The Washington Stormwater Center (WSC) has been actively collaborating with cities and counties from across Washington to enhance the management and quality of stormwater. These partnerships have been instrumental in helping these Jurisdictions fulfill their education and outreach permit obligations, leading to the development of valuable new materials.
One key initiative has been the formation of the Eastern Washington Stormwater Education & Outreach (E&O) collaborative. This group identified a need to develop educational materials targeting construction stormwater management. In conjunction with Evergreen H2O and WSC, they crafted three targeted E&O documents designed to inform and guide different audiences in the construction world:
- A brochure tailored for Engineers, Planners, and Review Staff was designed to introduce topics essential to stormwater design. It provides information on site plans, low-impact development, underground injection control, and infiltration.
- A brochure directed at Developers reviews the steps needed to assemble a project application: from property research, application submission, and permit acquisition to construction oversight and project closeout.
- A flip book specifically for Contractors and Construction Crews reviews the stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) details and the BMPs used to fulfill those requirements. It provides over 30 pages of common BMPs and images to provide detailed information.
These resources were created using Microsoft Publisher to ensure ease of modification, allowing jurisdictions to customize information such as contact information, code specifics, logos, and images. This approach aims to empower various jurisdictions across the state to produce materials that support their own stormwater education initiatives easily. Additionally, the inclusion of QR codes offers quick access to supplementary information that is consistently updated with the latest information to keep these documents relevant as stormwater management techniques evolve.
For Western Washington, an adapted version of the flipbook is under review, with plans by one jurisdiction to translate it to Spanish to reach a broader audience. This project underscores the dedication to comprehensive education and outreach efforts across the state.
In addition to these documents developed with the Eastern Washington E&O collaborative, WSC has also crafted informational rack cards for jurisdictions to get resources into the hands of industrial and construction businesses. These cards address common stormwater management challenges faced by these groups. With integrated QR codes, these cards link to in-depth guidance on practices such as stormwater sampling and implementing best management practices. They also serve as a portal to additional resources on the Washington Stormwater Center’s website.
Designed for versatility, the rack cards can be used in a variety of ways: displayed at municipal permit counters, included in permitting packets, or distributed by field inspectors. Their deployment is yet another strategic move by WSC to bolster water quality through informed practices.
These efforts by the Washington Stormwater Center reflect a commitment to providing municipalities and businesses across the state with the tools and knowledge needed to mitigate stormwater pollution and enhance water quality for all. Those seeking further information can reach out to WSC’s Municipal Stormwater E&O Coordinator, Anne Melrose.
