Watershed assessment. The department, in cooperation with the appropriate governmental units, shall prepare a water- shed assessment analyzing the water quality problems or threats to the water quality in the watershed’s lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater and which determines the nonpoint sources causing the problem or threat. The watershed assessment shall contain:
1. An identification of the water quality problems or threats to water quality including degradation of fish habitat and wetlands caused by nonpoint sources of pollution in the watershed.
2. An identification of water quality objectives to maintain and improve the quality of lakes, streams, wetlands and ground- water of the watershed.
3. An identification of target levels of pollutant control and resource protection necessary to meet the water quality objec- tives.
4. An identification and ranking of significant nonpoint source types and contributing areas.
5. A designation of critical sites by criteria.
6. A listing of and an analysis of need for best management practices which will significantly aid in the achievement of the target level of pollution abatement.
7. An assessment of the need for the protection and enhance- ment of fish and wildlife habitat, endangered resources, aesthetics or other natural resources.
8. An analysis of the need for adoption of local ordinances for manure storage, construction site erosion control and storm water management.
Watershed assessment. In priority watersheds: Salmon conservation. Participate in an interagency effort to implement the Salmon Conservation Plan. Monitoring and assessment. Aquatic biodiversity. Initiate the formation of a workgroup of state agencies (DEP, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and Maine Natural Areas Program) and non- agency (The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Council of Maine and others) personnel to assess status of our knowledge about aquatic biodiversity and identification of issues requiring further study. Seek cooperative funding to support a staff position to assemble information on aquatic biodiversity. Conduct a workshop to present an assessment of existing knowledge of aquatic biodiversity in Maine. Sand/Salt. Work with DOT to update the sand/salt priority ranking list, and to develop BMP rules for the priority 4 and 5 category sites pursuant to the new sand/salt legislation (Ch. 387). Geographic Information System (GIS) data. Education and outreach: Include education and outreach in the employee performance evaluation system for each bureau staff person; continue NPS Awareness Campaign; support DEP Stewardship Campaign; support the Priority Watershed Project; continue the Nonpoint Source Resource and Training Center and other activities; provide technical assistance to municipalities to increase local capacity to review development projects. Sludge group. Form an inter-bureau “sludge integration” committee. B-6-029 Address usage issues as appropriate. As appropriate, assist in resolving usage issues, such as water withdrawal, water levels and dam relicensing. Agricultural irrigation plan. Work with agricultural community and others to implement an agricultural irrigation plan. (“Agricultural irrigation plan” is the same thing as “whole farm irrigation plan” under the irrigation pond general permit requirements.) Flow maintenance. Work to maintain aquatic base flow (ABF) on all streams where ABF is not achieved due to withdrawals for irrigation or other water use needs. Maintain ABF (or existing natural flow if less than ABF) if ABF is currently being achieved. Define low flow. Participate in five-year study with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Central Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District, Aroostook Soil & Water Management Board, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service to establish low flow (ABF) for small streams by 2005. Initiate study in 'downeast' salmon rivers. (The studies are expected to be specific to Aro...
