STORMWATER
Stormwater in New England
FINDING SOLUTIONS
What we're doing
in Maine
U.S. EPA | STORMWATER OUTREACH AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
STORMWATER is a leading cause of poor water quafity. Rain or
me/ted snow runs down driveways, sidewalks and streets carrying off, dirt
and other pollutants into nearby waterways. Polluted runoff, which con
cause erosion and flooding, runs into waterways and degrades plants, fish,
shellfish and other wildlife. In water used /or recreation, the runoff con
lead to illness, and people who eat contaminated fish con also become sick.
Untreated stormwater con also contaminate drinking water sources.
INTRO:
The state of Maine administers its own stormwater management program, which includes National Pollution Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Maine's program, run by the state Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP), sets permit requirements for construction sites disturbing more than one acre, industrial sites and some
municipal sewer systems. Each municipal system with a permit must create a stormwater management program. In
2005, new state stormwater rules addressed four goals: effective pollutant removal, cooling of stormwater runoff,
channel protection and flood control.
TO MANAGE STORMWATER
IN MAINE WE ARE:
Building green buildings — Buildings throughout the state
of Maine include features to minimize the damage of
stormwater pollution:
• The Coffin Street dormitories at Bowdota Cofleje In
Brunnvfcfc indude a rainwater system that traps rain in a
large tank where it is purified by ultraviolet radiation and
used for toilet water.
* A frame on Cranberry Ridge Rood in Freeport was built
disturbing as little land around it as possible. Stria erosion
control measures prevented pollution from running off to
natural drainage paths and neighboring land and porous
paving allows rainwater to penetrate into the ground
instead of running along hard surfaces and picking up
contaminants. Drought resistant plants eliminate the need
for an irrigation system.
* The East End School in Portland is the first school in
Maine to have a "green roof." The 1,800-squarefoot green
roof has soil and alpine plants that absorb and filter rain-
water, provide insulation and extend the life of the roof.
Teaching formers erosion control — The Houlton Band
of Maliseet Indians received a $700,000 EPA grant that
helped farmers reduce soil erosion and improve water
quality in the Meduxnekeag watershed. The project
led 33 farmers to put winter plantings on more than
13,000 acres. This kept about 4,000 tons of soil from
eroding into the Meduxnekeag River.
Restoring Long Creek in Portland — Studies funded
by EPA determined that Long Creek, which eventually
flows into Casco Bay, was harmed not only by pollut-
ants in stormwater but also by the volume of storm-
water discharges occurring in the area of Long Creek.
The impacts from both pollution and high volume were
caused by excessive development in the area, including
hotels, the Mall of Maine and office parks. As a result,
EPA and DEP established new requirements for proper-
ties with one or more paved acres. Managers of these
properties must now apply to the state for coverage as
a group under a new watershed general stormwater
permit or seek coverage under an individual permit.
Coverage under the new general permit requires that
each property take part in a management plan for the
area. This management plan is designed to restore the
stream at about half of what it would cost, were each
property to receive an individual permit.
KEY CONTACTS:
SOUTH PORTLAND:
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
SOIL It WATER DISTRICT
Windham, ME
(207) 892-4700
http:// cumberlandswcd. org/
STEVE WINNETT
EPA New England
Water Quality Branch
(617) 918-1687
winnett.steve n@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region1/
EPA TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341
LEARN MORE ATi
www. e pa.gov/ reg I o n 1 /
topics/water/stormwater. htm I
k United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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