cfu/100mL ])

Conductivity ( micromhos per centimeter [ umho/cm ])

D issolved O xygen (milligrams per liter [ mg/ L] )

Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (%)

pH

Salinity ( parts per thousand [ ppt ])

Temperature (°C)

Turbidity (Nephelometric Turbidity Units [ NTU ])

F IE LD C ONDITIONS

Air Temperature ( °C)

Cloud Cover

Rainfall

Tide Stage

Canopy Cover

Water Flow Condition

WindFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

27 

### 4.2.3 M ONITOR ING 

### N ETWORK The monitoring network for this plan builds on existing COJ and FDEP sampling programs and

stations in the basin

. These entities will be responsible for conducting the sampling in their respective WBIDs. JEA i s committed to processing up to 32 samples per month through the

JEA laboratory for COJ and FDEP. Participation by the JEA laboratory will reduce the analysis costs associated with the monitoring plan for the other entities

.
The specific stations in the monitoring network and responsibilities for sampling are described

below for each WBID. Stations listed as trend stations will be sampled quarterly

, and monitoring

efforts will continue at existing locations. Stations shown as source assessment will be sampled monthly

, with additional sampling occurring as needed to follow up on high fecal coliform counts. This additional sampling will follow the process outlined in the TAT Manual (PBS&J

, 2006). While some of the source assessment stations are existing sampling locations, stations were added to meet the objectives of the monitoring plan and to better identify potential sources

in each WBID. The BMAP monitoring plan, as outlined below, will be initiated once the BMAP is adopted.

In addition to this monitoring plan, several of the entities conduct other monitoring in the basin

that will provide additional information about water quality in the tributaries. FDEP conducts an intensive sampling event every 5 years as part of the TMDL process. This event generally

involves coll ecting at least 20 samples over 4 seasons. T o include the data in the IWR r un to assess impaired waters, the samples must be collected with at least a 200

- meter separation

between stations

, with 4 days between samples collected in the same location. COJ also collects quarterly samples in most of the tributaries as part of its routine monitoring program.
COJ uses this program to meet its NPDES permit requirements.



### 4.2.3.1 Newcastle Creek Monitoring Network

COJ will be responsible for monitoring in Newcastle Cre ek. Table 17 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 17 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN N EWCASTLE C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLJXWQARL6 T rend Quarterly Fort Caroline Hills Drive COJ

21FLJXWQARL5A Source assessment Monthly Berrywood Lane COJ

21FLJXWQARL5B Source assessment Monthly Near mouth of creek COJ



### 4.2.3.2 Hogan Creek Monitoring Network

COJ will be responsible for monitoring in Hogan Creek

, which is one of its WBIDs as part of the 2009 TAT Sampling Plan

. Table 18 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 18 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN H OGAN C REEK

M ONITOR ING

S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLJXWQHC3 Trend Quarterly First Street COJ

21FLJXWQHC4 Source assessment Monthly 10 th Street COJ

21FLJXWQHC1A Source assessment Monthly Broad Street COJ

21FLJXWQHC2A Source assessment Monthly Hubbard Street (Confederate Park) COJFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

28 

### 4.2.3.3 Butcher Pen Creek Monitoring Network

FDEP will be responsible for monitoring in Butcher Pen Creek. Table 19 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 19 : M ONI TOR ING S TATIONS IN B UTCHE R P EN C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLA 20030082 Trend Quarterly Confederate Point Road FDEP

21FLA 20030760 Source assessment Monthly Wesconnett Boulevard FDEP

21FLA 20030 955 Sourc e assessment Monthly D ucheneau Drive FDEP

21FLA 20030829 Source assessment Monthly Jammes Road FDEP



### 4.2.3.4 Miller Creek Monitoring Network

COJ will be responsible for monitoring in Miller Creek, which is one of its WBIDs as part of the 2009 TAT Sampling Plan

. Table 20 lists the stations that will be sampled

.

T ABLE 20 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN M ILLE R C REEK

M ONITORING S TATION S TATION T YPE F REQUENCY L OCATION R ESPONSIBLE
E NTITY

21FLJXWQSS1 Trend Quar terly Atlantic Boulevard COJ

21FLJXWQSS2A Source assessment Monthly Stillman Street COJ

21FLJXWQSS21 Source assessment Monthly Camden Avenue COJ

21FLJXWQSS23 Source assessment Monthly Mayfair Road COJ



### 4.2.3.5 Miramar Creek Monitoring Network

COJ will be responsible for monitoring in Miramar Creek, which is one of its WBIDs as part of the 2009 TAT Sampling Plan

. Table 21 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 21 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN M IR AMAR C REEK

M ONITORING S TATION S TATION T YPE F REQUENCY L OCATION R ESPONSIBLE
E NTITY

21FLJXWQSS4 Trend Quarterly San Jose Boulevard COJ

21FLJXWQSS5A Source assessment Monthly Orlando Circle West COJ

21FLJXWQSS505 Source assessment Monthly Adjacent to JEA Lift Station

#S505 COJ



### 4.2.3.6 Big Fishweir Monitoring Network

FDEP will be responsible for monitoring in Big Fishweir Creek, which is one of its WBIDs as part of the 2009 TAT Sampling Plan

. Table 22 lists the stations t hat will be sampled.

T ABLE 22 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK

M ONITORING S TATION S TATION T YPE F REQUENCY L OCATION R ESPONSIBLE
E NTITY

21FLA 20030139 Trend Quarterly Hershel Street FDEP

21FLA 20030952 Source assessment Mo nthly Greenwood Avenue (Little Fishweir) FDEP

21FLA 20030951 Source assessment Monthly Park Street – East Crossing FDEP

21FLA 20030953 Source assessment Monthly Little Fishweir Creek at Oak FDEPFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

29 

### 4.2.3.7 Deer Creek Monitoring Network

COJ will be responsible for monitoring in Deer Creek. Table 23 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 23 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN D EER C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTI T Y

21FLJXWQDR1 Trend Quarterly Talleyrand Avenue COJ

21FL JXWQDR2 Source assessment Monthly Haines Street COJ

21FL JXWQDR3 Source assessment Monthly Midstream between DR1

and DR2 COJ

21FL JXWQDR2S Source assessment Monthly Southwest branch, just

downstrea m of confluence of

southwest branch and main

channel COJ



### 4.2.3.8 Terrapin Creek Monitoring Network

FDEP will be responsible for monitoring in Terrapin Creek. Table 24 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 24 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN T E R R APIN C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLA 20030654 Trend Quarterly Alta Drive FDEP

21FLA 20030653 Source assessment Monthly Faye Road FDEP

21FLA 20030490 Sour ce assessment Monthly Terrapin Creek at Blasius Road FDEP



### 4.2.3.9 Goodbys Creek Monitoring Network

FDEP will be responsible for monitoring in Goodbys Creek. Table 25 lists the stations that will be sampled.

T ABLE 25 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN G OODB YS C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLA 20030594 Trend Quarterly Sanchez Road FDEP

21FLA 20030518 Trend Quarterly State Road (S.R.) 13 FDEP

21FLA 20030891 Sou rce assessment Monthly Goodbys Creek above w est

b ranch at San Clerc FDEP

21FLA 20030889 Source assessment Monthly Goodbys Creek at Old Kings

Road FDEP

21FLA 20030538 Source assessment Monthly West b ranch Goodbys Creek at

San Clerc Road FDEP

21FLA 200305 37 Source assessment Monthly Goodbys Creek at Plaza Gate

Road FDEP

21FLA 20030599 Source assessment Monthly West branch Goodbys Creek at Camp Tommyhawk FDEP



### 4.2.3.10 Open Creek Monitoring Network

FDEP will be responsible for monitoring in Open Creek. Table 26 lists the stations that will be sampled.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

30 T ABLE 26 : M ONITOR ING S TATIONS IN O PE N C REEK

M ONITOR ING S TATION S TATION T YPE F R E QUE NCY L OCATION R E S PONS IB LE
E NTITY

21FLA 20030695 Trend Quarterly San Pablo Road FDEP

21FLA 20030949 Source assessment Monthly Cross Water Blvd (northwestern branch) FDEP

21FLA 20030848 Source assessment Monthly Northwest tributary to Open Creek at Hodges Blvd FDEP

21FLA 20030950 Source assessment Monthly Open Creek at p owerlines east

of Danforth Drive FDEP



### 4.2.4 Q UALITY 

### A S S UR ANCE 

### /Q UALITY 

### C ONTR OL
Through cooperation on TMDL

- related data collection, FDEP and stakeholders have consistently used similar standard operating procedures (SOPs) for field sampling and lab analyses. This consistency will continue into the future to ensure that data can be used not only for tracking BMAP progress but also for future TMDL evaluations and other purposes. The collection of water quality data will be conducted in a manner consistent with F DEP’s SOPs for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). The most current version of these procedures can

be downloaded from www.dep.state.fl.us/labs/qa/sops.htm . All stakeholders contributing data in support of the BMAP agree to follow these SOPs.



### 4.2.5 D ATA 

### M ANAGE ME NT AND 

### A S S E S S ME NT Data collected as part of this monitoring plan will need to be tracked, compiled, and analyzed for it to be useful in support of the BMAP. The Florida STORET database will serve as the primary resource for storing ambient data and providing access for all stakeholders, in accordance with
Section 62

- 40.540, F.S. Stakeholders have agreed to upload data to STORET in a timely manner, after the appropriate QA/QC checks have been completed. All applicable data collected by the entities responsible for monitoring will be uploaded to STORET regularly, but at least quarterly. FDEP will be responsible for data storage and retrieval from the STORET

database.

STORET uploads are only appropriate for data that represent ambient conditions. Data that are collected to follow up on fecal coliform water quality e xceedances should not be uploaded to STORET. The sampling entities will be responsible for submitting this type of data to FDE P in the TAT spreadsheet each month.

Only data that are uploaded to STORET or submitted to FDEP as follow

- up data will be utilized in the WBID ranking process and water quality analyses. It is important that each sampling entity follow these procedures to ensure that the most current data are available for future analyses of the impairments and water quality trends in the tributaries.



## 4.3 O NGOING 

## A S S E S S ME NTS IN THE 

## T R IB UTAR IE S

This BMAP provides for phased implementation under Paragraph 403.067(7)(a)1

, F.S. The management actions and adaptive management approach described in the BMAP will address

fecal coliform bacteria reductions

, and the process will continue until the TMDL is attained . The phased BMAP approach allows for the implementation of projects designed to achieve

incremental reductions

, while simultaneously implementing source assessment, monitoring

, and conducting studies to understand better water quality dynamics (sources and response variables) in each impaired waterbody. During s ubsequent fiv e- year management cycles

, stakeholders will evaluate progress and make adjustments, as needed, to meet the TMDLs.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

31 Additional assessments of the tributaries are currently ongoing. FDEP has initiated a study on septic tanks in the Jacksonville area in an e ffort to assess fecal coliform and nutrient loading s and associated surface and ground water quality impacts from septic tanks. FDEP has also contracted with PBS&J to conduct detailed assessments of 11 impaired tributaries. The

assessments include a Walk the WBID s effort to conduct a field assessment of the tributaries, MST sampling of 10 tributaries , and thermal imaging for 4 WBIDs

. As part of this detailed
assessment, the University of South Florida (USF) is collecting and analyzing sediment samples

to determine the fecal coliform concentrations in the sediments. This will help improve the understanding of bacterial regrowth in sediments and how this loading may contribute to the waterbody impairment. Of the 11 WBIDs receiving these additional assessm ents, this BMAP discusses the following 4 : Miller Creek

, Miramar Creek

, Hogan Creek, and Big Fishweir Creek. Subsequent BMAP updates will include the additional information obtained from these

assessments.

MST sampling is currently under way in Miller Cre ek, Miramar Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, and Hogan Creek. Sampling began as a part of Walk the WBIDs and will continue until July 2009. This sampling program utilizes fecal coliform samples and MST testing, including a quantitative human assay as well as animal assays, to assist in determining if the bacteria sources are

human or animal

, help ing to guide corrective actions. The program is designed to have fixed and flexible sampling stations, with the flexible stations moved to assist in identifying source s associated with high in

- stream concentrations. In addition, the TAT will continue to coordinate on implementing appropriate measures when sources are discovered.

Thermal imaging is a useful tool for identifying PIC s in waterbodies. Often, unpermitted o r unauthorized discharges come from pipes located underground and underwater, making them nearly impossible to locate through field identifications and intensive sampling alone. Thermal imagery u s es the thermal portion of the light spectrum to identify in puts that are warmer than the surrounding water. This may indicate ground water, a stormwater outlet, a failing septic tank, or

illicit connection s as potential sources

. The flyover for the thermal imaging occurred the night of February 6, 2009

, with a p resampling event earlier that day and a postsampling event the following morning. Of the WBIDs discussed in this BMAP, thermal imagery was completed for

Miramar Creek and Big Fishweir Creek.

In addition to the field studies discussed above, COJ is considering a review of its septic tank ordinance (Chapter 751: Septic Tank Superfund) for potential modifications that could increase considerations for water quality impairments and cost

- effective sewer expansion

, in addition to addressing public health concerns. This review could include re

- evaluating the criteria used to rank the septic tank failure areas to incorporate a greater focus on water quality data and potentially increas e the sewering requirements in severely impaired watersheds

. The

modification of the ordinance would enable COJ to more accurately identify surface waters that are most impacted by failing septic tanks

, and to focus its septic tank phase

- out efforts to reduce fecal coliform and nutrients entering the COJ tributaries.



## 4.4 D ATA 

## T R ACK ING AND 

## R E POR TING 

## S YS TE MS 

## M ODIFICATIONS

The management entities in the basin use multiple recording systems to track and report data and activities. These systems must record data generated by multiple divisions within the organization. Multiple datasets are managed through a defined process specific to the organization’s performance measures. The BMAP process requires stakeholders to provide information on their activities in a format that may be outside their respective systems’ current

processes.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

32 Curren tly, JEA processes provide multiple data systems for reporting quantitative performance measures specific to the organization. Through the BMAP process, JEA is making efforts to report this quantitative information spatially. This implementation effort will benefit the tributaries by allowing JEA to analyze its system data on a waterbody scale

, rather than exclusively by the current systemwide analysis. JEA is working towards a GIS

- compatible electronic reporting system for construction and maintenance a ctivities that will make the information more readily available than it currently is through the non

- spatial reporting process. In addition, JEA is streamlining its database, which will include spatial information on programs and activities. As part of the expanded GIS data, first responders will have a more robust dataset to help them implement corrective actions. These improvements will aid JEA in identifying and correcting sewer infrastructure problems before they result in overflows, reduc ing fecal coliform loading in the tributaries.

COJ EQD and PWD each have sections that are responsible for a variety of activities. COJ is also changing its data systems to improve the processes associated with these activities. COJ is working to consolidate multiple database formats and update the online countywide GIS database to include the WBID and other key datasets; this consolidation will provide valuable information from the multiple divisions in one location.

COJ is also modifying the information included in the Citizen Action Response Effort (CARE) database, which will aid in reporting activities on a WBID basis. These modifications will improve COJ’s ability to identify the problems and activities at the waterbody scale and allow it to better recognize patterns and respond to issues. The enhancements to the data systems will assist in reducing fecal coliform loading from stormwater, private wastewater infrastructure, illicit connections, and failing septic tanks.



## 4.5 I MPLE ME NTATION 

## M ILE S TONE S

The full imple mentation of the management actions/projects identified in this BMAP is sufficient to address the fecal coliform bacteria reductions needed to meet the TMDLs. However, to verify

that adequate progress is being made, a 5- year milestone will be assessed. D uring the fifth

year following the BMAP adoption (2014), the water quality data collected as part of the monitoring plan ( see Section 4.2 ) and the TAT sampling plan will be evaluated for reductions in

fecal coliform levels in each WBID

, and progress towards the TMDL will be documented. By this year, the median value for the fecal coliform counts in the first 4 years of BMAP implementation should be 50 % of the median in the TMDL, which was based on the verified

p eriod of record (January 1, 1996

, to June 30, 2003) in each WBID. The median in the TMDLs

w as calculated to determine the in

- stream percent reduction required from current conditions to

achieve the fecal coliform standard of 400 counts.

If this 50 % reduction is not achieved by the time of the Y ear 5 analys i s, additional efforts may be required . These efforts may include Walk the WBIDs

– type assessment actions to identify and remove sources and/or additional projects and programs to reduce and prevent sou rces from reaching surface waters. Achieving 50 % of the required reductions will be an important milestone for this BMAP and will provide an opportunity to improve source assessment and management measures going forward

. As noted in Table 27 , efforts implemented since the TMDL verified period have led to improved water quality in most of the WBIDs.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

33 T ABLE 27 : P E R CE NT F ECAL C OLIFOR M R E DUCTION S INCE THE TMDL V E R IFIE D P E R IOD

WB ID

N UMB E R WBI D N AME TMDL M E DIAN (1996

– 2003) 1 M E DIAN ( 2004

– 08 ) 1 % R E DUC TION

2235 Newcastle Creek 2,500 1, 650 34

2252 Hogan Creek 5,000 1, 091 78

2322 Butcher Pen Creek 2,400 3, 000

- 25

2287 Miller Creek 5,000 5, 000 0

2304 Miramar Creek 7,000 3, 350 52

2280 Big Fis hweir Creek 3,000 1, 700 43

2256 Deer Creek 2,765 652 76

2204 Terrapin Creek 1,367 860 37

2326 Goodbys Creek 3,000 600 80

2299 Open Creek 1,000 600 40

Note: T he geometric mean was not used because there is not a minimum of 10 samples within a 30

- day

pe riod

, which is required under the F lorida Administrative Code to calculate a geometric mean.

1 Coliform counts are #/100mL

. Major components of this BMAP to achieve the milestones are the maintenance, inspection, enforcement, and public outreach programs conducted by COJ, DCHD, FDOT, and JEA. Many of these existing programs began during the cycle 1 verified period (1996

- 2004) and are ongoing programs. However, since many of these programs have been expanded or enhanced since their initiation, or targeted toward specific problems recently identified, these programs are expected to increase their effectiveness. Information gathered through the tributaries assessment activities, Walk the WBIDs exercise, source assessment sampling, intensive monitoring, MST, and thermal imaging have required the entities to adjust their programs to respond more efficiently to potential fecal coliform sources. These programs will continue over the next 5 years as part of BMAP implementation and continue to be refined based on new data and more experience with removing fecal coliform sources.

In addition to these programs, COJ has several capital improvement projects planned in the next 5 years including 7 projects under construction and 4 currently in the design phase. These 11 projects will be completed by 2013. COJ has also committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of surface water, as part of their responsibilities in the
2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP

. As a more specific commitment f or redu cing coliform sources to the 10 tributaries in this BMAP, there are 1,167 septic tan ks within 300 meters of surface water s that will be prioritized by COJ for removal. COJ must submit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 months of completion of the septic tank study (see Section 4.3 ) , or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50% implementation of the septic tank phase

- out projects by July 31, 2015, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. These COJ projects will alleviate flooding, improve drainage systems, and remove failing septic tanks, which will reduce the amount of fecal coliform entering the tributaries.



## 4.6 A DAPTIVE 

## M ANAGE ME NT 

## M E AS UR ES
Adaptive management involves setting up a mechanism for making adjustments in the BMAP when circumstances change or feedback indicate s the need for a more effective strategy

. Adaptive management measures include the following :

**•** Procedures to determine whether additional cooperative strategies are needed ;Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

34 **•** Criteria/processes for determin ing whether and when plan components need

revision due to changes in costs, environmental impacts, social effects, watershed conditions, or other factors; and

**•** Descriptions of the BWG’s role after BMAP completion.

Key components of adaptive management to share information and expertise are t racking plan implementation, monitoring water quality and pollutant loads, and holding periodic meetings

.

BMAP execution will be a long

- term process. Some key proj ects with significant source reductions will extend beyond the first five years of BMAP cycle . The BWG will track implementation efforts and monitor water quality to measure effectiveness and ensure BMAP compliance . The BWG will meet at least every 12 mo nths to discuss implementation issues, consider new information, and

, if the tributaries are not projected to meet the TMDLs

, determine

additional corrective actions

. Project implementation as well as program and activity status will

be collected annual ly from the participating entities. The BWG will review the se reports to assess progress towards meeting the BMAP’s goals.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

35 

## CHAPTER 5 : C OMMITME NT TO 

## P LAN 

## I MP L E ME NTATION

Section 403.067(7), F.S., lays out the mechanisms for BMAP implementation ( see Appendix

B ) . Wh ile the BMAP is linked by statute to permitting and other enforcement processes that target individual entities, successful implementation mandates that local stakeholders willingly and consistently work together to attain adopted TMDLs. This collaboratio n fosters the sharing of ideas, information, and resources. The members of the B WG have demonstrated their willingness to confer with and support each other in their efforts.

The B WG members endorse d the BMAP at their July 9, 2009 meeting on behalf of the entities they represent, as these members been actively involved in the BMAP process. In addition to this endorsement, FDEP will ask for letters of commitment or resolutions of support for the BMAP from the entities to ensure that as staff and board members change over time, the entity has a way to show support for the BMAP and the efforts included. This process will occur concurrently with BMAP adoption

, and the written statements of commitment will be added to this chapter of the BMAP as they are rec eived.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

36Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

37Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

38Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

39Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

40 

## CHAPTER 6 : N EWCASTLE 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2235)

6.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Newcastle Creek, WBID 2235, is located in Duval County, southeast of the LSJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by the St. Johns River Water Management District ( SJRWMD ) (

Figure 2 ). The headwaters of Newcastle Creek presumably comprise stormwater runoff that surfaces from under a large shopping center parking lot approximately 0.1 miles north of Merrill

Road

, just west of Townsend Boulevard ( Figure 3 )

. The entire creek flows northward in a single channel, except for a branch that flows from the west and merges with the main channel just north of Millcrest Place, until it meets the St. Johns River north of Fort Caroline Road. The upper reaches of Newcastle Creek, south to Greenfern Lane, are artificially channelized; the lower reaches, approximately 0.18 miles north of Fort Caroline Road, are tidally influenced. The creek, in its entirety, is characterized by a relatively small water volume with periods of low flow throughout (PBS&J, November 2007).

The land use categories in the Newcastle Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 28 ). The domin ant land use (74.2 % of total acreage) in the watershed, and directly adjacent to the creek itself, is medium

- density residential. The next

2 most abundant land cover categories are ( 1) commercial/utility/ instituti onal areas, located along Merrill Road to the south, as well as smaller areas along Greenfern Lane and Fort Caroline Road, fa rther downstream (8.9 % of total) ; and ( 2) high

- density residential, found between Greenfern Lane and Fort Caroline Road, east of Townsend Boulevard ( 7.2 % of total). Upland forests and wetland habitat accounted for less than 5 % of land use (PBS&J, November 2007)

. According to the 2000 Census, there are 1,872 households in the watershed , averaging 2.75 people per household. Areas with the highest population densities are not located directly adjacent to the creek (PBS&J, November 2007). In addition, assuming that 40 % of households

have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are 749 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 28 : L AND U S E S IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

Medium

- Density Residential Total 518.3 74.2

Commercial/Utility/Institutional Total 62.0 8.9

High

- Density Residential Total 50.5 7.2

Wetlands Total 25.3 3.6

Transportation Total 16.4 2.4

Lo w- Density Residential Total 11.9 1.7

Water Total 7.8 1.1

Upland Forest Total 5.8 0.8

T OTAL : 698.1 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

41 F IGUR E 2: L OCATION OF THE N EWC ASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

42 F IGUR E 3: N EWCASTLE C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

43 

## 6.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 6.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES
There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilities, CAFOs , application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Newcastle Creek. COJ does have a n MS4 permit that includes the Newcastle Cr eek watershed (PBS&J, November 2007). FDOT is a co

permittee of the MS4 ; the cities of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach are also co

- permitt ees but are not located in the impaired tributaries di s cussed in this BMAP

.



### 6.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

The c ontamination of the stormwater drainage system and receiving waters by illegal and/or improper discharges occurs in a variety of ways. Such discharges may include, but are not limited to, sanitary sewer flow, industrial process water, chlorinated pool water, and laundry releases. Sanitary sewer flow into the stormwater drainage system may result from improper connections to sanitary sewage pipes, leaking and broken sewage pipes, backups and overflows of sewage conveyance systems during localized flooding, and the direct connection of septic systems to stormwater conveyance systems that short

- circuits treatment provided by the

drainfield.

COJ EQD is continuing a program to identify, confirm, and respond to illicit connection issues in

Jacksonville ( see Appendix E ) . As par t of this effort, the city has confirmed approximately 1,100 PICs to the MS4 (as of September 2006); most were related to swimming pools and washing machines and have been resolved (PBS&J, November 2007)

. COJ responded and investigated 43 PICs in the Newcastle Creek watershed between 1998 and 2006

. Of these, 20

were verified as illicit connections and were removed

, while the remaining 23 PICs were

confirmed as not illic i t.



### 6.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWAGE 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

A n estimated 1,402 households (approximately 75 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the Newcastle Creek watershed

. JEA has reported 9 SSO s within the WBID boundaries ( Table 29 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 50 to 7,000 gallons and averaged 1,608 gallons ; however, only 4 SSOs were reported to have potentially impacted surface waters (PBS&J, November 2007)

. Although the occurrences of reported SSOs have likely contributed to the overall contamination of the watershed, these incidents do not explain the elevated levels detected during the JEA Tributary Pollution Assessment P roject monitoring events (PBS&J, November 2007)

.



### 6.2.4 O S TDS

The Water and Sewer Expansion Authority ( WSEA ) estima tes that there are approxima tely 155
OSTDS in the Newcastle Creek watershed

. According to DCHD, 18 septic tank repair permits

were issued in this area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems, were located in the northeastern portion of the WBID adjacent to Newcastle Creek and the St. Johns River. However, it should be noted that Eggleston Heights, a DCHD

- designated septic tank failure area, is located along the watershed’s southern boundary. MST sampling performed in 2006 indicated that most of the bacteria sources in Newcastle Creek are human, support ing the possibility that OSTDS are contributing sources in this tributary (PBS&J, November 2007).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

44 T ABLE 29 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF
O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY I MP AC TE D
S UR FACE W ATERS
Newcastle Creek (2235) 14

- Nov

- 02 900 No

Newcastle Creek (2235) 25

- Dec

- 02 200 No

Newcastle Creek (2235) 17 -Apr- 03 800 No

Newcastle Creek (2235) 18 -Apr- 03 200 No

Newcastle Creek (2235) 21

- Jul

- 03 * 7,000 Yes

Newcastle Creek (2235) 20

- Nov

- 04 * 100 Yes

Newcastle Creek (2235) 11

- Jan

- 05 50 No

Newcastle Creek (2235) 31

- May

- 05 * 5,176 Yes

Newcastle Creek (2235) 16 -Sep- 06 * 50 Yes

*Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.



### 6.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Newcastle Creek WBID contains 10 to 25 % impervious surface. T he calculation of runoff potential based on impervious surface and other factors, such as soil type and rainfall, demonstrates that the majority of the WBID contains a

moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, especially near the creek. Exceptions to th is designation include the following areas with higher probability for runoff : ( 1) just upstream of the headwaters; and ( 2) midstream between Green Arbor Place and Fort Caroline Road, east of the creek (PBS&J, November 2007).

The storm sewer network in the Newcastle Creek watershed includes 5 perm itted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 5.64 % of the WBID area. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 54 outfalls by receiving water (none classified by FDEP as major outfalls) and 357 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems are primarily confined to the southern and far west ern portions (PBS&J, November 2007).

In the absence of any identified major point sources of fecal coliform bacteria, non point sources are considered potential sources of bacterial loading. Rainfall transports fecal coliform to waterbodies via runoff (stormwater, septic failure, and/or wastewater treatment facility [ WWTF ] failure) (Eleria and Vogel

, 2005) and is therefore an important element to consider when

iden tifying sources of fecal contamination. A correlation between rainfall and bacteria loads could not be determined (PBS&J, November 2007).



## 6.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 6.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### N EWCASTLE 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 6.3.1.1 Completed JEA Projects

Ther e was a repetitive SSO at the l ift s tation located at 3 254 Townsend Boulevard caused by

electrical issues . To address the problem, JEA installed a new electrical control panel in May 2008. The completion of this project has eliminated the repetitive SSO s at the station and removed a reoccurring source of fecal coliform loading in the Newcastle Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

45 

### 6.3.1.2 Ongoing JEA Programs and Act ivities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs; (5) SCADA; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program; (7 ) Manhole Monitoring; (8) Force Main Discharge Manholes; and (9) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.

JEA also inspected sections of sewer infrastructure in the upstream portion of the Newcastle
Creek watershed as part of the TAT

- di rected reconnaissance

. Investigations included the use of remote camera equipment to inspect 1,108 feet of pipe as well as dye testing of a nearby station; however, no problems were identified. In addition, JEA, as part of the TAT, proposed sampling at 1 or 2 locations biweekly for 6 months, and then weekly sampling at 1 site over a 5- month period.

JEA reported that monthly sampling at Greenfern Lane commenced in December 2006. This ongoing effort yielded 6 sampling events of 26 , with values exceeding the maximum criterion of
400 cfu/ 100m L with a maximum value of 2,300 cfu/ 100m L on July 13, 2007 (PBS&J, November 2007)

.
JEA also conducts several types of activities to replace or rehabilitate failing or leaking

infrastructure. These efforts in the Newcas tle Creek watershed include the following :

**•** Pipe bursting 40.47 % of th e watershed to increase carrying capacity ; and

**•** Cured in place pipe (CIPP) of 2.28 % of the pipes in the watershed to install a new inner lining.

JEA has also replaced or repaired components on 3 of the 5 (60 % ) lift stations in the WBID. In addition, JEA conducts activities to help prevent future infrastructure problems. In the

Newcastle Creek watershed during fiscal year (FY) 2007

, using a closed

- circuit television system, JEA inspec ted 897 linear feet (LF) of pipe. It also pipe cleaned 3,601 LF of pipe in FY07 to avoid blockages. These activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems. Table 30 provides additional information on JEA ’s

activities in the Newcastle Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

46 T ABLE 30 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C O S T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF P R OJECT Sewer Line Upgrades

JEA – 1 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 50

, 279 $3,900,153 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 2 CIPP – Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabilitat e failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of CIPP in

watershed since 2001: 2

, 834 $148,554 JEA Ongoing FY00

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 3 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating m anhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY01

JEA – 4 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 0 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t
of tributary (only 1 ARV total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 5 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrof it completed in 2004 ; all

stations constructed since have
SCADA installed

. See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 6 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA On going FY07

JEA – 7 Pump Station Class I/II Rebuilding Repair or replace components of existing pump stations Projects in w atershed since

2002: 3 $238,135 JEA Ongoing

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 8 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not app licable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG P rogram initiated in 2004

JEA – 9 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit

television 897 linear feet of p ipe i nspected

in FY07 $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city

op eration (1997)

JEA – 10 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 3

, 601 linear feet of p ipe c leaned

in FY07 $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 11 CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoi ng Ongoing

JEA

– 12 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E Not applicable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 2007

JEA

– 13 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 14 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicabl e $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 15 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 16 Lift Station @ 3254 Townsend

Blvd. Upgrade station to address multiple SSOs related t o electrical problems Installed new electrical control panel ; work completed in May

2008 $70,000 JEA Complete Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

47 

### 6.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN T HE 

### N EWCASTLE 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 6.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E includes a description of each of these programs

.

Failure and nuisance areas were first identified in 1999

– 2000. As of July 28, 2008, DCHD updated the listing of failure and nuisance areas and corrected the accuracy of the defined geographic areas through the re

- evaluation process. There is currently 1 designated failure area, Eggleston Heights

, that ext ends slightly into the southern portion of the Newcastle Creek watershed (0.25 % of the failure area is located in the WBID) . The ranking of these areas is determined using an 8- point criteria system. One of these criteria , sanitary conditions

, is based

o n fecal coliform concentrations and is analyzed using the TAT ranking process described in
Section 1.3.3

. Those areas scoring above a total of 56 points across all 8 criteria ( a maximum of 80 possible points) have been identified as “ n uisance a reas ” (PBS& J, November 2007).

DCHD has implemented the OSTDS Program to address septic tanks as a potential source in

the watershed . As part of this effort, it has issued 5 new construction permits, 18 repair permits,

and 1 abandonment permit in the WBID. DCHD also performs a plan review and site evaluation for each application received for an OSTDS

, whether it is new construction or repair or

modification to an existing system. In the watershed , DCHD has conducted 24 plan reviews

and site evaluations. In addition

, it has performed 6 investigations in response to complaints

received. DCHD will continue these activities in the future to reduce and prevent issues related
to OSTDS. Table 31 lists DCHD’s project s in the Newca stle Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

48 T ABLE 31 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST (1996

– 2008) F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 1 OSTDS Program Impl ementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 5 new construction permits, 18

repair permits, and 1 abandonment permit

issued $9,760 Florida Department

of Health (F DOH ) Ongoing

DCHD – 2 Surface Water Improvement and

Ma nagement (SWIM) Project Implementation of broad

ranging septic tank

ordinance Approximately 0 .25% of Eggleston Heights Septic

Tank Failure Area is in

WBID $2,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 3 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual training pr ograms held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to 12 contact

hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant On going

DCHD – 4 Application/

Plan Review/

Si te Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received for

OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 24 plan

reviews and site

evaluations were performed in WBID based on permitting history $5,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant On going

DCHD – 5 Septic Tank Failure Area Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on

annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable Not applicable On going

DCHD – 6 Complaint

Investi gations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 6 complaint investigations

were performed in WBID $2,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant On going



### 6.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### N EWCASTLE 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 6.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed a wet detention pond project on Townsend Road that treats stormwater
from an area of 151 acres. It also has completed a drainage system rehabilitation project at Townsend Road. These two projects have reduced flooding and provided stormwater
treatment, both of which have helped to reduce fecal coliform loading to Newcastle Creek from

stormwater runoff in this area.

During TAT sampling of Newcastle Creek, one particular area of the stream at Berrywood Lane had high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. Resampling and field reconnaissance of the area to identify potential sources could not isolate the source; however

, it appeared that sediment buildup could have contribut ed to the high counts. EQD worked with PWD and JEA to schedule sediment removal in May 2008. Sediment and water samples were collected before and after

the cleanout. Post sediment removal sampling indicates lower levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the stream at this location, reduci ng the total loading to Newcastle Creek.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

49 

### 6.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Projects

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to

wa ters of the state to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP). The monitoring plan is a requirement of Part V.B. of the C OJ /FDOT NPDES MS4 permit and supported by Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 122.26(d)(2)(iii) . It is the responsibility o f the MS4 co

permittees (COJ, FDOT, City of Atlantic Beach, and City of Neptune Beach )

. In this watershed

, 1 routine monitoring station is sampled quarterly

, with 42 samples taken between 1995 and

2008. T he Annual Report Form for Individual NPDES Permits for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems ( Subsection 62

- 624.600 [2]

, F.A.C ) provides additional information on the
SWMP

. In addition to the routine monitoring, COJ EQD is part of the TAT and conducts sampling to help identify potential sources of fecal coliform contamination. In 2005 and 2006, EQD sampled 5

sites in Newcastle Creek, for a total of 40 samples

, as part of the TAT effort.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville

. F rom 2005 through 2008, this include d 77 work orders for

ditch and creek regra ding, erosion control, and cleaning; 4 work orders for lake and pond maintenance; and 55 work orders for the repair/clearing of blocked structures and measures to prevent floo ding. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for the maintenance activities based

on information in the CARE database.

In addition, COJ EQD is working with England

- Thims and Miller (ETM) to implement the PIC Program. ETM is currently developing an inventory and mapping MS4s in Duval County. COJ
EQD keeps a record of reported PICs in a database

, and th at information is transferred into
GIS. This system is checked to determine where site visits are necessary. COJ inspectors conduct the site visits and talk to both the people who live on the site, as well as their neighbors, to verify the nature of the issue. I f there is a known discharge, the inspector investigate s in order to direct the resolution of the discharge to the appropriate entity (COJ, DC HD

, or FDEP). If necessary, a sample is collected to determine the nature of the discharge

. COJ mayassist

the individual in remedying the situation and return to ensure that the connection has been

removed. Between 1998 and 2006, 43 PICs were identified in the Newcastle Creek watershed

, of which 20 were confirmed as illicit and removed.

Educational outreach is a vital part of the PIC Program . COJ EQD, and formerly COJ PWD, primarily provides this outreach by distributing materials to the public such as educational pamphlets and informational door hangers

, and through a storm drain

– stenciling program. COJ also collaborates with SJRWMD’s Watershed Action Volunteer (WAV) Program , which equips volunteers through training and education to perform a variety of tasks to improve the environmental quality of their local watersheds (PBS&J, November 2007).

In the Newcastle Creek watershed , inspections between 2000 and 2008 include d 2 investigations into illicit water discharges, 1 sewer line that drained into a yard or ditch, and 10 SSOs. These inspections are initiated through information from the CARE database

, and PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 32 provides a dditional detail s on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

50 T ABLE 32 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E F FOR T T OTAL C OS T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvement Projects

COJ – 1 Townsend Road (COJ

- 31) Wet d etention 151 acres Unknown COJ Complete
Drainage System Rehab Projects

COJ

– 2 Townsend Road Townsend Road drainage system rehab Al ong Townsend $173,326 COJ Complete

COJ – 3 Berrywood Lane Ditch cleanout to remove sediments and vegetation Along Berrywood

Lane Unknown COJ Complete

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ

– 4 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/ Clean All m aintenance activities complet ed in response to CARE requests. Costs shown limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 7 7 (for 2005

– 08) $15,789.25 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 5 Lake or Pond Problem 4 (for 2005

– 08) $58.68 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 6 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 55 (for 2005

– 08) $3,425.92 COJ Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 7 Illicit Water Discharge CARE i nitiated 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 8 Sewer Drains into Yard / Ditch CARE i nitiated 1 (for 2000

– 08) $212 COJ Ong oing

COJ

– 9 Sewer Overflow CARE i nitiated 10 (for 2000

– 08) $2,120 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 10 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations in WBID ; inspect as ID

stations or new stations constructed Not applicable Not applicable COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 1 Illic it Discharge Detection and Elimination 20 i llici t

, n o o pen 43 (for 1998

– 2006) $9,116 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 12 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

– related qua rterly water quality sampling

– 1 station in WBID 42 (for 1995

– 2008) $8,904 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 13 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess bacteria

levels in creek and help identify potential

fecal bacteria sources 5 sites / 40 samples (for 2005

– 06) $17,880 COJ Complete

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 14 Eggleston Heights Failure Area – S eptic

Tank Phase

- Out Phase out of septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 10 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 15 Septic T anks Outside Failure Area

– Septic

Tank Phase

- Out Phase

- out program a s provided by COJ

ordinance 145 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 16 Septic Tank Maintenance Public Education Public service announcements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ

– 17 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements (PSAs) Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note: I nspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.

1 COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of a surface water in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. COJ must submit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 months of completion of the septic tank study

, or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50 % implementation of the septic tank phase

- out projects by July 31, 2015

, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. For the 10 tributaries addressed in this BMAP, a total of 1,167 septic tanks are located in failure areas, although not all of them may be located within 300 meters of a surface water. The failing tanks within 300 meters of a surface water will be included in the COJ plan and schedule to phase out tanks and will be identified as T ributaries BMAP

- related tanks in the plan.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

51 

### 6.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### N EWCASTLE 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 6.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

FDOT works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ . FDOT has instructed staf f to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections and has removed 10 illicit connections to its conveyances in th e watershed . FDOT also helps to fund one monitoring station in the Newcastle Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system

. Table 33 lists FDOT ’s

activities in th e watershed

.

T ABL E 33 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 1 PIC Program – Search for

Il licit C onnections See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in WBID Ong oing

FDOT – 2 PIC Program – Illicit
C onnections I dentified and

R emoved in WBID if F ound T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ 10 illicit connecti ons removed Ong oing

Surface Water Sampling T o Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 3 Routine T ributary M onitoring

as P art of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ong oing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.



## 6.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 30 through Table 33 list the projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the
Newcastle Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in this WBID are summarized, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Newcastle Creek based on the best information available

about fecal coliform sourc es. As water quality improves as a result of these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Newcastle Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 6.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Area – Based on the GIS current database, there are approximately 155 se ptic tanks in

th e WBID. Ten OSTDS are eligible for sewer connection due to their inclusion located in the Eggleston Heights failure area. COJ committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that

are within 300 meters of surface water s in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. The failing tanks

in the Eggleston Heights failure area in the Newcastle Creek watershed that are within 300Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

52 meters of a surface water will be included in the COJ phase

- out plan and schedule , as described in the Main Stem BMAP, and will be identified in the plan as T ributaries BMAP -r elated

e ffort s.

Repair Permits – Outside the Eggleston Heights failure area, there are no indications that additional failure areas are developing. Of the 18 repair permits filed in the WBID, the majority

is sued before 2005

, are concentrated (1) in the southwest corner, which is not close to surface

waters ; and (2) in the northeast portion of the WBID that has no stormwater infrastructure. Therefore, the locations of these repair sites indicate that the remaining 145 OSTDS are not an immediate threat to surface water contamination and are not discharging to the stormwater system.

Capital Improvement Projects – The COJ Townsend Boulevard flood control project will help

to reduce OSTDS as a source by reducing flooding in the northeastern portion of the WBID

, where there is a higher concentration of septic tanks and where flooding would greatly decrease
the effectiveness of the OS T DS to treat waste before contact with surface waters. COJ PWD should continue to evaluate flooding in the Newcastle Creek WBID

, and if frequent flooding is an issue in areas with high concentrations of OSTDS, capital improvement projects should be implemented, depending on available funding to address those problems.

Program Implementat ion – City ordinances, inspections, and program implementation

, combined with DCHD permit review processes and inspections

, proactively address potential sources. Program implementation ensures the proper review of new OSTDS sites and ensures

the maintena nce of existing systems. These activities need to be continued and fully enforced to manage potential impacts from existing systems in the nonfailure areas and to prevent the

creation of new OSTDS sources.



### 6.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – The COJ database does not indicate that there are private sewer lift

stations in the watershed ; however, the database only includes private lift stations permitted by
COJ since 1991

, or lift stations that have applied for repair permits since that time. I t is likely that private lift stations are located in the watershed but have not been identified. As private

stations are identified or new private lift stations are constructed, COJ will include these station s in the BMAP annual progress report and implement annual inspections.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – The JEA lift station at 3254 Townsend Boulevard

, located

near surface waters, previously had repetitive SSOs; however, JEA replaced the electrical panel in May 2008

, resulting in no subsequent SSOs

, and th us removing a recurring source of fecal coliform loading.

Program Implementation – Since 2001, following inspections and a condition assessment of the sewer lines, over 40 % of the sewer lines in the WBID were pipe bursted and 60 % of the lift

stations upgraded. These sewer infrastructure repairs constitute a large percentage of the total number of sewer lines and lift stations in the WBID, indicating that the previous system was due for substantial maintenance and that the repairs have likely addressed some leakage and potential SSO problems. C ontinued inspection, repair, and maintenance activities in conjunction with the systemwide programs are sufficient to address potential sewer sources in the WBID at this time. The Root Cause Program and other SSO prevention efforts, such as

FOG and CMOM implementation , should be continued so that any additional infrastructure problems that develop will be identified and repaired. JEA will report its inspection, prevention,

and maintenance efforts in th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to

demonstrate that the system is monitored and maintained.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

53 

### 6.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – Twenty illicit connections have been removed through the PIC Program run by COJ and FDOT ; this is a substantial number of illicit connections and potential

sources of bacteria eliminated . COJ and FDOT have committed to continue the PIC Program, including identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely

manner.

COJ Program Impleme ntation – According to the Newcastle Creek Technical Report (PBS&J, November 2007), the higher concentrations of bacteria in the more upstream portion of the creek may be attributed to bacteria regrowth in sediments and the persistence of bacteria populati ons due to conditions of little or no light. COJ completed a project to remove excessive vegetation growth in the upstream portion of the creek, increasing UV light to the waters and potentially increasing the die

- off of sediment bacteria. COJ also removed sediments from the upstream portions of the creek, some of which were most likely transported through the underground stormwater collection system . S ubsequent water sampling indicates that bacteria

levels have decreased downstream of these locations. These actions and a continued commitment by COJ to prevent overgrowth along Newcastle Creek should help to control sediments as a source in the stormwater system.

T ABLE 34 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE N EWCASTLE C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program Implementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspectio n **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Phase

- Out - - X X
Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X

Sewer System
Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X **√**

Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement * X X X

Private Non -NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO) Investigations * X X **√**

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X - X
Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X - X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal M aintenance **√** X * X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X * X
Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X * X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X + XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

54 S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assessment Activities
Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sou rces **√** X X **√**

Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**

Microbial Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs

- X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is n ot applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

55 

## CHAPTER 7 : H OGAN 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2252)

7.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Hogan Creek, WBID 2252, is located in Duval County, north of the LSJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 4 ). The headwaters of Hogan Creek appear to comprise stormwater runoff originating just southwest of West 15 th Stre et ( Figure 5 ) . The entire creek flows southward in a single channel , except for two branches joining Hogan Creek from the west. Segments of each branch appear to be man

- made and are classified by COJ PWD as ditch es. The more northern of the two branches extends west to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center and merges with the main channel just west of the

intersection of West 12 th Street and North Jefferson Street. The more southern branch extends

west to Cleveland Street before joining the main channel south of the intersection of 8 th Street and North Jefferson Street. In the southern portion of the WBID, approximately 400 feet of the creek flows into an underground water conveyance system at East State Street before resurfacing near the intersection at North Washington Street and Union Street Expressway. The waters of Hogan Creek eventually flow into the St. Johns River just south of East Bay

Street (PBS&J, March 2008).

Hogan Creek traverses the watershed within a commercial/utility/institutional and recreational landscape that supports neighboring high

- density residential communities. The dominant land use (1,082.7 acres; 49.2 % of total coverage) in the watershed is high

- density residential , which extends throug hout the watershed ( Table 35 ) . The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) commercial/utility/institutional areas, predominantly located in the southern portion of the watershed (452.4 acres; 20.6 % of total coverage ); and (2) recreational habitat,

which borders the creek

, providing direct access to the waterbody (384.7 acres; 17.5 % of total coverage). Wetland habitat account s for less than 5% of land use (PBS&J, March 2008)

.
According to the 2000 Cens us, there are 7,109 households in the watershed , averaging 1.59 people per household. The areas directly adjacent to the creek, especially in the midstream

section of the watershed , consist of recreational and commercial areas bounded by high population d ensities (PBS&J, March 2008)

. In addition, assuming that 40 % of households have

1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are 2,844 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 35 : L AND U S E S IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

High

- Density Re sidential 1,082.7 49.2

Commercial/ Utility/Institutional 452.4 20.6

Recreational 384.7 17.5

Industrial 115.9 5.3

Transportation 104.5 4.7

Medium

- Density Residential 20.0 0.9

Open Land 14.8 0.7

Water 12.0 0.5

Non f orested Upland 7.5 0.3

Wetlands 5.7 0.3

T OTAL : 2,200.1 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

56 F IGUR E 4: L OCATION OF THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

57 F IGUR E 5: H OGAN C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M A PFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

58 

## 7.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 7.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES

There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilitie s, CAFOs, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Hogan Creek. The COJ/FDOT MS4 permit

includes the Hogan Creek watershed (PBS&J, March 2008)

.



### 7.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

COJ EQD identified s even PICs in the Hogan Creek wat ershed between 2004 and 2006 ; five

were confirmed as illicit connections and removed

.



### 7.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWAGE 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

A n estimated 6,227 households (approximately 88 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the Hogan Cr eek watershed . The sanitary sewer lift stations are all

located near ( within approximately 300 feet of ) Hogan Creek; therefore, p otential failures at

these lift stations are likely to contribute bacterial contamination to the c reek ’s surface waters.

JEA has reported 36 SSOs

, 11 of them potentially impacting surface waters, within the WBID boundaries ( Table 36 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 1 to 45,000 gallons and averaged 2,570 gallons. More recently, an SSO that occurred at East Bay Street on February 4, 2008, released approximately 104,000 gallons of sewage near the creek’s surface waters; an estimated 10,000 gallons were recovered, resulting in an approximate net discharge of 94,000 gallons.

The number of reported SSOs in the Hogan Creek watershed ha s likely contributed to the

overall contamination of the watershed

, considering that 11 of the 36 ( 31 % ) reported SSOs

occurred near the creek’s surface waters. It is possible, however, that unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks are contributing to this pollution

, as sewer infrastructure (e.g., lift stations, manholes) are regularly located near the creek throughout the watershed (PBS&J, March 2008)

. T he inoculation of sediments following an SSO event or unknown infrastructure leak may lead to the persistence and likel y regrowth of indicator bacteria in sediments, th us possibly allowing an influx of high levels of bacteria to receiving waters for an unspecified period (D avies et al.

, 1995 ; Anderson et al.

, 2005). It is also important to note that the number of gallons of spilled sewage due to reported SSOs decreased from 59,230 gallons in 2003 to 270 gallons in 2006.



### 7.2.4 OS TDS
WSEA estimates that there are approximately 428 OSTDS in the Hogan Creek watershed. According to DCHD, no septic tank repair permits have been issued in th e WBID . No DCHD

designated septic tank failure area is located near the boundary of the watershed.



### 7.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Hogan Creek WBID contains primarily 10 to

25 % and greater than 25 % impervious surface. Furthermore, the potential for stormwater runoff was predicted through the calculation of runoff coefficients using the U.S. Soil Conservation

S ervice (SCS) Curve Number approach ( SCS, 1986). This analysis demonstrates that the majority of the WBID contains a moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, especially

near the creek (PBS&J, March 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

59 T ABLE 36 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME OF
S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY I MP AC TE D
S UR FACE W ATERS Hogan Creek (2252) 21 -Aug- 01 * 2, 500 - Hogan Creek (2252) 21

- Nov

- 01 * 10

, 000 - Hogan Creek (2252) 15- Jan

- 02 50 - Hogan Creek (2252) 25

- Jan

- 02 200 - Hogan Creek (2252) 8- Feb

- 02 500 - Hogan Creek (2252) 24

- May

- 02 200 - Hogan Creek (2252) 13 -Aug- 02 100 - Hogan Creek (2252) 14 -Aug- 02 75 - Hogan Creek (2252) 2- Oct

- 02 500 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 23

- Oct -02 200 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 8- Nov

- 02 * 6, 000 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 11

- Feb

- 03 * 45

, 000 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 10

- Mar

- 03 30 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 18

- Mar

- 03 * 1, 560 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 10

- Jul

- 03 50 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 30

- Jul

- 03 200 No
Hogan Creek (2 252) 15

- Oct

- 03 * 12

, 240 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 17

- Oct

- 03 * 120 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 20

- Oct

- 03 30 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 19

- Feb

- 04 * 200 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 17

- Mar

- 04 200 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 15 -Apr- 04 * 540 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 26 -Apr- 04 * 1, 000 Ye s Hogan Creek (2252) 14

- May

- 04 * 600 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 25

- Jun

- 04 * 1, 100 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 1- Jul

- 04 * 8, 900 Yes
Hogan Creek (2252) 12

- Oct

- 04 1 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 4- Jan

- 05 35 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 24

- Mar

- 05 60 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 30

- Mar -05 20 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 26

- Oct

- 05 5 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 9- Dec

- 05 25 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 27

- Dec

- 05 20 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 4- Jan

- 06 50 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 6- Feb

- 06 20 No
Hogan Creek (2252) 8- May

- 06 200 No

Note: Data on SSOs that potentially affected surface waters are unavailable before October 2002.

* Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.

The storm sewer network in the Hogan Creek watershed includes 50 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 64.71 % of the WBID area. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 53 outfalls by receiving water ( 1 classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 1,623 inlets. There is also a n underground conveyance system in the

downstream portion of the watershed . Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems are primarily confined to the northern portions of the WBID , except for one that forms the westernmost segment of the southern branch (PBS&J, March 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

60 

## 7.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 7.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### H OGAN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 7.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8) Force Main Discharge Manholes; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
JEA has initiated infrastructure rehabilitation projects in the Hogan Creek watershed to help prevent and reduce future overflow s (PBS&J, March 2008)

. As part of the infrastructure rehabilitation projects in the watershed, JEA conducts several types of activities to replace or rehabilitate failing or leaking infrastructure

, including (1) pipe bursting to increase carrying capacity

, (2) CIPP to install a new inner lining in the pipe

, and (3) open cut to remove and replace pipe. A total of 12.46 % of the sewer lines in the watershed have been pipe bursted,

1.37 % have CIPP, and 0.16 % have been repaired through open cut.

JEA has also replaced or repaired components on 1 of the 4 (25 % ) lift stations in the WBID. In addition, it conducts activities to help prevent future infrastructure problems. In the Hogan
Creek watershed , 11,821 LF of pipe were inspected during FY07 using a closed

- circuit television system. JEA also pipe cleaned 57,198 LF of pipe in FY07 to avoid blockages. These

activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems. Table 37 provides a dditional in formation on JEA ’s activities in the Hogan Creek

watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

6 1 T ABLE 37 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 17 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying
C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 180,230 $15,713,951 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 18 CIPP – Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabilitat e failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of CIPP in

watershed since 2001: 19

, 788 $1,731,285 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 19 Open C ut – R emoval

and R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of open cut replacement in watershed since

2001: 2

, 366 $415,957 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 20 Manhole Linings

Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 21 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting co mpleted in 2004 ; all stations constructed since
have SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 22 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes ;

Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

JEA – 23 Pump Station Class I/II Rebuilding Repair or replace components of existing pump stations Projects in w atershed since

2002: 1 $75,159 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 24 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E No t applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG P rogram initiated in 2004

JEA – 25 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through closed

- circuit television 11

, 821 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 26 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 57

, 198 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 27 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongo ing

JEA – 28 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E 1 manhole monitor installed in watershed as of January 2009 $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA – 29 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 30 Pop

- T op Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 31 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/ Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the p rogram because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

62 

### 7.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### H OGAN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 7.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs

.
As part of the OSTDS Program

, DCHD has issued 2 new construction permits and 8 abandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 1 annual operating permit has been issued for a performance

- based treatment and disposal system (PBTS) in the watershed

. DCHD has also performed 1 plan review and site evaluation and 126 investigations in response to complaints

received. DCHD will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent issues related to
OSTDS. Table 38 lists DCHD’s project s in the Hogan Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 38 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST (1996

– 2008) F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJEC T
S TATUS

DCHD – 7 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address septic systems as potential sources Approximately 2

new construction

permits and 8

abandonment permits issued in

WBID $2,000 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 8 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o pera ting p ermits issued for PBTS, systems

located in industrial/ manufacturing zones (IMZ)

,

and commercial systems One a nnual

o perating p ermit for
PBTS/IMZ located

in WBID $2,500 F DOH /

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 9 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual t raining programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals One to 2 trainings per year providing

up to 12 contact

hours $2,500 FD OH /

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 10 Application/Plan

Review/Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan review

and site evaluation for each

application received for OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 17 plan reviews and

site evaluations

have been performed in WBID

base d on permitting history $4,000 FD OH /

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 11 Septic Tank Failure Area Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 12 Complaint

Inv estigations DCHD investigat es all complaints received, performs site visit, and initiates enforcement action on sanitary

nuisance violations 126 complaint investigations have been performed in

WBID $13,000 FD OH /

LSJR

SWIM

Grant OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

63 

### 7.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN T HE 

### H OGAN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 7.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ PWD has completed 3 projects in the watershed : (1) the Hogan Creek Wet Detention

Pond , which treats 48 acres; (2) the Durkeeville West Wet Detention Pond, which treats 106 acres; and (3) the Edmonson West Project , a drainage improvement project that alleviated flooding by improving conveyances

. These projects capture and treat stormwater runoff, helping to reduce stormwater

- associated bacterial loadings to Hogan Creek. In addition, the Bay Street Bridge Expansion Project is under construction and is projected to replace the existing bridge structure

, with the expectation of lowering the hydraulic grade line during larger rainfall events, th us helping in flood control (PBS&J, March 2008)

.



### 7.3.3.2 COJ Projects in Design or Construction

COJ currently has one flood improvement project in the Newtown area in design. In addition, there are two drainage system rehabilitation projects under construction at (1) 7 th and Ionia, which is an area that has standing water at the curb; and (2) Boulevard Railroad Crossing

, where the headwall has failed and caused the drain pipes to break. These projects, once completed, will reduce stormwater runoff in their respective areas, in turn reduc ing fecal coliform loading to the creek

.



### 7.3.3.3 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

COJ has established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. In Hogan Creek, COJ

has 1 routine monitoring station that is sampled quarterly . A total of 43 samples were taken at this station between 1995 and 2008. In addition to the routine sampling, COJ EQD also participates in the TAT. EQD has collected 28 samples at 10 sites as part of the TAT, with an

additional 3 s amples taken at 3 sites to follow up on high fecal coliform counts in an effort to identify potential sources.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 105 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning; 10 work orders for lake and pond maintenance;

and 264 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. Of the seve n PICs identified by COJ in the waters h ed

, five were confirmed as illicit connections and were removed. Three of these PICs were considered sources of bacterial contamination and may have contributed to the bacterial loading of Hogan Creek prior to their removal (PBS&J, March 2008)

. The status of one PIC is still pending investigation. As part of the PIC Program, COJ EQD provides public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and the storm drain

– stenciling program.

COJ PWD h as also conducted inspections in the watershed

, including 13 investigations into illicit water discharges, 12 illegal discharges, 19 sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, 62 SSOs, and 1 private lift station. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests , which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 39 provides a dditional information on COJ ’s activities in the Hogan Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

64 T ABLE 39 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL C OS T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvement Projects

COJ

– 1 8 Durkeeville West Wet d etention 106 a cres Unknown COJ Complete

COJ

– 1 9 Newtown Area Flood i mprovement Newtown Area $5,375,000 COJ Design

COJ

– 20 Hogan Creek Wet d etention 48 acres Unknown COJ Complete Drainage System Rehab Projects

COJ

– 21 Edmonson West Alleviate flooding by improving conv eyances Edmonson West Unknown COJ Complete

COJ

– 2 2 7th & Ionia Standing water at curbing 7 th and Ionia Unknown COJ Construction

COJ

– 2 3 Boulevard RR Crossing Headwall has failed

, causing dual drain pipes to break RR crossing $100,000 COJ Construction

COJ

– 2 4 W&M

- 18th & Fla Drainage system rehab project W&M 18 th and Fla $2,620 COJ Complete

COJ – 25 Trash Removal in Main Channel Removed trash in main channel of creek as Walk the WBID

follow

- up Main channel Unknown COJ Complete

COJ – 26 Venus and Mars Apartment Complex Pond

Maintenance Conducted maintenance activities at pond at apartment complex as Walk the WBID follow

- up Venus and Mars apartment complex Unknown COJ Complete

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ

– 2 7 Ditch / Creek Regrade /Erosion /Clean Compl eted in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 105 (for 2005

– 08) $23,248.37 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 2 8 Lake or Pond Problem 10 (for 2005

– 08) $3,793 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 2 9 Structure Blocked/Repair/Ge neral Flooding 264 (for 2005

– 08) $112,659 COJ Ongoing Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 30 Illicit Water Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 13 (for 2000

– 08) $2,756 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 31 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Ins pection 12 (for 2000

– 08) $2,544 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 3 2 Sewer D rains into Y ard / D itch CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 19 (for 2000

– 08) $4,028 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 3 3 Sewer Overflow CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 62 (for 2000

– 08) $13,144 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 3 4 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations in WBID prior to 2007 ; 1 annual inspection 1 (for 2007) $212 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 3 5 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination 5 i llicit , 1 o pen 7 (for 2004

– 06) $1,484 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 3 6 Follow U p on Outstanding PIC F ollow up on 1 open PIC in watershed 1 (for 2009

– 10) $212 COJ Planned

COJ – 37 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quarterly water quality sampling

– 1 sampling station in WBID 43 (for 1995

– 2008) $19,221 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 38 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess bacteria levels in creek and help identify potential fecal bacteria sources 10 sites/28 samples $12,516 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 39 Source ID Sampling Source ID sampling conducted when high levels of fecal

coliform bacteria are noted 3 sites/3 samples $3,000 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 40 Outside Failure Areas

– Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ ordinance 428 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 41 Septic Tank Maintenance P u blic E ducation Public service announcements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ

– 42 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost =$447; and septic tank per connection = $35.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

65 

### 7.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### H OGAN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 7.3.4.1 Completed FDOT Projects

FDOT has completed a wet detention pond located at S.R. 115 and 8 th Street that treats stormwater from 31 acres. By capturing and treating stormwater in this area, the project has helped reduce additional fecal coliform loading to the creek from runoff.



### 7.3.4.2 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implem ents a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT Drainage Connection permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality ; these enti ties regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT performs periodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit

. FDOT supports the Adopt -A- Highway P rogram in the watershed and collects trash from 12 acres

, for an average annual removal of 1,101 pounds. Street sweeping also occurs monthly on 25 miles of roadways, reducing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and de bris from the system, as needed. This maintenance occurs in approximately 350 inlets and 12 miles of piping.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ . FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also helps to fund one monitoring station in the Hogan Creek

watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system

. Table 40

lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

66 T ABLE 40 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE H OGAN C REEK W ATERS HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 4 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuo us in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 5 PIC Program – Illicit C onnections

I dentified and R emoved in WBID

if F ound T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ No true illicit connection

identified to date Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling T o Assess Condit ions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 6 Routine T ributary M onitoring as Part of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Roadway Projects with Structural BMPs

FDOT – 7 S.R. 115/8 th Street Project $2,941,944 State of

Flori da (FDOT) 31 acres , wet detention Completed

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 8 DCP – Connecting E ntity M ust
C ertify that A ll D ischarges to
FDOT MS4 Are T reated Prior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of

Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Adopt

- A

- Highway Program

FDOT – 9 Adopt -A- Highway P rogram See Note 4 Not applicable Trash collected from 12

acres. Amount col lected annually average s 1,101 pounds. Ongoing

Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 10 S ediment A ccumulation

, T rash

, a nd D ebris R emoved As N eeded $77,148 State of

Florida (FDOT) A pprox imately 350
inlets/catch ba sin s and about 12 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 11 Street Sweeping Program $6,848 State of

Florida (FDOT) 25 miles of roadway

s wept monthly Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 12 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of

Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage structures, replace/ repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside

ditches, clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter removal

, respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average co st is $27,151 per year.

4 Associated cost unknown. Program is voluntary.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 7.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 37 through Table 40 show the projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the Hogan Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in th e WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Hogan Creek based on the best informationFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

67 available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and pr ograms listed in the project tables for the Hogan Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 7.4.1 OS TDS

OSTDS Inspection – Based on the current GIS database, there are approximately 428 septic

tanks in th e watershed. V ery few are estimated to be near surface waters and therefore are not
considered significant potential sources directly affecting surface waters. However, many are close to stormwater inlets and could be a source to the stormwater conveyance system. Since there are no designated failure areas and no plans to connect these neighborhoods to sewer, the continuation of the COJ CARE system to report and follow up with public complaints

, as well

as the DCHD inspec tions and permit programs

, are vital to identifying improperly functioning OSTDS. COJ and DCHD have committed to continuing these programs

, document ing problems

, and requiring property owners to fix them. They are also committed to the continued

coordina tion of their efforts so their respective roles and legal authorities are properly used in

these situations.

Capital Improvement Projects – Several COJ flood control projects, including two stormwater retention ponds, have reduced high

- water conditions that can contribute to septic tank failure

from improperly treated waste . COJ PWD should continue to evaluate flooding in the Hogan

Creek WBID

, and if frequent flooding is an issue in areas with high concentrations of OSTDS, capital improvement projects should be implemented, depending on available funding to address those problems.

Program Implementation – The Walk the WBIDs effort conducted in September 2008 did not reveal any additional septic tank problems. City ordinances, inspections, and program imp lementation

, combined with DCHD permit review processes and inspections

, proactively address potential sources. Program implementation ensures the proper review of new OSTDS

sites and ensures the maint enance of existing systems . These activities need to be continued and fully enforced to manage potential impacts from existing systems in the nonfailure areas and to prevent the creation of new OSTDS sources.



### 7.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, there is one private lift station that

was constructed in 2007 and inspected by COJ in 2008. In accordance with COJ ’s private lift station inspection program, COJ i s committed to the continued inspection of private lift stations

in its jurisdiction to ensure that privately ow ned infrastructure is monitored and properly maintained by its owners.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – SSOs, previously a significant issue in th e WBID, have decreased dramatically since 2003. In 2002, JEA repaired one pump station located near

surface waters that was linked to SSO problems. I n 2004, JEA removed the gravity sewer line at Pearl Street and installed a lift station and force main, removing the cause of the repetitive
SSO problem in this area. JEA eliminated a reoccurring SSO on Broad Street by relining the

force main and then plac ing the two manholes in the area on the Manhole Monitoring Program.
JEA addressed the SSO at 6 th Street and North Davis by removing and replacing tuberculated iron piping, scheduling relining, and cleaning pipes in the surrounding area. The completion of these projects has resulted in lower fecal coliform counts in the creek

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

68 Program Implementation – Continued program implementation and additional follow

- up, as required by the current Walk the WBID effort, as well as the implementation of the JEA Root Cause Program to identify infrastructure issues

, are needed. A dditionally

, the implementation of systemwide SSO prevention programs, such as FOG and CMOM, should continue. JEA will
report its inspection, prevention, and maintenance efforts in th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to demonstrate that the system is monitored and maintained.



### 7.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – Between 2000 and 2008, COJ addressed 12 illegal discharges and 19 sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, constituting significant source eliminations. COJ will follow up and provide information on the status o f 1 outstanding PIC investigation in the first annual BMAP progress report. COJ and FDOT have committed t o continue t he PIC Program

, which includes identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely manner.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. Th e permit program will continue

, and FDOT will periodic ally inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted

connections. In addition, the FDOT Adopt -A- Highway Program removes trash from roadways

, prevent ing it from entering the stormwater system and providing a potential medium for bacteria regrowth. This effort is expected to continue if the Adopt -A- Highway volun teers continue to be

active in th e WBID.

Capital Improvement Projects – FDOT constructed a stormwater improvement project at S.R.

115 and 8 th Street that treats 31 acres of roadway and urban runoff through a wet detention pond. COJ completed several projects that are expected to relieve flooding and provide

additional acres of stormwater treatment. These projects have reduced the amount of

stormwater

- related fecal coliform bacteria entering the creek.

Walk the WBID – As a follow

- up to the 2008 Walk the WBID effort in Hogan Creek, COJ PWD removed trash from the main channel and conducted maintenance activities on the pond at the Venus and Mars apartment complex, which discharges to Hogan Creek

. The removal of trash

from th e pond prevented trash from entering the creek and providing a potential medium for bacteria regrowth.



### 7.4.4 W ILDLIFE AND 

### O THE R 

### A NTHR OPOGE NIC 

### S OUR CE S Ducks and other waterfowl densely populate the pond at Confederate Park and are therefore a

source of fecal coliform that is considered natural and uncontrollable unless waterfowl populations are unnaturally large. Some areas in th e watershed, such as the bridge at Broad Street, appear to be inhabited by homeless populations. COJ should be aware of this potentially significant source and prepare recommendations on how to address th e situation in

the BMAP annual reports until it is resolved.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

69 T ABLE 41 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE H OGAN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program Implementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Phase

- Out - - X X
Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X

Sewer System
Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X **√**

Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspecti on and Rehab X X X *
Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non -NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO) Investigations **√** X X **√**

Surface Water S ampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X - X
Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X **√** X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater P ipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X - X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X - Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X - Microbial Sourc e Tracking (MST) - X X - Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs **√** X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable to the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure.
+ FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 a greements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

70 

## CHAPTER 8 : B UTCHER 

## P E N 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2322)

8.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Butcher Pen Creek, WBID 2322, is located in Duval County, west of the L SJR within the Ortega River Planning Un it, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 6 ). The headwaters of Butcher Pen Creek appear to comprise stormwater runoff originating near the intersection of Jammes Road
and Anvers Boulevard South ( Figure 7 ) . The entire creek flows northward in a single channel

, except for two branches joining Butcher Pen Creek from the west. The more northern of the two branches extends west towards Rainer Road and merges with the main channel j ust east of
Arthur Durham Drive. The more southern branch extends west towards Solandra Circle West and joins the main channel just northwest of Claret Drive. The waters of Butcher Pen Creek merge with the Cedar River at Confederate Point and eventually discharge into the Ortega River before reaching the St. Johns River (PBS&J, April 2008).

The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 42 ). The dominant land use (630 acres; 75.1 % of total coverage) in the watershed, and directly adjacent to the creek itself, is medium

- density residential , which extends throughout the watershed. The

next 2 most abundant land cover categories are (1) commercial/utility/institutional areas, located predominantly along Blanding Boulevard, which bisects the watershed north to south (102.2 acres; 12.2 % of total coverage); and (2) recreational areas, which borde r the creek from Nazworth Road southward to Solandra Drive South and are also found in patchy areas in the southwest central portion of the WBID. Upland forests and wetland habitat accounted for less

than 5 % of land use (PBS&J, April 2008)

.
According to the 2000 Census, there are 1,873 households in the watershed , averaging 2.5 people per household. It should be noted that a high

- density residential area (16 to 25 pe ople

per acre) is situated on the eastern side of Butcher Pen Creek between Confederate Point Road
and its confluence with the St. Johns River (PBS&J, April 2008)

. In addition, assuming that 40 %
of households have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 749 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 42 : L AND U S E S IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

Medium

- Density Residential 630.0 75.1

Commercial/Utility/Institutional 102.2 12.2

Recreational 36.2 4.3

Wetlands 24.1 2.9

Transportation 17.2 2.0

Upland Forest 11.7 1.4

Water 10.7 1.3

High

- Density Resi dential 6.8 0.8

TOTAL: 838.9 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

71 F IGUR E 6: L OCATION OF THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

72 F IGUR E 7: B UTCHE R P E N C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

73 

## 8.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 8.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES
There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilities, CAFO s, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Butcher Pen Creek. T he Jacksonville Heights WWTF discharges UV

- treated wastewater into a ditch system approximately 0.75 miles south of

the WBID at 5957 Tampico Road. The UV light is used at the WWTF to eliminate bacterial

contamination , and th us th e WWTF should not be a source of fecal coliform as long as the required treatment is being performed. The ditch system runs east towards Fishing Creek and north into the Butcher Pen WBID, just south of the main stem near the Romilly Drive and Jammes Road intersection. Therefore, there is a potential for wastewater discharges from th e facility to contribute to the bacteriological loading of Butcher Pen Creek. In addition, the
COJ /FDOT MS4 permit includes the Butcher Pen Creek watershed (PBS&J, April 2008)

.



### 8.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

COJ EQD is continuing a program to identify, confirm, and respond to illicit connection issues in

Jacksonville. COJ identified 27 PIC s in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed between 2000 and

2005. Three of these were determined to be illicit connections and were removed. There are 14 PICs still pending investigation.



### 8.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWAGE 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

A n estimated 1,894 households (approximately 100 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed . From 2001 to 2007, JEA reported
a total of 16 SSOs within the Butcher Pen Creek WBID boundaries ( Table 43 ) . The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 10 to 1,200 gallons and averaged 276 gallons (PBS&J, April 2008)

.

The number of reported SSOs ha s likely contributed to the overall contamination of the

watershed

, considering that 5 of the 16 (31 % ) reported events were observed to potentially impact the associated surface waters. The watershed includes abundant sewer infrastructure (e.g., lift station, sewer mains, manholes) near to and crossing either above or below the creek; therefore, continual inputs from unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks (e.g., from underground sewer mains) may be contributing to the overall bacterial contamination (PBS&J, April 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

74 T ABLE 43 : SSO S REPOR TE D IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY
I MPACTE D S UR FACE
W ATERS Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 19 -Apr- 02 150 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 6- May

- 02 20 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 28

- May

- 02 200 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 19 -Aug- 02* 300 Yes
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 17 -Sep- 02 10 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 23 -Sep- 02* 1,200 Yes
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 25 -Sep- 02 10 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 8- Jul

- 03 200 No

Butcher P en Creek (2322) 22

- Oct

- 03 50 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 17

- Oct

- 04 500 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 2- Nov

- 04* 800 Yes
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 1- Dec

- 04 20 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 9- Dec

- 05 100 No
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 14

- Feb

- 06 30 No

Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 10

- Oct

- 07* 770 Yes
Butcher Pen Creek (2322) 8- Mar

- 08* 50 Yes

Note: The October 2007 and March 2008 SSOs occurred after the reporting period. *Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.



### 8.2.4 OS TDS

WSE A estimat es that there are a total of 108 septic tanks in the WBID . According to DCHD, 1 3 septic tank repair permits were issued in th e area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems, were located in the northeast corner of the W BID.

There is one DCHD

- designated septic

- tank failure area , Cedar River, located in the watershed

. Approximately 15 % of the failure area is with in the WBID. Since the majority of homes are connected to sanitary sewer in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed

, it is unlikely that septic tanks are responsible for the high levels of fecal coliform that have been observed (PBS&J, April 2008)

.



### 8.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Butcher Pen WBID contains predominantly

10 to 25 % i mpervious surface; however, the majority of land close to the creek has greater than

25 % impervious surface. It should be noted that although more elevated levels of fecal coliform contamination appear to be associated with areas of higher percent impervious surface, the high density of wastewater infrastructure in these portions of the watershed should also be considered as a likely source. Furthermore, the calculation of runoff coefficients demonstrates that the majority of the WBID contains a moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, especially near the creek (PBS&J, April 2008)

.

The storm sewer network in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed includes a total of 8 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 25.82 % of the WBID a rea. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 72 outfalls by receiving water (none classified by

FDEP as a major outfall) and 411 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems are primarily confined to the western and southern portions (PBS&J, April 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

75 H igher concentrations of fecal coliform were identified in the “wet” season (June through October) , suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to Butcher Pen Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems during high rainfall. Elevated levels of fecal coliform following rainfall may be an indication that pollution from unidentified sources (e.g., leaking wastewater conveyance systems) is be ing transported by stormwater into Butcher Pen Creek.



## 8.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 8.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B UTCHE R 

### P E N 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 8.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
JEA inspected sections of sewer infrastructure in the midstream portion of Butcher Pen Creek as part of the TAT

- directed reconnaissance. Investigations included surcharged dye testing that did not identify any leaks into the creek; however, a manhole located at 4557 Arthur Durham Drive did show evidence of a recent overflow. JEA reported that additional investigations of the line were being conducted. A cave

- in on a gravity line was also identified at a pump station at 4807 Ducheneau Drive and was given a priority status for repair. There was no evidence of

overflow at that location (PBS&J, April 2 008)

.
JEA conducts several types of activities to replace or rehabilitate failing or leaking infrastructure

, including pipe bursting, CIPP, and open cut. A total of 15.75 % of the sewer lines in the WBID have been pipe bursted, 0.89 % have CIPP, and 0.39 % h ave been repaired through open cut. JEA has also replaced or repaired components on 3 of the 8 (37.5 % ) lift stations in the WBID. In addition, JEA conducts activities to help prevent future infrastructure problems. In FY07

, JEA inspected 1,594 LF of pip e and cleaned 6,467 LF of pipe. These activities will continue in the

future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems.

Table 44 provides additional information on JEA ’s activities in the Butcher Pen Creek

watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

76 T ABLE 44 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT
Sewer U pgrades

JEA – 32 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying
C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 71

, 072 $5,440,212 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 33 CIPP – Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabili tate failing/leaki ng infrastructure Total footage of CIPP in watershed

since 2001: 4

, 030 $741,836 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 34 Open C ut – R emoval and

R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of open cut replacement in watershed since

2001: 1

, 770 $442,500 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 35 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 36 Line I nspection of Manhole at 4557

Arthur Drive Report on results of

man hole line inspection Inspect one manhole Unknown JEA Planned 2009

JEA – 37 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 2 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t of tributary (only 3 ARV s total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 38 Pump Station SCADA Upg rades Retrofitting completed in

2004 ; all stations

constructed since have
SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 39 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicabl e $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

JEA – 40 Pump Station Class I/II Rebuilding Repair or replace components of existing pump stations Projects in w atershed since 2002: 3 $195,163 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 41 Pump Station Repair at 4807

Ducheneau Drive Report o n status of pump station repair in first annual progress report Repair one pump station Unknown JEA Planned 2009

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 42 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG program initia ted in

2004

JEA – 43 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of

closed

- circuit TV system 1, 594 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 44 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 6, 467 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 45 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

77 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT

JEA

– 46 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E Not app licable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA

– 47 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 48 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 49 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

78 

### 8.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B UTCHE R 

### P E N 

### C REE K 

### W ATE R S HE D Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) t he designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer ( Appendix E ). As of July 28, 2008, DCHD updated the listing of failure and nuisance areas. There is currently 1 designated failure

area

, Cedar River

, in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed

. Approximately 15 % of this area is

located in the WBID.

As part of the OSTDS P rogram, DCHD has issued 4 new construction permits , 13 repair permits, and 5 abandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 1 annual operating permit has

been issued for a PBTS in the watershed

. DCHD has also performed 22 plan review s and 13 complaint investigations. It will continue these activities in the future to reduce and prevent
issues related to OSTDS. Table 45 shows t he DCHD project table for Butcher Pen Creek.

T ABLE 45 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST (1996

– 2008) F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S T ATUS

DCHD – 13 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 4

new construction permits, 13 repair

permits, and 5

abandonment permit s issued $8,000 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 14 Annual Operating

Permits An nual o perating

p ermits issued for

PBTS, systems

located in IMZ

, and commercial systems 1 a nnual o perating

p ermit issued for

PBTS/IMZ in

WBID $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 15 SWIM Project Implementation of

broad

- ranging septic

tank ordinance Approximately
15% of Cedar River Septic Tank

Failure Area is in

WBID $48,750 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 16 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities,

an d environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up

to 12 contact

hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 17 Application/

Plan Review/

Site Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received

for OSTDS new construction, repair,

or modification of existing system Approximately 22 plan reviews and

site evaluations

have been performed in

WBID based on permitting history $5,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 18 Septic Tank Failure

A rea Ranking Septic t ank f ailure

a rea scored and prioritized on annual

basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

79 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST (1996

– 2008) F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S T ATUS

DCHD – 19 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and initiates

enf orcement action on sanitary nuisance

violations 13 complaint investigations

have been performed in

WBID $1,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing



### 8.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B UTCHE R 

### P E N 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 8.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ PWD has completed 2 wet detention projects in the watershed to capture and treat

stormwater runoff : the Wesconnett Boulevard and La Moya Roadway projects treat 396 acres and 17 acres, respectively

. These projects help to reduce stormwater

- associated bacterial loadings to Butcher Pen Creek.



### 8.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. As part of this plan,
COJ has 1 routine monitoring s tation in the watershed that is sampled quarterly . A total of 46 samples were taken at this station between 1995 and 2008. In addition to the routine sampling, COJ EQD also participates in the TAT and has collected 12 samples at 8 sites as part of this

e ffort.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 115 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning; 2 work orders for lake and pond maintenance;

and 76 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE re quests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. A total of 27 PICs were identified, with 3 confirmed as illicit and removed

, and 14 still pending investigation

. As pa rt of the PIC Program, COJ EQD provides public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and the

storm drain

– stenciling program.

COJ PWD also conducts inspections in the watershed that are initiated through the CARE

database

. Be tween 2000 and 2008, PWD conducted two investigations into illicit water discharges, four illegal discharges, two sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, and nine
SSOs . PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on re quests

, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 46 provides additional details on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

80 T ABLE 46 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REE K W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvement Projects

COJ

– 4 3 Wesconnett Blvd (Blanding to Blanding) Wet d etention 396 acres Unknown COJ Complete

COJ

– 4 4 La Moya Roadway Project Wet d etention 17 acres Unknown COJ Complete

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ

– 4 5 Ditch/ Creek Regrade /Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 115 (for 2005

– 08) $7,000 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 4 6 Lake or Pond Problem 2 (for 2005

– 08) Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 47 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 76 (for 2005

– 08) $38,484 COJ Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 4 8 Illicit Wa ter Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 4 9 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 4 (for 2000

– 08) $848 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 50 Sewer D rains into Y ard / D itch CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 51 Sewer Overflow CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 9 (for 2000

– 08) $1,908 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 52 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations in WBID ; inspect as ID stations or

new stations constructed Not applicable Not applicable COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 5 3 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination 3 i llicit , 14 o pen 27 (for 2000

– 05) $5,724 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 5 4 Follow Up on Outstanding PICs Follow up on 14 open PICs in watershed 14 (for 20 09

– 10) $2,968 COJ Planned

COJ – 55 Routine S urface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quart erly water quality sampling

– 1 sampling station in WBID 46 (for 1995

– 2008) $20,562 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 56 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess bacteria levels in

creek and identify potential fecal bacteria sources 8 sites/12 samples $5,364 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 57 Cedar River Failure Area – Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase

- out of septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 69 total tanks, 0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 58 Outside Failure Areas

– Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ ordinance 39 total tanks, 0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 59 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 60 Pet/A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $ 447; and septic tank per connection = $35.

1 COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of a surface water in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. COJ must submit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 month s of completion of the septic tank study

, or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50 % implementation of the septic tank phase

- out projects by July 31, 2015

, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. For the 10 tributaries addressed in this BMAP, a total of 1,167 septic tanks are located in failure areas, although not all of them may be located within 300 meters of a surface water body . The failing tanks within 300 meters of a surface water body will be

inclu ded in the COJ plan and schedule to phase out tanks and will be identified as Tr ibutaries BMAP

- related tanks in the plan.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

81 

### 8.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B UTCHE R 

### P E N 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 8.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT Drainage Connection permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the loca l municipality ; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and

codes. FDOT performs p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FDOT also sweeps 12 miles of roadways in th e watershed monthly, reducing the a mount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ . FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the
Butcher Pen Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring

program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system

. Table 47 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 47 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 13 PIC P rogram

– Search for

I llicit C onnections See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 14 PIC P rogram

- Illicit
C onnections I dentified and

R emoved in WBID if F ound

T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT) /COJ No illicit connection found to

date Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling T o Assess Conditions and Identify So urces

FDOT – 15 Routine Tributary

M onitoring as P art of MS4

P ermit See Note 2 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 16 DCP

– Connecting E ntity

M ust C ertify that A ll

D ischarges to FDOT MS4

Are Tr eated P rior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 17 Street Sweeping Program $3,287 State of Florida (FDOT) 12 miles of roadway s wept monthly OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

82 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 18 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage structures, replace/repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside ditches, clear/repair outfall ditches, m owing, roadside litter removal, respond to

citizen co mplaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

5 Countywide Program – Aver age cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 8.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORT S

Table 44 through Table 47 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal colif orm loading in the
Butcher Pen Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in the WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Butcher Pen Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Butcher Pen Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the

TMDL.



### 8.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Area – Of approximately 108 septic tanks within the WBID boundary, 69 systems are located in the Cedar River failure area and are eligible to receive sewer connection. The majority of the 13 OSTDS repair permits issued since 1996 are located in the northeastern

corner of the watershed, in the septic tank failure area. COJ committed to removing septic

tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of surface water s in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. The failing tanks in the Cedar River failure area in the Butcher Pen Creek watershed
within 300 meters of surface water s will be included in the COJ phase

- out plan and schedule , as described in the Main Stem BMAP, and will be identified in the plan as T ributaries BMAP

- related

effort s.

Program Implementation – S eptic tanks do not appear to be a major contributor to fecal coliform loading in the WBID

. DCHD will continue its programs, inspections, a nd enforcement efforts, which will be sufficient to address the remaining OSTDS at this time.



### 8.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – The COJ database does not indicate that there are private sewer lift

stations in the watershed ; however, the databa se only includes private lift stations permitted by
COJ since 1991

, or lift stations that have applied for repair permits since that time. It is likely that private lift stations are located in the watershed but have not been identified. As private

stati ons are identified or new private lift stations are constructed, COJ will include these stations in the BMAP annual progress report and implement annual inspections.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

83 Sewer Infrastructure Projects – Since 2002, the frequency and severity of SSOs has been

de creasing. JEA replaced 2 ARVs within 200 feet of surface waters, preventing line failure from corrosive gases. Three lift stations were rebuilt in the watershed: 1 at the site of a repetitive
SSO and the others near surface waters. A manhole at 4557 Arthur Durham Drive is scheduled for line inspection

, and JEA will provide the results of this inspection for the first BMAP annual progress report. Additionally, JEA will provide information on the status of the pump station repair at 4807 Ducheneau Drive that has a cave

- in of the gravity line. JEA will continue these

efforts and its systemwide programs

, and this will be sufficient to address potential sewer

sources in the WBID at this time.

Program Implementation – Program implementation, including inspections and line cleaning coupled with the Root Cause Program, are proactive activities preventing fecal coliform loading.
S ystemwide SSO prevention programs, such as FOG and CMOM implementation , should be continued. JEA will be expected to report its in spection, prevention, and maintenance efforts in

th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to ensure that the system is being

monitored and maintained.



### 8.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – The PIC Program has removed 3 illicit discharges; however, 14 inspections are currently still pending. COJ must complete the PIC investigations and either

execute enforcement s or close the case s within a year of BMAP adoption and report the results in the annual BMAP progress report.

FDOT Program Imple mentation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances. This permit program will continue

, a nd FDOT will continue to periodic ally inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections

. In addition, FDOT sweeps 12 miles of roadway monthly, preventing sediments from entering the stormwater conveyance system, and funds public education campaigns addressing nonpoint pollution and preventative measures. FDOT will continue

stormwater infrastructure maintenance

, as these efforts prevent potential regrowth in the MS4

conveyances

. COJ Program Implementation – COJ continues to maintain ditches, ponds, and stormwater infrastructure to prevent problems and fecal coliform loading from the MS4 system. Since 2005,

it has completed 76 repairs to the stormwater system in the watershed. Additionally, 2 wet detention projects treat over 300 acres, reducing the stormwater

- associated fecal coliform loading to Butcher Pen Creek.

T ABLE 48 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE B UTCHE R P E N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program Implementation **√ √**  X X Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Phase

- Out

- - X X Public Education (P SA) **√** X X X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

84 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X **√**

Air Release Valve ( ARV ) I nspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**
Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement

- X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO ) Investigations

- X X **√**

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater Flood Control Capital Projects

- X

- X Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X

- X Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X * X

Stormw ater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X * X Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementati on **√** X **√** X
Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X
Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X

- Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**

Microbi al Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs

- X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructur e. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

85 

## CHAPTER 9 : M ILLE R 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2287)

9.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Miller Creek, WBID 2287, is located in Duval County, south of the L SJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 8 ). The headwaters of Miller Creek appear to comprise stormwater runoff originating at West Seville Street ( Figure 9 ) . The entire creek flows northward in a single channel, except for two branches that join Miller Creek from the east (more northern branch) and west (more southern branch). Segments of each branch appear to be man

- made and are classified by COJ PWD as ditches. The more northern of the two branches extends east towards the Hart Bridge Expressway and merges with the main channel just east of Luce Street. The more southern branch extends northwest to just south of South Street and joins the main channel east of the intersection of Drexel Street and Schumacher Avenue. The main channel widens just downstream of Atlantic Boulevard and merges with the St. Johns River north of Morier Street (PBS&J, May 2008)

.
The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categorie s in the Miller Creek

watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 49 ) . Miller Creek traverses the watershed within a commercial/utility/institutional landscape that supports neig hboring high

- , medium

- , and low

- density residential communities. The dominant land use (212.8 acres; 33.8 % of total coverage) in the Miller Creek watershed, and found adjacent to the lower reaches of the creek and in patches throughout the watershed , is m edium

- density residential. The next two most abundant land cover categories are ( 1) commercial/utility/ institutional areas (169.7 acres; 27 % of total coverage ), and ( 2) high

- density residential (103.6 acres; 16.5 % of total coverage). Upland forests and wetland habitat accounted for less than 5 %

of land use (PBS&J, May 2008)

.
According to the 2000 Census, there are 1,618 households in the watershed

, averaging 1.93 people per household. Areas with the highest population densities are not located directly adjacent to the creek , except for one area (population density 16 to 25 people per acre ) adjacent to the east side of the creek, between Beach and Atlantic Boulevards (PBS&J, May 2008)

. In addition, assuming that 40 % of households have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006) , there are an estimated 647 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 49 : L AND U S E S IN THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

2004 L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

Medium

- Density Residential Total 212.8 33.8

Commercial/ Utility/Institutional Total 169.7 27.0

H igh

- Density Residential Total 103.6 16.5

Low

- Density Residential Total 61.8 9.8

Transportation Total 36.9 5.9

Wetlands Total 13.8 2.2

Water Total 12.8 2.0

Upland Forest Total 7.2 1.1

Recreational Total 6.9 1.1

Open Land Total 3.8 0.6

T OTAL: 629.3 1 00Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

86 F IGUR E 8: L OCATION OF THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

87 F IGUR E 9: M ILLE R C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M A PFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

88 

## 9.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 9.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES
There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilities, CAFO s, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Miller Creek. The C OJ/FDOT MS4 permit
includes the Miller Creek watershed (PBS&J, May 2008)

.



### 9.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S COJ EQD is continuing a program to identify, confirm and respond to illicit connection issues in

Jacksonville. A total of 13 PICs were identified in the Miller Creek watershed between 1998 and

2004

. Of these, 1 connection was determined to be illicit and was removed from the system.

The program did not include the inspection of closed conveyance systems; therefore, unidentified illicit connections may be present within this watershed.



### 9.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

A n estimated 986 households (approximately 61 % of households) are connected to the sanitary

sewer system in the Miller Creek watershed . The associated sewer lines, sanitary sewer lift stations, and other infrastructure (e.g., manholes) have the potential to contribute fecal

contamination to surface waters. JEA has reported a total of 4 SSO s within th e WBID boundaries ( Table 50 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 30 to 540 gallons and averaged 180 gallons; however, all SSOs were contained at spill

sites and did not have any potential to impact surface waters.

As such, it is unlikely that the occurrences of reported SSOs in the Miller Creek watershed have contributed to the overall contamination of the watershed; moreover, these incidents do not explain the persistently elevated levels of fecal coliform detected at water quality monitoring

stations. It is possible, however, that unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks and SSOs from privately owned infrastructure in the area are contributing to this pollution. For example, signs

of prior sewer overflows were observed (e.g., soil erosion from a wet well and an associated manhole approximately 200 feet to the west

, both leading in the direction of Miller Creek) by COJ EQD (January 31, 2008) during an investigation of a privately owned and operated lift

station (PBS&J, May 2008)

.

T ABLE 50 : S S O S R E POR TE D IN THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME OF
S PILL (G ALLONS )
Miller Creek (2287) 22

- Jan

- 02 540

M iller Creek (2287) 16 -Apr- 02 100
Miller Creek (2287) 10

- Mar

- 03 30
Miller Creek (2287) 8- Nov

- 05 50



### 9.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimate s that there are approxima tely 386 OSTDS in the Miller Creek watershed

. According to DCHD, 37 septic tank repair permits were issued in this area. All of the repair permits, and presumably failed septic systems, were located east of Miller Creek’s main channel

in the northern corner and central portion of the WBID. Parcels with prior septic tank repair permits are closest to the surface waters ( within approximately 275 feet or less ) of Miller Creek

north of Atlantic Boulevard

, and are approximately 700 feet from surface waters in the segment of the creek extending from Atlantic Boulevard south to Beach Boulevard (PBS&J, May 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

89 Appro ximately 38 % of t he DCHD

- designated St. Nicholas S eptic T ank F ailure A rea is located in

the Miller Creek watershed

.



### 9.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Miller Creek WBID contains predominately

10 to 25 % and greater than 25 % imper vious surface. Areas with greater than 25 % impervious surface are primarily located along Atlantic and Beach Boulevards and in the eastern corners of the WBID. Furthermore, the potential for stormwater runoff analysis demonstrates that the major ity of the WBID contains a moderate

- to

- high potential for runoff, especially near the creek. Areas with the highest stormwater runoff coefficients correspond to regions with greater than

25 % impervious surface and are located along Beach and Atlantic Boulevards and in the

easternmost corner of the WBID (PBS&J, May 2008)

.

The storm sewer network in the Miller Creek watershed includes a total of 10 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 8.1 % of the WBID area. Stormwater

infrastruct ure in the WBID includes 20 outfalls by receiving waters (none classified by FDEP as

a major outfall) and 309 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, there are few ditch systems, including 2 that form segments of the southern and northern

branches (PBS&J, May 2008)

.

Fecal coliform concentrations were not found differ significantly between seasons, suggest ing a constant source of fecal coliform bacteria to Miller Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems independent of rainfall. It is possible that higher loadings occur in the “wet” (June through October) season (e.g., from non point sources) and are diluted by increased volumes of water, resulting in fecal coliform

concen trations that appear to be independent of rainfall (PBS&J, May 2008)

.



## 9.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## A DDR E S S 

## F ECAL 

## C OLIFOR M 

## L OADING



### 9.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M ILLE R 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 9.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : (1 ) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Thi rd Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.

JEA has conducted maintenance activities in the watershed that have resulted in pipe bursting

of 66.17 % of the sewer lines and CIPP of 1.14 % of the lines. In addition, it inspected 1,642 LF of pipe and cleaned 11,106 LF of pipe in FY07. These activities will continue in the future to

maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems. Table 51 provides a dditional

information on JEA ’s activities in the Miller Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

90 T ABLE 51 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P R OJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 50 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 49

, 689 $3,764,798 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 51 CIPP

– Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabilitat e failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of CIPP in

watershed since 2001: 832 $34,780 JEA Ongoing FY00

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 52 Manhol e Linings

Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 53 ARV Inspection and

Rehab See Appendix E 1 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t of tributary (1 ARV total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 54 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed in

2004 ; all stations constructed
since have SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 55 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes,

Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary S ee Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 56 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG

P rogram initiated

in 2004

JEA – 57 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit

television 1, 642 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 58 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 11

, 106 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,0 5 4* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 59 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 60 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E 1 manhole monitor installed in

watershed as of January 2009 $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA – 61 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 62 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 63 Non

- Destructive Testing

P rogram/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

91 

### 9.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M ILLE R 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 9.3.2.1 On going DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram

, ( 2) train ing programs

, and ( 3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs.

Failure and nuisance areas were first identified in 1999

– 2000 , and, as of July 28, 2008, DCHD updat ed the listing of failure and nuisance areas. There is currently one designated failure area

, St. Nicholas, in the Miller Creek watershed

. Approximately 38 % of the failure area is located in

the WBID.

As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 34 new construction permits, 37 repair permits, and 12 abandonment permit s in the watershed . In addition, 5 annual operating permits
have been issued for PBTS in the watershed

. DCHD has also perform ed 84 plan review s and 22 complaint investigations. It will co ntinue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent
issues related to OSTDS. Table 52 lists DCHD’s project s in the Miller Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 52 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE M IL L E R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 20 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 34

new construction

per mits, 37 repair permits, and 12

abandonment permit s issued $31,000 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 21 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating p ermits issued for PBTS, systems located in IMZ

, and commercial systems 5 o perating p ermits
issued for PBTS/IMZ

in WBID $12 ,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 22 SWIM Project Implementation of broad

ranging septic tank

ordinance Approximately 38% of St. Nicholas Septic

Tank Failure Area is

in WBID $6,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 23 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to

12 contact hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 24 Application/Plan Review/

Site Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received for
OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 84 plan reviews and site

evaluations have been perfo rmed in

WBID based on permitting history $ 18,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 25 Septic Tank Failure Area Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on

an annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

92 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 26 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 22 complaint investigations have been performed in

WBID $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 27 Intensive Inspection Program Intensive geospecific inspections in selected

WBIDs based on repair

permit applications

, water quality information,

and site conditions ; additional WBIDs may be

identified in future based

on assessment efforts Approxi mately 60
OSTDS located

south of I nterstate 10, between Mayfair

Village Road and
Executive Center

Drive $9,300 Unknown Planned – pending funding



### 9.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M ILLE R 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 9.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ EQD discovered an intermittent but persistent overflow of a private lift station manhole at an apartment complex directly adjacent to Miller Creek. The lift station and manhole were not up to code; thus enforcement action was initiated to ensure that corrective actions were performed to bring the facility into compliance. Correcting the problems at this private lift station

has reduced the number of SSOs and decreased fecal coliform loading to the creek.



### 9.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. In Miller Creek, COJ

has 1 routine monitoring station that is sampled quarterly . A total of 42 samples were collected at this station between 1995 and 2008. In addition to the routine sampling, COJ EQD ha s also collected 15 samples at 8 sites as part of the TAT effort.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 45 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning ; and 77 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. Thirteen PICs have been identified in the Mi ller Creek watershed, with 1 PIC confirmed as illicit and removed. As part of the PIC Program, COJ EQD provides public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and the

storm drain

– stenciling program.

COJ PWD also conducts insp ections that are initiated through the CARE database

. In the Miller
Creek watershed , between 2000 and 2008, these included two investigations into illicit water discharges, three illegal discharges, two sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, nine SSOs, and five private lift stations. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 53 provides additional de tail s on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

93 T ABLE 53 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS
MS4 Maintenance Activit ies

COJ

– 61 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 45 (for 2005

– 08) $1,830.65 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 62 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 77 (for 2005

– 08) $7,569.21 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 63 Thin Vegetation at Mayfair Road and Bridgewater Road Thin vegetation at Mayfair Road and Bridgewater

Road Clear vegetation (for

2009

– 10) Unknown COJ Planned

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 6 4 Il licit Water Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 6 5 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 3 (for 2000

– 08) $636 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 6 6 Sewer D rains into Y ard / D itch CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 2 ( for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 6 7 Sewer Overflow CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 9 (for 2000

– 08) $1,908 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 68 Private Lift Station Inspection First lift station installed in 1992 with 71 total annual inspections 5 (for 1992

– 2008) $1,060 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 69 Enforcement at The Preserve at St. Nicholas Apartments Provide status of enforcement for annual progress report Status of enforcement (for

2009

– 10) $3,000 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 70 Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination 1 i llicit

, n o op en 13 (for 1998

– 2004) $2,756 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 71 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quarterly water quality sampling

– 1 sampling station in WBID 42 (for 1995

– 2008) $18,774 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 72 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess ba cteria levels in creek

and i dentify potential fecal bacteria sources 8 sites/15 samples $6,705 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 73 Saint Nicholas Failure Area

– Septic

Tank Phase

- Out Phase

- out of septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 359 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 74 Outside Failure Areas – Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ ordinance 27 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 75 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 76 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoin g

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.

1 COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of a surface water body in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. COJ must submit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 months of completion of the septic tank study

, or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50 % implementation of the septic tank phase

- out projects by July 31, 2015

, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. For the 10 tributaries addressed in this BMAP, a total of 1,167 septic tanks are locate d in failure areas, although not all of them may be located within 300 meters of a surface water body . Th e failing tanks within 300 meters of a surface water body will be included in the COJ plan and schedule to phase out tanks and will be identified as T ributaries BMAP

- related tanks in the plan.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

94 

### 9.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M ILLE R 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 9.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Prog rams and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FDOT supports the Adopt -AHighway Program in the watershed, in which trash is collected from 23 acres for an average annual removal of 1,225 pounds. Street sweeping also occurs monthly on 28 miles of roadways, reducing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance

s ystem. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and debris from the system, as needed. This maintenance occurs in 130 inlets and 5 miles of piping in the

WBID.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit

. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ . FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the
Miller Cr eek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system.

Table 54 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 54 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 19 PIC Pro gram – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 20 PIC P rogram

– Illicit C onnections

I dentified and R emoved in WBID if

F ound T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /CO J No illicit connection found to

date Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 21 Routine T ributary M onitoring as Part
of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Drainage Conne ction Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 22 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust C ertify

that A ll D ischarges to FDOT MS4 Are

Tr eated P rior to C onnection See Note 3 State of

Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Adopt

- A

- Highway Program

FDOT – 23 Adopt -A- Highway P rogram See No te 4 Not a pplicable Trash collected from 23 acres. Trash collected annually

averages 1,225 pounds. OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

95 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 24 S ediment A ccumulation

, T rash

, and

D ebris R emoved as N eeded $25,982 State of

Florida (FDO T) A pprox imately 130
inlets/catch basin s and about 5 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 25 Street Sweeping Program $7,670 State of

Florida (FDOT) 28 miles of roadway s wept monthly Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 26 Ma intain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of

Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage structures, replace/repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside ditches, clear/repair outfall ditches, m owing, roadside litter removal, respond to citizen complaint s Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

4 Associated cost unknown. Program is voluntary.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 9.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORT S

Table 51 through Table 54 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the
Miller Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in the WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts

ou tlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Miller Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in respo nse to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project
tables for the Miller Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 9.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Area – WSEA estimates that there are approximately 386 OSTDS in the watershed,

with 359 of these systems are located in the St. Nicholas failure area. According to DCHD, 37 septic tank repair permits were issued in th e watershed , all located in the failure area. Many of these parcels are close to either surface waters or stormwater inlets. COJ has committed to

remo ving septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of surface water s in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. The failing tanks in the St. Nicholas failure area that are in the Miller
Creek watershed within 300 meters of s urface water s will be included in the COJ phase

- out plan and schedule, as described in the Main Stem BMAP, and will be identified in the plan as T ributaries BMAP

- related effort s.

Program Implementation – Twelve abandonment permits issued since 1996, 5 annual operating permits, and ongoing plan reviews indicate continuous activity in th e watershed . As DCHD has performed 84 site evaluations and 22 compl aint investigations, inspectors are in th e watershed relatively frequently, which assists in the proactive identification of potentiall y failing systems.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

96 However, a discrete portion of the WBID has a higher probability of OSTDS

- related problems based on the number of repair permits issued, water quality data, and site conditions. DCHD will seek to secure funding for a new program to intensively inspect a specific geographic area within the WBID boundary and, upon obtaining funding, will report the results of the inspection in an annual BMAP progress report.

Additional areas may be identified for intensive inspections based on the assessment efforts discussed in the BMAP. If additional areas are designated in the future for inclusion in the program, these areas will also be inspected as funding becomes available. Currently, COJ ordinances, the septic tank failure program in partnershi p with WSEA, and DCHD program implementation address OSTDS as a source of fecal coliform loading. Inspections need to be continued and fully enforced to manage potential impacts from existing systems in the nonfailure areas and to prevent new sources from reaching surface waters

.



### 9.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, there are 5 private lift stations within

the WBID boundaries and 3 situated on the boundary line in the northeastern portion of the
WBID. COJ EQD has performed 71 annual inspections on private lift stations since 1992 and

will continue to inspect these stations annually

.
Currently, COJ has one lift station and one manhole at The Pre serve at St. Nicholas Apartments under enforcement. COJ TAT sampling in this area has continued to show high fecal coliform

counts

, and MST sampling confirmed a human source. EQD will work with the apartment complex to address any identified structural problems and will provide information on enforcement status in the annual BMAP progress report.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – Th e watershed has had few JEA SSOs and none that reached surface waters. JEA pipe bursted over 60 % of the infrastructure and has replaced the

1 ARV in th e watershed . JEA has 1 lift station near surface waters and, during the Walk the WBIDs exercise in September 2008, there were no observed problems at this station. The

continuation of these maintenance activities and program implementation is sufficient to address

sewer infrastructure as a source of fecal coliform at this time.

Program Implementation – Program implementation, including inspections and line cleaning coupled with the Root Cause Program, are proactive measures preventing fecal coliform loading. In addition

, the implementation of sys temwide SSO prevention programs, such as FOG and CMOM, should be continued. JEA will report its inspection, prevention, and

maintenance efforts in th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to demonstrate that the system is monitored and mainta ined.



### 9.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – COJ, as part of its efforts with the PIC Program, identified and removed one illicit connection. COJ and FDOT have committed to continue the PIC Program, including identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely

manner.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. This permit program will continue

, and FDOT will continue to periodically inspect its conveyances to prevent unpermitted

connections

. There is a significant amount of stormwater infrastructure in the watershed, and
FDOT will continue stormwater infrastructure maintenance

, as these efforts prevent potentialFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

97 regrowth in the MS4 conveyances. Additionally, 28 miles of roads are swept monthly and over 1,200 pounds of trash are collected annually through the Adopt -A- Highway Pr ogram, proactively preventing fecal coliform loading to the stormwater system. This effort is expected to continue if the Adopt -A- Highway volunteers continue to be active in th e WBID.

COJ Program Implementation – COJ PWD conducts activities to maintain the MS4 system. In

the last 4 years, COJ completed 45 work orders for ditch maintenance and cleaning

, and performed 77 infrastructure repairs on closed conveyances. It will continue its maintenance

activities in the watershed to prevent future problems and fecal coliform loadings.

Walk the WBID – The Walk the WBID exercise in Miller Creek identified an open conveyance at Mayfair Road and Bridgewater Road that is very heavily vegetated. COJ PWD will schedule maintenance to thin the vegetation within one year of BMAP adoption and report on activities in the first annual BMAP progress report. This activity will allow UV light to penetrate the creek,

which should reduce fecal coliform in th e area

, since it is suspected that bacteria grow and persist in low -l ight conditions.



### 9.4.4 W ILDLIFE AND 

### O THE R 

### A NTHR OPOGE NIC 

### S OUR CE S During the Walk the WBID exercise, there was evidence of dog feces and cat litter in the northern fork of the waterbody, indicat ing fecal coliform sources that could be addressed through public education activities. Additionally, there is evidence of homeless populations on

the main channel of the creek

, and it is suspected that the southern fork of the creek occasionally has homeless camps. COJ should be aware of this potentially significant sourc e and prepare some recommendations on how to address th e situation in the annual reports until

it is resolved.

T ABLE 55 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE M ILLE R C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordina nces **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X Program Implementation **√ √**  X X Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Phase

- Out

- - X X

Public Educa tion (PSA) **√** X X X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**
Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**
Pump Station Rebuild X X X

- Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**
Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO ) Investigations **√** X X **√**

S urface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater Flood Control Capital Projects

- X

- X Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs

- X

- X Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

98 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Stormwater Pond Maintenance * X * X Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** X Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X Program Imple mentation **√** X **√** X
Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**

M icrobial Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastr ucture. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 a greements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

99 

## CHAPTE R 10 : M IR AMAR 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2304)

10.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Miramar Creek, WBID 2304, is located in Duval County, east of the L SJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 10 ). The headwaters of Miramar Creek presumably comprise stormwater runoff originating just north of Thomas Court ( Figure

11 ). The entire creek flows north and then westward in a single channel, except for three branches joining Miramar Creek from the north and south. The southern branch is located just east of San Jose Boulevard and extends south to Eutaw Place. The northern branch, located just east of Gadsden Road, originates at Colonial Pond, a waterbody situated between Mapleton and Northwood Road, and merges with the main channel just north of Woodward Avenue. The branch located farthest east (“eastern branch”) extends w est from Miramar Creek just south of Emerson Street and takes a sharp bend to the northeast, extending towards

Parkwood Street. The waters of Miramar Creek eventually flow into the St Johns River just west

of Rio Lindo Drive (PBS&J, June 2008 a).

The spati al distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Miramar Creek

watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 56 ). The

domin ant land use (648.6 acres; 66.7 % of to tal coverage) in the watershed, and directly adjacent to the creek itself, is high

- density residential , which extends throughout the watershed. The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) medium

- density residential areas (64.9 acres; 12.4 % of total coverage), primarily located in the northwestern corner of the watershed; and (2) commercial/utility/institutional areas (47.7 acres; 9.1 % of total coverage), located predominantly along Emerson Street and Hendricks Avenue. Upland forests and

wetla nd habitat accounted for less than 5% of land use (PBS&J, June 2008 a).

According to the 2000 Census, there are 1,246 households in the watershed , averaging 2.2 people per household. It should be noted that there are high

- density residential areas (16 to 2 5 people per acre) that extend along nearly the entire southern portion of the watershed, as well as parts of the northeastern section (PBS&J, June 2008a)

. In addition

, assuming that 40 % of

households have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 498 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 56 : L AND U S E S IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

2004 L AND U SE A CRES % OF T OTAL
Commercial/Utility/Institutional 47.7 9.1

High

- Density Residential 348.6 66.7

Medium

- Density Residential 64.9 12.4

Open Land 0.0000010 0.0000002

Recreational 16.7 3.2

Transportation 20.7 4.0

Upland Forest 10.0 1.9

Water 12.1 2.3

Wetlands 1.7 0.3

TOTAL: 522.3 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

100 F IGUR E 10 : L OCATION OF THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

101 F IGUR E 11 : M IR AMAR C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

102 

## 10.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 10.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES
There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilities, CAFO s, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Miramar Creek. The COJ/FDOT MS4 include s the Miramar Creek watershed (PBS&J, June 2008 a).



### 10.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S COJ EQD is continuing a program to identify, confirm, and respond to illicit connection issues in

Jacksonville. A total of 28 PICs were identified in the Miramar Creek watershed through this

effort from 19 9 8 to 2003. Of these, 6 connections were determined to be illicit and were removed. In addition, during the October 31, 2005

, JEA MST project sampling event, a black discharge flowing from an illicit OSTDS pipe was observed. The elevated levels of fecal coliform observed at several monitoring stations indicate that the OSTDS was contributing to the bacteriological loading of Miramar Creek. COJ and DCHD took enforcement action

, and the illicit OSTDS pipe and associated sewage discharge were removed in late 2005 (PBS&J, June

2008 a).



### 10.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

A n estimated 376 households (approximately 30 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the Miramar Creek watershed . Sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) is primarily located in downstream areas of the watershed from Hendricks Avenue (including the northern branch) extending west to the confluence of Miramar Creek and

the St. Johns River. Sewer mains run parallel to and span the width of the creek either above or below surface waters in these segments

, as well as upstream between St. Augustine Road and Freeman Road, increasing the likelihood that possible spills and/or unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks will impact surface waters.

JEA has reported a total of two SSO s within the Miramar Creek WBID boundaries ( Table 57 ). Both SSOs were contained at the spill sites and did not have any potential to impact surface

wat ers; therefore, it is unlikely that the se SSOs , which occurred over a span of seven years

, were responsible for the extreme levels of fecal coliform bacteria observed at Miramar Creek. Other sources, such as unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks and/or faulty OSTDS

, may be contributing to the overall pollution of the Miramar Creek watershed (PBS&J, June 2008 a).

T ABLE 57 : S S O S R E POR TE D IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME OF S PIL L (G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY I MP AC TE D
S UR FACE W ATERS Miramar Creek (2304) 5- Nov

- 01 30 No

Miramar Creek (2304) 11

- Jul

- 05* 15

, 000 No

*Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.



### 10.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimate s that there are approxima tely 659 OSTDS in the Miramar Creek watershed

. According to DCHD, 68 septic tank repair permits were issued in this area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems

, were located in (1) the southwestern corner of

the WBID between San Jose Boulevard and London Road, extending north to Eutaw Place; (2) the center of the WBID from Hendricks Avenue east to St. Augustine Road; and (3) the eastern portion of the WBID from Inwood Terrace south to Se ssions Lane.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

103 In addition, fou r DCHD

- designated septic tank failure areas ( Emerson, Point La Vista, Freeman, and Inwood Terrace) are located in the central, southwestern

, and eastern portion s of the

watershed . Miramar Creek ’s surface waters are located within or near to the Point La V ista
S eptic Tank Failure Area from midstream at Hendricks Avenue to the confluence of Miramar Creek and the St. Johns River. The Inwood Terrace and Freeman Septic Tank Failure Areas are located just west of Drew Road and extend south from Inwood Terrace to Sessions Lane. The surface waters of Miramar Creek run adjacent to this area from the intersection of Freeman

Road and Cato Road south to Sessions Lane (PBS&J, June 2008 a)

. Considering the estimated number of OSTDS and the four DCHD

- designated septic t ank failure areas within the WBID boundaries, in addition to the number of repair permits that have been filed by property owners throughout the watershed , it is likely that OSTDS contribute to the overall bacterial loading of Miramar Creek. This is especially true in the midstream section of the watershed, as the potential for failing septic systems was observed in this area (e.g., old residential neighborhood ; unmounded OSTDS ; trees growing in mounded drainfields).

Moreover, fecal coliform results from the JEA Tributary Pollution Assessment Project ( the October 31, 2005 sampling event) confirmed that an illicit OSTDS pipe was discharging

sewage

- contaminated water in this area. Leaky sewer infrastructure (e.g., from underground sewer mains) may also contribute to fecal pollution in the upstream segments of Miramar Creek between St. Augustine Road and Freeman Road

, and downstream between Hendricks Avenue
and the confluence of Miramar Creek and the St. Johns River (PBS&J, June 2008 a)

.



### 10.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

An a nalysis of impervious surface indicates that the Miramar Creek WB ID contains predominantly 10 to 25 % impervious surface. The watershed also contains land with greater
than 25 % impervious surface that corresponds to commercial/utility/institutional land use s located along Hendricks Avenue, St. Augustine Road, and Emerson Street. An analysis was

also conducted demonstrat ing that the majority of the WBID contains a moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, includ ing areas near the creek. The highe st runoff coefficien ts correspond to areas with greater than 25 % impervious surface located on either side of Hendricks Avenue and Emerson Street, and in areas along St. Augustine Road (PBS&J, June

2008 a).

The storm sewer network in the Miramar Creek watershed includes 9 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 8.29 % of the WBID area. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 25 outfalls by receiving water ( 1 classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 213 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems primarily run parallel to and form segments of Miramar Creek extending west from San Jose Boulevard to St. Augustine Road (including the eastern branch)

, and south from Emerson Street to Caljon R oad (PBS&J, June 2008 a).

Higher concentrations of fecal coliform were identified in the “wet” season (June through October), suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to Miramar Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems during high rainfall. Considering the possibility for dilution during the “wet” season, it is possible that loadings observed during this time of the year were even higher than they appeared to be (PBS&J, June 20 08 a).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

104 

## 10.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 10.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M IR AMAR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 10.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitori ng ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
As of June 7, 2007, JEA has completed sewer infrastructure rehabilitation and provided new regional service for existing developed areas in the Miramar Creek watershed

. JEA also conducted pipe bursting in the watershed in ( 1) the eastern portion of the WBID, west of the
intersection of Hendricks Avenue and Orlando Circle s outh to the confluence of Miramar Creek and the St. Johns River, north to the WB ID boundaries; and ( 2) the north

- central po r tion of the WBID, east of the Hendricks Avenue and Lakewood Road intersection to St. Augustine Road, north to the limits of the WBID boundary (PBS&J, June 2008 a). A total of 4.10 % of the sewer

lines in the watershed have been pipe bursted.

JEA has also replaced or repaired components on 1 of the 3 ( 33 % ) lift stations in the WBID. In addition, it has cleaned 2,542 LF of pipe in the watershed to help prevent future infrastructure problems. These activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems. Table 58 provides additional information on JEA ’s activities in the
Miramar Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

105 T ABLE 58 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS S TART D ATE OF P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 64 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying C apacity Rep lace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 5

, 497 $844,984 JEA Ongoing FY00

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 65 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 66 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 0 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t of tributary (only 2 ARV s total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 67 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed in 2004 ; all stations constructed since
have SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 68 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes ;

Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

JEA – 69 Pump Statio n Class I/II Rebuilding Repair or replace components of existing pump stations Projects in w atershed since

2002: 1 $18,503 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JRA – 70 Confirm Locations of Lift Stations on Boundary Confirm locations of lift stations on boundary for first annual progress report 2 lift stations on boundary Unknown JEA Planned 2009

JEA – 71 Follow Up on Seep under

Sewer Line on Northern

Branch Follow up on seep under sewer line on northern branch as part

of Walk the WBID Follow up on seep Unknown JEA Planne d 2009

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 72 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG

P rogram initiated

in 2004

JEA – 73 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 2, 542 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07 ) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 74 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA

– 75 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E Not applicable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA

– 76 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 77 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 78 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See App endix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

106 

### 10.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M IR AMAR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 10.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

C urrently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) the designatio n of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs.

As of July 28, 2008, DCHD updated the listing of failure and nuisance areas. There are currently 4 designated failure areas ( Emerson

, Point La Vista, Freeman, and Inwood Terrace) in

the Miramar Creek watershed (PBS&J, June 2008 a). Fifty

- nine percent of the Emerson failure area, 25 % of the Point La Vista area, and 77.2 % of the Freeman and Inwood Terrace areas are

located in the WBID.

A s part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 35 new construction permits, 68 repair permits, and 44 abandonment permit s in the watershed . In addition, 7 annual operating permits
have been issued for PBTS. DCHD has also performed 148 plan review s and site evaluation s and 10 6 investigations in response to complaints received. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent issues related to OSTDS. Table 59 list DCHD’s project s in the

Miramar Cre ek watershed

.

T ABLE 59 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 28 OSTDS Program Implementation of

programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 35 new construction permits, 68

repair permits, and 44 abandonment permits

issued $47,500 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 29 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating p ermits issued for PBTS, systems

locate d in IMZ

, and commercial systems 7 a nnual o perating

p ermits issued for
PBTS/IMZ in WBID $ 17,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 30 SWIM Project Implementation of broad

ranging septic tank

ordinance 59% of Emerson, 77.2%
of Freeman/Inwood Terrace, and 24.7% of Point La Vista Septic

Tank Failure Areas are located in WBID $235,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 31 DCHD

S ponsored

T raining

P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to 12

contact hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 32 Application/

Plan Review/

Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site evaluation for each application
received for OSTDS new

construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 148 plan

reviews and site

evaluations have been

performed in WBID based on permitting history $32,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

107 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 33 Septic Tank

Failur e Area

Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on

annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 34 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 106 complaint investigations have been performed in

WBID $10,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 35 OSTDS on

Brooker Road Investigate home on

Brooker Road with potential OSTDS issues Inspect and repo rt findings in annual

progress report Planned

DCHD – 36 Intensive Inspection Program Intensive geospecific inspections in selected

BMAP WBIDs based on repair permit applications

, water quality information,

and site conditions ; additional WBIDs may be

id entified in future based on ongoing assessment

efforts Approximately 150
OSTDS located south of

Davidson Street to Orlando Terrace, east

of Hendricks Avenue

and west of Fleet Street $23,250 Unknown Planned – pending funding



### 10.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M IR AMAR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 10.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed three projects to capture and store stormwater in the Miramar Creek

watershed : (1) the Inwood Terrace area, which treat s 5 acres; (2) Miramar Tributary Improvements, a flood improvement project that encompasses 23 acres; and (3) a regional pond at St. Augustine Road from Emerson to U.S. Highway 1, which treats 167 acres. These projects are helping to reduce stormwater

- associated fecal coliform loading to Miramar Creek. In addition, in the Pine Forest/Larson Acres area , COJ is building a wet detention pond for flood improvement on 22 acres. Once completed, th e project will also reduce bacterial loading to the

creek.



### 10.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. In Miramar Creek, COJ

has 1 routine monitoring station that is sampled quarterly ; a total of 53 samples were collected at this station between 1995 and 2008. In addition to the routine sampling, COJ EQD has collected 70 samples at 12 sites as part of the TAT.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 57 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning; 15 work orders for lake and pond maintenance;

and 31 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. There were 28 PICs identified in Miramar Creek , of

which 6 were confirmed as illicit and removed. As part of the PIC Program, COJ EQD providesFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

108 public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and the storm

drain

– stenciling program.

In the Miramar Creek watershed , COJ PWD conducted inspections between 2000 and 2008

that included two investigations into illicit water discharges, three illegal discharges, two sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, four SSOs, and two private lif t station s . PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 60 p rovides additional detail on COJ ’s activities i n the Miramar Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

109 T ABLE 60 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT T OTAL C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS Capital I mprovement Projects

COJ

– 7 7 Inwood Terrace Area Relieve flooding by improving conveyances 5 acres $572,000 COJ Complete

COJ

– 7 8 Miramar Tributary Improvements Flood improvement 23 acres $1,200,000 COJ Complete

COJ

– 7 9 Pine Forest/Larson Acres Area Flood improvement, we t detention 22 acres $5,015,000 COJ Construction

COJ – 80 St Augustine Rd (Emerson to U.S. 1) Regional p ond 167 acres Unknown COJ Complete

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ

– 81 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests.

Cos ts limited to activities completed after release of work order system. 57 (for 2005

– 08) $9,057 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 82 Lake or Pond Problem 15 (for 2005

– 08) $1,516 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 83 Structure Blocked/Repair/ General Flooding 31 (for 2005

– 08) $2,510 COJ Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 84 Illicit Water Discharge CARE

- i nitiated i nspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 85 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i nitiated i nspection 3 (for 2000

– 08) $636 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 8 6 Sewer D rains into Y ard/ D itch CARE

- i nitiated i nspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 87 Sewer Overflow CARE

- i nitiated i nspection 4 (for 2000

– 08) $848 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 88 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations prior to 2007 with 2 to tal annual inspections 2 (for 2007) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 89 Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination 6 i llicit, n o o pen 28 (for 1998

– 2003) $5,936 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 90 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quart erly water quality sampli ng

– 1 sampling station in WBID 53 (for 1995

– 2008) $23,691 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 91 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess bacteria levels in

creek and identify potential fecal bacteria

sources 12 sites/70 samples $31,290 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out P rogram

COJ – 92 Point La Vista Failure Area – Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 134 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 93 Freeman Road Failure Ar ea – Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 83 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 94 Inwood Terrace Failure Area – Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out septi c tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 10 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 95 Emerson Failure Area – Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 418 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

110 P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT T OTAL C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS

COJ – 96 Outside Failure Areas

– Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ

ordinance 14 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 97 Sep tic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 98 Pet/A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note : Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.

1 COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of a surface water in the 2008 LSJR Ma in Stem BMAP. COJ must sub mit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 months of completion of the septic tank study

, or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50 % implementation of the septic tank phase

- out projects by July 31, 2015

, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. For the 10 tributaries addressed in this BMAP, a total of 1,167 septic tanks are located in failure areas, although not all of them may be located within 300 meters of a surface water. The failing tanks within 300 meters of a surface water will be included in the COJ plan and schedule to phase out tanks and will be identified as T ributaries BMAP

- related tanks in the plan.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

111 

### 10.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### M IR AMAR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 10.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activiti es

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FDOT also supports the Adopt -AHighway program in the watershed, in which trash is collected from 29 acres

, for an average annual removal of 2,515 pounds. Street sweeping occurs monthly on 10 miles of roadways,

reduc ing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and debris from the system

as needed. This maintenance occurs in 178 inlets and 7 miles of piping in the WBID.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participa tes in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ ; five illicit connections to FDOT conveyances have been removed. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and
enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit
connections. FDOT also contributes fund ing for one monitoring station in the Miramar Creek

watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program

. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system. Table 61

lists FDOT ’s activities in the watershed

.

T ABLE 61 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE L EVEL OF E FFORT P ROJECT S TATUS

Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 27 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 28 PIC P rogram

- Illicit
C onnections I dentified and

R emoved in WBID if F ound T o B e T r u ly I llicit See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ 5 illicit connections

removed Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 29 Routine T ributary M onitoring as

Part of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 30 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust
C ertify that A ll D ischarges to
FDOT MS4 Are T reated Prior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of

Florida (FDOT ) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Adopt

- A

- Highway Progr am

FDOT – 31 Adopt -A- Highway P rogram See Note 4 Not a pplicable Trash collected from 29

acres. Trash col lected annually average s 2,515 pounds

. OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

112 P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE L EVEL OF E FFORT P ROJECT S TATUS Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 32 S ediment A ccumulation

, T rash

, and D ebris R emo ved as

N eeded $44,482 State of

Florida (FDOT) A pprox 178 inlets/catch

bas in s and about 7 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 33 Street Sweeping Program $2,739 State of

Florida (FDOT) 10 miles of roadway

s wept monthly Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 34 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of

Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage structures, replace/ repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside

ditches, clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter removal

, respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per yea r.

4 Associated cost unknown. Program is voluntary.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 10.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 58 through Table 61 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the

Miramar Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in the WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Miramar Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Miramar Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 10.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Areas – OS T DS are a significant source of loading in the Miramar Creek WBI D. Many

of the estimated 659 septic tanks in the watershed are located near surface waters or inlets to the stormwater conveyance system. The majority of the OSTDS and repair permits are located

in the 4 failure areas. COJ has committed to removing sept ic tanks in failure areas that are

within 300 meters of surface water s in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. The failing tanks in

the 4 failure areas in the Miramar Creek watershed within 300 meters of surface water s will be
included in the COJ phase

- out plan and schedule, as described in the Main Stem BMAP, and

will be identified as T ributaries BMAP

- related effort s.

Program Implementation – DCHD has issued 68 repair permits and 44 abandonment permits

, conducted 148 site evaluations and 106 complaint investigations, and issued 7 annual operating permits in the watershed

. This level of activity indicates that DCHD inspectors perform investigations regularly in the watershed

. However, a discrete portion of the WBID has a higher probability of OSTDS

- related problems based on the number of repair permits issued, water quality data, and site conditions. DCHD will seek to secure funding for a new program to intensively inspect a specific geographic area within the WBID boundary and, upon obtainingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

113 funding, will report the results of the inspection in an annual BMAP progress report. Additional areas may be identified for intensive inspections based on the assessment efforts discussed in the BMAP. If additional areas are designated in the future for inclusion in the program, these areas will also be inspected as funding becomes available. Inspections need to be continued and fully enforced to manage potential impacts from existing systems and to prevent new

sources from reaching surface waters

.

Walk the WBID – Duri ng the Walk the WBID effort in Miramar Creek, a black corrugated pipe located on Orlando Avenue, and potentially discharging into the creek, was found to have high

fecal coliform values

. COJ is investigat ing this pipe. Additionally, DCHD is investigating a home on Brooker Road with potential OSTDS

- related problems. These investigations must be completed within one year of BMAP implementation and the ir status reported in the BMAP annual progress report. Additionally, any issues identified during the rema ining Walk the WBID efforts must be investigated and rectified where appropriate. All activities should be complete

and the ir status reported in the first annual BMAP progress report.



### 10.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ data base, there are two private lift stations in the

watershed that were inspected by EQD in 2008. COJ will continue to inspect the private lift stations annually to ensure they are operating properly and should take enforcement action when necessary

.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – JEA has rebuilt 1 pump station , near surface waters, in the

watershed and cleaned 2,542 LF of pipe in FY07. These efforts rehabilitated older infrastructure, helping to prevent future problems. During the Walk the WBID, the fie ld team identified a bowed sewer line crossing the northern branch. JEA inspected and dye tested the line and did not find any leaks; therefore, a repair was unnecessary. Clay sewer lines near Greenridge Avenue were replaced with polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) piping, which will prevent potential failures and problems associated with older, porous clay piping

. T wo lift stations are located on the WBID boundary: (1) north of Emerson and west of Basil ; and (2) Grant and Gattis Lane. JEA will confirm if these stations are reported in Miramar Creek or if they are reported in Craig Creek and New Rose Creek, respectively, in the first annual BMAP progress report. The continuation of maintenance activities , program implementation, and the confirmation of reporting boundaries is sufficient to address private lift stations in the watershed

at this time.

Walk the WBID – JEA is currently investigating a seep under a sewer line on the northern branch of Miramar Creek, identified during the Walk the WBID. The dye test and inspection

revealed no leaks

, yet water quality samples indicate high counts. JEA will continue to investigate this area and provide information on its status in the first annual BMAP progress report. The seep follow

- up

, combined with program implementation, previous source removal, and continued TAT sampling

, is addressing known sources of fecal coliform loading and attempting to locate unidentified sources.



### 10.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – The PIC Program has resulted in the removal of six illi cit connections by COJ and FDOT. Both entities have committed to continue t he p rogram, which includes identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely

manner.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

114 FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances. This permit program will continue

, and FDOT will continue to periodic ally i nspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections. The FDOT Adopt -A- Highway Program removes over 2,500 pounds of trash annually from th e WBID

, and street sweeping is performed monthly on 10 miles of roadway. FDOT also maintains 178 inlets and 7 miles of piping. These activities constitute a significant proactive effort to prevent sources of fecal coliform from entering the conveyance system. FDOT will continue stormwater infrastructure maintenance to help prevent potenti al regrowth in the MS4 conveyances

. The trash removal effort s are expected to continue if the Adopt -A- Highway volunteers continue to be active in th e WBID.

COJ Program Implementation – COJ has completed 15 work orders to repair stormwater pond problems, in addition to 88 work orders for other MS4 maintenance activities. The stormwater outfall behind the JEA lift station is no longer active, prevent ing fecal coliform loadings from any incidents at the lift station from entering the creek. As part of the W alk the

WBID follow

- up, COJ PWD determined that the outfall at the Better Jacksonville Plan Pond is

situated at Orlando Terrace and Gila Lane. Additional assessment activities are under way

, and any stormwater issues identified as a part of these efforts should be investigated, rectified where appropriate, and reported in the annual BMAP progress report. The continuation of

maintenance activities and Walk the WBID follow

- up are sufficient to address stormwater in the

watershed at this time.



### 10.4.4 W ILDLIFE AND 

### O THE R 

### A NTHR OPOGE NIC 

### S OUR CE S The Colonial Park pond on the northern branch is home to numerous ducks and waterfowl, which may be contributing to the fecal coliform loading in the northern branch. A weir is in place to allow water to discharge in high

- water conditions but other, alternative corrective actions to address wildlife sources are extremely limited. During the Walk the WBID, JEA lift station S505 had evidence of homeless populations. COJ should be aware of this potentially significant

human source and prepare recommendations on how to address th e situation in the annual reports until it is resolved.

T ABLE 62 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE M IR AMAR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinance s **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program Implementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Phase

- Out - - X X

Public Educatio n (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X

Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X **√**

Air Release Valve ( ARV) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

115 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO) Investigations **√** X X **√**

Surf ace Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X

- X
Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X - X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X * X

St ormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X + X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Impleme ntation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assessment Activities
Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X X
Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**

Mi crobial Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs **√** X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastr ucture. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

116 

## CHAPTE R 11 : B IG 

## F IS HWE IR 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2280)

11.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Big Fishweir Creek, WBID 2280, is located in Duval County, west of the LSJR within the Ortega

R iver Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 12 ). The headwaters of Big Fishweir Creek presumably comprise stormwater that originates at the upper reaches of its three branches and Little Fishweir Creek ( Figure 13 ). Big Fishweir Creek splits into two major branches, the southern and northern forks. The southern fork extends west to Neva Street and merges with the main channel at Roosevelt Boulevard. The northern f ork stretches northwest to the intersection of Cassat Avenue and Kingsbury Street and joins the main channel just west of

Roosevelt Boulevard. A third branch (“middle branch”) diverges from the southern fork at

Glenwood Avenue and continues north to Ulmer Street. Little Fishweir Creek, a minor tributary located north of Big Fishweir Creek, extends northwest to Bethwood Circle and flows into Big

Fishweir Creek’s main channel south of Greenwood Avenue. Little Fishweir Creek also branches slightly at Herschel Street and continues northeast to Dancy Street. The waters of Big Fishweir Creek eventually flow into the St. Johns River just east of Woodmere Drive (PBS&J, June 2008b).

The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 63 ). The dominant land use (1,376.8 acres; 58.7 % of total coverage) in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed, and directly adjacent to the majority of the creek itself, is high

- density residential

, which extends throughout the watershed. The next 2 most abundant land cover categories are (1) medium

- density residential areas (353 acres; 15.1 % of total coverage), primarily located in the central portion and in patches in the western corner of the watershed; and (2) commercial/utility/institutional areas (307.2 acres; 13.1 % of total coverage), located predominantly along Cassat Avenue and in the northern corner of the watershed. Upland
forests and wetland habitat accounted for less than 5 % of land use (PBS&J, June 2008b).

According to the 2000 Census, there are 6,757 households in the watershed , averaging 2.07 people per household. It should be noted that there are high

- density residential areas (16 to 25 people per acre) located adjacent to surface waters at the upper reaches of the northern fork (PBS&J, June 2008b)

. In addition, assuming that 40 % of households have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 2,703 dogs in the w atershed.

T ABLE 63 : L AND U S E S IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL High

- Density Residential 1

, 376.8 58.7

Medium

- Density Residential 353.0 15.1 Commercial/ Utility/Institutional 307.2 13.1

Recreational 12 9.4 5.5 Transportation 97.8 4.2

Water 33.0 1.4

Wetlands 20.1 0.9 Upland Forest 15.7 0.7

Industrial 6.1 0.3

Non f orested Upland 4.4 0.2

TOTAL: 2, 343.5 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

117 F IGUR E 12 : L OCATION OF THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

118 F IGUR E 13 : B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

119 

## 11.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 11.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES There is one industrial wastewater facility located in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed, Riverside Plaza, which is permitted to discharge industrial wastewater to Little Fishweir Creek near the intersection of Montgomery Place and St. Johns Avenue. The COJ /FDOT MS4 permit includes the Big Fishweir Creek watershed (PBS&J, June 2008b).



### 11.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S A total of 61 PICs were identified in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed between 2000 and 2006

, primarily in the southwest corner of the WBID. Of these, 6 were determined to be illicit and

were removed. The status of 6 of the PICs is still pending investigation.



### 11.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

T he role of collection system influences on bacterial abundance in Big Fishweir Creek was assessed by reviewing the amount of sewer infrastructure in the watershed and the information provided by JEA on recent SSOs in COJ . The Big Fishweir Creek watershed is situated in the

Buckman WWTF service area.

A n estimated 5,307 households (approximately 79 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed . Sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) is located throughout the watershed and near the surface waters of Big Fishweir and Little Fishweir Creek s , increasing the likelihood that possible spills and/or unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks will impact surface waters. JEA has reported a total of 20
SSO s within the Big Fishweir Creek WBID boundaries ( Table 64 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 2 to 15,000 gallons and averaged 1,094 gallons; however, only 4 SSO s were reported to have potentially impacted surface waters (PBS&J, June 2008b).

T ABLE 64 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTENTI ALLY I MP AC TE D
S UR FACE W ATERS Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 16

- Jan

- 02 100 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 2- Feb

- 02 100 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 6- Feb

- 02 400 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 21

- May

- 02* 1, 000 Y
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 20

- Mar

- 03 2 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 14

- May

- 04* 15

, 000 Y
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 19

- Oct

- 04 50 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 11 -Apr- 05 50 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 14

- May

- 05 200 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 18

- May

- 05 30 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 6- Jul

- 05 400 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 11

- Jul

- 05 20 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 18

- Jul

- 05 200 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 23

- Jul

- 05 200 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 28

- Jul

- 05 100 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 8-Aug- 05 200 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 10

- Dec

- 05 50 NFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

120 WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTENTI ALLY I MP AC TE D
S UR FACE W ATERS Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 10

- Jan

- 06 25 N
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 13

- Mar

- 06* 3, 750 Y
Big Fishweir Creek (2280) 10

- Jul

- 06* 50 Y

*Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.



### 11.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimates that there are approximatel y 1,4 16 OSTDS in the Big Fishweir Creek

watershed . According to DCHD, 87 septic tank repair permits were issued in this area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems, were located in the center of the
WBID between Hamilton Street and Cassat Avenue and from Melrose Avenue north to Kingsbury Street. Septic systems in this area are located near the surface waters of both the southern and northern forks of Big Fishweir Creek, increasing the likelihood that OSTDS failure may be contributing to the fecal pollution observed in these areas. In addition, two previously
DCHD

- designated septic tank failure areas (Murray Hill A and Murray Hill B) are located within

the wa t ershed . Only the western edge of Murray Hill A, situated at the far northeast corner of the WBID at the Lennox Avenue and Interstate 10 intersection, is within the WBID boundaries. The vast majority of septic tank repair permits were filed in the Murray Hill B septic tank failure area, located in the center of the watershed from Hamilton Street east to Cassat Avenue

, and from Melrose Avenue north to Post Street (PBS&J, June 2008b). Both areas have been sewered and are no longer listed as failure areas.

Considering that an estimated 22 % of households utilize OSTDS and that a previous DCHD

designated septic tank failure area is near surface waters, in addition to the extensive number of repair permits that have been filed by property owners throughout the watershed , it is likely that OSTDS contribute to the overall bacterial loading of Big Fishweir Creek. This is especially true

in the center of the watershed , in the Murray Hill B area, where the majority of parcels were issued septic tank repair permits. Due to the prevalence of sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) located throughout the watershed , there is also a potential for leaky sewer infrastructure (e.g., from underground sewer mains) to contribute to fecal pollution in this portion of the WBID. Of course, it is also possible that failing septic systems that have not been issued repair permits are located near Big Fishweir and Little Fishweir Creeks and may contribute to bacterial contamination in the receiving waters in other areas of the watershed as well (PBS&J, June 2008b).



### 11.2.5 N ONPOIN T 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Big Fishweir Creek WBID contains predominantly 10 to 25 % impervious surface. The watershed also contains land with greater
than 25 % impervious surface. These areas generally correspond to com mercial/utility/ institutional land use classifications located along Cassat Avenue, in the northern corner of the

watershed , and in areas along the main channel between the confluence of the north and south forks and the junction with Little Fishweir Cree k. An analysis was also conducted that demonstrates that the majority of the WBID contains a moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, including areas near the creek. The highest runoff coefficients are located on either side of Cassat Avenue, Blanding Boulevard, and Emerson Boulevard Road; and in the

north corner of the watershed (PBS&J, June 2008b).

The storm sewer network in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed includes a total of 32 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 70.23 % of the WBID area.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

121 Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 97 outfalls by receiving water ( 1 classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 1,161 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems primarily form segments of Big Fishweir Creek at (1) the southern fork from Placid Place extending west to Neva Street

, and (2) the northern fork from Merson Lane north to Cassat Avenue (PBS&J, June 2008b).

Fecal coliform concentrations did not differ during the “wet” and “dry” season near Hershel
Street and Greenwood Avenue , suggesting a constant source of fecal coliform bacteria to Big

Fishweir Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems independent of rainfall. High er loadings were identified in the “wet” season near North Park Street, suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to Little Fishweir Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems du ring high rainfall (PBS&J, June 2008b).



## 11.3 P ROJECTS TO 

## A DDR E S S 

## F ECAL 

## C OLIFOR M 

## L OADINGS



### 11.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B IG 

### F IS HWE IR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 11.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs

, as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
As part of the TAT, JEA proposed monthly or bimonthly intensive localized sampling of 4

locations for 6 m onths in the Big Fishweir WBID. To date, these efforts have included the collection of 180 samples from 5 different locations throughout the watershed

, with nearly all values (83 % ) exceeding the 400 cfu /100mL criterion (PBS&J, June 2008b).

JEA conducts activities to maintain the sanitary sewer infrastructure in the watershed

, including pipe bursting 7.89 % of the sewer lines, CIPP on 0.86 % , and open cut repair of 0.20 % . In addition, JEA conducts activities to help prevent future infrastructure problems. In the Big

Fishweir Creek watershed

, 7,257 LF of pipe were inspected and 23,980 LF of pipe were cleaned in FY07. These activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems. Table 65 contains additional information on JEA ’s

activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

122 T ABLE 65 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C O S T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 79 Pipe B ursting – I ncrease C arrying C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 104

, 277 $13,791,000 JEA Ongoing FY00

JE A – 80 CIPP

– Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabilitat e failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of CIPP in watershed

since 2001: 11

, 378 $592,517 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 81 Open C ut

- R emoval and

R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total foo tage of open cut replacement

in watershed since 2001: 222 $55,500 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 82 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 83 ARV Inspe ction and Rehab See Appendix E 2 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t of tributary (21 ARV s total in Big Fishweir Creek watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 84 ARV Inspection Inspect all ARVs in watershed to ensure integrity 21 ARVs in watershed – repo rt status in annual progress report (within 5 years) Unknown JEA Planned 2009

JEA – 85 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed in 2004 ; all

stations constructed since have
SCADA installed . See Appendix

E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Co mplete

JEA – 86 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

JEA – 87 Lift Station Inspection Inspect lift stations near surface

waters 6 stations near surface waters – report status in annual progress report (within 5 years) Unknown JEA Planned 2009

JEA – 88 Merimac Avenue Lift Station Repair Repaired lift station at Merimac Avenue as part of Walk the WBID

follow

- up 1 station Unknown JEA Complete 2009

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 89 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG

P rogram initiated

in 2004

JEA – 90 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit TV system 7, 257 LF of p ipe i nspecte d (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 91 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 23

, 980 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

123 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C O S T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT

JEA – 92 Implement CMOM P rogram See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 93 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E Not applicable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA – 94 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 95 Pop- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 96 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

124 

### 11.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B IG 

### F IS HWE IR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 11.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs a nd
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These include (1) the OSTDS P rogram

, (2) training programs

, and (3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs

. As of July 28, 2008, DCHD updated the listing of failure and nuisance areas. There are currently no designated septic tank failure areas in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed ; however, two previous failure areas (Murray Hi ll A and Murray Hill B) have since been sewered

.
As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 80 new construction permits, 87 repair permits, and 741 abandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 16 annual operating permits
have been issued for PBTS in t he watershed

. DCHD has also performed 916 plan review s and 151 investigations in response to complaints received. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent issues related to OSTDS. Table 66 lists DCHD’s project s in the Big
Fishweir Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 66 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TAT US

DCHD – 37 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 80 new construction permits, 87 repair permits, and

741 abandonment

permit issued $138,000 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 38 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating p ermits issued for PBTS, systems located in IMZ

, and commercial systems 16 a nnual o perating

p ermits issued for

PBTS/IMZ in WBID $45,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 39 SWIM Project Implementation of broad

ranging septic tank

ordin ance 100% of Murray Hill B Septic Tank Failure

Area is located in

WBID $ 155,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 40 DCHD

S ponsored

T raining

P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to

12 contact hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 41 Application/

Plan Review/

Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received for
OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 916 plan reviews and site

evaluations have been

performed in WBID

based on permitting history $197,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 42 Septic Tank

Failu re Area

Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on

annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update N/A OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

125 P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TAT US

DCHD – 43 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcemen t

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 151 complaint investigations have been performed in

WBID $15,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 44 Intensive Inspection Program Intensive geospecific inspections in selected

BMAP WBIDs based on repair permit applications , water quality information, and

site conditions ; additional WBIDs may be identified

in future based on ongoing assessment

efforts Approximately 70
OSTDS located south of Big Fishweir Creek, east of Blanding Blvd,

west of U.S. 17

, and

north of Melrose

Avenue $10,850 Unknown Planned – pending funding



### 11.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B IG 

### F IS HWE IR 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 11.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed 3 projects to capture and/or treat stormwater in the Big Fishweir Creek

watershed : (1) Lakeshore Woodcrest Drainage project, which includes a wet detention pond

that treats 296 acres ; (2) Murray Hill Phase 1, which is also a wet detention pond that treats 219

acres ; and (3) a second

- generation baffle box on Riverside Avenue that treats 70 ac res. These project s reduc e stormwater

- associated fecal coliform loading to the creek.

In addition, COJ has worked with WSEA to extend sewer lines to remove 781 septic tanks in the

watershed

, helping to reduce fecal coliform loading from septic tanks along the creek. WSEA

u ses the septic tank failure and nuisance areas ranking information for justification when seeking funding for phasing out septic tanks and transferring homes to central sewer (PBS&J, June 2008b)

. The WBID contains the Murray Hill B failure area, which has since been removed from the ranking list due to the sewering efforts. JEA takes these lines over once they have

been installed.



### 11.3.3.2 COJ Projects in Design or Construction

COJ also currently has three projects under construction in the WBID: (1) drainage imp rovements on Arden Street to reduce flooding in the area; (2) Jersey Street Drainage project to pipe the roadside ditch; and (3) Fairfax Manor Creek project to regrade the ditch in this area. COJ is also designing a project to improve the outfall on Hamilton at Jersey Street to relieve flooding in the area. These projects, once completed, will help control flooding in the project areas, reducing the amount of fecal coliform loading that goes into the creek from stormwater.



### 11.3.3.3 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activit ies

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. As part of this monitoring plan, COJ has 3 sampling stations in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed and collected 118 samples from these sites between 1995 and 2008. In addition to the routine sampling, COJ EQD collected 4 samples from 4 sites as part of the TAT effort and also

collected 1 sample as a follow up on a high fecal coliform count to help with source

identification.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

126 COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 308 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and c leaning; 6 work orders for lake and pond maintenance;

and 246 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort

to maintain the M S4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. Of the 61 PICs identified by the COJ in the Big Fishweir
Creek watershed

, 6 were confirmed as illicit connections and were removed by March 2006; the

status of 6 of the PIC s is currently pending. There were no PICs identified as potential sources of bacterial contamination (PBS&J, June 2008b).

COJ PWD also conducts inspections, which are initiated through the CARE database

. In the Big Fishweir Creek watershed , these inspections between 2000 and 2008 included 16 investigations into illicit water discharges, 20 illegal discharges, 22 sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, 522 SSOs, 244 septic tanks, and 5 private lift stations. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 67 provides a ddit ional detail on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

127 T ABLE 67 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE E S TIMATE D
C OMPLE TION P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvement Projects

COJ – 99 Hamilton at Jersey Outfall Improve o utfall to relieve flooding Improve outfall $2,900,000 COJ 2012 Design

COJ

– 100 Lakeshore Woodcrest Wet detention 296 acres Unknown COJ Complete Complete

COJ

– 1 01 Murray Hill Phase 1 Wet detention 219 acres Unknown COJ Complete Complete

COJ

– 102 Riverside Avenue Second

- generation baffle box 70 acres Unknown COJ Complete Complete Drainage System Rehab Projects

COJ – 103 Drainage Improvements to Arden
Street Ar den Street floods private property Arden Street Unknown COJ Construction Construction

COJ

– 104 Jersey St Drainage Pipe roadside ditch Jersey Street $75,000 COJ Construction Construction

COJ – 105 Fairfax Manor Creek Regrade ditch Fairfax Manor
Creek $65 ,000 COJ Construction Construction

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ

– 106 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited

to activities completed after release of work order system

. 308 (for 2005

– 08) $37,454 COJ Ong oing Ongoing

COJ

– 107 Lake or Pond Problem 6 (for 2005

– 08) $543 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 108 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 246 (for 2005

– 08) $48,646 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 109 Illicit Water Disc harge CARE

- initiated inspection 16 (for 2000

– 08) $3,392 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 110 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- initiated inspection 20 (for 2000

– 08) $4,240 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 111 Sewer D rains into Y ard/ D itch CARE

- initiated inspec tion 22 (for 2000

– 08) $4,664 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 112 Sewer Overflow CARE

- initiated inspection 52 (for 2000

– 08) $11,024 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 113 Sewer Repairs at The Loop

Restaurant Follow

- up and enforcement of sewer repairs at restaurant Follo w

- up on repairs $1,500 COJ Complete Complete

COJ – 114 Septic Tank Inspection CARE initiated. Enforcement action if required by DCHD. 244 (for 2005

– 08) $51,728 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 115 Private Lift Station Inspection First lift station installed in 1991 with 42 total annual inspections 5 (for 1991

– 2008) $1,060 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 116 Verify Location of Private Lift Stations Verify that stations on boundary are reported in associated WBIDs (Cedar River and McCoy Creek) 5 (for 2009

– 10) $1,060 C OJ 2010 Planned

COJ – 117 Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination 6 i llicit, 6 o pen 61 (for 2000

– 06) $12,932 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 118 Follow Up on Outstanding PICs Follow up on 6 open PIC in

watershed 6 (for 2009

– 10) $1,270 COJ 2010 PlannedFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

128 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE E S TIMATE D
C OMPLE TION P ROJECT
S TATUS

COJ – 119 Walk the WBID PIC Investigations Inspect 5 PICs between Cassat and Plymouth Avenue and black corrugated pipe on central

branch 6 (for 2009

– 10) $1,272 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 120 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quar terly

water quality sampling – 3 sampling stations in WBID 118 (for 1995

– 2008) $52,746 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 121 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to assess

bacteria levels in creek and

i dentify potential fecal bacteria

sources 4 sites/4 samples $1,788 COJ Ongoing On going

COJ – 122 Source ID Sampling C onducted when high levels of

fecal coliform bacteria are noted 1 $1,000 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 123 Outside Failure Areas – Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase

- out program as provided by COJ or dinance 1

, 416 total tanks,

781 connected (for

2004

– 08) $27,335 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 124 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 125 Pet/A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

129 

### 11.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### B IG 

### F IS HWE IR CR EEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 11.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify th at the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they

ar e reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT p eriodic ally performs site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FD OT sweeps 21 miles of roadways in the watershed monthly, reduc ing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and debris from the system as needed. This maintenance occurs in 305 inlets and 14 miles of piping

.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT It participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities

, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring

program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system. Table 68 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 68 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P R O JECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 35 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

F DOT – 36 PIC Program – Illicit
C onnections I dentified and

R emoved in WBID if F ound T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT) /COJ 2 illicit connections

removed Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 37 Routine T ributary M onitoring as P art of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of Florida (FDOT)/ COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 38 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust
C ertify that A ll D ischarges to
FDOT MS4 Are T reated Prior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 39 S ediment A ccumulation

, Tr ash

, and D ebris R emoved as

N eeded $87,947 State of Florida (FDOT) A pprox imately 305

inlet s /catch basin s and 14 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 40 Street Sweeping Program $5,752 State of Florida (FDOT) 21 miles of roadway

s wept monthly OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

130 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P R O JECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT S TATUS
Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 41 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 St ate of Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage
structures, replace/repair

s torm/cross/side drains, clean/ res hape

roadside ditches,
clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter

removal , respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average co st is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 11.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R ESTORA TION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 65 through Table 68 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the Big Fishweir Creek watershed . S everal key efforts completed in this WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce

f ecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Big Fishweir Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Big Fishweir Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the

TMDL.



### 11.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Area – The Murray Hill B S eptic T ank F ailure Area is situated entirely in the Big Fishweir WBID. This area encompasses the vast majority of septic tank repair permits issued in

the watershed . Since 2001, 781 septic systems have been converted to sewer

, and DCHD has issued 741 abandonment permits. In addition, 1,416 septic tanks remain with in the WBID

boundaries . S ome are near surface waters, especially in the southeastern portion of the WBID.
DCHD should continue its inspection efforts to ensure that the OSTDS outside the failure area do not become a problem. T he continuation of the COJ CARE system to report and follow up with public complaints

, as well as the inspections and permit pro grams at DCHD

, are vital to identifying improperly functioning OSTDS. COJ and DCHD have committed to continuing these

programs

, document ing problems

, and requiring property owners to fix them. COJ and DCHD

are also committed to the continued coordination of their efforts so their respective roles and legal authorities are used properly in these situations.

Program Implementation – The recent connection of so many septic tanks to the sewer system should help to improv e water quality in the watershed , especially since these systems

were located near surface waters and stormwater conveyance inlets. However, a discrete portion of the WBID has a higher probability of OSTDS

- related problems based on the number of repair permits issued, water quality data, and site conditions. DCHD will seek to secure funding for a new program to intensively inspect a specific geographic area within the WBID boundary and, upon obtaining funding, will report the results of the inspection in an annual BMAP progress report. Additional areas may be identified for intensive inspections based onFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

131 the assessment efforts discussed in the BMAP. If additional areas are designated in the future for inclusion in the program, these areas will also be inspected as funding becomes available.

Walk the WBID – On the western fork of Big Fishweir Creek, the Walk the WBID effort identified a recent septic tank failure at Park Street. DCHD investigated but did not find a repair permit on file. It is unknown if this was a failing system ; however

, it appears that the issue has been
resolved. DCHD also investigated a system on Eloise Street in a very low

- lying area and determined that there was no sanitary nuisance

. A ny additional issues identified during the remaining Walk the WBID efforts must be investigated and rectified where appropriate. All activities should be complete d and the ir status reported in the first annual BMAP progress report.



### 11.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, there are 5 private lift sta tions in the

watershed and 5 stations on the WBID boundary along Lenox Avenue, located in the northeastern corner of the WBID. COJ EQD performed 42 annual lift station inspections in the

watershed and will continue inspections annually. T o ensure that th e 5 private lift stations on the WBID boundary are reported correctly, COJ EQD needs to confirm if these stations are included in the neighboring WBIDs (Cedar River and McCoy Creek)

, or if they should be included in future Big Fishweir Creek annual BMAP pr ogress reports. The Loop Restaurant

, located at 4000 St. Johns Avenue, is the site of repetitive sewer repairs

, with the most recent reported by FDEP on January 27, 2009. COJ followed up and confirmed the repair

, and any future incidents will be reported to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. COJ will report any additional incidents occurring at this location in future annual BMAP progress reports. COJ’s inspections and confirmation of reporting boundaries are sufficient to address p rivate infrastructure in the watershed at this time.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – SSOs have decreased dramatically since 2005 due to JEA ’s

efforts in the watershed . JEA has replaced 1 ARV within 200 feet of surface waters and

cleaned 2 3,980 LF of pipe. There are 6 lift stations near surface waters and 21 ARVs in the

watershed . JEA should inspect these stations and confirm ARV integrity over the course of the

5- year BMAP cycle to ensure there are no problems. The schedule will be set by JEA, in

accord ance with its other planned inspection activities, and the status of this sewer

infrastructure will be provided in the annual BMAP progress reports. JEA will continue these

efforts and its systemwide programs

, and this will be sufficient to address potent ial sewer

sources in the WBID at this time.

Walk the WBID – During the Walk the WBID exercise, the lift station at Merrimac Avenue had severe soil erosion due to stormwater runoff. JEA has since completed the repair of the lift

station. A ny issues identified during the remaining Walk the WBID efforts must be investigated and rectified where appropriate. All activities should be complete d and the ir status reported in the first annual BMAP progress report.



### 11.4.3 S TOR MWATE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Illicit Connection Rem oval – COJ and FDOT have removed six illicit connections in the Big

Fishweir Creek watershed . They have committed to continue t he PIC Program, which includes identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely manner. In addition, as part of the Walk the WBID follow

- up, COJ inspected five PICs between Cassat and Plymouth Avenue and found that those pipes were dry ; therefore, t hese continue to be under investigation. COJ also investigated a black corrugated pipe on the central branch and determined the pipe was a swimming pool discharge. However, the PIC Program currently hasFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

132 six open investigations . F or stormwater efforts in th e watershed to be sufficient, COJ must complete these investigations, remove any illicit discharges, and report the actions in the annual BMAP progress report.

FDOT Project Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances. This permit program will continue
and FDOT will continue to periodic ally inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections

. COJ Project Implementation – Since 1996, COJ has added 515 acres of wet detention

treatment in the watershed and 70 acres of treatment from a second

- generation baffle box. In addition, COJ PWD has worked extensively in the watershed, completing 308 work orders for ditch maintenance, repairing 6 stormwa ter pond problems, and addressing 246 work orders for improperly operating stormwater infrastructure. This reflects a significant amount of effort in th e watershed that should result in water quality improvements in the creek

.



### 11.4.4 W ILDLIFE AND 

### O THE R 

### A NTHR OPOG E NIC 

### S OUR CE S In the western fork of Big Fishweir Creek and in Boone Park

, there is evidence of dog feces that can contribute to fecal coliform nonpoint pollution, indicating fecal coliform sources that could be addressed through public education activities

. The headwaters of Big Fishweir Creek comprise very densely forested areas, which could contain wildlife populations that also contribute to the fecal coliform loading into the creek.

T ABLE 69 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE B IG F IS HWE IR C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X Program Implementation **√ √**  X X Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Phase

- Out **√ √**  X X Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station I nspection and Maintenance X X X **√**
Pump Station Rebuild X X X

- Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspectio ns and Enforcement * X X X Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO ) Investigations **√** X X **√**
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X

- X Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X

- X

Stormwat er System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X * X Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

133 S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X + X

Public Education and Outrea ch **√** X + X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X Program Implementation **√** X **√** X
Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X
Special Source Assessment Activities

Intensive Water Qu ality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X X Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**
Microbial Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs **√** X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

134 

## CHAPTE R 12 : D EER 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2256)

12.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Deer Creek, WBID 2256, is located in Duval County, west of the LSJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 14 ). The headwaters of Deer Creek appear to comprise stormwater runoff originating at the northern branch, just east of
Haines Street and the adjacent Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Expressway( Figure 15 )

. The

mainstem of the creek flows southeast in a single channel

, with four branches that join Deer
Cre ek from the west, north, south, and southwest. The southwest branch diverges from the main channel at Talleyrand Avenue and stretches approximately 0.3 miles southwest. The northern, southern, and western branches are located at the most upstream extent of the main channel, just east of Haines Street and immediately south of Tilden Street.

The northern branch parallels the M LK Jr. Expressway and extends approximately 200 yards

north from the main channel. The southern branch is located immediately south of the northern

branch and main channel confluence and is primarily responsible for draining surface flow from the expressway into the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond through several roadway inlets.
The western branch stretches from Haines Street we st to the East 7 th and Franklin Street

intersection. Flood control boxes, located at the MLK Jr. Expressway, divert the waters of the southern and western branches directly into the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond

, primarily through an underground conveyance system that runs approximately 550 feet to the

southeast. According to COJ EQD, stormwater from the flood control box, located at the DR2 South Box COJ TAT supplemental station

, occasionally spills over into Deer Creek after significant rainfall e vents. Under normal circumstances, the water level in the pond is maintained via a control structure that diverts flow away from Deer Creek and into the St. Johns

River (PBS&J, July 2008)

.
The Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond, situated east of Haines Street and west of railroad lines that traverse the WBID, covers 8 acres and serves approximately 537 acres of the

watershed (C amp Dresser & McKee [C DM ], 2006). The waters of Deer Creek eventually flow into the St. Johns River, approximately 0.3 miles ea st of Talleyrand Avenue.

The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Deer Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 70 ). The

dom inant land use (226 acres; 33.4 % of total coverage) in the Deer Creek watershed, predominantly located west of Haines Street and north of East 8th Street, is high

- density residential. The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) transportation areas (101.4 acres; 15.0 % of total coverage), primarily located in the east corner of the WBID and along Haines Street and nearby railroad tracks that traverse the southeast corner of the watershed; and (2) industrial areas (99.3 acres; 14.7 % of total coverage), situated predominantly northwest of the Haines Street and East 8 th Street intersection and in the southeast portion of the watershed.

In 2004, upland forest and wetland habitat accounted for over 10 % of total land use; however, much of the wetland area, specifically just east of Haines Street and south of Deer Creek

, was recently replaced by the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond (October 2006). Wetlands form a boundary around the main channel and southern branch, a nd in areas south of the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond. As wetlands serve as habitat for various species of wildlife

and are near surface waters, there is a potential for wildlife to contribute to the fecal pollution of

Deer Creek (PBS&J, July 2008)

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

135 According to the 2000 Census, there are 1,005 households in the watershed , averaging 1.90 people per household (PBS&J, July 2008)

. In addition, assuming that 40 % of households have

1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 402 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 70 : L AND U S E S IN THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

High

- Density Residential 226.0 33.4

Transportation 101.4 15.0

Industrial 99.3 14.7

Commercial/Utility/Institutional 89.9 13.3

Recreational 68.4 10.1

Wetlands 66.2 9.8

Open Land 16.4 2.4

Me dium

- Density Residential 4.1 0.6

Non f orested Upland 2.5 0.4

Upland Forest 2.4 0.4

Water 0.3 0.05

TOTAL: 676.9 100

Note: Wetland and water land use classifications do not reflect current values due to the recent construction of the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond (October 2006).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

136 F IGUR E 14 : L OCATION OF THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

137 F IGUR E 15 : D EER C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

138 

## 12.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 12.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES

There are two industrial wastewater facilit ies loc ated in the Deer Creek watershe d: (1) Aramark Uniform Services Inc., which is permitted to discharge industrial wastewater in the northwest

corner of the WBID at East 11 th Street ; and (2) Crowley Liner Services, which has an underground injection well . Th ere are no domestic wastewater facilities, CAFO s, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to the Deer Creek watershed. The
COJ/FDOT MS4 permit includes the Deer Creek watershed (PBS&J, July 2008)

.



### 12.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

COJ EQD identified five PICs in the Deer Creek watershed between 1998 and 2006. Two of

these were considered potential sources of bacterial contamination and were confirmed by COJ PWD as wastewater discharges. One i llicit connection was identified as a sept ic tank discharge

, while the nature of the wastewater effluent at the second illicit connection was not
determined. It is unlikely that the septic tank discharge impacted water quality in Deer Creek

due to its distance from surface waters

, wh ile discharge s from the unknown source likely had a direct impact on surface waters of the southwest branch near Talleyrand Avenue. Both illicit

connections were ultimately removed from the watershed (PBS&J, July 2008)

.



### 12.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS

The Deer Creek watershed is located in the Buckman WWTF Service Area. An estimated 1,110

househ olds (approximately 100 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in

the watershed. Sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) is primarily

located west of Haines Street and north of East 8th Street and

, to a lesser extent, along Jessie
Street and Talleyrand Avenue. There is an increased likelihood of possible spills and/or

unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks that could impact surface waters in areas west of the junction of Deer Creek and Haines Street, and along Talleyrand Avenue ; sewer infrastructure is

located near surface waters in these areas. JEA has reported a total of 7 SSO s within the Deer
Creek WBID boundar ies ( Table 71 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 25 to 468,750 gallons and averaged 69,196 gallons; however, only 4 SSOs were reported to have potentially impacted surface waters (PBS&J, July 2008)

.

T ABLE 71 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE D EER C REEK

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL ( G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY
I MPACTE D S UR FACE
W ATERS Deer Creek (2256) 29 -Apr- 02* 10,000 Y

Deer Creek (2256) 12

- May

- 02* 468,750 Y
Deer Creek (2256) 16 -Sep- 02 50 N
Deer Creek (2256) 8

- Feb

- 03* 500 Y
Deer Creek (2256) 1- Dec

- 03* 5,000 Y
Deer Creek (2256) 19

- Dec

- 05 25 N
Deer Creek (2256) 22

- Mar

- 06 50 N

*Reportable SSOs that spilled >1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters.

Sampling data did not correspond with SSO events

, and therefore associated impacts on

surface waters could not be determined. S ediments provide UV radiation protection and key nutrient sources (e.g., carbon, nitro gen, and phosphorus) that allow bacteria to grow and survive, thus facilitating the development of reservoirs for fecal bacteria (Mallin et al.

, 2007).

The i noculation of sediments following an SSO event or unknown infrastructure leak may lead toFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

139 the persistence and likel y regrowth of indicator bacteria in sediments, possibly allowing an influx of high levels of bacteria to receiving waters for an unspecified period (Davies et al.

, 1995 ; Anderson et al.

, 2005 ; Mallin et al.

, 2007). However, it is more lik ely that other sources, such as

unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks (e.g., from underground sewer mains)

, are responsible

for the more recent pollution of the Deer Creek watershed, as no reported SSOs have reached

surface waters in the watershed since 2003 (PBS&J, July 2008)

.



### 12.2.4 OS TDS

As noted above, almost all the homes in the Deer Creek watershed are connected to the sanitary sewer system; therefore, few (a bout 38) septic tanks are located in the watershed

. According to DCHD, no septic system repair per mits were issued in this area

. Considering that few households utilize OSTDS, it is unlikely that OSTDS play a major role in the fecal loading of
Deer Creek (PBS&J, July 2008)

.



### 12.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Deer C reek WBID contains predominantly greater than 25 % impervious surface. These areas generally correspond to commercial/utility

and institutional ; industrial ; and transportation land use s, which are primarily located in the

northwest and southeast corners of the watershed

. Impervious surface areas of greater than

25 % are also located near surface waters extending from the headwaters of the main channel east to Talleyrand Avenue and along areas of the southwest branch. In addition, large areas

with 10 to 25 % impervious surface, mainly associated with high

- density residential communities, are situated in the southwestern and northeastern portions of the watershed

.
Additionally, an analysis was conducted demonstrat ing that the majority of the WBID contains a

moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, including areas near the creek. Land surfaces

with the lowest stormwater runoff coefficients were also located near the surface waters of Deer
Creek and correlated with wetland areas. As stated previously

, the wetland land use classifications have changed due to the recent completion of the Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond, likely altering the stormwater runoff coefficients in this area as well (PBS&J, July 2008)

.
The storm sewer network in the Deer Creek watershed includes 12 permitted stormwater
treatment areas, encompassing approximately 100 % of the WBID area. Stormwater

infrastructure in the WBID includes 4 outfalls by receiving water and 390 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the developed portion of the WBID, ditch systems primarily form segments of Deer Creek (1) at the headwaters from the intersection of East 7 th Street and Harrison Street, east to Haines Street; and (2) extending approximately 275 feet

west from the Talle yrand Avenue and Deer Creek juncture (PBS&J, July 2008)

. Higher fecal coliform loadings were identified in the “wet” season (June through October) closer

to the creek , suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to Deer Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems during high rainfall at this location. Fecal coliform concentrations did not differ during the “wet” and “dry” season s near Talleyrand Avenue, suggesting a constant source of fecal coliform bacteria to Deer Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems independent of rainfall.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

140 

## 12.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 12.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### D EER 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 12.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.

In the Deer Creek watershed , JEA has pipe bursted 18.43 % of the sewer lines, repaired the inner lining through CIPP for 1.54 % of the lines, and repaired 1.22 % through open cut. In addition, it inspected 2,602 LF of pipe and cleaned 14,764 LF of pipe in FY07 to help prevent future infrastructure problems. These activities will continue in the future to maintain the

sanitar y sewer system and prevent future problems.

Table 72 contains additional information on JE A ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

141 T ABLE 72 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS S TART D ATE OF P ROJECT Sewer Upgrad es

JEA – 97 Pipe B ursting – I ncrease C arrying
C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001:

66

, 493 $6,009,870 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 98 CIPP – Install N ew I nner L ining Rehabilitat e failing/leaking

in frastructure Total footage of CIPP in

watershed since 2001: 5

, 550 $115,928 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 99 Open C ut – R emoval and R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of open cut replacement in watershed

since 2001: 4

, 412 $281,581 JE A Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 100 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 101 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed in

2004 ; all stations co nstructed
since have SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 102 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY 07

JEA – 103 Inspect Lift Station on Jesse Street Inspect lift station and report in first annual BMAP report 1 station Unknown JEA Planned 2009

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 104 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG Progra m initiated

in 2004

JEA – 105 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit TV system 2, 602 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA – 106 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 14

, 764 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 107 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA

– 108 Manhole Monitoring See Appen dix E Not applicable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA

– 109 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 110 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing Februar y 20 07

JEA – 111 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/ Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

142 

### 12.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### D EER 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs

.
As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 1 new construction permit

, 1 abandonment permit , 3 plan review s, a nd 20 complaint investigations in the WBID

. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent issues related to OSTDS. Table 73 lists D CHD’s project s in the Deer Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 73 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 45 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as pot ential sources Approximately 1 new construction permit and 1

abandonment permit

issued Not applicable F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 46 DCHD

S ponsored

T raining

P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance

entiti es, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to 12

contact hours $2,5 00 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 47 Application/

Plan Review/

Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site evaluation for each applicat ion
received for OSTDS new

construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 3 plan

reviews and site

evaluations have been

performed in WBID based on permitting history $1,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 48 Septic Tank

Failur e Area

Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on

annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 49 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 20 complaint investigations have been performed in WBID $ 2,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing



### 12.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### D EER 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 12.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed the Upper Deer Creek Region al Project in the watershed

. The project

, a wet detention pond that treats 537 acres, has helped to reduce the amount of stormwater

associated bacterial loading to Deer Creek.



### 12.3.3.2 COJ Projects in Design

In addition, COJ has two projects in the watershed unde r design: (1) the Lower Eastside Drainage Improvements – Phase 3 , which will e liminate flooding in the area bordered by 7 th

S treet, the MLK Jr. Expressway, 1 st Street, and Spearing Street; and (2) the Lower EastsideFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

143 Pond Expansion, which will provide compe nsating treatment for the Jacksonville library,

courthouse , and other downtown improvements. Once these projects are completed, additional stormwater will be captured and treated, reduc ing fecal coliform loading to the creek from

stormwater runoff.



### 12.3.3.3 Ongoi ng COJ Programs and Activities

COJ has also established a monitoring plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the SWMP and the associated pollutant reduction from MS4 systems to waters of the state. As part of this monitoring plan, COJ has established 2 moni toring sites in the watershed and collected 92 samples between 1995 and 2008. In addition, COJ EQD collected 21 samples as part of the

TAT and an additional 9 samples at 3 sites to aid in source identification.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 18 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning ; and 42 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. Of t he five PICs identified by COJ in the Deer Creek

watershed , two were confirmed as illicit connections and were recognized as potential sources

of bacterial contamination. These two were ultimately removed from the watershed in July 2005
and October 2006 (PBS&J, July 2008)

.
Between 2000 and 2008, COJ PWD conduct ed inspections that included four investigations into illicit water discharges, one illegal discharge, four sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch

, and seven SSOs. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests , which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 74 provides a dditional detail s on COJ ’s acti vities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

144 T ABLE 74 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE E S TIMATE D
C OMPLE TION P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvem ent Projects

COJ – 1 26 Lower Eastside Drainage Improvements

– Phase 3 Eliminate flooding area bordered by 7 th S treet

, MLK Jr. Expressway, 1 st Street

, Spearing Street Lower Eastside $6,500,000 COJ 2013 Design

COJ – 12 7 Lower Eastside Pond Expansion Pond e xpansion to provide compensating treatment for library, courthouse, and other downtown improvements Lower Eastside $4,250,000 COJ 2012 Design

COJ

– 12 8 Upper Deer Creek Regional BMP Wet detention 537 acres Unknown COJ Complete Complete

MS4 Maintenance Ac tivities

COJ

– 12 9 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 18 (for 2005

– 08) $7,699 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 1 30 Structure Blocked/Repair/

Genera l Flooding 42 (for 2005

– 08) $3,327 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 1 31 Illicit Water Discharge CARE

- i nitiated i nspection 4 (for 2000

– 08) $848 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 1 32 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i niti ated i nspection 1 (for 2000

– 08) $212 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 1 33 Sewer D rains into Y ard / D itch CARE

- initiated i nspection 4 (for 2000

– 08) $848 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ

– 1 34 Sewer Overflow CARE

- initiated i nspection 7 (for 2000

– 08) $1,484 COJ Ongoing Ongoi ng

COJ – 1 35 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations in WBID ; inspect as ID stations or

new stations constructed Not applicable Not applicable COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 1 36 Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination 2 i llicit

, n o o pen 5 (for 19 98

– 2006) $1,060 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 13 7 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quarterly water quality sampling – 2 sampling stations in WBID 92 (for 1995

– 2008) $41,124 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 13 8 TAT Sampling Conducted by EQD to ass ess bacteria levels in

creek and identify potential fecal bacteria sources 3 sites/21 samples $9,387 COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 13 9 Source ID Sampling Source ID sampling conducted when high levels

of fecal coliform are noted 3 sites/9 samples $9,000 COJ On going Ongoing

COJ – 1 40 Investigate High Fecal Coliform

Counts in Downstream Portion of

Watershed Investigate and report results in first annual BMAP report; Walk the WBID may be needed Investigate high

counts (for 2009

– 10) Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

S eptic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 141 Outside Failure Areas

– Septic Tank

Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ ordinance 38 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

COJ – 142 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 143 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; samp ling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

145 

### 12.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### D EER 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 12.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality

. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, o rdinances

, and codes. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FDOT also sweeps eight miles of roadways monthly, reduc ing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and debris from the system as needed. This maintenance occurs in 42 inlets and 4 miles of piping

in the watershed

.
FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in

the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities

, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for two monitoring stations in the
Deer Creek watershed that are sample d quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system.

Table 75 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 75 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE L EVEL OF E FFORT P ROJECT S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 42 PIC P rogram

– Search for I llicit
C onn ections See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 43 PIC Program – Illicit C onnections

I dentified and R emoved in WBID if

T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ No true illicit connection

identified to date Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 44 Routine Tributary M onitoring and

BMP E ffectiveness P roject as Part
of MS4 P ermit See Note 2 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ 2 stations quarterly.

BMP wet detention pond effectiveness Ongoing

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 45 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust
C ertify that A ll D ischarges to FDOT

MS4 Are T reated Prior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Catch Basin/Inlet and Close d Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 46 S ediment A ccumulation

, T rash

, and

D ebris R emoved as N eeded $24,228 State of Florida (FDOT) Approximately 42
inlets/catch basin s and 4 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 47 Street Sweeping Program $2,191 State of Florida (FDOT) 8 miles of roadway

s wept monthly OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

146 P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE L EVEL OF E FFORT P ROJECT S TATUS

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 48 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage
structures, replace/repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res ha pe roadside

ditches, clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter removal

, respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 12.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 72 throug h Table 75 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the
Deer Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in the WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Deer Creek based on the best information available about

f ecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project
tables for the Deer Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 12.4.1 OS TDS

Program Implementation – Almost all of the homes in the Deer Creek watershed are connected to the sanitary sewer system and, according to DCHD, no septic system repair permits were issued in this area. Considering that few households utilize OSTDS, it is unlikely
that OSTDS contribute a significant amount of fecal loadi ng to Deer Creek. DCHD will continue

its inspection and program implementation efforts to ensure that the 38 septic tanks in the

watershed are operating properly.



### 12.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – The COJ database does not indicate that t here are private sewer lift

stations in th e wa t ershed ; however, the database only includes private lift stations permitted by
COJ since 1991 or lift stations with repair permit applications filed since that time. It is likely that private lift stations are located in the watershed but have not been identified. As private stations

are identified or new private lift stations are constructed, COJ will include these stations in the BMAP annual progress report and implement annual inspections.

Sewer Infrastructur e Projects – The number of SSOs has declined since 2002 due to JEA

activities in the watershed . Of the three JEA lift stations in the watershed , one is located close to surface waters and one is near stormwater inlets. During the five

- year BMAP cycle, JE A will inspect the lift station on Jesse Street to ensure that the station is operating properly due to its close proximity to surface waters. JEA will schedule the inspection in accordance with other system activities and report the investigation status in the first annual BMAP progress report. ItFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

147 will continue maintenance efforts and systemwide programs

, and this will be sufficient to address potential sewer sources in the WBID at this time.



### 12.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – The PIC Program removed two illicit connections in the

watershed . COJ and FDOT have committed to continue t he PIC Program, which includes identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely manner.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C.

, FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. This permit program will continue
and FDOT will continue to periodic ally inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections. In addition, FDOT maintains 4 miles of piping and 42 inlets, preventing materials from entering the stormwater system that could promote bacteria growth.

F DOT will continue stormwater infrastructure maintenance

, as these efforts prevent potential regrowth in the MS4 conveyances

. COJ Capital Improvement Projects – COJ constructed a regional wet detention pond to treat

537 acres that only discharges into the creek during extreme rain events. Th e pond eliminated fecal coliform loading by preventing a significant amount of stormwater runoff from flushing into

the creek during storm events

, and provid ed treatment to reduce the amount of sediments discharging into the creek. Currently, construction is planned for two additional stormwater improvement project s in th e watershed during the BMAP five

- year cycle. This construction depend s on funding; however, COJ will provide updates on the projects’ status in the ann ual BMAP progress reports.



### 12.4.4 A DDITIONAL 

### A S S E S S ME NTS COJ EQD is following up on high fecal coliform counts in the downstream portion of the

watershed in partnership with TAT entities

. It will report the results of the current investigations in the first annual BMAP progress report. If no sources are identified and coliform counts continue to be high, FDEP will require a Walk the WBID in the second year of the BMAP ( see Appendix F for guidelines on conducting a Walk the WBID exercise). At that time, the BWG will agree on the lead entity and implementation time frame. The exercise must be completed within the specified BMAP year

, and all problems identified from this effort must be resolved or under investigation within the following BMAP year

. The r esults o f the Walk the WBID will be reported in the annual BMAP progress report.

T ABLE 76 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE D EER C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X

Pro gram Implementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Phase

- Out - - X X
Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampl ing for Conditions and Trends **√** X X XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

148 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X - Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X *

Pro gram Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement * X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO) Investigations - X X **√**

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X

- X
Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X - X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance * X * X
Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenan ce **√** X **√** X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X

- X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Managemen t

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources **√** X X

- Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X - Microbial Source Tracking (MST) - X X - Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs - X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

149 

## CHAPTE R 13 : T E R R APIN 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2204)

13.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Terrapin Creek, WBID 2204, is located in Duval County, north of the L SJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWM D ( Figure 16 ). The headwaters of Terrapin Creek presumably comprise stormwater that originates on the south side of Port Jacksonville Parkway just west of New Berlin Road ( Figure 17 ). Prior to the development of a new office park and the associated Port Jacksonville Parkway in 2005, Terrapin Creek continued farther

north. Development in this area resulted in major transitions to the landscape that ultimately

severed the m ost northern section of Terrapin Creek from th e section below Port Jacksonville Parkway. This portion of the WBID included a small branch that once connected a pond serving M&M Dairy Inc. from the west (approximately 575 feet north of Port Jacksonville Pa rkway) to the

main channel of Terrapin Creek. M&M Dairy Inc. has since closed, though breeding bulls and other cattle remain on the property. Currently, the entire creek flows southward in a single channel, merges with Dunn Creek nearly 1,000 feet east o f Alta Drive, and eventually joins the
St. Johns River at Heckscher Drive (PBS&J, August 2008 a).

The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Terrapin Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJ RWMD (Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

150 Table 77 ). The dominant land use (427.4 acres; 35.7 % of total coverage) in the watershed, and directly adjacent to the majority of the creek itself, is upland forest , which extends throughout

the watershed. The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) wetland areas (169.3 acres; 14.2 % of total coverage), which form a boundary around the entire length of the creek; and (2) commercial/utility and institutional areas (154.1 acres; 12.9 % of total coverage), located predominantly along the eastern portion of the WBID at Faye Road, on either side of Highway 9A, and at a narrow power line utility strip that traverses the watershed south of Port Jacksonville Parkway.

As upland forests and wetlands serve as habitat for various species of wildlife and are located

near surface waters, there is a potential for wildlife to contribute to the fecal pollution of Terrapin
Creek. A dairy farm (M&M Dairy Inc.) situated in the upper reaches of Terrapin Creek

, in t he vicinity of the New Berlin Road and Port Jacksonville Parkway intersection

, has closed. Although pasturelands located in the upstream portion of the watershed still support cattle, it appears that this source is now separated from receiving waters (PBS &J, August 2008 a).

According to the 2000 Census, there are 39 households in the watershed , averaging 1.05 people per household (PBS&J, August 2008 a)

. In addition, assuming that 40 % of households

have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 16 dogs i n the watershed.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

151 T ABLE 77 : L AND U S E S IN THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U SE A CRES % OF T OTAL

Upland Forest Total 427.4 35.7

Wetlands Total 169.3 14.2

Commercial/Utility/ Institutional Total 154.1 12.9

Industrial Total 86.4 7. 2

Water Total 64.6 5.4

Non f orested Upland Total 60.6 5.1

Feeding Operations Total 50.6 4.2

Low

- Density Residential Total 49.5 4.1

Cropland and Pastureland Total 35.4 3.0

Transportation Total 32.2 2.7

Open Land Total 24.5 2.0

Disturbed Land Total 17 .5 1.5

Recreational Total 15.4 1.3

Extractive Total 9.2 0.8

TOTAL: 1

, 196.6 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

152 F IGUR E 16 : L OCATION OF THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

153 F IGUR E 17 : T E R R APIN C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

154 

## 13.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 13.2.1 P OI NT S OUR CE S

Florida Rock

- New Berlin Road Concrete Batch Plant ( CBP ) (FLG110329)

, the only industrial wastewater facility located in the Terrapin Creek watershed

, is permitted to discharge wastewater in the southeastern portion of the WBID. In addition, the COJ/FDOT MS4 permit includes the Terrapin Creek watershed

. T here were feeding operations at a dairy farm, M&M Dairy Inc., which has since closed, though cattle remain in the area (PBS&J, August 2008 a).



### 13.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

COJ EQD identified nine PICs in t he Terrapin Creek watershed in 2007. The ir status is pending investigation. One of the PICs, an unverified illicit discharge identified on private property , was found during the JEA Tributary Pollution Assessment Project (January 2006). T he program did not include the inspection of closed conveyance systems; therefore, additional illicit connections may be present in the watershed (PBS&J, August 2008 a).



### 13.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS The Terrapin Creek watershed is located in the District II WWTF Service Area. A n estimated 7 households (approximately 18 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the watershed. Available GIS data indicate that sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) is only found in one location in the watershed

, parallel to Faye Road. A sewer main spans the width of the creek

, either above or below surface waters

, at Faye Road, increasing the likelihood that possible spills and/or unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks will

i mpact surface waters at this location. Although not confirmed, sewer infrastructure may have been installed in the upstream segment of Terrapin Creek to accommodate the newly constructed office park in 2005. JEA has not reported any sanitary sewer overflows within the Terrapin Creek WBID boundaries (PBS&J, August 2008 a).



### 13.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimate s that approximately 57 OSTDS are located in the Terrapin Creek watershed

. According to DCHD, 6 septic system repair permits were issued in this area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems

, were located in the southwest corner of the

WBID west of Alta Drive in a low

- density residential area, supporting the contention that failing OSTDS may contribute to the fecal pollution in this area. No DCHD

- designated septic system

failure areas are located near the boundary of the watershed (PBS&J, August 2008 a).



### 13.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Terrapin Creek WBID contains predominantly less than 10 % impervious surface corresponding to the upland forest and

wetland land use classifications. The watershed also contains land with 10 % to greater than

25 % impervious surface. Areas with greater than 25 % impervious surface generally correspond

to industrial

, commercial/utility

, and institutional land use s located along Faye Road, and south of Faye Road at the eastern extent of the WBID boundaries.

An analysis was also conducted demonstrat ing that the majority of the WBID contains a

moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, includ ing areas near the creek. Low stormwater runoff coefficients are primarily located in the southwest corner of the WBID. The highest runoff coefficients are found along Highway 9A, at the power line utility strip that

transverses the wat ershed south of the Port Jacksonville Parkway, just south of the BlasiusFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

155 Road and Faye Road intersection, and west of the Faye Road station location (PBS&J, August

2008 a).

The storm sewer network in the Terrapin Creek watershed includes 21 permitted stormw ater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 65.88 % of the WBID area. Stormwater

infrastructure in the WBID includes 6 outfalls by receiving water ( none classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 16 inlets. Closed conveyances and ditch systems are primarily located in the

southeast corner of the WBID near Alta Drive. One ditch system extends south from a stormwater control structure at a pond situated at the Alta Drive and Highway 9A feeder road intersection, and merges with Terrapin Creek at Alta Dr ive (PBS&J, August 2008 a).

Fecal coliform concentrations did not differ during the “wet” and “dry” season s at the Faye Road monitoring station, suggesting a constant source of fecal coliform bacteria to Terrapin Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems independent of rainfall. It is possible that higher loadings occur in the “wet” season and are diluted by increased volumes of water, resulting in fecal coliform concentrations that appear to be independent of rainfall. Higher loadings were identified in the “wet” season at the Alta Drive station, suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to Terrapin Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems during high rainfall (PBS&J, August 2008 a)

.



## 13.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 13.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### T E R R APIN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 13.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.

Table 78 lists JEA’s project s in the Terrapin Creek watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

156 T ABLE 78 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ESCRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS S TART D ATE OF P ROJECT

Other Sewer Infrastruct ure Upgrades

JEA – 112 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 113 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 0 ARVs replaced within

200 f ee t of tributary (1 ARV total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 114 ARV Inspection Inspect 1 ARV in

watershed and report in annual progress report 1 ARV Unknown JEA Planned 2009

JEA – 115 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed

in 2004 ; all stations

constructed since have
SC ADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 116 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes,

Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Programs To Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 117 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG

P rogram initiated in

2004

JEA – 118 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 119 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E No t applicable $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA – 120 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 121 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 122 Non

- Des tructive Testing Program See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

157 

### 13.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### T E R R APIN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 13.3.2.1 Ongoi ng DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These

include ( 1) the OSTDS P rogram , ( 2) t raining p rograms

, and ( 3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs

.
As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 44 new construction permits

, 6 repair permits, and 3 a bandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 15 annual operating permits
have been issued for PBTS in the watershed

. DCHD has also perform ed 56 plan review s and 15 complaint investigations

. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prev ent
issues related to OSTDS. Table 79 lists DCHD’s project s in the Terrapin Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 79 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 50 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 44 new construction permits, 6

repair permits, and 3 abandonment permit

issued $ 44,500 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 51 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating

p ermits issued for PBTS, systems located

in IMZ

, and commercial systems 15 a nnual o perating

p ermits for PBTS/IMZ

located in WBID $ 37,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 52 DCHD

S ponsored

T raining

P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities,

and environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to 12

contact hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SW IM
Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 53 Application/

Plan Review/

Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received for

OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 56 plan

reviews and site

evaluations have been

performed in WBID based on permitting history $12,000 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 54 Septic Tank

Failure Area

Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized

on annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update No t applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 55 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 15 complaint investigations have been performed in WBID $1,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

158 

### 13.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### T E R R APIN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 13.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed a flood control project along Faye Road that has helped reduce flooding in the area and, in turn, the amount of fecal coliform loading to the c reek from stormwater runoff.



### 13.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

The COJ MS4 permit requires COJ and its co

- permittees to implement a Stormwater Monitoring Plan. As part of this plan, COJ has 2 monitoring stations in the watershed and collected 66 samples between 1995 and 2008.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes one work order for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning ; and three work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. COJ identified n ine PICs in the Terrapin Creek

watershed in 2007 ; the ir status is currently pending

.
COJ PWD also conducts inspections in the watershed that are initiated through the CARE

database

. In the Terrapin Creek watershed , these inspections between 2000 and 2008 included one investigation into a n illicit water discharge, one illegal discharge, and six private lift

stations. PWD will main tain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests

, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 80 provides additional detail s on COJ ’s activities in the watershed.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

15 9 T ABLE 80 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Drainage System Rehab Project

COJ – 1 44 Faye Road – Area Floods Fa ye Road drainage system rehab Faye Road $40,000 COJ Complete

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ – 145 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 1 (for 2005

– 08) Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 146 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 3 (for 2005

– 08) $790 COJ Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ – 147 Illicit Water Discharge CARE -i nitiated Inspection 1 (for 2000

– 08) $212 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 148 Pollution – Water – Illegal Discharge CARE -i nitiated Inspection 1 (for 2000

– 08) $212 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 149 Private Lift Station Inspection No lift stations in WBID prior to 2006 17 total annual inspections 6 (for 2006

– 08) $1,272 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 150 Determine Lift Station Location 1 lift station is located on boundary, verify that it is reported in Browns Creek for first annual report 1 (for 2009

– 10) $212 COJ Planned

COJ – 151 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination 0 i llicit, 9 o pen 9 (for 2007 ) $1,908 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 152 Follow Up on Outstanding PICs Follow up on 9 open PICs in watershed 9 (for 2009

– 10) $1,908 COJ Planned

COJ – 153 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quart erly water quality sampling – 2 sampling stations in

WBID 66 (for 1995

– 2008) $29,502 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 154 Outside Failure Areas – Septic Tank Phase

- Out Phase out program as provided by COJ

ordinance 57 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 155 Septic Tank Maint enance P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 156 Pet/A nimal M anagement P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

160 

### 13.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### T E R R APIN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 13.3.4.1 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Dr ainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater qual ity through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities

, and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality

for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the Terrapin Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system

. Table 81 lists FDOT activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 81 : FDOT A CTIVI TIE S IN THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE L EVEL OF E FFORT P ROJECT S TATUS

Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 49 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of

Flo rida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 50 PIC P rogram

– Illicit C onnections

I dentified and R emoved in WBID if

T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ No tru ly illicit connection

identified to date Ongoing

Surface Water S ampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 51 Routine Tributary M onitoring as Part of
MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 52 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust C e rtify

that A ll D ischarges to FDOT MS4 are

Tr eated P rior to C onnection See Note 3 State of

Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 53 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of

Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage

s tructures, replace/ repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside

ditches, clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter removal

, respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

161 

### 13.3.5 F LOR IDA 

### D E P AR TME NT OF 

### A GR ICULTUR E AND 

### C ONS UME R 

### S E R VICE S 

### A C TIVITIE S IN

THE 

### T E R R APIN 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D

A dairy facility in the Terrapin Creek watershed , M&M Dairy, Inc.

, closed three years ago

, and some of the pastureland was sold for development. The construction changed the pond from the dairy to a closed wetland system that no longer flows to the creek. While the pond is no longer a source of fecal coliform, the remaining 200 acres are now a cow/calf operation with approximately 80 head of cattle. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FD ACS) visited this operation in 2008 because it will be subject to the FDACS Cow/Calf BMP Manual, once adopted. The property owner has committed to signing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to implement the applicable BMPs once the manual is adopted. FDACS will fo llow up with the owner to obtain the NOI and to assist in implementing the BMPs.



## 13.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 78 through Table 81 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the Terrapin Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in th e WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or be implemented in future years. The ef forts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Terrapin Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improve s in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Te rrapin Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 13.4.1 OS TDS

Program Implementation – Out of approximately 57 septic systems in the Terrapin Creek watershed, only a few are located near surface waters. DCHD has performed 15 complaint investigations and 56 plan reviews

, and issued 6 repair permits , 3 abandonment permits

, and 44 new construction permits in the watershed . Continued program implementation will adequately

addr ess OSTDS in the watershed

.



### 13.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, there are 6 private lift stations in the

watershed . COJ EQD has performed 17 inspections of these stations and will continue to inspect annually. One private lift station, located at 11400 New Berlin Road, is situated on the WBID boundary. COJ will confirm that this station is included in the Browns Creek WBID to ensure that potential overflows are reported in the correct WBID

. The continuation of th e inspection program and the confirmation of reporting boundaries are sufficient to address private infrastructure in the watershed at this time.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – There is one ARV in Terrapin Creek that JEA will inspect

within the first ye ar after BMAP adoption. This inspection will ensure that corrosive gases have not compromised the integrity of the pipe, leading to potential SSOs

, and proactively prevent s fecal coliform loading. JEA will schedule t he inspection in accordance with its o perations and

maintenance schedule

, and the results will be reported in the first annual BMAP progress report.

JEA will continue its maintenance efforts and systemwide programs

, and this will be sufficient to address potential sewer sources in the WBID at this time.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

162 

### 13.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – There is very little stormwater infrastructure in th e WBID. The PIC Program currently has nine open cases

, and in order for the stormwater efforts to be sufficient, these PICs must be investigated and th e connection s eliminated or the case s closed. COJ will provide information on the ir status, including why a particular PIC may still be open, in the first annual BMAP progress report.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C.

, FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. Th e permit program will continue

, and FDOT will continue to periodic ally inspect its fa cilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections.

COJ Program Implementation – COJ has completed one drainage system rehabilitation project, on Faye Road, that has reduced flooding in an area with private and JEA lift stations, thus pr eventing stormwater

- related fecal coliform loading to Terrapin Creek. In addition, since 2005, COJ PWD has cleaned one ditch and repaired three stormwater inlets. COJ will continue

maintenance activities in the watershed to prevent additional fecal colif orm loading to the creek.



### 13.4.4 A GR ICULTUR E The cow/calf operation located in the watershed could be a potential source of fecal coliform loading to the creek during wet

- weather conditions due to stormwater runoff . FDACS will meet with the property owner once the C ow/ C alf BMP M anual has been adopted to obtain a NOI to implement the applicable BMPs. FDACS will also visit the property to ensure that BMPs are properly implemented and to provide assistance with the BMPs, if needed.

T ABLE 82 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE T E R R APIN C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program Implementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluatio n **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Phase

- Out

- - X X
Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X

Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X

- Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X - Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non -NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO ) Investigations **√** X X **√**

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

163 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X - X
Capital Projects/Stormwater W ater Quality BMPs

- X

- X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance * X * X
Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X * X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X - X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assess ment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling to Track Sources - X X - Tributary Assessment Team (TAT) **√** X X **√**

Microbial Source Tracking (MST) **√** X X **√**

Thermal Imagery to Identify PICs - X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

164 

## CHAPTE R 14 : G OODB YS 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2326)

14.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Goodbys Creek, WBID 2326, is located in Duval County, east of the LSJR within the North Mainstem Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 18 ). The “headwaters” of Goodbys Creek presumably comprise stormwater that originates at the northernmost terminus of the WBID just north of Toledo Road ( Figure 19 ) . The entire creek flows southwest in a single

channel , except for four branches that join the main portion of Goodbys Creek. The most northern branch (“northern branch”) flows from the west into Goodbys Creek from north of the WBID boundary. According to COJ EQD, this small, unnamed, first

- order stream leads into Goodbys Creek and is not hydraulically connected to Christopher Branch to the north. The unnamed stream appears to merge with Goodbys Creek just south of Hernando Road.

Two additional branches join the main channel from the east (“northeastern branch” and “southeastern branch”) and one from the west (“western branch”). The northeastern branch extends just south from Oxford Forest Drive northeast to South Old Kings Road. The southeastern branch is a very small tributary that merges with the main channel approximately 50 meters (164 feet) north of San Clerc Road. The western branch appears to originate at a pond just east of La Vista Circle and merges with the main channel just south of San Clerc

Road.

The creek enters a wetland area south of Baymeadows Road that extends from just east of S an Jose Boulevard west to Barrington Oaks Drive. Upon entering the wetland, the creek bends to the west and flows westward until it eventually reaches the St. Johns River, just west of Holly
Grove Avenue. A n artificial channel just south of the wetland area continues southeast through residential communities and appears to terminate near a closed landfill. T his channel may transport water into Goodbys Creek (PBS&J, August 2008 b).

The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Goodbys Creek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 83 ). The dominant land use (1,179.2 acres; 36.2 % of total coverage) in the watershed, and directly adjacent to the majority of the creek itself, is medium

- density residential , which extends throughout the watershed. The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) high

density residential areas (706 acres; 21.7 % of total coverage), located adjacent to surface

wat ers (i) at the northern most corner of the WBID, (ii) from Lake Woodbourne Drive north to Praver Drive South, (iii) between Baymeadows Road and San Clerc Road, and (iv) just east of Phillips Highway at the Beauclerc Bay Apartments; and (2) commercial/utility and institutional areas (382.7 acres; 11.7 % of total coverage), located predominantly east of Phillips Highway in the eastern corner of the WBID and in patchy areas in the southeastern and northern most portions of the watershed.

Upland forests and wetland habitat accounted for 11% of land use in the watershed. The largest wetland area forms a portion of Goodbys Creek and is located south of Baymeadows Road, extending from San Jose Boulevard east to Barrington Oaks Drive. As wetlands serve as

habitat f or various species of wildlife and are located near surface waters, there is a potential for wildlife to contribute to the fecal pollution of Goodbys Creek. It is worth mentioning that a marina is located on the north side of the creek, immediately west of San Jose Boulevard (PBS&J, August 2008 b).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

165 F IGUR E 18 : L OCATION OF THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

166 F IGUR E 19 : G OODB YS C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

167 According to the 2000 Census, there are 8,392 households in the watershed, averaging 2.12 people per household. High

- density residential areas (16 to 25 people per acre) are located adjacent to surface waters throughout the watershed, especially in the center and northeast corner of the WBID (PBS&J, August 2008b). In addition, assuming that 40 % of households have 1 dog (Tyler

, 2006), there are an estimated 3,357 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 83 : L AND U S E S IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

Medium

- Density Residential 1

, 179 .2 36.2 High

- Density Residential 706.0 21.7 Commercial/Utility/Institutional 382.7 11.7

Wetlands 225.5 6.9 Upland Forest 167.2 5.1

Industrial 161.6 5.0

Recreational 145.2 4.5 Transportation 113.1 3.5

Water 111.5 3.4

Low

- Density Residential 37.1 1. 1

Non f orested Upland 15.3 0.5 Open Land 14.9 0.5

TOTAL: 3, 259.2 100



## 14.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 14.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES Rinker Materials and Duval Asphalt Products Inc. are the only facilities permitted to discharge industrial wastewater and stormwater associated with industrial activity, respectively, in the Goodbys Creek watershed . Both facilities are located just west of Phillips Highway in the eastern portion of the WBID. In addition, the COJ/FDOT MS4 permit includes the Goodbys

Creek watershed . A closed landfill that is no longer in use is situated outside the WBID boundaries south of the Sunbeam Road and Craven Road intersection. There is a potential for stormwater from the landfill to flow into an artificial channel that merges into Goodbys Creek (PBS&J, August 2 008 b).



### 14.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S COJ EQD is continuing a program to identify, confirm, and respond to illicit connection issues in

Jacksonville. A total of 94 PICs were identified in the Goodbys Creek watershed between 1999 and 2006. Of these, 13 connections were confirmed to be illicit and were removed. The re are 16 PICs currently pending investigation

.



### 14.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS The Goodbys Creek watershed is predominantly located in the Mandarin WWTF Service Area, with smaller portions of the watershed extending into the Buckman and Arlington East WWTF

service areas. A n estimated 4,547 households (approximately 54 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the watershed. Sewer infrastructure is located throughout the watershed and near the surface waters of Goodbys Creek, increasing the likelihood that possible spills and/or unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks will impact surface waters. JEA has reported a total of 18 SSO s within the WBID boundaries ( Table 84 ). The estimated volume of spill associated with these overflows ranged from 10 to 36,000 gallons and averaged 3,752 gallons; however, only 8 SSOs were reported to have potentially impacted surface waters. More recently, on July 22, 2008, a SSO from a lift station at 8938 San JoseFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

168 Boulevard resulted in an estimated 1, 000

- gallon discharge of raw sewage to the adjacent ground and into the surface waters of Goodbys Creek. Also, according to FDEP, alleged illegal

dischar ges of untreated/improperly treated wastewater were suspected at a WWTF for an apartment complex at Goodbys Creek near San Jose Boulevard ( PBS&J, August 2008 b).

Monitoring results demonstrate the consistency of elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria

th roughout the period of record (April 1984

– May 2007). As such, it is unlikely that the eight reported SSOs that potentially affected surface waters were responsible for the consistent fecal coliform exceedances observed throughout the Goodbys Creek watershed . Additionally, the highest levels of fecal coliform observed at all IWR stations did not correspond with the reported SSO incidents. This demonstrates that other sources, such as unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks and/or failing OSTDS

, may be contributing to the overall pollution of the Goodbys Creek watershed ( PBS&J, August 2008 b).

T ABLE 84 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTENT IALLY
I MPACTE D S UR FACE
W ATERS Goodbys Creek (2326) 24

- Jan

- 02 10 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 20

- Apr

- 02 900 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 19 -Sep- 02 20 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 14

- Nov

- 02* 2,000 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 23

- Nov

- 02 300 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 17

- Dec

- 02 100 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 30

- Dec

- 02* 2,500 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 12

- Feb

- 03* 15,000 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 14

- Feb

- 03* 36,000 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 11 -Apr- 03* 2,000 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 18 -Apr- 03 300 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 23

- Oct

- 03 100 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 26

- Feb

- 04* 4,500 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 23

- Nov

- 04 50 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 14

- Dec

- 04* 3,600 Y
Goodbys Creek (2326) 18

- Dec

- 04 50 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 9- Mar

- 05 50 N
Goodbys Creek (2326) 3

- Oct

- 05* 50 Y

*Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters

.



### 14.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimate s that there are approximately 349 OSTDS in the Goodbys Creek watershed

. According to DCHD, 46 septic system repair permits were issued in this area. The majority of the permits, and presumably failed septic systems, were located (1) from Regina Road
southeast to the Craven Road West and Craven Road intersection

, and (2) in the southwestern corner of the WBID, west of San Jose Boulevard, between Cardinal Point Drive and Goodbys Creek. Parcels with septic system repair permits in these areas are located near the surface waters of Goodbys Creek, increasing the likelihood that OSTDS failure may be contributing to the fecal pollution observed in these locations. In addition, one DCHD

- desig nated septic system failure area (Beauclerc Gardens) is located in the watershed

. This failure area was placed on the WSEA planning list

, and the transition from septic to sewer has since been completed. The vast majority of septic system repair permits for the watershed were filed in this septic system failure area in the southwestern corner of the WBID, west of San Jose Boulevard between Cardinal Point Drive and Goodbys Creek ( PBS&J, August 2008 b).Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

169 

### 14.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface ind icates that the Goodbys Creek WBID contains predominantly 10 to 25 % impervious surface. The watershed also contains land with greater
than 25 % impervious surface. These areas generally correspond to commercial/utility and

institutional and industrial land use classifications

, and are located primarily east of railroad lines that parallel Phillips Highway and in the southwest corner of the WBID. Furthermore, the potential for stormwater runoff was analyzed and demonstrates that the majority of the WBID

co ntains a moderate

- to

- high potential for stormwater runoff, including areas near the creek. The highest runoff coefficients are located primarily (1) in the northern most corner of the WBID

, (2) on either side of Phillips Highway in the eastern corner of th e WBID

, (3) in areas surrounding the Baymeadows and San Jose Boulevard intersection

, and (4) in the south corner of the WBID at the Old St. Augustine Road and San Jose Boulevard intersection ( PBS&J, August 2008 b).

The storm sewer network in the Goodbys Creek watershed includes 55 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 21.8 % of the WBID area. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 141 outfalls by receiving water ( 1 classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 1,258 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems primarily form segments of Good b ys Creek (1) throughout the northern portion of the watershed , north of Naranja Drive South; and (2) from just north of Philrose Drive

south to Latimer Road East ( PBS&J, August 2008 b).

Higher fecal coliform concentrations were identified in the “wet” season at the Sanchez Road station, suggesting that the majority of bacterial loading was delivered to this area of Goodbys Creek through nonpoint source di scharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems during high rainfall. In contrast, concentrations did not differ at the stations near the confluence, indicating that a constant source ( or source s) of fecal coliform bacteria, apparently independent of rainfall, is contributing to the creek in this area. Considering the possibility for dilution during the “wet” season, it is possible that loadings observed during this time of the year were even higher than they appeared to be ( PBS&J, Augu st 2008 b).



## 14.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 14.3.1 JEA A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### G OODB YS 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 14.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole M onitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. Appendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
JEA has pipe bursted 0.16 % of the sewer lines in the watershed and open cut 0.14 %

. It has also replaced or repaired components on 3 of the 53 ( 5.7 % ) lift stations in the WBID. In the Goodbys Creek watershed , JEA inspected 3,455 LF of pipe and cleaned 16,686 LF of pipe in

FY07. These activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent future problems.

Table 85 contains additional information on JEA ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

170 T ABLE 85 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS S TAR T D ATE OF
P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 1 23 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 2

, 364 $246,276 JEA O ngoing FY00

JEA – 1 24 Open C ut – R emoval and

R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of open cut replacement in watershed since

2001: 2

, 016 $24,427 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 125 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY 01

JEA – 126 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 2 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t
of tributary $481,873 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 127 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades R etrofitting completed in 2004 ; all stations constructed since
have SCADA installed

. See Appendix E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 128 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as

N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY07

JEA – 129 Pump Station Class I/II Rebuilding Repair or replace components of existing pump stations Projects in w atershed since

2002: 3 $236,805 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 130 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG

P rogram initiated

in 2004

JEA – 131 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit TV system 3, 455 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried o ver from city operation (1997)

JEA – 132 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 16

, 686 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 133 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 163,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA

– 134 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E Not applicable $137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA

– 135 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA

– 136 Pop

- Top Program See App endix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 137 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

171 

### 14.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### G OODB YS 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 14.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTD S as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These include (1) the OSTDS P rogram

, (2) training programs

, and (3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs.

As of July 28, 2008, DCHD updated the listing of failure and nuisance areas. There is currently

1 designated septic system failure area

, Beauclerc Gardens

, in the Goodbys Creek watershed

. Approximately 16.3 % of the failure area is located in the watershed

.

As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 26 new construction permits, 46 repair permits, and 23 abandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 13 annual operating permits
have been issued for PBTS in the watershed

. DCHD has also performed 102 plan revie ws and 133 complaint investigations. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent
issues related to OSTDS. Table 86 lists DCHD’s project s in the Goodbys Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 86 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 56 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address septic systems as pote ntial sources Approximately 26

new construction permits, 46 repair permits, and 23

abandonment permit s issued $32,500 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 57 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating p ermits issued for PBTS, systems

located in IMZ

, and commercial systems 13 a nnual o perating

p ermits for
PBTS/IMZ located in

WBID $32,500 F DOH/

LJSR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 58 SWIM Project Implementation of broad

ranging septic tank ordinance 16.3% of Beauclerc Gardens Septic

Tank Failure Area

located in WBID $34,000 F DOH/

L JSR

SWIM

Grant Completed

DCHD – 59 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities, and

environmental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings per year providing up to

12 contact hours Not applicable Not applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 60 Application/Plan

Review/ Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan review

and site evaluation for each

application received for OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of

e xisting system Approxi mately 102 plan reviews and

site evaluations

have been performed in WBID based on permitting history $22,000 F DOH/

LJSR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 61 Septic Tank Failure Area Ranking Septic t ank f ailure a rea scored and prioritized on annual basis Less than 1 year since previous update Not applicable Not applicable OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

172 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 62 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and initiates enforcement action on sanitary

nuisance violations 13 complaint investigat ions have been performed in

WBID $ 1,5 00 F DOH/

LJSR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 63 Walk the WBID

Effort Conduct Walk the WBID in central portion of watershed to identify sources Walk the WBID Unknown DCHD/

COJ Planned

DCHD – 64 Intensive Inspection Program Intensive geospecific inspections in selected BMAP WBIDs based on repair permit

applications , water quality information, and site

conditions ; additional WBIDs

may be identified in future based on ongoing assessment

efforts Approximately 50
OSTDS located ne ar San Servera Drive,

Sanchez Road, Baymeadows Road

, Craven Road , and

San Rae Road $7,750 Unknown Planned – pending funding



### 14.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### G OODB YS 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 14.3.3.1 Completed COJ Projects

COJ has completed two projects in the watershed : (1) a regional wet detention pond at Powers Avenue and Old Kings Road, which treats 520 acres; and (2) a project at Sierra Madre Drive to prevent erosion and flooding. The projects have treated stormwater runoff and controlled flooding in these two areas, reducing the amount of stormwater

- associated fecal coliform loading to Goodbys Creek.



### 14.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activities

The C OJ MS4 permit requires COJ and its copermittees to implement a Stormwater Monitoring Plan. As part of this plan, COJ has 1 routine monitorin g station in the watershed that is sampled quarterly . A total of 38 samples were taken at this station between 1995 and 2008.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance includes 241 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning; 11 work orders for lake and pond maintenance;

and 145 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. Of the 94 PICs identified by the COJ in the Goodbys
Creek watershed

, 13 were confirmed as illicit connections and were removed; the status of 16
PICs is currently pending investigation (PBS&J, August 2008 b). Also a s part of the PIC Program, COJ EQD provides public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and the storm drain

– stenciling program.

COJ PWD also conducts inspections, which included 11 investigations into illicit water discharges, 7 illegal discharges, 3 sewer lin es that drained into a yard or ditch, 19 SSOs, and 20 private lift stations in the watershed . PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on requests, which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 87 provides additional detail on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

173 T ABLE 87 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL C OS T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Capital Improvement Projects

COJ

– 1 57 Powers Avenue at Old Kings Road Regional p ond 520 acres Unknown COJ Complete Drainage S ystem R ehab P rojects

COJ

– 1 58 Repair E rosion at Sierra Madre Drive Bank repairs failed t o prevent erosion Sierra Madre Drive $ 106,262 COJ Complete

MS4 M aintenance A ctivities

COJ

– 15 9 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities completed after release of work order system

. 241 (for 2005

– 08) $18,300 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 60 Lake or Pond Problem 11 (for 2005

– 08) $374 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 61 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 145 (for 2005

– 08) $20,284 COJ Ongoing Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ

– 1 62 Illicit Water Dis charge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 11 (for 2000

– 08) $2,332 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 63 Pollution

– Water

– Illegal Discharge CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 7 (for 2000

– 08) $1,484 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 64 Sewer D rains into Y ard / D itch CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 3 (for 2000

– 08) $636 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 1 65 Sewer Overflow CARE

- i nitiated Inspection 19 (for 2000

– 08) $4,028 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 66 Private Lift Station Inspection First lift station installed in 1993 with 233 annual inspections 20 (for 1993

– 2008) $4,240 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 67 Verify Locations of Private Lift Stations on Boundary Verify location of 3 stations on boundary and report in first annual progress report 3 (for 2009

– 10) $636 COJ Planned

COJ

– 1 68 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination 13 i llicit , 16 o pe n 94 (for 1999

– 2006) $19,928 COJ Ongoing

COJ

– 16 9 Follow Up on Outstanding PICs Follow up on 16 open PICs in watershed 16 (for 2009

– 10) $3,392 COJ Planned

COJ – 1 70 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES permit

- related quart erly water quality sampling

– 1 sampling station in WBID 38 (for 1995

– 2008) $ 16

, 986 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 171 Beauclerc Gardens Failure Area

– Septic

Tank Phase

- Out Phase

- out of septic tanks in failure areas (also listed as part of larger LSJR Main Stem BMAP project) 1 84 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 172 Outside Failure Areas – Septic Tank Phase

Out Phase out program as provided by COJ ordinance 265 total tanks,

0 connected Unknown COJ Ongoing

COJ – 173 Walk the WBID Effort Conduct Wal k the WBID in central portion of watershed to identify sources Walk the WBID Unknown COJ/DCHD Planned

COJ

– 174 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal W aste

COJ

– 175 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.

1 COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that are within 300 meters of a surface water in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. COJ must submit a plan to FDEP for removing septic tanks within 6 months of completion of the septic tank study

, or by June 30, 2011, whichever is earlier. At a minimum, COJ will accomplish a 50 % implementation of the septic tank phase

out projects by July 31, 2015

, with the phase

- outs completed by December 31, 2023. For the 10 tributaries addressed in this BMAP, a total of 1,167 septic tanks are located in failure areas, although not all of them may be located within 300 meters of a surface water. The failing tanks within 300 meters of a surface water will be included in the COJ plan and schedule to phase out
tanks and will be identified as Tr ibutaries BMAP

- rel ated tanks in the plan.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

174 

### 14.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### G OODB YS 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 14.3.4.1 Completed FDOT Projects

FDOT has completed the Baymeadows Project in the watershed; this wet detention pond treats

35 acres from east of U.S. 1 to Baymeadows Road. Th e project has helped to reduce fecal coliform loading to the creek by capturing and treating stormwater runoff.



### 14.3.4.2 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of acceptable water quality. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and cod es. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit. FDOT supports the Adopt -AHighway program in the watershed, in which trash is collected from 80 acres

, for an average annual removal of 6,706 pounds. Street sweeping also occur s monthly on 36 miles of roadways, reducing the amount of trash and sediment entering the stormwater conveyance system. As part of the maintenance program, FDOT removes sediment, trash, and debris from the system as needed. This maintenance occurs in 195 inlets and 8 miles of piping.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance a ctivities , and investigates observances found in the right of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for repor ting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the Goodbys Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system.

Table 88 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 88 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR C E L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Identification and Removal of Illicit Connections

FDOT – 54 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 55 PIC Program – Illicit
C onnect ions I dentified and

R emoved in WBID if F ound T o B e T ru ly I llicit See Note 1 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ 5 illicit connections

removed Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 56 Routine Tributary M onitoring as

P art of MS4 P ermit See Note 2 State of Florida (FDOT)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Roadway Projects with Structural BMPs

FDOT – 57 Baymeadows Project from East

of U.S. 1 to Baymeadows Rd $1,496,472 State of Florida (FDOT) 35 acres , wet detention CompletedFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

175 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR C E L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 58 DCP

– Connecting E ntity M ust
C ertify that A ll D ischarges to
FDOT MS4 Are T reated P rior to
C onnection See Note 3 State of Florida (FDOT) Ongoing effort Ongoing

Adopt

- A

- Highway Program

FDOT – 59 Adopt -A- Highway P rogram See Note 4 Not a pplicable Trash collected from 80 acres annually average s 6,706 lbs Ongoing

Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 60 S ediment A ccumulation , T rash

, and D ebris R emoved As

N eeded $48,375 State of Florida (FDOT) A pprox imately 195
inlets/catch basin s and

about 8 miles of piping Ongoing

Street Sweeping Program

FDOT – 61 Street Sweeping Program $9,861 State of Florida (FDOT) 36 miles of roadway

s wept monthly Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 62 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage structures, replace/ repair

s torm/cross/side drains,

clean/ res hape roadside

ditches, clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter removal

, respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

4 Associated cost unknown. Program is vo luntary.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 14.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E FFORTS

Table 85 through Table 88 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the Goodbys Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in th e WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The

efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Goodbys Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response t o these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of effort. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Goodbys Creek wat ershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 14.4.1 OS TDS

Failure Area – The complet ed sewer installation in the Beauclerc Gardens failure area should

eliminate fecal coliform loading into the creek from septic systems

, because repair permits were heavily concentrated in this area

. Eighty

- four septic tanks ar e eligible for sewering due to their inclusion in the failure area. COJ has committed to removing septic tanks in failure areas that
are within 300 meters of surface water s in the 2008 LSJR Main Stem BMAP. The failing tanks in the Beauclerc Gardens failure area in the Goodbys Creek watershed within 300 meters of

surface water s will be included in the COJ phase

- out plan and schedul e , as described in the Main Stem BMAP, and will be identified in the plan as T ributaries BMAP

- related effort s.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

176 Repair Permits – There are an additional 265 systems outside the failure area ; m any of these OSTDS are in the central portion of the waterbody a nd located near surface waters or stormwater inlets. DCHD issued repair permits for the systems in this area mostly between

1998 and 2005. T o sufficiently address these systems in the central portion of the WBID, a

Walk the WBID event should occur in the 5- year BMAP cycle ( see Appendix F ). COJ should lead the event in partnership with DCHD to inspect parcels with OSTDS near surface waters. In addition, DCHD will seek to secure funding for a new program to intensively inspect a specific geographic area w ithin the WBID boundary and, upon obtaining funding, will report the results of the inspection in an annual BMAP progress report. Additional areas may be identified for intensive inspections based on the assessment efforts discussed in the BMAP. If addit ional areas are designated in the future for inclusion in the program, these areas will also be inspected as funding becomes available.

Program Implementation – City ordinances, inspections, and program implementation combined with DCHD permit review proce sses and inspections proactively address potential sources. Program implementation ensures the proper review of new OSTDS sites and ensures

the maint enance of existing systems. These activities need to be continued and fully enforced to manage potential impacts from existing systems in the nonfailure areas and to prevent the

creation of new OSTDS sources.



### 14.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, COJ inspects 20 private lift stations in

the watershed annually. A n addi tional 3 stations are located along the WBID boundary. COJ should verify that (1) the station located at U.S. 1, north of Cypress Plaza Drive

, is reported in Pottsburg Creek; (2) the station on Sunbeam Road, west of Craven

, is reported in Julington Creek; and (3) the station on Baymeadows Way

, north of Baypine Road

, is reported in Pottsburg Creek. If any of these stations are not reported in those WBIDs

, they should be assigned to Goodbys Creek

. T he first annual BMAP progress report will include c onfirma tion of

the locations.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – There have been significant reductions in SSOs since 2004.

O ne lift station located at 8520 San Jose Blvd is on the Goodbys Creek boundary

, and JEA must confirm if this lift station is reported in th e adjacent WBID.

Program Implementation – Continued inspection, repair, and maintenance activities in conjunction with the systemwide programs are sufficient to address potential sewer sources in the WBID at this time. The Root Cause Program and other SSO prevention efforts, such as
FOG and CMOM implementation , should be continued so that any additional infrastructure problems that develop will be identified and repaired. JEA will be expected to report its inspection, prevention, and maintenance effort s in th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to ensure that the system is being monitored and maintained.



### 14.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – The PIC Program, implemented by COJ and FDOT, has

removed 13 illicit connections. Both entiti es have committed to continue the PIC Program,

which includes identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely manner. F or the stormwater activities to be sufficient, COJ must resolve the 16 open PIC investigations. COJ will provide information on the confirmed illicit discharges and their

resolution or confirm that the case s were closed for the annual BMAP progress report. COJ will provide information on any cases that are still open.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

177 Capital Improvement Projects – FDOT constructed a wet detention pond that treats 35 acres between Baymeadows Road and U.S. 1

, and COJ has a regional pond that treats 520 acres at Powers Avenue and Old Kings Road. These projects capture and treat stormwater runoff, reducing fecal colif orm loading to Goodbys Creek from stormwater in these areas. COJ also repaired erosion in the ditch at Sierra Madre Drive

, preventing sediment loading into the creek.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. This permit program will continue

, and FDOT will continue to periodically inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit to prevent unpermitted connections

. The FDOT Adopt -A- Highway Program prevents over 6,700 pounds of

trash every year from entering the tributary. This effort is expected to continue if the Adopt -AHighway volunteers continue to be active in th e WBID. FDOT will continue stormwater
infrastructure maintenance

, as these efforts prevent potential bacteria regrowth in the MS4

conveyances

. In addition, FDOT sweeps 36 miles of roadway every month, helping to reduce sediments entering the stormwater conveyance systems.

COJ Program Implementation – COJ PWD has invested an immense amount of time in work orders since 2005 to clean ditches, rectify stormwater pond problems, and repair blocked structures. Program implementation, including TAT sampling, is addressing stormwater sources

at this time.

T ABLE 89 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE G OODB YS C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X Program Implementation **√ √**  X X Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X X Septic Tank Phase

- Out

- - X X Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X X X Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**
Pump Station Rebuild X X X **√**

Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program Implementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non

- NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO Investigations **√** X X **√**
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends X X X **√**

St ormwater Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X

- X Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs **√** X **√** X Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X **√** X Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Potenti al Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X + XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

178 S OUR CE /A C TION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X Program Implementation **√** X **√** X
Pet Waste Management

Ordinances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X
Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources

- X X

- Tributary Assessment Team (TAT)

- X X

- Microbial Source Tracking (MST)

- X X

- Thermal Imagery T o Identify PICs

- X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable to the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

179 

## CHAPTE R 15 : O PE N 

## C REEK 

## (WB ID 2299)

15.1 WB ID D E S CR IPTION
Open Creek, WBID 2299, is primarily located in Duval County (a very small portion of the southeast corner of the WBID is in St. Johns County), southeast of the LSJR within the Intracoastal Waterway Planning Unit, as designated by SJRWMD ( Figure 20 ). The “headwaters” of Open Creek presumably comprise stormwater runoff that originates in the

northern reaches of the watershed at Beach Boulevard ( Figure 21 ). A total of six branches join Open Creek from the east (“eastern branch”), south (“southwestern branch

, ” “south central

branch

, ” and “southeastern branch”) and north (“northwestern branch” and “northeastern branch”). The most upstream branch, eastern branch, begins just south of Beach Boulevard

and flows southwest into the main channel at Wexford Hollow Road East. Farther downstream, the southwestern branch, an artificial channe l, extends from John Turner Butler Boulevard and courses north through the Windsor Parke Golf Club to the main channel just east of Richmond Park Drive North. A pond at Middleton Park Circle appears to be the origin of the south

- central branch, which flow s north to join the main channel north of East Windsor Park Drive. The

northwestern branch flows south from Beach Boulevard and reaches the main channel at Deer Chase Place; a fork in the branch, just west of Bentwood Avenue, extends northwest immediately south of Beach Boulevard. A closed conveyance system forms the majority of the northeastern branch, which originates at a pond east of Washburn Road and flows due south into the main channel just west of Stacey Road. The most downstream branch, southeas tern branch, extends from John Turner Butler Boulevard north to the confluence with the main

channel at Tradewinds Drive.

The creek is joined from the north by five artificial channels that run through residential areas between Cordgrass Inlet Drive and Seabreeze Drive. Open Creek flows into the ICWW just east of Seabreeze Drive; the ICWW eventually merges with the St. Johns River in Chicopit Bay (PBS&J, September 2008)

. The spatial distribution and acreage of different land use categories in the Open Cr eek watershed were identified using 2004 land use coverage data from SJRWMD ( Table 90 ). The dominant land use (1,343.2 acres; 32.2 % of total coverage) in the Open Creek watershed, and directly adjacent to the majority of the creek itself, is upland forest , which extends throughout the watershed. The next two most abundant land cover categories are (1) wetlands (700.8 acres; 16.8 % of total coverage), which form a boundary around the majority of surface waters of

th e main channel and associated branches; and (2) medium

- density residential areas (610.9 acres; 14.7 % of total coverage), located (i) west of Hodges Boulevard at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club

, (ii) east of Hodges Boulevard at the Windsor Parke Golf Club

, (iii) east of the utility strip that traverses the watershed south of Beach Boulevard

, and (iv) in the far eastern

corner of the WBID. H igh

- density residential areas are located adjacent to the surface waters of Open Creek’s main channel and southwestern branch, just east of Hodges Boulevard at the Windsor Parke Golf Club, and adjacent to the south

- central branch at Corton Courts.

Upland forest and wetlands, which form the majority of land use (49 % ) in the Open Creek WBID, serve as habitat for various species of wildlife and are located near surface waters. As a result, although there are no known areas of concentrated wildlife (e.g., bird rookeries) in the

watershed , there is considerable potential for wildlife to contribute to the fecal pollution of Open
Creek. R ecent development, most notably in the northwestern portion of the watershed alongFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

180 Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard, has altered the landscape and possibly the hydrology of Open Creek since 2004 (PBS&J, September 2008)

.
According to the 2000 Census, there are 3,333 households in the watershed , averaging 2.05 people per household (PBS&J, September 2008) . In addition, assuming that 40 % of

households have 1 dog (Tyler 2006), there are an estimated 1,333 dogs in the watershed.

T ABLE 90 : L AND U SES IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

L AND U S E A CRES % OF T OTAL

Upland Forest 1, 343.2 32.2

Wetlands 700.8 16.8

Medium

- Density Residential 610.9 14.7

Recreational 411.3 9.9

High

- Density Residential 310.5 7.5

Transportation 236. 3 5.7

Water 236.0 5.7

Commercial/Utility/Institutional 187.1 4.5

Non f orested Upland 94.1 2.3

Open Land 20.2 0.5

Low

- Density Residential 13.0 0.3

Disturbed Land 2.8 0.1

T OTAL: 4, 166.3 100Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

181 F IGUR E 20 : L OCATION OF THE O PE N C REEK W A TE R S HE DFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

182 F IGUR E 21 : O PE N C REEK WB ID L OCATOR M APFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

183 

## 15.2 P OTE NTIAL 

## S OUR CE S



### 15.2.1 P OINT 

### S OUR CES
There are no industrial or domestic wastewater facilities, CAFO s, application sites for septic residuals, or landfills permitted to discharge to Open Creek. The COJ/FDOT MS4 permit includes the Open Creek watershed

. A very small area of the southeastern portion of the WBID

is located in the St. Johns County urban non

- MS4 area (PBS&J, September 2008)

.



### 15.2.2 I LLICIT 

### D IS CHAR GE S

The COJ EQD PIC Progr am has identified seven PICs in the Open Creek watershed , one of

which was confirmed to be illic i t and was removed. The status of five of the PICs is currently pending investigation. D espite an effort to identify all PICs connected to MS4 ditches, it is not guaranteed that all PICs were found. In addition, the program did not include the inspection of closed conveyance systems, and additional illicit connections may be present in the watershed (PBS&J, September 2008)

.



### 15.2.3 C E NTR ALIZE D 

### S EWE R 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E AND 

### O VERFLOWS The Open Creek watershed is located in the Arlington East WWTF Service Area. A n estimated 3,400 households (approximately 100 % of households) are connected to the sanitary sewer system in the watershed. The WBID supports 220 kilometers (137 miles) of sewer line and 19 sanitary sewer lift stations, as well as associated infrastructure (e.g., manholes) that comprise the central sanitary sewer system and have the potential to contribute fecal contamination to surface waters. Sewer infrastructure (e.g., sewer mains, lift stations, manholes) is generally located north of John Turner Butler Boulevard, concentrated on the southwestern and eastern sides of Hodges Boulevard and to the east of San Pablo Road. In many cases, the sewer

infrastructure is n ear the surface waters of Open Creek, increasing the likelihood that possible spills and/or unidentified sewer infrastructure leaks will impact surface waters.

JEA has reported a total of 5 SSO s within the Open Creek WBID boundaries ( Table 91 ). The estimated volume of spills associated with these overflows ranged from 20 to 7,200 gallons and averaged 1,794 gallons; however, only 3 SSOs were reported to have potentially impacted

surface waters (PBS&J, September 20 08)

.

T ABLE 91 : SSO S R E POR TE D IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

, 2001

– 07

WB ID N AME

(N UMB E R ) D ATE OF O VERFLOW E S TIMATE D V OL UME

OF S PILL (G ALLONS ) P OTE NTIALLY
I MPACTE D S UR FACE
W ATERS Open Creek (2299) 26

- Dec

- 01* 100 Y es Open Creek (2299) 19

- Nov

- 02* 7,200 Y es Open Creek (2299) 19

- Oct

- 03 20 No
Open Creek (2299) 27

- Jan

- 05 50 No
Open Creek (2299) 14

- Feb

- 06* 1,600 Y es *Reportable SSOs that spilled > 1,000 gallons of sewage and/or affected surface waters

. Monitoring results demonstrate the consistency of elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria throughout the period of record (March 1985

– May 2007) at the San Pablo Road station. As such, it is unlikely that the three reported SSOs that potentially affected surface waters were responsible for the consistent fecal coliform exceedances observed. Additionally, the highest levels of fecal coliform at all IWR stations did not correspond with the SSO incidents reported from 2001 through 2007. This demonstrates that other sources, such as unidentified sewerFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

184 infrastructure leaks and/or failing OSTDS or wildlife sources

, may be contributing to the overall pollution of the Open Creek watershed (PBS&J, September 2008)

.



### 15.2.4 OS TDS

WSEA estimates that there are 260 septic systems in the Open Creek watershed . According to DCHD, only 4 septic system repair permits were issued in this area. The proximity of parcels with repair permits to surface waters suggests that septic systems potentially affect the water quality of Open Creek in these areas. No DCHD

- des ignated septic system failure areas are

located near the boundary of the watershed . Considering that few households utilize OSTDS, it is unlikely that OSTDS play a major role in the fecal loading of Open Creek. However, it is also possible that failing septic systems that have not been issued repair permits are located near surface waters and may contribute to the bacterial contamination of Open Creek (PBS&J, September 2008)

.



### 15.2.5 N ONPOINT 

### S OUR CES

A n analysis of impervious surface indicates that the Open Creek WBID contains predominantly

less than 10 % impervious surface. This correlates with the prevalent land use classifications of upland forests and wetlands in the watershed. The watershed also contains land with 10 to

25 % and greater than 25 % impervious surface. Land areas of greater than 25 % impervious surface generally correspond to commercial/utility and institutional land use s and are located (1) at the southwest corner of the WBID adjacent to the southwestern branch

, (2) at the northeast

corner of the WBID near the “headwaters” of the northeastern branch

, (3) just south of the San Pablo Road and WM Davis Parkway West intersection at the Mayo Clinic

, and (4) just south of the San Pablo Road and John Turner Butler Boulevard interchange.

Furthermore, th e potential for stormwater runoff analysis demonstrates that the majority of the

WBID contains a low

- to

- moderate potential for stormwater runoff, including areas near the

creek. The highest runoff coefficients are located primarily (1) along Hodges Boulevard in the

southwestern corner of the WBID

, (2) in the northeast corner of the WBID

, (3) at the San Pablo

Road and WM Davis Parkway West intersection

, and (4) at the San Pablo Road and John

Turner Butler Boulevard interchange. As stated previously, land use classifications have recently changed due to the recent development along Beach Boulevard, likely altering the

stormwater runoff coefficients in this area as well (PBS&J, September 2008)

.
The storm sewer network in the Open Creek watershed includes 44 permitted stormwater treatment areas, encompassing approximately 79.2 % of the WBID area. Stormwater infrastructure in the WBID includes 61 outfalls by receiving water ( 1 classified by FDEP as a major outfall) and 704 inlets. Although closed conveyances are common throughout the WBID, ditch systems are primarily located at Beach Boulevard along the most northern extent of the WBID boundaries. According to COJ EQD, an open stormwater ditch that parallel s WM Davis Parkway appears to service a portion of the road as it passes the Mayo Clinic. The ditch flows east along the parkway and turns north at San Pablo Road, underneath WM Davis Parkway, into a stormwater pond located immediately northwest of the San Pablo Road and WM Davis Parkway intersection. The pond has an overflow structure that discharges to the east, underneath San Pablo Road, into a marshy area that merges with the main channel of Open

Creek (PBS&J, September 2008)

.

In th e watershed, fecal coliform concentrations did not differ during the “wet” and “dry” season s at the San Pablo Road station, suggesting a constant source of fecal coliform bacteria to Open Creek through nonpoint source discharges, failing wastewater conveyance systems, or septic systems independent of rainfall. It is possible that higher loadings occur in the “wet” season andFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

185 are diluted by increased volumes of water, resulting in fecal coliform concentrations that appear to be independent of rainfall (PBS&J, September 2008)

.



## 15.3 P ROJECTS 

## T O 

## R E DUCE 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M 

## L OADING



### 15.3.1 JEA A CTIVITI E S IN THE 

### O PE N 

### C REEK 

### W ATERSHED



### 15.3.1.1 Ongoing JEA Programs and Activities

JEA is currently implementing a number of countywide specific improvement programs , as follows, to address the sanitary sewer system as a source of fecal coliform contamination : ( 1) FOG Reduction Program ; ( 2) SSO Root Cause Program ; ( 3) Pop

- Top Program ; (4 ) Non

Destructive Testing and ARV Programs ; (5) SCADA ; (6) Third Party Education and Enforcement Program ; (7) Manhole Monitoring ; (8 ) Force Main Discharge Manholes ; and (9 ) CMOM Program

. A ppendix E describes each of these pr ograms

.
JEA conducts maintenance activities to replace or rehabilitate failing or leaking infrastructure. In the Open Creek watershed , JEA has pipe bursted 0.13 % of the sewer lines and open cut

1.57 % . In addition, JEA conducts activities to help prevent future infrastructure problems and, as part of this eff ort, inspected 882 LF of pipe and cleaned 2,670 LF of pipe in FY07. These

activities will continue in the future to maintain the sanit ar y sewer system and prevent f uture problems. Table 92 provides a dditional information on JEA ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

186 T ABLE 92 : JEA A C TIVITIE S IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMBER P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D ES CRIPTION L EVEL OF E FFORT E STIMATED C OST F UNDING S OURCE P ROJECT S TATUS S TART D ATE OF P ROJECT Sewer Upgrades

JEA – 138 Pipe B ursting

– I ncrease C arrying C apacity Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of pipe burst in

watershed since 2001: 93 3 $116,473 JEA Ongoing FY00

JEA – 1 39 Open C ut – R emoval and

R eplacement Replace failing/leaking

infrastructure Total footage of open cut replacement in watershed since

2001: 11

, 354 $980,000 JEA Ongoing Ongoing

Other Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades

JEA – 14 0 Manhole Linings Rehabbed Repair deteriorating manhole linings Not applicable $330,469 * JEA Ongoing FY01

JEA – 14 1 ARV Inspection and Rehab See Appendix E 2 ARVs replaced within 200 f ee t of tributary (15 ARVs total in watershed) $481,873 * JEA Ongoing O ngoing

JEA – 14 2 Pump Station SCADA Upgrades Retrofitting completed in 2004 ; all

stations constructed since have
SCADA installed

. See Appendix

E

. Not applicable Unknown JEA Complete Complete

JEA – 14 3 Inspect Force Main Discharge Manholes, Repair/Rehab as N ecessary See Appendix E Not applicable $466,576 * JEA Ongoing FY07

JEA – 144 Verify Lift Station Location on Boundary Verify which WBID Marsh Island station is reported in for first annual progress report 1 station on boundary Unknown JEA Planned 2209

JEA – 145 Inspect Lift Stations near

Surface Waters Inspect 11 stations near surface waters and report in annual progress reports 11 stations near surface waters Unknown JEA Planned 2009

Programs T o Reduce Sewer Problems

JEA – 146 FOG Reduction Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Current FOG P rogram initiated in 2004

JEA – 147 Pipe TV Inspection Inspect existing infrastructure through use of closed

- circuit

television 882 LF of p ipe i nspected (FY07) $163,099* JEA Ongoing Carried ove r from city operation (1997)

JEA – 148 Pipe Cleaning Clean existing pipes to avoid blockages 2, 670 LF of p ipe c leaned (FY07) $743,054* JEA Ongoing Carried over from city operation (1997)

JEA

– 149 Implement CMOM Program See Appendix E Not applicable $ 16 3,269 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

JEA – 150 Manhole Monitoring See Appendix E 1 manhole monitor installed in

watershed as of January 2009 $ 137,526 * JEA Ongoing August 20 07

JEA

– 151 SSO Root Cause Program See Appendix E Not applicable Unknown JEA Ongoing Febru ary 20 07

JEA

– 152 Pop

- Top Program See Appendix E Not applicable $64,324 * JEA Ongoing February 20 07

JEA – 153 Non

- Destructive Testing Program/Pipe Integrity Testing See Appendix E Not applicable $74,284 * JEA Ongoing Ongoing

* Costs provided are total systemwide costs for the program because WBID

- specific costs are currently unavailable.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

187 

### 15.3.2 DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### O PE N 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 15.3.2.1 Ongoing DCHD Programs and Activities

Currently, DCHD is implementing a variety of countywide specific improvement programs and
restoration activities to address OSTDS as sources of fecal coliform contamination. These include (1) the OSTDS P rogram

, (2) training programs

, and (3) the designation of septic tank

failure and nuisance areas for transfer to central sewer. Appendix E describes each of these

programs.

As part of the OSTDS Program , DCHD has issued 23 new construction permits

, 4 repair permits, and 4 abandonment permit s in the WBID. In addition, 1 annual operating permit has
been issued for a PBTS. DCHD has also perfo rm ed 49 plan review s and 4 complaint investigations. It will continue these efforts in the future to reduce and prevent issues related to
OSTDS. Table 93 lists DCHD ’s projects in the Open Creek watershed

.

T ABLE 93 : DCHD A CTIVITIE S IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS

DCHD – 65 OSTDS Program Implementation of programs to address

septic systems as potential sources Approximately 23

new construction permits, 4 repair

permits, and 4

abandonment permit s issued $12,000 F DOH Ongoing

DCHD – 66 Annual Operating

Permits Annual o perating

p ermits issued for

PBTS, systems

located in IMZ

, and

commercial systems 1 a nnual

o perating p ermit

for PBTS/IMZ

located in WBID $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 67 DCHD -S ponsored

T raining P rograms Annual training programs held for septic tank contractors, certified plumbers, maintenance entities,

and environ mental health professionals 1 to 2 trainings

per year providing up to

12 contact hours $2,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 68 Application/ Plan

Review/ Site

Evaluations DCHD performs plan

review and site

evaluation for each application received

fo r OSTDS new construction, repair, or modification of existing system Approximately 49 plan reviews and

site evaluations

have been performed in

WBID based on permitting history $10,500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant Ongoing

DCHD – 69 Septic Tank Failure

Area Rankin g Septic t ank f ailure

a rea scored and prioritized on annual

basis Less than 2

year s since previous update Not applicable Ongoing

DCHD – 70 Complaint Investigations DCHD investigates all complaints received, performs site visit, and

initiates enforcement

action on sanitary

nuisance violations 4 complaint investigations

have been performed in

WBID $500 F DOH/

LSJR

SWIM

Grant OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

188 

### 15.3.3 COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### O PE N 

### C REEK 

### W ATERSHED



### 15.3.3.1 COJ Projects under Construction

COJ currently has one project under construction in the watershed , to i mprove d rainage along

Pine Tree Roa d. Once completed, th e project will reduce flooding in this area, which will, in turn, reduce the amount of fecal coliform entering the creek through stormwater runoff.



### 15.3.3.2 Ongoing COJ Programs and Activi ties

The COJ MS4 permit requires COJ and its co

- permittees to implement a Stormwater Monitoring Plan. As part of this plan, COJ has 1 routine monitoring station that is sampled quarterly in the Open Creek watershed

. A total of 43 samples were collected a t this station between 1995 and

2008.

COJ PWD’s Streets and Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining its stormwater conveyance systems in Jacksonville. This maintenance included 12 work orders for ditch and creek regrading, erosion control, and cleaning; 1 work order for lake and pond maintenance;

and 34 work orders for the repair of blocked structures and measures to prevent flooding. These work orders were completed between 2005 and 2008. PWD will continue a level of effort to maintain the MS4 conveyances based on CARE requests. As part of the PIC Program, COJ EQD provides public outreach through educational pamphlets, informational door hangers, and

the storm drain

– stenciling program.

In addition, COJ has implemented the PIC Program, which keeps track of reported PICs in a database for COJ inspector follow

- up. S even PICs were identified in the Open Creek

watershed ; one was determined to be illicit and removed

, and the status of five PICs is still pending

.
COJ PWD also conducts inspection s in the watershed, including two investigations into illicit water discharges, two sewer lines that drained into a yard or ditch, four SSOs, and eight private lift stations. PWD will maintain a future level of effort for these investigations based on

req uests , which are logged and tracked through the CARE database.

Table 94 provides additional detail s on COJ ’s activities in the watershed

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

189 T ABLE 94 : COJ A CTIVITIE S IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATERS HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME P ROJECT D E S C R IP TION L EVEL OF E FFOR T T OTAL C OS T F UNDING
S OUR CE P ROJECT
S TATUS Drainage System Rehab Projects

COJ – 1 76 Improve Drainage Pine Tree Road Road does not drain adequately Pine Tree Road $20,142 COJ Constr uction

MS4 Maintenance Activities

COJ – 1 77 Ditch/Creek Regrade/Erosion/Clean Completed in response to CARE requests. Costs limited to activities

completed after release of work order system

. 12 (for 2005

– 08 ) $2,731 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 78 Lake or Pond P roblem 1 (for 2005

– 08) $5,752 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 79 Structure Blocked/Repair/General Flooding 34 (for 2005

– 08) $4,162 COJ Ongoing

Inspection, Enforcement, and Sampling

COJ – 1 80 Illicit Water Discharge CARE -i nitiated Inspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 CO J Ongoing

COJ – 1 81 Sewer D rains into Yard/D itch CARE -i nitiated Inspection 2 (for 2000

– 08) $424 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 82 Sewer Overflow CARE -i nitiated Inspection 4 (for 2000

– 08) $848 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 83 Private Lift Station Inspection First lift station installed in 1991 with 68 total annual inspections 8 (for 1991

– 2008) $1,696 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 84 Verify Location of Lift Stations on Boundary Verify that 2 stations on boundary are reported in Hogpen Creek 2 (for 2009

– 10) $424 COJ Planned

COJ – 1 85 Illi cit Discharge Detection and

Elimination 1 i llicit, 5 o pen 7 (for 2004) $1,484 COJ Ongoing

COJ – 1 86 Follow U p on Outstanding PICs Follow up on 5 open PICs in

watershed 5 (for 2009

– 10) $1,060 COJ Planned

COJ – 1 87 Routine Surface Water Sampling NPDES perm it

- related quart erly water quality sampling – 1 sampling

station in WBID 43 (for 1995

– 2008) $19,221 COJ Ongoing

Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program

COJ – 188 Outside Failure Areas Phase out program as provided by
COJ ordinance 260 total tanks,

0 connected Unkn own COJ Ongoing

COJ – 189 Septic Tank Maintenance P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements Ongoing Unknown COJ Ongoing

Management and Reduction of Pet and Animal Waste

COJ – 190 Pet/ A nimal M anagement P ublic

E ducation Public s ervice a nnouncements On going Unknown COJ Ongoing

Note: Inspection unit cost = $212; sampling event unit cost = $447; and septic tank per connection = $35.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

190 

### 15.3.4 FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE 

### O PE N 

### C REEK 

### W ATE R S HE D



### 15.3.4.1 Completed FDOT Projects

FDOT has completed 1 roadway project in the watershed , Beach Boulevard Widening, which includes a wet detention pond that treats 39 acres. The project captures and treats stormwater runoff from the roadway and surrounding area, helping to reduce the amount of fecal coliform loading to Open Creek.



### 15.3.4.2 Ongoing FDOT Programs and Activities

Under S ubsection 334.044(15) , F.S., and Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT implements a Drainage Connection Program

. The p rogram does not issue water quality permits but requires the

c onnecting e ntity to certify that the discharge is of a cceptable water quality. Connecting entities

ar e required to maintain the discharge of acceptable water quality for the duration of the FDOT permit. If connecting entities fail to meet this requirement after sufficient warning by FDOT, they will be reported to FDEP, SJRWMD, and

, if applicable

, to the local municipality; these entities regulate stormwater quality through state rules, ordinances

, and codes. FDOT performs

p eriodic site inspections as part of the MS4 NPDES permit.

FDOT also works with COJ on several efforts related to the MS4 permit. FDOT participates in the PIC Program in conjunction with COJ. FDOT has instructed staff to be alert for illicit connections during routine maintenance activities, and investigates observances found in the rig ht of way. Those located outside the right of way are reported to the applicable municipality for further investigation and enforcement action. FDOT maintains a toll

- free number to be used for reporting illicit connections. FDOT also contributes funding for one monitoring station in the Open Creek watershed that is sampled quarterly as part of the routine monitoring program. FDOT will continue these activities in the future to support the maintenance of the MS4 system.

Table 95 lists FDOT ’s activities in th e watershed

.

T ABLE 95 : FDOT A CTIVITIE S IN THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS
Identification and Removal o f Illicit Connections

FDOT – 63 PIC Program – Search for I llicit
C onnections See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ Effort is continuous in

WBID Ongoing

FDOT – 64 PIC Program – Illicit C onnections

I dentified and R emoved in WBID if

F ound T o B e T ru ly I llic it See Note 1 State of

Florida (FDOT) /COJ No true illicit

connection identified

to date Ongoing

Surface Water Sampling To Assess Conditions and Identify Sources

FDOT – 65 Routine Tributary M onitoring as Part
of MS4 Permit See Note 2 State of

Florida (FDO T)/COJ 1 station quarterly Ongoing

Roadway Projects with Structural BMPs

FDOT – 66 Beach B oulevard Widening from Intracoastal Waterway to E ast of

Penman $230,910 State of

Florida (FDOT) 39 acres , wet
detention Completed

Drainage Connection Program ( DCP )

FDOT – 67 DCP – Connecting E ntity M ust C ertify

that A ll D ischarges to FDOT MS4 are

T reated P rior to C onnection See Note 3 State of

Florida Ongoing effort OngoingFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

191 P ROJECT
N UMB E R P ROJECT N AME E S TIMATE D
C OST F UNDING
S OUR CE L EVEL OF E FFOR T P ROJECT
S TATUS Catch Basin/Inlet and Closed Loop MS4 Cleaning

FDOT – 68 S ediment A ccumulation

, Tr ash

, and

D ebris R emoved on As-N eeded

B asis $17,782 State of

Florida A pprox imately 12
inlets/catch basin s

and 2.7 miles of piping Ongoing

Routine Maintenance Activities

FDOT – 69 Maintain FDOT Stormwater Systems See Note 5 State of

Florida (FDOT) C lean drainage

s tructures, replace/repair

s torm/cross/side drains, clean/ res hape

roadside ditches,
clear/ repair outfall ditches, m owing,

roadside litter

removal , respond to citizen complaints Ongoing

1 Countywide Program – Average cost is $37,605 per year contribution to COJ.

2 Countywide Program – Average cost is $22,546 per year contribution to COJ.

3 Countywide Program – Average cost is $27,151 per year.

5 Countywide Program – Average cost is $2 ,750,735 per year.



## 15.4 S UMMAR Y OF 

## R E S TOR ATION 

## A CTIVITIE S AND 

## S UFFICIE NCY OF 

## E F F ORTS

Table 92 through Table 95 list t he projects and programs to reduce fecal coliform loading in the Open Creek watershed . Several key efforts completed in this WBID are summarized below, as well as activities that are expected to continue or to be implemented in future years. The efforts outlined in the project tables, including the activities highlighted below, will reduce fecal coliform loading and improve water quality in Open Creek based on the best information available about fecal coliform sources. As water quality improves in response to these actions and the bacteria source information is refined, future BMAPs may recommend different activities or levels of

effor t. For this BMAP, the full implementation of the projects and programs listed in the project tables for the Open Creek watershed is sufficient to significantly reduce fecal coliform sources and make substantial progress towards meeting the TMDL.



### 15.4.1 OS TDS

Pro gram Implementation – There are approximately 260 septic tanks in the watershed. Four repair permits have been issued ; 2 of these permits were located on parcels near surface

waters and could therefore have impacted the creek

. DCHD will continue its prog rams, inspections, and enforcement efforts, which will be sufficient to address OSTDS as a source in

the watershed at this time.



### 15.4.2 S EWER 

### I NFR AS TR UCTUR E

Private Infrastructure – According to the COJ database, COJ inspects eight private lift stations

in the wa tershed annual ly . There are two additional stations located along the boundary of Hogpen Creek

, and COJ will verify that these stations are located in the Hogpen Creek

watershed

. The continuation of the inspection program and confirmation of reporting

boundaries are sufficient to address private lift stations in the watershed at this time.

Sewer Infrastructure Projects – JEA has 19 lift stations in the watershed

, 11 of which are

located near surface waters. There is 1 lift station, Marsh Island

, locate d at 14463 Stacy Road,

which is near the WBID boundary. JEA must verify the WBID in which this station is reported. During the 5- year BMAP cycle, JEA will inspect all 11 lift stations near surface waters to ensureFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

192 they are operating properly and report on the status of the investigations in the annual BMAP progress report. JEA placed a manhole in th e watershed on the Manhole

- Monitoring Program in January 2007 to help reduce fecal coliform loading : an alarm is sent if the levels in the

manhole are rising

, so JEA can respond before an overflow occurs. JEA will continue these

efforts and its systemwide programs

, and this will be sufficient to address potential sewer

sources in the WBID at this time.

Program Implementation – Continued inspection, repair, and maintenance activities in conjunction with the systemwide programs are sufficient to address potential sewer sources in the WBID at this time. The Root Cause Program and other SSO prevention efforts, such as FOG and CMOM, should be continued so that any additional infrastructure problems that develop will be identified and repaired. JEA will be expected to report its inspection, prevention,

and maintenance efforts in th e WBID as part of the annual BMAP reporting process to ensure that the system is bein g monitored and maintained.



### 15.4.3 S TOR MWATE R

Illicit Connection Removal – COJ has confirmed and removed one illicit connection to the MS4; however, there are five outstanding PIC investigations. COJ will investigate these PICs and remove any connections that are confirmed illicit or close the case during the first year after BMAP adoption. The results of these investigations will be reported in the annual BMAP progress report. The removal of confirmed illicit connections removes sources of fecal coliform to the MS4 conveyance system and, in turn, the creek. COJ and FDOT have committed to

continue the PIC Program , includ ing identifying additional illicit connections and removing those connections in a timely manner.

Capital Improvement Projects – COJ has one project under construction in the watershed , to improve drainage along Pine Tree Road, which is an area concentrated with OSTDS . This project will help reduce flooding in th e area and reduce fecal coliform loading to the creek. In addition, FDOT has completed the Beach Boulevard Widening project, which includes a wet detention pond that treats 39 acres and helps reduce fecal coliform loading to Open Creek.

FDOT Program Implementation – In accordance with Rule 14

- 86, F.A.C., FDOT requires any

new connections to its MS4 stormwater conveyance systems to be evaluated and permitted to prevent the introduction of new sources to its conveyances

. This permit program will continue

, and FDOT will continue to periodically inspect its facilities as part of its MS4 permit

. COJ Program Implementation – COJ completed 12 work orders for ditch maintenance, 1 work order for pond problems, and 34 repairs of closed conveyance systems. The c ontinuation of current programs and maintenance activities in the watershed will hel p reduce and eliminate potential sources of fecal coliform loading.

T ABLE 96 : S UMMAR Y OF R E S TOR ATION A CTIVITIE S FOR THE O PE N C REEK W ATE R S HE D

S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

OSTDS

Ordinances **√** X X X

Enforcement **√ √**  X X
Program I mplementation **√ √**  X X
Permit Review (new and repair permits) X **√** X X

Failure Area Evaluation **√ √**  X X
Failure Area Ranking **√ √**  X X
Septic Tank Inspection **√ √**  X XFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

193 S OURCE /A CTION COJ DCHD FDOT JEA

Septic Tank Phase

- Out

- - X X
Public Education (PSA) **√** X X X
Surface Water Sampling fo r Conditions and Trends **√** X X X

Sewer System Sewer Line Upgrades X X X **√**

Manhole Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Pump Station Inspection and Maintenance X X X **√**

Pump Station Rebuild X X X - Air Release Valve ( ARV ) Inspection and Rehab X X X **√**

Program I mplementation X X X **√**

Private Lift Station Inspections and Enforcement **√** X X X

Private Non -NPDES Wastewater Facility Inspections and Enforcement * X X X
Sanitary Sewer Overflow ( SSO ) Investigations **√** X X **√**

Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Tren ds X X X **√**

Stormwater
Flood Control Capital Projects **√** X - X
Capital Projects/Stormwater Water Quality BMPs

- X **√** X
Stormwater System Ditch and Canal Maintenance **√** X **√** X

Stormwater Pond Maintenance **√** X **√** X
Stormwater Pipe Cleaning and Maintenance **√** X **√** X
Potential Illicit Connection ( PIC ) Identification **√** X + X

Illicit Connection Removal **√** X - X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X + X
Surface Water Sampling for Conditions and Trends **√** X + X
Program Implementation **√** X **√** X

Pet Waste Management

Ord inances and Enforcement **√** X X X

Public Education and Outreach **√** X X X

Special Source Assessment Activities Intensive Water Quality Sampling T o Track Sources - X X - Tributary Assessment Team (TAT)

- X X

- Microbial Source Tracking (MST) - X X - Therm al Imagery T o Identify PICs - X X X

Note: Shaded cells (marked with an X) represent activities that do not apply to the associated entity. * Activity is not applicable for the waterbody due to a lack of infrastructure. + FDOT participation in these activities is provided by funding in the NPDES MS4 agreements with COJ.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

194 

## AP PE NDICE SFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

195 

## Appendix A: T MDL B as in R otation S c hedule

TMDLs are developed, allocated, and implemented through a watershed management approach (managing water resources within their natural boundaries) that addresses the state’s 52 major hydrologic basins in five groups, on a rotating schedule. Table A

- 1 shows the hydrologic basins within each of the five groups, with the F DEP District office of jurisdiction.

Table A -2 illustra tes the repeating five

- year basin rotation schedule.

T ABLE A-1: M AJ OR H YDR OLOGIC B AS INS B Y G R OUP AND F DE P D IS TR ICT O FFICE

F DEP

D ISTRICT G ROUP 1

B ASINS G ROUP 2

B ASINS G ROUP 3

B ASINS G ROUP 4

B ASINS G ROUP 5

B ASINS

NW Ochlockonee – St. Marks Apalachicola – Chip ola Choctawhatchee – St. Andrews Bay Pensacola Bay Perdido Bay

NE Suwannee Lower St. Johns Not applicable Nassau

– St. Marys Upper East
Coast

Central Ocklawaha Middle St. Johns Upper St. Johns Kissimmee Indian River Lagoon

SW Tampa Bay Tampa Bay

Tributarie s Sarasota Bay

– Peace

– Myakka Withlacoochee Springs Coast

S Everglades
West Coast Charlotte Harbor Caloosahatchee Fisheating Creek Florida Keys

SE Lake
Okeechobee St. Lucie – Loxahatchee Lake Worth Lagoon – Palm Beach Coast Southeast Coast

– Biscayne Bay Ever glades

Each group will undergo a cycle of five phases on a rotating schedule:

Phase 1 : Preliminary evaluation of water quality

Phase 2 : Strategic monitoring and assessment to verify water quality impairments

Phase 3 : Development and adoption of TMDLs for waters verified as impaired

Phase 4 : Development of basin management action plan (BMAP) to achieve the TMDL

Phase 5 : Implementation of the BMAP and monitoring of results

T ABLE A- 2: B AS IN R OTATION S CHE DULE F OR TMDL D E VE LOPME NT AND I MPLE ME NTATION

Year 00/ 01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Phases of the Cycle Phases of the Cycle Phases of the Cycle Group 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Group 2

- 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 Group 3

- - 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 Group 4

- - - 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 Group 5

- - - - 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1

1 st 5

- year Cycle

– High

- priority Waters 2 nd 5

- year Cycle

– Medium

- Priority Waters 3 rd 5

- year Cycle

– Low

- Priority Waters

* Projected years for P hases 3, 4, and 5 may change due to accelerated local activities, length of plan development, legal
challenges, etc

.

TMDL development and implementation are ongoing, cyclical processes, as illustrated in Table

A-2

. F DEP will re

- evaluate impaired waters every five years to determine whether improvements are being achieved, and to refine loading estimates and TMDL allocations using new data. If any changes in a TMDL are required, the applicable TMDL rule will be revised, thereby providing a point of legal entry for interested parties. Changes to a TMDL would prompt revisions to the applicable BMAP, which will be revisited at least every five years and modified

as necessary.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

196 

## Appendix B : S ummary of S tatutory P rovis ions G uiding B MAP Development and Implemen tation

S E CTIONS 

### 403.067(6) AND 

### (7), F LOR IDA 

### S TATUTES



### - Summary of Excerpts

A

LLOCATIONS

**•** The TMDL shall include reasonable and equitable allocations of the TMDL between or among point and nonpoint sources that will alone, or in conjunction with other management and

restoration activities, provide for the attainment of pollutant reductions established pursuant to paragraph (a) to achieve applicable water quality standards.

**•** The allocations may establish the maximum amount of the pollutant that may be discharged or released in combination with other discharges or releases.

**•** Allocations may also be made to individual basins and sources or as a whole to all basins and sources or categories of sources of inflow to the water body or water body segments.

**•** An initial allocation of allowable pollutant loads may be developed as part of the TMDL; in such cases detailed allocations to specific point sources and categories of nonpoint sources shall be established in the basin management action plan.

**•** The initial and detailed allocations shall be designed to attain pollutant reductions established pursuant to paragraph (a) and shall be based on consideration of:

1. Existing treatment levels and management practices; 2. Best management practices established and implemented pursuant to paragraph (7)(c); 3. Enforceable treatment levels established pursuant to state or local law or permit;

4. Differing impacts pollutant sources may have on water quality;

5. The availability of treatment technologies, management practices, or other pollutant

red uction measures;

6. Environmental, economic, and technological feasibility of achieving the allocation;

7. The cost benefit associated with achieving the allocation;

8. Reasonable timeframes for implementation;

9. Potential applicability of any moderating provisions such as variances, exemptions, and mixing zones; and

10. The extent to which non

- attainment of water quality standards is caused by pollution sources outside of Florida, discharges that have ceased, or alterations to water bodies prior to the date of this act.

G E NE R AL I MPLE ME NTATION

 DEP is the lead agency in coordinating TMDL implementation, through existing water quality protection programs.

 Application of a TMDL by a water management district does not require WMD adoption of the TMD L.

 TMDL implementation may include , but is not limited to:

o Permitting and other existing regulatory programs

o Non

- regulatory and incentive

- based programs

o Other water quality management and restoration activities, such as Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plans or basin management action plans

o Pollutant trading or other equitable economically based agreements

o Public works

o Land acquisitionFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

197 B AS IN M ANAGE ME NT A CTION P LAN D E VE LOPME NT

 DEP may develop a basin management action plan that addresses some or all of the watersheds and basins tributary to a TMDL waterbody.

 A basin management action plan shall :

o Integrate appropriate management strategies available to the state through existing water quality protection programs.

o Equitably allocate pollutant reductions to individual basins, all basins, each identified point source, or category of nonpoint sources, as appropriate.

o Identify the mechanisms by which potential future increases in pollutant loading will

be addressed.

o Specify that for nonpoint sources for which BMPs have been adopted, the initial requirement shall be BMPs developed pursuant to paragraph (c).

o Establish an implementation schedule.

o Establish a basis for evaluating plan effectiveness.

o Identify feasible funding strategies.

o Identify milestones for implementation and water quality improvement, and an associated water quality monitoring component to evaluate reasonable progress

over time.

o Be adopted in whole or in part by DEP Secretarial Order, subject to chapter 120.

 A basin management action plan may :

o Give load reduction credits to dischargers that have implemented load reduction strategies (including BMPs) prior to the development of the BMAP. ( Note: this assumes the related reductions were not factored into the applicable TMDL .)

o Include regional treatment systems or other public works as management strategies.

o Provide for phased implementation to promote timely, cost

- effective actions.

 An assessment of progress in achieving milestones shall be conducted every 5 years and the basin management action plan revised, as appropriate, in cooperation with basin stakeholders, and adopted by secretarial order.

 DEP shall assure that key stakeholders are invited to participate in the basin management action plan development process, holding at least one noticed public meeting in the basin to receive comments, and otherwise encouraging public participation to the greatest practicable extent.

 A basin management action plan shall not supplant or alter any water quality assessment, TMDL calculation, or initial allocation.

B AS IN M ANAGE ME NT A CTION P LAN I MPLE ME NTATION

 NPDES Permits

o Management strategies related to a discharger subject to NPDES permitting shall be included in subsequent applicable NPDES permits or permit modifications when the permit expires (is renewed), the discharge is modified (revised), or the permit is reopened pursuant to an adopted BMAP.

o Absent a detailed allocation, TMDLs shall be implemented through NPDES permit conditions that include a compliance schedule. The permit shall allow for issuance of an order adopting the BMAP within five years. ( **Note** : Intended to apply to individual wastewater permits – not MS4s )

o Once the BMAP is adopted, the permit shall be reopened, as necessary, and permit conditions consistent with the BMAP shall be established.

o Upon request by a NPDES permittee, DEP may establish individual allocations prior to the adoption of a BMAP, as part of a permit issuance, renewal, or modification (revision).

o To the maximum extent practicable, MS4s shall implement a TMDL or BMAP through the use of BMPs or other management measures.

o A BMAP does not take the place of NPDES permits or permit requirements.

o Management strategies to be implemented by a DEP permittee shall be completedFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

198 according to the BMAP schedule, which may e xtend beyond the 5

- year term of an NPDES permit.

o Management strategies are not subject to challenge under chapter 120 when they are incorporated in identical form into a NPDES permit or permit modification (revision).

 Management strategies assigned to nonagricultural, non

- NPDES permittees (state, regional, or local) shall be implemented as part of the applicable permitting programs.

 Nonpoint source dischargers (e.g., agriculture) included in a BMAP shall demonstrate compliance with the applicable TMDLs by either implementing appropriate BMPs established under paragraph 7(c), or conducting water quality monitoring prescribed by

DEP or a WMD . ( **Note** : this is not applicable to MS4s, as they are considered point sources under the federal Clean Water Act and TMDL Program .)

o Failure to implement BMPs or prescribed water quality monitoring may be subject

to DEP or WMD enforcement action.

 Responsible parties who are implementing applicable BMAP strategies shall not be required to implement additional pollutant load reduction strategies, and shall be deemed in compliance with this section. However, this does not limit DEP’s authority to amend a

BMAP.

B EST M ANAGE ME NT P R ACTICE S

 DEP, in cooperation with WMDs and other interested parties, may develop interim measures, BMPs, or other measures for non

- agricultural nonpoint sources to achieve

their load reduction allocations.

o These measures may be adopted by DEP or WMD rule. If adopted, they shall be implemented by those responsible for non

- agricultural nonpoint source po llution.

 DACS may develop and adopt by rule interim measure, BMPs, or other measures necessary for agricultural pollutant sources to achieve their load reduction allocations.

o These measures may be implemented by those responsible for agricultural polluta nt

sources. DEP, the WMDs, and DACS shall assist with implementation.

o In developing and adopting these measures, DACS shall consult with DEP, DOH, the WMDs, representatives of affected farming groups, and environmental group representatives.

o The rules shall provide for a notice of intent to implement the practices and a system to ensure implementation, including recordkeeping.

 Verification of Effectiveness and Presumption of Compliance -

o DEP shall, at representative sites, verify the effectiveness of BMPs and other measures adopted by rule in achieving load reduction allocations.

o DEP shall use best professional judgment in making the initial verification of effectiveness, and shall notify DACS and the appropriate WMD of the initial verification prior to the adoption of a rule proposed pursuant to this paragraph.

o Implementation of rule

- adopted BMPs or other measures initially verified by DEP to be effective, or verified to be effective by monitoring at representative sites, provides a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards for those pollutants addressed by the practices.

 Reevaluation –

o Where water quality problems are demonstrated despite implementation, operation, and maintenance of rule

- adopted BMPs and other measures, DEP, a WMD, or DACS , in consultation with DEP, shall reevaluate the measures. If the practices require modification, the revised rule shall specify a reasonable time period for implementation.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

199 

## Appendix C : S takeholder Involvement in B MAP Development

L OWER 

## S T



## . J OHNS 

## R IVER 

## T RIBUTARIES 

## B ASIN 

## W ORKING 

## G ROUP The LSJR Tributaries Basin Working Group (BWG) is made up of responsible stakeholder s in
the tributaries. The BWG was formed in October 2007 and has advised FDEP on issues related to the BMAP process. The BWG played a critical role in the development of the BMAP to implement the tributaries TMDLs.

The BWG’s mission statement is as follows: “ The mission of the Lower St. Johns River

Tributaries Basin Working Group is to encourage participation of all interested parties in working to restore impaired waterbodies through recommendations for an equitable and cost

- effective

B asin M anagement A ction P lan to achieve Total Maximum Daily Load reduction goals in the
tributaries of the Lower St. Johns River. ”

During BMAP development, the BWG met in Jacksonville o n the following dates:

**•** December 18, 2008 ;

**•** May 7, 2009; and

**•** July 9, 2009

.

In addition to the input from the BWG , the stakeholders involved in the technical meetings provided valuable information during the BMAP process. T he technical meetings began in July 2006 to organize and review the technical information that is the basis of the BMAP

. The technical stakeholders also identified management actions to improve water quality in the

tributaries. The technical meetings were held regularly throughout the BMAP development

process.

T he Tributaries Assessment Team (TAT) was formed in 2005 to investigate potential sources of

fecal coliform in the LSJR tributaries. The TAT membership comprises several agencies and organizations

, including FDEP, COJ EQD, COJ PWD

, DCHD , and JEA. The TAT has collected much of the water quality data in the tributaries

. T he interagency, coordinated effort of the TAT has identified and eliminated fecal coliform sources in the tributaries, helping to achieve water quality improvements.

Members of the TAT from FDEP, COJ EQD, and JEA, participated in an intensive assessment effort between 2008 and 2009 to gather additional information about 11 tributaries to aid in source identification. That TAT conducted a “Walk the WBID” effort, which was a detailed field

assessment of the 11 tributaries. During this effort, the TAT identified key monitoring locations

in 10 of the tributaries and spent 8 months intensively monitoring these WBIDs; the monitoring

i ncluded microbial source tracking (MST) sampling and sediment analysis. In addition, 4 of the WBIDs received thermal imaging to identify potential fecal coliform sources to the creeks

. Of the BMAP WBIDs, Miller Creek

, Miramar Creek

, Hogan Creek, and Big Fishweir Creek were assessed using all or part of these tools.



## P ROCESS FOR 

## P LAN 

## R ECOMMENDATION 

## D EVELOPMENT



### B

**ASIN** 

### W **ORKING** 

### G **ROUP** 

### M **EETING** 

### P **ROCESS**
The BWG was asked to endorse the BMAP

, since the members have been actively involved in the BMAP process. The BWG’s endorsement of the BMAP was used to move forward with the BMAP adoption process. FDEP will also ask for letters of commitment or resolutions of supportFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

200 for the BMAP from the entities. These letters and resolutions will provide an additional level o f support for the BMAP efforts as staff and board members change over time. The process to submit letters and resolutions of support will occur during and after BMAP adoption . T he written statements of commitment will be added to the BMAP as they are rec eived.



### C **ONSENSUS** The technical stakeholder meetings were operated on an informal basis where the purpose of the discussions was to provide technical input. As such, there was no formal voting or measures of consensus during these meetings. The BWG , however, made specific recommendations to FDEP on BMAP issues and used a voting procedure to make these recommendations. Votes were held only in circumstances when a quorum of at least 75% of the voting members (or their designated alternates) was present at a publicly noticed meeting.
Consensus was defined as a vote where more than 50% of the BWG members could support, agree to, or accept the motion.



### P **UBLIC** 

### P **ARTICIPATION IN** 

### B **ASIN** 

### W **ORKING** 

### G **ROUP** 

### M **EETINGS**
All BWG and technical meetings were open to the public and noticed in the Florida Administrative Weekly (FAW). BWG meetings were also noticed in the Florida Times

- Union. Public comment was invited during the BWG meetings and the technical meetings were open to anyone interested in participating in the technical discussions. In addition, public meetings were

held on the verified lists, the adoption of the TMDLs

, and the BMAP document.



### P **UBLIC** 

### M **EETING** 

### ( **S**



### )

M eetings on the tributaries TMDLs and BMAP were held at the following dates and times:

**•** Review and seek comments on the proposed verified list of impaired waters: May 14, 2003; June 25, 2003; November 2008; and April 2, 2009

.

**•** Review and seek comments on the proposed TMDLs: August 17, 2005

, and February 20, 2009

.

**•** Meeting on the BMAP: July 30, 2009.



## P LAN 

## R ECOMMENDATION 

## A PPROVAL AND 

## A DOPTION

The Basin Working Group approved the final recommended BMAP at its July 9, 2009 meeting.

The final BMAP is to be adopted by F DEP S ecretarial O rder.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

201 

## Appendix D : S ummary of E PA

- R ec ommended E lements of a C omprehens ive Waters h ed Plan

The following is an excerpt on the nine elements of a watershed plan from the EPA’s Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters. Additional information regarding these elements can be found in the full version of the handbook located

online at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/

.



## N INE 

## M INIMUM 

## E LEMENTS TO 

## B E 

## I NCLUDED IN A 

## W ATERSHED 

## P LAN FOR 

## I MPAIRED 

## W ATERS 

## F UNDED 

## U SING 

## I NCREMENTAL 

## S ECT ION 

## 319 F UNDS

Although many different components may be included in a watershed plan, EPA has identified a minimum of nine elements that are critical for achieving improvements in water quality. EPA requires that these nine elements be addressed for watershed plans funded using incremental
S ection 319 funds and strongly recommends that they be included in all other watershed plans that are intended to remediate water quality impairments.

The nine elements are provided below, listed in the order in which they appear in the guidelines. Although they are listed as a through i , they do not necessarily take place sequentially. For example, element d asks for a description of the technical and financial assistance that will be needed to implement the watershed plan, but this can be done only after you have addressed

elements e and i

.

Explanations are provided with each element to show you what to include in your watershed plan.



### N

INE 

### E LE ME NTS

**a. Identification of causes of impairment and pollutant sources or groups of similar sources that need to be controlled to achieve needed load reductions, and any other**  **goals identified in the watershed plan**

. Sources that need to be controlled should be identified at the significant subcategory level along with estimates of the extent to which they are present in the watershed (e.g., X number of dairy cattle feedlots needing upgrading, including a rough estimate of the number of cattle per facility; Y acres of row crops needing improved nutrient management or sediment control; or Z linear miles of eroded streambank needing remediation)

.

**What does this mean?** Your watershed plan should include a map of the watershed that locates the major sources and causes of impairment. Based on these impairments, you will set goals that will include (at a minimum) meeting the appropriate water quality standards for pollutants that threaten or impair the physical, chemical, or biological integrity of the watershed covered in the plan.

**b. An estimate of the load reductions expected from management measures** 

.

**What does this mean?** You will first quantify the pollutant loads for the watershed. Based on these pollutant loads, you’ll determine the reductions needed to meet the water quality standards.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

202 You will then identify various management measures (see element c below) that will help to reduce the pollutant loads and estimate the load reductions expected as a result of these management measures to be implemented, recognizing the difficulty in precisely predicting the performance of management measures over time.

Estimates should be provided at the same level as that required in the scale and scope component in paragraph a (e.g., the total load reduction expected for dairy cattle feedlots, row crops, or eroded streambanks). For waters for which EPA has approved or established TMDLs, the plan should identify and incorporate the TMDLs.

Applicable loads for downstream waters should be included so that water delivered to a downstream or adjacent segment does not exceed the water quality standards for the pollutant of concern at the water segment boundary. The estimate should account for reductions in pollutant loads from point and nonpoint sources identified in the TMDL as necessary to attain the applicable water quality standards.

**c. A description of the management measures that will need to be implemented to**  **achieve load reductions in paragraph 2, and a description of the critical areas in which those measures will be needed to implement this plan** 

**.**

**What does this mean?** The plan should describe the management measures that need to be implemented to achieve

the load reductions estimated under element b , as well as to achieve any additional pollution prevention goals called out in the watershed plan. It should also identify the critical areas in which those measures will be needed to implement the plan. This can be done by using a map or a description.

**d. Estimate of the amounts of technical and financial assistance needed, associated costs, and/or the sources and authorities that will**  **be relied upon to implement this plan.**

**What does this mean?** You should estimate the financial and technical assistance needed to implement the entire plan. This includes implementation and long

- term operation and maintenance of management

measures, info rmation and education ( I/E ) activities , monitoring, and evaluation activities. You should also document which relevant authorities might play a role in implementing the plan. Plan sponsors should consider the use of federal, state, local, and private funds or resources that might be available to assist in implementing the plan. Shortfalls between needs and available resources should be identified and addressed in the plan.

**e. An information and education (I/E)**  **component used to enhance public understand ing**  **of the project and encourage their early and continued participation in selecting, designing, and implementing the nonpoint source management measures that will be**  **implemented.**

**What does this mean?** The plan should include an I/E component that identifies the education and outreach activities or actions that will be used to implement the plan. These I/E activities may support the adoption and long

- term operation and maintenance of management practices and support stakeholder

involveme nt efforts.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

203 **f. S chedule for implementing the management measures identified in this plan that is**  **reasonably expeditious.**

**What does this mean?** You need to include a schedule for implementing the management measures outlined in your watershed plan. The schedule should reflect the milestones you develop in g

.

**g. A description of interim measurable milestones for determining whether management measures or other control actions are being implemented** 

.

**What does this mean?** You’ll develop interim, measurable milestones to measure progress in implementing the management measures for your watershed plan. These milestones will measure the implementation of the management measures, such as whether they are being implemented on schedule, whereas element h (see below) will measure the effectiveness of the management measures, for example, by documenting improvements in water quality.

**h. A set of criteria that can be used to determine whether loading reductions are being achieved over time and substantial progress is being made toward attaining water quality** 

**standards.**

**What does this mean?** Using the milestones you developed above, you’ll develop a set of criteria (or indicators) with interim target values to be used to determine whether progress is being made toward reducing pollut ant loads. These interim targets can be direct measurements (e.g., fecal coliform concentrations) or indirect indicators of load reduction (e.g., number of beach closings). You must also indicate how you’ll determine whether the watershed plan needs to b e revised if interim targets are not met and what process will be used to revise the existing management approach. Where a nonpoint source TMDL has been established, interim targets are also

needed to determine whether the TMDL needs to b e revised.

**i. A monitoring component to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation efforts**  **over time, measured against the criteria established under item h immediately above.**

**What does this mean?** The watershed plan must include a monitoring component to determine whether progress is being made toward attainment or maintenance of the applicable water quality standards. The monitoring program must be fully integrated with the established schedule and interim milestone

criteria identified above. The monitoring compo nent should be designed to determine whether loading reductions are being achieved over time and substantial progress in meeting water quality standards is being made. Watershed

- scale monitoring can be used to measure the

effects of multiple programs, proj ects, and trends over time. In stream monitoring does not have to be conducted for individual BMPs unless that type of monitoring is particularly relevant to the

p roject.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

204 

## Appendix E : P rograms To Ac hieve the T MDL

P ROGRAMS 

## T O 

## A DDRESS THE 

## S ANITARY 

## S EWER 

## S YSTEM AS A 

## S OURCE OF


## F ECAL 

## C OLIFORM 

## C ONTAMINATION

Beginning in the late 1990s

, the regional utility provider , JEA, undertook a comprehensive program of pipeline rehabilitation focusing on larger line throughout the service area. To date the utility has spen t more than $500 million in pipeline rehabilitation alone. Since the large

scale replacements of existing systems have large capital costs, it is necessary to routinely conduct investigations

, including

, but not limited to

, infiltration and inflow st udies to evaluate the integrity of the infrastructure and use this type of assessment to locate severe problem areas with a high probability of impacts related to the utility.

Examples of investigations and maintenance procedures include regularly ( 1) u sing remote camera equipment to inspect the lines, ( 2) cleaning lines, ( 3) inspecting manholes, and ( 4) testing pumps at lift stations to ensure proper function. Local utilities should also use “mean time to failure” estimates to replace pumps at lift stations prior to failing

, as well as warning systems for utilit y failures to help minimize impacts when failures occur. JEA has implemented

t hese systems. In addition to performing remedial maintenance on an as

- needed basis, JEA has routinely implemented a variety of corrective actions performed on a prioritized schedule. These include, but are not limited to , the following :

**•** P ipe bursting ( to replace existing failing infrastructure );

**•** S lip lining ( to replace existing failing infrastructure when capacity is not an issue);

**•** O pen cut (removal and replacement of failing infrastructure );

**•** Manhole liners (modify polymer to rehabilitate failing manholes);

**•** F iberglass

- line manholes (to rehabilitate existing failing manholes);

**•** R eplace manholes ;

**•** L ine wet wells (corrosi on prevention and control); and

**•** R eplace force mains (replace failing infrastructure).

Spills of untreated sewage from the regional sewer system in Duval County are immediately

addressed and investigated thoroughly. When a n SSO occurs, the cause is usuall y listed as a recent, immediately traceable condition, such as a pipe blockage or pump failure. However, merely addressing the immediate cause without understanding the underlying cause of the overflow may not protect against future SSOs.

In every case of an untreated wastewater discharge, JEA conducts a two

- part investigation into the cause of the spill. The first is to address the immediate cause

, and the second is conducted to address any underlying causes. Historically, pipe breaks, cave

- ins

, and grease have been

the major causes of spill events.

Significant investments in pipe replacement, focused on areas with the highest occurrence of events, have significantly reduced the number of events related to breaks and cave

- ins. TheFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

205 introduction of an effective Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) P rogram has reduced the number of spills associated with grease stoppages. Continual focus on actions to reduce the causes of the events is the primary assignment of the Wastewater Preventive Maintenance team at JEA

.



## S PECIFIC 

## C ITY W IDE 

## I MPROVEMENT 

## P ROGRAMS BY 

## JEA

**F**

**ATS**


### , **O ILS** 


### , **AND** 

### G **REASE** 

### R **EDUCTION** 

### P **ROGRAM** Fats, oils and grease (FOG) generated during food preparation build up in sanitary sewer lines. Without proper maintenance, these lines clog, eventually leading to the occurrence of SSOs.

JEA has an EPA award

– winning FOG P rogram that regulates commercial grease dumped into

the sewer system. Grease is a major cause of SSOs for utilities

, and JEA’s Industrial

Pretreatment G roup is nationally recognized for its prevent ive program. T o help reduce these events, JEA requires that all food service establishments (FSEs) (“FOG generators”) connected to JEA sewer participate in the FOG Program : http://www.jea.com/about/pub/downloads/fog/FOGTrainingSlideShow.pdf

.

T o help FOG generators meet the program requirements, JEA has developed the Preferred Hauler Program (PHP). The preferred haulers are vendors, approved by JEA, that pump, haul, and properly dispose of FOG materials for food service establishments. T o meet JEA’s expectations, these haulers must demonstrate, both initially and continually, that they are able to meet the following criteria (abbreviated version obtained from : http://www.jea.com/about/pub/downloads/fog/FOGProgramPreferredHaulerRequestforParticipat ion.pdf ):

1. Satisfactorily pump out grease traps/interceptors ;

2. Attend w aste hauler education meeting ;

3. Accept limited regulatory responsibility for the g enerator

.

4. Submit manifest document for the disposal of all trap contents generated in JEA’s service area on a quarterly basis.

JEA monitors compliance monthly. Food service establishments that miss their required interceptor pump out are indentified and brought into the enforcement process. Escalating enforcement measures consist of an initial notice of violation, followed by a cease and desist

order

, and finally the emergen cy suspension of service for FSEs that fail to comply with previous

actions.



### SSO **R OOT**  

### C **AUSE** 

### P **ROGRAM** The SSO Root Cause Program began in January 2007 and is run by a group of first responders, who meet every two weeks to determine the root cause of each SSO so that an effective solution can be implemented. The Root Cause Committee identifies the root cause and

determines short - and long

- term corrective action to prevent reoccurrence. It also identifies any improvements that can be made to reporting procedures. As indicated in the following table, the Root Cause Program has revealed that in many cases, the identified preliminary cause is not

the true root cause of the overflow.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

206 Unknown Poor Grade Roots Vandalism Power Loss Cave- in Tuberculation 3rd Party damage Equipment Failure Stoppage Grease

30 20 10 0 30 20 10 0

Preliminary CauseCause

Percent Root Cause

Percent within all data. 

### SSO Root Cause Analysis

F IGUR E E -1. SSO R OOT C AUSE A NALYS IS

This program is ongoing, a nd some benefits have already become apparent:

**•** Prior to the implementation of the Root Cause Program, blockages in gravity lines would typically be dealt with by simply resolving the obvious immediate cause: the blockage

, which often was caused by grease. Under the R oot Cause Program, a significantly more detailed analysis is performed

, which has shown that poor grade (sags or bellies) in existing pipes are often the primary reason for the accumulation of grease that caused the blockage. Under previous procedures, th e blockage would be cleared and the line placed back into service. Under the program, the blockage is cleared, the line is cleaned,

and a closed

- circuit television camera is run through the impacted line. The video will reveal the existence of poor grade, if present. When poor grade is identified under the Root Cause Program, the affected line segment is either replaced or added to a scheduled cleaning list to be cleaned quarterly, semi

annually, or annually.

**•** The Root Cause Program has identified tuberculated iron pipe as a significant concern. Tuberculated pipe refers to the buildup of iron deposits and other materials in the interior periphery of a pipe, resulting in a reduced carrying capacity in the line and greater potential for blockage. The discovery of a pattern of tuberculated iron pipe by the R oot C ause P rogram has resulted in a program to deal with tuberculated pipe through replacement or Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) lining. For FY09, $600,000 has been budgeted to address tuberculated pipe.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

207 **•** When the preliminary cause of grease is confirmed as the root cause, JEA personnel will survey the system upstream of a grease blockage to identify a potential source such as a restaurant. JEA Industrial Pretreatment (IP) personnel will visit and evaluate any potential sources to verify compliance

with JEA’s IP Program and undertake enforcement as necessary to reduce or eliminate the source of grease to the system.

**•** JEA operates with a continuous improvement philosophy. A design change for odor control had the unintended consequence of causing SSOs through the buildup of grease. After identification of the problem by the Root Cause Committee, this particular design configuration was removed from JEA specifications and is no longer approved for constructio n. Where identified,

these installations will be retrofitted to the current JEA standard.

In general, the R oot C ause P rogram has allowed JEA to better prioritize limited repair and replacement (R&R) resources to optimize JEA’s limited financial resources

.



### P **OP** 

### -T **OP** 

### P **ROGRAM** JEA implemented the Pop

- Top P rogram in early 2007 to open and inspect all accessible

manholes in the service territory (approximately 54,000 manholes ), with the objective of preventing future SSOs. Since April 2007, JEA crews have inspe cted more than 30,000 manholes to detect potential problems in the collection system. Generally

, the problems of greatest concern are manifested through surcharged conditions (backups of flow to varying degrees) that typically result from a restriction in flow downstream of the surcharged manhole. In some cases, the discovery of a surcharged condition has resulted in an immediate response to prevent a potential SSO. In many more cases, the pop

- top inspections have identified conditions that, if unresolved, could result in a n SSO sometime in the future. These lines are placed on a cleaning schedule to avoid the possibility of an eventual SSO. Figure E-2 shows the problems identified in manholes (M/H) and main lines (M/L) to date as t he result of the pop

top inspections, including 140 instances of surcharged lines.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

208 F IGUR E E -2. P R OB LE MS I DE NTIFIE D THR OUGH TH E P OP -T OP P ROGR AM



### N

**ON** 

### -I **NTRUSIVE** 

### P **IPE** 

### T **ESTING AND** 

### A **IR** 

### R **ELEASE** 

### V **ALVE** 

### P **ROGRAMS**
The P ipe Integrity Testing and Air R elease Valve (ARV) Programs are both incorporated under this larger entity, focusing on known critical force mains, iron pipes, and air valves that are

located near waterbodies

.

**•** Pipe integrity testing, initiated in 20 06, utilizes sonar to test the wall thickness

of sanitary sewer iron or ductile iron pipes while maintaining the integrity of the

structures. Sewer gases are corrosive and may over time reduce the wall thickness of sewer lines to unacceptable levels, in some cases causing pipe ruptures. The testing program allows JEA to assess the condition of the pipe and replace pipe with unacceptable pipe wall thickness before it fails. To date,

130 sites have been tested.

**•** The purpose of an ARV is to reduce static head pressure in force main systems caused by air in the pipe. If the valves are not working properly, air cannot escape and can prevent the associated pumps from pumping

, causing

overflows at lift stations. Periodic inspection is required to e nsure the val ves are working properly. Over time, sewer gases deteriorate the ARV and the associated galvanized piping attached to the force main that support the valve.

These failures often result in overflows

, since they are attached to pressure systems. Under thi s program

, ARVs are inspected and replaced as necessary. All metal ARVs are now replaced with plastic corrosion

- resistant valves that are easily cleaned and reused. Also, all galvanized support piping is replaced with stainless steel pipe to eliminate pi pe failures. JEA standards have been modified to reflect the improved materials for construction above. To date, 3 62 ARV s have been replaced

. The inspection and replacement program is prioritized based on proximity to tributaries, with valves within 200 feet of tributaries given highest priority.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

209 

### S **UPERVISORY** 

### C **ONTROL AND** 

### D **ATA** 

### A **CQUISITION** 

### ( **SCADA)**

Th e SCADA P rogram was implemented at JEA lift stations. Alarms sound if the sewer in a wet

well rises above a specific level, and triggers an alert to the JEA lift station Operations and

Maintenance G roup. They respond immediately to avoid a n SSO

. Currently, 1,230 lift stations have been retrofitted with SCADA telemetry systems at a cost of more than $22 million. With SCADA, JEA can respond to a comprehensive list of alarms, including high wet

- well levels, power outages, and pump failures . During a typical week, there are between 40 and 50 wet

well hi gh alarms received from the 1,230 stations on SCADA

.

The implementation of SCADA monitoring at JEA’s lift stations has resulted in a significant

decrease in lift station

- related SSOs

, as shown in Figure E-3

.

F IGUR E E -3. L IFT S TATION SSO S

, FY02

– FY08



### T

**HIRD** 

### P **ARTY** 

### E **DUCATION AND** 

### E **NFORCEMENT** 

### P **ROGRAM** In 2003, JEA implemented a program to address SSOs caused by third

- party contractors. The program involves an increased emphasis on both education and enforcement of the contractors

who routinely perform excavations in the vicinity of JEA infrastructure. The program has been successful in dramatically reducing the SSOs caused by third

- party hits on JEA sewage lines

, as shown in Figure E-4

.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

210 F IGUR E E -4. R EPORTABLE SSO S BY T HIR D P AR TIE S

, 2003

– 08



### M

**ANHOLE** 

### M **ONITORING** The Manhole Monitoring Program, which was initiated in 2007, involves the placement of fluid level measurement devices under manhole covers. Under the first phase of the project (completed before the end of 2007), 17 monitors were installed at a cost of over $130,000. The devices transmit alarms when the water level in the manhole is elevated, denoting a sur charged condition. Upon receiving an alarm, JEA personnel are dispatched to the site to address the situation and take action as necessary. As conditions at the monitored sites improve, the

monitors can be moved on short notice to address more critical s ituations elsewhere.

JEA has avoided at least 12 SSOs as the result of the first phase of the program. In addition, the monitors have allowed JEA to more effectively utilize other resources, as personnel are no longer required to make frequent inspections of potential problem sites to constantly assess changing conditions. JEA currently has plans to expand the program with the acquisition of an additional 10 monitors in the second phase.



### F

**ORCE** 

### M **AIN** 

### D **ISCHARGE** 

### M **ANHOLES** This program was implemented at manholes into which force mains discharge. The structure of these manholes is subjected to increased deterioration due to a higher concentration of corrosive sewer gases associated with the pressurized discharges of sewage. Under this program, all force ma in discharge manholes were inspected in 2007. Those found in need of repair have been rehabilitated.



### T

**RIBUTARY** 

### P **OLLUTION** 

### A **SSESSMENT MANUAL** JEA contracted with a consultant, PBS&J, to develop a methodology for conducting tributary pollution assessments fo r sources of fecal coliform contamination in the listed tributaries. This methodology will be field

- verified by conducting sanitary surveys of selected tributary waterbody segments, and revised based on lessons learned from this process. The final produc t of this

endeavor was a Tributary Pollution Assessment Manual that can be used as a blueprint for conducting sanitary surveys.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

211 

### C

**APACITY**


### , **M ANAGEMENT** 


### , **O PERATIONS** 


### , **AND** 

### M **AINTENANCE** 

### ( **CMOM) P**  **ROGRAM** JEA’s Water and Wastewater Systems Group is spearheading a voluntary E PA program aimed at reducing SSOs and preserving wastewater infrastructure. Considering that SSOs can lead to disease, water quality violations, the contamination of drinking water supplies

, and beach closures, the importance of a well

- maintain ed wastewater collection system cannot be

overstated.

CMOM is a standardized system of continuous improvement to track numerous elements that contribute to a successful wastewater collection system. JEA has tracked similar information for years, but form alized and consolidated it in January 2008. In JEA’s CMOM program, there are

152 elements tracked in the following three areas:

1. **Management** – Includes areas such as complaint management tracking, sewer system design and construction standards , and public notification.

2. **Operations** – Examples include pump station operations, pretreatment monitoring

, and grease trap monitoring.

3. **Maintenance** – Collection system maintenance includes pump station inspections and sewer line cleaning.

Documentation, measurement

, and reporting in this standardized fashion will lead to more

informed decisions based on hard data

, allowing JEA to identify and address system priorities,

detect trends

, and proactively address problems both internally and cooperatively with local partner s.



## COJ L OCAL 

## P OLLUTION 

## C ONTROL 

## P ROGRAM

COJ’s local pollution control program has helped to address fecal coliform problems in the

t ributaries of the St. Johns River through several innovative programs. COJ began a regionalization program for small WWTFs (package plant s ) in 1989 that has resulted in phasing out over 400 plants. Currently, there are approximately 20 package plants in the city

.

Before the regionalization effort began in 1989, COJ had hundreds of small private sanitary lift stations serving the area. Recognizing that the number of sanitary lift stations would significantly increase because of phasing out package plants and the need for reducing the potential sewage overflow, the local pollution control program has implemented a sanitary l ift station inspection program requiring all lift station s constructed after August 1991

, to have operator attendance. The COJ Environmental Protection Board (EPB) Rule 3 established the basic requirements for lift station design, construction

, and operation by adopting Rule 62

- 604

, F.A. C. The rule also requires that all lift station must have monthly operator visit s, a logbook

, and an emergency contact number posted at the site.

Today there are more than 900 privately owned lift stations

, and EQD’s goal is to inspect all private lift stations at least annually . Citizen s’ reports of sewage overflow or self

- report s by lift

station owners are entered and tracked in COJ ’s CARE system. All overflow events from a lift station are investigated and enforced using EPB guidelines. COJ’s proactive efforts to reduce
SSO s are well documented.

EQD has recently recognized and begun addressing the problem of old above

- ground sand filter onsite sewage treatment systems. These systems previously were not under the jur isdiction of existing regulatory programs because of their hybrid design. The sand filters recently examinedFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

212 are nonfunctional due to a lack of maintenance. In addition, bypass pipes (around the sand filter) have been installed in some of the systems , ca using inadequately treated sewage to be discharged to the MS4

. EQD has embarked on a program to identify, map , and sample these systems to bring them into compliance through enforcement and connection to the municipal sanitary sewer system

, or to use othe r means if connection is not possible.



## P R OGR AMS 

## T O 

## A DDR E S S 

## OS TDS AS 

## S OUR CES OF 

## F ECAL 

## C OLIFOR M


## C ONTAMINATION



### DCHD OS TDS P ROGR AM The objective of the OSTDS P rogram is to provide safe and sanitary treatment and disposal of domestic and commercial sewage waste in the areas not served by public sewerage systems. Generally, OSTDS present no public health problems when they are properly designed,

installed

, and maintained on sites having satisfactory soil and drainage features . H owever, where an installation site is unsuitable, and where no modification of the property is possible or practical, the use of an OSTDS may contaminate ground or surface waters. The primary goals of DCHD are to protect public health by eliminating the potential for the spread of in fectious disease caused by improperly built or maintained OSTDS

, and to protect ground and surface water from OSTDS discharge.

DCHD is responsible for all operational aspects of the OSTDS P rogram

, as described in Rule

64E

- 6, F .A. C. To accomplish its prog ram goals and objective, DCHD utilizes the expertise of

one field supervisor, eight field inspectors, and three administrative support staff. In addition,

the DCHD office has a field inspector to perform complaint investigations and an enforcement

officer to address legal cases.

During the permitting process, the OSTDS staff provides many services including, but not
limited to , the following :

**•** Application /plan review ;

**•** Site evaluation ;

**•** Sys tem construction permitting; and

**•** Installation inspection

.

DCHD must review all applications for construction permits relating to the installation, modification, replacement, or repair of OSTDS and determine within the time limitations prescribed by the Florida Administrative Procedures Act, Section 120.60, F .S. , whether t o issue or deny a permit. The goal for the average number of days to issue a new construction permit is eight days and two days for a repair permit.

The review process involves a determination as to whether the site location and installation will comply with standards set forth in Chapter 381, F .S. and Rule 64E

- 6, F.A. C. DCHD also inspects and evaluates all new installations, repairs, abandonments, or modifications of OSTDS; inspections are made to ensure adequate tank construction and capacity, fill ma terial if needed, drainfield size, elevation, cover, dosing system construction, distance from surface water and potable wells, and other regulatory requirements. DCHD also inspects existing OSTDS for compliance when there is a change of use or occupancy. When COJ’s Building and Zoning Department receives an application for a building permit, when a zoning change is requested orFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

213 when COJ receives an application for occupational license, the applicant will be referred to the
DCHD office for OSTDS review.

When a building served by an OSTDS is located in an area zoned or used for industrial/manufacturing purposes, or where a business generates commercial sewerage waste, DCHD issues an annual operating permit and requires at least one compliance inspection pe r

year. The updated listing s of these properties are identified by DCHD staff

, who cross

reference JEA and COJ data.

In addition to the actual permitting process for OSTDS systems, DCHD also regulates the
OSTDS maintenance industries. Service permits are issued to the following facilities annual ly

, and DCHD performs one to two compliance inspections each year , as follows, depending on the type of facility:

**•** Septic disposal services;

**•** Lime stabilization facilities;

**•** Land application facilities;

**•** Portable or temporary toilet services; and

**•** Septic tank manufacturers.

When an inspection determines that a DCHD

- issued OSTDS permit is out of compliance, the inspector notif ies the appropriate parties in writing. Proper documentation, in the following sequence, is required for any type of inspection:

Step i. Written notice (i.e. inspection report); Step ii. Official notice; Step iii. Legal notice or corrective notice; and Step iv. Case referred to State Attorney’s Office.

It should be noted that a complaint investigation begin s at Step ii, with the issue of the official

notice. By law, two versions of the notice are required prior to enforcement. Depending on the severity of the case, the timeline between steps of this sequence may vary. For example, for

mo re serious occurrences, the timeframe between Step i and Step iii can be under 24 hours.

Approximately 90 % of cases in Duval County are corrected after Steps i and ii. For those cases that require enforcement, DCHD has its own Enforcement Officer to take cases to court. FDEP law enforcement becomes involved in cases of willful pollution. The DCHD computer database includes a record of all complaints and investigations. This database is updated daily and may include approximately 16 to 20 complaints per week.



### F LOR IDA 

### O NS ITE 

### W ASTEWATER 

### A S S OCIATION 

### (FOWA) P R OPOS E D 

### L E GIS L ATION FOWA proposed legislation for a s tate statute requiring that OSTDS be inspected every five

years. Although the goal was to have the bill voted on during the 2007 legislative session , the bill failed in committee and was not brought to the full legislature. According to Mike McInarny, FOWA (personal communication

, June 5, 2007 ), it is currently the organization’s goal to educate legislators in the upcoming year with the objective of resubmitting the bill during the 2008 legislative session.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

214 At this point, the focus has temporarily shifted to legislation on the local level. FOWA proposed a similar bill before the Jacksonville City Council. Mr. McInarny stated it will be the goal of FOWA to educate officials on the local level in order to increase support for the ordinance.



### DCHD -S PONS OR E D 

### T R AINING 

### P R OGR AMS On April 25, 2006, First Coast District Florida Environmental Health Association (FEHA) hosted

its first advanced OSTDS training opportunity

, Perspectives on the use of OSTDS in Florida. The course was approved for 6 hours of continuing education for registered septic tank contractors and certified environmental health professionals. Approximately 70 people were in

attendance. S peakers included representatives from associations such as FDOH, EPA, St.

Johns Riverkeeper, WSEA, FOWA, and DCHD. Those in attendance included personnel from

JEA and FDEP

, as well as certified plumbers, septic tank contractors, and environmental health

p rofessionals from 7 county health units.

DCHD and FDOH hosted another training program, entitled Onsite Management: Alternative for a Better Community , on November 16, 2006

, in Jacksonville. Th e course was originally presented at the 2006 FEHA Annual Edu cation Meeting in Sarasota, Florida. This training provided 6 contact hours for all septic tank contractors and certified environmental health professionals. It was an introduction to Onsite Wastewater Management and EPA’s Voluntary Management Guidelines

. In addition, the speakers provided consideration for existing and future development and the opportunity for discussion of local issues that affect our community.

DCHD intends to continue other such efforts in the future; however, the themes may change

. One idea is to include a DCHD public outreach endeavor as a part of the COJ’s annual environmental workshop.



### DCHD I NTE NS IVE 

### I NS PE CTION 

### P ROGR AM In the Miller Creek, Miramar Creek, Big Fishweir Creek, and Goodbys Creek watersheds , a discrete portion of each WBID was identified as having a higher probability of OSTDS

- related problems. This determination was made based on the number of repair permit applications, water quality information, and the site conditions of these areas. DCHD is proposing to add a n intensive inspection program to focus on these areas to proactively prevent issues from septic

tanks in these watersheds

.

As part of this first five

- year BMAP cycle, DCHD will seek to secure funding for the new program and will begin inspections as funding is available. DCHD will provide the findings from the inspections and any corrective actions taken in the annual BMAP progress reports.

A ssessment efforts that are also occurring in these WBIDs may identify additional areas where intensive inspections would be beneficial. DCHD will also look to secure funding to include other areas in the inspection program, as necessary.



### COJ S E PTIC 

### T ANK 

### P HASE 

### -O UT 

### P ROGR AM The purpose of the Septic Tank Phase

- Out Program is to improve the quality of surface water s and ground waters by connecting properties located in the septic tank failure areas to JEA public sewer service. In May 2000, COJ enacted Ordinance Code 2000

- 119 -E, which amended Chapter 751 Ordinance, to establish sources of funding for constructing pu blic sewer service

lines

, adopt the FDOH priority list for septic tank failure areas, and provide an enforcement
mechanism for EQD.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

215 Based on an analysis completed by WSEA

, there are a total of 64,837 OSTDS in Duval County. WSEA concludes that 23,944 systems are contained within the 39 failure areas identified to date. The number of septic tanks connected to JEA in future years depends on the construction of sewer collection systems in each failure area and DCHD enforcement actions for septic tanks

locate d outside identified failure areas.



### DC HD/C OJ S E PTIC 

### T ANK 

### F AILUR E 

### A REA 

### R ANK ING The TAT is the sampling subcommittee for the LSJR tributaries

. The DCHD and EQD mutually agreed that it would be beneficial for the TAT to make a recommendation for revisions to the procedure used to determine the “sanitary conditions” portion of the DCHD/COJ Septic Tank

Failure Area ranking

.

The s tate has adopted WBIDs as the hydrologic unit for determining whether water bodies are in compliance with designated uses as adopted in state rule

. WBIDs are also the hydrologic unit within the tributaries BMAP that management efforts are directed towards to bring various

waterbodies into compliance that may be verified as impaired for fecal coliform bacteria. The TAT has adopted a protocol for ranking the various WBIDs for degree of severity

. Using the ranking procedure, WBIDs that rank highest (worst water quality for fecal coliform bacteria) are prioritized for BMAP development and investigative studies to complete the required te chnical reports and BMAPs.

The TAT fecal coliform ranking for impaired WBIDs is as follows:

1. For a selected WBID, all fecal coliform data from the most recent five

- year period
are retrieved from FL STORET.

2. This procedure is repeated for all WBIDs to be r anked.

3. Once fecal coliform data for the WBIDs of interest are assembled, each WBID is scored using the following protocol : d etermine the percent of samples that exceed 800 cfu/100mL, then determine the percent of samples that exceed 5

, 000
cfu/100mL

, and lastly the percent of sample s that exceed 10

, 000 cfu/100mL.

4. The above calculations are completed for each WBID.

5. All of the WBIDs are then ranked for each percent exeedance category. The

WBID with the h ighest percent exceeding 800 cfu/ 100 mL ranks as number one

, then the WBIDS are ranked for percent exceedance of 5, 000

, and finally percent
exceedance of 10

, 000 are ranked. In this manner

, a WBID that ranked with the highest percent exceedances for 800, 5

, 000

, and 10

, 000 cfu/ 100 mL would score a

1 st

, 1 st , an d 1 st ranking. The WBID would then have a combined ranking score of 3, and would be the worst WBID in the group in terms of fecal coliform violations.

6. After a combined score is determined for each of the WBIDs, all WBIDs are

ranked based on the combined rank score.

7. The ranking by the combined rank score becomes the final fecal coliform rank for

that WBID

, as determined by the TAT protocol.

On June 17,

, the TAT met to discuss an appropriate method to calculate the sanitary condition

index score, which is based on the fecal coliform determination that is used for ranking the
DCHD s eptic t ank f ailure areas. Three options were considered , as follows :Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

216 1. Continue to us e a ranking based on fecal coliform geometric mean for the most

recent five

- year period for a selected group of surface water monitoring sites near the septic tank area of interest.

2. Use a percent violation of the 400 or 800 cfu/ 100 mL fecal coliform standards for the same set of data as used in the first option.

3. Adopt the TAT fecal coliform WBID ranking protocol and apply it individually to the different WBIDs in each septic tank failure area.

Option 3 was selected in large part for the consistency it introduces in the methodology used throughout the tributaries regarding prioritization.

WSEA provided COJ with a comprehensive list of the WBIDs for each of the existing and proposed septic tank failure areas and the percent of each WBID that was within the boundaries for a given failure area. COJ and FDEP used the TAT protocol to rank the list of WBIDs provided by WSEA. For each failure area

, the WBID rank score was then multiplied by the percent that WBID constituted in the failure area. Sanitary condition points (1 to 10) were then assigned based on total WBID scores for each of the failure areas. The lower the total WBID

score for a failure area

, the worse the fecal coliform conditions resulting in a high sanitary conditions point value.



### C ITY OF 

### J ACK S ONVIL LE 

### O R DINANCE 

### C HAPTER 

### 751 S E PTIC 

### T ANK 

### S UPE R FUND Sec. 751.101. Declaration of legislative intent and public policy. The Council finds and declares that the publicly owned water and sewer system must be expanded into those neighborhoods and subdivisions where septic tank systems have failed so as to create a sanitary nuisance or other conditions affecting the environment and the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City. It is further declared that in an area having failing septic tank systems, but which has not been declared a sanitary nuisance by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director of Duval County Health Department, water and/or sewer service will not be provided unless at

least 60 % of the property owners signify their desire for the system by signing a letter of intent to make payment of the sewer tap charge, the water pollution control charge, water meter tap fee and water capital recovery fee, if applicable. It is further declared that the costs of constructing sewer collection lines and water distribution lines to septic tank system failure areas, which are declared to be sanitary nuisances are to be borne by all taxpayers since the problems are City

- wide. It is further declared that any existing Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, managed and controlled by JEA, which is being financed by current City utility customers should not be used to rectify septic tank system failure area problems without reimbursement. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 91

- 992

- 399, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 56; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord.

2008

- 51 3- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.102. Definitions. When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates a different meaning, the following terms shall have the meaning contained below: (a) Available as applied to a publicly owned or investor

- own ed sewerage system means that the publicly owned or investor

- owned sewerage system is capable of being connected to the plumbing of an establishment or residence, is not under a Department of Environmental Protection moratorium, and has adequate permitted capacity to accept the sewage to be generated by the establishment or residence; andFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

217 (1) For a residential subdivision lot, a single

- family residence, or an establishment, any of which has an estimated sewage flow of 1,000 gallons per day or less, a gravity sewer line to maintain gravity flow from the property's drain to the sewer line, or a low pressure or vacuum sewage collection line in those areas approved for low pressure or vacuum sewage collection, exists in a public easement or right

- of

- way that abuts the property line of the lot, residence, or

establishment. (2) For an establishment with an estimated sewage flow exceeding 1,000 gallons per day, a sewer line, force main, or lift station exists in a public easement or right

- of

- way that abuts th e property of the establishment or is within 50 feet of the property line of the establishment as accessed via existing rights

- of

- way or easements. (3) For proposed residential subdivisions with more than 50 lots, for proposed commercial subdivisions with more than five lots, and for areas zoned or used for an industrial or manufacturing purpose or its equivalent, a sewerage system exists within one

- fourth mile of the development as measured and accessed via existing easements or rights

- of

- way. (4) For repairs or modifications within areas zoned or used for an industrial or manufacturing purpose or its equivalent, a sewerage system exists within 500 feet of an establishment's or

residence's sewer stub

- out as measured and accessed via existing rights

- of -w ay or easements. (b) Criteria factors means a prescribed listing of criteria to be applied to the Failed Area List to determine priority of providing service pursuant to Section 751.107. (c) Director means the person directing the water and sewer distribution and collection systems for JEA, or his deputy, division chief, agent or representative, unless a specific reference is made to a named City department. (d) EPB means the Environmental Protection Board. (e) Failed Area List means the most current list of septic tank system failure areas pursuant to
Section 751.106. (f) Sanitary nuisance shall have the meaning given in Section 386.01, F.S., and as further defined and interpreted in the criteria factors specified herein. (g) Septic t ank system has the same meaning as provided in Section 64E

- 6, Florida
Administrative Code. (h) Septic tank system failure areas means a subdivision or platted subdivision with five or more failing septic tank systems, and which meets a minimum score of 70 percent of the criteria factors, from evaluation of those criteria factors specified herein, by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director of the Duval County Health Department or designee. (i) Se wage lines means any of the publicly owned regional sewerage system and connections, fittings, collection and pumps including force mains and gravity flow lines. (j) STS Fund means the Septic Tank Superfund. (k) Water lines means any part of the publicly owned water system together with all connections, fittings, valves and pipes. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 91

- 992

- 399, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 57; Ord. 94

- 903

- 552, § 61;
Ord. 97

- 229

- E, § 28; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord. 2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.10 3. Septic Tank Superfund (STS), establishment of. There is hereby established a Septic Tank Superfund (known as the STS Fund ) of monies collected and received from various sources, as specified in Section 751.104, to be used to provide water and/or sewer service to septic tank system failure areas, that have been declared sanitary nuisances as provided herein and are noted on a Failed Area List. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 91

- 992

- 399, § 1; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.104. Sources of funding.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

218 The STS Fund may acquire monies from the Environmental Protection Fund, federal or State grant funds, monies that may be appropriated from revenue bonds and any other monies appropriated by Council. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1)

Sec. 751.105. Administration of STS F und. The Director of Finance is authorized and directed to make disbursements from this fund upon the written recommendation of the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director of the Duval County Health Department for the sole purpose of providing water or sewer service to areas on the Failed Area List which are presently served or will be served by the city in priority as determined in accordance with the criteria factors. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 91

- 992

- 39 9, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 58; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord.

2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.106. Failed Area List. The Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department shall be responsible for assembling and maintaining a prioritized listing of Septic Tank System Failure Areas (Failed Area List) based upon the criteria factors specified herein, after consulting with the Director of the Duval County Health Department. The Failed Area List shall be submitted to City Council for its review as part of the annual budget process. The Failed Area List shall be updated at least annually. The list shall be promulgated and shall be made available to the public in the Office of the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department. Any area on the list which has been designated a sanitary nuisance by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director of the Duval County Health Department shall be

identified as such on the list. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 59; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord. 2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.107. Criteria factors. Priority of providing sewage lines or water lines to a Septic Tank System Failure Area shall be determined by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department in c onsultation with the Director of the Duval County Health Department, or designee, in accordance with criteria factors developed by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director Duval County Health Department, or designee, and the Director of the Public Works Department. The criteria factors developed shall include:

1. The number of septic tank system repair permits issued in the area.

2. Average lot size in the area.

3. Soil potential in the area.

4. Seasonal highwater table in the area.

5. Threat to potable water in the area.

6. Sanitary conditions in the area.

7. Proximity of the area to any surface water body.

8. Potential for flooding in the area. If a Septic Tank System Failure Area has been declared a sanitary nuisance by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consulting with the Director of the Duval County Health Department, that area automatically shall be given the highest priority for the provision of service. If two or more areas are so declared sanitary nuisances, then the developed criteria factors shall be applied to determine the priority amongst them. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 60; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord. 2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.108

. Provision of sewage service to Septic Tank System Failure Areas.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

219 (a) When the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department, in consultation with the Director of the Duval County Health Department have ranked the Septic Tank System Failure Areas in accordance with Section 751.107 and sufficient STS Funds are available, the Director shall contact the property owners in the Septic Tank System Failure Area having the highest priority. When at least 60 percent of the property owners in the Septic Tank System Failure Area have agreed to have service provided to their area and each of those property owners has signed a letter of intent to make payment of the sewer tap charge, water pollution control charge, water meter tap fee and capital recovery fee, the Director shall prepare and implement a plan for providing sewage lines to the Septic Tank System Failure Area in accordance with Chapter 122, Part 6. (b) If, however, a Septic Tank System Failure Area has been declared a sanitary nuisance by

the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consultation with the Director of the Duval County Health Department, the Director shall prepare and implement a plan for providing sewage lines without first having to contact the owners in the Septic Tank System Failure Area. (c) For a failure area where the threat is to drinking water supplies (wells), when notified by the Director of the Environmental and Compliance Department after consultation with the Director of the Duval County Health Department, the Director or designee shall prepare and implement a plan for providing water lines only to the failure area where installation of water lines would be more cost effective than installation of sewage lines to failure area. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 91

- 992

- 399, § 1; Ord. 93

- 138

- 148, § 61; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord.

2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.109. Variances. Variances to the procedure for the provision of service to a Septic Tank System Failure Area established by this Chapter may be granted as provided in Section 360.111. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.110. Appeals. Appeals shall be heard as prescribed in Part 4, Chapter 360. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1)

Sec. 751.111. Reimbursement of Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund. When the STS Fund is created and sufficient funds are available, the first use of the monies available shall be for reimbursement of the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, managed and controlled by JEA for the costs of providing water and sewer service. (Ord. 87

- 485

- 660, § 1; Ord. 94

- 903

- 552, § 62; Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.112. Mandatory and deferred connections. (a) The owner of a septic tank system shall connect to a publicly owned or investor

- owned sewerage system within 365 days after written notification by the owner of the publicly owned or

investor

- owned sewerage system that the system is available for connection. In the alternative, said owner may defer such connection as provided in subsection (b) of this Section. The publi cly owned or investor

- owned sewerage system must notify the owner of the septic tank of the availability of the central sewerage system. No less than one year prior to the date the sewerage system will become available, the publicly owned or investor

- owned sewerage system shall notify the affected owner of the septic tank of the anticipated availability of the sewerage system and shall also notify the owner that the owner may be required to connect to the sewerage system within one year of the actual availability. The owner shall have the option of prepaying the amortized value of required connection charges in equal monthly installments over a period of time determined by JEA, based upon sewerage system costs. Nothing in thisFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

220 Section shall operate to impair contracts or other binding obligations relating to payment schedules in existence as of May 31, 2000. (b) If the owner has a properly functioning septic tank system and wishes to defer connection to the available publicly owned or investor owned sewerage system in subsection (a), of this Section, such connection may be deferred until such time as the title to the owner's property is sold, conveyed or otherwise transferred. In consideration for such deferral, the owner shall execute an agreement with the City, under which the owner agrees to have a covenant placed upon the deed to owner's property that restricts the sale, conveyance or other transfer of title to the property until such time as connection to the available publicly owned or investor owned

se werage system is made. Said agreement shall also provide that the deferral relates only to connection under this ordinance and that it in no way binds the State of Florida from enforcing mandatory connections to available systems pursuant to Florida law, including Section 381.00655, F.S. Said contract shall be filed in the Official Records of Duval County as notice of such connection requirement. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized to sign such agreements for the City; provided however that such agreement shall bear attestation from the Corporation Secretary, review and approval from the Director of Administration and Finance and form approval by the Office of General Counsel. (c) If the owner's septic tank system has failed and the Duval County Health Department will not issue a permit for repair, the owner shall connect to the available publicly owned or investor owned sewerage system within 90 days after notification, by the Duval County Health Department, that the permit will not be issued

. (Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.113. Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter or shall be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed $500 per violation. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. (Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.114. Enforcement. This Chapter shall be enforced by the Environmental and Compliance Department and Environmental Protection Board pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 360, Part 4 and rules promulgated pursuant thereto. (Ord. 2000 -1 19

- E, § 1; Ord. 2008

- 513

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.115. Assessment and recovery of civil penalties. Civil penalties provided for in Section 751.113 may be assessed by the administrative process in Chapter 360, Part 4 and rules promulgated pursuant thereto or, in the alternative, by judicial process in a civil action filed in the name of the City in a court of competent jurisdiction. A civil penalty assessed and owed under this Chapter shall be paid to the Tax Collector for deposit in the Septic Tank Superfund established by Section 751.103. An administratively assessed civil penalty under this Section and Chapter 360, Part 4, may be recovered in a civil action in the name of the City. The City shall be entitled to reasonable attorney ’ s fees and costs, including

app ellate fees and costs in actions where the City is successful in recovering civil penalties. (Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)

Sec. 751.116. Other relief. In addition to any penalties assessed and collected under this Chapter, the City, through the
Office of Genera l Counsel, may seek injunctive or other appropriate relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce this Chapter or administrative orders issued pursuant to this Chapter and Chapter 360, Part 4. (Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1)Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

221 Sec. 751.117. Interpretation. Whenever the titles "Director of Environmental and Compliance," "Director of Duval County Health Department," "Director" as the person directing the water and sewer distribution systems for JEA, or "Director of Public Works" are used in this chapter, those titles include the deputies, division chiefs, agents, representatives or designees of each respective director. (Ord. 2000

- 119

- E, § 1; Ord. 2008

- 513

- E, § 1)Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

222 

## P R OGR AMS TO 

## A DDR E S S 

## S TOR MWATE R AS 

## S OUR CE S OF 

## F ECAL 

## C OL IFOR M


## C ONTAMINATION



### MS 4 C APITAL AND 

### D RAI NAGE 

### S YS TE M 

### R E PAIR 

### (DS R ) P ROJECTS Between 1997 and 2008, COJ completed numerous MS4 capital improvements at a cost of over $182 million. COJ ’s current 5

- year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) lists 19 MS4 projects with a total estimated cost of over $95 mill ion

, with an additional $167 million in proposed funding beyond FY 2012/2013.

In addition to constructing new drainage CIP projects, between 1997 and 2008

, COJ has completed over 60 DSR projects at a total cost of over $5 million. It is anticipated that continuing investments will average $500,000 annually for DSR projects.

As demonstrated above the COJ has, is, and will

, within approved annual budget limits

, construct stormwater collection and treatment facilities.



### MS 4 M AINTE NANCE 

### A C TIVITIE S CO J maint ains its MS4 via response to requests received through the Citizen Action Response Effort (CARE) system , as well as through an allocation of approximately $6 million annually for street sweeping, structure and closed conveyance cleaning, and spot repair/re placement projects.

The Department of Public Works’ Right

- of

- Way and Grounds Division responds to an average of 10,000 CARE requests per year. A work order management system to track labor equipment

and material costs for each CARE

- related work order was implemented in 2007. To date, the work order management system database contains over 9,000 CARE drainage work orders at an average total cost of $550 per work order. This translates into an annual cost of approximately $5.5 million.

In summary, COJ invests approximately $11.5 million annually to maintain its stormwater drainage system. Based on the historical number of CARE

- related cases, it is projected that the average annual maintenance costs will remain at the historic levels summarized above. Th e type and volume of CARE

- related maintenance activities and their locations assist DPW in defining future capital improvement and DSR projects.



### I NS PE CTION



### , S AMPLING



### , AND 

### E NFOR CE ME NT 

### A CTIVITIE S Between January 1

, 2000

, and December 1

, 2008

, COJ EQD compl eted 2,876 CARE

- initiated inspections citywide. EQD anticipates conducting an annual average of 350 CARE initiated inspections

, described in the Inspection, Sampling, and Enforcement Activities Report,

for the foreseeable future.

EQD maintains 100 ambient tributary water quality trends and conditions sampling sites citywide. EQD has established a goal of conducting quarterly sampling for these sites.

SSO inspections are initiated via a CARE request or referral by FDEP or JEA. Where the SSO inspection determines the source is from an NPDES

- permitted facility, inspection findings are

forwarded to FDEP. SSOs found to originate from a private lift station or non

- NPDES permitted

WWTF are addressed by EQD.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

223 

### S

TOR MWATE R 

### M ANAGE ME NT 

### P LAN Since 2006, COJ, via a contract with a consultant, is updating the Master Stormwater Management Plan (MSMP). The update includes the following:

**•** Update stormwater models ;

**•** Develop master plan level designs for regional and neighborhood Best Management Plans to reduce flow and improve water quality ; and

**•** Develop a Stormwater Utility fee structure and operating budget.

To date, COJ has invested $ 3 million in the MSMP. The current CIP includes $2 million to update the MSMP during FY2012/2013. Although this funding is planned, the proposed MSMP update requires budget approval.



### MS 4 NPDE S P ROGR AM In conjunction with the MSMP above, COJ had established a Stormwater Compliance Inspection Program to ensure all construction activities comply with its preapproved BMPs

. In 1997, COJ al ong with its copermit t ees (FDOT, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach) was issued the first MS4 NPDES permit. The permit is now in its third cycle and currently under review by

FDEP. Between 1997 and 2007, FDOT has invested approximately $3 to $3.5 million in
its NPDES Program

. Between 1996 and 2008 COJ has invested approximately $10 .9 million
in its NPDES Program . Key elements of the work completed during this period include the following:

**•** Inventory and mapping of all COJ and FDOT MS4 infrastructure.

**•** B etween 1998 and 2007 a citywide Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination field survey/inspection was conducted to identify all discharges into the

watershed.

**•** Implementation of a High Priority Industry Inspection Program

.

**•** Development of field inspection tools and protocols to support ongoing illicit discharge and detection by COJ staff.

During the next 5 years (2009

– 13) an additional investment of $2 .7 million is planned for the
NPDES Program

. Using the latest GIS and handheld technology, COJ plans to develop and implement tools and practices to enhance current private lift station, septic tank, and high

priority industry inspections and enforcement procedures. In addition, COJ will integrate existing data systems to more effectively address NPDES permit administration as well as comply with LSJR m ain s tem and t ributaries BMAP reporting requirements.



### O

UTR E ACH AND 

### E DUC ATION COJ is actively engaged in many public awareness activities

, including the following :

**•** Public service announcements on septic tank maintenance and pet waste management ;

**•** Educational materials and newsletters to provide a better understanding of

ordinances ; andFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

224 **•** Presentations to groups such as homeowner’s associations and Citizen Policy Advisory Committees ( CPACs ) on the impact of fecal coliform generated by pet waste entering and affecting our waterways.



### P ET 

### W ASTE 

### M ANAGE ME NT
In 2004, Sec.462.301 Jacksonville Ordinance Code (JOC) and 2007

, Sec. 28.716 JOC, COJ enacted ordinances for the removal and proper disposal of solid waste from pets and animals on private and public properties. Enforcement provisions include monetary penalties up to $250 per violation and imprisonment.



### S PE CIAL 

### P ROJECTS AND 

### I NVE S TIGATIONS In 2005, COJ funded $8,000 to conduct a trial thermal imaging project. The trial project covered three tributary segments: Hogan Creek, Fishing Creek

, and Little Pottsburg Creek. Follow

- up ground truthing revealed much information on the potential hot spots indentified via thermal imagery. However, water quality information was not collected to substantiate the hot spots as positive fecal coliform sources.

Leveraging the lessons learned during the 2005 study, in conjunction with FDEP, another study

was conducted

. Using $50,000 in special funding from the Legislature

, th e study involved the

thermal imaging of four creeks routinely contaminated with fecal col iform. This study include d preflight and postflight sampling for fecal coliform bacteria by the EQD/FDEP contract or and
MST analysis by the U niversity of S outh F lorida . F ield verif ications and ground truthing will be completed on four WBIDs. The WBIDs included in this study are McCoy Creek, Miramar Creek, Craig Creek, and Big Fishweir Creek

.



### COJ P OTE NTIAL 

### I L LICIT 

### C ONNE CTION 

### P R OGR AM The keys to COJ ’s PIC Program are education and the elimination of illic i t discharges. In June 2007, the consulti ng firm of England

- Thims & Miller (ETM), under contract with COJ PWD

, began to develop an inventory of PICs while mapping the MS4 system in Duval County. ETM has examined the permits, beginning in 1997, for the cities of Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach

, and FDOT. The entire MS4 system was inventoried; however, with constant growth comes constant change. New technologies are being used to make inventory

maintenance less time consuming and more economical.

On October 1, 2007, the PIC P rogram was shifted from PWD to COJ EQD. EQD is currently following up on and resolving the PICs found by ETM during its inventory. EQD is using several handheld Trimble units and a dedicated computer to track progress. ETM created the computer programming, set up the system

, and trained EQD staff on its operation.

EQD has the authority to conduct detailed investigations and take enforcement action , if necessary, to resolve the PIC. There are daily reports of new P ICs from COJ’s CARE system,

which is a database that allows anyone to report a PIC or any other problem to COJ

. The reports coming in from the CARE system vary greatly

, and the PIC staff looks into each one of

them.

A ty pical PIC investigation includes talking to the property owner to gather as much information as possible about the pipe and to formulate a plan and timetable for its removal. If the property owners are cooperative, EQD works in conjunction with them to re move the pipe. If the property owners are not cooperative, EQD is prepared to bring about compliance through the enforcement process. Many of the reported PICs involve swimming pools or washing machinesFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

225 and are fairly easy to resolve. A small percentage involves an illegal discharge of wastewater, usually from a failing septic system. EQD works with the State Health Department to resolve

these issues.

EQD also conducts over 200 industrial inspections a year of high

- priority sites. One full

- time inspec tor visits these industries and checks the facilities for areas that might be prone to illegal

runoff. After a comprehensive site visit, the inspector will share his findings with facility personnel.

Educational outreach is an essential part of the PIC P rogram

. EQD distributes pamphlets, door hangers, and other educational materials in a variety of ways

, including to an individual during an inspection, at homeowner’s association meetings, during Earth Day events, and anywhere else where there is an oppor tunity to get the message across. EQD also works in conjunction

with SJRWMD ’s WAV Program. Information about the p rogram can be found online at www.sjrwmd.com/education/wav/index.html

.



### FDO T D R AINAGE 

### C ONNE CTION 

### P ROGR AM
14

- 86.001 Purpose. The purpose of this rule chapter is to regulate and prescribe conditions for the transfer of stormwater to the Department of Transportation’s right of way as a result of manmade changes to adjacent property(ies), through a permitting process designed to ensure the safety and integrity of the Department of Transportation’s facilities and to prevent an unreasonable burden on lower properties. This rule chapter does not regulate dewatering

activities. Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1

- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.002 Definitions. As used in this rule chapter the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) “Adjacent Property” means any real property or easement with a shared boundary to the Department’s right of way. (2) “Applicant” means the owner of adjacent property or the owner’s authorized representative. (3) “Applicable Water Quality Standards” means rules and regulations of state or fed eral governmental entity(ies) pertaining to stormwater discharges from the Department’s facilities to which the drainage connection is made. (4) “Approved Stormwater Management Plan” or “Master Drainage Plan” means a plan adopted or approved by a city, county, water management district, or other agency with specific drainage or stormwater management authority provided that: (a) Such plan is actively being implemented; (b) Any required construction is substantially complete; (c) Downstream mitigation measures have been provided for in the plan; and (d) The use of any Department facilities either existing or planned, which are part of such plan, have been approved by the Department. (5) “Closed Basin” means a basin without any positive outlet, for the design storms applicable to

this rule. (6) “Critical Duration” means the length of time of a specific storm frequency which creates the largest volume or highest rate of net stormwater runoff (post

- improvement runoff less pre

improvement runoff) for typical durat ions up through and including the 10

- day duration for closed basins and up through the 3

- day duration for basins with positive outlets. The critical duration for a given storm frequency is determined by calculating the peak rate and volume of stormwater runoff for various storm durations and then comparing the pre

- improvement and post

- improvement conditions for each of the storm durations. The duration resulting in theFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

226 highest peak rate or largest net total stormwater volume is the “critical duration” sto rm (volume is not applicable for basins with positive outlets). (7) “Department” means the Florida Department of Transportation. (8) “Discharge” means the event or result of stormwater draining or otherwise transferring from one property to another or into surface waters. (9) “Drainage Connection” means any structure, pipe, culvert, device, paved or unpaved area, swale, ditch, canal, or other appurtenance or feature, whether naturally occurring or created, which is used or functions as a link to convey stor mwater. (10) “Facility” or “Facilities” means anything built, installed, or maintained by the Department within the Department’s right of way. (11) “Impervious Area” means surfaces which do not allow, or minimally allow, the penetration

of water. Examples of impervious areas are building roofs, all concrete and asphalt pavements, compacted traffic

- bearing areas such as limerock roadways, lakes, wet ponds, pond liners, and other standing water areas, including some retention/detention areas. (12) “Improvement” means any man

- made change(s) to adjacent property. (13) “Licensed Professional” means an individual licensed by a Florida professional licensing board, authorized by law to design and certify the stormwater management system under

review. (14) “Man

- ma de Change” means any intentional physical change to or upon adjacent property resultant from an intentional physical change, which establishes or alters the rate, volume, or quality of stormwater. (15) “Permit” or “Drainage Connection Permit” means an authorization to establish or alter a drainage connection to the Department’s right of way issued pursuant to this rule chapter. (16) “Permittee” means the individual or entity to which a Drainage Connection Permit is issued. (17) “Positive Outlet” means a point of stormwater runoff into surface waters which under normal conditions would drain by gravity through surface waters ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico, or the Atlantic Ocean, or into sinks, closed lakes, or recharge wells provided the receiving

waterbod y has been identified by the appropriate Water Management District as functioning as if it recovered from runoff by means other than transpiration, evaporation, percolation, or

infiltration. (18) “Post

- improvement” means the condition of property after imp rovement. (19) “Pre

- improvement” means the condition of property: (a) Before November 12, 1986; or (b) On or after November 12, 1986, with connections which have been permitted under this rule chapter or permitted by another governmental entity based on stormwater management requirements equal to or more stringent than those in this rule chapter. (20) “Right of Way” means land in which the Department owns the fee or less than the fee, or for which the Department has an easement, devoted to or required for use as a transportation or stormwater management facility. (21) “Stormwater” or “Stormwater Runoff” means the flow of water which results from and occurs immediately following a rainfall event. (22) “Stormwater Management System” means a system which is designed and constructed or implemented to control stormwater, incorporating methods to collect, convey, store, infiltrate, treat, use, or reuse stormwater to prevent or reduce flooding, overdrainage, pollution, and otherwise affect the quantity or quality o f stormwater in the system. (23) “Surface Water” means water upon the surface of the earth whether contained in bounds created naturally or artificially or diffused. Water from natural springs shall be classified as

surface water when it exits onto the earth’s surface. (24) “Watershed” means the region draining or contributing water to a common outlet, such as a stream, lake, or other receiving area.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

227 Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.003 Permit, Assurance Requirements, and Exceptions. (1) Permit. (a) No permits are required for properties without improvements on or after November 12, 1986. (b) All improvements on or after November 12, 1986, require a Drainage Connectio n Permit,

Form 850

- 040

- 06 (10/08), whether or not the work is done in conjunction with a driveway connection, and whether or not the improvement retains stormwater runoff on the adjacent property up to and including the 100 year event of critical duration. (2) Assurance Requirements. (a) The applicant for a drainage connection permit shall provide reasonable assurances that: 1. The peak discharge rates and total volumes of stormwater discharging from the adjacent property to the Department’s right of way are those provided for in an approved stormwater management plan or master drainage plan; otherwise the post

- improvement stormwater runoff discharging from the adjacent property to the Department’s right of way shall not exceed the more stringent of the foll owing: a. The peak discharge rates and total volumes allowed by applicable local regulation; or b. The improvement shall not increase stormwater discharge rate above the pre

- improvement discharge rate, and in watersheds which do not have a positive outlet, the post

- improvement total volume of stormwater runoff shall not be increased beyond the pre

- improvement volume considering worst case storms for up to the frequencies and durations contained in paragraph

14

- 86.003(2)(c), F.A.C. 2. Any discharge pipe establishing or constituting a drainage connection to the Department’s right of way is limited in size based on the pre

- improvement discharge rate, downstream conveyance limitations, downstream tailwater influences, and design capacity restrictions imposed by other governmental entities. 3. If the improvement changes the inflow pattern of stormwater or method of drainage connection to the Department’s right of way, post

- improvement discharge will not exceed the

pre

- improvement discharge to the Department’s right of way, any new drainage connection will not threaten the safety or integrity of the Department’s right of way, and will not increase maintenance costs to the Department. At a minimum pavement hydraulics, ditch hydraulics, storm drain hydraulics, cross drain hydraulics, and stormwater management facilities shall be analyzed. The analysis must follow the methodology used in the design of the Department’s facilities receiving the discharge and meet the criteria in chapters 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the Department’ s Drainage Manual , Topic Number 625

- 040

- 002

- c, May 2008, incorporated herein by reference. The Drainage Manual is available from the Department at: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/ rddesign/dr/Manualsandhandbooks.shtm

. 4. The quality of water conveyed by the connection meets all applicable water quality standards, and such assurance shall be certified in writing. In the event the discharge is identified causing or contributing to a violation of applicable water quality standards, the permittee will be required to incorporate such abatement as necessary to bring the permittee’s discharge into compliance with applicable standards. (b) If the requirements set forth in paragraph 14

- 86.0 03(2)(a), F.A.C., cannot be fully complied with, the applicant may submit alternative drainage connection designs. The analysis supporting the proposed alternative connection must follow the methodology used in the design of the Department’s facilities r eceiving the proposed alternative drainage connection and meet the criteria in chapters 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the Department’s Drainage Manual

. Deviation from a

standard in the Drainage Manual must be approved by the District Drainage Engineer. Acceptance of any alternative design must serve the purpose of this rule chapter and shall be based upon consideration of the following:Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

228 1. The type of stormwater management practice proposed; 2. The efficacy and costs of alternative controls; 3. The impact upon the operation and maintenance of the Department’s facilities; and 4. The public interest served by the drainage connection. (c) In providing reasonable assurances, the applicant shall:

1. Use a methodology which is compatible with the methodology employed in the design of the Department’s facilities receiving the stormwater; 2. Determine the peak discharge rates considering various rainfall event frequencies up to and including a 100 year event of critical duration of up to three days; and 3. In watersheds without a positive outlet, determine the stormwater runoff total volumes considering various rainfall amounts up to a 100 year rainfall frequency of critical durations of up to ten days. The pond retention volume must recover at a rate such that one

- half of the volume is available in seven days with the total volume available in 30 days, with a sufficient amount recovered within the time necessary to satisfy applicable water treatment requirements. (3) Exceptions. The following exceptions do not require a Drainage Connection Permit: (a) Improvements to adjacent properties not draining to the Department’s right of way in the pre

improvement and post

- improvement condition. (b) Single

- family residential improvements which are not part of a larger common plan of

im provement or larger common plan of sale. (c) Agricultural and silvicultural improvements that: 1. Are subject to regulation by the Department of Environmental Protection or regional Water Management Districts; 2. Are exempt under the provisions of Section 373.406, F.S.; or 3. Are implementing applicable best management practices adopted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Rule Chapter 5M, F.A.C., or Rule Chapter 5I

- 6, F.A.C. (d) Any other improvement, provided that all of the following apply: 1. The total impervious area, after improvement, is less than 5,000 square feet of cumulative impervious area and is less than 40% of that portion of the property that naturally drained to the Department’s right of way; 2. The improvement does not create or alter a drainage connection; 3. The improvement does not change flow patterns of stormwater to the Department’s right of way, and does not increase the surface area draining to the Department’s right of way; 4. The property is located in a watershed which has a positive outlet; and 5. The site or improvement is not part of a larger common plan of improvement or larger common plan of sale. (4) An exception provided in subsection 14

- 86.003(3), F.A.C., shall not apply if any drainage connection from the adjacent property threatens the safety and integrity of the Department’s facilities or creates an unreasonable burden on lower properties, including violations of applicable water quality standards. Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1

- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.004 Permit Application Procedure. (1) An applicant shall submit a Drainage Connection Permit, Form 850

- 040

- 06 (10/08), incorporated herein by reference. This form may be obtained from any of the Department’s local area Maintenance Offices, District Offices, or on the internet at the Department’s website: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/onestoppermitting/

. (2) The appli cant shall submit four completed Drainage Connection Permits packages. Each completed Drainage Connection Permit package shall include all applicable attachments. All applicable plans and supporting documentation shall be submitted on no larger than 11" X 17" multipurpose paper and included in PDF format on a compact disk. (3) The Drainage Connection Permit shall be accompanied by:Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

229 (a) A location map, included in the construction plans, sufficient to show the location of the improvement and any drainage connection to the Department’s right of way, and shall include the state highway number, county, city, and section, range, and township. (b) A grading plan drawn to scale showing pre

- improvement and post

- improvement site conditions including all pervious and impervious surfaces, land contours, spot elevations, and all drainage facilities of the Department and of the adjacent property. The bench mark datum for the plans (whether NGVD 29 or NAVD 88) shall be noted on the plans. Contour information shall extend 50 feet beyond the property boundaries or be sufficient to clearly define the portion of the watershed which drains through the property to the Department’s right of way. (c) Photographs which accurately depict pre

- improvement and present conditions. (d) Soil borings and water table data and, where percolation or infiltration is utilized in the design, appropriate percolation test methodology and results. (e) Computations as required by subsection 14

- 86.003(2), F.A.C. (f) The Drainage Connection Certification, Part 2 of the permit must be certified by a Licensed Professional that the complete set of plans and computations comply with either paragraph 14

- 86.003(2)(a) or 14

- 86.003(2)(b), F.A.C. (4) Improvements which otherwise meet the criteria of subparagraphs 14

- 86.003(3)(d)1. and 14

- 86.003(3)(d)4., F.A.C., but which create or alter a drainage connection to the Department’s right of way, will not require submittal of the information required by paragraphs 14

- 86.004(3)(d) through (f), F.A.C., but will otherw ise require the submittal of all other required information. (5) The Department recognizes that regulatory and permitting programs exist or may be developed in the future by local units of government, and state or federal agencies which may overlap with some or all of the requirements of this rule chapter. In order to avoid duplication the Department will: (a) In lieu of the requirements in Rule 14

- 86.003 and subsection 14

- 86.004(3), F.A.C., accept a permit that accomplishes the purposes of this rule chapter so long as the permit is issued by a governmental entity with specific stormwater management authority and is based on requirements equal to or more stringent than those in Rule 14

- 86.003, F.A.C.; or (b) Accept any form, plans, specifications, drawings, calculations, or other data developed to support an application for a permit required by a governmental entity, pursuant to any rule which establishes requirements equal to or more stringent than Rule 14

- 86.003, F.A.C. (6) The Drainage Connection Permit serves as the application. Once approved by the Department, the form and supporting documents become the Drainage Connection Permit. Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1

- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.0 05 General Conditions for a Drainage Permit. (1) A Drainage Connection Permit does not exempt the permittee from meeting all other applicable regulations and ordinances governing stormwater management. (2) All work done in conjunction with the drainage connection permit shall meet and adhere to all general and specific conditions and requirements contained on the Permit. (3) Within 15 working days after completion of the work authorized by an approved Drainage Connection Permit, the permittee shall notify the Department in writing of the completion; and for all design work that originally required certification by a Licensed Professional, this notification shall contain the As Built Certification, Part 8 of the Permit. The certification shall

state that wor k has been completed in substantial compliance with the Drainage Connection

Permit. (4) The permittee or property owner, will be required to reimburse the Department for any fines, penalties and costs, e.g., abatement costs, mitigation costs, remediation costs, etc. incurred by the Department in the event the permittee’s discharge fails to meet the applicable waterFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

230 quality standards or minimum design and performance standards contrary to the permittee’s assurances provided in subsection 14

- 86.003(2), F.A.C

. Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1

- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.006 Permit Suspension or Revocation. A permit will be suspended or revoked if: (1) The permitted drainage connection is not constructed, operated, or maintained in accordance with the permit; (2) Emergency conditions or hazards exist; (3) False or misleading information is submitted to the Department in the Drainage Connection Permit package; (4) Another governmental entity revokes or suspends a permit which was the basis upon which a Department Drainage Connection Permit was obtained; (5) The As

- built Certificate required for the Drainage Connection Permit is not submitted in

accordance with subsection 14

- 86.005(3), F.A.C. (6) Any discharge above the permitted design discharge. Specific Authority 334.044(2), (15) FS. Law Implemented 334.044(15) FS. History - New 11

- 12

- 86, Amended 1

- 20

- 09.

14

- 86.007 Forms. Specific Authority 334.044(2) FS. Law Implemented 120.53(1)(b), 120.60, 334.03(17), (22), 334.035, 334.044(1), (12), (13), (27), 335.04(2), 335.10(2), 339.155(2)(a), (f) FS. History - New

11

- 12

- 86, Repealed 1

- 20

- 09.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

231 

## Appendix F : Walk the W B ID G uidelines

Walk the WBIDs is a field reconnaissance effort to gain a better understanding of a watershed

, including the hydrology of the creek and its branches, where infrastructure (sewer and stormwater) is located, and what potential sources are contributing fecal coliform to the waterbody. This activity is a useful tool for impaired WBIDs in which the source(s) of the fecal coliform loading are not readily apparent. The following provides guidelines, based on past efforts, for organizing and conducting a Walk the WBID exercise to gain additional information

for the tributaries in this B MAP.



## I NITIAL 

## S TEPS Before going into the field, the lead entity should hold a data review meeting with other entities

. Each entity provides available information about the WBID to better acquaint themselves with

the conditions in the watershed. This inf ormation includes GIS data, infrastructure maps, and

the WBID

- specific technical report (available from FDEP). After this review, the lead entity

conduct s a preliminary reconnaissance of the WBID to identify areas of focus and to determine appropriate rou tes for the Walk the WBID effort.

Once the lead entity has gained a better understanding of the WBID, the Walk the WBID field team should be organized. The members of this team are determined based on the conditions

in the watershed and the likely sources identified in the data review meeting. For instance, if failing OSTDS are common in the WBID (based on the number of repaired permits issued), it
would be beneficial to include DCHD on the team

, since it can access private property to inspect a septic tank. Depending on the potential sources, not all entities need to participate in the field exercise and should only attend the follow

- up meeting. However, the lead entity should ensure

that it has the emergency call

- in numbers and appropriate contact information for other entities in case an incident is observed while in the field that should be reported.

The team should meet briefly before the exercise to review any pertinent information that the lead entity has gathered and to choose a date and time for the Walk the WBID. Based on past efforts, a maximum of two WBIDs can be walked in one day.



## W ALK THE 

## WB ID F IE LD 

## R E CONNAIS S ANCE

The Walk the WBID team should have large

- format WBID maps while conducting the field investigations

, including WBID bounda ry, roads, stormwater infrastructure, sewer infrastructure, potential septic tank locations, National Hydrography Data s et (NHD) , and jurisdictional boundaries when appropriate. A GPS unit, camera, and notepad are essential for obtaining the coordinate of a potential source, capturing an image of the potential source, and correlating the coordinates with the photo for later follow

- up. Sampling equipment should also be included to provide additional water quality information about potential sources identified in the field.

The team should try to explore the entire waterbody while in the field, referring to the maps to follow the creek above and below ground, where the creek branches or is piped underground. The team should look in the banks for exposed pipes and along the vicinity of the creek for potential sources. Canals/ditches that intersect the waterbody should also be walked to ensure that the waterbody and its associated branches are all included within the WBID boundary.

The team should also investigate any potential sources. This can include identifying sewer infrastructure (manholes and pump stations) and inspecting for signs of recent overflows, MS4 conveyances that need cleaning, failing septic tanks, evidence of wildlife, heavy tree cover orFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

232 vegetated ditches, evidence of homeless populations, and pet and livestock sources. Care should be taken to ensure that only appropriate entity representatives access private property, unless the property owner has offered access to the entire team.

Any potential sources identified while in the field should be properly reported. The lead entity will keep a record of major findings during the Walk the WBID effort

, including observations about the waterbody, potential sources, followed

- up items and the responsible entity, as well as any areas that should be added to the monitoring plan.



## F OLLOW 

## -U P 

## A CTIVITIE S After the Walk the WBID field visit, the lead entity will provide a write

- up to FDEP summarizing the findings, which should include the following compo nents:

1. Identification of the WBID walked;

2. Results of any preliminary investigation or issues identified;

3. List of entities and personnel participat ing in the field efforts or other operations;

4. Sources and potential sources observed;

5. Immediate follow

- up actions taken;

6. Follow

- up actions still needed;

7. Sources eliminated or investigated;

8. Monitoring sites identified or proposed; and

9. Any other pertinent information.

This information will be used in the BMAP annual progress report. In addition, the lead entity should hold a meeting with the data review team to determine the status of issues identified in the field that other entities were responsible for addressing. The resolutions for these follow

- up activities will be included in the Walk the WBID write

- up.

The Walk the WBID team should also review the monitoring plan for the tributary and determine if adjustments need to be made to the sampling locations based on the field observations. Updated station locations and monitoring responsibilities will also be reported to FDEP.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

233 

## Appendix G : Glos s ary of Terms

303(d) List: The list of Florida's waterbodies that do not meet or are not expected to meet applicable water quality standards with technology

- based controls alone.

305(b) Report: Section 305(b) of th e federal Clean Water Act requires states to report biennially to the EPA on the quality of the waters in the state.

Allocation Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC): The Watershed Restoration Act of 1999 required FDEP to form a Technical Advisory Committee to address issues relating to the allocation of load reductions among point source and nonpoint source contributors. The ATAC was therefore formed in order to develop recommendations for a report to the legislature on the process for allocating T MDLs

.

Background : The condition of waters in the absence of human

- induced alterations.

Baffle box: An underground stormwater management device that uses barriers (or baffles) to slow the flow of untreated stormwater, allowing particulates to settle out in the box before the

stormwater is released into the environment.

Baseline period: A period of time used as a basis for later comparison.

Baseline loading: The quantity of pollutants in a waterbody, used as a basis for later comparison.

Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP): The document that describes how a specific TMDL will be implemented; the plan describes the specific load and wasteload allocations as well as the stakeholder efforts that will be undertaken to achieve an adopted TMDL.

Basin Status Rep ort: For the LSJR Basin , this document was published in June 2002 by

FDEP . The report documents the water quality issues, list of water segments under

consideration for a TMDL and data needs in the basin

.

Best Available Technology (BAT) Economically Ach ievable: As defined by 40 CFR, §125.3, outlines technology

- based treatment requirements in permits.

Best Management Practices (BMPs): Methods that have been determined to be the most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing pollution from nonpoint sources.

City of Jacksonville (COJ): An incorporated city in n ortheast Florida, some of which lies in the

St

. Johns River B asin

.

Coliforms: Bacteria that live in the intestines (including the colon) of humans and other

animals

, used as a measure of the presence of feces in water or soil.

Clean Water Act (CWA): The Clean Water Act is a 1977 amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, which set the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants to waters of the United S tates.

Continuous deflective separation (CDS) Unit: A patented stormwater management device

that uses the available energy of the storm flow to create a vortex to cause a separation ofFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

234 solids from fluids. Pollutants are captured inside the separation ch amber

, while the water passes out through the separation screen.

Designated use: U ses specified in water quality standards for each waterbody or segment (such as drinking water, swimmable, fishable).

Detention Pond : A stormwater system that delays the downstream progress of stormwater runoff in a controlled manner, typically by using temporary storage areas and a metered outlet

device.

Domestic Wastewater: Wastewater derived principally from dwellings, business buildings, institutions and the like; sa nitary wastewater; sewage.

Dry Season: The dry part of the year when rainfall is low; in the LSJR B asin the dry season is defined as November through May.

Effluent: Wastewater that flows into a receiving stream by way of a domestic or industrial

discha rge point.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The agency was created in December 1970 to address the nation's urgent environmental problems and to protect the public health. The majority of F DEP’s regulatory programs has counterparts at the EPA or is delegated from the

EPA.

Event mean concentration: T he flow

- weighted mean concentration of an urban runoff pollutant measured during a storm event.

Exfiltration: Loss of water from a drainage system as the result of percolation or absorption into the surrounding soil.

External loading: Pollutants originating from outside a waterbody that contribute to the pollutant load of the waterbody.

Flocculent: A liquid that contains loosely aggregated, suspended particles.

Florida Department of Environment al Protection (FDEP): FDEP is Florida's principal environmental and natural resources agency. The Florida Department of Natural Resources and

the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation were merged together to create FDEP effective July 1, 1993.

G round Water or Groundwater: Water below the land surface in the zone of saturation where water is at or above atmospheric pressure.

Impairment: The condition of a waterbody that does not achieve water quality standards (designated use) due to pollutants or an unknown cause.

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA): A large electric and water utility that operates in Duval
and St. Johns C ounties

.

Load Allocations (LA): The portions of a receiving water's loading capacity that are allocated

to one of its existing or future nonpoint sources of pollution.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

235 Load Capacity: The greatest amount of loading that a waterbody can receive without violating water quality standards.

Loading: The total quantity of pollutants in stormwater runoff that contribute s to the water quality impairment

.

Lower Basin: When used in n ortheast Florida, commonly refers to the LSJR Basin.

Margin of safety (MOS): An explicit or implicit assumption used in the calculation of a TMDL, which takes into account any lack of knowledge concerning the relationship between effluent limitations and water quality. An explicit MOS is typically a percentage of the assimilative capacity or some other specific amount of pollutant loading (e.g., the loading from

an out

- of

- state source). Most F DEP

- adopted TMDLs include an implicit MOS based on the fact that the predictive model runs incorporate a variety of conservative assumptions (they examine

worst

- case ambient flow conditions, worst

- case temperature, and assume that all permitted point sources discharge at their maximum permittable amount).

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): The permitting process by which technology based and water quality

– based controls are implemented.

Nonpoint Source (NPS): Diffuse runoff without a single point of origin that flows over the surface of the ground by stormwater and is then introduced to surface or ground water. NPS

include s atmospheric deposition and runoff or leaching from agricultural lands, urban areas, unvegetated lands, OSTDS , an d construction sites.

Nonpoint Source Pollution: Nonpoint source pollution is created by the flushing of pollutants from the landscape by rainfall and the resulting stormwater runoff, or by the leaching of pollutants through the soils into the ground wate r.

Organic Matter: Carbonaceous waste contained in plant or animal matter and originating from

domestic or industrial sources.

Outfall: The place where a sewer, drain, or stream discharges.

Particulate: A minute separate particle, as of a granular substance or powder

.

Pollutant Load Reduction Goals (PLRGs): PLRGs are defined as the estimated numeric reductions in pollutant loadings needed to preserve or restore designated uses of receiving

water bodies and maintain water quality consistent with applicable state water quality standards. PLRGs are developed by the water management districts.

Point Source: An identifiable and confined discharge point for one or more water pollutants, such as a pipe, channel, vessel, or ditch.

Pollutant : Generally any substance, such as a chemical or waste product, introduced into the environment that adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.

Pollution : An undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of air, water, soil, or food that can adversely affect the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

236 Removal efficiency: A description of how much of a given substance (metals, sediment, etc.)

has been extracted from another substance.

Retention Pond: A stormwater management structure whose primary purpose is to permanently store a given volume of stormwater runoff, releasing it by infiltration and /or evaporation.

Reuse: The deliberate application of reclaimed water for a beneficial purpose. Criteria used to classify projects as “reuse” or “effluent disposal” are contained in S ubs ection 62

- 610.810, F.A.C.

Runoff curve: A calculated number representing the percentage of rainfall that becomes runoff for a given area.

Quality Assurance (QA): An integrated system of management activities involving planning, implementation, documentation, assessment, reporting, and quality improvement to ensure that a process, product, or service meets defined standards of quality.

Quality Control (QC): The overall system of technical activities that measures the attributes and performance of a process, product, or service against defined standards to verify that they meet the established data quality objectives.

Septic Tank: A watertight receptacle constructed to pr omote the separation of solid and liquid components of wastewater, to provide the limited digestion of organic matter, to store solids, and to allow clarified liquid to discharge for further treatment and disposal in a soil absorption system.

STORET : The EPA 's STOrage and RETrieval database, used nationally for water quality data storage.

Stormwater: Water that results from a rainfall event.

Stormwater runoff: The portion of rainfall that hits the ground and is not evaporated, percolated

, or transpired into vegetation, but rather flows over the ground surface seeking a receiving water body.

Submersed: Growing or remaining under water.

Surface Water: Water on the surface of the earth, whether contained in bounds created naturally or artificially or diffused. Water from natural springs is classified as surface water when it exits the spring onto the earth’s surface.

Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Waterbody: A waterbody designated by statute or by a water management district for priority management to restore and maintain water quality, habitat, and other natural features of the waterbody. T he LSJR Basin has this special designation

.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): The sum of the individual wasteload allocations for point

source s and the load allocations for nonpoint sources and natural background. Prior to determining individual wasteload allocations and load allocations, the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody or waterbody segment can assimilate from all sources whi le stillFinal Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

237 maintaining its designated use must first be calculated. TMDLs are based on the relationship between pollutants and instream water quality conditions.

Wasteload Allocations (WLAs): Pollutant loads allotted to existing and future point sources, such as discharges from industry and sewage facilities.

Wastewater: The combination of liquid and pollutants from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and institutions, together with any ground water, surface runoff, or leachate that may be present.

Waterbody Identification (WBID) Numbers: WBIDs are numbers assigned to hydrologically based drainage areas in a river basin.

Water column: The w ater within a waterbody between the surface and sediments.

Water Quality Index: Determines the quality of Florida's streams, blackwaters, and springs. Categories include water clarity, dissolved oxygen, oxygen

- demanding substances, nutrients, bacteria, and macroinvertebrate diversity.

Water Quality Standards (WQSs): (1) Standards that comprise the designated most beneficial uses (classification of water), the numeric and narrative criteria applied to the specific water use or classification, the Florida Anti

- degradation Policy, and the moderating provisions contained in

Rules 62

- 302 and 62

- 4, F .A.C. (2) State

- adopted and EPA

- approved ambient standards for waterbodies. The standards prescribe the use of the waterbody (such as drinking, fishing and swimming, and shellfish harvesting) and establish the water quality criteria that must be met to

p rotect designated uses.

Watershed: Topographic area that contribute s or may contribute runoff to specific surface waters or an area of recharge.

Watershed management approach: The process of addressing water quality concerns within

their natural bounda ries , rather than political or regulatory boundaries. The process draws together all the participants and stakeholders in each basin to decide what problems affect the water quality in the basin, which are most important, and how they will be addressed

.

Wet Season: The rainy part of the year; in the LSJR Basin the wet season is defined as June through October.Final Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan – December 2009

238 

## Appendix H : B ibliography of K ey R eferenc es and Webs ites

K EY 

### R E FE R E NCE S 

### : Amick, R., and E. Burgess. March 2003. Exfiltration in sewer systems. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory.
EPA/600/SR

- 01/034. Available: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r01034/600sr01034.pdf

. Anderson , K.L. , J.E. Whitlock , and V.J. Harwood. 2005. Persistence and differential survival of fecal indicator bacteria in subtropical waters and sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71:3041

- 3048. Bergman, M.J. 1992. Lower St. Joh ns River Basin reconnaissance : Surface water h ydrology

. Vol. 2. St. Johns River Water Managemen t District. Technical Publication SJ 92

– 1. Brown and Caldwell. September 2005. Status report on the development of a reporting methodology for surface discharges of sewage. Irvine, CA. Prepared for the Orange County Sanitation District.

Brownell , M.J. , V.J. Harwood , R.C. Kurz , S.M. McQuaig , J. Lukasik , and T.M. Scott

. 2007

. Confirmation of putative stormwater impact on water quality at a Florida beach by

m icrobial source tracking methods and structure of indicator organism populations.

Water Research 41:3747

- 3757.
CDM. 2006

. Quality Assurance Project Plan, Stormwater monitoring program for Upper Deer Creek Wet Detention Pond, Jacksonville, FL.

Davies , C.M., J.A. Long , M. Donald , and N.J. Ashbolt

. 1995

. Survival of fecal microorganisms in

marine and freshwater sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 61:1888

- 1896.

Eleria , A.

, and R.M. Vogel. 2005. Predicting fecal coliform bacteria levels in the C harles River, Massachusetts, USA. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 1769

41:1195

- 1209

, F DEP

. 2002. Basin s tatus r eport : Lower St. Johns

. Tallahassee, FL: Bureau of Watershed Management.

F DEP and S JRWMD

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. PBS& J. July 2008. Deer Creek technical report (WBID 2256). Prepared for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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. Terrapin Creek technical report (WBID 2204). Prepared for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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240 

### S

TOR MWATE R AND 

### W ATER 

### Q UALITY 

### P R OTE CTION 

### W E B S ITE S 

### :

T ABLE H- 1: S TOR MWATE R AND W ATER Q UALITY P R OTE CTION W E B S ITE S

E NTITY /P ROGRAM URL

L oc al and R egional S ites

SJRWMD WAV Program http://www.sjrwmd.com/education/wav/index.html

JEA JEA FOG Program Workshop http://www.jea.com/ http://www.jea.com/about/pub/downloads/fog/FOGTrainingSlideShow.pdf

C OJ http://www.coj.net/Departments/Envir onmental+and+Compliance/Environme ntal+Quality/Water+Quality.htm

L SJR Technical Advisory Committee http://www.lsjr.org/

S tate S ites

General Portal for Florida http://www.m yflorida.com

F DEP Watershed Management TMDL Program BMPs, public information NPDES Stormwater Program NPS funding assistance Surface Water Quality Standards LSJR Basin Water Quality Assessment Report http://ww w.dep.state.fl.us/ http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/watersheds/index.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/tmdl/index.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/pubs.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/stormwater/npdes/index.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/319h.htm http://www.dep.state.fl.us/legal/Rules/shared/62

- 302/6 2- 302.pdf http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/basin411/sj_lower/assessment.htm

FDOH

Standards for OSTDS http://www.doh.state.fl.us http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/pdfiles/forms/64e620070924.pdf

National S ites

Center for Watershed Protection http://www.cwp.org/

EPA Office of Water

EPA Region 4 (southeast United States )
EPA SSO Fact Sheet http://www.epa.gov/water http://www.epa.gov/region4 http://www.epa.gov/npdes/sso/control/