BMP Inspection and Maintenance Training in

North Carolina

Bill Lord Bill Hunt, PE, PhD

N.C. Cooperative Extension ServiceNorth Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC

The Certification is…

• Intended for People on Job Site

• NCSU Recommends to Cities & Counties that they require someone present on site inspection/ maintenance crew has this certification

Why Offer This Course ?

Why Offer This Course ?

Why Offer This Course ?

Cities requiring BMP I&M Training

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Durham Cary Apex Wilson

Why Offer This Course? Cary, NC

Cary Stormwater BMPs

• Approximately 425 BMPs in Cary

• According to one of Cary’s inspectors: Timothy Grady, RLA:

• 95% of BMPs fail initial inspection as they require repairs

• Most repairs are maintenance related: erosion, trash removal, tree removal

Cary BMPs…

• ~ 20% of BMPs have failures: embankment breaches, improper construction, lack of vegetation, sedimentation

• On second inspection ~ 95% pass, as owners better appreciate value of maintenance after investing in repairs…

Example of City Requiring Training

Courses

• 12 courses offered over 2006-2008

• We plan on offering 6 per year spread across North Carolina

• All courses have sold out

• We limit enrollment to approximately 50 to facilitate interaction, tours, and grading

• Cost: $150 per person

Course Locations Across North Carolina

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Geographic distribution of students

• Majority from North Carolina

• 75 from other states

Attendance• 759 people have attended as of Feb. 2008

• 726 people have been certified

• Profession breakdown– 19% engineers and landscape architects– 24% landscapers– 57% government officials

Examination

• 40 multiple choice and true/false questions

• 4 written discussion questions

• 80% required to pass

• 2 hour time limit

• Exam passing rate 95.6%

• Course content is altered to reinforce concepts missed on the exam

• Object is EDUCATION

Discussion Questions (5 points each): For each question explain:

 • a. Why the following conditions are a problem in the

specified stormwater BMP• b. What could have caused the problem, • c. How to repair the BMP to make it function properly

 

 

• A 30 foot long level spreader filled with sediment with water passing over only a 3 foot section.

Evaluation

• As a result of feedback from evaluations– Added field tour on day one– Review field tour via PP on day two– Dropped pre-test– Added class self introductions on day one

How long will my certification last?How long will my certification last?• Three Years

– December 31, 2010

How do I avoid a lapse in my certification?How do I avoid a lapse in my certification?• Short Update Courses will be held in 2009

– No test will be required for update

Why do I need a re-certification?Why do I need a re-certification?• BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE AND WE

CONTINUE TO LEARN

Workshop Web Site

Certificate Holders

E-mail 7/15/2008

• Ms. Smith,

• Recently the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) adopted the Maryland Stormwater Manual. Our firm is looking at the possiblility of offering inspection & maintenance of BMPs and your organization is the only one I have been able to locate that offers training and certification. Could you tell me if your program would satisfy the requirements of Maryland. As to date MSD does not have licensing requirements those offering such services. Thanks in advance for your help.

• Regards,

Matthew V. McGrath

President

mmcgrath@clearfieldsgroup.com ClearFields Group 951 West Outer

Course Content

• 12 modules

• Emphasis on basics

• Lot’s of repetition

• Modules are changed to emphasize concepts commonly missed on exams

Stormwater BMP Maintenance

Background and Definitions

What’s the difference?

Stormwater BMP Maintenance & Inspection

Watersheds and stormwater quality problems

Stormwater BMP Maintenance & Inspection

In NC, 17 river basins, and approximately 5000 stream miles (16%) are impaired by sediment, pathogens, low DO, nutrients, & habitat degradation

Stormwater Regulations

Rules and Regulations

• EPA Phase I of NPDES -1990 in N.C.– Cities > 100,000

• Neuse Rules– 1998

• Tar Rules– 2001

• EPA Phase II of NPDES -2005 in N.C.– Communities > 10,000, 134 in NC so far

Best Management Practice Functions

BMP Water Quality CreditsNeuse and Tar River Basins

N P• Wet pond 25 40• Wetland 40 35• Bioretention 40 45• Grass Swale 20 20• Veg Strip w/LS 20 35• 50’ rip buff w/LS 30 30• Permeable Pavements 40-60* 40-60*

* Coastal Plain & Sandhills Only* Coastal Plain & Sandhills Only

Elements of BMP Maintenance

Old Habits…

Retention Pond Maintenance

Sedimentation

• Forebay cleanout• Is sediment

hazardous waste?• How deep should the

forebay be excavated? (see the design)

Stormwater Wetland Maintenance

Different Features of Stormwater Wetlands Have Different Functions

Bioretention Maintenance

Water delivery to BR beds

Level Spreader Maintenance

Jon Hathaway, EIExtension Engineer

Bio. and Ag. Engineering Department

North Carolina State University

“We Bring Engineering to Life”

What is a Level Spreader ?

Other Green BMPs

Poorly Maintained Ditch/Swale

“Parking Lot” BMPs:Permeable Pavement

Sand FiltersManufactured Products

Filling gaps with gravel

Certification and Tomorrow’s Certification and Tomorrow’s TestTest

Field Tours