Effects of Stormwater Runoff from Development...relationships between water quality and land use. In another study on Coyote Creek in San Jose, California, 41 stations were sampled

ost people know that urban runoff is a problem, but very few realize just how harmful it can be forrivers, lakes and streams. In order to secure better control of urban runoff, we must make thepublic and its officials aware of the full extent of the problems that need to be prevented when newdevelopment takes place.

Urban runoff has been found to cause significant impacts on aquatic life. The effects are obviously most severefor waters draining heavily urbanized watersheds. However, some studies have shown important aquatic lifeimpacts even for streams in watersheds that are less than ten percent urbanized.

Most aquatic life impacts associated withurbanization are probably related to long-term problems caused by pollutedsediments and food web disruption. Becauseecological responses to watershed changesmay take between 5 and 10 years toequilibrate, water monitoring conductedsoon after disturbances or mitigation maynot accurately reflect the long-termconditions that will eventually occur. Thefirst changes due to urbanization will be tostream and groundwater hydrology,followed by fluvial morphology, then waterquality, and finally the aquatic ecosystem.

Effects of Stormwater Discharges on Aquatic LifeMany studies have shown the severedetrimental effects of urban runoff on waterorganisms. These studies have generallyexamined receiving water conditions above and below a city, or by comparing two parallel streams, oneurbanized and another nonurbanized. The researchers carefully selected the urbanized streams to minimizecontaminant sources other than urban runoff. One study (Bay, et al., 2003) investigated the water qualityimpacts of urban stormwater discharges to Santa Monica Bay. Surface water samples collected within theBallona Creek (urban watershed) stormwater discharge plume were always toxic whenever the concentration ofstormwater in the plume exceeded 10%.

One study (Klein) analyzed 27 small watersheds having similar physical characteristics, but having varying landuses, in the Piedmont region of Maryland. During an initial phase of the study, they found definiterelationships between water quality and land use. In another study on Coyote Creek in San Jose, California, 41stations were sampled in both urban and nonurban perennial flow stretches of the creek over three years. Shortand long-term sampling techniques were used to evaluate the effects of urban runoff on water quality,

cont. on page 4

Volume 14 | Number 3 - 2004A River Network Publication

Effects of Stormwater Runoff from Development

MBy Robert Pitt, P.E. Ph.D., University of Alabama

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2 River Network • RIVER VOICES • Volume 14, Number 3

NATIONAL OFFICE520 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1130 • Portland, OR 97204-1511503/241-3506 • fax: 503/[email protected] • www.rivernetwork.org

D.C. OFFICE3814 Albemarle Street NW • Washington, D.C. 20016202/364-2550 • fax: 202/[email protected]

VERMONT OFFICE153 State Street • Montpelier, VT 05602802/223-3840 • fax: 802/[email protected]

RIVER NETWORK BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Clarence AlexanderCatherine ArmingtonAdrienne T. AtwellSally BetheaDavid BordenWilliam G. F. Botzow, IIRob R. BuirgyKimberly N. CharlesJim Compton, Trustee Emeritus

Dianne DillonridgleyDon ElderGeorge S. HawkinsElizabeth RaisbeckLaurene von KlanPaul ParyskiMarc TaylorJames T. Waring, ChairJames R. Wheaton

RIVER NETWORK STAFFMatthew BurkeMichael CurnesGeoff DatesSteve Dickens Don Elder Jean A. HamillaGayle KillamKarli Kondo Andrea Korsen

Katherine Luscher Margaret McCoySarah F. MoorePat MunozSusan SchwartzJames P. SullivanWendy WilsonAlanna Woodward

CONTENTS

River Voices is a forum for information exchange among river and watershedgroups across the country. River Network welcomes your comments and sugges-tions. River Network grants permission and encourages sharing and reprinting ofinformation from River Voices, unless the material is marked as copyrighted. Pleasecredit River Network when you reprint articles and send the editor a copy.Additional copies and back issues are available from our national office.

Editors: Katherine Luscher

Editorial Assistance: Jean A. Hamilla, Don Elder

Design & Layout: Greer Graphics

1 Effects of Stormwater Runoff

from Developmentby Robert Pitt, P.E. Ph.D.

3 From the President

8 Facts and Figures Related to Runoff

9 Strategies & Approaches

by Betsy OttoSally BetheaHye Yeong KwonGeorge S. Hawkins

14 Voices from the Field

18 CASE STUDY: Tualatin River

Sustainable Developmentby Sheri Wantland

21 Resources & References

23 River Network Partnership

River Network is a national, nonprofit

organization whose mission is to help

people understand, protect and restore

rivers and their watersheds.

Volume 14, Number 3 • River Network • RIVER VOICES 3

From the President

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nonce lived near a lovely stream. I would walk to it nearlyevery day to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of a placeteeming with life. I looked forward to taking my childrenthere as they grew up. Four years later, the stream wasruined and I had to protect my children from it.

First, silt from construction site runoff choked the stream. Next,telltale signs of gas and oil runoff from new streets appeared. Thestench of sewage became common. Water quality had gone fromgood to terrible in a matter of months.

Like most people, I thought of “urban runoff” as only a water qualityproblem. I began to notice that flows were changing as more andmore forest cover was replaced with rooftops and pavement. Morefrequent high flows caused the stream’s banks to begin to erode.When the streamside trees that had helped stabilize the banks finallycollapsed, the process accelerated.

High flows were higher, but lows were lower. Flash runoff left littlewater to seep gradually to the stream in the days following rain. Also,as the watershed “hardened,” the water table dropped. Springs thatprovided cool, clean water in hot weather—when the stream neededit most—virtually stopped.

Then the big storm came. In a matter of hours, the channel wasgouged by a torrent far greater than it could handle. Thetransformation of our stream from wildlife haven and communityamenity to a wide, straight, hot, muddy, polluted, dangerous ditchwas complete.

Techniques already existed in the 1980s that could have preventedsome of the damage to my stream and greatly reduced the rest. Sincethen, the art, science and policy of urban runoff management haveadvanced tremendously. Unfortunately, even the most basic, proventechniques are still not in widespread use today.

River Network Partners have told us they want us to focus on thisissue. With this River Voices, we begin. We look forward to workingwith you to reduce the effects of new development on rivers andwatersheds.

I


sediment properties, fish,macroinvertebrates, attached algae androoted aquatic vegetation. Theseinvestigations found distinct differences inthe taxonomic composition and relativeabundance of the aquatic biota present. Thenon-urban sections of the creek supported acomparatively diverse assemblage of aquaticorganisms including an abundance of nativefishes and numerous benthicmacroinvertebrate taxa. In contrast, however,the urban portions of the creek affected onlyby urban runoff discharges and notindustrial or municipal discharges, had anaquatic community generally lacking indiversity and was dominated by pollution-

tolerant organismssuch as mosquitofishand tubificid worms.

Cedar swamps in theNew Jersey PineBarrens were studiedby Ehrenfeld andSchneider. Theyexamined nineteenwetlands subjected to

varying amounts of urbanization. Typicalplant species were lost and replaced by weedsand exotic plants in urban runoff affectedwetlands. Increased uptakes of phosphorusand lead in the plants were found. It wasconcluded that the presence of stormwaterrunoff to the cedar swamps caused markedchanges in community structure, vegetationdynamics, and plant tissue elementconcentrations.

Habitat Effects Caused byStormwater Discharges Some of the most serious effects of urban

runoff are on the aquatic habitat of thereceiving waters. These habitat

effects are in addition to thepollutant concentration effects.

Numerous researchers have found

Effects of Stormwater, cont.

cont. from page 1 significant sedimentation problems inurban receiving waters.

The major effects of urban sediment on theaquatic habitat include:

• silting of spawning and foodproduction areas;

• unstable bed conditions;

• rapidly changing flows and the absenceof refuge areas to protect the biotaduring these flow changes;

• increased water temperatures due tothe removal of riparian vegetation; and

• decreased large organic debris that areimportant refuge areas.

Increased Flows from UrbanizationIncreased flows are probably the bestknown example of impacts associated withurbanization. Most of the recognition hasof course focused on increased flooding andassociated damages. This has led tonumerous attempts to control peak flowsfrom new urban areas through the use ofregulations that limit post developmentpeak flows to pre development levels forrelatively large storms. The typical responsehas been to use dry detention ponds. Thisapproach is limited, and may actuallyincrease downstream flows. In addition tothe serious issue of flooding, high flows alsocause detrimental ecological problems.

One study (Bhaduri, et al.) quantified thechanges in streamflow and associateddecreases in groundwater rechargeassociated with urbanization. The mostwidely addressed hydrologic effect ofurbanization is the peak discharge increasesthat cause local flooding. However, theincrease in surface runoff volume alsorepresents a net loss in groundwaterrecharge. Urbanization is linked toincreased variability in volume of wateravailable for wetlands and small streams,causing “flashy” or “flood-and-drought”

DID YOU KNOW?Polluted runoff is now

widely recognized as thesingle largest threat to

water quality in theUnited States.

Impacts of Development on Waterways— NEMO, nemo.uconn.edu


cont. on page 6

conditions. In northern Ohio,urbanization at a study area was foundto cause a 195% increase in the annualvolume of runoff, while the expectedincrease in the peak flow for the local100-yr event was only 26% for the samesite. Although any increase in severeflooding is problematic and cause forconcern, the much larger increase inannual runoff volume, and associateddecrease in groundwater recharge, likelyhas a much greater effect on in-streambiological conditions.

Channel Modifications due to UrbanWet Weather Flow Discharges Changes in physical stream channelcharacteristics can have a significant effecton the biological health of the stream. Thesechanges in urban streams have been mostlyrelated to changes in the flow regime of thestream, specifically increases in peak flowrates, increased frequencies and durations oferosive flows, and channel modificationsmade in an attempt to accommodateincreased stormwater discharges.

Much research on habitat changes andrehabilitation attempts in urban streams hasoccurred in the Seattle area of westernWashington. Sovern and Washingtondescribed the in-stream processes associatedwith urbanization in this area and expressedconcerned that many “restoration” attemptsof urban streams were destined to failurebecause of a lack of understanding of theactual changes occurring in streams as thewatersheds changed from forested to urbanland uses.

Urbanization radically affects many naturalstream characteristics. Frequent high flowrates can be 10 to 100 times thepredevelopment flows in urbanized areas,but the low flows in urban streams arecommonly lower than the predevelopmentlow flows (Sovern and Washington). Thus,

the effects of urbanization on westernWashington streams are dramatic, in mostcases permanently changing the streamhydrologic balance by: increasing theannual water volume in the stream,increasing the volume and rate of stormflows, decreasing the low flows during dryperiods, and increasing the sediment andcontaminant discharges from thewatershed. Once urbanization begins, theeffects on stream shape are not completelyreversible. Developing and maintainingquality aquatic life habitat is possible underurban conditions, but it requires humanintervention and it will not be the same asfor forested watersheds.

Stormwater Contamination ofSediments and Increased SedimentDischarges in Urban Streams Many of the observed biological effectsassociated with urban runoff may be causedby polluted sediments and associatedbenthic organism impacts. As required bythe Water Resources Development Act of1992, the EPA prepared a four volumereport to Congress on the incidence andseverity of sediment contamination in thesurface waters of the U.S. The Act definescontaminated sediment as “sedimentcontaining chemical substances in excess ofappropriate geochemical, toxicological orsediment quality criteria or measures; or

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otherwise considered topose a threat to humanhealth or theenvironment.” In thenational quality survey,the EPA examined datafrom 65% of the 2,111watersheds in the U.S.and identified 96watersheds that containareas of probableconcern. In portions ofthese waters, benthicorganisms and fish maycontain chemicals atlevels unsafe for regularconsumption. Areas ofprobable concern arelocated in regionsaffected by urban andagricultural runoff, municipal and industrialwaste discharges, and other contaminantsources.

The effects of large discharges of relativelyuncontaminated sediment on the receivingwater aquaticenvironment aremostly associatedwith poorlycontrolledconstruction sites,where 30 to 300tons of sedimentper acre per yearof exposure maybe lost (Pitt).These high ratescan be 20 to 2,000times the unit area rates associated withother land uses. Unfortunately, much of thissediment reaches urban receiving waters,where massive impacts on the aquaticenvironment can result. Additionally, highrates of sediment loss can also be associatedwith later phases of urbanization, wherereceiving water channel banks widen to

Effects of Stormwater, cont

accommodate the increased runoff volumeand frequency of high erosive flow rates.Sediment is typically listed as one of themost important pollutants causing receivingwater problems in the nation’s waters.Impacts that can be associated with

suspended sediment include(Schueler):

• damages to fish gills, increasingrisk of infection and disease;

• scouring of periphyton fromstreams (plants attached to rocks);

• loss of sensitive or threatened fishspecies when turbidity exceeds 25NTU;

• shifts in fish communities towardmore sediment tolerant species;

• decline in sunfish, bass, chub, andcatfish when monthly turbidityexceed 100 NTU;

• reduction in sight distance for trout,with reduction in feeding efficiency;

• reduction in light penetration thatcauses reduction in plankton andaquatic plant growth;

Water clarity is often measured in“Nephelometric Turbidity Units”, or

NTUs. As NTUs increase, claritydecreases. General and waterbody-specificclarity standards are established in terms

of NTUs in most states’ water qualitystandards. For information on standards

in your state, visit,http://rivernetwork.org/cleanwater/cwa_

search.asp, where you will find RiverNetwork's water quality standards

database under "A State By State Look atthe Clean Water Act."

cont. from page 5

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• reduction in filtration efficiency ofzooplankton in lakes and estuaries;

• adverse impacts on aquatic insects,which are the base of the food chain;

• increased stream temperature insummer;

• increased major nutrients and metalscarried by suspended sediments;

• increased probability of boating,swimming, and diving accidents dueto turbidity;

• increased water treatment to meetdrinking water standards;

• increased wear and tear onhydroelectric and water intakeequipment;

• reduction in anglers’ chances ofcatching fish; and

• diminished direct and indirectrecreational experience of receivingwaters.

Schueler also listed the impacts that can beassociated with deposited sediment, such as:

• physical smothering of benthicaquatic insect community;

• reduced survival rates for fish eggs;

• destruction of fish spawning areasand redds;

• loss of trout habitat when finesediments are deposited in spawningor riffle-runs;

• possible elimination of sensitive orthreatened darters and dace from fishcommunity;

• dissolved oxygen depletion in lakesand streams due to the increase insediment oxygen demand;

• decline of freshwater mussels;

• reduced channel capacity,exacerbating downstream bankerosion and flooding;

• reduced flood transport capacityunder bridges and through culverts;

• loss of storage and lower design lifefor reservoirs, impoundments andponds;

• dredging costs to maintain navigablechannels and reservoir capacity;

• spoiling of sand beaches; and

• diminished scenic and recreationalvalue of waterways.

Summary of Urban Runoff Effects on Receiving WatersThe effects of urban runoff on receivingwater aquatic organisms or other beneficialuses are very site specific.Different land developmentpractices create substantiallydifferent runoff flowcharacteristics. Different rainpatterns cause differentparticulate washoff, transportand dilution conditions. Localperceptions of problems affectpublic goals and priorities forspecific waters. There is also awide variety of water typesreceiving urban runoff, andthese waters have watershedsthat are urbanized to variousdegrees.

The long-term aquatic life effects of urbanrunoff are probably more important thanshort-term effects associated with specificevents, and are related to site specificconditions associated with dilution, size ofthe watershed, and size of the stream. Thelong-term effects are related to habitatdegradation, deposition and accumulationof toxic sediments, or the inability of theaquatic organisms to adjust torepeated exposures to highconcentrations of toxicmaterials or high flow rates.

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This article is excerpted fromDr. Pitt’s research paper bythe same name.The paper, inits entirety, can be found onRiver Network’s webpage.

Many studies are finding a directrelationship between the intensity ofdevelopment in an area—as indicated bythe amount of impervious surfaces—andthe degree of degradation of its streams.These studies suggest that aquaticbiological systems begin to degrade atimpervious levels of 12% to 15%, or ateven lower levels for particularly sensitivestreams. As the percentage ofimperviousness climbs above these levels,degradation tends to increase accordingly.

Impacts of Development on Waterways NEMO

nemo.uconn.edu


[In context of different types of impervious surfaces] As it happens,the transport component now often exceeds the rooftopcomponent, in terms of total impervious area created. For example,transport-related imperviousness comprised 63% to 70% of totalimpervious cover at the site in 11 residential, multifamily andcommercial areas where it had actually been measured (City ofOlympia, 1994). This phenomenon is observed most often insuburban areas, and reflects the recent ascendancy of theautomobile in both our culture and landscape.

– The Importance of ImperviousnessCenter for Watershed Protection

www.cwp.org

FACTS & FIGURES RELATED TO RUNOFF

…even relatively low levels of imperviouscover (5 to 10%) are capable of increasingthe peak discharge rate by a factor of 5 to10 for storms smaller than the one yearreturn storm.

– The Importance of ImperviousnessCenter for Watershed Protection

www.cwp.org

ow much development is too much? There is no simple, pat answer. As manycommunities have seen, just one poorly planned, poorly controlled development in thewrong place can do great harm to a stream—even if the development covers less thanone percent of its watershed.

One key indicator of the potential for long-term watershed harm is the percent of watershedimperviousness. In general, impacts increase as watershed imperviousness increases. Past a certainpoint, even the very best planning and management practices are insufficient to preventunacceptable harm.

What is that point? It depends…on the type of development, the type of watershed, the type ofstream, the sensitivity of local aquatic life, and many other factors. About a decade ago many expertsbegan to try to define a sort of “watershed sustainability line” in terms of percent imperviousness. Asthe following sample statements show, their opinions have varied. As times goes on and postdevelopment monitoring continues, many experts are lowering their estimates of the “sustainabilitythreshold.” Virtually everyone now agrees that significant adverse effects are virtually unavoidable ifimperviousness increases much past ten percent. Some place the threshold for unacceptable,irreversible harm lower.

– River Networkwww.rivernetwork.org

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Political…


Numerousstrategies exist forlocal watershedgroups wishing toproactively andconstructivelywork withdevelopers, publicofficials andothers to ensurethat bestmanagementpractices andinnovativestormwatermanagementpractices areimplemented. Inthis article welook at four suchstrategies:political, legal,technical andoutreach. The beststrategy—orcombination ofstrategies—willdepend uponnumerous factors,including:• the type of

watershed,• the type of

development,• existing rules

and/regulations,• organization’s

mission, and• organization’s

resources.

Development Runoff and Political Action

By Betsy Otto, American Rivers

What can local activists do to attack theimpacts of new development runoff throughadvocacy and political action? Here are a fewpolitical strategies and basic actions thatlocal river and watershed groups canundertake to make a difference.

1) Phase II stormwater National PollutantDischarge Elimination System (NPDES)permits. As of March, 2003 many smallcommunities and facilities, such as hospitalsand universities, are now considered smallmunicipal separate storm sewer systems(MS4), and must obtain general permitsunder the Phase II NPDES stormwaterprogram. (Check your state water pollutioncontrol agency to find out what entities areregulated, or see cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/smms4.cfm for moreinformation on who’s covered. Large andmedium sized municipalities—those>100,000 population—are already issuedindividual permits under the Phase I NPDESstormwater program.) Phase II MS4s mustengage in activities in six categories toreduce stormwater impacts, includingconstruction site stormwater runoff control,and post-construction stormwatermanagement in new development andredevelopment. (For more information onwhat’s required in these two areas, see EPAfacts sheets: cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/post.cfm andcfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/con_site.cfm.) Steps activists can take:

• Check your local MS4’s permit andstormwater management plan.~ Do they comply with all Clean Water

Act (CWA) requirements, includingwater quality standards, anti-degradation requirements, and Total

Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)?

~ Do they include both nonstructuralBest Management Practices (BMPs)(e.g., stream buffers, disconnectedimperviousness) and structuralBMPs (e.g, vegetated swales and raingardens) in ways that will reducestormwater to the “maximum extentpracticable”—the required standardunder the Phase II program?

~ Are MS4s actually doing what theysay they’ll do in their general permitand stormwater management plan?

• Can you push your state legislatureand implementing agency to requirestricter performance standards forwhat constitutes the “maximumextent practicable?” For example, NewJersey’s Phase II stormwater programrequires that 100% of pre-development groundwater rechargebe maintained, 95% of totalsuspended solids (TSS) be removed,and 300-ft. buffers be establishedalong all high-value streams, such asdrinking water sources and troutstreams. (For more information seewww.njstormwater.org.)

• Phase II requires developers to obtain ageneral construction permit forconstruction projects of one acre orlarger. At the same time, MS4s must alsoimplement their own program toensure that construction site erosion iscontrolled. Is your community settingeven more stringent requirements thanthe state’s general construction permit,as allowed under Phase II? Are thecumulative impacts of site erosion onparcels less than one acre in size beingmanaged, as required? Are the best low-impact development and greeninfrastructure techniques being applied(e.g. minimizing clearing, preservingnatural vegetation, grading and

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replanting disturbed areas)? (For moreinformation on requirements andtechniques see cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/con_site.cfm).

2) Clean Water State Revolving Funds (SRF).The Clean Water SRF program is the largestsingle financer of clean water infrastructureprojects. Less than 1% supports stormwaterinfrastructure, and virtually no funding goesto decentralized, on-site stormwater controls,though we know they are most cost-effectiveand better for streams and groundwateraquifers. Steps activists can take:

• Meet with state SRF program staff andask what they are doing to respond toCongress’ FY’03 and ’04 SRFappropriations directive that states:“…up to $75,000,000 shall be availablefor loans, including interest-freeloans…to municipal, inter-municipal,interstate, or State agencies ornonprofit entities for projects thatprovide treatment for or that minimizesewage or stormwater discharges usingone or more approaches which include,but are not limited to, decentralized ordistributed stormwater controls,decentralized wastewater treatment,low-impact development practices,conservation easements, stream buffers,or wetlands restoration;…”

• Work with local Phase II MS4s to applyfor SRF funding for innovative,nonstructural BMP projects. Point outto state SRF staff how these projects domore to meet environmental reviewrequirements. (For more informationon the SRF program, see p. 108-113 ofRiver Network’s The Clean Water Act:An Owner’s Manual. For moreinformation on how SRF funds can beaccessed for wet weather projects, seewww.epa.gov/OWM/cwfinance/cwsrf/wetweather.pdf.)

• Encourage state agencies to adopt

innovative SRF funding programsthat leverage conventional “pipes andpumps” infrastructure to pay forstream restoration and stormwatermanagement projects similar to thosein Ohio, Oregon and Iowa. (For moreinformation, see www.epa.gov/OWM/cwfinance/cwsrf/ohio_wrrsp.pdf, and www.deq.state.or.us/wq/wqgrant/PressReleases/CityofPortlandPR.pdf.)

3) Push for additional sources ofstormwater funding. Communities havecomplained that Phase II stormwaterregulations are an unfunded mandate. Andthe truth is there is little dedicated fundingto help communities implement theseimportant efforts. Steps activists can take:

• Tell your members of Congress tosupport funding to mitigatestormwater runoff from existingroads in the upcoming transportationbill. (Note: nearly $1 billion in fundingis included in the U.S. Senatetransportation bill for this purpose, butnot in the U.S. House bill. For moreinformation, see www.amrivers.org/transportationbilltakesastepforwardoncleanwater.html.)

• Contact your Senators andCongressional representative(s) andlet them know that there is a generalneed for more federal funding to helplocal communities implement PhaseII programs to manage stormwaterrunoff.

• Urge your state government toprovide more funding to localcommunities to develop goodstormwater management ordinancesand grants or loans to installnonstructural BMPs on municipalparks and other lands.

• Encourage your local community toestablish a stormwater utility or other

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funding mechanism to fund a strongmunicipal stormwater managementprogram.

Controlling Runoff from New Development

By Sally Bethea, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

Stormwater runoff, including soil erosion,accounts for 80% of the pollution in thenation’s waterways, according to the U.S.EPA. In 1987, the federal Clean Water Actwas amended to focus federal regulatoryattention on curtailing polluted runoff fromnew development. Excessive silt andsediment chokes the life out of streams,degrades water quality, decreases floodstorage capacity and increases the cost ofdrinking water.

In metropolitan Atlanta, much of whichdrains into the Chattahoochee River, thelarge number of construction sites—combined with the lack of qualifiedinspectors, insufficient education ofpersonnel and the lack of priority affordedby some officials—has made erosion controla daunting task for all involved. Complaintsabout the lack of enforcement of erosioncontrol laws have flooded UpperChattahoochee Riverkeeper’s (UCR) Hotlinefor our entire 10-year history.

Here are some basics to consider whendetermining if a legal approach is the bestapproach for you to pursue:

EDUCATE: With research projects, mediaattention and workshops for citizens, localgovernments and developers, UCR hasworked endlessly to educate the communityon the problems associated with this type ofwater pollution and to highlight bestpractices. We have also lobbied the statelegislature to secure much-needed funds forenforcement and education related to landdisturbance activities.

In the past four years, UCR staff has trainedmore than 1,000 citizens on ways toevaluate and document runoff problemsfrom new development. We have provided“soil watch kits” that include a BMP fieldguide, report cards, form letters togovernment agencies, tips onphotographing and who-to-call lists. Tenyears of working to minimize constructionrunoff has taught us that resolving thesewater pollution problems takes creativityand the willingness to use all available tools.

DOCUMENT: When UCR findsconstruction sites where there is a clearfailure to design, install or maintain BMPs,or stay out of protected stream buffers, wedocument the potential violations withphotographs without trespassing on privateproperty and take detailed notes of ourobservations. We then contact theappropriate local or state agency and holdthem responsible by urging them toinvestigate and enforce the law. Sometimes,we involve the media as well.

LITIGATE: After years of litigation overGeorgia’s implementation of federalregulations to control pollution fromconstruction activities, an agreement wasreached in August 2003 and a new legaltool—citizen suits—became available togroups such as UCR. Now, dischargesassociated with the clearing, grading,and/or excavation of one acre or more ofland must be covered by a general NPDESpermit that requires best managementpractices (BMPs) for erosion and sedimentcontrol, maintenance, water qualitysampling and final stabilization.

If the government agency fails to moveaggressively to stop the violations, UCRconsiders taking legal action. We can do thisbecause we have “standing”; in other words,we have members whose use andenjoyment of the Chattahoochee is affectedby polluted runoff from uncontrolled land


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designs are highly desirable and haveeconomic advantages for the developer andhomeowner.

2) Reduce street width.Reasoning: Excessive street widths increasethe amount of asphalt on the ground,having the undesired effects of reducinginfiltration of rainwater and increasingstormwater runoff.

Reality: Invariably somebody will argue thatnarrow streets are less safe and closerhouses are unattractive. In fact, excessivestreet widths have been shown to decreasepedestrian safety (CWP, 2004). Instead ofmore pavement, what about using moretrees and other natural features to providebeautiful buffers between homes?

3) Manage stormwater quality andquantity.Reasoning: stormwater runoff canrepresent a significant threat to the qualityof surface water, ground water, andwetlands. In addition, many communitiesare required to ensure that these impacts aremitigated.

Reality: Many communities still utilizeoutdated stormwater treatment practices ordo not maximize their ability to capturestormwater. There are numerous innovativestormwater treatment practices that canremove pollutants from runoff and in somecases increase groundwater recharge.

For additional information, check out theCenter for Watershed Protection website,www.cwp.org, which contain sample codesand ordinances, as well as information on abetter site design roundtable process thatencourages changes to local codes andordinances to permit these innovativedesigns. This website also contains tools andtechnical information behind the few tidbitslisted above. Good luck getting thedeveloper to adopt some of these practices!

Technical…

disturbance activities. We then file a 60-daynotice of intent to sue, but must make surethat the violations are on-going. If theproblems are remedied before the 60 dayperiod ends, the legal action cannot bepursued.

So You Couldn’t Stop theDevelopment…Now What?

by Hye Yeong Kwon, Center for Watershed Protection

Believe it or not, even if the decision to goforward on a development has already beenmade, it may not be too late to get your twocents in about how the site is developed. Adeveloper may be willing to entertain acouple of innovative ideas, especially if itsaves time and money. Here is a taste of themodel development principles (adaptedfrom Better Site Design (1998) by the Centerfor Watershed Protection) that developerscan implement on the site to save themmoney, reduce storm water runoff, makesites more attractive and most importantlydo the right thing.

One forewarning, however—you may wantto check your local development codes andordinances to make sure that these practicesare allowed. Development is usually dictatedby local codes that will vary by community.Upon research, you may find that it’s actuallythe codes that are the most onerous parts ofimplementing more environmentallysensitive site practices.

1) Utilize open space designs.Reasoning: Also known as cluster design orenvironmentally sensitive development, openspace designs aim to minimize impermeablesurfaces, reduce total construction costs,conserve natural areas and providecommunity recreational space.

Reality: Many believe that reduced lot sizesare not as marketable as larger lots.However, many studies show that open space

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Speaking OutPublicity and Driving Change

By George S. Hawkins, Executive Director

Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed

Bulldozers are coming, the hillside is to becleared and the river is at risk. Your researchdemonstrates that the project is poorlyplanned and will cause harm to a popularstream. Here are a few common sense tipsto help promote your cause.

1) Know it matters. For municipal, countyand even state officials, ten letters and tenphone calls represent an avalanche of publicopinion. All politicians respond to theirconstituents, and most want to be friendlyto the environment. With good publicityyou can win!

2) Get the facts straight. Many justifiableadvocacy efforts have been underminedwhen an opponent exposes one or twofactual mistakes and challenges thecredibility of the group and your efforts. Beresolute about collecting and relating thefacts accurately.

3) Create a compelling message.Environmental issues are complicated—inscience, law and policy. Yet, the public needsto hear a compelling, short and simplerendition of the issue, repeatedly. Limityour message to a few sentences, maybe 15-30 seconds of speech. Stick to this messagewith the media.

4) Organize and Build Rapports. Build acoalition by engaging concerned neighbors,local groups and even local officials.Working together will help distribute theworkload, bring greater knowledge to thegroup and improve the likelihood of gettingyour concerns addressed. Meet regularly,stick to an agenda and assignresponsibilities for editorials, publicity,websites and visits to key officials.

5) Create a Fact Sheet. Start with a catchytitle, include contact information,testimonials and pictures when possibleand explain the issue with more detail.Remember the five W’s: Who, What,Where, When and Why. The Fact Sheetshould emphasize how the public benefits,and connect the issue to national issues ifpossible.

6) Communication Needs. To be effectiveand efficient you need to rely on emails, alistserve and a website. Your websitesshould combine short compellingstatements, full-color pictures, access tographic details, jargon-free explanations,calendars of upcoming events andinstructions for joining the effort.

7) Cultivate the media. When you areprepared, seek out the press. Don’thighlight the importance of yourorganization or self, but do highlight theimportance of the issue. Maintaincontacts, provide updates, and providepictures and interesting people and placesfor interviews and visits. Local media isalways looking for content, and their largerbrethren always love a good story. What’syours?

To protect the rivers and streams you needto reach a wide audience. People need toknow why they should care, and need tobe able to tell decision makers what theywant. Organize, prepare and market yourmessage. Then, you can save the river,watershed, forest and meadow!

The Stony Brook-Millstone WatershedAssociation published a 30-page pocketguide to enable citizens to speak outeffectively at public meetings. A 2-pagesummary of the guide can be viewed at:www.thewatershed.org/managing_resources.php. Click on “Citizens Guides.”


Voices from the Field

IT DOESN’T TAKE A VILLAGEWe worked on preventing a development by forming a group,working with a lawyer, and citing master plan and otherdocuments. These documents provided guidance on notcreating a “separate village” (which is what this large, gateddevelopment would have done). Citizens donated time andmoney to the cause.

Upper Merrimack River Local Advisory Committee (NH)

EXCUSE ME SIR, BUT YOUR FENCE IS DOWNIllinois has a Citizens Pollution Complaint Form that can be mailed orelectronically sent. I use digital pictures and full descriptions to report anydowned and improperly maintained or installed siltfences. I call the developer first to allow themthe chance to fix it. If they do not respondwithin two days, I send the form to the IEPAand to the developer. The developer normallytakes care of it quickly, even before the IEPAresponds. I haven’t gotten any hate mailyet either.

Poplar Creek Watershed Planning Committee (IL)

NOT IN OUR FLOODPLAINThe banks of the Napa River are being rejuvenated asa result of an enlightened flood control project thatemphasizes restoration and preservation beforedevelopment. The restoration of the Oxbow Preserve, a12 acre peninsula in the middle of town, is one of thebest examples of such efforts.

Friends of the Napa River (CA)

You read it in the newspaper; perhaps heard it on the radio or at a community meeting. Or maybe you evendrove by the field that now hosts a slew of construction equipment. All signs indicate that a new developmentis headed to a watershed near you. But fear not, for watershed organizations across the country aresuccessfully informing developers—via education, negotiation and even sometimes the gentle nudge of aregulation—that new practices and technologies are available to decrease the negative impacts on a nearbywaterbody. Here’s a look at what some of River Network Partners are doing.

BUILDING BRIDGESFrom 1999-2002, Prescott Creeks and the Public WorksDepartment at the City of Prescott, Arizona worked closelytogether to reduce the impact of the construction-relatedloss of native vegetation. Upon completion of the bridge androad construction through the Watson Woods RiparianPreserve, Prescott Creeks planned and implemented arevegetation project funded by the City.

Prescott Creeks (AZ)www.PrescottCreeks.org

MAHALO FOR REMOVING YOUR SEDIMENTThe Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge will sooninstall cement baffles to reduce sedimentcoming from taro lo’i into the river. Thebaffles are being paid for with the HanaleiWatershed Hui’s EPAWatershed Initiate Grant.Labor for installation contributed by the USFish and Wildlife Service and farmers wholease the land.

Hanalei Watershed Hui (HI)

AN INTERSTATE RUNS THROUGH ITFriends of Mill Creek and the Marion Soil and Water ConservationDistrict provided extensive input to the City of Salem regarding theproposed Salem Regional Employment Center just east of I-5 in themid Willamette Valley. Part of this project site is located in the MillCreek 100 year floodplain; other sections include extensivedelineated but degraded wetlands.

While the potential for negative watershed impacts was clear,discussions with project staff and public testimony helped channelthe project’s design in more sustainable directions. The currentproject design retains all wetlands mitigation on site (restoringwildlife habitat) rather exporting it out of the watershed.

Stormwater runoff will be routed through bioswales before leavingthe site, and the mitigation wetlands will offset any lost floodwaterstorage capacity. Friends of Mill Creek members are promotingpervious surfaces at this site for sidewalks, paths and parking lots.

Friends of Mill Creek (OR)


GOING ALL NATURAL

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) haspurchased 143 acres of land to protect it from developmentand guard against future flooding in the region. Acquired underMMSD’s innovative flood management program, the ConservationPlan, the 143 acres are a combination of five separateproperties in the Village of Germantown.

The Conservation Plan complements MMSD’s engineered floodmanagement projects by acquiring undeveloped privately ownedproperties from willing sellers. Property purchased through theprogram will forever remain open space and naturally holdwater in critical areas expected to have major growth over thenext 20 years. Natural water storage is provided through themaintenance of existing wetlands and restoration of previouslydrained wetlands.

MMSD’s Conservation Plan is run by The Conservation Fund(TCF), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protectingAmerica’s land and water legacy—its natural, cultural, andhistoric heritage—for current and future generations.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (WI)www.mmsd.com

IF YOU BUILD IT, WE WILL COMEThe USRWA is being invited to all

pre-construction meetings for newdevelopments in the Village ofMount Horeb, WI. I get to give a15-20 minute PowerPoint

presentation on why stormwater/erosion control is important. So far,I think it’s returning good results.We’re also encouraging the village

(with the help of the WDNR) into lettingus host a workshop for all contractors/builders whowant to build in the village (slated for winter2004/2005), We plan to expand this program (bothPCM and workshop activities) to the entire watershedover the next 3-4 years (quicker if we can).

Upper Sugar River WatershedAssociation (WI)

BE AWARE, BE VERY AWAREOur County Commissioners adopted E&S Control regulations in 1999,and over the past five years our program has become very wellknown and accepted. Developers/contractors are better educated onwhy they must implement certain practices on a timely basis. Thesesame developers/contractors are now aware of watershed groups,citizen action groups and even more familiar with the SWCD office,which allows for many different (but effective) relationships to bedeveloped that all work toward protecting the watershed.

Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District (OH)www.lakecountyohio.org/soil

16 RIVER VOICES • Volume 14, Number 3

BOBbing FOR WATER QUALITYThe Cumberland River Compact and the BuildingOutside the Box Committee are working throughan EPA funded Watershed Initiative Grant tobring sustainable building practices to 3demonstration sites in the Cumberland River Basin; oneurban, one suburban and one rural site; each within a303(d) listed impaired stream subwatershed. In cooperation with local developers on two housing development sites, CRC and

BOB are working to upgrade these developments to a higher standard that protects water quality. In the rural site,BOB will retrofit a farm campus and demonstrate agricultural practices to protect water quality. The BOB partnersare facilitating a site re-design process that brings in better site design principles, state of the art erosion controlpractices, and high performance home construction criteria that will protect impaired streams, conserve waterresources, and serve as a model for replication across the Basin. Examples of the practices to be employed includereduced width of streets and sidewalks, shared or dual track driveways, vegetated islands in cul-de-sacs, use ofpervious concrete or pervious pavers, and minimizing the foot print of the houses. Rainfall is being diverted fromthe sewer system into rain gardens or rain barrels for irrigation use later. These improved practices will slow andfilter rainfall runoff thereby protecting nearby streams from both pollutants and volume runoff that scoursstreambanks. The project is also tracking the economics of the project to demonstrate it’s cost effectiveness for futuredevelopments.

Cumberland River Compact (TN)

GET REAL!Our Resource, Environmental, and Land (REAL) Planningmethodology has resulted in changed zoning and helpedspur smart growth efforts in a number of towns. BesidesREAL planning, CRWA also promotes the use ofinfrastructure to direct growth; things like “spot sewering”and the creation of density zones where housing bountiesare used to acquire development rights to agricultural andforest land. Then there’s stuff like transportation-orienteddevelopment, use of state and federal funding mechanismslike the SRF. This stuff takes some pretty seriousforethought, however. It is, to my way of thinking, theantithesis of “preventing” a proposed development, and itis generally far more effective.

As for stormwater, we’re employing the SmartStorm systemto capture runoff, recharge or reuse it, reduce land setasides for swales and detention ponds and generally comeclose to zeroing out the impact of development, existingor new, on rainwater.

Charles River Watershed Association (MA)www.crwa.org

I’LL DRINK TO THATWe helped pass a local ordinance in a drinking waterreservoir watershed, which restricts impervious cover to under5%, which to our knowledge is the strictest in the nation.

Cook Inlet Keeper (AK)

DISHONORABLE DISCHARGEIn 2002, the NJDEP approved permits for a proposed 518-unittownhouse development in the Borough of Riverdale. The permitsallowed TCR Northeast Properties to discharge stormwater from theproposed project into a tributary of the Pequannock River. Based onCoalition comments, some changes were made to the original plans,but not enough to provide adequate protection. Although new rulesgoverning stormwater management had been recently proposed by theNJDEP, their adoption would come much too late to alter the designof the Riverdale project. Subsequently, the Coalition issued a legalchallenge to the permit approvals, represented by the RutgersEnvironmental Law Clinic. The developer responded by working withthe Coalition to revise stormwater management on the site. The newdesign addressed water quality concerns by disconnecting and

recharging roof runoff, planting trees within andaround detention basins, and discharging basins to

vegetated swales up to 250-feet in length. These measuresare intended to reduce the temperature and improve the

quality of the stormwater runoff. TCR NortheastProperties also provided funding for futuremonitoring to keep tabs on potential impacts.

Pequannock River Coalition (NJ) www.pequannockriver.org

Volume 14, Number 3 • RIVER VOICES 17

PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPEI have convinced developers in the past that by installing infiltrationgalleries in the bottom of stormwater detention facilities, they canreduce the size of the pipes required to discharge to nearby streamsand make a more useable area for recreation that is not abreeding ground for mosquitoes or a mud hole for kids. Theseinfiltration galleries return incidental and smaller event storm flowsback into the groundwater table, which treats the water similar to aseptic system. The NPDES II regulations are now just coming on-linewhich will require this type of treatment, but up until now it hasbeen voluntary.

North Fork River Improvement Association (CO)

ROLL OUT THE BARRELPutting its trademark slogan “the path to clean waterbegins in your own backyard” into action, RiverSidesStewardship Alliance of Toronto, Ontario is encouragingresidential developers in the Greater Toronto Area to keeproof runoff out of storm sewer systems by installingRainBarrels and other low impact best practices for newhome construction. This project enhancement of RiverSides’5 Things You Can Do For Your River campaign, includesThe Home Owner’s Guide to Rainfall brochure. This guideeducates home owners about the connection of their hometo their local river by setting and reinforcing goodhousekeeping standards for the maintenance of theirRiverSafe RainBarrels and other lot level best practices toreduce or eliminate nonpoint polluted stormwater runoff.

RiverSides Stewardship Alliance (ON)

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHIn 1997, the Connecticut DEP launched the Jordan Cove UrbanWatershed Project, to scientifically evaluate the effectiveness ofwatershed technologies designed to control nonpoint sourcepollution and improve our understanding of nonpoint sourcepollution. The Jordan Cove Project is one of 30 nationwidefunded by EPA under its National Monitoring Program (§319).The Jordan Cove Subdivision Project monitors runoff from threesubdivisions to assess the effects of construction and urbandevelopment. The three sites are:

• An established subdivision with 43 houses;• A subdivision built with generally

accepted construction practices; and • A subdivision being built using Best

Management Practices (BMPs).

The study uses the established watershed as the ‘control’watershed, with the two remaining subdivisions beingpaired as test watersheds. Data was collected during the18 month construction phase and a long-term, post-implementation monitoring phase of seven to eight years.

Jordan Cover Urban Watershed Project (CT)

CAN’T WE ALL GET A LAWN?The Lamoille County Natural Resources Conservation Districtreceived funding from the Lake Champlain Basin to conduct aLamoille County Phosphorus Education Project. One of thedeliverables included a lawn demonstration site. The Districtworked with the Vermont ANR Water Quality/Stormwater Divisionto design and install a bioretention garden, a stormwatertechnique that meets the new commercial development zoningadopted by our town that went into effect this summer.

Using volunteer labor from Upward Bound, an academic “camp”with a community service component, we built a berm andprepared/planted the garden bed. The idea is that the runoff

from the roof is retained in the garden by the berm to allowinfiltration/transpiration rather than the water just running

across the surface of the lawn, and it is working great!

We didn’t work with the developers, but we did work with thefamily business who also happens to manage/own a large bulk ofproperty in our town. The site is a brand new building that sitsalong a very well traveled road, and is labeled as a StormwaterDemonstration Project and was featured in our local paper.

Lamoille County Conservation District & Nature Center (VT)


n Oregon’s Tualatin RiverWatershed south of Portland, thelead agency for water resourcesmanagement is Clean Water

Services, the regional sanitary sewer andstormwater utility which serves nearly500,000 residents of fast-growing urbanWashington County. Its mission is toprotect water resources through innovativewastewater treatment services, water qualityand stream enhancement projects, fishhabitat protection, flood managementprojects and more, driven by the CleanWater Act and more recently theEndangered Species Act.

Studies show the Tualatin River is cleanerthan it has been in decades, due to strongpartnerships with local, state and federaljurisdictions, robust public participation,and citizen activism. Clean Water Serviceshelped establish and gives ongoing supportto the Tualatin River Watershed Counciland more than a dozen stream friendsgroups.

Although it is not a land use authority,Clean Water Services sets and enforcesregulations that protect the Tualatin Riverand urban tributaries from development,primarily through Design and ConstructionStandards that protect water quality

Tualatin River Watershed ~ Oregon

Sustainable Development

Isensitive areas, specify standards for waterquality facilities and stream buffers, andspell out the Erosion Prevention andSediment Control rules for development.

When Clean Water’s management teambegan planning two new buildingcomplexes, they seized the opportunity towalk the water quality talk and buildshowcases for sustainable development. Itsnew Administrative Building Complexqualifies for the U. S. Green BuildingCouncil’s prestigious LEED™ (Leadershipin Energy and Environmental Design) Goldcertification.

The new Field Operations Facility wasdesigned as a showcase for stormwatermanagement innovations, and has aneffective impervious area of nearly zero.Runoff flow rates and quality are beingmonitored, documented and analyzed.Interpretative signs at the facility provide aself-guided tour for visitors to learn howthe building and landscape design protectsdownstream creeks and wetlands bydispersing stormwater at its source,allowing the water to be infiltrated anddetained on the site.

How stream advocates andvolunteers can help promotesustainable developmentStream advocates can help promoteenvironmentally-sensitive development intheir communities and watersheds.

• Get involved in local planning effortsand code revisions.

• Find out how local land use authoritiesand stormwater utilities are protectingwater resources.

• Ask the city or county developmentservices staff to provide and explain thedevelopment regulations related tostreams, lakes, wetlands and otherwater resources.

CASESTUDY

LEEDSTM

certifiedAdministrative

BuildingComplex

by Sheri Wantland

Public InvolvementCoordinator

Clean Water Services

www.cleanwaterservices.org


• Participate in land use decisions, respondto public notices and attend hearings forland use applications.

• Call, write and email policymakers and letthem know your concerns for waterresources.

• Attend public meetings and testify whenland use and environmental policies areunder discussion.

• Research sustainable development in othercommunities and assess what yourcommunity might need to do.

• Serve on or participate in advisorycommittees, task forces, workshops andother public meetings and events wherethe future of your community is planned.

• Support efforts to protect clean water andimprove sustainable development.

Each city, county and region has public, privateand nonprofit organizations that are workingfor water quality and healthy watersheds. Byworking together, we can leverage our socialand political capital to better protect naturalresources. Clean Water Services and its waterresources management partners depend uponthe knowledge, insights and passion ofenvironmental advocates to support andstrengthen their efforts to protect and enhancethe Tualatin River Watershed.

Top left:FieldOperation’sstaff poseunder theirnew ecoroof

Top right:Top view ofecoroof

Bottom:Street swale

DID YOU KNOW?Clustering not only provides direct open space

and water protection, but if properly designed, itcan greatly reduce impervious surfaces such assidewalks, driveways and road lengths. A reviewof several cluster designs shows imperviousness

can be reduced anywhere from 15% to 50%compared to conventional designs.

Addressing Imperviousness In Plans, Site Design and Land Use Regulations— NEMO, nemo.uconn.edu

cont. on page 20


Tualatin River Watershed Site ExamplesThe following, excerpted from The RainRuns Through It, provides examples ofdesign strategies that manage stormwateron-site and allow rain to be absorbed intothe ground. Effective impervious area (theamount of surface land that directly flowsto a stream or wetland), has beensignificantly reduced through thoughtfulplanning and design and the use ofinnovative products in new residential andcommercial developments.

Un-paving the way to cheaperdevelopment and maintenance costsLocated in southwest Portland, the LuckyLabrador Public House reduced itsstormwater impact to the Tualatin River byinstalling Uni-Stone® pavers in its parkinglot. Gary Geist, project manager, wanted todo the right thing to protect the Tualatinand the Willamette Rivers. “When I foundout we could speed up the permittingprocess and pay no extra systemdevelopment charges, I was ready to go! It’sbeen rock solid. It looks cool, like acobblestone which fits aestheticallywith the older, renovated building.The cost was definitely moreexpensive to install, but when welooked at the engineering and longterm maintenance costs, it was worthit. Once it’s in, it’s done.”

Porous driveways andcreative swales increase lot densityProject manager, Ron Motsch, is proud ofthe stormwater swale in the second phase ofthe new development built in 2004. “Iconsider myself a pretty ‘green’ guy, alwaysinterested in the state of the art.”

The varied terrain in the second phasemade a traditional detention pond difficult.Instead, a design that incorporated porousconcrete driveways and vegetated swales fitthe fill perfectly. As an added bonus, thedesign provided enough space to increasethe number of lots from six to eight. Thefact that they could get two moredevelopable lots if they used porousconcrete was a huge incentive.

The City also liked the idea. Recalled anengineer, “We approved a more traditionaldetention pond approach to phase one. Thedevelopers came to us with the porousdriveway idea which helped drive a moreprofitable and innovative design for [thesecond phase].”

Sustainable Development, cont.cont. from page 19

The booklet Slow the Flow—Designing the urbanenvironment to protect urban watersheds details thedesign, costs, advantages and limitation of the FieldOperations Facility’s innovations. Other public andprivate sites with porous pavement and softscapingin the Tualatin Basin are featured in a brochure, TheRain Runs Through It. Both publications can beviewed at www.CleanWaterServices.org. It is hopedthat the new complexes will encourage sustainabledevelopment and on site stormwater management.


Resources & ReferencesONLINE PUBLICATIONSThe Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals contains information on NPDES Phase II compliance,TMDLs and any other issues related to surface water quality. Read the current issue or download past issues.www.forester.net/sw.html

The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual provides designers with a general overview onhow to size, design, select and locate stormwater management practices at a development site to comply with Statestormwater performance standards.www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/toolbox/swmanual/

Volume 1: Stormwater Policy Guidebook of the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual is a policy documentdesigned to provide guidance on the basic principles of effective stormwater management for Georgia communities.Volume 2: Technical Handbook is a technical engineering handbook for implementing stormwater managementmeasures for new development and redevelopment.www.georgiastormwater.com/

Stormwater Practices for Cold Climates exploressome of the challenges of cold climates, such asfreezing temperatures and high runoff duringsnowmelt events, and their influence on theeffectiveness of traditional stormwater practicedesigns. Included are descriptions on modificationsthat can be made to traditional practices to makethem more effective in these environments.Combined files are approximately 43 pages, notincluding appendices.www.cwp.org/cold-climates.htm

Stormwater Strategies: Community Response toPollution Runoff. This May 1999 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council documents some of the mosteffective strategies being employed by communities around the country to control urban runoff pollution. Thecollection of 100 case studies compiled and evaluated here is intended to serve as a guide for local decisionmakers,municipal officials and environmental activists; it is also a resource for citizens concerned about the quality of theirlocal environment. www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/stoinx.asp

US EPA’s NPDES Site contains technical and regulatory information about the NPDES stormwater program. It isorganized according to the three types of regulated stormwater discharges (construction, industrial and municipal)and provides a link to Stormwater Month outreach materials: Information specific to the Phase I and Phase IIstormwater regulations is also available.cfpub2.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

USGS: The Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality is a review of water quality issues as they relate tourbanization.ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/urbanquality.html

cont. on page 22


DATABASESThe International Stormwater Best Management Practices Database provides access to BMP performance datain a standardized format for roughly 200 BMP studies conducted over the past fifteen years. The database may besearched and/or downloaded on this website, and is also available on CD-ROM.www.bmpdatabase.org/

The National Stormwater Quality Database (NSQD, version 1.1) is a collection and evaluation of stormwaterdata from a representative number of NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) MS4 (municipalseparate storm sewer system) stormwater permit holders. The initial version of this database, the NationalStormwater Quality Database (NSQD, version 1.1) is currently being completed.unix.eng.ua.edu/~rpitt/Research/ms4/Paper/Mainms4paper.html

ORGANIZATIONSThe Center for Watershed Protection has developed and disseminated a multi-disciplinary strategy towatershed protection that encompasses watershed planning, watershed restoration, stormwater management,watershed research, better site design, education and outreach and watershed training.www.cwp.org

Construction Industry Compliance AssistanceCenter is your source for plain languageexplanations of environmental rules for theconstruction industry. This information isprovided free of charge by the National Center forManufacturing Sciences; numerous helpful linksprovided.www.cicacenter.org/or-stormwater.html

The Low Impact Development Center is anonprofit organization dedicated to theadvancement of Low Impact Developmenttechnology. Low Impact Development is a new,comprehensive land planning and engineeringdesign approach with a goal of maintaining andenhancing the pre-development hydrologicregime of urban and developing watersheds.Lowimpactdevelopment.org

NEMO – Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials: is an educational program for local land use officials thataddresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection.nemo.uconn.edu/index.htm

River Network has developed a training module on the federal stormwater permitting programs (municipal,construction and industrial) and is evaluating how different states are trying to implement these programs. Powerpoint presentations, trainings and individual consultation on state-specific compliance and enforcement efforts andparticular problems in your watershed are available. Contact Gayle Killiam, Clean Water Act Program Director,503/542-8387; [email protected]

Stormwater Managers Resource Center is designed specifically for stormwater practitioners, local governmentofficials and others that need technical assistance on stormwater management issues. Created and maintained bythe Center for Watershed Protection, the SMRC has everything you need to know about stormwater in a single site.www.stormwatercenter.net/

cont. from page 21


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• Access our River Source Information Center with the 1-800 hotline: Let ushelp you research a particular issue and put you in touch with the necessarycontacts and resources through one-on-one consultations.

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Please make your check payable to River Network and return this form to: River Network, 520 SW 6th Ave., Suite 1130, Ptld., OR 97204-1511 Phone: 503/241-3506

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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

2005 River Heroes Awards Banquet2005 River Heroes Awards Banquet

Honoring those who providethe river conservation movementwith leadership and inspiration.

Nominationpackets must be postmarkedby February 11,2005.

River Network is seeking nominations for individuals to be honored at the 2005 River Heroes Awards Banquet. Awards will be presented on May 23, 2005 at the 6th Annual River Rally in Keystone, Colorado.

Nomination material and criteriacan be found online at:www.rivernetwork.orgor by contacting Katherine Luscherat 503/ 542-8384;[email protected].

Documents

Effects of Stormwater Runoff from Development...relationships between water quality and land use. In another study on Coyote Creek in San Jose, California, 41 stations were sampled