|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SESWA ForeCast May E-Newsletter! |
| Dear (Contact First Name),
We hope you enjoy this months newsletter featuring articles from many of our member-states, highlights of the Annual Conference, and more! If you would like more of your organization's employees to receive this newsletter or other information from SESWA, please email the contact information to the Membership Director.
|
| 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibits
Coping with Change - Balancing Environmental Needs with Economic Realities |
|
Join us in Georgia on September 30th - October 2nd for the 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibits at the Augusta Marriott on the Savannah River! SESWA continues to bring quality training to stormwater professionals throughout the Southeast. This year's conference was planned with your needs in mind, focusing on ways in which you can help your jurisdiction comply with the Clean Water Act and improve water quality during times of fiscal constraints. In addition to an outstanding technical program, registration will include all training materials, invaluable opportunities to network with your peers, participation in an outstanding Exhibit Hall and Continuing Education credits for Professional Engineers registered in the southeast states. | |
 |
|
|
| Alabama |
Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards
Alabama Department of Environmental Management has scheduled a Public Hearing for the Triennial Review of Alabama's Water Quality Standards. The hearing will be held on June 29th to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on water quality standards for Alabama waters. |
| Florida |
|
Legislative Activities
Consumer Fertilizer Management - The Florida Legislature concluded its 2009 Session on May 1st. After three years of effort by a coalition of interest, legislation on residential fertilizer management was adopted. Senate Bill (SB) 494 adopts a "model" fertilizer management ordinance and requires local governments that drain to nutrient impaired waters to adopt the ordinance. More stringent policies are allowed if the city or county deems them necessary to protect water quality. A significant training program for professional fertilizer applicators will be initiated on a statewide basis.
Agricultural Pre-emption - For the second year in a row, measures designed to pre-empt the authority of county governments to impose stormwater utility fees on many types of agricultural properties and to pre-empt their ability to enforce many regulatory measures on agricultural lands was defeated. House Bill (HB) 1241 failed to pass the Senate on the last day of the Session.
City of Stuart, Watershed Restoration and Improvement Program
The City of Stuart established a stormwater utility in 1994 to fund maintenance of its stormwater system and relieve the General Fund of the expense. In April 1998 the St. Lucie River experienced extensive fish kills resulting from massive stormwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee and local stormwater runoff. In August 1998 the St. Lucie River Initiative commissioned and donated the Poppleton Creek Basin Study to the City showing where and how much water quality treatment could be constructed to meet modern standards for the entire basin.
The City then created the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program to incorporate stormwater treatment improvements with native habitat restoration, preservation, wetland construction and reconstruction and passive recreation.
This was an innovative and comprehensive approach in evaluating the total watershed rather than relying on a property-by-property approach. It combined large watershed projects with BMPs such as first and second generation baffle boxes, salt water intrusion barriers in tidal creeks, wet and dry detention systems and included an educational component, a bi-annual calendar with exciting photos and useful pollution prevention information.
The last watershed project was completed recently (except for the upland walking trail component). The last five baffle boxes will be constructed by October 2009 resulting in baffle box treatment on all 32 city stormwater outfalls. Total cost of the Watershed Protection and Improvement Program exceeded $15,000,000. For more information contact Sam Amerson, Public Works Director for the City of Stuart. |
| Georgia |
Stimulus Funding
The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) has finalized the 2009 Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Intended Use Plans (IUPs). The final IUPs identify the projects that will likely receive stimulus funding. The plans include a 20% set aside for "green" projects.
The Clean Water SRF includes both wastewater and stormwater/environmental restoration projects. Go to the GEFA home page for the latest guidance on Georgia's stimulus fund programs.
Metro North Georgia Water Planning District Comments on the draft plans for the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District have been posted. This is a great resource for ideas on managing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater resources. The District also has a great link for other stormwater resources such as ordinances and public education tools.
Legislative Activities
SB155 was passed by the Georgia Legislature and signed by Governor Perdue on May 4, 2009. The legislation exempts ephemeral streams from the State's 25-foot stream buffer requirements.
Rainwater Harvesting and Grey Water Recycling Systems Draft Guidelines ReleasedThe Georgia Environmental Protection Division has posted draft guidelines for both Rainwater Harvesting and Grey Water Recycling Systems in Georgia. Both guidelines are intended to assist parties involved in the design, construction, inspection and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems and grey water recycling systems to successfully comply with the recent amendments to the 2006 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Public comments will be accepted until June 2, 2009.
Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for Columbia CountyColumbia County is in the process of developing a Storm Water Master Plan to evaluate the County's Storm Water Utility Program. The plan includes a needs assessment, drainage system evaluation, capital improvements program and a comprehensive master plan. Although currently in draft format, four of the high priority projects identified in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) portion of the Master Plan have been funded through a General Obligation Bond referendum and the Special Local Option Sales Tax with potential additional funding from Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority grants. The scope of the projects includes stream stabilization, stream velocity control and flood control through regional retention pond improvements. The total estimated cost to complete the projects is $3.5 million. For more information please email Jacques Palmer. |
| North Carolina |
Mitigation BanksA Bill moving through the North Carolina Legislature would promote the use of private mitigation banks as opposed to the State's mitigation bank. Believing that the current system of mitigation banks has created a monopoly and an unrealistically low mitigation prices, SB 755 promotes the use of private mitigation banks.
City of Charlotte Projects Awarded Stimulus Funding
Two City of Charlotte projects submitted to the NC Division of Water Quality under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were awarded funding. They were the Revolution Park Water Reuse Project ($577,555) and the - Muddy Creek/Campbell Creek Restoration ($2.19M). The Revolution Park Water Reuse Project is located in Revolution Park, adjacent to Barringer Drive and Clanton Road. The project will result in a 2-acre lake that will filter stormwater pollutants, and provide a source of water for irrigation, reducing the demand for potable water. The Muddy Creek/Campbell Creek Restoration ($2.19M) - The project will result in restoration and enhancement of 7,373 linear feet of stream and 6.1 acres of wetland along Muddy Creek and Eastland Branch, tributaries to Campbell Creek in the McAlpine Creek watershed. This project will also implement four stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that will address stormwater pollutants in a highly urbanized area. These BMPs will also detain stormwater runoff, enhancing and protecting the receiving streams from the scouring effects of urban runoff. The project will also create, enhance and protect forested riparian areas. A new 27.9 acre riparian wildlife habitat conservation area will be created.
Storm Water Fee Multi-Tier Billing
In Charlotte and Mecklenburg County most developed properties are charged a stormwater fee based on the amount of impervious surface on their property. Single-family properties are billed in one of two tiers: impervious surface under 2,000 square feet or greater than/equal to 2,000 square feet. Most single-family properties are well above 2000 square feet in impervious surface. As a result, the fee is disproportionately high for those with smaller homes in the lower tier. The City is evaluating the possibility of going to four tiers in order to be more equitable to fee payers. The concept has been endorsed by a City Council sub-committee on the environment but now needs full Council approval. The Council is expected to vote on the issue at their June 8 meeting. The proposed change has become controversial since it will result in a similar per-square-foot charge for the larger homes as the charge per-square-foot for smaller homes. This move toward equity will result in a significant increase for some homes during an already tough economy. |
| South Carolina |
Beaufort County South Carolina adopts Nitrogen ControlsIn April 2009 the County Council adopted updates to the county BMP manual designed to address controls on nitrogen, concluding a year-long adoption process. Unlike the phosphorus and bacteria controls already in effect, the nitrogen controls will restrict thepercentage of impervious surface and in many cases require Low Impact Development to meet the new requirements. |
| Tennessee |
|
TVA Implements Flood Risk Reduction Measures After Heavy Rainfall
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has implemented flood risk reduction operations on the Tennessee River because of heavy rainfall across the Tennessee Valley since May 1st. TVA cooperated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move water through dams on the Tennessee River ahead of an expected flood crest on the Mississippi River in mid May. As part of its flood risk reduction operations, TVA is storing as much water as possible in the tributary reservoirs and releasing minimum flows through its dams to meet downstream water needs. | |
|
Please share your comments on our newsletter by emailing us at SESWA@ksanet.net.
Sincerely,
The Southeast Stormwater Association
(850) 561-0904
|
|
|
|
|
|
