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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGW-SurfaceWater-Wetlands Monitoring Plans (combined)_May 2024 Memorandum To: Laurie Ruszala, Town of Yarmouth From: Karilyn Heisen CDM Smith Date: May 13, 2024 Subject: 99 Buck Island Road Yarmouth MA 22-WP83-0005-APP - Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Plan A groundwater monitoring plan was included as part of the Hydrogeologic Application 22-WP83-0005- APP for the 99 Buck Island Road Site in Yarmouth submitted on July 28, 2022. A memorandum supporting a groundwater discharge permit limit of 0.37 MGD at 99 Buck Island Road was submitted on May 10, 2024. This memorandum is an update to the monitoring plan submitted in July 2022. Revisions have been made based on discussion with MassDEP on May 8, 2024. In addition, a Wetlands Monitoring Plan has been developed by Horsley Witten and is attached to this memorandum. Water levels will be monitored at 14 wells and 7 surface water locations shown in Figure 1. The list of wells and the monitoring purpose is provided in Table 1. Surface water location SW-13 will also be utilized for the wetlands monitoring along wetlands transect PB2. Manual water level measurements will be recorded monthly. Three wells (MW-17, BW-225, and NEW-1) and 1 surface water location (SW-2) will be monitored with transducers recording water levels at a minimum every 4 hours. The proposed wells will be named with the year of installation (i.e., 24-01, 24-02, 24-03 if installed in 2024). One new well will be installed at the corner of West Circuit Road and North Circuit Road to provide information on water levels in this neighborhood (NEW-1). Two new wells are proposed south of the site to provided information on background water quality from the bogs (NEW-3) and to be positioned downgradient of the proposed infiltration beds (NEW-2). Location NEW-2 is located on the Raymond J. Syrjala Conservation Area. The existing trail is likely sufficient for access from a track- mounted drill rig. If installation of this location is not possible due to conservation restrictions, the location will be moved north to the boundary of the 99 Buck Island Road parcel. Water quality samples will be collected at 5 groundwater locations and 5 surface water locations on a quarterly basis. Water quality samples will be analyzed for specific conductance, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, listed in Table 2. Groundwater samples will also be analyzed for VOCs annually. Monitoring for all locations will commence at least one calendar year prior to the start of infiltration at the recharge beds. This will allow for collection of background information. Water levels at Circuit Road (NEW-1) will begin as soon as possible to provide a dataset over several years in the neighborhood. After one year of baseline and one year of system monitoring, water quality results will be reviewed and potential reductions in sample frequency proposed for background locations at NEW-1 and MW-1 and surface water locations. MA 22-WP83-0005-APP - Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Plan May 13, 2024 Page 2 Table 1 – Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Points Well Location Monitored as part of Existing Sprayfield Water Level Monitoring Water Quality Sampling Groundwater Locations BW-218 Upgradient Monthly MW-17 Upgradient (near Plashes Brook) Yes Continuous MW-22A Upgradient Yes Monthly Quarterly MW-1 Upgradient (near cranberry bog) Yes Monthly Quarterly BW-225 Downgradient (west towards cranberry bog) Continuous MW-8 Cross-gradient (across cranberry bog) Monthly BW-231 Downgradient (east towards Plashes Brook Monthly MW-23A Cross-gradient (across Plashes Brook) Yes Monthly MW-24 Downgradient (south) Monthly MW-25 Downgradient (south) Monthly MW-5 Downgradient (southwest) Monthly Quarterly NEW-1 Corner of Circuit Road North and West Continuous NEW-2 Downgradient (south) Monthly Quarterly NEW-3 Background near bogs Monthly Quarterly Surface Water Locations SW-9A Big Sandy Bog Upstream of Inlet Monthly Quarterly SW-10A Big Sandy Bog Upstream of Control Monthly Quarterly SW-10B Big Sandy Bog Downstream of Control Monthly SW-12 Outlet Brook of Bogs Monthly Quarterly SW-3 Plashes Brook Upstream Monthly Quarterly SW-13 Plashes Brook - Proposed Wetlands Transect PB2 (SG-2) Monthly SW-2 Plashes Brook Upstream of Sluice Continuous Quarterly Table 2 – Water Quality Monitoring Plan Parameters and Frequency Parameter Frequency of Analysis Specific Conductance Quarterly pH Quarterly Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO3) Quarterly Total Nitrogen (NO3+NO2+TKN) Quarterly Total Phosphorus Quarterly Volatile Organic Compounds Annually (Groundwater samples only) Wetlands Monitoring Plan Buck Island Road Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) Yarmouth, Massachusetts Prepared for: Town of Yarmouth 1146 Route 28 South Yarmouth, MA 02664 MassDEP File #083-2422 Prepared by: May 2024 i Wetlands Monitoring Plan Buck Island Road Water Resource Recovery Facility Contents 1.0 Background .................................................................................................. 2 2.0 Study Area ................................................................................................... 3 3.0 Baseline Condition ....................................................................................... 3 3.1 Establishing Transects and Monitoring Plots ................................................................... 3 3.2 Documenting Wetland Plant Communities ..................................................................... 6 3.3 Additional Baseline Data .................................................................................................. 8 4.0 Monitoring Schedule and Reporting ............................................................ 8 5.0 References ................................................................................................... 9 Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 2 of 10 1.0 Background The Town of Yarmouth is currently pursuing the first of eight phases of the Town’s multi-phase 40-year Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP)1. The CWMP is designed to improve water quality within coastal estuaries and harbors by collection and centralized treatment of wastewater, thereby reducing nitrogen loads which currently enter the aquifer through existing septic systems. Phase 1 includes the construction of a new centralized Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) at 99 Buck Island Road; construction of a wastewater collection system, including sewers and pumping stations; and return of the treated wastewater effluent to infiltration basins at the 99 Buck Island Site. Wastewater will be collected in the Lewis Bay, Parkers River, Bass River, and Nantucket Sound watersheds in Yarmouth. For Phase 1, an average annual flow of 0.417 MGD will be collected, treated, and returned to the groundwater at multiple locations. The first discharge location will be permitted for 0.37 MGD at 99 Buck Island Road. This proposed Phase 1 work will require obtaining both a Groundwater Discharge Permit (GWDP) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and an Order of Conditions (OOC) from MassDEP and the Yarmouth Conservation Commission. The Town filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) application (MassDEP File No. 083-2422) with the Yarmouth Conservation Commission for this first phase of the CWMP, to occur at the Town- owned 151.56-acre acre site at 99 Buck Island Road. While there will be no work within wetland resource areas or wetland buffer zones as part of this proposed project , the project may potentially impact wetland resource areas by increasing water levels within the downgradient wetlands; a potential impact consistent with the definition of “alter” in the recently proposed amendments (December 2023) to the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations at 310 CMR 10.04. This Wetlands Monitoring Plan was developed to support the pending GWDP and focuses on the potential water level change impacts to wetlands hydrology and vegetation communities within wetlands proximal to the Buck Island Road facility. This plan is intended to be implemented in conjunction with the “Buck Island Groundwater Monitoring Plan” (May 2024) developed by CDM Smith. Data collected under the two monitoring plans will be used to evaluate potential correlations between increases in groundwater levels and changes to wetlands vegetation or overall wetlands plant communities within the potential zone of influence from the WRRF. The 99 Buck Island Road location is the first of several locations for proposed recharge. It is anticipated that this monitoring plan would be adaptable to other locations within the Town of 1 The complete CWMP is available on-line at https://www.yarmouth.ma.us/2033/Project-Management. Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 3 of 10 Yarmouth for other future phases, and/or may serve as a model in the future for other municipalities. 2.0 Study Area The focus of this monitoring plan is on the wetland resource areas downgradient from the 99 Buck Island Road WRRF, and specifically on the plant communities within the Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW) to Plashes Brook and within one potentially isolated vegetated wetland (IVW) proximal to the proposed infiltration basins at the 99 Buck Island Road WRRF (see Figure 1). The proposed infiltration basins are located within a cleared area that is surrounded by forested habitat. Active cranberry bogs are located to the west and the north, Plashes Brook and associated wetlands are located to the east, and additional wetlands are located to the south. As presented in the NOI and the referenced Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) and subsequent 2009 Order of Resource Area Delineation (ORAD) issued by the Yarmouth Conservation Commission (MassDEP File #083-1864, 2009), the wetlands areas were previously developed and utilized as cranberry bogs and have since been abandoned. Portions of the Plashes Brook wetland system are located within the Town-owned Raymond J. Syrjala Conservation Area adjacent to and southeast of the project site. Plashes Brook, which flows in a southerly direction along the eastern portion of the site, has its flow controlled both upgradient and downgradient of the site . North of Buck Island Road, flow in Plashes Brook is controlled by water control structures in the cranberry bogs; between Buck Island Road and Winslow Gray Road, Plashes Brook flows uncontrolled through the remnants of historical cranberry bogs and then into an area of deep marsh, whose water levels are controlled by planks within a concrete weir and flume structure, located just north of Winslow Gray Road. 3.0 Baseline Condition HW field biologists conducted site visits with wetlands analysists from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on April 2, 2024 and with MassDEP and the Yarmouth Conservation Agent on April 17, 2024 to review site conditions and identify appropriate locations for long term monitoring locations based upon the modeled groundwater under the proposed WRRF discharge condition at 0.29 MGD. 3.1 Establishing Transects and Monitoring Plots Based upon site conditions and locations of the modeled zone of potential influence, we recommend establishing three monitoring transects through the BVW along Plashes Brook, as well as one additional transect through an apparent (although not confirmed) isolated wetland Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 4 of 10 located south of the proposed infiltration basins (see Figure 1). The locations of the transects were selected based upon field conditions within the wetland areas of most concern in order to incorporate a diversity of habitat (forested swamp, shrub swamp) and hydrologic conditions observed at the time of the site visits. The transects were further refined to align with established monitoring wells for future data analyses. As shown on Error! Reference source not found., additional wells and surface water staff gauges will be added along each transect to fully document the range of potential hydrologic conditions from the WRRF into the downgradient wetlands, across Plashes Brook (and the isolated IVW surface water); and the n up through the wetlands on the opposite side of Plashes Brook or the IVW. Transects will extend for varying distances traversing the wetlands along both sides of Plashes Brook and extending into the upland areas on both sides of the wetlands. Transects will be established with flagging tape and staking (permanent markers) that are GPS-located and surveyed onto a baseline plan. Along each transect, existing conditions will be documented to establish baseline conditions prior to the WRRF going online. Existing conditions monitoring will include: • Delineation of wetland boundaries, following the Massachusetts Handbook for Delineation of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (MassDEP 2022)2; wetland delineations will extend a minimum of 25 feet laterally out from either side of the transect, creating a 50-foot wide corridor for establishing vegetation monitoring plots. • Establish vegetation monitoring plots along each transect as follows and as illustrated on Figure 1. Wetlands closer in proximity to WRRF 1. One plot to occur just upgradient of the established wetland boundary for a distance of approximately 15-20 feet, to coincide with the upgradient topography that is higher in elevation than the wetland boundary, and where vegetation is fairly uniform. This plot will be established with the aid of survey so that elevations are understood. 2. One plot will be established immediately downgradient of the delineated wetland boundary in a similar manner for approximately 15-20 feet, depending on the topographic conditions. 3. One plot will be established immediately along the surface water. 2 The wetland boundaries should be reviewed and confirmed by the Conservation Commission either informally, or through the issuance of an Order of Resource Area Delineation (ORAD). Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 5 of 10 Wetlands on Opposite Side of Surface Water from WRRF 4. One plot will be established immediately along the surface water on opposite bank from WRRF. 5. One plot will be established immediately downgradient of the delineated wetland boundary for approximately 15-20 feet, depending on the topographic conditions. 6. One plot to occur just upgradient of the established wetland boundary for a distance of approximately 15-20 feet, to coincide with the upgradient topography that is higher in elevation than the wetland boundary. The corners of the monitoring plots will be established with flagging tape and staking (permanent markers), and GPS-located/surveyed onto a baseline plan. Figure 1. Typical Wetlands Monitoring Transect. Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 6 of 10 3.2 Documenting Wetland Plant Communities To document baseline conditions, vegetation data will be collected in all plots mirroring the methodology for wetland boundary delineation (MassDEP 2022). For the purposes of assessing vegetation, species abundance will be collected for all plants according to vegetative strata: • Trees: woody plants with a DBH of 3 inches or greater (regardless of height) • Shrubs and Saplings: woody vegetation greater than or equal to 3.3 feet (1 meter) in height, but less than 3 inches DBH • Woody Vines: woody vines greater than 3.3 feet (1 meter) in height • Herbaceous: all non-woody vegetation of any height; includes woody vegetation and woody vines less than 3.3 feet (1 meter) in height Plants will be identified to species level (if possible) and the relative abundance of each species within each vegetative strata will be assessed using the midpoint of cover ranges (Table 1) per the MassDEP Handbook to reduce variability. Table 1. Cover Ranges and Midpoints for assessing relative abundance of plant species. Data will be recorded on MassDEP Bordering Vegetated Wetland Determination Forms or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Determination Data Form - Northcentral and Northeast Region. The general condition of the plant species, including any vegetative adaptations to wetland conditions (growth on mounds, shallow roots, adventitious roots, etc.) will also be noted. Table 2 identifies the species that were observed during site visits in April 2024, as well as species documented in the previous ANRAD report (2009). This table is intended to be iterative and should be updated with species observed in each plot, as well as addit ional herbaceous species that were not observed during the previous site visits, and further refinements of the hydrologic classification in each monitoring plot once established. Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 7 of 10 Table 2. Wetland Plant Species Inundation Tolerance, {Lashes Brook Wetland System, 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA Habit Common Name Latin Region 1 Indicator Status Water Depth Tolerance/Nontidal Regime Community Type (Cowardin Classification) TREE Atlantic White Cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides OBL Irregular/semipermantly inundated or saturated PFO TREE Black Gum or Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica FAC Irregular to seasonally inundated or saturated PFO TREE Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus UPL Susceptible to flood damage PFO TREE Pitch Pine Pinus rigida FACU Irregularly to seasonally inundated or saturated PFO TREE Red Maple Acer rubrum FAC Irregular to seasonally inundated or saturated PFO TREE Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea UPL Drought tolerant, dry soils PFO SHRUB Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum FACW Seasonally inundated or saturated PFO, PSS SHRUB Inkberry Ilex glabra FACW Seasonally inundated or saturated (13 to 26% of growing season)PFO, PSS SHRUB Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum/Swida amomum FACW Irregularly to seasonally inundated or saturated (25% of growing season)PFO, PSS SHRUB Swamp Azalea Rhododendron viscosum FACW Seasonally to regularly inundated or saturated (13 to 75% of growing season)PFO, PSS SHRUB Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia FAC Seasonally to regularly inundated or saturated PFO, PSS SHRUB Winterberry Ilex verticillata FACW Irregular to seasonally inundated or saturated PFO, PSS SHRUB Leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata OBL Irregularly, sesonally, or regularly saturated PSS, PEM VINE Common Greenbriar Smilax rotundifolia FAC Good drainage, moist, occasionally dry PFO, PSS VINE Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans FAC moist, well drained PFO, PSS HERBACEOUS Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum FACU Variety of soils except saturated soils PFO, PSS HERBACEOUS Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum FACW Seasonally to regularly inundated or saturated PFO, PSS Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 8 of 10 3.3 Additional Baseline Data Color Photos of each observation plot will be captured from a fixed location and view aspect (photo station) for comparison among monitoring events. Soils Data within each plot will also be recorded, although changes within soils are not anticipated to be documented in the short term. 4.0 Monitoring Schedule and Reporting All water level and vegetation monitoring will begin at least one year prior to the WRRF coming online and continue for at least five years after the WRRF is activated. The baseline monitoring report will be submitted prior to the start of operation of the new WRRF recharge beds. The first year of monitoring will be the year following the start of operation of the WRRF beds. During the monitoring period: • Water level data collection from wells and staff gauges along wetlands monitoring transects will occur quarterly timed with other ongoing water level monitoring at the site (Buck Island Groundwater Monitoring Plan (CDM, May 2024)). • Plant data collection along the wetlands transects will occur twice annually during the early growing season (June) and late growing season (September or October): During each monitoring session, vegetation data will be collected on wetland data forms (those used in the baseline data) and water logging sheets. Qualitative data will also be documented regarding the general health and vigor of the plant species in each plot, with particular attention paid to Facultative (FAC) or Facultative Upland (FACU) and Upland (UPL) species that may occur within the data plots (see Table 2 as updated). Data collected in each plot will also be assessed and compared to both the baseline condition and to the observations made in the plots within similar potential areas of influence. Finally, the wetland boundaries will be confirmed at the end of the growing season (e.g., the September monitoring session). Field reports will be prepared after each monitoring session. Annual draft and final “Wetland Monitoring Reports” will be submitted to the Yarmouth Conservation Commission and MassDEP at the end of each of the five growing seasons, and will include the following: • Wetland Vegetation Data Forms and a comparison to baseline conditions; • Photo documentation from each monitoring session; • Groundwater and surface water recording logs; • A narrative description of the wetland hydrology at each Plot , accounting for climatological anomalies (drought or excessive rainfall); Wetlands Monitoring Plan Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 99 Buck Island Road, Yarmouth, MA May 2024 Page 9 of 10 • Correlation of vegetation data and water level data; and • An analysis of the collected data compared to the conceptual model for wetland hydrology developed for the study area, including an analysis of observed or expected sources of bias which may compromise the data set, if applicable. Potential changes to the monitoring plans and schedules will be discussed with MassDEP after that initial 5-year period. 5.0 References Buck Island Groundwater Monitoring Plan developed by CDM Smith, May 2024. Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan, Town of Yarmouth, MA https://www.yarmouth.ma.us/2033/Project-Management Jackson, S.D., et. al., 2022. Massachusetts Handbook for Delineation of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands, Second Edition. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Bureau of Water Resources. (https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-handbook-for-delineation- of-bordering-vegetated-wetlands/download). Wetland Hydrology Monitoring Guidance for Water Withdrawal Permit Compliance, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource Protection, Wetlands and Waterways Program (https://www.mass.gov/doc/wetland-hydrology- monitoring-guidance-for-water-withdrawal-permit-compliance-0/download).