Retrofitting and Trees, Department of Ecology Stormwater Grants
Presenters – David Mora, Dept. of Ecology
At Ecology we have long been debating how trees fit into our stormwater retrofit grant program. Our presentation pertains to all permittees since all are eligible to participate in our stormwater retrofit grant program. In our presentation, we will: Review our existing grant guidance regarding funding trees in BMPs. Report on the general condition BMPs with trees funded by Ecology (25 projects and 175 examples). We will report on structural damage, tree statistics, and mortality. Share some of the nuances of our tree debate, challenges, and opportunities to help steer our program.
2022 Lacey Stormwater Design Manual: Local Enhancements
Presenters – Julianne Chechanover, Herrera, Doug Christenson, City of Lacey, Jenny Saltonstall, Associated Earth Sciences Inc.
This presentation will summarize the updated 2022 City of Lacey Stormwater Design Manual (SDM), which incorporates several local enhancements. Originally published in 2010 and updated in 2016, the 2022 update to the SDM includes new guidance on deep Class V stormwater underground injection control (UIC) wells, including additional design, testing, and construction requirements. Other updates include a new submittal requirement for a wet-season Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), and operations & maintenance (O&M) cost estimates for commercial businesses and residential properties, which may be useful to other jurisdictions. The goal of the presentation is to share key enhancements in the Lacey SDM that go above and beyond the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW) to ensure successful stormwater management as part of new development and redevelopment projects.
Updates to TAPE and Transition to STEPP
Presenters – Carla Milesi, UW/WSC, Dough Howie, Dept. of Ecology
The success of the program is due in part to its evolution over the years. This presentation will include a discussion of the updates we’re working to roll out in 2023—including additional testing requirements that would provide more data on the maintenance cycle for General Use Level Designation (GULD) BMPs. The presentation will conclude with a short discussion of the status of the Stormwater Technology Evaluation for Products and Practices (STEPP) program. The STEPP program will provide a national platform for the monitoring and evaluation activities currently provided by TAPE.
We Can Do More: Finding and Addressing Sources of PCBs in Building Material
Presenters – Myles Perkins, Dept. of Ecology
Ecology recently developed How to Find and Address PCBs in Building Materials, a guidance document for property owners, developers, and contractors to help them identify, characterize, and abate PCB-containing building materials. This talk is intended to (1) raise awareness of the existing sources of PCBs in buildings, (2) share information about how to identify and remove these sources safely and legally, and (3) provide a technical foundation for the potential inclusion of PCB-specific BMPs in the next versions of the MS4 permits and stormwater management manuals.
Washington Stormwater Benchmarking and Rate Structure Survey Results
Presenters – Tage Aaker & John Ghilarducci, FCS Group
This benchmarking survey (and associated presentation) provides insight into the current practices of Washington State stormwater utilities, providing both quantitative and qualitative context for evaluating the types of stormwater rates currently in use and the conditions that support or hinder their success. This survey was a part of a study funded by a Water Quality Stormwater Grant administered by Washington State Department of Ecology and performed in coordination with the City of Tacoma. Over 60 responses from utilities across Washington State were collected. The survey procured information about each utility’s program and service area, connection charges, rates, environmental justice, and other topics.
2024 Permit Reissuance
Presenters – Abbey Stockwell, Amy Waterman, Doug Howie, & Brandi Lubliner, Dept. of Ecology
Prepare to be informed and intrigued by proposed updates and changes to the Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits. And that’s not all, we will also share our thinking on proposed updates to the Stormwater Management Manuals for WA State. Hot topics include an overview of the re-issuance process, sweeping, stormwater planning and retrofits, and highlights of the feedback received.
BMP Owner Awareness Effectiveness Study
Presenters – Kelsey Grover, City of Wenatchee
This effectiveness study evaluates the effectiveness of the recorded Operations & Maintenance Agreement in informing owners about BMPs and their responsibility to maintain BMPs. The study consists of a survey of residents in subdivisions one acre and larger with one or more post-construction BMPs serving more than one home. The study results are anticipated to present trends and factors affecting owner awareness of stormwater BMPs and how program managers can effectively provide education.
Private Stormwater Infrastructure & Biodiversity in Washington
Presenters – Jim Leamy, Thurston County
The content of this presentation will be an in-person discussion with associated slides, detailing the role of private infrastructure in Washington State in optimizing biodiversity. Wildlife corridors, critical habitats, and wetlands are already established in most WA municipalities’ plat boundaries. Swales, ditches, and dry ponds extend these connected green spaces into lawns, community areas, and utility easements. Communication with HOAs through annual inspection activities can steer landowners towards practices that passively and actively help pollinators and native species. Meanwhile, municipal practices such as burn bans can prevent the mowing of ponds and ditches throughout the summer, allowing meadows to establish and butterflies to flourish. We examine stormwater practices throughout the years that have attracted pollinators and small vertebrates, incidentally and on purpose, and where we can gain ground from here in promoting best biodiversity practices.
Coordinating a New EPA Municipal Stormwater Permit
Presenters – Merita Trohimovich, City of Tacoma
EPA is issuing the City of Tacoma a Municipal Stormwater Permit for Discharge into Waters of the US/Waters of the Puyallup Tribe (EPA Permit). Tacoma staff have reviewed and commented on two drafts of the EPA Permit and expect a final Permit to be issued approximately in the first quarter of 2023. Tacoma’s EPA Permit will be an individual permit. WSDOT and Pierce County are also in process for individual EPA Permits and additional potential permittees have been notified to submit applications. For Tacoma, there will be overlap in the areas of applicability of the EPA and Ecology Permits. Separate and somewhat different requirements and annual reports will be required for each Permit. Challenges for implementation include new requirements in the EPA Permit, two sets of requirements in portions of Tacoma, ramp-up for EPA Permit, EPA and Puyallup Tribe oversight, changes to reporting systems, and staff education.
MS4 Problems Solved with Drywells
Presenters – Kathryn Thomason, Oldcastle
This presentation will focus on a deep drywell project that was installed in the City of Gresham, OR to solve their MS4 capacity issues. By using a drilled drywell, you can get past low infiltration till layers, reduce installation time, and fit drywells between existing utilities. I will help identify where deep infiltration is a preferred solution based on WA geology, groundwater elevations, and Ecology regulations. I will discuss deep infiltration construction methods on this project and how deep drywells can be installed in between existing utilities and reduce street closure time due to their fast installation, and I will evaluate the benefits of deep infiltration for reducing MS4 capacity issues.
