Our Mission

To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity; to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

Stormwater

Post-Construction Ordinance, April 2008

If you wish to offer comments on the Stormwater Post-Construction Ordinance, there are some points to consider below. Remember that the focus is on the prevention of flooding and erosion as well as water quality. Please add your personal opinion and experiences.

E-mail addresses for the City Council members

danbesse@danbesse.org - Dan Besse
vivianb@cityofws.org - City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian H. Burke
robertc@cityofws.org - Robert C. Clark
joycelyj@cityofws.org - Joycelyn V. Johnson
mollyl@cityofws.org - Molly Leight
nelsonm@cityofws.org - Nelson L. Malloy, Jr.
wandam@cityofws.org - Wanda Merschel
evelynt@cityofws.org - Evelyn A. Terry

Phone and mailing addresses:

http://cityofws.org/Home/CityGovernment/CityCouncil/Articles/CityCouncil

Talking Points for the Stormwater Post-Construction Ordinance

You’ve probably seen local news videos showing flooding and heavy runoff after a big storm. These problems are caused by the urbanization of our county; land that is covered with buildings, parking lots, roads and turf cannot adequately absorb heavy rainfalls, slow erosion, and filter pollutants. Changing weather patterns make the situation even worse. As a result, City and County officials are re-evaluating local stormwater management strategies and policies.

Here are a few ideas to consider as you evaluate the costs and short and long-term benefits of proposals that can help prevent flooding AND ensure good water quality:

Good stormwater management practices are cost-effective. According to an EPA report released in December, 2007, Low Impact Development strategies (LID) mimic natural systems which reduce runoff and pollutants. Cost savings are achieved through reduced infrastructure spending because the runoff to be managed is minimized through infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration from plants. (http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07/, EPA 841-F-07-006,page 19)

The Ordinance should require a 50-foot, natural vegetative buffer. The first one inch of a rainfall washes pollutants (such as suspended solids, nutrients, organic materials, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bacteria) from roof tops, streets, and parking lots. It is critical that this rainwater not run directly into streams, but be slowed and filtered by trees and vegetation. In addition, undisturbed, forested buffers help maintain stable water temperatures and promote healthy stream life. A buffer composed of trees, shrubs and groundcover works best and should be preserved in an undisturbed state.

The Ordinance should protect against flooding and water quality degradation by planning for 25-year storm events rather than only milder, 10-year events. With ever-increasing urbanization and infill, we’re losing our trees and vegetative cover, more soil is becoming severely compacted during construction, and the amount of impervious surfaces such as streets, parking lots and rooftops are steadily increasing. These conditions significantly increase the amount and energy of water flow during rainstorms. The occurrence of fewer, but heavier storms, exacerbates the problem.

Making private entities, including homeowner associations, responsible for maintenance of detention ponds is reasonable if low impact development (LID) practices are used. LID strategies, such as those involving conservation strategies, infiltration techniques, runoff storage practices, and runoff conveyance practices, minimize both the amount of runoff to be managed and the size and complexity of the pond to be maintained. (http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07/, EPA 841-F-07-006, pages 10-11)

Members of the Stormwater Advisory Board should be official advocates for different segments of our community. The five members should be chosen to represent environmental groups, neighborhood associations, homeowners, stormwater professionals, and realtors /developers.

Fines levied for violations must be significant and collected in a timely manner. Financial penalties should prevent potential violators from absorbing fines as a regular cost of doing business.

The Stormwater Department should be adequately staffed. Additional staff must be added to ensure that projects are permitted efficiently, regular inspections are made, and the Ordinance is fairly enforced.

Questions? Contact:

Henry Fansler
Conservation Co-Chair
Foothills Group of the Sierra Club
919 Williams Road
Lewisville, NC 27023
Mobile: (336) 473-0283
Home: (336) 946-2786
hbjfansler@windstream.net