For Release: September 18, 1998

Contact: Jim Riordan 222-3961 ext. 4421

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources will hold a stormwater management workshop for municipal officials on September 23, with a repeat workshop on October 1, to introduce a model ordinance developed specifically for Rhode Island communities and to discuss municipal stormwater management and pollution concerns.

Calling stormwater management an important issue, Alicia Good, Chief of DEM's Office of Water Resources, said that although the state and some municipalities have developed programs to deal with some conspicuous stormwater issues, stormwater remains a problem. "Improperly managed stormwater creates flood hazards, water quality problems, nuisance conditions, and unnecessary financial burdens," Good said.

Each half-day workshop will include discussion of the model ordinance, discussion of local stormwater management issues comparing approaches and examining what works and what doesn't, and information on new technologies.

To assist communities, DEM is developing a model stormwater ordinance that can be adapted to the needs of individual municipalities. Under the State Guide Plan produced by the Department of Administration's Division of Planning, a stormwater control policy must be included in community comprehensive plans, and, indeed, many towns have included stormwater management and soil erosion control in updated zoning requirements, Good noted. But, local stormwater management programs, she said, "will benefit from well-structured and technically sound policy. A stormwater management ordinance establishes the technical standards, legal authority, and organizational structure for such a program."

The workshop agenda also includes a report on the ongoing stormwater management program in the Greenwich Bay watershed. The Greenwich Bay program, funded through a DEM Aquafund grant to the Southern RI Conservation District, addresses nonpoint source pollution by prioritizing storm drain systems for maintenance needs and retrofit potential. Using Warwick as its pilot area, and with the assistance of local, state, and private agencies, the project will serve as a Rhode Island model for reducing stormwater pollution from developed areas.

Town officials, such as public works directors, town planners, and conservation commission members have been invited to attend either workshop, but any interested person is welcome. The September 23 workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Rhode Island's Coastal Institute Conference Center, Conference Rooms A and B, South Ferry Road, Narragansett. The October 1 workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in room 300 at DEM Headquarters in the Foundry Building, 235 Promenade St., Providence. To confirm attendance, please contact Jim Riordan of DEM's Division of Water Resources at 222-3961 ext. 4421.

Developed and coordinated by the nonpoint source pollution management program of DEM's Office of Water Resources, both workshops are funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 through a Clean Water Act Section 319 grant.