Environmental Harm Urban stormwater frequently contains litter, oil, chemicals, toxic metals, bacteria, and excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorous. Polluted stormwater contributes to swimming-beach closings, fish-eating advisories, excess algae growth and poor water clarity in urban water resources, especially lakes. In addition to human effects, poorly managed urban stormwater can drastically alter the natural flow and infiltration of water, scour stream banks and harm or eliminate aquatic organisms and ecosystems. The primary goal of the MS4 general permit is to improve water quality by reducing pollutants in stormwater discharges. Specifically, the program aims to ensure proper management of stormwater discharges into waters of the state. .

What is MS4? The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit is mandated by the federal regulations under the Clean Water Act and administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The MS4 permitting program gives owners or operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems approval to discharge stormwater to lakes, rivers and wetlands in Minnesota.

How We Got Here..... The Phase II federal regulations, promulgated in 1999, expanded the scope of the (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) NPDES Stormwater Program to include smaller MS4s in urbanized areas, construction activities that disturb between one and five acres of land, and smaller municipally owned industrial activities. Watab Township was included as a mandatory small MS4.

Watab Township Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) During 2007 the Watab SWPPP was approved by the MPCA. Coverage under the NPDES general permit effective November 7, 2007. Our plan will be phased in over a 5 year period. Each of 7 Minimum Control Measures contain detailed Best Management Practices to implement.

Minimum Control Measures: 1. Public Education and Outreach 2. Public Participation/Involvement 3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination 4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control 5. Post Construction Stormwater Management 6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping 7. Impaired Water Review Process

1. Public Education and Outreach Distribute Educational Materials Implement an Education and Outreach Program Encourage Public Participation Education program to include education on all other minimum control measures Coordination of Education Program Annual Public Meeting to discuss stormwater and water quality issues

2. Public Participation/Involvement Comply with Public Notice Requirements Solicit Public Input on the adequacy of the SWPPP Consider Public Input

3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Storm Sewer System Map Regulatory Control Program Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Plan Public and Employee Discharge Info Program ID Non Stormwater Discharges and Flows

4. Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control Ordinance or other Regulator Mechanism Construction Site Implementation of ESC BMPs Waste Controls for Construction Site Operators Procedures for Site Plan Review Procedures for Receipt and Consideration of Reports of Noncompliance Procedures for Site Inspections and Enforcement

5. Post Construction SW Mgmt in New Development and Redev. Development and Implementation of Structural and/or Non-structural BMPs Regulatory Mechanism to Address Post Constructions Runoff from Dev. Or Redev. Long-term Operation and Maintenance of BMPs.

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Municipal Operations and Maintenance Program Street Sweeping Annual Inspection of All Structural Pollution Control Devices Inspection of a Minimum of 20% of the MS4 Outfalls, Sediment Basins and Ponds Each Year on a Rotating Basis

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping (continued) Annual Inspection of All Exposed Stockpile, Storage, and Material Handling Areas Inspection Follow-up Including the Determination of Whether Repair, Replacement, or Maintenance Measures are Necessary and the Implementation of the Corrective Measures Record Reporting and Retention of all Inspections and Responses to the Inspections Evaluation of Inspection Frequency

7. Impaired Waters Review Process ID the Impaired Waters that may be impacted by the MS4’s stormwater discharge. Based on a review of the watershed, determine if any changes need to be made to the MS4 or additional BMPs are needed to minimize the impact.