Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 9, Number 6 • November-December 2001
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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by Sandra L. Wilmore and Tom Neltner, Improving Kids’ Environment
In November, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted five public hearings across the state to address the “No Net Increase in Sewage Overflows” citizens’ petition for a rulemaking. The petition was promoted by several environmental organizations, including Improving Kids’ Environment and Save the Dunes, and accepted by the Indiana Water Pollution Control Board in September. The proposed rule requires that new connections to combined sewer systems must not increase the amount of sewage overflowing into Indiana’s waterways. Attendance at the hearings varied from 15 to 50 people, and most sessions had well balanced representation. Concerned citizens provided input at all but one hearing. According to Tom Neltner, President of Improving Kids’ Environment, their personal statements about water and the impacts of sewage were powerful. Primary opposition came from city and town officials who, along with some developers, mischaracterized the proposal as requiring “zero overflows” and forcing the cities to handle a 5-year rainfall without an overflow.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management accepted written comments through November 21, and will now develop recommendations that will be included in a packet for consideration by the Water Pollution Control Board. The issue is scheduled to be addressed at the December or January meeting.
Twenty-nine years after enactment of the Clean Water Act, our nation continues to be plagued by major water quality problems. In Indiana, there are approximately 8,075 river miles and 429,882 lake acres that are identified as too polluted to meet basic water quality standards set to protect humans and aquatic life. Within the next decade or so, over 350 cleanup plans – known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) – will be required in order to make these waters safe again. The task of developing and implementing these plans is enormous. The details are technical and the state has limited resources. Engaging citizens familiar with each watershed is critical for success, but challenging because of the time and expertise necessary for effective participation.
On October 19th, Save the Dunes Conservation Fund and the Clean Water Network hosted an Activists’ Workshop for Watershed Cleanup – Total Maximum Daily Load Strategies. The workshop was held at the Barker House in Michigan City and conducted by Merritt Frey of the Clean Water Network. Merritt used her knowledge and talents to transform the tedious, complex issue of TMDL development into an engaging process and opportunity for citizen impact. She started with the basics of defining exactly what a TMDL is, water quality standards, and other terms commonly used for TMDLs. Merritt identified frequent problems, such as agencies combining the Margin of Safety and critical condition factors, which must be considered separately. Next, the group learned about the process and timeline. The list of impaired waters requiring TMDLs will be updated and finalized in April of 2002, so the time between now and then is a primary window of opportunity for public input. Citizens can influence and strengthen the list to be sure that it is complete. Once TMDL development is underway, citizen review and comments will be critical. Merritt showed the group how to review plans with a critical eye. She provided real examples of existing (or proposed) TMDLs and led several exercises to illustrate how easy it can be to detect serious problems and bring attention to them. It worked! The group did well at identifying the major problems in the plans and was surprised at how quickly they accomplished it.
Last on the agenda was Tim Kroeker, the TMDL representative from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Tim explained the history and current status of TMDL efforts in Indiana. The program is broken into three phases: Sampling/Data Collection, TMDL Development, and TMDL Implementation. Contracts are being signed for TMDL development on eight waterbodies, including the Lake Michigan Rim, Salt Creek, the Little Calumet River, Burns Ditch, the Kankakee River, and Trail Creek in northwest Indiana, and three in Marion County around Indianapolis (Fall Creek, Pleasant Run, and White River). Tim stressed the ongoing need to educate the public and legislators, professionals, and government groups.
The day ended with discussion of how the group will coordinate involvement on TMDL development. With work beginning on eight plans in the near future, coordination will be imperative to ensure that limited resources are stretched as efficiently as possible!
Sandra L. Wilmore
Save the Dunes Conservation Fund
Serving as Hub for Indiana
444 Barker Road
Michigan City, IN 46360
(219)-879-3564
(219)-872-4875 (fax)
E-mail: sand@savedunes.org
Website: www.savedunes.org/