Stormwater…Stormwater…Problems & SolutionsProblems & Solutions

Stormwater…Stormwater…Problems & SolutionsProblems & Solutions

Jim Nash

A water resources A water resources commissionercommissioner

Then…Then…Unique to MichiganUnique to Michigan

Initially cleared swamps and marshesInitially cleared swamps and marshes

Each township had a drain commissionerEach township had a drain commissioner

……and Nowand Now

There are 83 counties in MichiganThere are 83 counties in Michigan

Only 66 of them have drain commissionersOnly 66 of them have drain commissioners

Environmental servicesEnvironmental services

Lake levels, soil erosion prevention, drainageLake levels, soil erosion prevention, drainage

Water treatment and distributionWater treatment and distribution

Wastewater collection and treatmentWastewater collection and treatment

Important Keys for Clean Important Keys for Clean WaterWater

No Single Program Holds the SolutionNo Single Program Holds the Solution

Educating the Public / Community Educating the Public / Community LeadersLeaders

Land Use PlanningLand Use Planning

Promote Green Infrastructure Promote Green Infrastructure AlternativesAlternatives

Embrace New TechnologyEmbrace New Technology

Pollution Sources Have Pollution Sources Have EvolvedEvolved

1972 Clean Water Act1972 Clean Water ActPoint Sources Were Dominant Pollution Point Sources Were Dominant Pollution CauseCause

Today, Pollution Sources Have EvolvedToday, Pollution Sources Have EvolvedStormwater Runoff, non-point source pollutionStormwater Runoff, non-point source pollution

Failing Septic SystemsFailing Septic Systems

Jurisdictional Lines add ComplexityJurisdictional Lines add Complexity

New Stormwater RulesNew Stormwater Rules

More comprehensive than 2003 permitMore comprehensive than 2003 permit

Requires standards ordinance:Requires standards ordinance:Limits volumeLimits volume

Establishes quality of dischargeEstablishes quality of discharge

Doesn’t exceed pre-development rateDoesn’t exceed pre-development rate

First 1-inch (90% of storms) must be First 1-inch (90% of storms) must be treatedtreated

How Our Customers See the New Rules

Engaging Municipalities in Engaging Municipalities in Climate Adaptation for Water Climate Adaptation for Water

Resources: The Role of Resources: The Role of Boundary OrganizationsBoundary Organizations

Rebecca EsselmanHuron River Watershed Council

Creating Climate Resilient Creating Climate Resilient CommunitiesCommunities

Goal: pilot a process to address local climate Goal: pilot a process to address local climate change impacts by convening interested change impacts by convening interested stakeholders to determine information stakeholders to determine information needs and strategies that build resiliency in needs and strategies that build resiliency in the watershedthe watershed

Sector-based WorkgroupsSector-based Workgroups

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE:WATER INFRASTRUCTURE:For practitioners involved with water For practitioners involved with water utilities, wastewater treatment utilities, wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater managementfacilities, stormwater management

IN-STREAM FLOWS:IN-STREAM FLOWS:For dam operators, fisheries biologists, For dam operators, fisheries biologists, and hydrologistsand hydrologists

NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE:NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE:For land managers involved with For land managers involved with natural areas preservation, restoration, natural areas preservation, restoration, and managementand management

Implications of precipitation Implications of precipitation changeschanges

Fact Sheets on IssuesFact Sheets on IssuesStormwater Detention and ConveyanceStormwater Detention and Conveyance

Bankfull EventsBankfull Events

Lake Level ManagementLake Level Management

Floodplain DefinitionFloodplain Definition

Fact Sheets on Best Practices/SolutionsFact Sheets on Best Practices/SolutionsRevision of Stormwater RulesRevision of Stormwater Rules

Green InfrastructureGreen Infrastructure

For additional information,For additional information,please visit our website:please visit our website:

www.oakgov.com/waterwww.oakgov.com/water