Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Ms4 Public Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City engineer outlines eight public-education priorities under DNR MS4 permit
Summary
City Engineer Kevin Schubert presented the Wisconsin DNR MS4 permit’s eight required public-education topics — including illicit-discharge detection, yard-waste management and green infrastructure — and described local programs and a multi-community consortium that will support outreach in Onalaska.
Kevin Schubert, the city engineer, told the Board of Public Works and Utilities on May 5 that the city must run a public-education program under its Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit and reviewed eight required topic areas.
“In the permit, the permittee shall maintain its public education and outreach program to increase the awareness of stormwater pollution impacts on waters of the state and encourage changes in public behavior to reduce such impacts,” Schubert said. He outlined the topics the city plans to promote: illicit-discharge detection and elimination; household hazardous-waste disposal; yard-waste management; stream and shoreline management; residential infiltration; construction-site stormwater management; pollution prevention; and green infrastructure and low-impact development.
Schubert described examples and local programs the city already uses to address these topics. For illicit discharges he cited accidental releases such as waste oil, cooking grease and paint that should not enter the storm sewer system. On household hazardous waste, he listed automotive oils and fluids, cleaners, aerosols, propane tanks and pesticides as materials to be kept out of storm drains. For yard waste he emphasized the city’s yard-waste collection and fall vacuum leaf collection and encouraged reuse practices such as mulching leaves.
On stream and shoreline management Schubert said the city encourages riparian buffers and selective riprap, and for residential infiltration he recommended rain barrels, rain gardens and keeping downspouts directed onto absorbent surfaces. For construction sites he noted standard erosion-control measures — silt fence, silt socks, swales — plus inspections and enforcement. On pollution prevention he suggested homeowners wash cars on grass and businesses manage salt, dumpster drainage and cover leaks. On green infrastructure he cited bioswales, permeable pavement and rain gardens as tools to reduce runoff and improve water quality.
Schubert also described the city’s regional approach: the city participates in a consortium of roughly 10 partner communities that shares outreach resources and events. “We do have a consultant — it’s actually Habitat for Humanity that helps us do this, and we integrate some of these topics and some of their events,” Schubert said, adding that the consortium runs school events in Onalaska, La Crosse and nearby communities.
Board members asked for clarifications. Larry Juracek requested that the packet explicitly note the city’s lawn-container program and the fee associated with it; Schubert agreed to add that information. Juracek also asked whether the program includes school-based outreach; Schubert confirmed that consortium partners run events at schools and that the city participates through that coalition.
The presentation was informational only; no action was required or taken.
