1. “Together We’re Better”
Northwest Arkansas' Regional
Storm Water Program
“Together We’re Better”
Katie Teague
County Extension Agent – Agriculture/Water Quality

2. Historically, CES’ water quality educational emphases in Northwest Arkansas focused on agricultural BMPs

3. include urban nonpoint
In 1998, water quality
programs expanded to
include urban nonpoint
pollution prevention

4. Message: “What you do in and around your home and in conjunction with
your business as an individual can
have a regional impact on
community water resources”

5. The Clean Water Act , 1977
The cornerstone of surface water quality
protection in the United States …
… gave EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs
and
... established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States.

6. Phase I Storm Water Regulations
In 1990, EPA’s Storm Water Phase I program
addressed storm water runoff from:
“Medium” and “ large” municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) generally serving a population of 100,000 or more
Construction activity disturbing 5 acres of land or greater
Ten categories of industrial activity

7. Phase II Storm Water Regulations
In 2003, EPA’s Storm Water Phase II program
expanded the Phase I program by addressing
storm water runoff from:
“Small” municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) generally serving a population of 10,000 or more or “urbanized areas”
Construction activity disturbing >1 acre of land

8. Big changes, BIG challenges…
In 1990, new EPA regulations
recognized urban runoff as
point source pollution
In 2003, 54 jurisdictions in Arkansas
were required to have a plan and
a permit for storm water management

9. 12 Cities, 2 Counties and University of Arkansas
In Northwest Arkansas…
12 Cities, 2 Counties and University of Arkansas
all meet EPA’s criteria as “small” MS4s
and had to address the six
minimum control measures
outlined in the Phase II
Storm Water regulations

10. EPA minimum control measures for Phase II Stormwater regulations:
Public Education/ Public Outreach
Public Involvement/ Public Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
Construction Site Runoff Control
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Pollution Prevention/ Good Housekeeping

11. NWA Storm Water Focus Team
Initiated in 2002
Composed of representatives from MS4s, CES
and NWA Regional Planning Commission
Purpose: To better understand and prepare for
Phase II compliance by March 2003
Extension served as educational resource for
presentations, fact sheets and coordination of a
“Storm Water Forum” for local governments officials

12. Storm Water Forum January 2003
Phase II regulations, legal implications, funding options
161 Participants
Mayors
City Aldermen
Planning Commissioners
County Judges
County JPs

13. EPA minimum control measures for Phase II Stormwater regulations:
Public Education/ Public Outreach
Public Involvement/ Public Participation
Construction Site Runoff Control
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
Pollution Prevention/ Good Housekeeping

14. NWA Urban Storm Water Program
Concept evolved from storm water focus team
15 Jurisdictions paying into NWARPC to support CES program based on percent of urbanized area population
“CES fits the bill perfectly as far as public education” Jeff Hawkins, NWA Regional Planning Commission

15. Shared Regional Support
MS4 Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Area Population
Bentonville
10.77
Bethel Heights
0.38
Elkins
0.42
Elm Springs
0.02
Farmington
1.89
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
Greenland
0.32
Johnson
1.11
Little Flock
1.01
Lowell
2.68
Rogers
20.08
Springdale
25.72
Benton County
1.09
Washington County
1.27
172,630 individuals

16. Shared Regional Support
MS4 Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Area Population
Program Cost
Bentonville
10.77
$61,679
Bethel Heights
0.38
2,156
Elkins
0.42
2,395
Elm Springs
0.02
113
Farmington
1.89
10.849
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
186,173
Greenland
0.32
1,831
Johnson
1.11
6,328
Little Flock
1.01
5,781
Lowell
2.68
15,359
Rogers
20.08
119,111
Springdale
25.72
147,249
Benton County
1.09
6,265
Washington County
1.27
7,263
172,630 individuals
$572,552

17. 4½-Year Workplan Input and Planning Educational Material Development
Public Outreach
Public Education
Public Participation
Municipal Employee Training
Evaluation and Reporting

18. Input and Planning Establish steering committees
(representation based on urban population)
Committee members identify and prioritize educational needs
Provide input to guide public awareness campaigns and educational programs
Committees evaluate program impact and plan further efforts

19. Committee Kickoff – July 2004
Northern Committee
Program:
Background on Phase II
Storm water dynamics
Regional program
Role of CES
Committee Discussions:
NWA storm water issues
Educational priorities
Target audiences
Southern Committee

20. Outcomes When re-convened, committee priorities were nearly identical
Emphases: construction runoff and fertilization
Audiences: Youth, construction community, local officials, general public
Meet twice a year to evaluate progress and plan next steps

21. Educational Materials Development
Printed materials
PSAs
Displays
Website
Regional Urban Home*A*Syst
Industry-specific materials

22. EPA Outreach Materials

23. Your “Watershed Footprint” affects regional water quality
In towns, water running off of parks, lawns, driveways, streets, and parking lots flows untreated through ditches or storm drains directly to the nearest creek.
steps to protect
Runoff Pathways
It is important to recognize that when water runs off your property, it carries soil, nutrients, chemicals, bacteria and oil and grease to regional water resources like Beaver Lake.
What is a watershed?
steps for proper
Lawn and Garden Care
A watershed is an area of land which all drains to one point - usually a stream or lake. A bathtub is a good analogy, where all of the water from a shower head runs down the sides and bottom,
ultimately flowing into the drain.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients
and reduce phosphorus runoff into water resources
Test your soil to determine nutrient application needs
Read the label, measure the area to be treated and apply
nutrients and chemicals precisely
Scout your property regularly to
detect and prevent pest problems
as early as possible
Sweep any fertilizer/pesticides
spilled on driveways, sidewalks
or streets back onto your lawn
Irrigate (0.25 to 0.5 inch) after
applying fertilizer to get the
nutrients into the soil where it
can be used by the plants
Mulch or compost fall leaves
Beaver Lake and Illinois River Watersheds
The Upper White River Watershed includes all of Benton County and parts of Benton, Boone, Madison, Newton and Washington Counties. It was ranked as the #1 priority in the state through “Arkansas’ Unified Watershed Assessment, 1998" as the watershed in most
need of restoration practices as it includes:
- One state extraordinary water resource
- One imperiled aquatic species
- Drinking water supply for more than 300,000 people
- One state impaired water body
- Numerous state waters of concern
- Interstate waters of concern
steps for proper
Vehicle Maintenance
What does that mean for
Benton County?
steps to manage
Hazardous
Household Products
When vehicles are washed on paved driveways and
parking lots, the soap and grime drains directly into
storm drains and waterways. Instead, wash your car or
truck on the lawn or take it to a commercial carwash
where the dirty wash water is sent to a wastewater plant
for treatment.
Leaking vehicles deposit automotive fluids on driveways, parking lots and roads where they are easily washed into waterways with rainwater.
Because the waterways in the county
flow to Beaver Lake residents should:
- Understand drainage pathways
- Recognize potential pollution impacts
- Adopt pollution prevention actions
- Promote public awareness/education
- Think about reducing packaging and product waste before buying a product (pre-cycling)
- Read labels to look for options that are not listed as toxic, caustic, flammable, poisonous, etc.
- Read and follow label directions precisely!
- Share leftovers (properly labeled) with friends and neighbors
Some products like antifreeze, used motor oil, paint, and tires
can be recycled. Residents of Madison County can bring household quantities of hazardous wastes including paint, batteries, solvents, cleaners, and pesticides to:
Haz-M.E.R.T., Inc Laurel Circle in Rogers
(479)
open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (M-F), 8 a.m. - noon (Saturday)
Siloam Springs Recycling Center & Transfer Station
(479)
Open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (M-F), 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Saturday)
Prevention tips include:
- Using carpet strips to catch drips
- Performing routine vehicle maintenance to
prevent and identify potential leaks
- Cleaning up outdoor spills of automotive
fluids such as gasoline, oil, and antifreeze
- Never dumping used oil, antifreeze, or
gasoline down a storm drain, in a ditch, or
onto the ground
For more steps on protecting
community water resources visit:

24. In Process… Local watersheds fact sheet
Fertilizer fact sheet to include with soil test results
Regional Urban Home*A*Syst homesite evaluation guide
List of stormwater resources and contacts

25. Public Outreach Mass media promotion Displays Creek signs
Utility bill inserts
Nutrient management information with soil test results
“Green Business” program

26. Newspaper Promo Northwest Arkansas Times Morning News
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Benton Co. Daily Observer
Rogers Hometown News

27. Public Education School programs Creekside classrooms
Civic presentations
Lawn and garden programs
Nutrient Applicator Trainings

28. Hands-On Youth Education
Project WET
Outdoor classrooms
EnviroScape runoff model
Fishing simulator

29. ADEQ Inspection “Sweep”
120+ construction sites inspected in Benton & Washington Counties in July 2004
74 Sites without permit, inadequate sediment controls or sediment leaving site
$245,000 in proposed fines, one company fined $17,500 for 5 sites

30. “NWA Construction Site Sediment and Erosion Control” workshop
November 2004
202 developers, contractors, engineers and planners participated
Interest in what is expected and how they can meet the requirements

31. 52 participants interested
Evaluation
101 respondents
72% rated relevance of topics to their occupation as excellent or superior
47% gained new information
53% said workshop helped reinforce their understanding of storm water dynamics and compliance with Phase II regulations
52 participants interested
in a follow-up workshop focusing on Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan development
and BMP design

32. Public Participation Master Gardener program Storm drain stenciling
Creek clean-ups
Stream Teams

33. Master Gardener Volunteers

34. Rain Gardens Gardening with Water Quality in Mind
Rain Garden: A landscaped area planted with wild flowers and other native
vegetation to soak up rain water from the house roof, a sidewalk or driveway.
When it rains, the garden fills with a few inches of water that slowly filters into
the ground instead of running off into a storm drain.
Placement and
Sizing
Construction
Planting and
Maintenance
If the lawn is almost flat, you will dig
the rain garden to the same depth
throughout the rain garden, using
the the soil to build a berm.
Where should a rain garden be built?
Strategically placed near to hard surfaces such as sidewalks and
drives or at gutter downspout outlets
At least 10 feet from the house foundation
In full or partial sun
In a fairly flat part of the yard
(digging is easier!)
Not directly under a tree
Not directly over a septic system
Not where water already ponds
(infiltration is slow!)
The size of the garden depends on:
Lawn slope for depth
The soil type at the site
The size area that will drain to the rain garden
Hardy NWA native species
that thrive in our ecosystems
without chemical fertilizers
and pesticides are the best
choices.
Many rain gardens feature
shrubs as well as wild flowers
and grasses.
Weeding will be needed the
first couple of years. By the third year, the native plants will begin to mature and out-compete the weeds.
After each growing season, the stems and seedheads can be left for winter interest, wildlife cover and bird food.
Once spring arrives, and new growth is
4-6” tall, cut all tattered plants back.
If the lawn is steeper, the high end will need to be dug out much more than the upper end and can be used to backfill the lower end to make it level.
After shaping the berm into a smooth ridge about a foot across, stomp on it so it is well-compacted. The berm should have very gently sloping sides; this helps to integrate the rain garden with the surrounding lawn and makes it less likely to erode.
Lawn slope is < 4%, build a 3 to 5-inch deep garden
Lawn slope is 8-12%, build an 8-inch deep garden
Lawn slope is 5 - 7%, build a 6 to 7-inch deep garden
Rain gardens work for us in many ways…
Increasing the amount of water that filters into the ground, which
recharges groundwater supplies
Helping protect communities from flooding and drainage problems
Helping protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban
storm water – lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other automotive
fluids, and other harmful substances washing off roofs and paved areas
Enhancing the beauty of yards and neighborhoods
Providing valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects
While rain gardens help protect water
quality, they should also be an attractive
feature of your yard and neighborhood!
Integrate rain gardens into
existing and future landscaping!

35. Municipal Employee Training
Nutrient management
Integrated pest management
Hazardous product management
Vehicle maintenance
Construction site inspections

36. Shared Regional Support = Cost-Effective!!!
Jurisdiction
% Urbanized Pop.
Program Cost
(1st 6 months)
Total
Bentonville
10.77
$6,838
$61,679
Bethel Heights
0.38
239
2,156
Elkins
0.42
266
2,395
Elm Springs
0.02 13
113
Farmington
1.89
1,203
10.849
Fayetteville/U of A
32.52
20,640
186,173
Greenland
0.32
203
1,831
Johnson
1.11
702
6,328
Little Flock
1.01
641
5,781
Lowell
2.68
1,703
15,359
Rogers
20.08
13,205
119,111
Springdale
25.72
16,325
147,249
Benton County
1.09
695
6,265
Washington County
1.27
805
7,263
Totals
172,630 individuals
$63,475
$572,552
Average cost per capita/year = 74¢

37. But the partnerships include more than just the participating MS4s …
NWA Regional Planning Commission
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Beaver Water District
University of Arkansas
Audubon Arkansas
Lake Fayetteville Environmental Study Center
Local watershed partnerships
and the list goes on and on!

38. By working together, the Benton and Washington County MS4s are:
Educating each other about storm water
Reducing the financial cost for implementing Phase II minimum control measures
Increasing the effectiveness of public education and participation programs
Protecting water quality on a regional basis

39. At the same time, UACES is:
Funding County Agent, secretary and para-professional positions through new city and County support
Linking traditional Extension programs such as 4-H, Master Gardener and EHC with water quality education programs
Increasing and enhancing urban partnerships with municipalities, schools, civic organizations, businesses and the construction community
Expanding its clientele and reputation and in urban communities

40. CES’ MS4-funded “Urban Storm Water Education Program” Model
Program replicated in SE Arkansas among the cities of Pine Bluff and White Hall, UA Pine Bluff and Jefferson County
Another possibly developing among the cities of Benton and Bryant and Saline County

41. Questions?