Stormwater Policy Objective: Overarching Mechanisms to Achieve Objectives

•    Develop and Implement Mandatory Basin Plans.  Local governments must make land use planning decisions in a manner consistent with water quality and habitat objectives.  One very effective mechanism for achieving this objective involves a review, at the sub-basin level, of existing stormwater problems as well as analysis of opportunities to prevent future harm.  This approach should be designed to help determine restoration and prevention priorities. 

•    Conduct Full Build-Out Analysis at the Front End of Land-Use Planning Efforts to Gauge Ecological and Water Quality Impacts and Adjust Plans Accordingly.  Local land-use planning often is not designed to measure the impact of development on water quality and the environment.  Full build-out analysis can be used to measure the impacts of future development.
   
•    Establish of New Funding Sources.  Funding for these efforts may come from a variety of new sources. Generally, new development should pay for impacts associated with new development.  All jurisdictions should be required to incentivize LID approaches by designing stormwater fees that are significantly higher for those property owners who have greater amounts of effective impervious surfaces on their property.  Fee credits should be established for those who adopt LID techniques.  Subsidies to developers should be eliminated and funds redirected to restoration. Other sources of funding may also be required for purchase of development rights and restoration programs.

•    Establish Regional Monitoring Network.  Develop a regional monitoring network that will conduct both environmental monitoring and effectiveness monitoring.  That is to say, monitor impacts on the environment as well as monitor the effectiveness of current controls, such as BMP’s, to achieve objectives.  The monitoring program should be modeled after similar programs in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles.  This approach should be linked to an adaptive management strategy.

•    Develop Effective Outreach and Education Programs.  Many stormwater problems will require behavioral changes.  An education program that incorporates social marketing techniques is needed.

•    Strengthen Enforcement.  The Department of Ecology should be required to conduct periodic audits of local stormwater programs that include site visits to determine rate of compliance with local codes.

Click on the links below for further discussions of individual objectives:

Preserve Natural Hydrological Processes on a Landscape or Watershed Level

Prevent Impacts from New Development on a Site-Specific Scale

Source Control

Restore Hydrologic Processes and Water Quality in areas Where Development has Caused Harm

Mitigate Fully for Any Loss of Hydrologic Functions which Result from New Development

After Maximizing Prevention and Source Control Strategies, Use Best Management Practices to Reduce Impacts Until Restoration is Possible

To comment or for more information, contact Bruce Wishart, (360) 754-9177.