The City of Bainbridge Island’s Stormwater Management Program seeks to minimize the negative effects of development and pollution, while maximizing environmental protection and conservation.
See Stormwater
Library, to view:
• The City is seeking comments on the 2012 Comprehensive Stormwater Program (See Stormwater
Library to view program & comment form).
Other interests:
The Challenge
Impervious surface area (roads, parking lots, roofs) has increased regionally by more than ten percent (10%) over a ten year span. This percentage has a direct correlation to increased runoff volume, reduced groundwater recharge, and greater stream volumes. This altering of the existing stream hydrology results in eroding stream banks, wider stream channels, excessive sediment transport, and damaging fish and wildlife habitat.
Rainfall hits these hardened surfaces, picks up pollutants, known as non-point source pollution, and travels across the land’s surface eventually discharging into Puget Sound through outfalls along shorelines. Pollutants of concern include lead, copper, pesticides, and petroleum by-products.
The Solution
The Stormwater Management Program focuses on NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit compliance, stormwater violation response, regulation development, and day-to-day stormwater operations management.
The Department of Ecology’s NPDES permit regulates stormwater discharges from the City’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System - streets, ditches, culverts, sidewalks, etc.) for the following requirements:
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Public education and outreach
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Public involvement and participation
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Illicit discharge detection and elimination program
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Controlling Runoff from Development and Construction Sites
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Pollution prevention and Operation and Maintenance for Municipal Operations
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Total Maximum Daily Load Allocations (TMDL)
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Monitoring
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Reporting
