Storm and Surface Water Management
Under Clean Water Act regulations, local governments in the Puget Sound Basin and those subject to the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Program are required to have stormwater management programs. As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Envornmental Protection Agency's NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) administers the federal NPDES program in the state. See DOE's Municipal Stormwater Permits page.
The listing of salmon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires that streams and wetlands be protected (see MRSC pages on ESA Salmon/Bull Trout). All local governments with salmon habitats are encouraged to develop storm water management plans. Those seeking 4(d) rule exemptions will be required to meet National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) stormwater requirements.
If you have information to share or are aware of other websites that we should link to, please contact John Carpita, MRSC Public Works Consultant, at jcarpita@mrsc.org, or Lynne De Merritt, Senior Research Consultant at ldemerritt@mrsc.org, or call at (206) 625-1300.
Contents
- The Need for Storm and Surface Water Management: The Water Quality Issue
- Federal and State Storm and Surface Water Regulations
- Local Government Storm and Surface Water Management
- Best Management Practices - Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping
- Erosion and Sediment Control - Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
- Stormwater Detention Facility Maintenance - Forms, checklists
- Stormwater Funding
- Storm and Surface Water Utility
- Public Education and Outreach - Public Involvement and Participation