Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium (NEWSC) Jessica Schultz - Director

1. Applying Environmental Science & Policy in the Nonprofit Sector Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium (NEWSC) Jessica Schultz - Director

2. Stormwater Discharge Permit

3. Regulatory Requirements Background The Federal Clean Water Act of 1972

4. Regulatory Requirements Background Stormwater Discharge Permit Program Rules published in 1988 • Phase III – Municipal Stormwater Discharge Permits in 2 phases • Phase I (cities over 100,000) – 1990’s • Phase II (cities 10,000 – 99,999) - 2005 Phase I – Industrial Stormwater Discharge Permits Phase II – Construction Activities disturbing 5 acres or more

5. What is an MS4? MS4 - Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System • Any system of open or closed pipes or ditches that carry runoff from rainwater or snowmelt (not sanitary sewer discharge) • Owned & operated by a government entity (Town, City, Village, State, County, etc.)

6. Regulatory Requirements Background • To meet the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act MS4s are permitted in Wisconsin through NR 151 & 216

7. Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium NEWSC was created • in 2004 • in response to the coming Phase II Stormwater Permit • as a subsidiary of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance which holds the 501c3

8. Northeast Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium • Fostering Partnerships • Sharing Information • Administrative Efficiency • Pooling Financial Resources

9. Regional Collaboration • Menomonee River Group • Southeast Wisconsin Clean Water Network • La Crosse Urban Stormwater Group • Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership • North Central Wisconsin Stormwater Coalition • Waukesha County Storm Water Information and Education Partnership • Chippewa Valley Stormwater Forum • North East Wisconsin Stormwater Consortium

10. Benefits of Regional Collaboration

11. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Updates on Rules & Regulations

12. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Standardized sample ordinance language

13. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Simplified guidance and procedures / processes

14. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • A Larger Voice

15. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Use of developed brand & materials for stormwater education.

16. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Shared broadcast media – radio & television, billboards

17. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Exhibiting and Education

18. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Training • Employees • Business/Industry

19. Benefits of Regional Collaboration • Opportunity to network with neighboring communities

20. Total Maximum Daily Loads

21. What’s a TMDL? TMDL – Total Maximum Daily Load • A TMDL is the maximum amount of a particular pollutant that a water body can receive while still meeting water quality standards.

22. Why do we need a TMDL? The Federal Clean Water Act requires all “impaired waters” to have TMDLs . Impaired waters are waters that are not meeting expectations for fish and aquatic life, recreation, public health and welfare and wildlife. Currently there are more than 700 rivers, streams and lakes on Wisconsin’s list of impaired waters. Algae growth in lake resulting from too much phosphorous

23. Information Used to Develop the Lower Fox River TMDL • Land Use

24. Information Used to Develop the Lower Fox River TMDL • Sources of Total Phosphorous • Sources of Total Suspended Solids

25. What happens after a TMDL is set? A TMDL determines the allowable amounts of a particular pollutant in a certain water body. If the amount of that pollutant entering a water body exceeds the TMDL then … • WDNR determines how to achieve the reduction needed. • Allowable amounts of pollution are allocated to permitted industries, municipalities and wastewater treatment plants. • Updates to individual permits are made to account for the reduction needed to meet the TMDL.

26. How Might a TMDL affect Your MUNICIPALITY? • Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility • Municipal Stormwater System Fox River in Kimberly, June 2007. Photo credit Bruce Cleland, Tetra Tech For many communities affected by a TMDL, large reductions must be met by both the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Municipal Stormwater System – this increased reduction has the potential to come at a high cost for both facets.

27. How can Your Municipality meet TMDL Requirements? Best Management Practices • Example: • Currently, XX,XXX tons per year of Phosphorous (TP) are loaded into theExample River. • WDNR determined that the TMDL allocates XX,XXX tons per year of TP. • A XX% reduction.

28. How can Your Municipality meet TMDL Requirements? • New options to meet permit requirements: • Water Quality Trading • Adaptive Management Fox River at the Bay of Green Bay, April 2011. Photo credit Steve Seilo, Photodynamix • Example: • Currently, XX,XXX tons per year of Phosphorous (TP) are loaded into theExample River. • WDNR determined that the TMDL allocates XX,XXX tons per year of TP. • A XX% reduction.

29. Meeting permit options

30. Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance FWWA is an independent, non-profit organization that identifies issues and advocates effective policies and actions to protect, restore and sustain the water resources of Wisconsin’s Fox-Wolf River Basin.

31. Adaptive Management Economic Feasibility Study • Contract with 5 WWTFs • Green Bay • Heart of the Valley • Appleton • Grand Chute/Menasha West • Neenah/Menasha • Contract with McMAHON Associates

32. Stakeholder Communication Efforts

33. Stakeholder Communication Efforts Photo Credit: Capital Times

34. Stakeholder Communication Efforts

35. Stakeholder Communication Efforts

36. Fox River at the Bay of Green Bay, April 2011. Photo credit Steve Seilo, Photodynamix