Stormwater: The Times They Are A-Changin’
State of Hawaii Department of TransportationProtect Our Water ConferenceHonolulu, HI11.14.18
Seth Brown, PEStorm & Stream Solutions, LLC
Overview
▪Drivers for Change▪Areas of Change▪Results of Change
Drivers For Change
▪Sector Maturity▪Regulations▪Understanding▪Context▪Infrastructure
Drivers For Change
▪Regulations▪Focus on retention▪Monitoring advances▪Need to address retrofits▪Focus on maintenance▪Numeric standards▪TMDLs
Drivers For Change
▪Understanding▪Retention▪Now I get it!
▪Source control▪Real pollution management…
▪Maintenance needs▪What is REALLY needed?
▪Long-term performance▪ (How) does it work long-term?
Drivers For Change
▪Understanding▪Co-Benefits▪What else does it do?
▪Program-level▪How are MS4 programs
performing?
Drivers For Change
▪Context▪“NO”▪Piecemeal, Segmented,
Separated, Downstream ▪“YES”▪Watershed, Regional,
Integrated, Decentralized, System, Upstream
Drivers For Change
▪Infrastructure▪Asset management▪Dedicated, adequate,
and sustainable funding▪More data▪Non-apologetic needs
Take-Away for DOTs
▪Evolving Programs▪ Several DOTs across the country are
enhancing stormwater programs▪ Example: Nevada DOT – expanded/enhanced
stormwater program after recent regulatory audit
Nev
ada
DO
T, 2
018
Nevada DOT, 2018
Areas of Change
▪Technology▪Precipitation Patterns
Area of Change
▪Technology▪Big data▪Asset management on the rise…
▪Better/cheaper monitoring equipment/approaches▪Drones, etc.
▪Real-time controls/monitoring▪Optimization of performance,
maintenance
Area of Change
▪Technology▪Green chemistry▪ “True” source control
▪Self-driving cars▪ Changes in nature of transportation
corridors and clear-zone infrastructure ▪ Changes in parking behavior
▪Circular economy efforts▪Use of waste products for useful purposes▪ Example - biochar and iron filings
Area of Change
▪Shifting Precipitation Patterns▪Resilience-focused investments▪ Enhancing grey as well as GI
▪Misaligned SWM design for changing precipitation patterns▪Value of retention for resilience▪NOAA, FHWA, Coastal states▪Delaware DOT example
Take-Away for DOTs
▪Coastal Resilience▪DelDOT example▪ Coastal Green Infrastructure▪ Multi-functional solutions
FHW
A, 2
018
FHW
A, 2
018
FHW
A, 2
018
Take-Away for DOTs
▪UAV/Drone Usage▪Nevada DOT example▪ Remote monitoring▪ Flooding impacts
Nev
ada
DO
T, 2
018
Nevada DOT, 2018
Results of Change
▪Need for Funding/Financing▪Alternative Project Delivery Options▪Dynamic Policy Landscape▪MS4 Network Development▪Need for Co-Benefit Projects▪Stream Restoration as BMP?
Results of Change
▪Need for Funding/Financing▪Awareness will highlight increasing
funding/financing gap
▪Water Environment Federation MS4 Survey
▪ Rise in federal financing options (SRF, WIFIA) will catalyze more investment in stormwater
▪ Private investment will be better understood and utilized
▪Market-based and alternative financing approaches will increase
Results of Change
▪Alternative Project Delivery Options▪Public-private partnerships▪Full-delivery or “turn-key” services
for stormwater management▪Ties to flexible funding/financing▪Market-based approaches▪Private sector financing
Results of Change
▪Dynamic Legal/Policy Landscape ▪More lawsuits/policy challenges▪ Flow-based approaches▪ TMDL-implementation▪ Numeric standards▪ Maximum Extent Practicable and Water Quality
Standards▪ Residual Designated Authority (RDA)▪ WOTUS▪ Discharges to groundwater nexus w WOTUS
Results of Change
▪MS4 Network Development▪Strengthening of ties▪National, regional▪Sharing of resources/information▪Reduce redundancy
▪Better awareness of performance
Results of Change
▪Co-Benefit Projects▪Ties to water supply▪Social enhancements▪Economic revitalization▪Ties to energy savings
Results of Change
▪Stream Restoration▪More, more, more▪Crediting▪Restore the watershed first▪Protection of asset, reduction in
risk
Restored vs. Unrestored Stream Flows
Arlington County, VA - 2013
Take-Away for DOTs
▪Alternative Project Delivery ▪Maryland DOT example▪ RFI on “public-private cooperate efforts” for
stormwater services▪ 3,000 acres of impervious retrofits
▪ RFP on “full delivery” stream restoration services▪ 50,000-75,000 LF of stream restoration credits
Take-Away for DOTs
▪Flow TMDLs▪ Virginia DOT example – Accotink Creek▪ Flow-based TMDL tied to TSS/benthic
impairments▪ Fairfax County and VDOT sued EPA Region 3▪ County/VDOT won case – “flow is not a pollutant”
▪ Retention/flow reduction STILL important –retention standards on rise
Take-Away for DOTs
▪Market-Based Approaches▪ Caltrans State Highway Operations and Protection
Program (SHOPP)▪ Requires 1650 acres of retrofitting annually to be
located in targeted watersheds▪ Can locate BMPs outside of ROW as needed
▪ Virginia DOT nutrient credit market▪ VDOT purchased $1M of nutrient credits towards MS4
requirements▪ VDOT estimates that credits could reduce compliance
costs by up to 50%▪ Washington, D.C. stormwater retention trading program▪ DDOT could theoretically engage through purchase
guarantee program
Conclusion
▪Sector maturation is occurring ▪Drivers pushing this maturation▪Technology/numerics will play a bigger part▪…as will shifting precipitation patterns▪Stormwater programs evolving along with
drivers▪More market-based, innovative financing
and alternative project delivery for stormwater