* Background Image Courtesy of Kansas State Alumni Association * Promoting Watershed-Based Stormwater Management for Linear Projects through the Green Highways Partnership Good afternoon, my name is Pat Jeffers. I am a student intern for EPA Region 3. I’ve spent the last several months researching highway stormwater management for the Green Highways Partnership. Denise has already explained the Green Highways Partnership for you, now I would like to discuss some work being done by the Watershed-Based Stormwater Management Theme Team of this Partnership. Patrick Jeffers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III / NNEMS Student, Case Western Reserve University * Background Image Courtesy of Kansas State Alumni Association *

Conventional Stormwater Management To start off, I’d like to discuss the differences between conventional and watershed-based stormwater management. Conventional stormwater management involves bringing stormwater to a centralized location for treatment by facilities such as the detention ponds shown in these pictures. This type of stormwater management focuses on fulfilling environmental regulations regarding flows and water quality being discharged to receiving streams.

Conventional Stormwater Management Conventional stormwater management does well to address the needs of highways, but does little to address the needs of the watershed of which they are a part. Conventional stormwater management fails to address watershed impairments, expected TMDL requirements, and is usually more costly in the long run. Using a watershed approach, these needs can be addressed.

Watershed-Based Stormwater Management Conventional stormwater management does well to address the needs of highways, but does little to address the needs of the watershed of which they are a part. Conventional stormwater management fails to address watershed impairments, expected TMDL requirements, and is usually more costly in the long run. Using a watershed approach, these needs can be addressed.

Watershed-Based Stormwater Management Watershed-Based stormwater management is a concept that recognizes that highways coexist with other land uses in watersheds, and uses a collaborative approach to provide an opportunity for highway agencies to plan and deliver the most cost-effective protection, even improvement, to watersheds.

Watershed-Based Stormwater Management Regulatory compliance at a minimum Watershed-wide needs considered through watershed improvement plans Stormwater Management Plans focused on good environmental results Stormwater Management Plans integrated into project development and project features Use partnerships to leverage and deliver a combination of watershed improvements to cohesively and consciously produce tangible results Watershed-Based stormwater management uses regulatory compliance as a minimum requirement. It considers the needs of the watershed and focuses on achieving results that address those needs. These results are obtained through strategic partnerships, innovative stormwater BMPs, and a desire to improve the environment. The key here is to consciously produce tangible results. Under this approach, plans are set forth to improve the health of the watershed, and regulatory compliance will follow.

Goal Develop and implement a collaborative, watershed-based approach to stormwater management focused on results. We recognize that highways coexist with other land uses and that cost effective approaches to stormwater management can yield watershed protection, even improvement, if we integrate planning, maintain flexibility, and focus on outcomes. The goal of the Stormwater Theme Team is to develop and implement a collaborative, watershed-based approach to stormwater management focused on results. We recognize that highways coexist with other land uses and that cost effective approaches to stormwater management can yield watershed protection if we integrate planning, maintain flexibility, and focus on outcomes.

Identify attributes of Green Highways relating to a watershed approach to stormwater management through case studies of projects and organizations. A charrette is scheduled to take place in November that will address qualities that define a “Green Highway.” The discussion will focus around the proposal for MD Route 301 to be developed as a “Green Highway.” GETF and the LID Center have received a grant from EPA Region III to document, evaluate, and demonstrate more effective stormwater practices that also support watershed restoration. They will work with MDSHA on their pilot projects to compare the effectiveness of innovative BMPs, demonstrate water quality and market benefits of innovative BMPs, develop values for trading schemes and study their effectiveness relating to watershed-based stormwater management, and compare these results with similar research by other organizations. One objective of the team is to identify how watershed based stormwater management is incorporated into Green Highways through a variety of case studies. In order to further this objective, EPA Region III has awarded a grant to GETF and the LID Center for documenting, evaluating, and demonstrating more effective stormwater practices that also support watershed restoration. They will work with MDSHA to compare effectiveness of innovative BMPs, demonstrate water quality and market benefits of innovative BMPs, develop values for trading schemes and study their effectiveness relating to watershed based stormwater management, and compare these results with similar research by other organizations.

Incorporate 10 Innovative Stormwater Demonstration Projects in Maryland, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania. EPA Region III has been working with PennDOT and PADEP to pilot stormwater management projects within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Potential locations and projects will be reported soon. MDSHA and EPA Region III are partnering on a $ 100K Cooperative Agreement ($50K – EPA/ $50K MSHA) awarded by EPA Region III to implement pilot projects incorporating and evaluating performance of innovative stormwater management techniques, including Low Impact Development strategies in 3 representative watersheds. The results will be utilized to target and project environmental outcomes for broader application in the Chesapeake Bay watersheds, as well as in other target watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic. FHWA and EPA Region III have offered $1 million in grants for watershed restoration projects in the Anacostia River Watershed. Up to three grants or cooperative assistance agreements will be selected for funding. At least one selected will have to focus on integrating transportation planning with watershed management. The projects will have a performance period of three to five years. The application deadline has passed, and awards should be announced in October. Another team objective is to incorporate 10 innovative stormwater demonstration projects in the Mid-Atlantic region. Thus far, the partnership has been working with PennDOT and PADEP to pilot stormwater management projects within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Also, MDSHA and EPA Region III are partnering on a $100,000 cooperative agreement to implement innovative stormwater BMPs, focusing on LID strategies, in 3 representative watersheds. Also, FHWA and EPA have awarded $1 million in grants for watershed restoration projects in the Anacostia River Watershed.

Address regulatory flexibility and policy support to promote watershed based stormwater management - (NPDES, 404, 401, state regulations TMDLs, etc). A Green Highways Regulatory Roundtable is scheduled to take place in October. This discussion will focus on regulatory flexibility in addressing stormwater management projects. EPA Region III has conducted a review and of innovative stormwater BMPs related to linear transportation projects in order to rank effectiveness as related to highway impacts and watershed benefits. The review was conducted from resources found in NCHRP 25-25 (Environmental Stewardship Practices, Procedures, and Policies for Highway Construction and Maintenance). Results will be applied to stormwater pilots in MD, PA, and DC. Addressing regulatory flexibility in supporting watershed based stormwater management is another objective of the team. In support of this objective, a regulatory roundtable was held last week to discuss opportunities for regulatory flexibility and areas where policies and legislation can promote innovative practices. Also, a comprehensive review of innovative stormwater BMPs relating to linear transportation projects has been conducted and the top BMPs will be promoted in pilot projects to demonstrate their potential to the transportation community.

Identify research need topics & areas. The Stormwater Theme Team has identified a number of research opportunities regarding stormwater management on highway projects. These opportunities were generated from discussions during Green Highways Forums and meetings, as well as from the DOT NCHRP Report 521 (Identification of Research Needs Related to Highway Runoff Management). EPA Region III has partnered with Villanova University and Prince George’s County to conduct a comparison study of porous asphalt and pervious concrete. The study will compare the two stormwater BMPs side by side for effectiveness and durability. Finally, the stormwater team has been active in identifying upcoming research areas. The team has identified a number of research opportunities through Green Highways Forum discussions as well as Department of Transportation reports. One of these research areas is currently being addressed through a partnership with Villanova University, comparing pervious concrete and porous asphalt for use in treating stormwater runoff.

Questions and Comments Thanks for your attention, I will be glad to answer any questions you may have during the panel discussion at the end of this session.