Stormwater Management Planning Challenges and Opportunities

1. Stormwater Management PlanningChallenges and Opportunities Christopher Blakeman - Environmental Administrator x1173 or christopher.blakeman@roanokeva.gov Director’s Meeting Presentation Feb. 2, 2011

2. Brief History & Overview • Nationally the regulation of stormwater is a relatively new phenomenon (1990 began in VA, Roanoke has been under permit since 2003) • Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) historically used for waste disposal (still a common practice for many) • Documented to be a major source of water pollution • MS4s discharge directly to surface water (No “treatment”) • Result = Nation-wide mandate to clean-up stormwater • Roanoke’s answer to date: take credit for what is already being done (street sweeping, litter clean-ups, etc…), without any real integration and collaboration • Ex: if we began authorizing public assemblies, but neglected coordinating w/ affected businesses, traffic control, waste collection, use of public lands, etc… and instead just relied on all of the pieces falling into place • Not sustainable – Cannot deliver consistently positive performance

3. Where We Are and Challenges Ahead • Existing stormwater mgmt. practices too dispersed and not well integrated • Unification and collaboration for mutual success • Permit requires increasing written accountabilities and commitments for top tier pollution prevention programs and solid documentation of efforts • Illicit Discharge Detection & Enforcement • Construction/Post Construction • City Code & MS4 Permit Compliance • Communications, Education & Awareness

4. Looking Forward • Need: new organization-wide program working across multiple Dept/Division boundaries • Assign key staff: Internal stakeholder group to develop a plan for progress • Reinforce stormwater performance expectations and integrate them as an aspect of normal required workload duties • Staff responsibility – Budget – Performance - Accountability

5. Recommended Stakeholder Participation