Storm water in Baldwin County

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Storm water in Baldwin County

• Slowing the Flow

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program in
Partnership with the Baldwin County Storm Water
Working Group
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Baldwin County is in rapid transition

• Rapid urban growth converts acres of forest and
  pasture to rooftops, streets and parking lots
  resulting in
• Flooding
• Sediment deposits
• Channel erosion
• Increased pollution
• Habitat destruction
• Decreased aesthetic and property values

Our population expected to reach 300,000-340,000
by 2016 !
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What we do Know

• Increases in Impervious Surface lead to increased
  Stormwater Volume and Velocity
• Increases in Impervious Surface lead to Water
  Quality Degradation
• Both Have Economic Consequences

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Polluted Run off- 1 Water Quality Problem in the
U.S.
US EPA
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Impacts On Urban Watersheds
1. Changes to stream flow
2. Changes to stream stability
3. Changes to aquatic habitat
4. Changes to water quality
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The Results Why Should We Care?

• Flooding
• Sediment deposits
• Channel erosion
• Increased pollution
• Habitat destruction
• Decreased aesthetics and property values

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a small summer thunderstorms runoff before
development
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Runoff after significant development for the same
storm a four-fold peak flow increase!
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What are we doing about it???

• Municipalities both large and small addressing
  what they can within their geographical limits
• County attempting to address drainage in
  unincorporated areas by allocating more of its
  limited budget and acknowledging the need through
  strategic plan

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The Problem

• Storm Water run off does not follow political
  boundaries
• Cities, towns and the county cannot
  control/manage storm water runoff upstream of
  their geographic boundaries
• Regulatory pressure and the specter of increased
  stormwater treatment requirements
• Addressing the ongoing management of storm water
  runoff requires a steady revenue stream

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How can we voluntarily come together on a
regional basis across political boundaries, to
manage flooding, drainage, water quality problems?
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The Baldwin County Stormwater Cooperative

• A voluntary association of local communities
• designed to operate on a regional and watershed
  scale to
• support local communities in managing flooding,
  drainage, and water quality problems related to
  stormwater runoff in Baldwin County
• funded through a small and equitable stormwater
  user fee

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BCSC Guiding Principles

• Keep Lean
• Use existing and privatized resources wherever
  possible staff as program managers
• Do not duplicate services of local governments or
  others partner and enhance
• Keep Seen
• Answerable to local governments - board
• Transparent and equitable in use of funds
• Keep Green
• Protect the areas natural resources
• Preserve the areas economic vitality

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BCSC- How did we get here?

• Blue Water Committee, Fairhope/MBNEP
• Storm Water Authority Feasibility Assessment
• Andy Rees, AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.
• Storm Water Working Group
• Municipal representatives (minus one)
• County representatives
• Baldwin County Delegation Representative
• Wolf Bay Watershed Watch
• Alabama Coastal Foundation
• Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

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BCSC How it Will work

• The BCSC will play five major roles-
• Watershed Stewardship
• Development of Standards and Criteria
• Regulatory Compliance Coordination
• Stream System Manager
• Local Stormwater Program Service Partner

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Watershed Stewardship
The BCSC will monitor watershed health and
develop the tools, master plans and information
necessary to assist local communities in wise
decision making.
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Standards Criteria
The BCSC will develop and communicate effective
standards and requirements for design of
stormwater infrastructure and site developments
that are cost effective, low impact, and
sustainable.
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Regulatory ComplianceCoordinator
The BCSC will assist local communities in
compliance with water quality mandates, with
county-wide efforts such as public education,
with floodplain and FEMA management, and with
long term water quality issues.
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Stream System Management
The BCSC will master plan and inspect streams.
It will develop construction and maintenance
projects on streams for flood control, property
protection, and stream stabilization and habitat
protection.
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Local Stormwater Program Service Partnership
The BCSC will, as requested and on a cost
reimbursable basis, assist local communities in
many aspects of their local stormwater program
management and operation.
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BCSC accountability

• To communities
• To local governments
• To its board

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A Possible Funding Scheme Fee under
3.00/month 2-3M annually
/Dev. Acre/Yr
250
Exceptional
200
Advanced
150
Moderate
Local Program
100
Minimal
Core program
50
Incidental
0
Program Level
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Typical Rates
2 tiers residential
Fast Food 47.04/mo less credit
Large Res. 4.00/mo
200,000 sq ft shopping 700,000 sq ft
impervious 840.90/mo less credit
Small Res. 2.00/mo
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How the money will be SpentSay the BCSC fee is
2.25 and the local community adds a 1.00 fee
for local programs
BCSC Core Program
Optional Local Fee
1.50
0.75
1.00
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Other Program Specifics

• Voluntary community membership
• A base fee for County-wide core program
• Member governments may choose to add a surcharge,
  collected and returned to them to cover their
  local programs
• Total around 3.00 monthly (residential)
• Based on impervious area only
• Reduced fee for rural areas
• Flat rate two tiers for residential
• Credits for a variety of things to accommodate
  business
• Possibly billed on County tax bill

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BCSC What we Dont know yet

• Exact form of the Cooperative
• Public Service Corporation
• County Government
• Representation on the Board of Directors
• Fee Structure
• Incentive packages/credit structures

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What is happening at present?

• Working to introduce enabling legislation in the
  2007 session
• 12/13 Municipalities and County have signed
  resolutions of support for enabling legislation
• SWWG is engaged in education different
  constituencies about the Storm Water Authority
  Concept
• Inviting other stakeholder groups to participate
  as we continue to develop the program

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• What happens if we do nothing?

It all depends on what we want our future to look
like