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Municipal Stormwater outreach
municipal stormwater management
What is MS4?
MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems.
A Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection stormwater discharge permit is issued to municipalities for municipally owned structures, including retention basins, ditches, roadside inlets, underground pipes and other conveyances used to control stormwater runoff.
BWA’s role
BWA’s goal is to assist affected muncipalities comply with their MS4 permit requirements in the areas of public education and public involvement.
IDEAS IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: From the WaterNow Alliance comes the video “The Future of Water: Build equity and resilience with localized infrastructure.” Scaling up investment in local solutions can build resilience and keep water affordable for generations to come.
Who in Monroe County is affected?
1Municipalities within an “urbanized area” as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2010 Census defined the East Stroudsburg Urbanized Area to include all or part of the following municipalitities:
- East Stroudsburg Borough
- Hamilton Township
- Middle Smithfield Township
- Pocono Township
- Smithfield Township
- Stroudsburg Borough
- Stroud Township
Map of East Stroudsburg Urbanized Area
Chart of all municipalities affected by the MS4 program.
Where muncipalities contain streams that are listed by PA DEP as “impaired,” a Pollution Reduction Plan must be developed for those impaired streams.
- East Stroudsburg Borough PRP (Sambo Creek)
- Middle Smithfield Twp – PRP (Sambo Creek)
- Pocono Twp PRP (Unnamed tribs to Brodhead Creek)
- Smithfield Township (Sambo Creek)
- Stroud Township (Flagler Run, Little Pocono Creek, Sambo Creek, Unamed Tributary to Brodhead Creek, known as Cranberry Run) .
Webinar: Safeguarding Clean Water in Monroe County
BWA partnered with the PA Environmental Council and American Rivers to provide a training, “Safeguarding Clean Water in Monroe County.” This three-part webinar series provides Monroe County municipalities with information on stormwater, green infrastructure, and MS4:
To learn more about MS4:
- What is MS4? Stormwater education series, with video
- MS4 blueprint for success: Help is here
- Stroud Township Engineer’s Corner: What is the deal with MS4?
Model Stormwater Ordinances from 2022 Renewal_Brodhead Creek Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan
Resources for public involvement:
- From Pa DEP: including samples for an event, homeowners guide and stream cleanup checklist
- From Penn State Extension: How to certify a property as watershed-friendly
- From Pa DEP: including booklets, activity kits and posters for public education