Storm and Surface Water Public Education and Outreach - Public Involvement and Participation

Contents

• Recommendations and Requirements for Public Education and Involvement
• Public Education and Outreach Resources
• Illustrations of Education and Outreach Information
• Citizen Advisory Boards - Stormwater Examples
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Creating Volunteer Opportunities

Recommendations and Requirements for Public Education and Involvement

The Department of Ecology's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit requires the permittee to include an education program aimed at residents, businesses, industries, elected officials, policy makers, planning staff and other employees of the permittee. Minimum performance standards are provided. See Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5(C)(1) () and Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5 (B)(1) ().

The Department of Ecology's NPDES Phase II Western Washington and Eastern Washington permits require the permittee to provide ongoing opportunities for public involvement through advisory councils, watershed committees, participation in developing rate-structures, stewardship programs, environmental activities or other similar activities. Minimum performance standards are provided. See Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5(C)(2) () and Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, Section S5 (B)(2) ().

Public Education and Outreach Resources

• Resources for Stormwater Education and Outreach, Washington State Department of Ecology
• Focus on Stormwater Public Education and Outreach(), Washington State Department of Ecology, 10/2007
• Nonpoint Source Outreach Tool Box, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water
• Public Education & Outreach on Storm Water Impacts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management
• Public Education and Outreach Minimum Control Measure (), Storm Water Phase II Final Rule, EPA Fact Sheet 2.3, 01/2000
• Puget Sound Starts Here, Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities (STORM), Washington State Puget Sound Partnership and Washington State Department of Ecology
• Stormwater Outreach Materials and Reference Documents, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NPDES
• Other Educational Tools
  • Classroom Education on Stormwater, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NPDES
  • Schools Stormwater Teaching Guide, NSW Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation - Example of a teaching module
  • Stormwater Design Seminars, University of Washington Botanic Gardens 
  • Stormwater Education Toolkit (SET), University of Central Florida College of Engineering and Computer Science

Illustrations of Education and Outreach Information

• Resources for Stormwater Education and Outreach, Public Education and Outreach Materials from Permittees, Washington State Department of Ecology
• Bellevue Stream Team Pollution Prevention Pledge Card for Kelsey Creek Watershed
  • Bellevue News Release, Award-winning Campaign Against Water Pollution, 02/16/2011
  • Pledge Card ()
• Clark County Water Resources Education
• Federal Way Public Education and Involvement
• King County Stormwater Services
• Olympia Storm and Surface Water Education and Action
• Vancouver Water Resources Education Center

Citizen Advisory Boards - Stormwater Examples

• Clark County Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee
• Kelso Stormwater Advisory Committee
• Olympia Utility Advisory Committee
• San Juan County Stormwater Advisory Board
• Seattle Public Utilities Creeks, Drainage and Wastewater Advisory Committee
• Wenatchee Valley Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee

Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – General information about stormwater system maintenance, public information materials

Need more information?

Feel free to Ask MRSC. Washington cities, counties, and our contract partners can call or email MRSC for more information and advice - free of charge.