Introduction to PA Act 167 Stormwater Management

PlanningLittle Juniata River Watershed

April 21, 2005

Topics for Discussion

• Little Juniata River Watershed• Introduction to stormwater management• Overview of PA Act 167• Overview of the Little Juniata River Watershed

Plan• Role of the Watershed Plan Advisory Committee• Review of activities to date• Anticipated next steps

Definition of Stormwater

Water that runs off from the land as the result of rainfall or snow melt

THERE ARE ISSUES!

Development Changes Land Characteristics

• Increased plant uptake and evapotranspiration

• Increased infiltration to groundwater• Slow, dispersed runoff to streams• LESS RUNOFF VOLUME• LOWER PEAK DISCHARGE RATES• PRISTINE WATER QUALITY

• Less chance for evapotranspiration• Less opportunity for water to infiltrate• Rapid, concentrated stream discharges• More human activity• LARGER RUNOFF VOLUMES• HIGER PEAK DISCHARGE RATES• POTENTIAL FOR WATER POLLUTION

BeforeDevelopment

AfterDevelopment

Effects of Uncontrolled Stormwater Runoff

Flooding Erosion & Sedimentation

Reduced Groundwater Recharge & Stream

Baseflow

Water quality degradation

Stormwater Management in PA

•Prior to 1980– Just get the water away from the site

•1980 to 2003– Control the peak rate of discharge to protect

downstream persons and property

•Now– Minimize increases in runoff volume– Control peak discharge rates– Maintain groundwater recharge– Protect water quality

Stormwater Management Programs

•PA Stormwater Management Act (Act 167)– Counties stormwater management plans– Municipalities to adopt and enforce stormwater

ordinances in conformance with the plans

•MS4 NPDES Program Requirements– Designated municipalities implement a specific

program of best management practices designed to effectively manage stormwater runoff

•PA Chapter 102 and NPDES Construction Permitting Requirements– Persons engaged in construction activities control

erosion and sedimentation impacts

Comprehensive Stormwater Policy

•PADEP Comprehensive Stormwater Policy– Address water quality issues– Sustain stream base flow and groundwater

through groundwater recharge– Minimize flooding problems– Prevent stream bank erosion

– Incorporate Act 167, E&S, and MS4 program elements

PA Act 167 Planning Objectives

Special Protection Waters

Infiltration Groundwat

er Recharge

Rate & Volume Control

Water Quality

Technical Assistanc

e

Financial Assistanc

e

NPDES Constructio

n Permit

NPDES MS4

Permit

Act 167 Stormwater

Management Planning

Tailored Municipal

Ordinances

Little Juniata River Watershed

Municipality County

Altoona City Blair

Antis Township Blair

Bellwood Borough Blair

Frankstown Township Blair

Logan Township Blair

Snyder Township Blair

Tyrone Borough Blair

Tyrone Township Blair

Dean Township Cambria

Reade Township Cambria

Rush Township Centre

Gulich Township Clearfield

Birmingham Borough Huntingdon

Franklin Township Huntingdon

Logan Township Huntingdon

Morris Township Huntingdon

Porter Township Huntingdon

Spruce Creek Township Huntingdon

Warriors Mark Township Huntingdon

Little Juniata River Watershed

Drainage area = 181 square miles

Elevation range = 690’ to

2,590’

Number of named tributaries =18

Number municipalities =19

Little Juniata River Watershed

• Altoona City

• Antis Township

• Bellwood Borough

• Logan Township

MS4 Municipalitie

s

Little Juniata Act 167 Plan

• Primary Objectives– Achieve Compliance with PA Act 167 Watershed

Planning Requirements• Document current stormwater management conditions• Investigate specific stormwater control requirements• Recommend specific stormwater control requirements• Develop and present model municipal stormwater

ordinances• Provide forum for exchange of information

– Provide MS4 NPDES Permit compliance assistance• Outfall mapping• Public education/participation• Ordinance development• State reimbursement for selected activities

Watershed Plan Advisory Committee

• Representatives of affected municipalities• County agency representatives• Watershed association members• Other interested citizens

WPAC

COMMUNITIES

PROJECTTEAM

WPAC Members

Role of the WPAC

• Information exchange from communities to project team– Identify and describe existing problems– Discuss local experiences– Describe status of stormwater management– Identify local management problems and strengths– Describe local expectations– Voice local concerns– Comment on plan recommendations

WPAC

COMMUNITIES

PROJECTTEAM

Role of the WPAC

WPAC

COMMUNITIES

PROJECTTEAM

• Information exchange from project team to communities– Define local Act 167 responsibilities– Describe the goals and limitations of the Plan– Increase local familiarity with stormwater Best

Management Practices and control techniques– Describe plan recommendations– Encourage local input into the process– Support the adoption and implementation of the Plan

Primary Activities to Date

• Project startup• MS4 mapping of outfalls• MS4 public education• Physical features data collection and

analysis• Formation of the WPAC• Distribution of the municipal questionnaire

Municipal Questionnaire

• Purpose– Provides a overview of stormwater conditions– Indicates the types of controls currently in place– Provides an early opportunity for municipal input into

the planning process

• Issues addressed– Significant stormwater problems– Existing and proposed flood protection projects– Existing and proposed stormwater control facilities– Existing stormwater collection facilities

Next Steps

• Municipal questionnaire compilation and follow-up• Continued data collection and analysis• Review of existing municipal stormwater

ordinances• 2nd WPAC meeting

– Review of questionnaire results– Review of existing watershed conditions– Discussion of cause and effect relationship of land

development to stormwater runoff