Hampden hears update on MS4 stormwater program; officials urged to add BMPs, outreach

Tighe & Bond planners told the Town of Hampden Select Board and Board of Health on May 19 that the town’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program is largely in a maintenance phase for permit year 7, but recommended additional outreach and targeted stormwater control measures in a western “urbanized” portion of town after elevated nitrogen and E. coli levels were found at several outfalls.

Consultant Haley Rivers, Planner II at Tighe & Bond, said the town’s MS4 area is the red‑shaded western part of town and that the notice of intent was submitted under the 2016 small MS4 general permit. “We are here to provide an update on Hampden’s ongoing stormwater management program. We’re going to discuss what happened in permit year 7, which is coming to a close in June, and then what’s happening for the next permit year,” Rivers said.

The nut graf: The presentation summarized past sampling, what parameters the town is required to monitor, and proposed changes in a new draft MS4 permit that could increase outreach requirements and ask municipalities to track and upgrade catch basins and install demonstration stormwater control measures (SCMs). The consultants urged the town to prioritize outreach, consider joining a regional stormwater messaging program and to select municipal retrofit sites tied to planned capital work.

Most important facts first: Tighe & Bond reported that permit year 7…