Integrating Stormwater

Requirements into Land Development

Decisions SCAPA Winter Conference

March 18, 2016

Watershed Plans affecting Land Use Policies

Kim Jones

Town of Bluffton & May River Boundary

May River Importance: • Outstanding Resource

Waters designation from SCDHEC-EQC BoW for its -

• historic and cultural uses; • aesthetics which add to the

quality of life for citizens; • numerous natural resource

populations harvested and used by local & regional residents;

• economic impacts, direct and indirect, to the community; and

• The Oyster Factory

1999 Land Cover

2015 Land Cover

Issues • Ecological • Social • Political

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• 2007 SCDHEC reported fecal coliform increase • 2009 SCDHEC shellfish harvesting classification

change

Methods EPA Guidelines: 1. Build Partnerships 2. Characterize the

Watershed 3. Set Goals & Identify

Solutions 4. Design an Implementation

Program 5. Develop Watershed Plan

Outline 6. Implement the Plan 7. Measure Progress & Make

Adjustments

Town Process: 1. Set Goal & Initial

Objectives 2. Environmental Inventory 3. Identify Stakeholders &

Form Committees 4. Design an Implementation

Program 5. Develop Watershed

Action Plan 6. Implement the Watershed

Action Plan 7. Measure Progress & Adjust

the Plan

Methods 1. Goal & Objectives: Goal - Protect & restore the May River Objectives -

• Increase development standards • Dedicate staff • Develop a watershed management plan with

specific projects to achieve the goal • Implement plans to improve water quality

Methods 2. Environmental Inventory:

Methods 2. Environmental Inventory: • Mid 60’s – Present: SC DHEC - Shellfish • Mid 70’s – Present: SC DHEC - Ambient • 1999 – Present: SC DNR/DHEC/NOAA/EPA -

SCECAP • 2002-03: USGS/NOAA/DNR - May River Baseline • 2005-06: Town of Bluffton - Stormwater Sampling • 2007 – 2009: Town of Bluffton - May River Water

Quality Monitoring Project • 2007 – Present: Beaufort County - Ambient

Trends • 2009 – Present: Town of Bluffton & Beaufort

County – Weekly bacteria samples with USCB

Methods 3. Identify Stakeholders & Form Committees

(Social Inventory): • Watershed Advisory Committee – community

involvement • Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee – expert

advice to move science to policy • May River Waterbody Management Plan Project

Advisory Committee & then Implementation Committee – community involvement to ensure policy changes and action

• Public meetings/workshops & Civic Presentations • Watershed Action Plan Advisory Committee

Methods 4. Design an Implementation Plan – US EPA 319 Grant awarded by SCHDEC • Immediate action • Raised Awareness • Community Participation – rain gardens, rain barrels,

social marketing, pet waste reduction, septic system maintenance

Methods • Coordinated proactive

approach (Dec 2010 – Nov 2011) Strategies & projects for sustainable

watershed Dynamic & adaptable document Provide measureable goals Partnerships and Funding

• Public Comment Period (Jul 2011 – Aug 2011) Document is the Town’s and stakeholders’ Purpose to seek feedback from

stakeholders >250 total comments and suggestions

• Restoration & Prevention Measures: engineering-based solutions... planning-based solutions…

5. Develop May River Watershed Action Plan

Methods 6. Implement Watershed Action Plan

Methods 6. Implement Watershed Action Plan

Methods 7. Measure Progress & Make Adjustments • Completed & In-Progress Projects 319 Phase I Pilot Project: concentration reduction 319 Phase II Pilot Project: volume reduction Wetland Restoration Project

• Identifying Funding Sources for more projects Additional 319 funding applications Assessing grant opportunities and State

Revolving Funds

Initial Results • ’07 – Developed the Town’s first Stormwater Ordinance

& Design Manual

• ’09 – Created water quality monitoring program

• ’09 – Began working with area municipalities & partners on a watershed approach to stormwater mngt.

• ’10 – Volume requirement in stormwater ordinance

• ’11 – Unified Development Code Overhaul based in Sustainability & Watershed Management elements

• ’11 - Development and initiation of the May River Watershed Action Plan

• ‘12 – TDR of 1300 future units out of the headwaters

Adaptive Management

• Adaptive management and holistic watershed assessment approach.

• This is described as an “iterative” process as it is routinely implemented to improve the plan and its intended short-term and long-term outcomes.

(EPA, 2008)

Adaptive Management Logic Model

(EPA, 2008)

Results ACTION PLAN INITIATIVES FUNDING OUTPUTS OUTCOMES MEETS

GOAL CONTINUE

? 2011 2012 2013 2014 YES NO

Fecal Coliform "hot spot" monitoring SWU 1,000 samples 1,000 samples 700 samples 360 samples to date

Provides data to assess project efficacy and evironmental indicator for program successes; provides input for future project retrofit areas.

x YES

May River Watershed Action Plan Advisory Committee

Stormwater Utility Fees

(SWU) formed

meets quarterly to review project progress and

performance measures

Provides public forum to gather input into project, programs & initiatives; provides process for quarterly assessment of data and adaptive management of Action Plan.

x YES

Neighbors for Clean Water - Facebook, Twitter, website 319 Phase I

Brand created; social media

sites launched Continue to engage public via social media

Continued opportunities to reach a broad audience via social media and traditional media venues; conclusion supported by items #1 & 2 below.

x YES

1. Community Clean-Ups 3 events; 100

volunteers; 1.6 tons collected

2 events; 275 volunteers; 1.75

tons collected

2 events; 300 volunteers; 2.5 tons collected

2 events; 300 volunteers; 2.5 tons collected

Community clean-ups will continue and staff will increase participation levels by broadening the scope of the events to be more festival-like.

x YES

2. Outreach/Education events & participants 30 events;

reach of 2,000 40 events;

reach of 4,000 50 events;

reach of 3,000 In progress Continued outreach & engagement is necessary for success, however improved performance metrics need to be investigated and adopted.

x YES

Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Overhaul based on watershed principles 319 Phase I Provides a set of standards for development design and

environmental protection, but impact is un-quantified. ? ? YES

1. Growth Framework map adopted directing future growth and protecting headwaters

Uncertain what impact the Growth Framework Map has had on development patterns on the whole. ? ? YES

2. Low Impact Development incentives adopted available, but not regularly utilized

Uncertain what impact the incentives have had on development designs; requires better promotion of availability and tracking in the development process.

x YES

3. Stormwater Volume Control requirement adopted requires post-construction stormwater run-off

volumes to equal pre-construction levels

Uncertain what impact the volume requirement has had for protecting receiving waterbodies; requires calculation of percentage of stormwater volume decrease compared to previous design requirements.

? ? YES

4. Transfer of Development Rights

1,300 units transferred; prevents 146

acres impervious surface in

headwaters

While this program was effective in this single case, it needs to be more broadly promoted and applied. ? ? YES

Rain Barrel (55-gallon) 319 Phase I 175 installed Increased awareness and engagement for 150 homeowners (several sites received multiple barrels); prevented additional run-off from home sites.

x YES

Results Rain Garden (~70 sq. ft. each) 319 Phase I 13

Not the most effective stormwater BMP due to cost & maintenance needs making homeowners reluctant to participate.

x NO

Doggie Dooley Pet Septic installation 319 Phase I

5 installed in support of "scoop the

poop" pledge campaign; 30 pledges made

While this small-scale program was used as an incentive to have pet owners sign a "scoop the poop" pledge to be eligible to win a Doggie Dooley, only 30 pledges were made.

x NO

Manure management plan & buffer garden 319 Phase I

250 sq. ft. garden

installed

This particular project stabilized the soil and provided filtration of runoff. Wide-spread application of this BMP would be time consuming and costly.

x AS NEEDED

Bird Roosting Deterrent for docks 319 Phase I 40 Homeowners were reluctant to deploy a roosting deterrent due to their appearances. x NO

Septic Maintenance Assistance 319 Phase I & SWU

82 service requests

98 service requests

19 service requests

12 service requests to date

Until sanitary sewer service is extended to most residents, this program is necessary for environmental and health/safety/welfare of the public.

x YES

New Riverside BMP Pilot Project 319 Phase I

1.25 acre lagoon; 300

acre sub-basin treated

1 year of monitoring data show a

90% reduction in fecal

coliform concentrations

The efficacy of a pond to reduce fecal coliform loading from an undeveloped drainage area is currently being investigated via the monitoring data. Dependent upon these results, the applicability of this type of BMP in similar conditions will be known.

? ? ?

Animal Waste Ordinance completed General Fund

adotped; 1 ticket written and dismissed

by judge

no tickets written

Widespread education in support of this ordinance needs to be conducted for police officers, judges and general public to increase its effectiveness as a BMP for fecal coliform reduction.

x YES

Trash can installation in Old Town Palmetto Pride Grant 6 Trash cans are emptied weekly and more frequently after

festivals, thus preventing debris from entering the river. x YES

Construction Site Sediment & Erosion Control inspections SWU 200 400 2,000 700 to date

Sediment and erosion control inspections are effective to prevent sediment transport of pollutants to receiving waterbodies.

x YES

Pine Ridge Retrofit BMP 319 Phase II initiated

The efficacy of a stormwater BMP retrofit to an existing system to meet the current volume control requirements will be assessed via monitoring stormwater re-use for irrigation.

? ? ?

Wetland Restoration impact assessment Capital

Improvement Program

initiated The potential impact of a wetland restoration project to improve water quality downstream is currently being investigated.

? ? ?

ACTION PLAN INITIATIVES FUNDING OUTPUTS OUTCOMES MEETS GOAL CONTINUE?

2011 2012 2013 2014 YES NO

Results • Ten (10) initiatives result in outcomes considered to be a

positive improvement for water quality. • Two (2) initiatives (LID & Pet Waste Ord.) are not

considered to be meeting the goal of improving water quality, but are considered worth continuation and thus require modification.

• Five (5) initiatives (denoted by ?) require modification and re-assessment to determine if their outcomes are contributing to water quality improvement.

• Four (4) initiatives – rain gardens, Doogie Dooley pet septic installation, bird roosting deterrents, and buffer gardens – were not considered worth continuation, or only on an “as needed” basis, due to poor public response or participation as well as limited water quality improvements in spite of high staff effort or monetary requirements.

• The EPA Watershed Planning Guidelines are just that – guidelines.

• Do NOT underestimate the power of stakeholders in the process. Identify and engage them EARLY.

• Technical expertise is invaluable, but plain communication (education) is key.

• Involve all pertinent departments & jurisdictions. • Show early action for credibility. • Identify funding sources (SW Utility, grants, etc.). • Be PATIENT.

Discussion

Discussion • Adaptive management logic model indicates

that ½ of the Action Plan initiatives are resulting in outcomes considered

positive for water quality improvement.

½ of the initiatives are believed to be producing positive results, but require different and/or additional monitoring and assessment to support this assumption.

All of the initiatives require a quantitative assessment of contributions to fecal coliform load reduction.

• Adaptive management provides insight into which efforts should, or should not, continue. For those projects & programs that continue, which additional data needs are identified.

• Analysis provides guidance to determine which projects are most effective for our watershed conditions.

Conclusions/Recommendations • The adaptive management strategy provides

managers a tool to effectively assess and modify their watershed management plans in response to ever-changing environmental conditions, an increasing technical knowledge base, increasing implementation costs with decreasing funding sources in the face of a constant demand for action and positive results.

Stormwater Concepts in Development Codes

Eric W. Larson

Background of the 2014 Community Development Code

• ZDSO first adopted in 1990 and revised in 1999 • Stormwater Regulations not until after 1999 • Began writing the CDC in 2010 • Partnered with the Town of Port Royal and the City

of Beaufort • Final version adopted in 2014

Significant Features of the Community Development Code

• Use of Transect Zones / Place Types • Open Space / Civic space • Natural resources protection • Buffering and Landscaping • Road sections vary by place type • Stormwater requirements vary by place type

How Land Development Standards Can

Impact Water Quality and Quantity • Increased pavement width, mandatory hard

surfaces = more impervious area and runoff • Min. lot size, min. lot widths, large setbacks = less

open space • Prohibition on mixed use = more traffic, cars,

parking, impervious surface • lack of buffers = more cleared land, less vegetation

for water quality and quantity benefits • Disconnect between stormwater requirements and

place type standards = “gray” infrastructure that lacks aesthetic value

Transect Zones

• Community plans & place type standards define a mixed use form based design

• Maps logical placement of uses o Clustering of developed areas devote more land to open space o Allows higher density in smaller area, removing pressures to develop more

sensitive areas

• Encourages active and passive civic spaces within the open space

• Allows live/work opportunities o Pedestrian friendly design reduce transportation needs such as roads and

parking

• Land use design becomes a BMP o Clustering reduces amount of stormwater infrastructure needed o Reduced paved surfaces & rooftops limits runoff volume and pollutant

loading

Open Space

• Open space is an effective stormwater BMP o Buffers provide opportunity for runoff reduction, water treatment via

natural processes o Preserved area may contain streams, wetlands, prime soils – elements that

can mange stormwater naturally o Civic spaces encouraged to include stormwater ponds, vegetative

buffers, and similar BMPs as long as the BMP provides a focal point and is not a single use feature or screened from use/view

• eg. trails, fountains, piers

Natural Resource Protection • Buffers screen land uses and preserve tree canopy

o Percentage of natural forest protection varies by zone o Requirements for specimen tree protection and re-planting for tree

removal o Natural buffers must not be disturbed or improved o Transitional buffer setback to limit disturbance of the natural buffer o Beach dunes setback to preserve coastal buffers and encroachment by

tidal erosion

• Trees and vegetation serve as a BMP o Natural forests can be as effective in stormwater treatment as a

constructed BMP o Trees reduce runoff volume and pollutant loading by infiltration and

evaporation o Stabilizes stream banks and prevents erosion

Landscaping Standards • Standards for perimeter, parking areas, and road

section o Street tree and thoroughfare screening o Green roofs, if accessible to occupants as an amenity

• Landscaping can be an effective BMP o Use of native plants, drought tolerate plants, and/or deep rooted plants

need less irrigation water o Provide more uptake of runoff volume and pollutant absorption o Mitigates soil erosion o Protects the water table and surface water, both with recharge of volume

and pollutant loading reduction

Thoroughfare Standards

• Allowance of differing road cross sections by zone or place type prevents a “one size fits all” roadway o Transportation needs, traffic volumes, parking needs vary by place type –

so should the roadway o Rural zones can have dirt / gravel roads o Rural zones can have shoulder and open swale cross sections with trails –

not limited to traditional curb & gutter and sidewalk o Alleys and street parking can be porous materials

• “Road diets” can be a BMP too o Higher volumes roads contain medians, allowing opportunities for

landscaping and stormwater BMPs o Shoulder and ditch sections are preferred over curb and gutter (and

pipe) for stormwater volume reduction and water quality treatment o Porous pavements act like grass areas in that water infiltrates instead of

running off

Stormwater Standards

• The Beaufort County Community Development Code creates the nexus between site design and stormwater management

• Sets the pollutant removal and volume reduction standard (exemptions are strict and few)

• Introduces a variety of best management practices, ranging from natural swales to disconnected impervious areas to cisterns/rain barrels

• Provides a summary of appropriate BMPs for each zone / place type

BMP Manual Principles

Stormwater Review

Peak Controls

Water Quality Controls

Runoff Volume Controls

or, Impervious Cover Controls

Approved Design

Equivalent / Effective Impervious Cover (EIC)

• Metric that measures how effectively impervious surface runoff is reduced relative to pre-development pervious surface runoff

• Adopts Anti-degradation Goal on 10% Impervious Surface for Phosphorus

• Adopts 5% goal for Bacteria • Adopts 10% goal for Nitrogen • Volume control of 95th percentile rainfall event is

equivalent to 10 % EIC

Step 2 Requirements

• Required On-Lot Volume controls o Control runoff for 1.95 inch storm event o Encourages Impervious Surface reduction to reduce

size of volume practices o Options for staff variance if lot becomes unbuildable o Can be exempted if development complies

In Practice…Bluffton Gateway

• Corner of two largest roadway thoroughfares in Bluffton, SC

• 66 acres site • 185,000 sq. ft. Wal-Mart Supercenter, and • 137,000 sq. ft. Sam’s Club, and • 20,000 sq. ft. in outparcels, and

o Bank o Retail / restaurant o Fuel center

• But that’s not all…

In Practice…Bluffton Gateway

• Thoroughfare buffers • Forest preservation, wetland preservation • Landscape irrigation • Wet Detention Pond • Rain gardens / bio-retention • Porous pavements • aux. parking requirement

o Additional spaces must be pervious.

• Tree root preservation when preserving existing trees in medians, parking lots o Pervious ground or porous pavements

• In other words…the site’s runoff is as if it was only 9 acres

paved!

Site Plan • Thoroughfare buffer • Wetland Preservation and buffer • Irrigation re-use • Wet Detention • Rain Gardens • Porous Pavements

Stormwater Projects affecting Community

Growth Tony Maglione

Case Study Cypress Wetlands

• Existing heavily damaged system of non-interconnected wetland systems

• Unique in that the wetlands bisect downtown Port Royal

• Pond #1 Flooding Issues

Pond #1

Pond #2

Pond #3

Pond #4

Pond #5

Elev. 32’

Elev. 12’

Hydraulic Solution • Model

Watershed • Connect all

ponds to new outfall

• Control pond levels to maximize transpiration, infiltration and evaporation and prevent flooding

Pond #1

Pond #2

Pond #3

Pond #4

Pond #5

Elev. 32’

Elev. 12’

Watershed Area Served • Three existing

watersheds were diverted into the Wetland system

• Over 550 parcels diverted into the Wetland System

Environmental Solution • Restore

Original Rookeries

• Provide a regional SW treatment system

• Create a major passive use park

Existing Condition

Solutions & Opportunities • Developed hydraulic solution that mirrored normal

wetland system seasonal water levels • Did this with simple weir control in inlet boxes • Cleared wetlands of invasive species • Diverted Watershed into pond system for SW

treatment • Ensured stormwater discharged to open marsh

areas not to the ends of “finger creeks” • Controlled flooding • Created a passive use public park • Created a “Stormwater Credits” program to

promote economic development

Water Level Control • Weir box

outlet for Pond #1 (approx. 11 acres)

• Weir opening • 6” X 24”

Passive Use Parks

“Stormwater Credits” • Modeled wetland system after completion to

determine maximum capacity and future areas that could be diverted into the system in the future

• Worked with OCRM to: o Create a “credits” program based on system capacity for a 25 year

event o If stormwater from new or redeveloped areas of Port Royal can be

discharged to the wetland system, only the first flush of stormwater would have to be treated on site

o This eliminates the need for individual stormwater ponds that do not function well, need maintenance and are unattractive

• Most recently the Parkers Store is taking advantage of this program

Follow up pilot project • As part of the $600K

renovation & addition to the Town’s Police Station as plan to intercept stormwater and treat it on site was developed

• All roof drainage goes to water gardens, then sheet flows onto grass then to a raised permeable parking lot and sidewalk system.

• Even with the additional building impervious area total stormwater flows were significantly reduced from their pre-construction levels.

Where are we now? • The wetland systems have become havens for

wading birds • It has become a favorite bird viewing area for the

local Audubon Society • The 0.6 miles of elevated walkways, running paths

and observation areas are widely used by many throughout the region

• Many schools and organizations use the amphitheater for programs and events

• The Cypress Wetlands highlights stormwater management and water quality

• No impaired waters exist in discharge areas of the system

It is all about education

Questions & Answers

Contact Information

Tony Maglione Vice President Applied Technology and Management, Inc. (843) 414-1040 TMaglione@appliedtm.com

Kim Jones Stormwater Division Director Town of Bluffton (843) 706-4593 kjones@townofbluffton.com

Eric W Larson Director of Environmental Engineering Beaufort County (843) 255-2805 elarson@bcgov.net