COUNTY OF
ALBEMARLE
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
|
Water Program Updates SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Update on the Rivanna Regional
Stormwater Education Partnership and Chesapeake Bay Partner Community Award STAFF
CONTACT(S): Messrs. Tucker, Foley,
Graham, Hirschman |
AGENDA
DATE: ITEM NUMBER: February 4, 2004 ACTION: INFORMATION: CONSENT
AGENDA:
ACTION: INFORMATION: X
ATTACHMENTS: Flyer for “After the Storm: Stormwater
Workshop” and letter from Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee REVIEWED BY: |
BACKGROUND:
Albemarle
County must comply with a federally mandated stormwater permit program,
administered in Virginia by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The program, known as NPDES (National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Phase II, applies to small
“municipal separate storm sewer systems” (MS4s), meaning municipally owned
and/or operated systems that receive and convey runoff to streams. Municipalities that operate regulated MS4s
must develop a stormwater management program that meets minimum standards. One of these standards concerns public
education and outreach on stormwater issues.
At
its meeting on February 5, 2003, the Board authorized staff to proceed with a
“registration statement” that covers the County under DEQ’s general
permit. This statement was approved by
DEQ , became effective on May 13, 2003, and will be in effect for five years
from that date.
Other
entities in the region covered by this stormwater requirement include: City of
Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority,
and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
In accordance with the programs of each of these entities, the Rivanna
Regional Stormwater Education Partnership was formed. This alliance allows each of the permitted
agencies to cooperate and collaborate on stormwater education efforts, thus
streamlining the program and unifying the message that the public receives
about stormwater impacts and recommendations.
To date, the partnership has launched a web site (hosted on the County’s
water resources page) that allows citizens to “surf” their watershed and
discover relevant information on how to protect water resources, and has
planned a seminar on stormwater management (see attached flyer).
A
different but related program is administered by the Chesapeake Bay Local
Government Advisory Committee (a component of the overall Chesapeake Bay Program). In this program, local governments can apply
for a Chesapeake Bay Partner Community award that gauges local participation in
commitments of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement between the Bay states, the
Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the EPA.
Albemarle County first received recognition as a “Silver” Bay Partner
Community in 1997, and this certification has recently been renewed (see
attached letter). This distinction is
based on the County’s programs for land use and water resources.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 3.1: Make the
County a Safe and Healthy Community in which citizens feel secure to live, work
and
play
Goal
2.2: Protect and/or preserve the County’s natural resources.
Goal
2.3: Provide for environmentally sensitive government operations at the local
and regional level.
DISCUSSION:
With
the Board’s continued endorsement, County staff plans to continue to
participate in the Rivanna Regional Stormwater Education Partnership in
compliance with its MS4 permit.
This
item is for information only.
View
Attachment
View Attachment B