Saratoga County Intermunicipal Storm Water Management Program

Legislative History  The Federal Water Pollution Control Act a.k.a. The Clean Water Act (CWA)  Amended/Refunded  Phase I compliance begins  Phase II Final Rule is published ( 64FR68722 )  Phase II compliance begins

Phase I  Establishes the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)  A National permit system controlling “medium” (pop. 100, ,999) and “large” (pop. 250k +) urbanized areas (UA)  Est. the base unit of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to mitigate high level pollution in urban stormflow.  Est. the oversight hierarchy of NPDES  SPDES  MS4

Phase II  Regulation of “small” MS4 communities  Small is defined as “…any MS4 not already covered by Phase I NPDES…”  Small construction, disturbing one or more acres, also require a permit

3 Goals  Reduce pollutant discharge to the “maximum extent possible” (MEP)  Protect water quality  Satisfy the water quality requirements of the CWA

6 Objectives  Public Education and Outreach  Public Participation and Involvement  Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination  Construction Site Runoff Control  Post-Construction Runoff Control  Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Timeline Summary The CWA Amendments Phase I Phase II

The Moral Water law flows downhill! FEDERAL  STATE  COUNTY  MUNICIPALITIES

Phase II requires 6 “minimum control measures” for regulatory compliance. Annual reporting to the NYS-DEC, as permitting agency, is also required by each MS4.

1. Public Education & Outreach  Providing information to the general public of the benefits of a healthy watershed v. the negative impact of polluted storm water runoff.  All available means will be identified and utilized (i.e. Fact sheets, press releases, mailings, the internet,etc.)  Outreach efforts should be made to local leaders, civic groups, at community events, public schools, etc.

2.Public Involvement & Participation  Encourage local citizen participation during the decision-making processes within local community governments so that there is a citizen advisory component to the Saratoga County Intermunicipal Storm Water Management Program  Adequately publicize, in advance, SWMP and local Board meetings relating to SWMP issues encouraging attendance and comments

3. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination  Develop a Regional unified systematic approach to map, inventory, categorize and remediate illicit discharges within each MS4  An Illicit Discharge is “…any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of storm water.”

4. Construction Site Runoff Control  Develop and codify a unified system of local ordinances to control erosion and sediment runoff on all construction sites of 1 acre or more  Develop and distribute a regional hand manual of “Best Management Practices” (BMP) for contractors working in the area

5. Post Construction Runoff Control  Develop and codify a unified system of local ordinances to ensure proper “in situ” runoff controls to promote infiltration of precipitation v. surface flow control  Reduces litter, pesticide/herbicide, and organic wastes entering nearby water bodies  Many control measures are already in common use

6. Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping  Programmatic and Personnel development targeted to reduce or, where possible, eliminate pollutant runoff from municipal operations within the Saratoga County Intermunicipal Storm Water Management Program

These objectives are readily achievable through a conscientious education and outreach effort and a regional approach instituting a system of accepted BMP s

Storm water flow: A 5 minute Hydrology Lesson & quick Case Study

Storm Water Flow Storm event  Precipitation   Interception   Permeable Impermeable   Infiltration Surface Flow  Aquifer Recharge Controlled Runoff

Saratoga County The fastest growing county in upstate New York according to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) and the U.S Census Bureau. County population, overall, grew 30.5% from 1980 to 2000.

Ballston Lake Identified as a class A water body by the NYS- DEC, suitable as a drinking water source as well as primary and secondary contact recreation (swimming and boating). The CDRPC in a combined study of Ballston Lake has identified 6 threats to the future health and viability of the lake.

6 CDRPC Identified Threats  New Development  Failing and Outdated Septic Systems  Lakeshore and tributary bank Erosion  Commercial Activity  Agricultural Erosion and Runoff  Anti-skid Components All non-point source pollutants.

The Management Outlook Planners, Civil Engineers, and Resource Managers alike face common problems as populations and development rise Increasing populations increase private and commercial development Increased population and development increase the stresses placed on the quantity and quality of local water supplies

Looking Further The effect then becomes two-fold… A growing population and development increase potential pollutants and runoff into the existing storm water management system As projects and homes are completed the increase in impermeable surface area increases the amount of storm water put into the system …more potential pollutants and increased storm water volumes.

The SWMP Outlook As populations and development increase within the SCI-SWMP area the size and frequency of disturbances increases with commercial and residential construction. New construction increases the total area of impermeable surfaces within the SCI- SWMP area which leads to a growing need to control overland and directed surface runoff

The SCI-SWMP Outlook The potential synergistic effects of increasing pollution which flowing, untreated, in greater volumes through the MS4 system within the SCI-SWMP is a resource management issue which must be addressed. The sole purpose of the Phase II SCI-SWMP is to implement a region-wide plan to mitigate these potential problems, now and in the future.

The Value of the SCI-SWMP Locally With the possible exception of “failing and outdated” septic systems the threats to the Ballston Lake watershed will be partially if not wholly addressed and mitigated by the SCI-SWMP as the program evolves and progresses.

The Last Drop Through a sincere and concerted effort by the SCI-SWMP, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the MS4 communities within the program current mandates can be met and long-term regional solutions can be discovered to help ensure the health and viability of our area watersheds.