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  2. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

National Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater-Public Involvement

BMPs for Stormwater Topics
  • Overview
  • Public Education
  • Public Involvement
  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • Construction
  • Post-Construction
  • Pollution Prevention / Good Housekeeping

Disclaimer: The BMP examples and references included on these fact sheets are not intended to be comprehensive. Additionally, the list of BMPs is not all-inclusive, and it does not preclude MS4s from using other technically sound practices.

Encouraging community participation, forming partnerships, and combining efforts of other groups in the community will encourage everyone to work towards the same stormwater goals. Public involvement builds on community capital­—the wealth of interested citizens and groups—to help spread the message to:

  • prevent stormwater pollution,
  • undertake group activities that highlight storm drain pollution, and
  • contribute volunteer community actions to restore and protect local water resources.

Phase II MS4s are required to follow all state, tribal, and local public notice requirements when implementing their stormwater program. Public involvement also includes creating opportunities for direct action, educational, and volunteer programs such as tree planting days, volunteer monitoring programs, storm drain marking, or stream clean-up programs.


Key BMPs and Resources

After following public notice requirements, there are many different ways MS4s can involve the public in their stormwater program. The resources below offer many suggestions for tailoring public engagement to a range of different communities.

  • EPA’s Stormwater Smart Outreach Tools - A collection of communications products for communities that can be used to increase awareness of stormwater effects, promote practices to manage stormwater, and promote investment in stormwater management.

BMP Fact Sheets

The fact sheets describe the BMPs and generally provide applicability, implementation, and effectiveness information to help municipal stormwater and construction site operators comply with the stormwater Phase II requirements.

Stormwater-Related Activities

  • Developing Volunteer Programs (pdf) (746.57 KB)  (Includes content from previous fact sheets: Adopt-A-Stream Programs, Reforestation Programs, Storm Drain Marking, Stream Cleanup and Monitoring, Volunteer Monitoring, and Wetland Plantings)

Soliciting Public Opinion

  • Soliciting Public Opinion (pdf) (502.25 KB)  (Includes content from previous fact sheets: Attitude Surveys, Stakeholder Meetings, and Watershed Organizations)

Resources

EPA

  • Participatory Science for Environmental Protection - Information on how the public can engage in supporting environmental protection, including collecting data.
  • Community-Based Watershed Management  - Describes the highly successful approaches to watershed management implemented by the 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs).

Other

  • Guide for Growing Volunteer Monitoring Programs - Information on building and supporting a volunteer monitoring program.
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Drain Marking Program - Information on ready-made storm drain marking kits for community groups.
  • Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's Get the Dirt Out - Works with citizens, developers, and local governments to investigate and study Georgia's measures to reduce stormwater pollution from construction sites.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

  • About NPDES
    • Permit Basics
    • State Program Information
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    • Animal Feeding Operations
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      • Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)
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  • NPDES Technical Resources
    • Resources for Permit Writers
    • NPDES Permit Writers' Manual
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Contact Us About NPDES
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 14, 2025
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