City of Auburn | WRM-Watershed

Water Resource Management

Note: For more information on the Storm Drain Marker Kits discussed in the November 2009 issue of Open Line, please call the Water Resource Management Department at (334) 501-3060.

Phase II Storm Water

The City of Auburn has been designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) as a Phase II municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). The USEPA's Phase II Stormwater Regulations, which were implemented in March 2003, requires operators of regulated Phase II MS4s to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and develop stormwater management program designed to protect water quality and to prevent harmful pollutants in stormwater runoff from being washed into the MS4. he City received its initial Phase II Stormwater NPDES permit on May 14, 2003.

The intent of the Phase II regulations is to reduce the adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic habitat by instituting the use of controls on the unregulated sources of stormwater discharges. In order to comply with these regulations the City of Auburn must satisfy six "minimum control measures," including:

Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation/Involvement
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Runoff Control
Post-Construction Stormwater Management
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

Stormwater Site Development Review Tool

The City of Auburn's Site Development Review Tool can be used by engineers and developers to design Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMPs) and make informed decisions regarding water quality protection as a result of potential impacts from their developments.

The Site Development Review Tool was developed using a Microsoft Excel format and can be used by engineers and developers to design and incorporate BMPs for City of Auburn developments and to maximize the efficiency of runoff pollutant management following construction of developments. The Tool can also be used to meet the target pollutant removal efficiencies outlined in the City's Conservation Subdivision Regulations. This Tool will provide pollutant removal estimates for site specific conditions based on removal efficiencies for a variety of storm water BMPs including, detention ponds, bioretention areas (rain gardens), and storm water wetlands. The tool analyses a variety of storm water pollutants including nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) and total suspended solids. City staff will utilize this tool during plan review process to analyze development impacts on water quality within the Lake Ogletree watershed as well as additional watersheds within the City of Auburn.