Northwest Arkansas Urban Stormwater Education 2017 Annual Report. Northwest Arkansas Urban Stormwater Education

Transcription

1 Northwest Arkansas Urban Stormwater Education A N N UA L R E P O R T 1

2 The Northwest Arkansas Urban Stormwater Education program is crucial to stormwater management programs by working with NWA urban areas toward: 1. PERMIT COMPLIANCE The Clean Water Act federally mandates that urban areas with MS4 drainage must comply with stormwater pollution prevention regulations or face the possibility of violations. The program provides the education, involvement and employee training components required by the permit. MS4s or Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System are a publically owned system of storm drain inlets, pipes and/or ditches that collect rain and snow from streets and parking lots and deliver it untreated to the nearest creek, stream or lake. This stormwater is kept separate from wastewater pipes that flow into a municipal treatment plant. 2. MS4 SUPPORT The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service (UACES) became involved with stormwater regulations before they even started. As UACES saw the unfunded mandate moving into NWA, it helped jurisdictions learn about the requirements were and how to meet them. Since many jurisdictions were unequipped or staffed to provide the educational and outreach components mandated, UACES created the NWA Urban Stormwater Education Program. UACES has been conducting water quality education since 1990 as an established agency that reaches many areas of the community from youth to adults and from residential to commercial. The 21-member education program creates a cost-effective regional support network that stretches across parts of the Beaver Lake, Illinois River and Elk River watersheds. 3. WATER QUALITY UACES uses only science-based educational programs and materials that help maintain water quality and promote stormwater pollution prevention. 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Program Reach 5 Program Planning 5 Public Awareness and Outreach 6 Youth Education 7 Adult Audiences 7 Communicating Our Message 8-9 Connecting Streets to Creeks Program Emphasis 11 Public Involvement 12 MS4 Employee Training 13 Individualized MS4 Audit and Compliance Support 13 Pre-Construction Training 13 Blue Pathways LID Workshops 14 Inlet Filters 15 Video Education 15 3

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5 Program Reach This map outlines the MS4 jurisdictions which contract the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission as a successful and cost-effective way to implement requirements in their stormwater management permits. Permit requirements which University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service provide: Public Education and Outreach Public Involvement and Participation MS4 Annual Employee Training Program Planning 2 9-Member Steering Committee composed of representatives from each MS4 Annually identifies local educational needs, target audiences, program methods and provides feedback Collaboration with 50+ local, state, and national organizations In 2017, an additional $105,189 was garnered through ANRC (Arkansas Natural Resource Commission), AFC (Arkansas Forestry Council) and commercial businesses to support stormwater education to MS4 residents 5

6 Door Hanger Display for booths Storm Drain Marker PSA Public Awareness and Outreach Aired three 30-second educational video PSAs on stormwater pollution prevention on Cox Cable Channels; 624 airings to 64,819 Cox subscribers Aired three 15-second pollution prevention commercials at area gas stations every 4 minutes on 64 screens Provided 9 MS4s with 3,600 door hangers for homeowners with stormwater BMPs and possible violation check lists P rovided 430 storm drain markers for inlets in 9 MS4s with Know the Flow Pollution Prevention information M anaged 6 social media accounts posting 294 educational messages or announcements with 13,256 engagements Managed 2 websites uaex.edu/stormwater and nwaupstreamart.com S et up 20 educational displays and staffed booths BMPs are Best Management Practices. They re a practical and effective technique or combination of practices used to treat, prevent or reduce water pollution. 6 Distributed 22,055 fact sheets and resource guides

7 Youth Education 62 programs with 3,990 youth participants during school classes, 4-H Clubs, and summer camps Hands-on classroom and creekside programs emphasize the water cycle, watershed dynamics, ecosystems, stormwater runoff and pollution prevention Classroom programs support new Arkansas K-12 science standards This program is key in helping students understand why it s important to take care of our water. 4TH GRADE TEACHER, WRITTEN EVALUATION Adult Audiences 15 Stormwater pollution prevention programs for 347 industry professionals of NWA MS4 communities have included: Facilitate the NWA International Erosion Control Association s Lunch and Learn series on construction site erosion, sediment control, and LID features Urban pond site on auquatic weed control and nutrient reduction Installed biofiltration demonstration site at Springdale Recycling Drop off center Installed porous pavers demonstration site at Benton County Extension Office Presentations for professional development programs, municipal boards and committees LID stands for Low Impact Development and aims to mimic natural water movement and processes by using small-scale, individual practices thathelp stormwater slow down, spread and not soak in. 22 Stormwater pollution prevention programs for 2,739 homeowners and residents of NWA MS4 communities have included: M aster Gardener and Master Naturalists Trainings (Benton & Washington Counties) Presentations for civic organizations and garden clubs Rain barrel workshops and technical training for the green industry Presentations of All the Way to the Ocean short animated film on stormwater pollution prevention at public events 7

8 Communicating our Message: How can I do my part? It's easy! HERE ARE 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME TO PREVENT STORMWATER RUNOFF POLLUTION: Because our cause is personal and requires a community engagement, this infographic was designed to educate people about their individual role in preventing stormwater runoff pollution. It was featured in a printed brochure, through social media posts, door hangers, banners, posters, flyers and incorporated into many of our educational programs. The images created for the infographic are used in ongoing educational efforts such as social media posts and table displays. 4 1 Never dump anything down storm drains or in ditches Don t litter! Pick up trash you see on the ground (even if it is not yours) and participate in a creek or watershed clean-up! 2 Pick up after your pet 5 This info-graphic was created as part of the Know the Flow 1. Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep driveways and sidewalks after application Social Media Posts 8 Event Banner

9 7 Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider using rain barrels or installing a rain garden to capture runoff 3 8 Take your car to the car wash where the wastewater is taken to a treatment plant instead of washing your car on a driveway or street Check your car for leaking fluids and recycle your motor oil 9 6 Compost yard waste and sweep grass clippings out of street gutters after mowing Use integrated pest management practices for controlling pests around your home. If using chemicals, use least toxic pesticides and follow label instructions 10 Vegetate bare spots in your yard and terrace slopes to minimize erosion Want to Learn More? Visit uaex.edu/stormwater Courtesy Notice We noticed a possible stormwater runoff violation may have occurred in your area. Leaves/grass clippings left on sidewalk/street Grass clippings/leaves blown into street Paint/cleaners/other dumped into storm drain Oil/auto fluids left on sidewalk/street Possible chlorinated/saltwater pool discharge to storm drain Other: Thank you! For questions, please contact Door Hanger Event Display Sparks Interaction 9

10 Connecting Streets to Creeks A crucial component to getting people to understand stormwater pollution prevention is to understand how stormwater gets from the streets to the creeks. In 2017, our efforts included two projects with multiple locations that visibly linked storm drain inlets to their outfalls. Blue whiskers were placed in grasses and blue chalk water drops over sidewalks that let people follow underground infrastructure to understand where stormwater enters streams. Another outreach effort to connect streets to creeks in 2017 was by placing storm drain markers on inlets with watershed information. STORMS ON STREETS DRAIN TO CREEKS uaex.edu/stormwater #KnowTheFlowNWA 10 DRAINS TO BEAVER LAKE

11 2017 Program Emphasis Each 5-yr NPDES MS4 permit outlines in advance, an educational topic for each year to be emphasized beyond the ongoing MS4 education and outreach efforts. NPDES or the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System originates from Clean Water Act and requires MS4 jurisdictions to obtain permits for stormwater in order to prevent stormwater runoff from washing harmful pollutants into local surface waters. In 2017 the topic was proper pool and septic system management in urban areas. In response, the program created a Pool Resource Guide and adapted the EPA s Septic Smart resources for displays and distribution. Targeted letters were sent to 17,943 pool and septic owners in urban areas. Pool and septic specific presentations were made to professionals in the field. 11

12 I am so grateful for the resources extended to our efforts to provide environmental awareness to our community. Pack Rat Outdoor Center has a legacy of practicing environmental responsibility through small steps of internal change, but facilitating community cleanups was new to our shop. Meeting with you provided me with not only an better understanding of how to reach out to our community and organize group stewardship events, but provided materials and helping hands at all of our cleanups. FAEBYAN WHITTLE, SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR PACK RAT OUTDOOR CENTER Public Involvement Coordinated/collaborated on 11 stream and lake clean ups involving 589 participants removing over 3500 lbs of trash Partnered with the City of Fayetteville Parks & Rec and University of Arkansas for urban trail and cigarette butt clean up with 267 participants removing 33 lbs of cigarette butts Organized and facilitated sub-committees to engage stakeholder input on stormwater topics Organized and facilitated meeting on regional flood management Since 2012, 54 storm drain murals have been painted by local artists bringing the message of stormwater pollution prevention to a wider audience with 2 new murals painted in 2017 Partnered with Pack Rat Outdoor Center Adopt-A-Street Program to teach them how to coordinate community clean up events 12

13 MS4 Employee Training As part of the MS4 permit requirements, the program provides education and employee training for MS4 jurisdiction employees. Planning, Engineering, Code Enforcement, Streets & Transportation, Water & Sewer, Parks & Recreation, and Fire & Police departmental staff trained on: > Stormwater regulations > Municipal codes > Construction site runoff management > Audit preparation > Yard maintenance > Illicit discharges > Pollution prevention BMPs for parks and road maintenance > Runoff dynamics > Stream ecology Individualized MS4 Audit and Compliance Support As ADEQ conducts MS4 stormwater permit audits in NWA, the regional program provides shared knowledge and individualized audit support per jurisdiction. Additional support is given to MS4s as unique situations arise to find resources to ensure they are staying compliant with federal and state stormwater regulations. In 2017 ADEQ audited 4 NWA jurisdictions: Bella Vista, Centerton, Elkins, and Elm Springs. Pre-Construction Training Available to all MS4 jurisdictions, this pre-construction educational program is developed for contractors and includes post-training quizzes, eliminating the I didn t know response that is often used during site inspections. Since the program started in 2013, over 770 site operators, supervisors and contractors have been trained on stormwater construction regulation and BMPs. Of the 720, 203 were trained in

14 Blue Pathways LID Workshops Since 2011, a series of seven workshops have equipped 263 landscape architects, design engineers, irrigation and installation professionals to improve stormwater management through site design and landscaping. LID techniques are becoming more recognized, used and sought out in NWA. Blue Pathways provides local professionals with specialized knowledge to fill the niche market by more effectively communicating and marketing their sustainable landscaping and water management expertise. In 2017, the Blue Pathways workshop, Digging Deeper into LID focused on a more advanced perspective into LID. This workshop emphasized LID research data, technical innovations, lessons learned and featured several case studies. Previous Blue Pathways workshops: Understanding the Soils, Tools, and Communication of LID Landscaping Projects Bioswales and Bioretention Rainwater Harvesting with Irrigation Technologies and Permeable Pavement I appreciate the continued evolution of this line of topics provided through this series of seminars. Each session has reinforced the previous lessons while expanding on the topics and concepts. BLUE PATHWAYS PARTICIPANT WRITTEN EVALUATION LID Installation and Maintenance (workshop and tour) Regional and Adapted Plants for Stormwater Design Building a Case for LID 14

15 Inlet Filters To help make the connection between people s actions and water quality through storm drains, filters have been placed in storm drain inlets to collect the trash and yard waste and grit that normally makes its way to the creek. The materials collected are used as educational tools to show residents the amount and variety of pollutants that enter storm drains. Signs were placed next to filters educating people about the project. Video Education In 2017, two different animated videos provided a fun and easy way to learn about stormwater pollution prevention. All the Way to the Ocean A 14 minute animated video that explains what happens to pollution after it enters a storm drain was shown before films at city s parks, farmer s markets and other public events. No Dishonorable Discharges A series of 15 and 30-second PSAs were adapted for NWA on stormwater BMPs and viewed through social media and advertised with Cox Cable Company and at gas pump screens. 15

16 Washington County Benton County The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.