Stormwater Management

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Control and management of stormwater is an integral part of resource management systems in developed and developing areas. Carrying out an effective stormwater management system requires the involvement and cooperation of all levels of government.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program, authorized by Congress under the Clean Water Act, is a comprehensive two-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of stormwater discharges. Implemented by states in most cases, the program uses the NPDES permitting mechanism to control harmful pollutants from being washed by stormwater runoff into local water bodies. Phase I of the program addressed sources of stormwater runoff that had the greatest potential to negatively impact water quality. These sources include medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) located in incorporated places or counties with populations of 100,000 or more, and 11 categories of industrial activity, which includes construction that disturbs five or more acres of land. Phase II requires NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges from certain regulated small MS4s, and construction activity disturbing between one and five acres of land.

Districts play a role in promoting stormwater management. In Tulsa County, Oklahoma, Tulsa County Conservation District Board of Directors formed the Blue Thumb Water Quality Education Program. Through Blue Thumb, local residents are educated about prevention of non point source pollution. Blue Thumb volunteers have helped test and monitor streams, educate over 11,000 students and place curb markers on storm drains with the message: “Dump No Waste, Keep Our Streams Clean.”

To increase public awareness, the DC Soil and Water Conservation District Citizens’ Advisory Committee helped put in place colorful and durable plastic decals on storm drains to remind citizens that debris, motor oil, or other contaminants dumped will drain to valuable waterways along with rainwater.