MEMORANDUM. March 14, 2017 Council Surface Water Work Session REVISED AGENDA

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1 WHATCOM COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 322 N. Commercial Street, Suite 110 Bellingham, WA JON HUTCHINGS Telephone: (360) Director FAX: (360) MEMORANDUM TO: THROUGH: FROM: The Honorable Jack Louws, Whatcom County Executive, and Honorable Members of the Whatcom County Council Jon Hutchings, Director Gary S. Stoyka, Natural Resources Program Manager DATE: March 8, 2017 RE: March 14, 2017 Council Surface Water Work Session REVISED AGENDA Please refer to the proposed agenda below for the next Surface Water Work Session. Additional supporting documents may be distributed at or before the meeting. REVISED AGENDA Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Place: Civic Center Garden Level Conference Room Time 10:30 AM 10:45 AM Topic Council Action Requested Water Planning Update Discussion None Background Information Attached 10:45 AM 11:15 AM 2016 Annual Report and 2017 NPDES Planned Activities Discussion Attached 11:15 AM 12:00 PM Overview of Water Supply Planning Activities Discussion None If you have questions, please feel free to call me at (360) cc: Mike McFarlane Debbie Bailey Tyler Schroeder Sue Blake George Boggs Ryan Ericson Joe Rutan Jeff Hegedus Josh Fleischmann Kirk Christensen Roland Middleton Paula Harris John Thompson Karen Frakes Dana Brown-Davis Lonni Cummings John Wolpers Kraig Olason Jennifer Schneider Atina Casas Kristi Felbinger Mike Donahue Erika Douglas Jill Nixon Cathy Craver Mark Personius

2 2017 WHATCOM COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM A REQUIREMENT OF THE WESTERN WASHINGTON PHASE II MUNICIPAL STORMWATER PERMIT DRAFT WHATCOM COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - MARCH 2017

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4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION CONTROLLING RUNOFF FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION SITES MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COMPLIANCE WITH TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD REQUIREMENTS MONITORING SUMMARY OF PERMIT REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM AREA..19

5 1. INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND Whatcom County became a permittee of the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit at its original issuance in The Permit is administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology, whose authority to administer the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program is delegated from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Clean Water Act. Through the originating EPA NPDES Program, the Permit is often referred to as the NPDES Phase II Permit. Whatcom County has been a NPDES Phase II Permittee for the following Permit cycles: Permit Permit (*One- year continuation of the previous year s Permit) Current Permit effective August 1, 2013-July 31, Permit effective August 1, 2018 To view all Permits, visit: IIwwHISTORY.html The Permit authorizes the discharge or stormwater and non-stormwater flows to surface and ground waters of the State from a small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). An MS4 is the stormwater conveyance system that is: Owned and operated by a public entity that discharges stormwater to a surface water of Washington State; Designed or used to collect or convey stormwater (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains); Not a combined sewer; and Not part of a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (sewage treatment plant). As a Permittee, this means Whatcom County is responsible for ensuring that the stormwater conveyed from the MS4 into surface and ground waters of the State comply with the State of Washington Water Pollution Control Law (Chapter Revised Code of Washington). 1

6 TWO-PRONGED APPROACH TO PERMIT COMPLIANCE Stormwater discharges into Whatcom County s regulated MS4 can come from both public and private property. In order to address stormwater from both public and private development and facilities, the County utilizes a two-pronged approach: 1) Develop and implement a program for the publicly-owned infrastructure within the regulated MS4. This includes scheduled inspection and maintenance of stormwater conveyance and treatment facilities, following appropriate development standards for building and/or repairing public infrastructure, and providing appropriate NPDES-related training for County employees. 2) Develop appropriate programs and mechanisms that address stormwater discharges from private property to ensure water quality violations do not occur. This is achieved through development and stormwater ordinances, education and outreach, technical assistance, and enforcement. WHATCOM COUNTY REGULATED AREAS The regulated portion of Whatcom County s MS4 is defined to be the urban regions of the County as determined by the census to be 1,000 people per square mile. The area covers approximately 15,000 acres and includes the following areas: Bellingham Urban Growth Area Sudden Valley Portions of the Hillsdale and Emerald Lake area Ferndale Urban Growth Area Portions along North Shore Drive on Lake Whatcom and Lake Whatcom Boulevard Portions along Chuckanut Drive and Chuckanut Bay Birch Bay Urban Growth Area (UGA) The entire Lake Whatcom watershed is subject to illicit discharge detection and elimination requirements of the Permit. 2

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8 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION Stormwater Management Program Administration activities include the coordination, compilation, tracking, and reporting of all tasks of the Permit, and the overall administration of the programs to meet NPDES requirements. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (SWMP) REPORTING AND DOCUMENTS Two documents are required to be submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology by Whatcom County as part of the Permit: The 2017 Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) Plan and the Annual Report. The 2016 SWMP Plan is the set of actions and activities the County undertakes to meet the requirements of each component of the NPDES Permit. This document serves as: A planning and implementation document for the public, elected officials, and Whatcom County staff. A summary of permit requirement accomplishments for the calendar year A summary of activities scheduled for calendar year The official narrative of the Stormwater Management Program submitted to the Ecology by March 31 of every year. The Annual Report is the document of approximately 67 questions (varying by year) that Whatcom County submits that gives specific information on the required tasks of the Permit. (E.g. Number of illicit discharges eliminated during the reporting year, number of enforcement actions taken during the reporting period (based on construction phase inspections at new development and redevelopment projects), number of stormwater facilities that maintenance was performed on during the reporting period, etc.) The Annual Report is filled out online, and both the SWMP Plan and Annual Report are submitted to the Department of Ecology by March 31 of every year. All previous year s reports and all supporting documents (E.g. reports, presentations, manuals, etc.) are available online on the Whatcom County NPDES webpage: PROGRAM AREAS OF THE PERMIT Public Education & Outreach Public Involvement & Participation Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination (IDDE) Controlling Runoff From New Development, Redevelopment, and Construction Sites Municipal Operations and Maintenance ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Compliance With Total Maximum Daily Load Requirements (TMDL) Monitoring and Assessment WHATCOM COUNTY COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Whatcom County Public Works is the lead in developing the SWMP, and coordinates with all County departments, neighboring jurisdictions, and appropriate agencies to administer and track Permit requirements to achieve permit compliance for Whatcom County. 4

9 PROGRAM AREA/REQUIREMENTS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (S5.C.1) TABLE 2.1 SWMP IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES CONTRIBUTING AND COORDINATING COUNTY DEPARTMENT(S) AND/OR OTHER AGENCIES Health Parks Planning & Development Services Public Works Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) Cities of Bellingham, Ferndale, and Lynden DELIVERABLES/ RESPONSIBILITIES Create education and outreach opportunities and develop materials for the public on stormwater topics. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION (S5.C.2) ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION (IDDE) (S5.C.3) CONTROLLING RUNOFF FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION SITES (S5.C.4) MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (S5.C.5) COMPLIANCE WITH TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) REQUIREMENTS (S7) MONITORING & ASSESSMENT (S8) Health Parks Planning & Development Services Public Works Department of Ecology Fire Health Parks Planning & Development Services Public Works Sheriff Cities of Bellingham, Blaine and Ferndale Port of Bellingham Planning & Development Services Public Works Facilities Parks Public Works Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) Port of Bellingham City of Bellingham Department of Ecology Health Parks Planning Public Works City of Bellingham Department of Ecology WWU-Institute for Watershed Studies Public Works Provide opportunities for the public to participate in the development, implementation, and update of the County s SWMP. Respond and investigate illicit discharge reports. Provide education and outreach to staff and public on IDDE. Conduct IDDE assessments on County s MS4. Provide site and stormwater plan review and construction inspections for stormwater permits. Conduct/coordinate private stormwater facility inspections. Inspect and maintain publicly-owned stormwater facilities. Implement the requirements of Appendix 2 Conduct water quality monitoring of outfalls and water bodies in Phase II area. 5

10 ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Public Works met regularly with other departments to continue coordination efforts. Additionally, Public Works coordinates with other agencies, organizations, and neighboring jurisdictions. Staff regularly participates in NPDES Coordinator s Forums for both North and Sound jurisdictions, and other work groups formed by Puget Sound jurisdictions to comply with ongoing requirements of the Permit. PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 Continue and update necessary process, procedures, and amendments to incorporate AKART requirements set for the by the State Water Pollution Control Act. photo 6

11 3. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Public Education and Outreach activities focus on providing information regarding permit requirements and stormwater management to the general public, elected officials, and those working or residing in the NPDES Phase II areas. This happens in the form of various printed materials on stormwater-related topics, community workshops, site visits and inspections, and coordination with other jurisdictions and organizations with their respective outreach events. The two main programs focused on achieving education and outreach goals of the Permit are the Private Stormwater Facility Inspection and Maintenance Program and the Gardening Green: Sustainable Landscaping Series. Workshops on Private Stormwater Facility Inspection and Maintenance began in 2011 with the assistance of a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Starting in 2014, the workshops expanded to provide a free inspection of private stormwater facilities of subdivisions and businesses within the NPDES Phase II area. Through a Department of Ecology grant, a consultant (Kulshan Services, LLC) was hired to conduct the workshops as well as the facility inspection. Those participating in an inspection received a report of the status of the system, recommendations on maintenance activities, and on-going technical support from County staff. Grant funding has only been confirmed until July Whatcom County has contracted with WSU Cooperative Extension and Sue Taylor, Master Gardener, to provide the Gardening Green: Sustainable Landscaping Series since The series focuses on what Other areas of focus include coordinating with the Health Department on education and outreach to businesses on source control best management practices (BMPs) and preventing illicit discharges from entering into storm drains, and working with other Divisions of Public Works to provide outreach on stormwater related topics such as pet waste disposal, watershed-friendly landscaping practices, spills and illicit discharges, etc. ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Contracted with Kulshan Services LLC to conduct 1 workshop (2 scheduled but one cancelled due to inclement weather) on private stormwater facility maintenance that included inspection reports for all participants. The focus was to give technical support and guidance to assist developments in achieving compliance of the maintenance standards applicable to their development. Contracted with Sue Taylor (James Williams Architect, Master Gardener) to conduct 2 Sustainable Landscape: Green Gardening Series. The Birch Bay series was held on August 16-September 1, and the Bellingham series was held September 20-October 6. The past 6 years of the Sustainable Landscaping series also provided survey data from participants to help measure the understanding of a specific audience (private property owners) and their behaviors (specifically yard care techniques protective of water quality). Staff provided education and outreach materials to businesses regarding source control BMPs and stewardship actions as part of the Health Department s Local Source Control Program. 21 businesses and 11 spill kits 7

12 PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 Staff will develop flier/brochure for our capital facilities within neighborhoods that have regular maintenance activity. The brochures will be sent out to neighboring properties to notify when crews will be working on the facilities, detailing the nature of the work (e.g. vegetation management or changing out filter cartridges) as well as describing the purpose and function of the facility. The brochures will also be available for crew leaders to hand out to the public as maintenance is occurring. Continue providing the Sustainable Landscaping: Gardening Green class series focusing on Runoff/Phosphorus Reduction through Residential Landscape Practices. Continue with private stormwater facility education and outreach workshops in fall of 2017, and provide free inspections of facilities for residents within the NPDES area. photo 8

13 4. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION Public involvement and participation activities focus on providing opportunities for the public to share input on program development and implementation of the SWMP through various committees and venues of the County. Public Works staff present in various venues to keep the council and public up to date on current and future efforts. An NPDES Phase II webpage is on the Whatcom County website that contains all past SWMP Plans and documents, Annual Reports, any other NPDES-related documents, and a stormwater and spill reporting hotline number. The public has the opportunity to comment on the SWMP at any time through the website or through contact with the NPDES Coordinator. ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Staff presented on the NPDES Program at the following meetings: Whatcom County Council Natural Resources Committee on March 8, 2016 Whatcom County Council Surface Water work session on March 24, 2016 Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) Retreat on April 20, Public Works staff presented updates on the County s inspection and maintenance activities of the MS4 in the Birch Bay UGA, as well as the education and outreach efforts to BBWARM residents. PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 Continue providing current and past SWMP, Annual Compliance Reports, and other related submittals on the Whatcom County NPDES Phase II website. Continue with public meeting announcements for opportunities to comment on the SWMP through the website and submit press releases for major updates. 9

14 5. ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION, AND ELIMINATION (IDDE) The IDDE program focusses on the prevention, identification, investigation, termination, cleanup, and reporting of illicit discharges. These activities address both municipal operations and the general public. The County responds to reports of spills and illicit discharges that are reported by phone, , or through the Washington State Department of Ecology Environmental Report Tracking System (ERTS). The lead department(s) for responding to reported incident is determined by the nature of the incident. As the NPDES lead, Public Works coordinates with all County departments and local agencies to appropriately investigate and close out incidents that occur in the NPDES area. Whatcom County also implements an IDDE Ordinance, and provides education, outreach, and technical assistance to private property owners, businesses, and contractors on spills, illicit discharges, good housekeeping practices, and contact information for reporting incidents. ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Public Works initiated a comprehensive outfall inventory and inspection project beginning fall of In terms of the Permit, outfalls are the end pipe of where the MS4 enters into a water body of the State. Outfalls may be on public property or be privately held and maintained. This project sets out to identify the size, material, and structural integrity of the outfall. Additionally, the associated drainage infrastructure is observed, as well as a general screening for illicit discharges. Whatcom County staff responded to 9 reported incidents of illicit discharges within the NPDES Phase II boundary. Whatcom County Health Department s Local Source Control Program conducted 21 business inspections and provided outreach on practices for preventing spills, illicit discharges, and waste management. 11 spill kits were provided. PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 Continue to expand and enhance educational opportunities on prevention and reporting of illicit discharges through programs, website updates, and public meeting presentations and outreach. Continue to provide education on illicit discharge identification, investigation, and response for all Whatcom County field staff and the public. 10

15 6. CONTROLLING RUNOFF FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION SITES Stormwater runoff related to development activities are managed through various local and State regulations, the permit review process, pre and post-construction inspections, and other regulatory mechanisms. Public Works Engineering Services and Planning & Development Services are the leads in processing all development permits, and apply the various stormwater regulations and requirements to the permits that are within the NPDES Phase II area. They are tasked with ensuring that the mandated stormwater provisions and standards are adopted in our local county code, the permit review process is complete, the appropriate stormwater regulations are applied, the appropriate inspections during the time of construction are conducted and documented, and the final development meets the approved stormwater control standards. Staff attends regular trainings and refresher courses regarding regional stormwater management topics, lowimpact development techniques, erosion and sediment control, and implementation of the most current Ecology Stormwater Manual. This information is regularly shared between staff and helps inform implementation of codes to ensure NPDES Phase II requirements are met. Controlling runoff from new development, redevelopment, and construction sites through regulatory mechanisms is necessary to address and manage stormwater runoff that originates on private property that discharges into the County s MS4. photo photo ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Whatcom County Planning & Development Services and Public Works Engineering services adopted Low- Impact Development (LID) regulations on October 22, 2016 as required by the Permit. The requirement was to review and revise the County s current code to incorporate, require, and make LID techniques the preferred option for development within the NPDES Phase II area. The final code reflected a combination of options that reflected the feasible LID techniques that could be applied to Whatcom County properties. A consultant, AHBL, Inc., was hired to review and revise the code, manage the outreach on the process and content of recommendations, and work with an appointed Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) compiled of local engineers and local jurisdiction representatives to develop code recommendations. 11

16 As of January 1, 2017, Whatcom County began implementing the requirement to have stormwater treatment and flow control BMPs/facilities (as defined in the Permit) inspected on an annual basis. This requirement currently applies to developments that are on greater than one acre of land (typically subdivisions and some commercial sites), and now will apply to all developments that meet the stormwater treatment and flow control BMPs/facilities. The proposed developments are made aware of this requirement during the review process with a mandatory notarized easement that will run with the property title. The Public Works Stormwater/NPDES Division staff is responsible for managing the inspections of the 5 current developments already under that requirement for the subdivisions and commercial developments, as well as the future developments under this new requirement. PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 There are no new requirements under this Permit Area for the remainder of the Permit cycle. Whatcom County staff will continue to implement the current Permit requirements. 12

17 7. MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Pollution prevention and operation and maintenance for municipal operations include the maintenance of publicly-owned catch basins, ditches, ponds, swales, drainage systems, etc. that are part of the County s MS4. The MS4 is the network of facilities that convey stormwater from roadways and development that eventually discharges into water bodies of the State. Maintenance activities under this portion of the permit are primarily implemented by Public Works Maintenance & Operations (M&O) staff. This includes, but is not limited to, catch basin repair and/or replacement, catch basin vactoring, inlet and culvert pipe-jetting, ditch improvements and maintenance, vegetation management, stormwater filter replacement, and other activities that keep Whatcom County s storm sewer conveyance system functioning properly. Since 2015, efforts have also been directed to not just repair existing infrastructure, but to improve sections of older systems to effectively manage stormwater as areas become more developed. One example is the ditch systems that regularly experience high velocity flows during storm events are being regraded and reinforced with rock sides and weirs to manage flows as well as trap sediment before reaching outfalls into waterbodies. In addition to assigning M&O staff to facility maintenance, Public Works holds a contract with the Sheriff s Office Jail Crew who is assigned to perform various vegetation management tasks on behalf of Public Works. This crew is trained in both plantings and species removal, and is often assigned to perform maintenance on Whatcom County s various treatment and grassy swales. Inspections of the comprehensive stormwater conveyance system throughout the NPDES area are conducted by the NPDES Stormwater Inspector. This includes catch basins, manholes, ditches, culverts, outfalls, vaults, swales, and ponds. Street sweeping occurs monthly in the Lake Whatcom and Lake Padden watersheds, twice a month during the leaf falling months, around October and November, and are on call for spills, after road sanding, and other special requests. The Permit outlines a schedule for inspection and maintenance of catch basins and stormwater treatment/flow control facilities, however the entire network of facilities, including roadside ditches, are assessed to ensure stormwater is effectively conveyed as intended. Exceedance of maintenance standards for facilities is recorded by the inspector and a work order is generated for the M&O crews. PUBLICLY-OWNED STORMWATER CONVEYANCE FACILITIES IN NPDES AREA (APPROXIMATE) 2,800 catch basins 110 miles ditch 4,000 culverts 200 outfalls 13

18 PUBLICLY-OWNED TREATMENT AND FLOW CONTROL FACILITIES IN NPDES AREAS AIRPORT/BENNETT BIRCH BAY UGA LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED YEW STREET UGA Airport/Bennett Dr. detention pond and treatment swale West Illinois/ Marine Dr. storm filter vault Beachway Drive/Fern Street storm filter vault The Tides at Birch Bay storm filter vault Cottonwood treatment swale (at Maple Crest) Cable Street storm filter vaults (4) Brownsville to 16th storm filter vaults (4) Coronado-Fremont Phase I storm filter vault Coronado-Fremont Phase II storm filter vault San Juan Blvd. Detention Pond and treatment swale Yew Street/Wade King storm filter vault Lake Whatcom Blvd. storm filter vaults Lakewood Ln. bioinfiltration swales (2) Morgan St. bioinfiltration Austin St. bioinfiltration Wall St. bioinfiltration Lahti Dr. bioinfiltration West Tributary bioinfiltration swale Brownsville to 16 th treatment swale ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Staff inspected and maintained the publicly-owned pretreatment and flow control vaults, stormwater filter vaults, detention ponds, and bioinfiltration or treatment swales in the NPDES Phase II area. Sediment accumulation is vacuumed out in the pre-treatment and flow control vaults twice a year. The stormwater filter vaults are vacuumed out and have their filter cartridges replaced annually. All bioinfiltration and treatment swales are maintained twice a year. In addition to the regularly scheduled annual inspections and maintenance, spot checks are conducted to all these facilities after major storm events of approximately 2 of rain over a 24- hour rain period. Catch basins are required to be inspected at least every two years per the Permit requirements. Whatcom County has approximately 2,800 catch basins in the NPDES area. 2,108 catch basins were inspected in 2015, with 659 being inspected in The remainder will be inspected in the spring of 2017 to complete the circuit of inspections. Two temporary extra help employees were hired the summer of 2016 to work on the NPDES M&O Crew. 14

19 PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR 2017 Public Works-NPDES has budget authority to hire 2 staff: A Road Maintenance Worker for the NPDES Crew at M&O and an Engineering Tech for NPDES. This completes a full crew dedicated to the NPDES Program: Crew Leader, Senior Road Maintenance Worker, Operator, and the (to be hired in 2017) Road Maintenance Worker. (Previously referenced in the IDDE Section) Public Works initiated a comprehensive outfall inventory and inspection project beginning fall of In terms of the Permit, outfalls are the end pipe of where the MS4 enters into a water body of the State. Outfalls may be on public property or be privately held and maintained. This project sets out to identify the size, material, and structural integrity of the outfall. Additionally, the associated drainage infrastructure is observed, as well as a general screening for illicit discharges. 15

20 8. COMPLIANCE WITH TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) REQUIREMENTS The NPDES Phase II Permit contains provisions regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for water bodies listed on the State s 303(d) list of impaired water bodies within the Permit boundaries. Approved TMDL s are listed in Appendix 2 of the Permit. Appendix 2 outlines the additional tasks (outside of the Permit requirements) a jurisdiction must implement to meet TMDL compliance. If a TMDL is approved after a Permit is issued, then the Department of Ecology may establish TMDL related requirements until it is included in the next Permit. STATUS OF LAKE WHATCOM TMDL The Lake Whatcom TMDL was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 7, It was approved after the issuance of the Permit, but Whatcom County (along with the City of Bellingham) has been implementing programs and projects to address the TMDL for several years. The most recent Lake Whatcom Management Program Five-Year Work Plan outlines specific tasks that each jurisdiction implements to reduce the phosphorus inputs needed to comply with the TMDL. The Permit will include the Lake Whatcom TMDL in Appendix 2 and identify specific tasks and milestones for Whatcom County. Additional information regarding the Lake Whatcom TMDL can be found online at: Additional information regarding the Lake Whatcom Management Program can be found at: 16

21 9. MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT Monitoring and assessing water quality in a Permittee s MS4 is necessary to ensure that water quality violations are not occurring in the receiving water bodies of the State. Over the years, Whatcom County has participated in several monitoring programs and projects that help inform the management of stormwater. In order to meet the requirements of the Permit, Whatcom County participates in the Regional Stormwater Management Program (RSMP). It is a collaborative monitoring program made of municipal stormwater permittees, and state and federal agencies. Permittees can opt in to the regional program that has selected several waterbodies across western Washington to measure the status and trends in the receiving water bodies, the effectiveness of stormwater management actions, and source identification. In addition to participating in the RSMP, Whatcom County continues to coordinate and implement ongoing monitoring efforts such as the Lake Whatcom Tributary Monitoring Project. PHOTO 17

22 10. SUMMARY OF PERMIT REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM AREA The following is intended to be a summary of the major components, not an exhaustive list, of the Permit requirements by Program Area that Whatcom County implements to achieve compliance. For a comprehensive list of the Permit requirements, refer to the Permit at: *(The text in parentheses of the Program Areas refers to the sections of the Permit.) STORMWATER MANAGEMENT (SECTION S5.A, B, & C) Update the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) annually. Submit SWMP and annual compliance reports by March 31 st of each year. Track cost estimates for implementation of tasks for continued evaluation of SWMP development. Track the number of inspections, official enforcement actions, and types of public education activities required by the program component. Develop coordination mechanisms between departments of the County. Develop coordination mechanisms between jurisdictions with shared waterbodies covered under the respective MS4s on stormwater-related policies, programs, and projects Design the SWMP to achieve reduction of the discharge of pollutants from Whatcom County s MS4 to the maximum extent possible (MEP), meet all known and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment (AKART) requirements of the State Water Pollution Control Act (RCW Chapter 90.48), and to protect water quality. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (SECTION S5.C.1) Provide an education and outreach program with prioritized audiences. Measure the understanding and adoption of target behaviors for at least one subject area. Track and maintain records of public education and outreach activities. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION (SECTION S5.C.2) Provide ongoing opportunities for public involvement through committees, and participation in developing rate structures, stewardship programs, environmental activities, or other similar activities and venues. Complete the SWMP, Annual Report, with all other related submittals, and make those documents and Permit available to the public. 18

23 ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION (SECTION S5.C.3) Implement an ongoing program to detect, report, and remove illicit discharges, connections, or spills that includes storm sewer mapping, implementing ordinances, and a local hotline for reporting. By December 31, 2017, complete field screening of outfalls during dry weather conditions on at least 40% of the county s MS4 and average of 12% each year thereafter to detect illicit discharges during dry weather conditions. Provide staff and the public ongoing education on IDDE response processes and procedures. Track and summarize illicit discharge reporting, responses, and enforcement actions for the Annual Report and SWMP. CONTROLLING RUNOFF FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT, REDEVELOPMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION SITES (SECTION S5.C.4) Develop, implement, and enforce a program to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff to a regulated MS4 from new development, redevelopment, and construction site activities. Adopt regulations to address runoff from new development, redevelopment, and construction site projects from both public and private projects utilizing the Minimum Requirements, technical thresholds, and definitions of Appendix 1 of the Permit. By December 31, 2016, provide provisions to allow for non-structural preventative actions and source reduction approaches, such as Low Impact Development techniques, measures to minimize the creation of impervious surfaces, and measures to minimize the disturbance of native soils and vegetation. By December 31, 2016, conduct annual inspections of all stormwater treatment and flow control BMPs/facilities that discharge to the MS4. MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (SECTION S5.C.5) Develop and implement an operations and maintenance (O&M) program to prevent and reduce pollutant runoff from municipal operations. Establish maintenance standards as, or more, protective than specified in the 2012 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington. Conduct inspections of stormwater flow control and treatment facilities (other than catch basins) on an annual basis and implement appropriate maintenance actions. Spot check publicly-owned permanent treatment and flow control facilities (other than catch basins) after major storm events. Inspect all catch basins and inlets owned and operated by Whatcom County at least once by August 1, 2017, and every two years thereafter. Train staff to implement appropriate standards and procedures to protect water quality for Permittee construction, operations, or maintenance activities.