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Earlier this month, I attended the 36th New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Annual Nonpoint Source Conference in Plymouth, MA. It is the best conference for learning and sharing about stormwater issues. I go every year. The conference draws a collection of regulators (state and federal), estuary programs, regional planning commissions, academics, consultants, and nonprofit organizations such as watershed associations. All presentations focus on sharing their work including lessons learned, funding sources, and impact of programs. None of the presenters are trying to sell you their services, even the consultants. It is truly a group of people who want to eliminate nonpoint source pollution.
In addition to some great keynote speakers, the conference has two concurrent sessions with each speaker getting 30 minutes to present and answer questions. It is so refreshing to hear a presenter be able to go into detail about their project. Often conferences give speakers only 10 or 15 minutes, which makes it difficult for them to effectively share their work. A consulting company and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management shared their work with communities to repair and replace failing septic systems. There was a whole session on chloride impacts. The New England states are very concerned about salt contamination of the groundwater table and sensitive environmental areas. The Piscataqua Regional Estuary Partnership presented their digital communication tool kit. This presentation provided me with some great ideas. Folks from EPA Region 1 presented an impervious cover impact analysis and future stormwater management strategies in the Great Bay Watershed. Apparently, not all towns in New England have stormwater management requirements for new development. This presentation focused on encouraging communities to adopt regulations.
A consulting company, VHB, presented inspection and maintenance guidance for stormwater control measures. This guidance was completed as a Story Map that was very comprehensive. I am sure some of the information will be useful for New Jersey. Another consultant, the Horsley Witten Group, gave a presentation on their efforts in coastal resilience and hazard mitigation planning; a topic that is very relevant to New Jersey. Dr. James Houles from the University of New Hampshire talked about his street sweeping study in the Great Bay Watershed. Dr. Houle emphasized that as much as 60% of the nutrient pollutant loading can be tied to the leaf fall during September through November. The presentation really got the audience rethinking street sweeping and leaf collection in the fall. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection presented their guide to nature-based shoreline stabilization called OURSHORE. They have some great ideas that can be adapted for New Jersey.
The Charles River Watershed Association presented climate adaptation stormwater standards. They convinced several towns to require new development to retain the 100-year design storm. This means that they are infiltrating the 100-year storm. WOW! Finally, VHB and the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center presented their Watershed Protection Standards Toolkit. These are materials to help local governments protect their watersheds in partnership with development, mainly by retaining the 1-inch storm. This is a little easier than what the Charles River Watershed Association is proposing, and this is close to the requirements in the NJDEP REAL regulations, which require major development to retain the water quality storm onsite (1.25 inches of rain).
Next year’s conference will be in Rhode Island. I encourage you all to attend. There is so much to learn from our partners in New England.
~ Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E., Extension Specialist in Water Resources
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