STORMWATER/MS4 REFERENCES AND
RESOURCES
APRIL
2010
Note: Many of the sites listed in this
document are not under the management or control of the
PADEP MS4 & STORM WATER WEBSITES
From the menu on the left hand side of the DEP homepage, choose “Water” to view DEP’s water programs, including the Bureau of Watershed Management, which provides information on various watershed management topics, including drinking source water protection, stormwater management, water resources planning, watershed restoration protection, and waterways, floodways and wetlands.
Another route to DEP stormwater information is to begin at the DEP homepage, then select “DEP Programs A - Z” from the menu on the left hand side, then select “S”, then select either “Stormwater” or “Stormwater Management”. Both selections lead to the same stormwater management program site.
The stormwater
management program has information and resources for numerous stormwater
related topics, including the
Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual and training resources.
For MS4 permit documents, start at the general DEP website, then select “Tools” from the menu on the left hand side, then select “eLibrary”, then select “Permit and Authorization Packages”, then select “Water Management”, then select “NPDES”, then select “MS4s” to view the PAG-13 General Permit (which expires on 3-9-11), the MS4 annual report form, and the DEP MS4 Protocol.
Visit the DEP Water Quality Assessment and Standards homepage for information on various water quality topics, including:
Pennsylvania’s 2008 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report [includes Section 303(d) and 305(b) information] and the 2010 Report.
Pennsylvania’s State-Wide Surface Waters Assessment Program
Pennsylvania Statewide Stream Existing Uses Classifications
PA Code Chapter 93: Water Quality Standards (i.e., “designated uses”)
PA Code Chapter 16: Water Quality Toxics Management Strategy - Statement of Policy
PA Code Chapter 96: Water Quality Standards Implementation
PADEP Water Quality Antidegradation Implementation Guidance
Go here for DEP public participation information, including links to the PA Bulletin and PA Codes.
DEP TMDL information; EPA's 2004 Section 303(d) Fact Sheet for Pennsylvania; the PA DEP State Water Plan (Act 220); PADEP’s web based mapping application eMapPA, which can be used to locate impaired waters.
US EPA MS4 & STORM WATER WEBSITES
The EPA MS4 regulations can be viewed at 40 CFR
Part 122: EPA Administered Permit
Programs:
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (start at 122.26; small MS4 info at 122.34)
For an explanation of the Phase II Storm Water Regulations found at 40 CFR Part 122, including the history and rationale behind the MS4 regulations, go to the December 8, 1999 Federal Register and select vol. 64, then enter page number 68722 and hit “submit”.
For further EPA MS4/SW information and resources, begin at the EPA homepage or the EPA Region 3 homepage. There is a great abundance of stormwater information and resources available from EPA. MS4 permittees are encouraged to explore their websites thoroughly.
From the EPA homepage, there are several paths that will lead to stormwater information. The State and Local Governments, A – Z index, and Browse all topics selections all offer stormwater information.
The “State and Local Governments” selection provides information on water quality, polluted runoff, water efficiency, and watersheds. Under the “A – Z index” selection, “stormwater” and “water” can be selected for further information and resources. Under the “Browse all topics” selection, “Water” can be selected to view EPA’s Office of Water and other water subtopics. Then under “Browse these EPA Water subtopics”, some useful sites include:
1. Select Storm Water, then select
a. NPDES: Storm Water Program for useful stormwater information and links, including:
· Stormwater Basic Information
· Municipal MS4 Information (an excellent site that all MS4 permittees should review and post on the stormwater section of their municipal website)
b. NPDES for a helpful overview of the NPDES Permit Program.
2. Select Water Pollution, then Non-point Sources, then
Polluted Runoff (Non-point Source Pollution) for useful information, including:
· Outreach materials and toolbox
· Publications and information resources
EPA’s Watersheds site offers numerous useful resources, including Adopt Your Watershed, Surf Your Watershed, and a Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters.
EPA’s Watershed Academy provides training and information on implementing watershed approaches, including more than 50 free, self-paced training modules; webcast seminars; live watershed-related training courses; and educational resources such as Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread it Out, Soak It In, a 9-minute on-line video discussing how rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels can help manage stormwater runoff.
EPA information on “What is stormwater runoff?”, “Why is stormwater runoff a problem?”, “The effects of pollution”, and “Stormwater Pollution Solutions”.
EPA’s Technical Tools for Watershed Management addresses technical tools, data systems, databases, mapping, and water quality models.
EPA information on Environmental Education
EPA resources for: Environmental Sites for Kids, Water and Kids Health, Water Education, Water for Kids, Water Games and Activities, What You Can Do, Water Science and Technology for Kids, Water Science and Technology for Teachers
For EPA MS4 Fact Sheets, click here
EPA Antidegradation Policy for
EPA tools and resources for septic systems
EPA’s Used Oil Management Program
EPA Publication 841-B-05-004, November 2005, National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas, offers guidance to help citizens and municipalities in urban areas protect bodies of water from polluted runoff that can result from everyday activities. The guidance will help municipalities implement their Phase II Storm Water Permit Programs.
EPA Publication 841-B-05-003, July 2005, National Management Measures to Protect and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution, offers guidance for wetlands and riparian areas.
EPA information on River Corridor and Wetland Restoration
EPA’s volunteer monitoring website for information on monitoring and assessing water quality.
EPA’s TMDL website, TMDL Program Results Analysis, and information on Pennsylvania TMDLs
EPA’s November 22, 2002 Memorandum: “Establishing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Wasteload Allocations (WLAs) for Storm Water Sources and NPDES Permit Requirements Based on Those WLAs”.
EPA Region 3 summary of 17
TMDLs with stormwater sources (including 2 from
EPA Region 3 State 303(d) lists are available here.
EPA’s GreenScapes website
EPA’s Green Infrastructure website discusses how to manage wet weather with green infrastructure, and includes a Municipal Handbook.
EPA information on Smart Growth, including Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development and Water Quality Scorecard: Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scale, which offers policy options for protecting and improving water quality through codes, ordinances, and incentives. The goals are to help identify ways to reduce stormwater flows and to educate stakeholders on policies and regulations. View the Water Quality Scorecard (PDF, 4.58 MB).
EPA information on Healthy Watersheds
Financing information and resources:
EPA’s Center for Environmental Finance
The Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection is a searchable database
of financial assistance sources (grants, loans, cost sharing) available to fund a variety of watershed protection projects.
Watershed Funding resources, including Resources for State and Local Governments.
EPA's
EPA Region 3 Fact Sheet on Funding Stormwater Programs
EPA’s Guidebook of Financial Tools is a reference document for officials with environmental responsibilities and includes over 300 financial tools that can be used to pay for environmental systems.
Examples of specific EPA storm water educational materials (all PDFs, some in Spanish also) available at Storm Water Outreach Materials and Reference Documents:
After the Storm (425 KB)
Make Your Home the Solution to Storm Water Pollution (698 KB)
Stormwater and the Construction Industry Poster (743 KB) (refer to Storm Water Outreach Materials and Reference Documents for more options with this poster)
Clean Water is Everybody’s Business (238 KB)
Storm Water Pollution Found in Your Area! (door hanger)(161 KB)
Kids Storm Water Stickers (583 KB)
10 Things That You Can Do to Prevent Storm Water Runoff Pollution (bookmark)(103 KB)
Take the Storm Water Runoff Challenge (placemat)(960 KB)
Stormwater Management: An Overview for Auto Recyclers (77 KB)
Stormwater Management: A Guide for Auto Recycler Owners and Operators (301 KB)
Examples of specific EPA storm water information available at National Menu of Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMPs):
Developing an Outreach Strategy
Classroom Education on Stormwater
Storm Water Outreach for Commercial Businesses
Educational Displays, Pamphlets, Booklets, and Bill Inserts
Pest Control, Pet Waste Management
Water Conservation Practices for Homeowners
Pollution Prevention for Businesses
Promoting Low Impact Development
Stream Cleanup and Monitoring, Volunteer Monitoring
Preventing Septic System Failure
Municipal Construction Inspection Program
BMP Inspection and Maintenance
Low Impact Development and Other Green Design Strategies
Municipal Employee Education and Training
Municipal Facilities Management
Storm Drain System Cleaning, Parking Lot and Street Cleaning, Municipal Vehicle Fueling
Road Salt Application and Storage, Municipal Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance and Washing
OTHER
POTENTIALLY USEFUL MS4 & STORM WATER SITES
The Center for Watershed Protection has an IDD&E Manual and many other educational resources and links, including The Storm Water Manager’s Resource Center.
The Center for Watershed Protection has prepared a new guidance manual titled Monitoring to Demonstrate Environmental Results: Guidance to Develop Local Stormwater Monitoring Studies Using Six Example Study Designs. The guidance is available as a free download and is designed to navigate the stormwater manager through the complexities of implementing a monitoring program so they can be confident in their results and get the most out of their limited stormwater dollars. Each study design covers essential elements such as scoping, budgeting, and staffing needs as well as equipment and sampling requirements.
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers has information on funding sources for watershed groups, finding a local watershed group, and other watershed information.
Access to online environmental resources is available at Envirolink.
The Environmental Directory claims to be the largest exclusively environmental organization directory on the Web.
OSUN.org is a new document search engine that seeks out documents with extensions .pdf, .doc, and .ppt.
This National Resources
Defense Council site documents some
of the most effective strategies being employed by communities around the
country to control urban runoff pollution.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has general information, resources, and links for storm water issues.
The Pennsylvania Resources Council is a citizen action environmental organization and has information on rain barrels.
The Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership has information on Stormwater BMP research and previous Pennsylvania Storm Water Management Symposiums.
Advanced Stormwater Information Systems has storm water management software products and tools for MS4s.
The Stroud Water Research Center conducts freshwater research and provides watershed education, events and outreach efforts.
The Nature Conservancy offers an interactive diagram that explains the complexities of a river system.
Does your lawn need to be watered today? Find out!
A study of regionalization efforts for controlling stormwater
pollution in
The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network provides environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff. LGEAN is one of EPA’s Compliance Assistance Centers that helps businesses, local governments, and federal facilities understand and comply with federal environmental requirements and save money through pollution prevention techniques.
StormwaterPA is a collaborative effort that highlights stormwater management innovations and provides developers, municipal officials, and engineers with the tools to transform local runoff problems from unwanted nuisance into beneficial resource.
The Environmental Management Assistance Program provides free and confidential environmental assistance to small businesses (500 employees or less) dealing with environmental compliance, pollution prevention, waste minimization, water conservation, and energy efficiency issues.
EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds recently released a new version of its watershed handbook to help communities, watershed organizations, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies develop and implement watershed plans to meet water quality standards and protect water resources. The Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters is designed to help anyone undertaking a watershed planning effort, but should be particularly useful to communities working with waters that are impaired or threatened.
Local grant opportunities and contacts to help property owners and municipalities develop a financing strategy for storm water management and infrastructure improvements, including retrofit and demonstration projects:
The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation was created by Congress in 1984 and directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private funds.
US Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service.
The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVest) provides low interest loans and supplemental grants for infrastructure projects (including stormwater).
The PA Coastal Resources Management Program provides federal funds for projects in PA’s coastal areas.
The League of Woman Voters’ Water Resources Education Network (WREN) provides information on resources and grants.
TreeVitalize (A partnership to restore
tree cover in
Planning Commissions can be viewed for Act 167 and other useful information:
Bucks County Planning Commission
Chester County Planning Commission
Chester County Water Resources Authority
Delaware County Planning Department
Montgomery County Planning Commission
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Information on stormwater program funding:
The National Association of Flood & Storm Water Management Agencies has produced a guidance document (PDF, 1 MB) for municipal storm water funding.
The
The
A stormwater financing presentation from AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. is available through SmartWaterways.org. AMEC’s Financing a Municipal Stormwater Program EPA webcast from 2006.
An internet guide to financing stormwater management.
Natural Resources Defense Council: “Funding and Gaining Support for Stormwater Programs”.
“The Stormwater Utility, Will it Work in Your Community?” Stormwater 1(1)
“Stormwater Utilities: Where do they Stand Now?” Stormwater 4(3)
Here is information from
An October 2008 Stormwater editorial: “MS4
NPDES Compliance: Where Will the Funds Come From?”
EPA’s fact sheet, Green Infrastructure Approaches to Managing Wet Weather with Clean Water State Revolving Funds, identifies several ways in which communities and individuals can use the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance green infrastructure projects.
MCMs 1 & 2 – Public
Education, Outreach, Involvement and
Participation:
The PADEP MS4 information resource CD
EPA resources: Fact sheets for MCMs #1 and #2; a Toolbox with a variety of resources to help develop and implement an effective and targeted outreach campaign is available; an educational resource for kids, students, high school and teachers is available here; overviews of MCM #1 and MCM #2; info on attitude surveys; EPA Public Outreach Resources such as “Getting in Step”: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns (PDF, 3.3 MB) and Engaging and Involving Stakeholders in Your Watershed (PDF, 1.34 MB)
The Federal Communicators Network has developed a guide to help government officials communicate clearly to the public.
The Delaware
Riverkeeper Network's publication “Protecting
Streams in Pennsylvania: A Resource for
Municipal Officials” has been prepared for municipal officials,
with their responsibility as stewards of
Pennsylvania’s natural resources in mind, and for private citizens, to
enhance their understanding of what to expect of those officials. This guide focuses on the municipal role
in protecting water quality and quantity. "Protecting Streams in
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has developed a manual: “Developing Effective Citizen Engagement: A How-To Guide for Community Leaders”.
For effective stormwater outreach, use Water Words That Work.
Tools for Effective Outreach provides guidance for conducting stormwater outreach to different target audience groups.
Learn about NEMO (
Water Environment Federation educational materials for students, educators and the public.
The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education provides environmental education materials, resources and programs.
The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators has information for environmental educators, including many links.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has State Academic Standards, including Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology.
The National Extension Water Quality Outreach Education website offers educational and watershed management resources as well as featured resources addressing topics such as “Changing Public Behavior”, “Target Audience Research”, and “Defining Successful Water Programs”.
Stream Side Science is a collection of 11 hands-on activities that teach middle and high school students about basic concepts of watershed and water quality science.
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has a learning center and educational information.
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary provides educational and outreach resources, including information for children, teachers, communities and volunteers.
The Philadelphia Water Department, Office of Watersheds, has developed a useful “Homeowner’s Guide to Storm Water Management” which is available here (PDF, 1.74 MB).
Pennsylvania Cleanways provides information and education on stream/litter cleanup programs.
Storm drain stenciling resources (in English and Spanish) are available from C&R Stencils; storm drain markers are available from das Manufacturing, Clear Water Technology, ACP International, New Pig, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and Almetek Industries. A storm drain stenciling manual for communities is available from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The Southeastern PA Resource Conservation & Development Council also has resources available, including stream signage resources.
The Water Drop Patch Project inspires Girl Scouts to learn about water quality and to take action in their communities to protect and restore local water resources.
This site
provides general information about storm drain stenciling and lists examples of
service learning projects for students and children. Also available is Welcome to
Stormville.
Give Water A Hand is a national watershed education program designed to involve young people in local environmental service projects.
The Air & Waste Management Association’s Environmental Education Council has classroom lesson plans for non-point source pollution prevention for K-12.
The GreenTreks Network provides watershed and educational resources and Stormwater Best Management Practices videos.
The EAC Network
promotes the establishment and support of EAC’s across
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has extensive guidance for creating a Pet Waste Outreach Campaign.
The California Stormwater Quality Association has developed an Industrial and Commercial Handbook that provides general guidance for selecting and implementing BMPs to reduce the discharge of pollutants in runoff from industrial facilities and selected commercial businesses.
The California State Water Resources Control Board has developed an Erase the Waste stormwater educational toolbox, with a goal to encourage residents and stakeholders to take ownership of their communities, help reduce and prevent stormwater pollution, and become part of the pollution solution.
Stormwater educational information and resources are
available from the San Antonio Water
System. While some of the
information is specific to
The
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has a Clean Water NJ website that provides various stormwater educational resources.
The ECAR Center is a “one-stop shop” for all automotive dismantling and recycling operations and provides comprehensive and up-to-date environmental compliance assistance.
Local watershed organizations can be a valuable resource for public education and participation:
The Brandywine Valley Association
The Red Clay Valley Association
The Buck and Doe Run Watershed Partnership
The White Clay Watershed Association
The White Clay Creek Watershed Management Committee
The Christina Basin Clean Water Partnership
The Elk Creeks Watershed Association
The Chester, Ridley, Crum Watersheds Association
The Darby Creek Valley Association
The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy
The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association
The Park Creek Watershed Association
The Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
The Cooks Creek Watershed Association
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
The Gallows Run Watershed Association
The Aquetong Watershed Association
The Primrose Creek Watershed Association
MCM 3 – Illicit Discharge Detection &
Elimination:
EPA’s fact sheet and overview for MCM #3.
The Center for Watershed Protection Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Guidance Manual,
chapter by chapter, including the appendices.
For historical topographic maps, go to MyTopo. Sources for current topo maps include The USGS Store, TopoZone, and TerraFly.
The Clean Water Network has developed a TMDL glossary and a Compilation of EPA’s Regulations and Guidance on key TMDL Topics.
Virginia Tech's Center for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Watershed Studies has developed an online database to house selected TMDL-related information and documents in one central location. The searchable clearinghouse contains three types of resources: TMDL guidance documents, reviews and summaries of TMDL-related technical and trade literature, and state-by-state summaries of TMDL programs across the nation. State summaries are updated regularly for all 50 states and include the approach and methodology used to develop TMDLs in that state. In total, about 500 documents are available within this database.
DEP guidelines on swimming pool discharges
DEP’s Mobile Washing Fact Sheet
Pond management information is available from the Chester County Water Resources Authority, including Management Strategies for the Small Pond Owner (PDF, 2.06 MB).
Information on water foam and oil like sheens:
Information on fish kills:
Information on MBAS and parking lot cleaning:
MCMs 4 & 5 - Erosion
& Sediment Control and Post-Construction SW
Management:
EPA’s fact sheets for MCM #4 and MCM #5; an overview of MCM #4 and an overview of
MCM #5. EPA Stormwater Management BMP Fact Sheets.
County Conservation Districts can be a source of valuable information:
The Bucks County Conservation District website provides environmental educational information, including a brochure on innovative stormwater BMPs; information on local watershed management programs; and useful links and resources.
The Chester County Conservation District website provides educational information and resources for erosion and sedimentation, stormwater management, and local watersheds.
The Delaware County Conservation District website provides information on stormwater, grants, and local watersheds.
The Montgomery County Conservation District website provides information on watersheds, rain barrels and rain gardens, Tree Vitalize, and a virtual tour of stormwater BMPs.
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts website provides E&S, BMP, and educational resources.
The International Erosion Control Association provides educational and resource information.
EPA has created a new web-based Urban BMP Performance Tool to provide stormwater professionals with easy access to approximately 220 studies assessing the performance of over 275 stormwater BMPs. The Tool provides access to studies covering a variety of traditional and low impact BMP types, including retention and detention ponds, biofilters, grassed filter strips, porous pavement, wetlands, and others. Users will also find a series of essays aimed at improving understanding of BMP performance and the importance of volume reduction/infiltration in these assessments.
EPA’s archived webcast on BMP performance.
The University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center 2007 Annual Report is now available online. Produced in partnership with the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), this publication contains performance data on the ability of stormwater treatment systems to treat water quality and manage water quantity. Recent presentations and posters from the Center are available here.
The Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual
The Center for Watershed Protection’s Stormwater Manager’s
The Center for Watershed Protection offers MS4 communities a lot of storm water management resources and information, especially for MCM #5 issues. One free resource is their July 2008 manual Managing Stormwater in Your Community: A Guide for Building an Effective Post-Construction Program. Their 2007 Urban Sub-watershed Restoration Manual No. 3: Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices is a free download and focuses on retrofit practices that capture and treat stormwater runoff before it is delivered to a water body. It describes both off-site and on-site retrofit techniques that can be used to remove pollutants, minimize channel erosion, and help restore stream hydrology.
The Center also has numerous resources available addressing Better Site Design.
The Chesapeake Stormwater Network seeks to improve on-the-ground implementation of more sustainable stormwater management and environmental site design practices within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. While their focus is on the Bay Watershed, much of their information and resources can also be applied outside of the Bay Watershed. The site includes information for MS4s under “Local Stormwater Managers”.
The
The International Stormwater BMP Database provides information on the design, selection and performance of SW BMPs, including a project overview and the Technical Memorandum: Development of Performance Measures: Determining Urban Stormwater Best Management Practice Removal Efficiencies.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has developed a Green Values stormwater calculator that estimates savings from conventional versus green development for several scenarios.
The University of New
Hampshire Stormwater Center provides
useful stormwater information and has launched the Innovative Stormwater
Management Inventory web site, in conjunction with NEMO (
The California Stormwater Quality Association has developed a New Development and Redevelopment handbook that provides general guidance for selecting and implementing BMPs to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff. The handbook contains general information on planning and design concepts, source control and treatment control BMPs, and information on long-term maintenance of BMPs.
The Capitol Region
Watershed District (
The National Resources Defense Council provides information and case studies on green infrastructure alternatives to traditional hardscape solutions to wet weather discharge problems.
Go here for a June 2008 report (PDF, 6.67 MB) assessing the benefits of naturalized basins.
Go here for a report on how to reduce the amount of impervious cover in an impaired stream flowing through a highly urbanized area. Approximately 50 stormwater retrofit opportunities were identified.
Rain garden information is available at the Rain Garden Network, including webcast information on how to fund green stormwater infrastructure projects.
The New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute provides useful general information on rain gardens and bioretention in their Fall 2008 newsletter (PDF, 1.61 MB).
The North Carolina State University Stormwater Engineering Group offers a wealth of information on various stormwater topics, including research information on stormwater BMPs and pathogens, rainwater harvesting, permeable pavement, green roofs, and bioretention areas; information on backyard rain gardens; guidance information for local governments to implement their Phase II MS4 programs; and numerous fact sheets.
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has
many stormwater related
publications available, including information on buffers, rain barrels and
gardens, homeowner stormwater guidance, integrated pest management, and a Citizen’s
Guide to the Control of Invasive Plants in Wetland and Riparian
Areas.
Rain garden information is available at The Green InterNetwork, including a
“How to Build a
Additional rain garden information and resources (e.g.,
articles, presentations, manuals, fact sheets, websites) are available at the
The University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension for Water Resources Education provides stormwater educational information and publications, including resources on stormwater runoff, home and garden clean water practices (e.g., pet waste, rain gardens, yard care), and volunteer monitoring/water action volunteers.
How to make a rain garden from raingardens.org.
Rain garden information is available from the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System
Greenroofs.com: The resource portal for green roofs, including the top 10 hot designs in greenroof design.
See how green roofs are changing the way architects design buildings at http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/10/07/green-roofs-are-changing-the-way-architects-design-buildings.
Here is a Science Daily article on Sedum, plants commonly used on green roofs.
Information about Live Roof, a hybrid green roof system.
EPA Vegetated Roof Cover information.
How to make your own rain barrel. Additional rain barrel information is available here, here, and here.
Visit rainwaterhog.com for innovative rainwater collection systems that catch and store rainwater.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has developed several BMP Handbooks, including a guidebook for private owners and operators of storm water BMPs. This publication is designed for individual property owners, homeowner’s association representatives, and residential/commercial property managers. The guidebook outlines basic maintenance and planning tasks to keep Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) functioning properly, including information on types of BMPs, general maintenance needs, who should carry out maintenance, inspections, and planning for BMP maintenance costs. The guide also contains a sample inspection checklist, a BMP maintenance costs planning sheet, and a local government resource guide.
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council has developed a useful guide (PDF, 2.54 MB) for homeowners, “Maintaining Stormwater Basins on Your Property – Fall 2008”, that has been made available via StormwaterPA.
The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has developed a booklet that discusses simple methods to improve the function and appearance of stormwater detention basins. The booklet addresses naturalized stormwater management basins.
Additional guidance on detention basin maintenance for homeowner associations and businesses is available from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project. Further stormwater management information is available, including detention pond inventory and maintenance (PDF, 1.32 MB) guidance.
The USDA NRCS Mid-Atlantic Interdisciplinary Resource Team has developed guidance for maintenance of residential stormwater management areas (PDF, 1.52MB).
DNREC provides some guidance and resources for stormwater pond/facility maintenance, roadside swale maintenance, native plants, and invasive species.
EPA’s Stormwater Wet Pond and Wetland Management Guidebook (PDF, 4.11 MB).
Stormwater Maintenance, LLC provides inspection, maintenance, and repair services for stormwater and drainage systems and has a goal of helping owners stay within government regulations, meeting maintenance and repair commitments, and budgeting for and minimizing their overall infrastructure expenditures.
The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association is seeking people to complete their online questionnaire about BMP maintenance costs.
The Construction Industry
Compliance Assistance Center has information on low impact development, a
storm water construction industry poster, and
The Low Impact Development Center provides information on low impact development, including urban design tools for retrofits and new/re-development, and LID Strategies and Tools for NPDES Phase II Communities.
EPA’s Low Impact Development website provides fact sheets and reports, design/guidance manuals, and information resources.
Storm water management information is available from The Stormwater Authority.
SUSTAIN (System
for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis Integration Model) was developed by
EPA and is a decision support system to facilitate selection and placement of
BMPs and LID techniques at strategic locations in urban watersheds. It was designed for use by watershed and stormwater practitioners to develop,
evaluate, and select optimal BMP combinations at various watershed scales on the
basis of cost and effectiveness.
Applications include developing TMDL implementation plans, identifying
management practices to achieve pollutant reductions under a MS4 permit, and
developing a phased BMP installation plan.
The National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity
Development Project, under “Publications & Presentations”, offers
lessons learned from a 2009 Residential Low Impact Development Project in
The U.S Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, has recently published a report titled “A Comparison of Runoff Quantity and Quality from Two Small Basins Undergoing Implementation of Conventional and Low-Impact-Development (LID) Strategies.” This report is available as a free download (5.86 MB).
Information on permeable pavements, from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute.
Articles in Stormwater on permeable pavers, porous pavement, and volume-based hydrology.
The American Society of Landscape Architects has released a resource to help create sustainable and resource-efficient homes. The site discusses integrated site design and provides links to organizations, publications, and resources, including information on permeable materials.
Aquatic Plant Management: Best Management Practices in Support of Fish and Wildlife Habitat provides nationally recognized BMPs for chemical, mechanical-physical, biological, and cultural procedures for controlling aquatic plants, using methods that protect or restore fish and wildlife habitat.
The Water Environment Research Federation recently unveiled a new Web site that gives landscape architects, designers, engineers, stormwater managers, elected officials and the public creative new ideas on sustainable stormwater practices. The site provides practical tools, frameworks for implementation, and planning aids that can be adapted to any community or project. While on the WERF homepage, to review stormwater related research and guidance, select “Search Research Publications & Tools” and then select relevant stormwater subject area topics such as Green Infrastructure, Low Impact Development, Stormwater BMPs, Stormwater Source Identification & Control, and TMDLs.
The Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments, from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), identifies both the state-of-the-art and the range of current practice in protection of wetland buffers by local governments. The guide book presents ELI's detailed examination of more than 50 enacted wetland buffer ordinances around the nation and nine model ordinances, as well as several hundred scientific studies and analyses of buffer performance. The guide provides to local governments considering enacting or amending a wetland buffer ordinance what they need to know to manage land use and development in these important areas.
The
From the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc.: Riparian Setbacks: Technical Information for Decision Makers.
From EPA: Riparian Buffer Width, Vegetated Cover, and Nitrogen Removal Effectiveness: A Review of Current Science and Regulations (PDF, 1.14 MB).
A recent article in Stormwater offers a review of current literature of riparian and wetland buffers for water quality protection.
The Center for Watershed Protection and the US Forest Service has developed a Watershed Forestry Resource Guide website. This site addresses topics such as urban tree canopy, reducing stormwater runoff, forest-friendly development, and planting and maintaining trees.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative was created to promote sustainable land development and management practices that can apply to sites with and without buildings.
An article in Water Online describes research with several ornamental and wetland plants to remove nutrients from stormwater runoff.
The Association of State Wetland Managers provides links to many guides, articles, and websites related to wetlands.
The Swamp School offers wetland and environmental education, including a free wetland plant guide.
The Center for Urban Forest Research offers tree guides and fact sheets.
Go to American Forests for a review of case studies on how cities have improved their ordinances, obtained funding, and enhanced programs and staffing related to green infrastructure policy and practice within urban areas.
The
MCM 6 – Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping for Municipal
Operations:
EPA’s fact sheet and overview for MCM #6.
Training resources are available at Excal Visual, including stormwater training resources.
The Center for Watershed Protection has developed a Municipal
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Practices Manual. The manual provides "how to" guidance,
and outlines the Center's most recent ideas on how municipal pollution
prevention/good housekeeping practices can be used to address local water
quality issues and watershed restoration goals.
The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
provides a useful storm water
toolbox describing operation and maintenance practices from
A September 2009 article in Stormwater, “Better Defined, More Strictly Enforced”, discusses stormwater system maintenance at the local level.
The California Stormwater Quality Association has developed a Municipal Handbook that provides general guidance for selecting and implementing BMPs to reduce pollutants in runoff from municipal operations.
The Center for Watershed Protection has information and resources for Municipal Housekeeping, including street sweeping and storm drain cleanouts, and pollution source control practices.
For information about coal tar based pavement sealers, go to The Truth About Coal Tar.
An Environmental News Service article discussing research by the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center on pavement sealcoats and stormwater runoff.
The Salt Institute’s salt use handbook, and as a printable version. Information on salt storage, including highway salt and our environment.
For guidance on the environmental management of road salt used for control of snow and ice, go here, here, here, or here. For a literature review of deicers, go here.
The Center for Environmental Excellence provides information on winter operations and salt, sand, and chemical management.
A study of road
salt use in
DEP Fact Sheet on snow management and disposal:
General items of Interest:
In January 2009, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania published Drinking Water Quality in Rural Pennsylvania and the Effect of Management Practices.
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, in
conjunction with the U.S. Geological Service, has released a report, Summary of
Groundwater-Recharge Estimates for Pennsylvania, which provides a
general overview of processes affecting groundwater recharge in
The Penn State University
College of Agricultural Sciences Master
Well Owner Network is a network of trained volunteers dedicated to the
proper construction and maintenance of private water systems in
The Source Water Collaborative provides a tool to assist states, public water systems, and organizations reach out to local officials and decision-makers. The tool can be used to create a guide that highlights your community’s source water protection needs.
For Chester County MS4s, Landscapes2 is the county’s comprehensive long range policy plan which was adopted on November 9, 2009. Chapter 6 discusses natural resources, including stormwater issues.
The Trust
for Public Land offers a comprehensive database of land conservation in
Recent articles published in Stormwater discuss the challenges of stream restoration as a stormwater management tool: May 2009 article; September 2009 article; November/December 2009 article
For an example of how a local community can restore a watershed, consider the James River Association and their Extreme Stream Makeover program, especially what was accomplished in their Horsepen Branch 2008 ESM. Related to this is the Center for Watershed Protection’s Technical Report: Stormwater BMPs in Virginia’s James River Basin: An Assessment of Field Conditions & Programs (PDF, 1.97 MB).
For information on invasive species, visit the National Invasive Species Information Center or the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, or the Invasive Species Experts Database.
Management of Canada Geese in Suburban Areas: A Guide to the Basics, from the NJDEP.
Waterfowl Damage Management, from the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
For information on pavement, go to Pavement Interactive, a website with a purpose to provide an open, editable knowledge repository for all things pavement. You can search, view, add and edit articles on any pavement subject there is. It also provides an Internet location for the pavement community to collaborate (get together, share ideas, post information, etc.).