It’s February in Wisconsin, and you know what that means! ‘Tis the season for polar vortexes, snow blowers, and MS4 Annual Reports.
All permittees must submit their 2020 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Annual Report to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) by March 31, 2021 . You can find the 2020 annual report form here.
The following items related to MS4 permits have due dates in 2021. Not all items will apply to all permittees, so please be sure to check your permit and TMDL requirements (if applicable) to confirm.
Impaired Waters Strategy
Public Outreach & Education Program
Public Involvement & Participation Program
Individual Education Outreach Survey
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Program
Bacteria Action Benchmark
Construction Site Pollutant Control Program
Post-Construction Storm Water Management Program
Municipal Storm Water Management Facility Inventory & Maintenance Plan
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan for Municipal Properties
Updated Storm Sewer System Map
TIPS FOR PERMIT COMPLIANCE
If your community is part of a group permit (Menomonee Group Permit, North Shore Group Permit, etc.), work with your fellow permittees to share resources and program development tips.
To achieve public involvement and education goals, partner with community organizations like schools and churches to help educate residents about the importance of storm water quality. We also encourage you to consider joining a local coalition for water quality. Examples include:
Sweet Water Freshwater Facilitators (Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin)
Freshcoast Guardians (MMSD Resources)
Take your MS4 reporting digital and use your GIS to track your storm sewer system, including storm water facility locations, inspections, and long-term maintenance agreements.
Census comment: If the 2020 census tipped your community’s population over 10,000, you may now be required to obtain a MS4 permit. You can review the WDNR’s MS4 general permit requirements here. To help successfully plan, budget, and make strides towards compliance, you should review these requirements early and often.
Funding Opportunities
UNPS & STORM WATER PLANNING GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 15TH
If your community needs funding for MS4 compliance/permit related activities, consider applying for a UNPS Planning Grant. The Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS&SW) Management Grant Program offers competitive grants to local governments for the control of pollution from diffuse urban sources that is carried by storm water runoff. Grants from the UNPS&SW Program reimburse costs of planning or construction projects controlling urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff pollution.
Application materials for UNPS Planning projects beginning in 2022 are due April 15, 2021.
LEARN MORE
If you have questions or would like to learn how R/M can help your community comply with your MS4 permit, apply for storm water grant funding, submit your 2020 MS4 Annual Report, and more, please contact one of our experts today!
