Stormwater Forum May 8, 2007 Clarion Townhouse Hotel Columbia, SC

1. Linking Land Use and Water Quality: A Challenging (But Critical) Message to Convey Stormwater Forum May 8, 2007 Clarion Townhouse Hotel Columbia, SC

2. Are You At the Top of the Org Chart…?

3. Ever Feel Overloaded…?

4. Ever Get Mixed Signals…?

5. Ever Required to Consider Economics…?

6. Ever Been Confronted with What Might Have Been a Poor Decision…?

7. Overview • Working with Local Officials • Tough audience • NEMO Strategy • Comprehensive planning • Site design • Best Management Practices

8. Facts About Local Officials • Most are volunteers • Limited training

9. Facts About Local Officials • Complex issues • Politically motivated

10. Facts About Local Officials • Regulator vs. administrator • High turnover

11. Reaching Local Officials • Focus on rational decisions • Present information in context of responsibilities • Watch informational material overload

12. Reaching Local Officials • Reconcile regulations with comprehensive plans • Continuity of message • Follow up!

13. Reaching Local Officials • Understand legal roles and responsibilities • Address site and “big picture” issues • Don’t be afraid of saying “I don’t know”

14. Logistical Tips • Use local data and information • Use humor…they need every bit they can get! • Use latest technology

15. Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Linking Land Use to Water Quality in South Carolina

16. SC NEMO Goal Develop a process to educate elected and appointed municipal officials about the impacts of land use on water quality and about options available for managing those resources

17. EPA and NOAA SC Sea Grant Extension Program Clemson University Extension BCD Council of Governments Ocean and Coastal Resource Management USC Center for Environmental Policy USC Earth Science and Resources Institute Waccamaw Council of Governments Community Decision-Makers

18. Nonpoint Source Pollution Point Source Pollution Photo: AM Johnson

19. Major Watersheds in South Carolina BROAD CATAWBA SALUDA PEE DEE SAVANNAH EDISTO SANTEE SALKEHATCHIE

20. Land Use Impacts on Water Quality

21. 10% 55% 50% 15% Development Impacts On the Water Cycle

22. STUDY AREA WATERSHED

23. Fecal Coliform Impairment

24. Phosphorous Impairment

25. Heavy Metal Impairment:

26. Biological Impairment

27. Dissolved Oxygen Impairment

28. Aggregated Impaired Sub-Watersheds

29. Composite of All Impairments

30. Land Cover or Land Use? Cover - what is physically on the ground - Forested - Wetlands Use - what is practiced, permitted or planned - Recreational

31. LAND COVER

32. What to Look For: • Polluted runoff from • Forested & Wetlandareas Nutrients: Pathogens: Sediment: Toxic: Debris: Thermal: wildlife erosion from timber harvesting removal of streamside vegetation

33. What to Look For: • Polluted runoff from • Open and Agricultural Areas Nutrients: Pathogens: Sediment: Toxic: Debris: Thermal: fertilizer from farms, parks, golf courses pet & wildlife waste erosion from agricultural fields pesticides from farms & golf courses litter & illegal dumping removal of natural vegetative buffers, shallow water impoundments

34. What to Look For: • Polluted runoff from • Residentialareas Nutrients: Pathogens: Sediment: Toxic: Debris: Thermal: lawn fertilizers & septic system effluent malfunctioning septic systems, pet waste construction, road sand, erosion from lawns & gardens household products, pesticides litter & illegal dumping heated runoff, removal of natural vegetative buffers

35. What to Look For: • Polluted runoff from • Commercial & Industrial areas Nutrients: Pathogens: Sediment: Toxic: Debris: Thermal: acid rain and car exhaust malfunctioning or overloaded septic systems & lagoons construction, road sand, roadside erosion auto emissions, industrial pollutants litter & illegal dumping heated runoff, removal of natural buffers

36. Wait a minute Cal. All that material can be so overwhelming. What can I really do to address stormwater?

37. Three-tiered Strategy for Coping with Polluted Runoff 1st:Natural Resource Based Planning (Community Scale) 2nd: Site Design (Community & Site Scale) 3rd: BMPs & Remediation (Site Scale)

38. Strategy for coping with polluted runoff 1st:Natural Resource Based Planning 2nd: Site Design 3rd: BMPs & Remediation • Inventory natural resources • Prioritize areas for protection and for development • Incorporate open space planning • Develop plans of action • Revise zoning and land development regulations to support plans

39. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS Cultural Resources Population Comprehensive Plan Economics Land Use Housing Community Facilities Natural Resources

40. For ExampleSuggested Language for Local Ordinances The Town of _____ wishes to protect the health of its water resources, and seeks to reduce the impact of development on those resources. In particular, the commission requires that all new or re-development projects : 1. Consider it’s location within the watershed 2. Minimize disturbance of natural grades and vegetation 3. Protect natural wetlands and stream buffers. 4. Maximize infiltration of stormwater 5. Minimize impervious surfaces.

41. Planning for Open Space • Encourage incentives & flexibility to promote conservation of water and land resources • Conduct Open Space (Natural Resource) Inventory • Prioritize for preservation • Categorize open space by function • Organize into corridors or greenways

42. Strategy for coping with polluted runoff 1st:Natural Resource Based Planning 2nd:Site Design 3rd: BMPs & Remediation • Reduce impervious area • Contain stormwater on-site

43. Site Design Strategies Reduce Impervious Area • Reduce Road Widths – Alternative street lay-outs, one way streets, queuing streets, back alleyways for utility infrastructure and parking, setbacks, alternative materials • Reduce Parking Area –Lower allocation ratios, angled parking, narrower slots • Alternative Driveway Design – Shared driveways, lot frontage setbacks, pervious materials • Reduce Paved Sidewalk Area – On one side of street only, alternative materials

44. Site Design Strategies Contain Stormwater On-Site • Use inverted streets as stormwater collectors – Bio-filters • Invert parking islands to collect water • Reduce use of street curbing – Grassed or vegetative swales • Direct rooftop runoff from gutters onto pervious areas

45. Site Plan Review The Impervious Surface Budget Parking Lots Roads Driveways Sidewalks 65% Transportation 35% Structures Offices Stores Houses Patios Derived from the City of Olympia, WA ISRS Final Report

46. Shoulder/swale= 12’ R.O.W. = 48’ Pavement = 24’ Subbase Pavement Width can be much less than the right-of-way

47. Right-of-Way Widths Paved right-of-ways contribute a significant amount to the imperviousness of a community. Redesign the main components of the ROW by: • Narrowing roadways • Reducing sidewalk widths or restricting sidewalks to one side of the street • Requiring ROWs be permeable (grass, dirt, permeable pavement) • Reducing the border width between the street and the sidewalk • Installing utilities under street pavements • Placing sidewalks and utilities within easements outside of the ROW

48. Local Collector 18 to 24 feet Arterial 22 to 30 feet 24 to 32 feet Street Lengths and Widths Streets are the greatest source of impervious cover in most subdivisions. Vary pavement width according to the proposed use A hierarchy of road standards

49. Reduced Road Width ?

50. Examples of Reduced Road Width