Stormwater Awareness Week Events
All events are FREE
November 12th
*This workshop is for municipal staff only
Location: 2606 West Pioneer Ave. Puyallup, WA
This workshop will discuss the elements that make up an IDDE and Spill Response program for a municipality. We will go over sources of pollution, where to find them, and what to do about them. We will discuss the difference between illicit discharge and spills and how to respond to those occurrences. The workshop will conclude with a mock spill drill that volunteers from the class will prevent from entering the MS4 and clean up appropriately.
Registration Closed
Presenter Information
Nathan Hardebeck has nearly 25 years of experience in the environmental and stormwater consulting field with an emphasis on best management practices (BMPs), services and management related to industrial, construction, municipal and commercial stormwater programs. His professional experience includes program development, providing training, sampling, treatment design, SWPPP development, and BMP selection for public agencies as well as working on behalf of private clients and industries on their management and BMP programs.
John Loyd is the Principal of BEA Environmental. Over his career, he has provided consulting services related to Municipal Stormwater Permit compliance to over 30 cities and county agencies. He has provided source control business inspections and public education and outreach visits to almost 2000 businesses across the Puget Sound region. John is a skilled pollution prevention educator and has been successful at getting businesses to adopt pollution prevention and resource conservation best management practices into the day-to-day operations.
Location: Virtual/Online
Seth Brown will cover the major national issues in stormwater (policy issues, rule-makings, Supreme Court cases, etc.) as well as other noteworthy topics, such as the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card (including stormwater), resilience, emerging contaminants, etc. He will also talk about the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA) work, and the need for a national organization for stormwater and discuss/promote the National Stormwater Day webinar.
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Presenter Information
Seth Brown has over 25 years of experience in the water sector and is the Executive Director of the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, which is a 501.c.3 representing stormwater-focused organizations in 26 states across 9 of the 10 U.S. EPA regions representing over 4,400 MS4s, and he is also the Principal and Founder of Storm and Stream Solutions, LLC. Seth has a Ph.D. in civil engineering from George Mason University, teaches courses on water-related topics at Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore, and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Maryland.
*This workshop is for municipal staff only
Location: 2606 West Pioneer Ave. Puyallup, WA
In this workshop, we will discuss the elements that make up a Source Control program for a municipality. We will go over how different business practices generate different sources of pollution, where to find them, and what to do about them. We will discuss techniques on how to find and approach businesses to gain voluntary compliance. The workshop will conclude with a mock source control site walk to identify potential pollutant-generating sources and what BMPs could be offered as a suggestion to the business.
Registration Closed
Presenter Information
Nathan Hardebeck has nearly 25 years of experience in the environmental and stormwater consulting field with an emphasis on best management practices (BMPs), services and management related to industrial, construction, municipal and commercial stormwater programs. His professional experience includes program development, providing training, sampling, treatment design, SWPPP development, and BMP selection for public agencies as well as working on behalf of private clients and industries on their management and BMP programs.
John Loyd is the Principal of BEA Environmental. Over his career, he has provided consulting services related to Municipal Stormwater Permit compliance to over 30 cities and county agencies. He has provided source control business inspections and public education and outreach visits to almost 2000 businesses across the Puget Sound region. John is a skilled pollution prevention educator and has been successful at getting businesses to adopt pollution prevention and resource conservation best management practices into the day-to-day operations.
November 13th
- Adopt a Drain Program 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Virtual/Online
Learn more about a nationwide storm drain adoption program that enlists neighbors to help keep your storm drain lids cleaner. It provides a great stewardship opportunity for residents to adopt and maintain a storm drain near them to help improve their stormwater quality and prevent flooding. 14 Puget Sound communities joined the national movement back in 2021. Eight new Washington stormwater jurisdictions are joining as we speak!
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Presenter Information
Anne Dettelbach is a senior planner at the City of Redmond and acts as the City’s NPDES Permit Coordinator. Her work has focused on Washington State MS4 permit development and implementation for the past 18 years.
Susan Harper is a Senior Stormwater Education & Outreach Program Manager for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). She has 20 years of experience doing program planning, development and implementation for SPU’s Drainage and Wastewater line of business. Her expertise is in Community-based Social Marketing, which seeks to develop and integrate marketing concepts with other approaches to influence behaviors that benefit individuals and communities for the greater social good. The practice integrates research, best practice, theory, audience and partnership insight, to inform the delivery of social change programs that are effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable.
- Tackling the Elephant in the Room: How TAPE Hopes to Better Assess Maintenance Requirements of Approved Devices 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Virtual/Online
Since 2002, the TAPE program has provided a way to evaluate the pollutant removal efficiency of stormwater treatment technologies. The TAPE Guidance Document has been updated 5 times over the years, with the most recent update being completed last month. This recent update has focused on providing a better way to assess the maintenance requirements of these technologies – both the maintenance frequency and the level of maintenance necessary to ensure the effective operation of these technologies. This presentation will provide an overview of the recent TAPE updates and highlight the importance of factoring maintenance when selecting and sizing stormwater treatment technologies.
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Presenter Information
Carla Milesi is the Emerging Stormwater Technologies Coordinator for the Washington Stormwater Center at University of Washington Tacoma’s Center for Urban Waters. As such, she is the lead scientist for the Center’s collaboration with the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Technology Assessment Protocol (TAPE) program. In partnership with Ecology, since 2014 she has managed the operation and development of the TAPE program for certifying emerging stormwater treatment technologies.
- Raindrops to Rivers: Creating a Stormwater Storybook Adventure 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual/Online
The City of Spokane, in collaboration with a local author and illustrator, launched an innovative project to create a children’s book series centered around water, stormwater, sewer, and wastewater education. This presentation will explore the development process, showcasing how the city partnered with creative talent to design a cohesive and engaging series that teaches children about pollution prevention, and environmental stewardship.
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Presenter Information
Meghan is an accomplished public health professional with a distinguished background in community health, nutrition, disease prevention and response, and currently is the stormwater/wastewater public education and outreach coordinator for the City of Spokane. A Washington native, she holds a Master of Public Health degree from EWU, and Bachelor of Science from WWU. Known for her dedication to creating healthy communities through innovative policy, systems, and environmental changes, she enjoys the challenges and opportunities that come with stormwater and wastewater pollution prevention.
- Gaining Traction: A Tire Story of Where We Started, Where We Are Now, and Where We Are Going 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual/Online
In 2020, a collaborative group of researchers with the Washington Stormwater Center identified 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), a novel chemical leaching from vehicle tires, as the primary causal toxicant of pre-spawn mortality in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Pacific Northwest. Since its discovery, 6PPDQ has been shown to be toxic to several species of fish at environmentally relevant concentrations. The ubiquitous presence of tires worldwide presents a unique problem as this contaminant is present in nearly all locations that have been sampled. The urgency of this issue has led to rapid developments in the research surrounding 6PPDQ and other tire-related contaminants. This presentation will cover how researchers linked stormwater and tire chemicals to coho mortality, what we have learned about 6PPDQ since its discovery, and provide an overview of current research being performed in the aquatic ecotoxicology lab at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center.
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Presenter Information
Melissa is a Postdoctoral Research Associate under Dr. John Stark and Dr. Jenifer McIntyre at the Puyallup Research and Extension Center for Washington State University. After earning her BS in Zoology from Miami University in 2007, she headed north to the University of Saskatchewan to complete her M.Sc. and Ph.D. Her Master’s work was part of an extensive assessment of mining and milling effluents on the aquatic health of a northern lake system. Her collaborative work using field-based mesocosms and laboratory-based studies helped establish the transformation pathways of selenium through a complex ecosystem. She began her Ph.D. research in 2012, which focused on evaluating the impacts of complex mixtures on aquatic species using a combination of mesocosms, tissue cultures, and molecular techniques. Melissa’s current research is focused on understanding how chemical exposures (e.g., 6PPD-Q, rodenticides, PCBs) impair salmon health as well as aquatic invertebrates from both an organismal level and an ecosystem-health based perspective.
Location: Virtual/Online
WSDOT developed a GIS-based stormwater retrofit prioritization web map to address priority focus areas identified by the Washington State Legislature for funding WSDOT stormwater retrofits, including salmon recovery and ecosystem health, reducing pollution, addressing health disparities, and cost-effectiveness. The prioritization incorporates input from tribes, federal, state, and local governments, scientists, and others and includes consideration of tribal treaty rights and environmental justice, including the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act.
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Presenter Information
Tatiana Dreisbach – WSDOT Stormwater Retrofit Outreach and Innovation Lead Tony Bush – WSDOT Stormwater Branch Manager
- The EnviroChallenger Program & Stormwater Games 2:00-3:00 PM
Location: Virtual/Online
The program takes environmental education for our ES utilities to the classroom – K-8. We connect with the students with hands-on experiments and games, letting them experience why we have these utilities and emphasizing ES messages like ‘only water down the storm drains’. We also connect with the high schools highlighting green jobs by running an internship program and a summer certificate program.
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Presenter Information
Jacqueline Fuller has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Washington Tacoma, a Master-in-Teaching degree from City University, and a 4-12 general science/biology emphasis endorsement from Pacific Lutheran University. She has lived in or around Tacoma most of her life. Restoring and preserving the area’s natural resources is important to her, and, to that end, she has volunteered countless hours for many Tacoma environmental organizations. Jacqueline served as a 7th and 8th grade science teacher at Stewart Middle School. She started working as an EnviroChallenger in 2006.
November 14th
Location: Virtual/Online
With the release of the 2024 Municipal Stormwater General Permits in July 2024, there is an updated 2024 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW). Phase I Permittees have until July 1, 2026 and Phase II Permittees have until June 30, 2027 to adopt the Ecology manual or an equivalent one. This presentation will discuss the changes made between the 2019 and 2024 manuals, cover the New Development and Redevelopment Flow Charts and their place in determining the application of the nine Minimum Requirements, address UIC updates, discuss each of the nine Minimum Requirements, and provide information on Ecology interpretations of the manual.
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Presenter Information
Doug Howie has more than 40 years of experience in planning, design, and construction of stormwater projects. He is a Senior Stormwater Engineer for the Department of Ecology working with Ecology permit planners to assist jurisdictions throughout the state in meeting their Municipal and Industrial Permit requirements. He edits and provides training on the two Ecology Stormwater Manuals. Doug also manages the Technology Assessment Protocol – Ecology (TAPE) program where Ecology evaluates emerging technologies for use in Washington State. He is an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at St. Martins University in Lacey, WA teaching Surveying and Statics.
- Stormwater Investments in Puget Sound 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Virtual/Online
This session will describe the Stormwater Center’s work on the Stormwater Strategic Initiative which uses strategic stormwater policies, approaches, strategies, and funding to protect the assets and interests protected by good stormwater management. Issues cross-cut toxics, integrated water and land policies, GSI approaches, CEC and other contaminant research, engagement, incentives, behavior change, and large-scale installations such as stormwater parks and regional facilities. The work integrates environmental justice, tribal, and climate considerations.
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Presenter Information
Heidi has served as a bridge between scientists and engineers for over 30 years in her capacity as an toxics and managed health care attorney, science communicator, environmental planner, and policy analyst. Born with food and recreation in mind, she managed a sustainable tourism company for over 10 years, was Ecology’s Senior Performance Measure Analyst where she served as the U.S. Co-Chair for the Salish Sea Ecosystem Indicator Program, and has enjoyed her role at the Washington Stormwater Center (WSC) at Washington State University as the program lead for the University’s collaboration with the Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead and support for WSC’s approaches. Heidi serves on the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program steering committee and holds executive positions on the Boards of PNW-SETAC and the Pacific Northwest Social Marketing Association. She has a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School.
Location: Virtual/Online
New stormwater permits show an increasing emphasis on staff training. In this discussion, we will dive into staff training and learn about topics such as:
– Required Training Elements
– New Permit Training Requirements
– Effective Training Strategies
– Tips for Avoiding Compliance Issues
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Presenter Information
Nathan has been working in stormwater since 2000 and has been training groups in the industrial and construction sectors for the better part of two decades, and has been hosting municipal trainings and workshops for nearly 10 years.
- Update on Legislation related to Municipal Stormwater Permits 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual/Online
Join James Tupper of Marten Law to discuss updates to legislation related to Municipal Stormwater Permits.
This presentation has been canceled but will be rescheduled soon
Presenter Information
James Tupper has over 30 years of experience representing industrial and municipal clients on water quality, land use, and hazardous waste issues. He has successfully defended permit challenges, citizen suits, and enforcement actions in federal and state court and before the Pollution Control Hearings Board and the Shoreline Hearings Board. James has been recognized for his expertise as a Washington Super Lawyers®, and in The Best Lawyers in America. He was named the Best Lawyers® 2015 Environmental Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Seattle.
- UIC for Stormwater Management 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Online/Virtual
John Bhend from the Department of Ecology will discuss the use of Underground Injection Control systems in stormwater management.
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Presenter Information
John is the Statewide Underground Injection Control (UIC) Coordinator for the State of Washington. His responsibilities are to manage the State’s UIC program, the development and updating of the UIC regulations (WAC 173-218), and providing technical guidance for registration of UIC wells. The Statewide UIC Coordinator also implements Washington’s UIC program to ensure wells are rule-authorized in compliance with UIC regulations and the federal safe drinking water act. John’s other responsibilities at Ecology include peer review of hydrogeological analysis and independently planning, developing, directing, and conducting, and/or overseeing hydrogeological analyses and technical services regarding groundwater. Prior to working at Ecology, he worked as an environmental consultant for over 25 years in the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
November 15th
Location: Online/Virtual
With the release of the 2024 Municipal Stormwater General Permits in July 2024, there is an updated 2024 Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington (SWMMEW). Permittees have until June 30, 2027 to adopt the Ecology manual or an equivalent one. This presentation will discuss the changes made between the 2019 and 2024 manuals, provide background on some new definitions used in the manual, cover the New Development and Redevelopment Flow Charts and their place in determining the application of the eight Core Elements, discuss the Exemptions section of the manual, talk about the UIC updates, discuss each of the eight Core Elements, and provide information on Ecology interpretations of the manual.
Register Now
Presenter Information
Doug Howie has more than 40 years-experience in planning, design, and construction of stormwater projects. He is a Senior Stormwater Engineer for the Department of Ecology working with Ecology permit planners to assist jurisdictions throughout the state in meeting their Municipal and Industrial Permit requirements. He edits and provides training on the two Ecology Stormwater Manuals. Doug also manages the Technology Assessment Protocol – Ecology (TAPE) program where Ecology evaluates emerging technologies for use in Washington State. He is an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at St. Martins University in Lacey, WA teaching Surveying and Statics.
- Everyone Loves Trees! 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Online/Virtual
They make our cities beautiful, clean the air, help us de-stress, and give us shade and cooling in the summer. They also have incredible stormwater benefits. So why is Tacoma’s urban forest struggling? Why do some neighborhoods have more trees than others? And what can we do about it as a community? Lowell Wyse will share about the efforts of the Tacoma Tree Foundation to bring trees and shade to the Tacoma communities that need them the most.
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Presenter Information
An English professor turned urban forest advocate, Lowell Wyse, Ph.D., became the Executive Director of Tacoma Tree Foundation in 2021. For over a decade, he taught college writing, literature, and environmental humanities, focusing on the many ways that social and environmental issues overlap. His scholarship resulted in the book Ecospatiality: A Place-Based Approach to American Literature. He is deeply motivated by the values of community, justice, stewardship, resilience, storytelling, and placemaking. Lowell lives and works in downtown Tacoma (Puyallup territory) and volunteers on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission.
