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Stormwater (MS4)

Lakes of the Four Seasons

Crown Point, Indiana

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Stormwater

The Lake of the Four Seasons (LOFS) due to its population density is a designated MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) community and as such is required to implement strategies that will improve the quality of water running into the watersheds within its jurisdiction.

MS4 overview
According to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory, despite the passage of the Clean Water Act, 40% of surveyed water bodies do not meet water quality standards and are determined to be impaired by pollution. In response, the EPA mandated the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). In 2003, a phase II final rule of this system established permitting authority to state governments to facilities whose discharge impacts nation waters. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) administers the NPDES permit program under 327 IAC 15-13, Rule 13 or the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permitting program. The MS4 rule requires designated entities to develop a storm water quality management plan (SWQMP) that includes best management practices, implementation plans, and enforcement measures to insure that operations are performed in such a way that contamination in stormwater discharge is significantly reduced and/or eliminated. In conjunction with this rule, the IDEM also manages a similar initiative 327 IAC 15-5, Rule 5 or the Construction/Land Disturbance Storm Water Permitting program. This rule is targeted at reducing pollutants, primarily sediments, that may result from construction and/or land disturbance activity.

Click here for more information on the Indiana MS4 program.

Considering that one inch of rainfall on 1000 square feet equates to 623 gallons of stormwater run-off, management can be an enormous undertaking. Stormwater run-off control is achieved through two means: first, minimizing the amount of contaminant exposure to stormwater run-off and second, slowing the filtering and slowing the movement of the run-off. Pollutants that are carried in water run-off may originate in parking lots, sidewalks, roads and other impermeable surfaces, or from activities associated with landscape maintenance, material and waste handling and disposal, vehicle maintenance and repair, equipment storage and cleaning, and construction. Ecological stress is apparent when impervious surfaces reach 10-20%. Impervious surfaces include buildings, parking lots, roads, sidewalks, driveways, alleys and bridges.

Some impacts of pollution run-off like nutrient loading in aquatic ecosystems result in booms in aquatic plant growth, increased oxygen demand during decomposition, and a resulting reduced oxygen availability for aquatic animals. These hypoxic zones result in fish deaths. Toxic chemicals and sediment are also loaded into lakes and streams and adversely affect the benthos zone and upper tropic levels. Utilizing some best management practices (BMP) can significantly reduce or eliminate stormwater pollution. These practices address operations that may result in discharging pollutants from roads, parking lots, and maintenance and storage lots.

To better understand the problems of stormwater run-off, click here to link to AFTER THE STORM video.

At the 2010 annual MS4 conference on Thursday, April 22, 2010, Lake of the Four Seasons received an Award of Excellence from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). About 120 communities have been audited by the state in the past two years as part of the MS4 program. LOFS was audited in September 2009. Of these, only six received awards for superior performance. Lake of the Four Seasons contributes this success to the leadership of Ron Bedwell, hard work of his MS4 assistant, Tammy Patterson, and the employees of the lakes department. GO TEAM ! ! ! !

Click here for more information on the Indiana MS4 program.

So How Can You Help?

1. Utilize Pollutant-Reduction Practices!

Common Storm Water Pollutants	Sources	Impacts	Pollutant-Reduction Practices
Sediment	Construction sites, disturbed areas, stream bank erosion, sand treatment of roadways Degradation/wearing of paved surfaces	· Accumulates in rivers and reservoirs. · Suppresses populations of fish, mussels, and aquatic invertebrates. · Brings in excessive nutrients which are absorbed by sediment particles.	Maintain deep-rooted vegetated groundcover like native trees, shrubs, and grasses especially on slopes
Nutrients	Fertilized lawns, agricultural applications, leaking sewers and septic tanks	· Causes unchecked growth in aquatic systems followed by deadly anoxic conditions. · Indicated by unusual algal blooms in lakes and rivers.	Irrigate lawn with nutrient-rich lake water Do NOT fertilize your lawn or use phosphate-free slow-release organic fertilizer or compost Mulch your planting beds and trees Do NOT dispose of grass clipping, leaves or other debris in the storm drain system Reduce turf grass by using native plants
Bacteria	Animal waste from pets and excessive urban wildlife, leaking sewers, combined sewer overflows	· A major health hazard to humans. · Destroys recreational potential of waterways, causing economic losses. · Increases water treatment costs.	Clean-up pet waste immediately Employ tall grass or shrubs along shoreline to discourage geese
Oil and Grease	Automobiles, industrial areas, illegal dumping	· Limits the interaction of surface water and air by covering a body of water in a film of oil. · Can be deadly to aquatic life and humans in large amounts.	Perform oil changes at autocare facilities Perform car washes at wash facilities or on your lawn Do NOT dump oil, grease, or anything into the environment! Clean up spills with dry absorbent Proper dispose or recycle used and unwanted chemicals, grease, oil and filters, antifreeze, other fluids & used parts
Trace Metals	Automobile wear, exhaust, industrial areas	· Are long lived in the environment. · Often work their way into the food chain and are passed from one organism to another. · Have toxic effects when built up in a system over time.	Maintain your vehicles in good condition Recycle electronics--Do NOT dispose of with standard trash
Road Salt	Roads, parking lots, home applications	· Is lethal to aquatic organisms in high concentrations such as that found in snowmelt.	Use ice melt sparingly Use environmentally-friendly salt alternatives
Chemicals	Pesticide applications, accidental spills, automobiles, illegal dumping	· Lethal to aquatic organisms and often build up in the environment causing problems later on (such as DDT and the demise of eagles).	Utilize intergraded pest management Follow label directions & apply to problem areas only Do NOT apply on windy days or when rain is predicted with 24 hours Do NOT dump oil, grease, or anything into the environment!

2. Reduce the stormwater run-off from your property with these few simple tips!

Avoid over-watering
Monitor rainfall and turn off sprinklers during rainy weather
Check soil moisture and water only when the top 4-5” of soil is dry
Utilize rainwater collection ie. rainbarrels
Mow turfgrass less frequently as taller grass has deeper roots and needs less water
Seed exposed soils

Aerate and add compost to soil to reduce fertilizer needs, improve drainage, and promote root growth

Employ rain gardens
Maintain vegetated swales with native flora or install a rain garden!
Employ buffer strips/backyard buffers of tall grasses, shrub, and/or trees
Install permeable pavement, as appropriate
Employ biofiltration systems, as appropriate
Employ flow through planter boxes

Also see Swales and Culverts and Shoreline Buffer Zones and Rain Gardens