|
|
|
 |
| Introduction |
|
Local governments in Oregon influence and regulate many activities that have an impact on water quality and aquatic habitat. Even low density urban development has cumulative impacts that have a negative effect on stream systems and ground water.
The construction of new roads, housing, commercial structures and industrial facilities can alter the natural landscape in a watershed. Changes to the natural landscape, such as the removal of vegetation near a stream, the reduction of the tree canopy throughout an area and the creation of hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, and rooftops, all effect the way rain water reaches a stream or ground water stores. These effects on hydrology can result in degradation of streams by changing the pattern of water flow through the streams. Often, the fish and the organisms on which they feed cannot adjust to these changes.
Urban, rural residential and commercial/industrial development can also result in an increased level of pollutants in a watershed. If they are not properly managed, these pollutants can find their way to surface water and groundwater via storm water flows and infiltration of rainwater. Sediment from construction and landscaping activity, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers from yard maintenance, and metals and oil from automobile use are common examples of pollutants that come hand in hand with urban development.
Incremental impacts to hydrology and pollutant load, including urban impacts as described above, is called "nonpoint pollution".
|
|
|
| Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control |
|
Nonpoint Source Pollution Defined
Nonpoint source [NPS] pollution is the cumulative effect of all human land uses and development that:
- Deposit pollutants such as sediments, nutrients, pesticides, and metals onto the ground or into the air such that they are ultimately carried by rain or stormwater to surface or groundwater,
- Affect water quality by increasing temperature, changing pH, or reducing dissolved oxygen, or
- Diminish the resilience of natural systems by removing vegetation, channelizing streams, or increasing impervious areas in a watershed.
NPS pollution comes from many places and many activities, including farms, construction sites, lawns and gardens, timber-cutting areas, outdoor industrial and commercial activity, roads, streets, and highways. This is in contrast to point source pollution, which can be traced to a specific point of discharge, such as a wastewater treatment plant or a factory.
One of the unique problems of NPS pollution is that it results from the accumulation of many seemingly inconsequential actions. Each action has a small individual impact, but the combined affects can be large and difficult to manage using existing water quality laws.
Oregon's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program [CNPCP]
Oregon's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program [CNPCP] has been developed in compliance with requirements of Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Management Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 [CZARA]. CZARA is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. The federal requirements are designed to restore and protect coastal waters from nonpoint source pollution and require coastal states to implement a set of management measures based on guidance published by EPA. The guidance contains measures for the following areas: agricultural activities, forestry activities, urban areas, marinas, hydro-modification activities, and protecting wetlands. In Oregon, the geographical boundaries for the CNPCP are the same as the Coastal Program boundary except in the Rogue and Umpqua basins where the CNPCP boundary includes these basins in their entirety.
In July of 1995, Oregon completed its Program Submittal for the CNPCP. Oregon's CNPCP Submittal described existing programs and proposed work tasks that would meet the terms of CZARA and EPA’s guidance and work to improve water quality in Oregon's coastal zone. Current state water quality, wetland, and land use laws, as well as the Forest Practices Act and the early development of The Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, insured that the state already met many requirements of CZARA. In January 1998, after reviewing the state's program submittal, EPA and NOAA returned their findings to the state that granted a conditional approval to Oregon’s program. The state has now completed all but a few of the tasks identified in the conditions of approval and anticipates full federal approval in the near term.
CNPCP Activities
Regulatory - All regulatory elements of the CNPCP exist as state rules that were developed under other motivation to protect water quality and manage natural resources. For example, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) water quality regulation, Department of State Lands and the Water Resourced Department permitting requirements all contribute to the state’s compliance with CZARA. In addition grant programs available through Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and Department of Environmental Quality help to implement the CNPCP while pursuing other state objectives.
Technical Assistance - Development of the CNPCP has also resulted in a few technical assistance programs that support the efforts of individuals, business owners and local governments to reduce impacts on water quality:
- The Oregon Coastal Management Program offers technical assistance grants to help local governments gain a better understanding of watershed interactions and to amend local ordinances such that water quality is better protected from the impacts of urban development.
- Oregon Sea Grant through “Rainstorming” (pdf) can provide local governments with consultant staff time to identify priority actions to reduce development impacts on water quality, or draft ordinance amendments that will result in less impact to water quality.
- The Oregon State Marine Board offers a “Clean Marina” certification”. This program provides technical assistance and incentives to marina and boat yard managers who want to incorporate practices into their operations that reduce impacts on water quality.
- The Oregon Coastal Management Program in association with DEQ and the Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association, are in the process of developing “All Systems Go” a program to encourage proper maintenance of onsite septic systems and inspection of onsite septic systems at the time of property transfer.
|
|
|
| State and Federal Regulations |
|
There are many reasons a local government may choose to address the water quality impacts of urban activity through education programs or new local ordinances. Clean water is a valuable asset for any jurisdiction. There are also several state and federal regulations that ultimately require local jurisdictions to take some action to reduce impacts on water quality. The following is a list of regulations that are related to water quality and aquatic habitat preservation and that have components that direct activity at the local government level. [These regulations and their implications for local governments are described in Chapter 2 of the Water Quality Model Code and Guidebook listed under Technical Assistance Documents, below.]
|
|
|
| Resources for Stormwater Management Planning |
|
Water Quality Model Code and Guidebook
The goal of this guidebook is to provide local communities, both small cities and counties, with a practical guide to protecting and enhancing water quality through improved land use regulations. The guidebook includes model development code ordinances and comprehensive plan policies that are ready for implementation. It also offers references to other publications and resources providing background information on the link between development activity and water quality.
Model Development Code and User's Guide for Small Cities
The DLCD/ODOT Transportation and Growth Management Program developed this companion document to the Water Quality Model Code. It is intended to assist small cities in updating their ordinances to be consistent with state planning policies, statutes, and administrative rules, while providing options for implementing "smart" development practices.
The Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies (ACWA) provides the following documents.
- Endangered Species Assessment Manual - The League of Oregon Cities, Oregon Water Utilities Council, and Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies developed this assessment manual for managers of wastewater, stormwater and water supply utilities to evaluate the impacts on their systems of Endangered Species Act [ESA] listings.
-
Oregon Municipal Storm Water Tool Box for Maintenance Practices - A 100-page half-sized notebook with checklists and suggestions on water quality-friendly roadway, maintenance, and yard practices. Case studies and references included.
-
Best of the Best – Stormwater Education Materials - This CD-ROM contains graphic-ready stormwater education materials from some of Oregon’s most successful stormwater outreach programs. Seventeen different examples are included such as billing inserts, general brochures, school-based education programs and stewardship programs. Contact the ACWA office for a copy of the CD-ROM.
Center for Watershed Protection - A national clearinghouse for information on urban stormwater management with emphasis on technical assistance to local governments. Many publications are available through the Center.
|
|
| |
|
|
