Stormwater Municipal Permit Plan Workshop Thursday, Nov. 21

Puget Sound… Tacoma loves you. Or, at least City staff trust Tacomans do. That’s why on Thursday, Nov. 21, all residents, business interests, community organization representatives and interested parties are encouraged to weigh in on the City’s Stormwater Management Plan Update. Participants will, in particular, help City staff understand how best to: 

• Promote low impact development projects that use natural landscapes and minimize hard surfaces to allow rain to soak into the ground, instead of running off into storm systems.
• Encourage residents and businesses to implement Puget Sound-friendly practices at home and work
• Prioritize projects to treat, slow and store the storm water before it enters local streams and Puget Sound

"The Stormwater Management Program provides important guidance as we work to improve the quality of stormwater runoff released to our local waterways," Environmental Services Assistant Division Manager Lorna Mauren said.

The Environmental Services Surface Water group is hosting the public workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Center for Urban Waters, 326 East D Street. They’re asking attendees to RSVP by email, if possible, toswmupdates@cityoftacoma.org.

As is typical, last August, the City was issued an updated Municipal Stormwater Permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology under the Clean Water Act allowing the City to discharge stormwater into local waterways on behalf of the local community. That permit requires periodic updates to Tacoma’s Stormwater Management Program, which outlines the activities that will help to protect local waterways, including Puget Sound. It requires eleven focus areas: legal authority, drainage system mapping, agency coordination, public participation, permitting new and redevelopment construction projects, drainage system improvement projects, source control business inspections, tracing and eliminating spills and illegal storm connections, drainage system operation and maintenance, public education and stormwater monitoring. For more information, visit cityoftacoma.org/swmupdates.