Stormwater: The Times They Are A-Changin’

State of Hawaii Department of TransportationProtect Our Water ConferenceHonolulu, HI11.14.18

Seth Brown, PEStorm & Stream Solutions, LLC

Overview

▪Drivers for Change▪Areas of Change▪Results of Change

Drivers For Change

▪Sector Maturity▪Regulations▪Understanding▪Context▪Infrastructure

Drivers For Change

▪Regulations▪Focus on retention▪Monitoring advances▪Need to address retrofits▪Focus on maintenance▪Numeric standards▪TMDLs

Drivers For Change

▪Understanding▪Retention▪Now I get it!

▪Source control▪Real pollution management…

▪Maintenance needs▪What is REALLY needed?

▪Long-term performance▪ (How) does it work long-term?

Drivers For Change

▪Understanding▪Co-Benefits▪What else does it do?

▪Program-level▪How are MS4 programs

performing?

Drivers For Change

▪Context▪“NO”▪Piecemeal, Segmented,

Separated, Downstream ▪“YES”▪Watershed, Regional,

Integrated, Decentralized, System, Upstream

Drivers For Change

▪Infrastructure▪Asset management▪Dedicated, adequate,

and sustainable funding▪More data▪Non-apologetic needs

Take-Away for DOTs

▪Evolving Programs▪ Several DOTs across the country are

enhancing stormwater programs▪ Example: Nevada DOT – expanded/enhanced

stormwater program after recent regulatory audit

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Nevada DOT, 2018

Areas of Change

▪Technology▪Precipitation Patterns

Area of Change

▪Technology▪Big data▪Asset management on the rise…

▪Better/cheaper monitoring equipment/approaches▪Drones, etc.

▪Real-time controls/monitoring▪Optimization of performance,

maintenance

Area of Change

▪Technology▪Green chemistry▪ “True” source control

▪Self-driving cars▪ Changes in nature of transportation

corridors and clear-zone infrastructure ▪ Changes in parking behavior

▪Circular economy efforts▪Use of waste products for useful purposes▪ Example - biochar and iron filings

Area of Change

▪Shifting Precipitation Patterns▪Resilience-focused investments▪ Enhancing grey as well as GI

▪Misaligned SWM design for changing precipitation patterns▪Value of retention for resilience▪NOAA, FHWA, Coastal states▪Delaware DOT example

Take-Away for DOTs

▪Coastal Resilience▪DelDOT example▪ Coastal Green Infrastructure▪ Multi-functional solutions

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Take-Away for DOTs

▪UAV/Drone Usage▪Nevada DOT example▪ Remote monitoring▪ Flooding impacts

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Nevada DOT, 2018

Results of Change

▪Need for Funding/Financing▪Alternative Project Delivery Options▪Dynamic Policy Landscape▪MS4 Network Development▪Need for Co-Benefit Projects▪Stream Restoration as BMP?

Results of Change

▪Need for Funding/Financing▪Awareness will highlight increasing

funding/financing gap

▪Water Environment Federation MS4 Survey

▪ Rise in federal financing options (SRF, WIFIA) will catalyze more investment in stormwater

▪ Private investment will be better understood and utilized

▪Market-based and alternative financing approaches will increase

Results of Change

▪Alternative Project Delivery Options▪Public-private partnerships▪Full-delivery or “turn-key” services

for stormwater management▪Ties to flexible funding/financing▪Market-based approaches▪Private sector financing

Results of Change

▪Dynamic Legal/Policy Landscape ▪More lawsuits/policy challenges▪ Flow-based approaches▪ TMDL-implementation▪ Numeric standards▪ Maximum Extent Practicable and Water Quality

Standards▪ Residual Designated Authority (RDA)▪ WOTUS▪ Discharges to groundwater nexus w WOTUS

Results of Change

▪MS4 Network Development▪Strengthening of ties▪National, regional▪Sharing of resources/information▪Reduce redundancy

▪Better awareness of performance

Results of Change

▪Co-Benefit Projects▪Ties to water supply▪Social enhancements▪Economic revitalization▪Ties to energy savings

Results of Change

▪Stream Restoration▪More, more, more▪Crediting▪Restore the watershed first▪Protection of asset, reduction in

risk

Restored vs. Unrestored Stream Flows

Arlington County, VA - 2013

Take-Away for DOTs

▪Alternative Project Delivery ▪Maryland DOT example▪ RFI on “public-private cooperate efforts” for

stormwater services▪ 3,000 acres of impervious retrofits

▪ RFP on “full delivery” stream restoration services▪ 50,000-75,000 LF of stream restoration credits

Take-Away for DOTs

▪Flow TMDLs▪ Virginia DOT example – Accotink Creek▪ Flow-based TMDL tied to TSS/benthic

impairments▪ Fairfax County and VDOT sued EPA Region 3▪ County/VDOT won case – “flow is not a pollutant”

▪ Retention/flow reduction STILL important –retention standards on rise

Take-Away for DOTs

▪Market-Based Approaches▪ Caltrans State Highway Operations and Protection

Program (SHOPP)▪ Requires 1650 acres of retrofitting annually to be

located in targeted watersheds▪ Can locate BMPs outside of ROW as needed

▪ Virginia DOT nutrient credit market▪ VDOT purchased $1M of nutrient credits towards MS4

requirements▪ VDOT estimates that credits could reduce compliance

costs by up to 50%▪ Washington, D.C. stormwater retention trading program▪ DDOT could theoretically engage through purchase

guarantee program

Conclusion

▪Sector maturation is occurring ▪Drivers pushing this maturation▪Technology/numerics will play a bigger part▪…as will shifting precipitation patterns▪Stormwater programs evolving along with

drivers▪More market-based, innovative financing

and alternative project delivery for stormwater

Stormwater: The Times They Are A-Changin’

Seth Brown, PEStorm & Stream Solutions, LLCseth.brown@stormandstream.com