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Public Involvement and Participation
The Public Involvement and Participation minimum control measure focuses activities on specifically involving the public in the development, implementation and evaluation of the local stormwater management program. Many of the public participation and public involvement activities undertaken by the MS4 are included in the discussion of other Minimum Control Measures included in this website. For example, public participation activities regarding construction and post-construction stormwater management should emphasize involvement of the public in the development of local laws, comments on Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans, and access to reporting hotlines. These activities are all discussed as part of those respective Minimum Control Measures. Additionally, the development and use of this website, itself, meets many of the requirements for public involvement and participation.
In the general sense, this Minimum Control Measure requires the MS4 to involve the public in all aspects of the local stormwater program. Activities may include, but are not limited to: ensuring compliance with public notice and open meetings law; identification of key stakeholders; publishing contact information; obtaining public input on local laws, annual reports and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs); and sponsoring volunteer activities that directly involve the public in stormwater management activities.
To meet the public involvement and public participation requirements, the MS4 has selected the following Best Management Practices (BMP's) and activities to ensure the reduction of all pollutants of concern in stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable. The activities include a number of practices designed to seek public input on programmatic requirements. They may also include specific activities that encourage hands-on public involvement and participation.
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Published Stormwater Contact Information
Description of BMP/Activity:
Identify and publish information concerning the MS4's stormwater management contact. This activity may involve working with the MS4 staff, boards and agencies to identify the most qualified person(s). The name or title of this contact and the telephone number is published and kept updated with the State via the Municipal Compliance Certification Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Annual Report Public Notice and Presentation
Description of BMP/Activity:
The public is provided notice regarding the availability of the MS4's stormwater program annual report and the report is presented at a meeting open to the public or via the internet. The public has the ability to review the annual report, ask questions about the report and make comments on the report. Any public comments received on the draft annual report are attached to the respective Annual Report submissions to the State. Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Public Access to the Stormwater Management Program Plan (SWMPP)
Description of BMP/Activity:
The development and use of this website, itself, provides the public with access to all aspects of the MS4's stormwater management program and plan. The public has the ability to review all documents, ask questions about the various programs, and submit comments. Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Stormwater Hotline
Description of BMP/Activity:
Establish a hotline by telephone, as a web-based tool, or by other means where the general public can contact the MS4 to report stormwater concerns such as spills, illegal dumping, flooding, washouts, or standing water. This activity may contribute to the MS4s understanding of local conditions and keeps the public actively involved in managing stormwater runoff Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Identify Key Stakeholders and Input
Description of BMP/Activity:
Identify and develop lists of key individuals, groups, agencies and organizations (either private or public) that may be interested in or affected by stormwater management issues within the MS4. Identify, as applicable, the specific type of input that is sought from these individuals and describe how that input will be used by the regulated MS4 Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Stormwater Advisory Committee
Description of BMP/Activity:
Form an advisory committee to involve the public in stormwater management activities, BMP's and programs. The committee may involve only representatives within the MS4 or may be a cooperative, intermunicipal effort involving representatives from other regulated MS4s. The issues addresses by the committee may be specific to one issue or may address ALL types of stormwater management activities Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Community and/or Stakeholder Meetings
Description of BMP/Activity:
Organize and hold community meetings to involve stakeholders such as citizens, local school groups, community leaders, local and state government representatives, and business owners. Such meetings may be in the form of a presentation by guest speakers, discussion with a local stormwater management panel, a public meeting, or any type of interactive, information-sharing event. During these meetings, stakeholders should be informed of stormwater and water quality issues in their community and asked to contribute their ideas and concerns. In addition to inviting the stakeholders, representatives from several local newspapers, radio stations, and television news departments may be included to let others know what happened, when the next meeting is, and how they can get involved Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Community Clean-up Events
Description of BMP/Activity:
Develop and sponsor programs to involve the public in the clean-up of streams, roadsides, beaches, wetlands or other areas that may influence water quality Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Storm Drain Stenciling Program
Description of BMP/Activity:
Develop and implement a program to involve the public in the installation and maintenance of permanent markers on all stormwater system catch basins and other stormwater system features. These markers generally inform individuals that dumping is prohibited as the storm system drains to a nearby lake, stream, or waterbody Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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"Adopt-a-Stream" or "Adopt-a-Storm Drain" Program
Description of BMP/Activity:
Develop and sponsor programs to involve the public in the adoption, stewardship and management of a specific stream, waterbody, storm drain feature, or other area that may influence water quality. Participants may "adopt" an area or feature to study, clean up, monitor, protect, and/or restore. Through these activities, the adopting group or organization becomes the primary caretaker of that feature.
Levels of involvement may range from routine visual surveys, to monthly testing, to one-time habitat improvement projects. MS4s can sponsor many different activities through such programs, including: implementation of stream cleanups; stream bank surveys; stream bank enhancement projects; erosion and stabilization projects, and educational programs Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
Description of BMP/Activity:
Establish a volunteer stream or water quality monitoring program to encourage citizens to learn about their water resources, build awareness of pollution problems, train volunteers about pollution prevention, help clean up problem sites, provide data for waters that might not be previously assessed, and/or increase the amount of water quality information available to decision makers at all levels of government.
A variety of activities that involve the public can be part of such a program, including: analyzing water samples, evaluating the health of stream habitats and aquatic biological communities, completing inventories of streamside conditions and land uses that may affect water quality, and/or cataloging debris. Not only can volunteer monitoring provide important information during the development of a stormwater program but the information also helps determine what management practices and strategies are most appropriate for a particular community or set of issues. Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Community Planting Programs
Description of BMP/Activity:
Develop and sponsor programs to involve the public in tree plantings, buffer plantings, rain gardens or other similar types of greenspace that may influence the quality of stormwater runoff Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Attitude Survey
Description of BMP/Activity:
Develop and implement a survey to determine how the public perceives stormwater management or specific stormwater management issues affecting the MS4. The results of the survey can enlighten both stormwater managers and the public on pollution sources, stormwater effects, and/or management options. Public attitude surveys can also reveal issues important to stakeholders and the information obtained can be used to determine how best to incorporate the public's needs and desires into the overall goals of a stormwater management program. Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Administration of Public Involvement and Participation Programs and Policy
Description of BMP/Activity:
Establish Public Involvement and Participation program responsibility, communication, coordination and authority within local departments and agencies. Evaluate existing capabilities, identify needs and designate key staff and their roles in the Public Participation program. Status - Program Development:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
Status - Implementation:
[ ] Completed - This activity has been completed
[ ] Short-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the current reporting year.
[ ] Long-Term - This activity will be accomplished within the 3 to 5 year permit cycle.
[ ] On-Going - This activity will be undertaken throughout all years of the permit.
[X] Unspecified.
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Regulated communities are required to collect and report information about the development and implementation of their stormwater program. Specific information that the MS4 is required to collect is generally included in the Annual Report and may also be reflected in related Self-Assessments (as applicable). MS4s are also required to identify "Measurable Goals" that will help them evaluate accomplishments and progress over time. The following "Measurable Goals" have been specifically identified for this Minimum Control Measure:
- Number of Annual Report comments received from the public
- Number of SWPPP comments received from the public
- Number of stormwater program plan comments received from the public
- Number of calls to the Stormwater Hotline
- Number and percent of storm drains stenciled
- Number of miles of stream or road clean-up
- Number of stakeholders identified on mailing lists or ListServes
- Number of participants in various events
- Number of attendees at various meetings
- Changes in behavior, attitudes, and awareness
- Changes in water quality
Activities and BMPs that have been accomplished to date for this Minimum Control Measure are included within the required MS4 Stormwater Annual Report form and Municipal Compliance Certification. Copies of these documents can be found at the following link (Annual Reports). Copies of various documents and specific products relating to this minimum control measure are included under "Related Documents".
A summary of the effectiveness of this program, associated BMPs, activities and an assessment of measurable goals can be found under the heading "Program Reporting and Effectiveness".
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