Transcript Slide 1

Annual Program Review
Today’s Objectives
Demonstrate scope and progress
of LWMP work
Review problem, causes and
solutions
Recognize significance
of community
Affirm the difficult
decisions close at hand
A Brief History of Lake Whatcom
Management
A working watershed – the first 150 years
Contemporary timeline – 1992 to 2007
Accomplishments – 2008
The 1990’s

First efforts to cooperatively manage watershed

First stormwater retrofit project

Lake Whatcom declared a sensitive water body, Interlocal
Agreement for joint management formalizes Lake Whatcom
Management Program (LWMP)

Impervious surface limited for new construction

Nutrient control required for large developments

Stormwater retention and treatment required for new
construction and renovation

First 5-year Management Plan is adopted

Created Silver Beach Ordinance and Watershed/Stormwater
Overlays
The 21st Century

Placed moratorium on land divisions smaller than five acres

Permanently restricted building on over 1,200 lots in Sudden Valley

1,400 potential dwelling units eliminated by downzone

Clearing standards adopted for unincorporated areas

Initiated TDR program moving 100 development

Adopted second LWMP 5-Year Management Plan

Banned 2-cycle boat motors

P-fertilizer banned on residential lawns and public properties

Invested in capital improvements to reduce pollutant loads

Infiltration required for new construction and redevel0pment
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008
 Purchased three watershed properties from development
 Pursued re-conveyance of over 8,000 acres of forest land
 Finalized Agate Bay Preserve conservation easement
 Implemented City and County Stormwater Plans
 Coordinated a watershed build-out analysis and developed a
consistent methodology for future analysis
 Coordinated household hazardous waste collection resulting
in over 11 tons of toxics removed
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2008
 Collected and presented monitoring data
 Chronicled land-use regulations that improve water quality
 Implemented new septic system maintenance regulations
 Surveyed illicit discharges
 Responded to Total Maximum Daily Load Technical Report
 Completed Northridge retrofit and Northshore Drive project
 Established/extended moratoria on subdivisions and building
 Initiated pilot projects on P-Best Management Practices
Turning Plans into Action
Cable Street Vault Installation
Retention Pit Installation in
Sudden Valley
Turning Plans into Action
Northridge sand filter / detention pond
Cost of Stormwater
Infrastructure
City/County Capital
Expenditures:
$5M over last six years
$9M next six years
Cable Street infiltration swale
North Shore Drive pervious
bike lane
Problems
Causes
Solutions
Success
The Problems
phosphorus, algal blooms, dissolved
oxygen, bacteria, metals, petroleum
products, dissolved solids
&
amount and
timing
of runoff
Silver Beach Creek 09/27/07 storm samples
TP
SRP
BLI rain
level
0.20
0.25
0.16
0.2
0.14
0.12
0.15
0.10
0.08
0.1
0.06
0.04
0.05
0.02
0.00
12:00
14:24
16:48
19:12
21:36
0:00
2:24
0
4:48
level (in. above ref)
rain (in) and P, mg/l
0.18
The Causes
animal waste, failing septics, yard
waste, P-fertilizer, detergents,
erosion, improper landdisturbance, atmospheric
deposition, impervious surfaces,
inadequate facilities…
The Solutions
 stormwater management plans
 LWMP Annual Work Plan
 TMDL Implementation Plan
• land-use compliance
• targeted land acquisition
• incentive programs
• outreach, outreach, outreach
TMDL: What is it and what does
it mean?
 Department of Ecology determined that Lake Whatcom suffers
from chronically low dissolved oxygen and elevated fecal
coliform bacteria.
 Total Maximum Daily Load are the amounts of P and FC that the
lake can receive and still meet water quality standards.
 An implementation plan must be prepared, approved and acted
on.
 Insufficient action means non-compliance with State permits,
fines and exposure to litigation.
What is success?
A cleaner and more
predictable water supply
Removing pollutant sources AND
appropriately converting storm
water conveyance to infiltration.
Success is
convincing people that things must
change in order that our expectations
for future quality of life can remain
the same…
Management Tools 1:
Source Reduction
 P-Fertilizer use (P)
 Animal waste (P, FC)
 Yard waste/compost (P)
 Cleaning products (P)
 Failing Septics (P, FC)
 Stream bank stabilization (P)
 Shoreline management (P, FC)
 Exposed soil (P)
Management Tools 2a:
Stormwater Management
For the Homeowner and Developer:
•Residential LID options
•Homeowner retrofit
programs
•Incentives
•Outreach, outreach,
outreach
Management Tools 2b:
Stormwater Infrastructure
Cable Street Bio-infiltration Swale
North Shore Drive Pervious
Bike Lane
Management Tools 3
People
Governments can build infrastructure and create
incentives, but ultimately the effort MUST HAVE
COMMUNITY BUY IN
 Conduct targeted outreach
 Empower community champions
 Provide technical assistance
 Develop incentives
Utilities and Waste
Management
Urbanization & Land
Development
• Watershed Enforcement
• OSS inspection
•Permit Review
• Water Supply
• Development Tracking
• Waste Water
• Solid Waste
Stormwater Management
• COB Stormwater Plan
• WC Stormwater Plan
ICT &
Staff Teams
• LID Programs
Data Mgmt
• WC & State Health, WC PW,
COB PW, DOE, WWU
• Urbanization/Development
Team
• Enforcement Team
• Data Management Team
• Stormwater Team
•Transportation Team
•Education Team
Land Preservation
• Development Rights Programs
Community
Outreach
• City Acquisition Program)
• Reconveyance
Executive
Management
Team
City Council
County Council
Water & Sewer
District Commissioners
• Lake Whatcom website
• Pledge Program
• Stewardship Incentives
• Sudden Valley education &
outreach
Transportation
• Transportation Planning
2009 LWMP WORK PLAN
1)
2)
3)
4)
Prepare TMDL Implementation Plan
Implement stormwater plans
Advance programmatic efforts
Secure funding
New 2010-2014 LWMP 5-yr Management Plan will be
developed in 2009. It will reflect early actions of TMDL
response plan.
Work Plan Additions 2009
 Silver Beach Creek Phosphorus Reduction Pilot Project
 Interagency review of raingarden efficacy
 Refine Low Impact Development program
 Pursue animal waste management through Conservation
Program on Agricultural Lands (CPAL) and outreach
 Refine education and community outreach strategy, techniques
and messages
 Enhance compliance program for septic system maintenance
2009 Highlight
Silver Beach Creek Pilot Project
 Showcase key management tools in the highest
priority urban watershed
 Promote community acceptance of stormwater
facilities and stewardship messages
 Demonstrate rapid, scaleable deployment of
stormwater programs
 Stimulate public dialog about benefits of
stormwater management
Project Components




Bio-infiltration facility at Lahti Drive
Retention pond retrofit
Silver Beach Creek bank stabilization
Targeted homeowner Low Impact Development (LID) and
retrofit options
 Compliance /education program for regulated phosphorus
and bacterial sources
 Monitor water quality improvements in Silver Beach Creek and
Lake Whatcom
The Long View
TMDL response will renew focus on:
 Stewardship changes (animal waste, car washing,
composting, LID, incentives…)
 Existing storm water plans
 Land-use regulations (e.g., zoning, redevelopment, retrofits)
 Engineering standards (private and public construction)
 Capital facilities
 Funding
 Community champions
 Cooperation and collaboration
 Leadership
 http://www.lakewhatcom.whatcomcounty.org/index.shtml