A Strategy to Prevent the Generation of Stormwater Runoff to the Greatest Extent Feasible

2020 Goal

Stormwater runoff no longer adversely affects human health, fish, or wildlife

2020 Objectives

To fully address stormwater problems, it is necessary to address the issues listed below. While these strategies will often be utilized concurrently, it is important that decision makers prioritize strategies that involve prevention and source control.  These techniques should be maximized before resorting to “management” of stormwater. Managing stormwater through the use of best management practices will not, by itself, achieve the 2020 goal (above).


 •    Preserve existing natural hydrologic processes on a landscape or watershed scale.  Utilize acquisition, planning, and regulatory tools to accomplish this goal.

•    Prevent impacts from new development on a site-specific scale, utilizing low impact development and other, similar strategies that provide equivalent functions to natural hydrologic processes.

•    Fully implement source control strategies.  Programs which remove pollutants from the environment will reduce the impact of stormwater runoff.

•    Restore natural hydrologic functions to the greatest extent feasible where these functions have been lost.  Large scale restoration of forest areas as well as programs to reduce impervious surfaces are needed.  Current stormwater problems are such that it is not sufficient to simply reduce or eliminate impacts from new development.

•    Mitigate fully for loss of natural hydrologic functions from new development. A policy of “no net loss” of forest cover should be implemented throughout the region.
 
•    After maximizing prevention and source control strategies, utilize best management practices to reduce impacts of stormwater runoff.  In areas which have been degraded, until restoration of natural hydrologic functions is accomplished, utilize treatment and other best management techniques outlined in the 2005 Department of Ecology Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington.  Update the Manual on a regular basis to reflect emerging best management practices.

•    Utilize watershed planning, regional monitoring, and other “overarching” mechanisms proven to assist planners and other decision makers.  Regulators need to revaluate traditional planning, regulatory, and outreach tools which have proven ineffective in dealing with large scale stormwater problems.  At a minimum, local jurisdictions should be required to conduct basin planning, integrate land use and water quality programs, and participate in regional monitoring efforts.

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

Overarching Mechanisms to Achieve Objectives

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