Implementing the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit

Stormwater Division General Services

Department

Board of Supervisors Work SessionOctober 22, 2013

Reading File

•Questions?–Memorandum–Attachment A – Permit VAR040037–Attachment B – FY14 Program Requirements

Snapshot: 2007 to 2013

•County Population grew 17%•23,500 parcels => 32,600 parcels (+39%) •More BMPs 600 =>705 (+18%)–25% have no maintenance agreement

•Land defined as ‘Urbanized’ grew 36%

Important Considerations

•The new permit –Requires more effort than previous versions–Requires a commitment of capital and staff resources beyond recent levels–If implemented carefully, will result in improved water quality conditions in County waterways

Today’s Discussion

•Staff’s understanding of requirements •Many options to meet requirements •Does not address programs managed outside the Stormwater Division

Implementation Goals•Comply with State and Federal law•Be cost effective•Spend funds meaningfully•Meet citizens expectations–Keep costs down–High quality environment & clean water

•Build on existing County programs

TMDL Action Plans - New

•Must develop two – Skiffes Creek and combined Mill-Powhatan Creeks• Bacteria is the biggest water quality problem in the County other than sediment•Good baseline information for the Mill-Powhatan Creeks•Must include an end date

TMDL Action Plans - Ideas

•Begin with a watershed management plan for Skiffes Creek– Quantify pollutant reductions– prioritize retrofit options

•Consider targeted septic system connection program for FY17 onward

CBTMDL Action Plan - New

•Must meet the DEQ Guidance Memo•Uncertainty regarding scale of MS4•Good baseline information in the Mill, Powhatan and Yarmouth Creeks Watershed Plans•Must achieve 5% reduction in N, P and S loads by June 30, 2018

CBTMDL Action Plan-Ideas•Begin with a watershed management plan for College Creek (in addition to Skiffes Creek)–Quantify pollutant reductions– prioritize retrofit options

•New program area – will need help developing, implementing & tracking plan

Action Plans and CIP

•Capital Improvement Program –new treatment facilities on County facilities

•Capital Maintenance Program–Upgrades to County treatment facilities

• Invest in publically owned property first•Won’t have complete picture until Action Plans are complete in FY15 & FY16

Public Education/Outreach•Focus on “Clean Water Heritage”•Coordination with HRPDC –Printed materials and website

•Use direct mail to target specific audiences• Increasing reach from 3% to 20% will be difficult

Public Involvement and Participation•Current program fully meets the new requirements•Keep doing what we are doing–Volunteer water quality monitoring program–Stormwater Program Advisory Committee–Partnerships with Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists

Illicit Discharge-Detection, Elimination•Larger urbanized area = more outfalls•More outfalls = more mapping & field investigations to perform/track•Mapping is time intensive, requires high degree of GIS capability, must be field verified

Illicit Discharge-Detection, Elimination - Ideas•Consider a consultant to map MS4 outfalls, drainage areas and field verify–Once per permit effort

• Consider efficiencies in developing and managing field investigations and follow-up–Improved equipment/software

Post-Construction Stormwater Management• Inspection cycles –private facilities once every 5 years–Public facilities annually

• Consistency & efficiency• Inspection process very paper-heavy• New emphasis on enforcement -

may need new ordinance language

Post-Construction Stormwater Management - Ideas

• Develop operations & maintenance manual for County facilities

• Consider a web-based GIS interface for staff access to records in the field

• Look for efficiencies to provide more office support (GIS/mapping) to staff

Pollution Prevention-Good Housekeeping•Most MS4 fines result from Pollution Prevention problems•Requirement needs the most effort–Must develop & implement a biennial training program–Must implement regular facility spot checks

Pollution Prevention-Good Housekeeping - Ideas

•Consider a County-wide Pollution Prevention Team crossing agency lines•Consider consultants to provide specialized training•Will need all parts of organization to participate

In Summary

•The new permit –Requires more effort than previous permits–Requires a commitment of capital and staff resources beyond recent levels–If implemented carefully, will result in improved water quality conditions for County citizens

Thank You

jamescitycountyva.gov/stormwater