ONE RDA – TWO
APPROACHES
MILFORD’S & FRANKLIN’S
STORMWATER EFFORTS
Presented at the NEWEA Annual
Conference
January 27, 2015
Presented by Vonnie Reis, P.E. Milford Town Engineer And Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi Franklin DPW Director
Town of Milford
Town of Milford: 29,000 residents Large Commercial Base Total Area 1382 acres
120 miles of streets 212 acres of IA in urban/ regulated area 112 acres of DCIA Godfrey, O’Brien & Hospital Brooks = 2.8 miles Milford Pond = 120 Acres
Requirements of the Draft Permit
Phosphorous reduction to Charles of 43% (all in) per TMDL
Pathogen reduction to Charles per TMDL
Nitrogen reduction to Charles, although no TMDL
Develop PCP for municipal system
Estimated Costs to Implement
Source: Sustainable Stormwater Funding Evaluation, HWG, Sept., 2011
Milford’s Stormwater Limitations
Densely developed downtown with Godfrey and O’Brien brooks passing through
High flooding incidence from the brooks Large tracts of commercial and industrial
development = Acres of impervious area Shallow depth to bedrock – Milford pink
granite – eliminates infiltration as an option in many cases
Insufficient mapping of drainage system and lack of GIS technology
What Is Milford Already Doing?
Changes to Planning Board Regulations
Strict implementation of Mass Stormwater Standards
Annual IDDE Program Already implementing non-
structural BMP requirements Mapping of outfalls and
structures
Structural BMPs:
Godfrey, O’Brien &
Hospital Brooks
Godfrey Brook Projects will restore habitat and provide flood control for O’Brien and Godfrey Brooks
Milford Upper Charles Trail and
Conservation Restrictions
Construction of 6.2 miles of multi-use trail including drainage improvements and wetland replication
Conservation of 200+ acres of undeveloped land upstream of Milford pond put into a permanent Conservation Restriction in 2014
Milford Pond
Aquatic Habitat
Restoration Project
Milford Pond Project will create deep water habitat and emergent wetland habitat In partnership with USACE Work to begin Spring 2015
Summary of Key Comments on Draft
MS4 Permit
More time and funding needed for mapping efforts; Milford needs GIS system implemented
Establish baseline for Milford’s actual phosphorous contribution to the Charles based on sampling program
Receive credit for BMPs already implemented Conduct cost-benefit analysis for PCP Provide incentives for regionalization Federal government to provide funding sources
Franklin
Current population over 33,000 Commuter suburban town Operational budget just over $100 Million Land area is 27 square miles Impervious surface accounts for 4 square miles 290 “lane-miles” of roadways Drinking water supply from groundwater
Three Way Approach to
Water Protection & Conservation
DRINKING WATER WASTEWATER
STORMWATER
RDA
Residual Designation Authority
Regulatory Context (Drivers)
Charles River does not currently meet water quality standards TMDL Study – 50% overall reduction in total phosphorous
(TP) Bellingham – 51.8% Franklin – 52.1% Milford – 57.0%
Phase II MS4 Permit (anticipated renewal) Phosphorous Control Plan (PCP) – Charles River MS4s
Draft EPA Residual Designation
Authority (RDA) Permit: Charles River
Watershed
Private sites with >2 acres
of impervious area must obtain a permit
November 12, 2008 – Draft Permit April 20, 2010 – Amended Permit Final Permit Pending . . .
General RDA Requirements:
Stormwater Management Plan Pollution Prevention & Maintenance Phosphorous Reduction Plan
Detention Basin
2.5 Acres Impervious
Not Fully Occupied
What Did We Do???
Worked with other Communities
Became partners with Bellingham and Milford.
Reached out and educated other communities along the Charles River.
Got Political
Became Vocal
Made presentations everywhere! Questioned the science Questioned the benefits Questioned the value
Alerted Businesses
Worked with Environmental Groups
Charles River Watershed Assoc.
Building Blue Project
Focused on the Spruce Pond Sub-watershed Took a concentrated look at roughly 1 square mile
area to determine site specific BMPs for the area that would provide the greatest “bang for the buck.”
Sub-Watersheds Identified
319 Grants
Clean Water Act Section 319 addressed the need for federal and state agencies to assist local agencies in nonpoint source efforts.
Drainage Area – Lockewood Drive
South (2C)
Lockwood Drive
Drainage Area – Fletcher
Building Blue Project
Visualization of Vegetated Swale
in parking lot
Rain Garden Constructed
Anchorage Road Reconstruction
Removal of 1 Sidewalk 30 foot roadway width
reduced to 28 feet Cul-de-sac was
removed and replaced with rain garden
Public information sessions were held and increased resident support and education
Anchorage Road
Brutus’s Stormwater Thoughts
Detailed stormwater infrastructure mapping is very important Model optimization can save you money Treat the first flush Infiltration is the most cost effective strategy Make improvements during reconstruction or redevelopment Public education: “Salesmanship”
QUESTIONS?
Contacts:
Vonnie Reis, P.E., Town Engineer at [email protected]
Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi, DPW Director, at [email protected]