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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCS000431_ANNUAL REPORT_201801112 V NORTH CAROLINA � Department of Environmental Qual PERMIT NO. DOC TYPE DOC DATE STORMWATER DIVISION C MS4 PERMIT! VA' NAL PERMIT NNUALRCPORT ❑ APPLICATION ❑ COMPLIANCE ❑ OTHER oat9o YYYYMMDD City of Conover Planning Department January 02, 2018 NCDENR Division of Water Quality Stormwater Permitting Unit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Re: NPDES Permit No. NCS000431 To Whom It May Concern: Please find enclosed two copies of the 2017 Stormwater Annual Report for the City of Conover NPDES permit number NCS000431. 1 certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. 1 am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations. Sincerely, .--1� Donald Duncan, Jr. Conover City Manager Enclosure: City of Conover Stormwater Annual Report [Pest Office 13ox 549 I Conover, North Carolina 1 28613 1 voice/tdd (82ti) 464-1191 I f.ix (ti28) 465-51771 CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 SECTION B: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH The City continues to provide stormwater education and outreach to the public in many ways. Locally produced brochures and informational materials, as well as EPA materials have been placed in the local library, city hall and local veterinary offices. These materials, along with larger stormwater displays were presented to the citizenry at our annual "National Night Out" event, Catawba Riverfest, and Earth/Arbor Day. In coordination with other local municipalities, the City has developed an Administrative Manual for the implementation of Phase II requirements. The manual is a collective effort of the Stormwater Working Group with the intent to ensure similar procedures for phase II development requirements among Iocal municipalities and therefore make it easier for developers to understand An educational poster provided by the EPA entitled "Stormwater and the Construction Industry" was placed in City Hall in the planning department for viewing by developers and contractors when they obtain permits to encourage best management practices at their construction sites. The local cable TV government channel was also utilized to reach citizens. Two stand-up educational banners are alternately displayed at City Hall for viewing by utility customers and citizens. The City has incorporated into our web site a stormwater page that includes FAQ, pollution prevention tips, and stormwater related links. The City has also contracted with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to provide additional public education and outreach as follows: Target Audiences • General Public • Decision Makers • Teachers • Students • Planners Education and Outreach Program Elements • Special Events • Presentations/Workshops • School Outreach • Online Presence • Future Plans CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 ACTIVITIES Presentations/Workshops The Western Piedmont Water Resource Committee is the key interface used by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) to interact with local governments on the issue of water resources. Formed in 1986, this Committee is staffed by the WPCOG and serves in an advisory role for 30 local governments within the Greater Hickory Mctro on issues including water quality, water supply, water safety and recreation, and watershed issues within the Upper Catawba River Basin. The Water Resources Committee consists of individuals representing local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and businesses from Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties in Western North Carolina. The WRC was originally named the Catawba River Study Committee. In 2010, the committee updated the name and mission statement to better reflect the broader nature of the committee and to recognize that water management issues in the Yadkin River Basin also affect our regions local governments. The mission of the group is to serves in an advisory role for local governments and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board on water resources and watershed issues: including water quality, water supply, water safety and recreation, and land -use within the regions river basins. The committee is staffed by the WPCOG's Natural Resources Administrator whose position is supported in part by local governments within the region. The Western Piedmont Water Resources Committee meets four to six times per year and stormwater information is presented at each meeting and is often a significant part of each program. Outside experts are regularly present, and there is time for dialog. Robin Nicholson with Duke Energy making a presentation to the WRC on Well Monitoring near Coal Ashe Ponds. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 The Western Piedmont Water Quality Conference The Western NC Water Quality Conl'Crence was held on Thursday, August P, 2017. It is held in conjunction with the Western NC Air Quality Conference which was held the day after on Friday, August 4"', 2017. The Reese Institute for the Conservation of Natural Resources and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments hosted these Annual Conferences at Lenoir -Rhyne University in Hickory, NC. The Western Piedmont Council of Governments organizes these unique conferences and Lenoir -Rhyne University provides lunch and facilities. The first Unifour Air Quality Conference was held in 2007. and it has been an annual event ever since. The purpose of the conference is to educate the public, government officials and the private sector on current air quality issues important to the Unifour region and beyond. In 2013 the name of the Conference was changed from the "Unifour Air Quality Conference" to the "Western North Carolina Air Quality Conference." The 1st Annual Western North Carolina Water Quality Conference was held Thursday, July 31, 2014 for an audience of over 100 attendees. The purpose of the conference was to promote awareness and the exchange of ideas regarding current water quality issues in the region and provide technical expertise to practitioners who have a stake in water quality. The conference was modeled after the successful Air Quality Conference. For the past three years, conference organizers have offered a "teacher only track" which introduces a new target audience and helps ensure continuing, sustainable positive air quality benefits as the teachers incorporate air quality lessons into their curriculums. Environmental Literacy Credit was offered to attending teachers. Stormwater outreach and education is the primary reason for holding the Western NC Water Quality Conference. Other sponsors of the conferences include the Greater Hickory MPO, The Western Piedmont Water Resources Committee, and the Western Piedmont Stormwater Partnership. The conference is held specifically for Water Quality Outreach to local governments, non -profits, and interested citizens. A great deal of emphasis is put on stormwater and its effects on water quality. Although the conference took place in August, much of the planning and preparation for the conference took place during the June 2016 to July 2017-time period. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 When Thursday, August 3, 2017 at 8:30 AM EDT -b- Friday, August 4, 2017 at 3:30 PM EDT Add to Calendar Where Belk Centrum Lenoir -Rhyne University 625 7th Ave NE Hickory, NC 28601 3t7 t J Dear Stakeholder, Registration is now open for the Annual Western North Carolina Water Quality Conference Thursday, Aug. 3 (8:30 AM to 3:30 PM) and the Annual Western North Carolina Air Quality Conference Fnday, Aug 4 (8:30 to 3 30 PM) Please register for these conferences by clicking the link below Presenters at this years conferences include representatives from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, NC State, Appalachian State University, NC Division of Environmental Quality, and the US Forest Service. A Draft Agenda is attached. Register Now! If you have any questions about the event or how to register. please contact Johnny Wear. WPCOG Senior Planner a Natural Resource Administrator at 828.485.4283. Hlckgry Sweetrvate Thank you for your attention and response. We look forward to seeing you at this year's Conference(s) i 301 T 111 R GOrp )4rLpr ��a-iAk HEr3E ring Directions Sincerely, Johnny Wear Western Piedmont Council of Governments tohn.wearAwpcoq orq 828 485.4283 CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Dr. Jon knight, in cooperation with Carolina Land and Lakes RC&D making a presentation on the Lake Rhodhiss Monitoring Study. Dr. Mike Burchell, with NCSU Cooperative Extension making a presentation on the importance of protecting riparian buffers. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Dr. William Showers, with Rivernet at NC State making a presentation on Sustainable Watershed Practices. Thomas Slusser with the NC Department of Environmental Quality making a presentation on education and initiatives and problem solving for water quality. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Dr. Kristan Cockerill with Appalachian State University making a presentation on Stream Restoration and Water Quality Kelly Hedgepeth, with the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation making a presentation on Agricultural Best Management Practices for Water Quality CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 School Outreach On April 8, 2017 a day long Project WET training was held at the WPCOG Offices for Teachers. The workshop was free and teachers received credit and certificates for being there. One of the major focuses for the Stormwater Partnership is to reach teachers so that they can bring the information back to their classrooms. These trainings put a large focus on stormwater, and activities used relate directly back to how water quality is affected by our actions. Lisa Wear, STEM Specialist with E-STEM CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 STEM. This year the WPCOG hosted two STEM Tours for the first time. On Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 the WPCOG hosted over eighty STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students at our offices from Newton Conover Middle School and on Friday, March 3rd, 2017 the WPCOG hosted over eighty STEM students at our offices from Jacobs Fork Middle School. Students learned about planning, transportation, mapping, and air and water quality and how these inform their career choices. Stations for each subject were located throughout the COG offices so that students could move between stations. Each station highlighted the different jobs that people did and training required for those jobs. The environmental planning station explained water and air quality planning, and time was taken out to explain the relationship between stormwater and water quality. Although the tour does include other aspects of what the WPCOG does, the tour is scheduled by WPCOG Staff every year to specifically get stormwater messaging to the students. John Wear and Taylor Dellinger with the WPCOG presenting regional environmental issues to students during the annual STEM Tour at the WPCOG offices. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Special Events Hickory Earth Day/Arbor Day. This year's event was held on Saturday April 22na 2017at the SALT Block. WPCOG Staff attended and hosted a stormwater display/booth. Staff used a game and prizes to attract children and their parents to the booth. Staff takes this opportunity to teach kids and parents about Stormwater. This is an established event and includes many community partners. Averi Ritchie with the WPCOG teaching children and parents about stonnwater issues during an Earth Day event in Hickory. The WPCOG has two EnviroScape models that can be used at events and in the classroom. In the past teachers have been instructed on how to use it. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 A local adult volunteer, Caroline Martin, has been trained and equipped to be a guest in elementary classrooms. Carol attends Riverfest and Earth Day/Arbor Day every year. She also conducts presentations for Hickory Day School and Snow Creek Elementary annually. Mal A I� Caroline Martin shows children how pollution can effect water quality using an enviroscape provided by the WPCOG during an Earth Day event in Hickory. Online Presence Website. A website has been developed for the WPCOG, http://www.neog.orgl. A direct URL to the Stormwater section is available: http://www.wpcog.org/,stormwater-partnership?SEC=%7B46D2278E-7CCA-4AF4- 8332-25D8C7BFEB02%7D&Type=B_BASIC Stormwater Partners will maintain stormwater content on their local government sites, but can link to WPCOG. FUTURE PLANS FOR THE STORMWATER PARTNERSHIP Mission: Continue to grow and improve the current program. Goal 1) Continue to focus on schools with regards to water resource education. Goal 2) Improve the stormwater website. Goal 3) Continue to hold a successful Western NC Water Quality Conference. Goal 4) Continue to develop new ways to reach the public. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 20117 SECTION C: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION The City of Conover realizes the importance of public involvement in the overall success of the Stormwater Management Plan. A citizen's Stormwater Advisory Board has been established to hear items related to stormwater, provide a public contact and venue for stormwater issues, and offer recommendations to the City Council. A public meeting of the Stormwater Advisory Board was held on January 17, 2017. The annual report was presented to the board. SECTION D: ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION The City of Conover continues to employ an illicit discharge detection and elimination program. The program is organized by the Stormwater Administrator and makes use of city staff that is in the field on a daily basis. This includes street department staff, grounds department staff, water and wastewater department staff, and other public works employees. Based on the NC Model produced by the Institute of Government and adopted by the Conover City Council in 2007, the Phase 11 Stormwater Ordinance, Article VII created legal authority to prohibit illicit discharges and connections. A storm sewer system database has been developed by city staff. Using a geographic information system, the City has mapped drainage areas, pipes, vegetative conveyances, curb and curb inlets, catch basins and outfalls. An illicit discharge reporting mechanism has been established through contact numbers and names provided on city brochures. City field staff that is likely to encounter illicit discharges have been trained in the detection of them and instructed to tail the Stormwater Administrator in the event that such a discharge is suspected or detected. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 SECTION E. CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS The City of Conover has entered into an inter -local agreement with Catawba County whereby the County reviews and manages all sediment and erosion control plans for projects 1 acre or greater. The City has taken initiative and created a process whereby projects of less than one acre are required to agree to conditions outlined in a sedimentation and erosion control application. These sites are monitored by City staff as construction takes place to ensure that sediment is not leaving the site. Plans for any project are not approved and permits are not issued until authorized by Catawba County or the City of Conover as the size of the project dictates. SECTION F: POST CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS The Phase II Stormwater Ordinance adopted by the Conover City Council on May 71", 2007, and based on the model ordinance produced by the UNC School of Government, contains provisions to implement and enforce a program to address stormwater runoff from development and redevelopment as required by NPDES Permit NCS000431. This ordinance provides a mechanism to ensure long-term operation and maintenance of structural and non-structural BMPs. In addition, it requires that annual inspections of these BMPs be performed by a qualified professional and submitted for review. As more BMPs are installed, the City realizes the need for properly trained personnel to inspect them. With this in mind, two members of Conover City Staff are designated as Certified Stormwater BMP Inspection and Maintenance Professionals through the NCSU Cooperative Extension. Catawba County, through their Environmental Health Department, reviews and permits on -site septic systems for domestic wastewater for Conover and other municipalities in the county. City staff has open communication with the County concerning issues with on -site septic system. The City has purchased signs and animal waste removal stations that provide citizens bags to pick up pet waste and a means of disposal. Brochures produced by the City, that address pet owners' responsibilities concerning pet waste have been distributed to local veterinarian offices, the local library, and during National Night Out. In addition, the local cable television government channel was utilized to remind pet owners that fecal coli form is a pollutant and encourage them to clean up after their animals. CONOVER STORMWATER ANNUAL REPORT 2017 SECTION G: POLLUTION PREVENTION AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING FOR MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS The City has developed an operation and maintenance program that is on the with the Conover Public Works Department. This program establishes best management practices for city operations and requires the implementation of these standards. The City of Conover Public Works Facility utilizes the covered storage of vehicles to capacity. Bulk storage areas for salt and sand are covered to reduce runoff and stormwater pollution. The City has a successful recycling program and makes use of a street cleaner/sweeper to clean city streets between rain events. Litter pickups are conducted in conjunction with rights -of -way mowing and reduce the amount of trash and floatables conveyed to the MS4. Leaf vacuum is utilized in the fall. The City has installed a stormwater wetland at the Conover City Park that not only treats the park and Conover Station site area, but also treats a large portion of the downtown area that was never treated before. City Staff continues to maintain a stormwater rain garden located at City Hall and has produced a brochure "Build Your Own Rain Garden" for use by citizens. The rain garden has proven to be an excellent opportunity for the City to retrofit an existing facility with a BMP and educate the public at the same time. Training was conducted for public works personnel in best management practices, good housekeeping, spill prevention, and clean up procedures. UPCOMING YEAR The City will continue public education and outreach through the Conover Neighbor, National Night Out, Catawba Riverfest and the local government channel on Charter Communications cable television as well as other opportunities that avail themselves. The City has also contracted with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to provide public education and outreach for the upcoming year. .W � k a � k J r - • City of Conover Planning Department September 27"', 2007 NCDENR Division of Water Quality Stormwater Permitting Unit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Re: NPDES Permit No. NCS000431 To Whom It May Concern: � ..W9 r OCR C 4 ?n�7 , Lj) finds ' �(sT+wJ wwr Enclosed you will find the Stormwater Plan annual report for the City of Conover pcnliit number NCS000431. Sincerely Q. Lance Hight Interim Planning Director Enclosure: Conover Stornwater Plan Annual Report [Post Office Boy 541) 1 Coiiover, North Carolina 1 28613 1 voice/tdd (828) 464-1191 1 fax (828) 465-517/71 (*(1N()\ FR '-sF()1tN1Vt k 14'it N1.\N.kGF.IIFNT \NN1 11. ItI-'I ORF200- SECTION B: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH In the second year of the City of Conover's Phase II permit, Conover has built upon our already successful public education and outreach program. The city has utilized the "Conover Neighbor" newsletter by producing stormwater articles that stress the importance of protecting water quality, as well as offering recommendations to citizens on what they can do to help. The newsletter is distributed to all utility customers of Conover (5000+). Education material has been produced that targets members of the community that are likely to have a significant impact on water quality. A brochure has bee developed to inform citizens to clean up after pets, as well as a brochure to show how to build your own backyard raingarden. Staff has utilized public events such as the annual Conover "Community Workshop" (200 estimated attendees) and "National Night Out" event (1,200 estimated attendees) to promote awareness of protecting water quality. All education material produced by staff has been distributed to citizens at these events. SECTION C: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION Public involvement is important to the success of Conover's Stormwater Management Plan. Conover has provided several venues to encourage the involvement of the community. The annual Community Workshop was held on May 2"d, 2007 at the Conover City Hall. This event is widely attended by Conover citizens and allows city staff to present stormwater informational items such as city maps, brochures and educate the citizens about the new Phase II Stormwater Ordinance. A citizens' advisory panel has been established that hears items related to stormwater management for the city. At the first meeting of the Stormwater Advisory Board a public meeting was held, and the Phase II Stormwater Ordinance was presented and comments were taken from the public and the committee. Conover Staff, with staff from other municipal governments meet monthly at the Western Piedmont Council of Government offices. The group (Stormwater Working Group) coordinated an educational seminar titled "Stormwater 101: What You Need to Know About Land Development and New NPDES Phase II Stormwater Regulations". This educational, outreach event that was held on March 19t', 2007 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. The guest speaker was Mike Randall with NCDENR. This event targeted those in the development community to help make them aware of the upcoming Phase II regulation in our area. The event was well attended and so successful that future events are currently being planned. SECTION D: ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION Staff has developed an illicit discharge detection and elimination program. The program is organized by the stormwater administrator and utilizes city staff that is in the field on a daily basis, including, but not limited to Wastewater Treatment Staff, Street Department Staff and other Public Works Staff. The Stormwater Administrator, Street Supervisor, and a Wastewater Treatment employee attended the NCSU Cooperative Extension class concerning education on illicit discharge detection and elimination. Adopted by the Conover City Council on May 7th, 2007, the Phase II Stormwater Ordinance, Article VII establishes legal authority to prohibit illicit discharges and connections. This chapter was produced utilizing the NC Model ordinance produced by the Institute of Government. A reporting mechanism has been established through contact numbers and names being provided on city brochures. All city staff has been informed to contact the Stormwater Administrator in the event an illicit discharge has been found. A storm sewer system base map has been developed by city staff. The map shows outfall locations, drainage areas, pipes, ditches, catch basins and streams. The map is a work in progress, and it is estimated that 40% of the city has been mapped at this time. SECTION E: CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS Catawba County Sediment and Erosion Control manages and reviews all sediment and erosion control plans for projects 1 acre or greater for the City of Conover. City Staff has regular communications with the County Department to insure all projects are properly permitted. Conover has created and implemented an erosion and sediment control application for all projects that are less than one acre within the city. An application must be completed by the applicant and plans must be submitted and approved by staff prior to issuance of a zoning permit. SECTION F: POST CONSTRUCTION SITE RUNOFF CONTROLS On May 7th, 2007 the Conover City Council adopted Ordinance 15-07 "Phase II Stormwater Ordinance". This ordinance is based on the Phase II Stormwater Model Ordinance for North Carolina produced by the UNC School of Government. The ordinance contains provisions that meet the requirements as set forth by the NPDES permit that has been issued to the City of Conover. Conover worked closely with the City of Hickory and the City of Newton (neighboring cities) to develop an ordinance that both meets the regulatory requirements of our permits, but also creates consistency of ordinances among the immediate area. This is an effort to provide customer service to the development community and citizens. In addition, the city amended existing text within the subdivision ordinance to alleviate any contradictory language that would have existed after adoption of the new Phase II ordinance. Reduction of fecal coliform to the maximum extent practicable is currently being addressed by the city through both education; by the way of brochures distributed to local veterinarian offices in the City, as well as being made available to citizens in City Hall, and implementation; the city has purchased signs and animal waste removal stations that provide citizens bags to pick up pet waste and erected them at city parks and within city neighborhoods. SECTION G: POLLUTION PREVENTION AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING FOR MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS The City has developed an operation and maintenance program that is on file with the Conover Public Works Department. This program establishes best management practices for city operations and requires the implementation of these standards. City staff has inspected various city owned and operated properties and provided recommendations as to ways to reduce pollutant runoff. City Staff has constructed a stormwater raingarden located at the Conover City Hall. This raingarden collects runoff from a portion of the City Hall roof and the City Hall Parking lot. This structure's benefits are twofold: efficient in managing water quality and public education. It is located in a prominent location on the property and the majority of visitors to the city hall must walk by the structure. This has proven to be an excellent opportunity for Conover to retrofit and existing facility with a BMP, as well as educate the public. UPCOMING YEAR Conover has much going on in the upcoming year concerning stormwater management. City Staff plans on further developing the storm sewer base map, and anticipates 65% completion by next year. Staff will further augment our existing public education and outreach to include neighborhood action groups, create more brochures and materials, continue newsletter articles, continue booths at city events, explore print advertising, radio ads, television ads (cost share with other municipalities) and school education on stormwater impacts. Staff will continue to inventory City owned operations and evaluate our impacts on water quality. We will continue explore options to retrofit existing facilities with stormwater BMP structures. The Stormwater Administrator will continue to organize and facilitate staff educational workshops regarding our practices and procedures affecting water quality. On October 4" , 2007 Conover will have a kick off meeting with Jewell Engineering. Jewell Engineering has been contracted as a consultant to the City concerning the current state of our stormwater infrastructure, policies, procedures and ordinances. After an in depth evaluation, including information gathering from staff and a citizen survey, Jewell will recommend how to improve our stormwater management program. This will help Conover evaluate the state of our stormwater management program and plan accordingly for the future.