Transcript Document

“Together We’re Better”
Katie Teague
County Extension Agent – Agriculture/Water Quality
Historically, CES’ water quality educational emphases in
Northwest Arkansas focused on agricultural BMPs
In 1998, water quality
programs expanded to
include urban nonpoint
pollution prevention
Message:
“What you do in and around
your home and in conjunction with
your business as an individual can
have a regional impact on
community water resources”
The Clean Water Act - 1972, 1977
The cornerstone of surface water quality
protection in the United States …
… gave EPA the authority to
implement pollution control programs
and
... established the basic structure for
regulating discharges of pollutants
into the waters of the United States.
Phase I Storm Water Regulations
In 1990, EPA’s Storm Water Phase I program
addressed storm water runoff from:
 “Medium” and “ large” municipal separate storm sewer
systems (MS4s) generally serving a population of
100,000 or more
 Construction activity disturbing 5 acres of land or
greater
 Ten categories of industrial activity
Phase II Storm Water Regulations
In 2003, EPA’s Storm Water Phase II program
expanded the Phase I program by addressing
storm water runoff from:
•
“Small” municipal separate storm sewer systems
(MS4s) generally serving a population of 10,000 or
more or “urbanized areas”
•
Construction activity disturbing >1 acre of land
Big changes, BIG challenges…
In 1990, new EPA regulations
recognized urban runoff as
point source pollution
In 2003, 54 jurisdictions in Arkansas
were required to have a plan and
a permit for storm water management
In Northwest Arkansas…
12 Cities, 2 Counties and University of Arkansas
all meet EPA’s criteria as “small” MS4s
and had to address the six
minimum control measures
outlined in the Phase II
Storm Water regulations
EPA minimum control measures
for Phase II Stormwater regulations:
1) Public Education/
Public Outreach
4) Construction Site
Runoff Control
2) Public Involvement/
Public Participation
5) Post-Construction
Runoff Control
3) Illicit Discharge
Detection &
Elimination
6) Pollution Prevention/
Good Housekeeping
NWA Storm Water Focus Team
• Initiated in 2002
• Composed of representatives from MS4s, CES
and NWA Regional Planning Commission
• Purpose: To better understand and prepare for
Phase II compliance by March 2003
• Extension served as educational resource for
presentations, fact sheets and coordination of a
“Storm Water Forum” for local governments officials
Storm Water Forum
January 2003
Phase II regulations, legal implications, funding options
161 Participants
Mayors
City Aldermen
Planning Commissioners
County Judges
County JPs
EPA minimum control measures
for Phase II Stormwater regulations:
1) Public Education/
Public Outreach
4) Construction Site
Runoff Control
2) Public Involvement/
Public Participation
5) Post-Construction
Runoff Control
3) Illicit Discharge
Detection &
Elimination
6) Pollution Prevention/
Good Housekeeping
NWA Urban Storm
Water Program
• Concept evolved from
storm water focus team
• 15 Jurisdictions paying into
NWARPC to support CES
program based on percent
of urbanized area
population
• “CES fits the bill perfectly
as far as public education”
Jeff Hawkins, NWA Regional Planning Commission
Shared Regional Support
MS4 Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Area Population
Bentonville
10.77
Bethel Heights
0.38
Elkins
0.42
Elm Springs
0.02
Farmington
1.89
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
Greenland
0.32
Johnson
1.11
Little Flock
1.01
Lowell
2.68
Rogers
20.08
Springdale
25.72
Benton County
1.09
Washington County
1.27
172,630 individuals
Shared Regional Support
MS4 Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Area Population
Program Cost
Bentonville
10.77
$61,679
Bethel Heights
0.38
2,156
Elkins
0.42
2,395
Elm Springs
0.02
113
Farmington
1.89
10.849
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
186,173
Greenland
0.32
1,831
Johnson
1.11
6,328
Little Flock
1.01
5,781
Lowell
2.68
15,359
Rogers
20.08
119,111
Springdale
25.72
147,249
Benton County
1.09
6,265
Washington County
1.27
7,263
172,630 individuals
$572,552
4½-Year Workplan
• Input and Planning
• Educational Material Development
• Public Outreach
• Public Education
• Public Participation
• Municipal Employee Training
• Evaluation and Reporting
Input and Planning
• Establish steering committees
(representation based on urban population)
• Committee members identify and prioritize
educational needs
• Provide input to guide public awareness
campaigns and educational programs
• Committees evaluate program impact and
plan further efforts
Committee Kickoff – July 2004
Program:
Northern Committee
•
Background on Phase II
•
Storm water dynamics
•
Regional program
•
Role of CES
Committee Discussions:
Southern Committee
•
NWA storm water issues
•
Educational priorities
•
Target audiences
Outcomes
• When re-convened,
committee priorities were
nearly identical
• Emphases: construction
runoff and fertilization
• Audiences: Youth,
construction community,
local officials, general
public
• Meet twice a year to
evaluate progress and
plan next steps
Educational Materials Development
• Printed materials
• PSAs
• Displays
• Website
• Regional Urban Home*A*Syst
• Industry-specific materials
EPA
Outreach
Materials
steps to protect
Runoff Pathways
Your “Watershed Footprint”
affects regional water quality
In towns, water running off of parks, lawns, driveways,
streets, and parking lots flows untreated through
ditches or storm drains directly to the nearest creek.
steps for proper
What is a watershed?
A watershed is an area of land which all drains
to one point - usually a stream or lake. A bathtub is a
good analogy, where all of the water from a shower
head runs down the sides and bottom,
ultimately flowing into the drain.
It is important to recognize that when water runs off
your property, it carries soil, nutrients, chemicals,
bacteria and oil and grease to regional water
resources like Beaver Lake.
Lawn and Garden
Care
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients
and reduce phosphorus runoff into water resources
• Test your soil to determine nutrient application needs
• Read the label, measure the area to be treated and apply
nutrients and chemicals precisely
Beaver Lake and Illinois River Watersheds
The Upper White River Watershed includes all of Benton County and
parts of Benton, Boone, Madison, Newton and Washington Counties.
It was ranked as the #1 priority in the state through “Arkansas’
Unified Watershed Assessment, 1998" as the watershed in most
need of restoration practices as it includes:
steps for proper
- One state extraordinary water resource
- One imperiled aquatic species
- Drinking water supply for more than 300,000 people
- One state impaired water body
- Numerous state waters of concern
- Interstate waters of concern
• Scout your property regularly to
detect and prevent pest problems
as early as possible
• Sweep any fertilizer/pesticides
spilled on driveways, sidewalks
or streets back onto your lawn
• Irrigate (0.25 to 0.5 inch) after
applying fertilizer to get the
nutrients into the soil where it
can be used by the plants
• Mulch or compost fall leaves
Vehicle Maintenance
When vehicles are washed on paved driveways and
parking lots, the soap and grime drains directly into
storm drains and waterways. Instead, wash your car or
truck on the lawn or take it to a commercial carwash
where the dirty wash water is sent to a wastewater plant
for treatment.
Leaking vehicles deposit automotive fluids on
driveways, parking lots and roads where they are easily
washed into waterways with rainwater.
Prevention tips include:
Because the waterways in the county
flow to Beaver Lake residents should:
- Understand drainage pathways
- Recognize potential pollution impacts
- Adopt pollution prevention actions
- Promote public awareness/education
steps to manage
Hazardous
Household Products
- Think about reducing packaging and
product waste before buying a product
(pre-cycling)
- Read labels to look for options that are not
listed as toxic, caustic, flammable,
poisonous, etc.
- Using carpet strips to catch drips
- Read and follow label directions precisely!
- Performing routine vehicle maintenance to
prevent and identify potential leaks
- Share leftovers (properly labeled) with
friends and neighbors
- Cleaning up outdoor spills of automotive
fluids such as gasoline, oil, and antifreeze
- Never dumping used oil, antifreeze, or
gasoline down a storm drain, in a ditch, or
onto the ground
For more steps on protecting
community water resources visit:
www.arnatural.org
What does that mean for
Benton County?
- Some products like antifreeze, used motor oil, paint, and tires
can be recycled. Residents of Madison County can bring
household quantities of hazardous wastes including paint,
batteries, solvents, cleaners, and pesticides to:
Haz-M.E.R.T., Inc.
2633 Laurel Circle in Rogers
(479) 621-9707
open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F), 8 a.m. - noon (Saturday)
Siloam Springs Recycling Center & Transfer Station
(479) 524-8512
Open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (M-F), 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Saturday)
In Process…
• Local watersheds fact
sheet
• Fertilizer fact sheet to
include with soil test
results
• Regional Urban
Home*A*Syst homesite
evaluation guide
• List of stormwater
resources and contacts
Public Outreach
• Mass media promotion
• Displays
• Creek signs
• Utility bill inserts
• Nutrient management information with soil
test results
• “Green Business” program
Newspaper Promo
• Northwest Arkansas Times
• Morning News
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
• Benton Co. Daily Observer
• Rogers Hometown News
Public Education
• School programs
• Creekside classrooms
• Civic presentations
• Lawn and garden programs
• Nutrient Applicator Trainings
Hands-On Youth Education
Project WET
Outdoor classrooms
EnviroScape runoff model
Fishing simulator
ADEQ Inspection “Sweep”
• 120+ construction sites
inspected in Benton &
Washington Counties in
July 2004
• 74 Sites without permit,
inadequate sediment
controls or sediment
leaving site
• $245,000 in proposed
fines, one company
fined $17,500 for 5 sites
“NWA Construction Site Sediment and Erosion
Control” workshop
November 2004
202 developers,
contractors,
engineers and
planners
participated
Interest in what is expected and how
they can meet the requirements
Evaluation
• 101 respondents
• 72% rated relevance of
topics to their occupation as
excellent or superior
• 47% gained new information
• 53% said workshop helped
reinforce their understanding
of storm water dynamics
52 participants interested
and compliance with
in a follow-up workshop focusing
Phase II regulations
on Storm Water Pollution
Prevention Plan development
and BMP design
Public Participation
• Master Gardener program
• Storm drain stenciling
• Creek clean-ups
• Stream Teams
Master Gardener Volunteers
Rain Gardens
Gardening with Water Quality in Mind
Rain Garden: A landscaped area planted with wild flowers and other native
vegetation to soak up rain water from the house roof, a sidewalk or driveway.
When it rains, the garden fills with a few inches of water that slowly filters into
the ground instead of running off into a storm drain.
Placement and
Sizing
Where should a rain garden be built?
Strategically placed near to hard surfaces such as sidewalks
and
drives or at gutter downspout outlets


At least 10 feet from the house foundation

In full or partial sun

Not directly under a tree

Not directly over a septic system

Not where water already ponds
(infiltration is slow!)
The size of the garden depends on:

If the lawn is almost flat, you will
dig
the rain garden to the same depth
throughout the rain garden, using
the the soil to build a berm.
Hardy NWA native species
that thrive in our ecosystems
without chemical fertilizers
and pesticides are the best
choices.
Many rain gardens feature
shrubs as well as wild flowers
and grasses.
In a fairly flat part of the yard
(digging is easier!)

Lawn slope for depth
Lawn slope is < 4%, build a 3 to 5-inch deep garden
Lawn slope is 5 - 7%, build a 6 to 7-inch deep garden
Lawn slope is 8-12%, build an 8-inch deep garden

The soil type at the site

The size area that will drain to the rain garden
Planting and
Maintenance
Construction
If the lawn is steeper, the high end will
need to be dug out much more than
the upper end and can be used to
backfill the lower end to make it level.
After shaping the berm into a smooth ridge about a
foot across, stomp on it so it is well-compacted. The
berm should have very gently sloping sides; this helps
to integrate the rain garden with the surrounding
lawn and makes it less likely to erode.
Weeding will be needed the
first couple of years. By the third year, the native plants will
begin to mature and out-compete the weeds.
After each growing season, the stems and seedheads can be
left for winter interest, wildlife cover and bird food.
Once spring arrives, and new growth
is
4-6” tall, cut all tattered plants back.
Rain gardens work for us in many ways…
 Increasing the amount of water that filters into the ground, which
recharges groundwater supplies
 Helping protect communities from flooding and drainage problems
While rain gardens help protect water
quality, they should also be an attractive
feature of your yard and neighborhood!
 Helping protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban
storm water – lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other automotive
fluids, and other harmful substances washing off roofs and paved areas
 Enhancing the beauty of yards and neighborhoods
 Providing valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects
Integrate rain gardens into
existing and future landscaping!
Municipal Employee
Training
• Nutrient management
• Integrated pest management
• Hazardous product management
• Vehicle maintenance
• Construction site
inspections
Shared Regional Support = Cost-Effective!!!
Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Pop.
Program Cost
(1st 6 months)
Total
Program Cost
Bentonville
10.77
$6,838
$61,679
Bethel Heights
0.38
239
2,156
Elkins
0.42
266
2,395
Elm Springs
0.02
13
113
Farmington
1.89
1,203
10.849
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
20,640
186,173
Greenland
0.32
203
1,831
Johnson
1.11
702
6,328
Little Flock
1.01
641
5,781
Lowell
2.68
1,703
15,359
Rogers
20.08
13,205
119,111
Springdale
25.72
16,325
147,249
Benton County
1.09
695
6,265
Washington County
1.27
805
7,263
$63,475
$572,552
Totals
172,630 individuals
Average cost per capita/year = 74¢
But the partnerships include more
than just the participating MS4s …
•
•
•
•
NWA Regional Planning Commission
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• Beaver Water District
• University of Arkansas
• Audubon Arkansas
• Lake Fayetteville Environmental Study Center
• Local watershed partnerships
and the list goes on and on!
By working together, the Benton
and Washington County MS4s are:
• Educating each other about storm water
• Reducing the financial cost for implementing
Phase II minimum control measures
• Increasing the effectiveness of public education
and participation programs
• Protecting water quality on a regional basis
At the same time, UACES is:
• Funding County Agent, secretary and
para-professional positions through
new city and County support
• Linking traditional Extension programs such as
4-H, Master Gardener and EHC with water quality
education programs
• Increasing and enhancing urban partnerships
with municipalities, schools, civic organizations,
businesses and the construction community
• Expanding its clientele and reputation and in
urban communities
CES’ MS4-funded “Urban Storm Water
Education Program” Model
• Program replicated in SE
Arkansas among the cities
of Pine Bluff and White
Hall, UA Pine Bluff and
Jefferson County
• Another possibly
developing among the
cities of Benton and
Bryant and Saline County
Questions?