Cost-Effective MS4 Strategies for Multiple Needs: TMDL Compliance & Resiliency Planning
A flexible approach to meet ongoing local and Bay TMDL requirements is required to stay current with changing guidance and regulations, climate, and citizen needs. The recent modifications by DEQ to the calculation of street sweeping credits for meeting TMDL pollutant reduction goals have significantly reduced the pollutant removal credit for this compliance strategy, effective June 30, 2022. As a result, many MS4 permit holders that have used street sweeping as a compliance strategy in their Action Plans are now actively searching to identify other low cost, easy implementation strategies needed to meet their pollutant removal requirements. If an MS4 is short of meeting the minimum 40% cumulative reduction requirements, the shortfall will need to be addressed with another strategy. This presentation will review cost effective strategies that have successfully been used to help MS4 permit holders were previously heavily reliant on street sweeping to meet TMDL sediment and nutrient reduction goals. A review of opportunities where methods used for TMDL compliance may also assist municipalities in their resiliency planning goals will be reviewed. There is potential for studies that could cross-pollinate TMDL compliance and resilience efforts which could assist municipalities in meeting future planning targets.