Final Programmatic Report Narrative

Transcription

1 Final Prgrammatic Reprt Narrative Instructins: Save this dcument n yur cmputer and cmplete the narrative in the frmat prvided. The final narrative shuld nt exceed ten (10) pages; d nt delete the text prvided belw. Once cmplete, uplad this dcument int the n-line final prgrammatic reprt task as instructed. 1. Summary f Accmplishments In fur t five sentences, prvide a brief summary f the prject s key accmplishments and utcmes that were bserved r measured. As part f this grant, all municipal rads in the three twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme were field surveyed fr municipal strmwater utlets. A pririty matrix was created by the Steering Cmmittee t rate utlet cnditins which included bth infrastructure and envirnmental factrs. The matrix was then used t rank the utlets fr future retrfits and included pssible crrectins and cst estimates fr the tp 30 utlets. A thrugh review f strmwater management practices was cnducted and included in the reprt were suggestins fr each twn t cnsider that wuld imprve effectiveness, cst and/r envirnmental quality. Based n directin frm the Steering Cmmittee, three prfessinal develpment wrkshps were held including tpics n Lw Impact Develpment, Site Plan Review, Legal Aspects f Maintenance and New Strmwater Cntrl Measures. Further utreach t the general public thrugh presentatins, newsletters and municipal websites was als cnducted. 2. Prject Activities & Outcmes Activities Describe and quantify (using the apprved metrics referenced in yur grant agreement) the primary activities cnducted during this grant. 1. Tw hundred and nine miles f municipal rads in the twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme were field surveyed fr strmwater utlets. A ttal f 978 utlets (bth piped and leak-ffs) were lcated and relevant infrmatin cllected fr each ne. An additinal 100 utlets were als lcated fr tw adjacent municipalities, East Lyme and Clchester, which make up the remaining 10% f the federally designated Wild & Scenic Eightmile River Watershed. 2. Upn creatin f the Pririty Retrfit Matrix, all utlets and leak-ffs, , were rated. The utlets that received the highest scre (needed the mst wrk r a particular cncern was nted) in each f the three twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme were targeted as future retrfit sites. The tp ten frm each twn were selected and further infrmatin prvided n pssible crrective measures. A ttal f 30 utlets were identified as tp pririty retrfits. Tw areas have been tentatively selected fr further cnsideratin fr a future grant rund. One at Lake Hayward in East Haddam and ne at Salem Elementary Schl. Lyme sites will be reviewed further t see if any prjects wuld be a gd grant candidate. 3. A review f the Strmwater Management Practices f the three twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme was cnducted. This included interviews with twn persnnel and review f twn regulatins and rdinances n snw remval, rad sweeping and catch basin maintenance, weed cntrl, ersin cntrl, dewatering measures, inspectin frequencies, reference t State Technical Guidelines in regulatins, twn rad widths and rad acceptance prcedures. Further recmmendatins fr imprvements in these areas were included and categrized under the six minimum cntrl measures f the Municipal Separate Strmwater Sewer System prgram (MS-4). Althugh these three twns are nt presently required t fllw the MS-4 prgram it is likely that tw f the twns will be required in the next several years. Seven recmmendatins were made relating t public utreach and engagement. Seven cnsideratins were made fr detectin and cntrl f illicit discharges, including a draft rdinance addressing illicit discharges. Six recmmendatins were addressed under cntrlling cnstructin runff including specific legal interpretatins f a new state law regarding accepted bnding prcedures and recmmendatins fr municipalities t mdify their regulatins and prcess n bnding fr prpsed develpment imprvements. Six measures were recmmended under pst-cnstructin strmwater management. And finally, five recmmendatins were included under gd-husekeeping cnsideratins fr municipal

2 peratins. All tgether, 31 specific recmmendatins, including explanatins, backgrund infrmatin and examples were presented t the twns in a reprt. 4. Three prfessinal develpment wrkshps were cnducted as part f this grant. The Steering Cmmittee identified fur primary tpics; Lw Impact Develpment, Site Plan Review fr Lw Impact Develpment, Legal Aspects f Lng Term Maintenance and New Strmwater Cntrl Measures. There were a ttal f 86 attendees at the three wrkshps. This included twn Public Wrks emplyees, Twn Engineers, Twn Planners, Land-Use Bard members alng with ther representatives. The wrkshps were als pened up t neighbring municipalities. Representatives frm a ttal f ten Cnnecticut Twns participated in ne r mre f the wrkshps. Briefly explain discrepancies between the activities cnducted during the grant and the activities agreed upn in yur grant agreement. 1. It was estimated in writing f the grant that that were 220 miles f municipal rads in the three twns. In actuality there are 209 miles. 2. As there were n exact recrds f the amunt f utlets in each f the twns when writing the grant, the engineer estimated their time n mapping based n what they have dne fr ther twns. They had estimated a range f utlets ttal between the three twns. In actuality there were 978 utlets mapped in the three twns, a fairly significant increase frm what was anticipated. 3. An additinal 100 utlets (piped and leak-ffs) in tw neighbring twns f East Lyme and Clchester were mapped. The areas mapped were the remaining ten percent f land area in the Eightmile River Watershed. Ninety percent f the Eightmile River Watershed is in the twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme. This was cmpleted under dnated time by the Engineer. 4. Cst estimates fr imprvements fcused n the tp 10 utlets needing imprvements per twn, fr a ttal f 30 utlets fr this prject. The Steering Cmmittee made a decisin when finalizing the matrix that csts fr imprvements shuld fcus n the higher pririty retrfits nly, as csts estimated fr prjects that wuld be a lesser pririty, and may nt be cnducted fr many years, wuld nt be relevant by that time. Further, the Cmmittee, which included Public Wrks Officials, felt that items that were identified primarily as maintenance needs, wuld be best estimated by lcal crews n a case by case basis. 5. Prbably the mst significant discrepancy was timing. The wrk plan schedule had t be revised several times. Weather cnditins; heavy winter snw, late snw melt, Trpical Strm Irene and a freak Octber snwstrm, translated int field delays. This was managed by fcusing n ther aspects f the grant, the Strmwater Management Audit, t fill the gaps when field wrk was nt pssible. Outcmes Describe and quantify prgress twards achieving the prject utcmes described in yur grant agreement. (Quantify using the apprved metrics referenced in yur grant agreement r by using mre relevant metrics nt included in the applicatin.) 1. Miles f municipal rads surveyed: Shrt Term Outcme: 209 miles were surveyed under this grant Lng Term Outcme: Future twn rads that are built/accepted will have a requirement that lcatin f municipal drainage infrastructure (including utlets) be submitted in e-frmat. 2. Number f existing strmwater utlets mapped: Shrt Term Outcme: 978 utlets mapped in three twns (there were a few that an exact lcatin culd nt be lcated as they were buried, r far ff the rad under heavy brush, s des nt represent 100%, but clse) Lng Term Outcme: Future twn rads that are built/accepted will have a requirement that lcatin f municipal drainage infrastructure (including utlets) be submitted in e-frmat. 3. Priritize Strmwater Outlets fr retrfit based n Pririty Retrfit Matrix Shrt Term Outcme: 100% f the utlets lcated were priritized based a scring methd develped by the Steering Cmmittee Lng Term Outcme: The Pririty Retrfit Matrix was develped in an Excel Spreadsheet. This will allw changes t be made as maintenance and retrfits are cmpleted, and ratings t be reset. Any new utlets can als be added t the matrix. 4. Cnduct Strmwater Management Practices audit and dcument ptential changes Shrt Term Outcme: During the timeframe f this grant, each f the twns made mdificatins t their Zning, Inland Wetlands r Subdivisin regulatins t incrprate reference t the 2004

3 Cnnecticut Strmwater Manual and/r State Stream Crssing Guidelines t ensure cnsistency with all Land-Use Bards. Further the twn f East Haddam has initiated an inspectin/maintenance schedule fr all its detentin basins. Lng-Term Outcmes: While decisins n which recmmendatins t undertake will be made n a twn by twn basis, discussins have been initiated t cnsider mdifcatins in snw remval (eliminating r reducing sand applicatins), radside maintenance (reducing use f chemicals r timing t increase efficiency) and engaging residents further in strmwater issues n a lt by lt basis (further supprt fr twn wide clean-ups, buffer plantings alng drainageways and educatin prgrams in schls). 5. Develp and Present strmwater management training wrkshps Shrt Term Outcmes: As part f this grant, three prfessinal training wrkshps were develped, including tpics n Lw Impact Develpment, Site Plan Review fr Lw Impact Develpment, Legal Aspects f Lng Term Maintenance and New Strmwater Cntrl Measures. There were a ttal f 86 attendees at the three wrkshps. This included twn Public Wrks emplyees, Twn Engineers, Twn Planners, Land-Use Bard members alng with ther representatives. Thirty-seven f the attendees were frm the twns f Salem, East Haddam and Lyme and represented twn staff, twn cnsultants r twn bards and cmmissins. Lng Term Outcmes: Educatin and prfessinal training shuld be cnducted n an n-ging basis and cntinually seek t engage 100% f departments and decisins makers that are invlved in strmwater management. Prgrams shuld be pertinent t issues these individuals are dealing with and ffered at a seasnal time that is apprpriate. Educatin can be via prfessinal wrkshps, minisessins fr specific skills r in the field. 6. Phase II Implementatin-Select and apply fr funding fr strmwater retrfit implementatin prject. Shrt Term Outcmes: Rather than ne specific utlet being chsen fr cnsideratin fr a future grant, the Steering Cmmittee is anticipating fcusing n tw areas with multiple utlets. The twn f Salem has 5 utlets, all in the tp ten utlets rated fr retrfits, at the lcal Elementary Schl in need f retrfits. It makes sense t cnsider this as ne prject. Secndly, the twn f East Haddam has three utlets in the Lake Hayward area that made the tp ten fr retrfit list. It makes sense here t fcus n this as ne r a phased prject. The tp ten retrfit sites in Lyme are mstly maintenance. One has als been identified t be cnsidered in an upcming cnstructin prject. Lng Term Outcmes: It is likely that retrfits will be cnsidered as general maintenance ccurs and rad recnstructin is planned. This will likely equate t smaller prjects being accmplished first and larger prjects as funds are allcated. Cnsideratins fr management practices that minimize r eliminate the need fr sanding may negate the need fr sme cstly retrfits. In a newly prpsed twn hall additin and recnstructin prject, the twn f Lyme has directed the site engineer t incrprate infiltratin as a key part f the final design. Briefly explain discrepancies between what actually happened cmpared t what was anticipated t happen. 1. It was decided early t include leak-ffs in strmwater utlets alng with the piped utlets. These are nt required mapping fr MS-4 twns, but can be imprtant areas where untreated strmwater directly enters streams r ther water bdies as they are ften lcated at watercurse crss-culverts. When they are nt maintained they can ften becme additinal surces f slpe ersin and sedimentatin. While we knew they wuld be an imprtant part f the drainage landscape, we did nt realize hw significant they were. Out f the 978 utlets mapped fr the three twns, 262 were leak-ffs. 2. In develping the Pririty Retrfit Matrix, the Steering Cmmittee anticipated that it wuld be pssible t use existing examples fr guidance. It became clear early n that there is little published infrmatin n rating strmwater utlets fr retrfits and ne wuld have t be develped frm scratch. This tk several discussins and several earlier drafts were rejected. 3. In writing f the grant, hurs t be cntributed by twn as match were estimated. Due t limitatins f staff in ne twn in particular, alng with bth a trpical strm and early snwstrm, staff time was understandably directed t municipal needs. Althugh match was exceeded due t ther cntributins as nted in final financial reprt, weather patterns certainly mdified ur expectatins. Prvide any further infrmatin (such as unexpected utcmes) imprtant fr understanding prject activities and utcme results. 1. One primary unexpected utcme f this prject was an verall awareness that each twn seemed t have its signature drainage design. Sme twns rely n certain practices which are likely a result f staff preference

4 and materials available. The prject engineer mentined several times that he culd tell which twn he was in, by lking at drainage infrastructure. This is an imprtant understanding fr any rganizatin r agency when wrking with twns t imprve strmwater cnditins. Develpment patterns, terrain, rad types, sils and available materials all cntribute t the type f strmwater infrastructure design, but municipal, and even persnal preferences, appear t be significant factrs as well. 2. As nted earlier, leak-ffs as part f the drainage landscape are much mre cmmn than at first anticipated. Abut ne quarter (262 ut f 978) f the structures mapped were leak-ffs. While they appear t be relatively minr swales, usually paved, at bridge abutments and ther stretches f rad, they can als be significant cntributrs f nn-pint surce pllutin. Imprperly cnstructed and maintained leak-ffs nt nly ffer n treatment fr run-ff but can cntribute sediment t receiving waterbdies thrugh ersin. Abut ne quarter f the tp 30 utlets recmmended fr retrfits were leak-ffs. 3. The sheer number f utlets, when presented in mapped frm, indicates the magnitude f maintenance necessary t keep the system functining prperly. The aerial phts shwing all the red dts where utlets are lcated makes an impressin even t the strmwater design challenged. Maintenance and imprvements are dependant n funding and mapping can be a critical tl t assist with Twn presentatins n budgeting. 3. Lessns Learned Describe the key lessns learned frm this prject, such as the least and mst effective cnservatin practices r ntable aspects f the prject s methds, mnitring, r results. Hw culd ther cnservatin rganizatins adapt their prjects t build upn sme f these key lessns abut what wrked best and what did nt? 1. Althugh leak-ffs are nt cnsidered in the MS-4 prgram, they are relatively cmmn in rural areas. In the three twns mapped in this prject they made up apprximately 25% f the utlets mapped. Additinally as the Pririty Retrfit Matrix shws, they can als have significant prblems. Whether the MS-4 prgram requires cnsideratin f these structures r nt, they shuld be identified and cnsidered when lking at strmwater management infrastructure. 2. The Pririty Retrfit Matrix that was develped fr this prject was based n input frm the Steering Cmmittee. There are prbably many ways t apprach this matrix. In the twns represented in this prject, thse utlets which represent a higher public safety cncern, i.e. thse utlets where infrastructure has deterirated, have traditinally been the utlets n the repair list. By factring that cncern int the matrix and weighing it as heavily as envirnmental cncerns, bth public safety and envirnmental issues have equal stand. If factrs which did nt cnsider public safety had been left ff r minimized, it wuld have diminished the usefulness f this matrix t public wrks departments. 3. Having a picture frm, in this case an aerial pht f each twn verlaid by a series f red dts shwing utlet lcatins, is critical t helping get the message acrss t all audiences. 4. Much f the starting infrmatin fr lcatins f utlets that were nt readily visible alng the radways came frm 1 r 2 public wrk emplyees in each twn. If this mapping had nt been cnducted, the infrmatin may have been retired alng the emplyee. 4. Disseminatin Briefly identify any disseminatin f lessns learned r ther prject results t external audiences, such as the public r ther cnservatin rganizatins. 1. During this prject perid, the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Crdinating Cmmittee participated in several lcal utreach venues. a. In East Haddam at the Lake Hayward Assciatin meetings, bth ERWSCC and Twn f East Haddam cnducted presentatins n the grant prject, drainage issues and ffered activities hmewners culd participate in t address strmwater quality n their wn prperty. On a separate visit, an interactive Envirscape mdel was used alng with a cking demnstratin n nn-pint surce pllutin. b. In Lyme, ERWSCC was invited t participate in a neighbrhd assciatin that is cmprised f a fairly significant area. Infrmatin abut sme f the beginning mapping was shared with the grup alng with infrmatin abut ERWSCC s RiverSmart prgram.. c. In Salem, ERWSCC participated in the lcal Applefest which draws hundreds f twn flk. The ERWSCC bth had the Envirscape mdel fr demnstratins. 2. While nt part f the riginal grant, the strmwater mapping that the engineer cmpleted in tw adjacent twns t fully map the Eightmile River watershed was shared with thse twns. This included twn f East Lyme and Clchester.

5 3. Althugh the first selectman f each twn participated in the Steering Cmmittee fr the prject, it was decided that a presentatin t each Bard f Selectmen wuld be a critical step t explaining hw the infrmatin derived frm this prject culd be used. It was als an pprtunity t share a next grant phase plan and garner sme supprt. 4. The Nature Cnservancy hsted an infrmatinal brainstrming sessin n strmwater management pertaining t the Cnnecticut River Watershed as part f lessns learned with the recent LISFF Salmn River Grant. ERWSCC was invited t participate t present results f this prject. Other rganizatins represented included Rivers Alliance f Cnnecticut, Cnnecticut Fund fr the Envirnment, Department f Energy and Envirnmental Prtectin, Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, CLEAR and Cnnecticut River Watershed Cuncil. 5. A presentatin was given by the ERWSCC Prgram Directr t CT Resurce, Cnservatin and Develpment Area, Inc, which includes representatives f lcal twns, businesses, Thames River Basin Partnership, Cnservatin Districts and Reginal Planning Agencies and Cuncil f Gvernments. 6. The prfessinal wrkshp n Lw Impact Develpment Site Plan Review was develped specifically by Cnnecticut Land Use Educatin and Research (CLEAR) r this prject. It is nw available as a wrkshp t ther grups. 7. While it can be difficult t fully dcument, much f the sharing f infrmatin happens n a ne by ne basis. Lcal twn fficials share with ther lcal twn fficials. The prject engineer has shared this with ther engineers in his ffice wh wrk with ther twns. 8. Infrmatin abut the status f the prject was shared via websites, lcal newsletters and twn wide mailings f the Eightmile River Watershed annual newsletters (which is als shared under the Partnership Wild & Scenic Prgram managed by the Natinal Park Service) Other Outreach Still in the Wrks: Althugh this grant has fficially ended, infrmatin will cntinue t be cnveyed abut this prject: a. DEEP has ffered t publish r link the final dcument f this prject (nce it receives apprval by NFWF) n its website. b. ERWSCC is currently reding its website and add it t the e-library (nce apprval is received). c. The Eightmile River Watershed Prgram Directr has just been cntracted t be the new Salmn River Watershed Crdinatr which will be an pprtunity t share lessns and infrmatin abut bth grant prjects. d. CLEAR recently held a wrkshp in cnjunctin with the Pmperaug River Watershed Calitin entitled Lw Impact Develpment and Reading a Site Plan. The wrkshp is based n the ne develped previusly fr this grant prject. The Cuncil f Gvernments f the Central Naugatuck Valley has submitted the wrkshp fr prfessinal develpment credits t APA. e. Infrmatin abut hw t engage public wrks fficials was shared at a recent presentatin t a newly frmed watershed grup, the Cginchaug River Watershed Grup n May 22, f. ERWSCC has been asked, alng with the prject engineer, t give a presentatin t the newly frmed Lwer Cnnecticut River Valley Cuncil f Gvernments. g. An updated article n final utcme and next steps will be included in ERWSCC 2012 fall annual newsletter. 5. Prject Dcuments Include in yur final prgrammatic reprt, via the Uplads sectin f this task, the fllwing: 2-10 representative phts frm the prject. Phts need t have a minimum reslutin f 300 dpi and must be accmpanied with a legend r captin describing the file name and cntent f the phts; reprt publicatins, GIS data, brchures, vides, utreach tls, press releases, media cverage; any prject deliverables per the terms f yur grant agreement. POSTING OF FINAL REPORT: This reprt and attached prject dcuments may be shared by the Fundatin and any Funding Surce fr the Prject via their respective websites. In the event that the Recipient intends t claim that its final reprt r prject dcuments cntains material that des nt have t be psted n such websites because it is prtected frm disclsure by statutry r regulatry prvisins, the Recipient shall clearly mark all such ptentially prtected materials as PROTECTED and prvide an explanatin and cmplete citatin t the statutry r regulatry surce fr such prtectin.