Stormwater Update
In the fall of 2018 Harris Township will begin a new round of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting for the Township’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). For this upcoming permit cycle, Harris Township must prepare a Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan (CBPRP).
The goal of the CBPRP is to reduce the amount of suspended solids by 10 percent, total Nitrogen by 3 percent, and total Phosphorous by 5 percent over a five year period. To simplify calculations, DEP is allowing the assumption that the reduction goals for Nitrogen and Phosphorous are met if the sediment reduction is achieved.
In 2016 Harris Township entered into an agreement with the other MS4 permit holders (College, Ferguson, and Patton Townships, State College Borough, and Penn State) to obtain a consultant to prepare a joint CBPRP. The consultant selected, Newell, Tereska, and Mackay, began work on the CBPRP in January of this year and completed the CBPRP report in October.
The report contains the existing sediment loading and details how the required 10 percent reduction in sediment may be achieved. For Harris Township, potential projects include stream bank restoration at the Military Museum and a retrofit of an existing stormwater management basin at Willowbrook.
As noted earlier, there is a five year time frame to achieve the 10 percent reduction in suspended solids. The CBPRP was prepared to show DEP that we have identified potential projects to meet our pollution reduction goals. It is not a static document that cannot be changed.
During the five year period it is likely that other projects may be identified or projects previously identified may be found to be unworkable. Updates may be made as needed and submitted to DEP along with our annual MS4 report. The bottom line is that we have to show that we reduced sediment load by 10 percent at the end of the permit. We look forward to the tasks that lie ahead as we work to meet our CBPRP goals.
A copy of the CBPRP can be found here: https://harristownship.org/resident-info/stormwater-information/.