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March 2010 |
Vol 5, Issue 2 |
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| President's Corner |
As I was contemplating what to write for the March newsletter I thought "what can I say that hasn't been said before? What do the members need to hear?"
I realized these are the wrong questions. The right questions would be, "what is it our members need and want? How do we as an organization bring that to you?" With those questions asked, one reality came to the forefront. Even though the seminar and annual conference are well attended, usually only one or maybe two representatives from each member organization are present. As we are all aware, the struggling economy has restricted travel and training budgets. For example, at least twenty people from my organization could benefit from the training we provide but only two can attend. So, how can we reach the entire membership?
One way is to provide the seminar and conference lectures electronically for a nominal fee. In this way members who cannot attend in person can receive the benefit. There have been brief discussions about this format in SESWA committee meetings. If you desire to have this or a similar format available we need to know - your feedback is vital.
Please complete the attached survey or contact SESWA staff, your Board of Directors' state representative, Executive Committee member or me, and let us know what you think.
I look forward to seeing you at the spring seminar in Atlanta. | |
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| SESWA April Seminar |
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Creative Alternatives for Stormwater Funding
April 23, 2010
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Member Survey! |
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Take a minute to complete the SESWA Member Survey. | |
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| SESWA Photo Contest Winners |
One of three stormwater management ponds at The Avenue Forsyth-Southern Civil Engineers
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Congratulations to the SESWA Photo Contest Winners!
The winning photos will rotate on the SESWA home page website beginning in mid April.
Cleaning SW Sedimentation Device-Condor LLC
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Little Dutchmen Creek, Rock Hill, SC Stream Assessment & Enhancement Design-WK Dickson
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Thank you to all who sent in photos! SESWA received a great response to our contest with over nineteen photos submitted. Many of the pictures will be used throughout the website reflecting stormwater projects and activities in the Southeast.
Watch our website for many new developments coming soon! |
| National |
State Based Regulation of Agricultural Runoff
A new report by the Environmental Law and Policy Center and the Mississippi River Collaborative summarizes approaches taken by several states to regulate stormwater runoff from agricultural operations.
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| Alabama |
Trash Pickup in Jefferson County
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Community Cleanup Program in Jefferson County
The Jefferson County Community Cleanup Program is a multifaceted initiative offered to communities in unincorporated areas of the County which face challenges complying with regulatory requirements. Coordinated by the Jefferson County Department of Land Planning & Development Services (LP&DS), Community Cleanup provides a one-time opportunity for property owners in designated communities to place items such as yard and construction debris, household appliances, furniture, refuse and junk at curbside for pickup. Providing a system for pickup also keeps contaminants from the stormwater drainage system. County work crews from the Jefferson County Department of Roads and Transportation pick up and haul the items to appropriate facilities for proper disposal. Communities are selected based upon complaints received and degree of noncompliance.
Six Community Cleanups provided by the Jefferson County Commission since 2008, resulted in the removal of nearly 620,000 pounds of refuse from private property in unincorporated Jefferson County. Tonnage for the current cleanup is still being tabulated. For more information contact Zhaleh McCullers. |
| Florida |
Florida Legislature at Half-Way PointThe Florida Legislature has entered the second half of its 2010 Session. Several bills of interest to local stormwater managers remain under consideration Regulatory "Streamlining" - SB 1752 (the "Jobs Bill") originally contained provisions to override the ability of city or county governments to impose local regulatory requirements that were more stringent than those of the state and required all permits to be acted upon within 30 days or be deemed to be approved. Both provisions were removed from the bill. Statewide Stormwater Regulations - HB 7171 specifically authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt new, more stringent water-quality regulations concerning runoff coming from new development on a statewide basis. In its current form, more restrictive local regulations are prohibited. Stormwater Fees and Regulation of Agricultural Lands - SB 2074 is back for the third year in a row. In its current form, wetlands, stormwater and springs protection ordinances adopted prior to 2003 are "grandfathered in" and counties may continue to enforce such measures. Likewise, stormwater fees/assessments billed to agricultural operations that provide for a credit system for value of the agricultural BMP are also grandfathered. However, newly adopted regulatory measures and new stormwater fees are prohibited on bona fide agricultural operations. Regulation of Consumer Fertilizer - HB 1445 revises measures adopted in 2009 requiring certain local governments to adopt regulations concerning the use of consumer fertilizer. It is a largely technical revision, although many expect an effort to amend the legislation at some point in time to pre-empt local measures that ban the sale or use of consumer fertilizer during the summer rainy season.
City of Stuart Stormwater Program Receives River Guardian Award SESWA's Florida Member, the City of Stuart, was recognized at the Friends of the Rivers Coalition (FORCE) meeting on March 25th. Board Member, Kevin Henderson, noted: "The City of Stuart has the most comprehensive watershed improvement program within the St. Lucie Estuary Watershed. Every location that stormwater leaves the city and enters the St. Lucie Estuary Watershed has been identified and programs to improve stormwater quality implemented upstream of each location. To the extent stormwater quality data are available for city watersheds, the city's stormwater is within both FDEP TMDL nutrient limits and the draft EPA nutrient limits." Rivers Coalition Chair Leon Abood presented its first time ever River Guardian Award to the City of Stuart for "Outstanding support of the Rivers Coalition mission: To foster a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, natural treasures vital to the quality of life and economy of the Treasure Coast."
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| Georgia |
Draft Resource Assessments for the Statewide Water Plan Released for Public CommentThe Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is releasing for public review and comment: a synopsis of each of three draft water resource assessments: groundwater availability, surface water availability and surface water quality (assimilative capacity). The public comment period will be open for at least sixty days from the time of posting. EPD will consider all comments, provide responses and make necessary revisions to the draft water resource assessments.
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| Kentucky |
Kentucky Reissues KPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit
The Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) reissued the general KPDES Phase II Storm Water Permit at the beginning of March 2010. This new five-year permit will go into effect on April 1, 2010. The new permit has stronger requirements associated with several of the six minimum control measures, including illicit discharge detection and elimination and post construction BMPs. Permittees will also now be required to establish and implement water quality programs (first flush capture and treat).
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| North Carolina |
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NC General Assembly - May Short Session
A few bills of interest to stormwater managers in the NC General Assembly were introduced in the 2009 Session and are carrying over to the 2010 short session that begins in May. HB 1385 - Water Conservation Tax Credits/Reforms House Bill 1385 provides a tax credit for construction and installation of cisterns on residential and commercial property, to provide a tax credit for innovative irrigation systems on residential and commercial property, and to provide that large cities may not prohibit rainwater recovery and innovative irrigation systems.
HB 1566 - Study Tax Credit for LID Stormwater Controls House Bill 1566 authorizes the legislative research commission to study the feasibility and advisability of providing tax credit for the installation of innovative, low impact development stormwater management systems.
Falls Lake Rules
In follow-up to an article from the January newsletter, the draft Falls Lake Rules were to be presented to the Water Quality Committee and the full Environmental Management Committee at its March 2010 meeting. The rules were then made available for public comments beginning the Administrative Procedures Act process. The DWQ expects to complete rulemaking by January 15, 2011. Falls Lake is in the Upper Neuse River Basin and serves as the water supply to the City of Raleigh. Communities that drain to this lake but do not receive drinking water from it have expressed concern about the cost to maintain water quality in this reservoir without much direct benefit. To follow these rules as they develop visit the NC Division of Water Quality website.
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| Tennessee |
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Tennessee Draft Phase II MS4 Permit Public Notice March 22, 2010
Tennessee's Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit went on Public Notice on March 22, 2010. Some of the major changes and updates are:
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Emphasizing green infrastructure BMPs for permanent (post construction) new and redevelopment projects.
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Requirement for certification training for staff inspectors and site plan reviewers.
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Water quality buffer along all streams at new development and redevelopment projects.
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The first inch of rainfall must be 100% managed with no discharge to surface waters emphasizing green roofs, infiltration approaches, permeable and porous pavements, water harvesting and reuse, and downspout disconnection.
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Pre-application review requirements.
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Perpetual permanent (post-construction) stormwater BMPs maintenance requirements.
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Analytical stream monitoring.
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Requirements for analytical monitoring as a part of approved TMDLs and impaired streams.
These permit conditions are tentative and subject to public comment. Comments will be received through May 17, 2010. There will be public hearings the last week of April and the week of May 3rd.
City of Chattanooga's Green Infrastructure Initiative
The City of Chattanooga had made a concerted effort to pursue a course of creating "green infrastructure" as an alternative to 'grey infrastructure' below ground and impervious surfaces above ground. Green infrastructure is the method of collecting stormwater above ground with natural vegetation and systems that are attractive, less expensive and accomplish multiple objectives. Chattanooga's Department of Public Works envisions this effort to become the central theme for neighborhood and commercial revitalization. The department has been tasked by the Mayor to provide the resources and support for this effort. The Water Quality User Fee Credit System has been structured to give heavy incentives and credits for development of green infrastructure to address stormwater issues. The Water Quality Program is also developing a Retrofit Plan for private and public properties focusing on implementing Low Impact Development and green infrastructure practices and monitoring the change in water quality resulting from these changes. Contact Don Green at the City of Chattanooga's Water Quality Department for more information about this program.
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| SESWA's Homepage |
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Nominate your Stormwater Website to be Featured on SESWA's Homepage!
Your website can be highlighted on the SESWA homepage. If you would like your stormwater website featured, email a link to seswa@ksanet.net with a short paragraph describing your jurisdiction. | |
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Don't see news from your state? Please contact us with your news or share your comments on our newsletter by emailing us at SESWA@ksanet.net.
Sincerely,
The Southeast Stormwater Association
(866) FOR-SESWA (367-7379)
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