STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM MANUAL - Updated 1/2010

Pursuant to NPDES Phase II Permit #WAR04-6510 for the City of Moses Lake, the City is meeting the permit requirements for the six component areas as follows.

  • Public Education and Outreach

      For reporting year 2009, the City has created a stormwater website (http://www.ci.moses_lake.wa.us/259.html), which includes the following information:

      - Information for the general public about the importance of water quality, stormwater impacts, and actions individuals can take to improve water quality

      - Information regarding illicit discharges, what constitutes illicit discharges, and a reporting number for spills or dumping

      - Information on City programs impacting water quality

      - Contact information for City departments involved in stormwater activities

      The City's current activities also include a monthly insert or blurb in utility billings for stormwater information and announcements, school presentations on water quality issues, booth presence at the annual county fair and other community events with distribution of media, and partnering with other agencies on advertising and community informational events.

  • Public Involvement and Participation

      For reporting year 2009, the City has begun some limited public involvement, predominantly centering around the establishment of a new stormwater utility and rates. The City held several informational meetings with the public in 2009, and public input at City Council meetings is actively encouraged.  In addition, the City formed an advisory group with several commercial business owners, who provide guidance on stormwater regulation development.

    Future plans include public input and possibly additional informational sessions on new policies as they are drafted and adopted.

      The SWMP is available for public review on the City's stormwater website, and is updated annually.

  •  Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination

      For reporting year 2009, the City has conducted regular visual inspection of all known stormwater outfalls including maintenance, photography and cleaning. This visual inspection includes an evaluation and report of any illicit discharge observed. The City has developed reporting and inspection recordkeeping standards, and is in the process of integrating this information into the GIS system.

      Mapping of the City's stormwater system is existing but outdated, and is being updated to reflect accurate locations of all structures, new and existing, including GPS locations. This project has been begun in the last year, and is ongoing.

      An ordinance regulating to IDDE was passed by City Council in November 2009.  The City has also established a successful public participation project involving the installation of curb markers at storm drain locations, which has been embraced by several civic groups.

  • Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

      The City has made contact with some but not all contractors on BMP issues related to construction site runoff control. Information on State and Federal stormwater requirements are available at City Hall and on the website.  The City is partnering with an action group of other Phase II permitees on an informational brochure for construction erosion and sediment BMPs targeted to contractors, developers and their design professionals doing business within the City.

      The City's planning department regulates construction activity within 200' of the shoreline under its Shoreline Master Program, including requiring BMPs per the SMMEW. Permitting is required in these areas per Municipal Code.

      Regulation of erosion and sediment control is primarily controlled by the City's adoption of the Washington State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications and its modification by the City's Community Standards document.  More specific local ordinances or other regulatory mechanisms pertaining to construction site runoff control outside of this area do not currently exist, but are planned to be drafted and adopted in the current year. This project is currently ongoing and in the development phase.

  • Post Construction Stormwater Management for New Development and Redevelopment

      The City's planning department regulates construction activity within 200' of the shoreline under its Shoreline Master Program, including requiring BMPs per the SMMEW. Permitting is required in these areas per Municipal Code.  The City's Community Standards document also regulates the construction and design of most stormwater BMPs.

      More specific ordinances or other regulatory mechanisms pertaining to post-construction stormwater management do not currently exist, but are planned to be drafted and adopted in the current year.  This project is currently ongoing and in the development phase.

  • Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

For reporting year 2009, the City does not yet have a written O&M plan. However, the City has taken steps to address O&M issues at several of its new and existing facilities. In conjunction with renovation and new construction at City maintenance facilities, stormwater issues such as collection and conveyance, material storage, fleet maintenance, and oil and water separation have been addressed with BMPs.

Upcoming issues planned to be addressed include a review of all departments' maintenance practices, the drafting of a written O&M plan, and the possibility of a new decanting pad for street sweeping residue.  Preliminary review of existing maintenance practices is currently taking place, and more intensive interviews and site visits are slated to take place in the upcoming years.