Morganton stormwater administrator outlines MS4 permit actions, infrastructure projects and outreach

Tom Warburton, the city’s stormwater administrator, told the Morganton City Council on Sept. 8 that the city is implementing a five‑year MS4 stormwater program required under the Clean Water Act and approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

“The city's MS 4 permit consists of 6 management areas that reduce stormwater pollution, ensures clean water is maintained in our city water bodies,” Warburton said during the presentation.

The presentation outlined why the program matters and what the city has done in its first year under the permit issued July 1, 2024. Warburton said the permit runs through 2029 and requires the city to document best management practices (BMPs) in six areas: public outreach and education; public involvement; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction site runoff control; post‑construction runoff control; and pollution prevention and good housekeeping.

Key data Warburton gave to council: - The city responded to 77 citizen inquiries related to stormwater issues (calls and emails, with the bulk occurring during recent heavy rains). - Staff investigated, educated or mitigated 12 suspected illicit discharges from July 1 through the reporting year; most were sediment or erosion control problems. - Approximately 750 culvert drains were cleaned or repaired during the year and about 90 miles of city streets received street‑cleaning/leaf collection service tied to stormwater upkeep. - Two public cleanups on greenways and rivers removed dozens of bags of trash; staff conducted five educational outreach events reaching roughly 200 people. - A mapping review reduced the number of potential outfall structures from about 512 to 320 confirmed major outfalls; Warburton said the city inspected 20% of those major outfalls in the first year.

Warburton also described three larger projects tied to stormwater resilience and asset management: - A stream restoration at Bethel Park intended to alleviate neighborhood and park flooding; Warburton said the restoration totaled about $2.5 million and involved multiple funding sources. - A federally supported asset inventory and hydraulic‑modeling project to map stormwater infrastructure; Warburton said data collection is complete and hydraulic modeling is about 90% finished, with final reports and maps expected this winter or early 2026. - A replacement project at Morganton Day School addressing damaged culvert drains and a large pipe (Warburton said crews are replacing a 60‑inch pipe along the property line that handles sheet flow from adjacent streets).

Warburton told council the city established standard operating procedures and documentation processes during the first year to prepare for an MS4 audit prior to the fifth year of the permit. He said the city has relied on coordination among engineering, public works, parks and other departments and on outside contractors and partners for public outreach.

Council members asked clarifying questions; Warburton said residents can report issues through the city’s stormwater hotline and that further public education is planned as administrative forms and SOPs are completed.

Council took no formal action on the update; Warburton closed by noting the stormwater web page on the city site includes background material and contact information for citizens.