The Stormwater Report

The University of Maryland placed first in the U.S. Department of Energy’s biennial Solar Decathlon, which took place Sept. 23–Oct. 2. The decathlon challenges university students to design solar-powered homes that are attractive and affordable. Maryland’s entry, WaterShed, was inspired by the Chesapeake Bay environment and is both energy- and water-efficient. Split into two modules, WaterShed has [...]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) and American Rivers (D.C.) will host a congressional briefing on the multiple economic benefits of green infrastructure. The briefing, Reducing Costs and Spurring Job Growth: Using Green Infrastructure Practices to Protect and Restore Clean Water for Communities, will showcase success stories from practitioners across the country. WEF’s Executive [...]

On Sept. 20, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2011 (S. 1582). This bill seeks to improve water quality monitoring and speed public notification of safety concerns at the nation’s beaches due to stormwater runoff and sewer overflows. The bill has been referred to the Committee on [...]

A $1 million Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture marks the second phase of a pilot water quality trading program in the Ohio River Basin. Water quality trading allows permitted emitters to purchase nutrient reductions achieved by other sources, including best management practices that control runoff. The program, led by the Electric [...]

On Sept. 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a national framework and action plan for its Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI). The initiative is part of the agency’s effort to prevent the degradation of currently healthy aquatic ecosystems. The framework describes the HWI as well as an implementation plan that will help EPA headquarters, [...]

The Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.) has made available a series of free resources to educate the public about stormwater pollution. Check here to see a variety of short messages that highlight sources of stormwater pollution as well as pollution prevention tips. These messages are available in multiple formats for use in print and electronic [...]

On Sept. 6, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released its nutrient decision support system. The tool is composed of six regional models that show nutrient contributions from natural and anthropogenic sources and reveal how nutrients move through the environment. The system enables users to investigate water quality effects achieved through a combination of nutrient reduction [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging regional National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit writers to be flexible by allowing municipalities to integrate wastewater and stormwater requirements and prioritize cost-effective projects — approaches that EPA hopes will help limit local wet weather compliance costs. In a Sept. 20 letter to the U.S. Conference [...]

The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) will host WEFTEC® 2011 Oct. 15–19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Stormwater programming will be continuous at WEFTEC and will include a green infrastructure workshop, facility tour, and 42 technical presentations. In addition, WEFTEC will host nearly 1000 exhibitors, many offering stormwater-related products and services. Check here [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed Sept. 30 that legal proceedings to officially delay the proposed stormwater rule have been finalized. Originally set for Sept. 30, the publication date has been extended to Dec. 15 after negotiation between the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF; Annapolis) and EPA. The final rule still is slated for promulgation [...]