Urban Stormwater Management Committee

Co-Chairs

Features

Tom Krahenbuhl
Jackson Co. Public Works
303 W. Walnut
Independence, MO 64050
Phone  816-881-4466
Fax     816-881-4448
tkrahenbuhl@jacksongov.org

Jerry Louthain
HDR /EES
P626 Columbia St., NW, Ste. 2A
Olympia, WA 98507-0976
Voice  360-570-4416
Fax     360-357-6573
jerry.louthain@hdrinc.com

Links

Committee Information

2007 - 2008 Goals & Objectives

2006 - 2007 Status Report

Liaisons

TBD

Stormwater Utilities in Illinois? - By Mark Hoskins, Manhard Consulting, Ltd. (.pdf)

2007 - 2008 Goals and Objectives

1. USGS Cooperative Water Program and National Streamflow Information Program

a. Continue to support the USGS in their efforts to secure approval of their funding requests for each of these programs to ensure that there are sufficient continuous long-term streamgaging records to provide the data needed for hydrologic analysis for flood insurance studies.

b. Facilitate providing information to local and state governments from documents describing the benefits to State and Local governments and any other agencies to participate in the USGS Coop Program.

2. Stormwater Utilities

a. Investigate means to incorporate representatives of existing stormwater utility districts into the Stormwater Management Committee umbrella resulting in an organizational meeting and papers presented during the 2008 ASFPM conference.

b. Develop a paper on the functions of stormwater utilities and how these relate to the Stormwater Management Committee and stormwater runoff.

3. Coordination with NOAA

a. Work with NOAA-National Weather Service to enhance rainfall data collection efforts so that these data can be incorporated into models linked to USGS streamgaging data and rainfall-runoff models.

4. Coordination with EPA

a. Research EPA stormwater program requirements to develop linkages between the water quality issues addressed in these program requirements and flow-related stormwater issues.

5. Stormwater Studies

a. Investigate the integration of flow-related data from stormwater studies/master programs so that data from stormwater studies can be incorporated into updates of flood insurance studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps to ensure that data related to future development in watersheds is included in these updates.

b. Develop suggested approaches for improvement of communication links between staff in local and state agencies administering stormwater management programs and studies with staff administering floodplain management programs.

6. Legislation – Review and comment on legislation affecting Stormwater Management.

2006 - 2007 Status Report

A. USGS Gaging Stations

The discussion at the June, 2006 Stormwater Management Committee in Albuquerque, NM continued to focus on the problem of the continued erosion of the network of long term stream gages and what the ASFPM could do about it. The following are some key points that were discussed related to USGS streamgages:

• Two primary USGS streamgaging programs
• National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP)- totally funded by USGS
• USGS Cooperative Water Program (Coop Program)-funding shared by USGS and state/local cooperators
• Funding has been level for many years, and with increasing costs, the number of gages has decreased
• Long-term gaging stations have been some of the gages that have been eliminated
• Georgia was very close to losing all of their state-funded USGS gages this year, but thanks to efforts at the state/local level, funding for these gages was kept
• Gages cost on average approximately $18,000 per year (based on $78 million for 4,400 gages

Two publications relating to the benefits of the USGS streamgaging program were released during 2006, with both being produced by the National Hydrologic Warning Council:

• Benefits of USGS Streamgaging Program-Users and Uses of USGS Streamflow Data, March 7, 2006
• Flood Management Benefits of USGS Streamgaging Program, October 19, 2006
These publications are excellent and should provide much-needed support to the USGS and ASFPM cause of the benefits of establishing and maintaining a sound network of streamgages.

A draft paper was produced addressing the benefits to locals for participation in the Coop Program. Copies of the draft were provided at the meeting and discussion ensued. Comments were requested to be provided to Jerry Louthain. Only minor comments were received from those in attendance, so the draft was later sent to the entire Stormwater Committee for comments. Again, there were essentially no comments.

It is intended that the current draft of this paper be discussed at the 2007 Stormwater Committee meeting to reach consensus on the need and/or benefits of finalizing this paper for the ASFPM website, even though the USGS has produced these two publications on the same subject.

B. Other General Activities

Two notices were sent to all stormwater committee members for their information and/or response:

• A four-part Webcast series on managing highway stormwater management
• EPA proposed rule rewarding states that collect fees for discharge permits

Participated in a Stormwater Master Plan Review Committee for preparation of language for a CRS prerequisite for Class 4 and better communities relating to stormwater master plans

Ted and Jerry continued to participate as members of the NAI Steering Committee, as these activities related to stormwater management.

C. Liaisons

Even though the system is in place for committee liaisons, there have been no coordination opportunities.
An excellent opportunity for coordination between ASFPM standing committees with similar interests was initiated at the fall meeting of the Committee Chairs. The Stormwater Management Committee joined with the Multi-Objective Management (now Natural and Beneficial Functions) Committee, and the No Adverse Impact Committee to form the “Watershed POD”. Regular conference calls were conducted following the formation of this POD.

D. Committee Co-Chair

Long time Committee Chair/Co-Chair, Ted DeBaene resigned as Co-Chair, but continues as an active member of the Committee. A search is being made for a Co-Chair to replace Ted, with particular interest in trying to find someone who is currently working for a local government on stormwater management activities.

E. Information from ASFPM Executive Office

We continue to monitor reports and other information from ASFPM Headquarters. Where the information relates to Stormwater Management, it is forwarded to our membership.

Links

USGS Nationwide List of Threatened Streamgages

USGS National Streamflow Information Program