Saratoga County IntermunicipalStorm Water

Management Program

Legislative History 1972- The Federal Water Pollution

Control Act a.k.a. The Clean Water Act (CWA)

1987- Amended/Refunded 1990- Phase I compliance begins 1999- Phase II Final Rule is

published(64FR68722) 2003- Phase II compliance begins

Phase I Establishes the National Pollution Discharge

Elimination System (NPDES) A National permit system controlling

“medium” (pop. 100,000-249,999) and “large” (pop. 250k +) urbanized areas (UA)

Est. the base unit of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to mitigate high level pollution in urban stormflow.

Est. the oversight hierarchy ofNPDESSPDESMS4

Phase II Regulation of “small” MS4

communities Small is defined as “…any MS4 not

already covered by Phase I NPDES…”

Small construction, disturbing one or more acres, also require a permit

3 Goals Reduce pollutant discharge to

the “maximum extent possible” (MEP)

Protect water quality Satisfy the water quality

requirements of the CWA

6 Objectives Public Education and Outreach Public Participation and Involvement Illicit Discharge Detection and

Elimination Construction Site Runoff Control Post-Construction Runoff Control Pollution Prevention/Good

Housekeeping

Timeline Summary

1972 1987 1990 2003

The CWA Amendments Phase I Phase II

The MoralWater law flows downhill!

FEDERAL STATE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES

Phase II requires 6 “minimum control measures” for

regulatory compliance.

Annual reporting to the NYS-DEC, as permitting

agency, is also required by each MS4.

1. Public Education & Outreach

Providing information to the general public of the benefits of a healthy watershed v. the negative impact of polluted storm water runoff.

All available means will be identified and utilized (i.e. Fact sheets, press releases, mailings, the internet,etc.)

Outreach efforts should be made to local leaders, civic groups, at community events, public schools, etc.

2.Public Involvement & Participation

Encourage local citizen participation during the decision-making processes within local community governments so that there is a citizen advisory component to the Saratoga County Intermunicipal Storm Water Management Program

Adequately publicize, in advance, SWMP and local Board meetings relating to SWMP issues encouraging attendance and comments

3. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination

Develop a Regional unified systematic approach to map, inventory, categorize and remediate illicit discharges within each MS4

An Illicit Discharge is “…any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of storm water.”

4. Construction Site Runoff Control

Develop and codify a unified system of local ordinances to control erosion and sediment runoff on all construction sites of 1 acre or more

Develop and distribute a regional hand manual of “Best Management Practices” (BMP) for contractors working in the area

5. Post Construction Runoff Control

Develop and codify a unified system of local ordinances to ensure proper “in situ” runoff controls to promote infiltration of precipitation v. surface flow control

Reduces litter, pesticide/herbicide, and organic wastes entering nearby water bodies

Many control measures are already in common use

6. Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping

Programmatic and Personnel development targeted to reduce or, where possible, eliminate pollutant runoff from municipal operations within the Saratoga County Intermunicipal Storm Water Management Program

These objectives are readily achievable through a

conscientious education and outreach effort and a

regional approach instituting a system of accepted BMPs

Storm water flow:A 5 minute Hydrology Lesson

& quick Case Study

Storm Water FlowStorm event

Precipitation

Interception

Permeable Impermeable Infiltration Surface Flow Aquifer Recharge Controlled Runoff

Saratoga CountyThe fastest growing county in

upstate New York according to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) and the U.S Census Bureau. County population, overall, grew 30.5% from 1980 to 2000.

Ballston LakeIdentified as a class A water body by the

NYS-DEC, suitable as a drinking water source as well as primary and secondary contact recreation (swimming and boating).

The CDRPC in a combined study of Ballston Lake has identified 6 threats to the future health and viability of the lake.

6 CDRPC Identified Threats

New Development Failing and Outdated Septic Systems Lakeshore and tributary bank Erosion Commercial Activity Agricultural Erosion and Runoff Anti-skid Components

All non-point source pollutants.

The Management OutlookPlanners, Civil Engineers, and Resource

Managers alike face common problems as populations and development rise

Increasing populations increase private and commercial development

Increased population and development increase the stresses placed on the quantity and quality of local water supplies

Looking FurtherThe effect then becomes two-fold…A growing population and development

increase potential pollutants and runoff into the existing storm water management system

As projects and homes are completed the increase in impermeable surface area increases the amount of storm water put into the system

…more potential pollutants and increased storm water volumes.

The SWMP OutlookAs populations and development

increase within the SCI-SWMP area the size and frequency of disturbances increases with commercial and residential construction.

New construction increases the total area of impermeable surfaces within the SCI-SWMP area which leads to a growing need to control overland and directed surface runoff

The SCI-SWMP OutlookThe potential synergistic effects of

increasing pollution which flowing, untreated, in greater volumes through the MS4 system within the SCI-SWMP is a resource management issue which must be addressed.

The sole purpose of the Phase II SCI-SWMP is to implement a region-wide plan to mitigate these potential problems, now and in the future.

The Value of the SCI-SWMP Locally

With the possible exception of “failing and outdated” septic systems the threats to the Ballston Lake watershed will be partially if not wholly addressed and mitigated by the SCI-SWMP as the program evolves and progresses.

The Last DropThrough a sincere and concerted effort

by the SCI-SWMP, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the MS4 communities within the program current mandates can be met and long-term regional solutions can be discovered to help ensure the health and viability of our area watersheds.