Doubling Down on Stormwater in Westford, MA

Doubling Down on Stormwater in
Westford, MA
Paul Starratt, P.E., Town Engineer
Emily Scerbo, P.E., Project Manager
Wednesday January 28, 2015
NEWEA Annual Conference, Boston, MA
Introduction
2010 Draft MA Permits
2008 Dr
2013 Draft (NH)
2014 Draft (MA)
Introduction
Presentation Outline
■ Evolution of Stormwater Management in Westford
– Challenge of Funding Stormwater
– Political Support: Importance of Local Champions
– Why a Stormwater Management Master Plan?
■ What’s in a Stormwater Management Master Plan?
■ Project Progress and Next Steps
■ Keys to Success
Challenge of Funding Stormwater
Stormwater
Police
Recreation
Fire
General
Fund
Seniors
Schools
Highway
Political Support: Importance of
Local Champions
■ Engineering Department has advocated
for a strong stormwater program
■ Education & outreach has
been critical
■ Maintain the stormwater
conversation with voters and
decision makers
Political Support: Importance of
Local Champions
■ Other Local Champions include:
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Westford Stream Team
Westford Conservation Trust
Healthy Lakes & Ponds Collaborative
Westford’s MS4 Program
■ Kept the momentum going since 2003
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Steady progress to meet all of 2003 requirements and many new
requirements
Westford’s Stormwater Budget: $90K (PY10 &11)
Staff Time: Town Engineer, Assistant Engineer, GIS Director,
Highway Department
Slow and steady
wins the Stormwater Race
Westford’s MS4 Program
■ More Drivers and Key Partners
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Sustainable Water Management Initiative (Water Department)
Lakes and Ponds Planning (Healthy Lakes & Ponds Collaborative)
Dam and Drainage Capital Improvements (Highway Department)
Town-wide Data Management Improvements (GIS Director)
Why a Stormwater Management
Master Plan?
■ Time to redouble stormwater efforts!
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Anticipation of the new MA Small MS4 General Permit
Soften the financial blow by getting ahead now
Be sensible and strategic with the Town’s natural and financial
resources
■ Town Meeting approved the Master Plan
appropriation with no questions asked
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Strategic Vision
■ Identify sensible, cost effective
solutions
■ Meet multiple Town objectives for
water resources and infrastructure
simultaneously
Keyes Brook Culvert
■ Understand and manage the
financial burden for residents and
businesses
Local Flooding
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Strategic Vision
■ Identify sensible, cost effective
solutions
■ Meet multiple Town objectives for
water resources and infrastructure
simultaneously
■ Understand and manage the
financial burden for residents and
businesses
Beach at Nabnasset Pond
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Technical Goals
Water
Quality
Infrastructure
Water
Quantity
Funding
The goals of the Stormwater Management Master
Plan cannot be achieved if the plan is never
executed.
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Stormwater Advisory Group
■ The SwAG is critical to:
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Build consensus along the way
Guide the planning process
Raise resident and business concerns early in the process so
they can be addressed though outreach
■ Majority of group members are residents, and
represent:
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Engineering Department
Water Department
Highway Department
Financial Committee
Capital Planning Committee
Town Manager’s Office
Conservation Commission
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Planning Department
Local Businesses /
Developers
Northern Middlesex Council
of Governments (NMCOG)
Northern Middlesex
Stormwater Collaborative
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Technical Scope of Work
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Task 1: Data Gathering
■ Completed the following:
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GIS-based assessment of current and future conditions by subbasin
MS4 Program Evaluation
Desktop Review of GIS Mapping and Data Management
Inventory of Municipal Operations and Facilities
■ Underway….
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Stormwater Infrastructure Assessment
Task 2: Needs Assessment
Task 2: Current and Future Costs
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Task 5: Public Outreach
June 2014 - Strategic Planning Retreat
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Task 5: Public Outreach
December 2014 – Info in Town Census Newsletter
Draft Tagline, Educational Messaging, and Logo Options
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Task 5: Public Outreach
Stormwater Management Master Plan
Early Findings and Challenges
■ Drainage System Mapping and Infrastructure
Assessment
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Location
Attributes
Culverts vs. Outfalls
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Location
Ownership / Maintenance Responsibility
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Keep engaged and informed while keeping meetings to a
minimum
■ O&M of Private and Public BMPs
■ SwAG Meetings
■ Project Schedule
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Collaborative process is slow going
Next Steps
■ In February & March:
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Hold first of several Public Meetings
Develop preliminary list of recommendations and
future costs
Begin the Stormwater Funding Assessment
■ By late 2015, complete the Stormwater
Management Master Plan
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Stormwater Management Plan (Water Quality and
MS4 Compliance)
Long-Term Capital Improvement Plan (Drainage &
Infrastructure)
Operation & Maintenance Plan
Next Steps
The Stormwater Master Plan will
be data driven and based upon
sound science and engineering
However…
The barriers to
implementation will
not be technical!
Next Steps
Keys to Implementation
 Achieve consensus within
the Stormwater Advisory
Group (SwAG)
 Develop sustainable and
equitable funding strategy
 Gain support of decision
makers and voters
Questions & Discussion
Paul Starratt
pstarratt@westfordma.gov
Emily Scerbo
ejscerbo@tigebond.com