Managing a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is a critical component of effective stormwater management. It requires municipalities to stay organized and adaptable in the face of increasing regulatory demands and frequent staff turnovers. Establishing reliable document management systems and clear staff expectations is essential to meeting compliance deadlines, maintaining transparency, and safeguarding institutional knowledge.
Due to staff turnover and unclear responsibilities, many municipalities struggle to organize and maintain MS4 documentation, which becomes especially important as deadlines approach. Without systems in place, meeting compliance requirements can become a significant challenge.
Effective MS4 document management is essential to meet Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) regulatory requirements, avoid fines, and protect water quality. Missed deadlines or disorganized records can result in non-compliance, increased costs, and reputational damage.
Learn how innovative tools and clear organizational structures can drive success and retain organizational knowledge.
Document Management Systems
Leveraging GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for document storage allows municipalities to link key documents to specific parcels or stormwater devices. This facilitates easy access and efficient updates.
Transparency Tools
Posting MS4 annual reports and stormwater information on municipal websites ensures public awareness and accountability.
Pulled from Milwaukee County’s website: https://county.milwaukee.gov/.
Organizational Flowcharts
Creating a flowchart detailing staff responsibilities and program locations helps streamline operations and minimize confusion.
Having MS4 document management systems in place well ahead of deadlines ensures municipalities are prepared for audits, inspections, or reporting requirements. Organized documentation reduces the risk of missing critical compliance dates, which can lead to fines or rework. It also allows staff to focus on proactive planning and implementation, fostering a more efficient and stress-free submittal process.
Upcoming MS4 Deadlines
To help keep you on track, use the following dates as reminders for important MS4 deadlines.
Next Steps
To meet upcoming MS4 deadlines, municipalities should prioritize implementing document management tools and establishing clear organizational structures. Ruekert & Mielke offers expertise in document management, GIS integration, and staff training to ensure your MS4 program operates efficiently and remains compliant.
Contact us today to explore tailored solutions for your MS4 program.
About the Author
Abigail Hanson, E.I.T.
Project Engineer
Abby is a civil engineer that emphasizes her work in the stormwater and environmental field. She has experience performing Green Infrastructure inspection for MMSD. Abby is experienced with MS4 modeling which includes proficiency with ArcGIS and WinSLAMM to support stormwater management plan creation. Her field experience includes construction review, conducting site visits and field evaluations related to siting/and or avoidance of natural resource constraints, and assisting with habitat assessments and water quality monitoring studies. She also has multiple years of construction review technician experience on a variety of jobs including storm sewer, water main, sanitary sewer, and paving projects.