ONE RDA TWO APPROACHES - New England Water Environment ...€¦ · Franklin DPW Director . Town of...

ONE RDA – TWO

APPROACHES

MILFORD’S & FRANKLIN’S

STORMWATER EFFORTS

Presented at the NEWEA Annual

Conference

January 27, 2015

Presented by Vonnie Reis, P.E. Milford Town Engineer And Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi Franklin DPW Director

Town of Milford

Town of Milford: 29,000 residents Large Commercial Base Total Area 1382 acres

120 miles of streets 212 acres of IA in urban/ regulated area 112 acres of DCIA Godfrey, O’Brien & Hospital Brooks = 2.8 miles Milford Pond = 120 Acres

Requirements of the Draft Permit

Phosphorous reduction to Charles of 43% (all in) per TMDL

Pathogen reduction to Charles per TMDL

Nitrogen reduction to Charles, although no TMDL

Develop PCP for municipal system

Estimated Costs to Implement

Source: Sustainable Stormwater Funding Evaluation, HWG, Sept., 2011

Milford’s Stormwater Limitations

Densely developed downtown with Godfrey and O’Brien brooks passing through

High flooding incidence from the brooks Large tracts of commercial and industrial

development = Acres of impervious area Shallow depth to bedrock – Milford pink

granite – eliminates infiltration as an option in many cases

Insufficient mapping of drainage system and lack of GIS technology

What Is Milford Already Doing?

Changes to Planning Board Regulations

Strict implementation of Mass Stormwater Standards

Annual IDDE Program Already implementing non-

structural BMP requirements Mapping of outfalls and

structures

Structural BMPs:

Godfrey, O’Brien &

Hospital Brooks

Godfrey Brook Projects will restore habitat and provide flood control for O’Brien and Godfrey Brooks

Milford Upper Charles Trail and

Conservation Restrictions

Construction of 6.2 miles of multi-use trail including drainage improvements and wetland replication

Conservation of 200+ acres of undeveloped land upstream of Milford pond put into a permanent Conservation Restriction in 2014

Milford Pond

Aquatic Habitat

Restoration Project

Milford Pond Project will create deep water habitat and emergent wetland habitat In partnership with USACE Work to begin Spring 2015

Summary of Key Comments on Draft

MS4 Permit

More time and funding needed for mapping efforts; Milford needs GIS system implemented

Establish baseline for Milford’s actual phosphorous contribution to the Charles based on sampling program

Receive credit for BMPs already implemented Conduct cost-benefit analysis for PCP Provide incentives for regionalization Federal government to provide funding sources

Franklin

Current population over 33,000 Commuter suburban town Operational budget just over $100 Million Land area is 27 square miles Impervious surface accounts for 4 square miles 290 “lane-miles” of roadways Drinking water supply from groundwater

Three Way Approach to

Water Protection & Conservation

DRINKING WATER WASTEWATER

STORMWATER

RDA

Residual Designation Authority

Regulatory Context (Drivers)

Charles River does not currently meet water quality standards TMDL Study – 50% overall reduction in total phosphorous

(TP) Bellingham – 51.8% Franklin – 52.1% Milford – 57.0%

Phase II MS4 Permit (anticipated renewal) Phosphorous Control Plan (PCP) – Charles River MS4s

Draft EPA Residual Designation

Authority (RDA) Permit: Charles River

Watershed

Private sites with >2 acres

of impervious area must obtain a permit

November 12, 2008 – Draft Permit April 20, 2010 – Amended Permit Final Permit Pending . . .

General RDA Requirements:

Stormwater Management Plan Pollution Prevention & Maintenance Phosphorous Reduction Plan

Detention Basin

2.5 Acres Impervious

Not Fully Occupied

What Did We Do???

Worked with other Communities

Became partners with Bellingham and Milford.

Reached out and educated other communities along the Charles River.

Got Political

Became Vocal

Made presentations everywhere! Questioned the science Questioned the benefits Questioned the value

Alerted Businesses

Worked with Environmental Groups

Charles River Watershed Assoc.

Building Blue Project

Focused on the Spruce Pond Sub-watershed Took a concentrated look at roughly 1 square mile

area to determine site specific BMPs for the area that would provide the greatest “bang for the buck.”

Sub-Watersheds Identified

319 Grants

Clean Water Act Section 319 addressed the need for federal and state agencies to assist local agencies in nonpoint source efforts.

Drainage Area – Lockewood Drive

South (2C)

Lockwood Drive

Drainage Area – Fletcher

Building Blue Project

Visualization of Vegetated Swale

in parking lot

Rain Garden Constructed

Anchorage Road Reconstruction

Removal of 1 Sidewalk 30 foot roadway width

reduced to 28 feet Cul-de-sac was

removed and replaced with rain garden

Public information sessions were held and increased resident support and education

Anchorage Road

Brutus’s Stormwater Thoughts

Detailed stormwater infrastructure mapping is very important Model optimization can save you money Treat the first flush Infiltration is the most cost effective strategy Make improvements during reconstruction or redevelopment Public education: “Salesmanship”

QUESTIONS?

Contacts:

Vonnie Reis, P.E., Town Engineer at Vreis@TownofMilford.Com

Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi, DPW Director, at RCantoreggi@Franklin.ma.us