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City staff give annual NPDES stormwater update; highlight tree‑canopy, watershed planning and Marina Steps project
Summary
Des Moines staff presented the NPDES Phase II annual update, describing permit requirements (planning, tree canopy mapping, illicit-discharge response), enforcement metrics, and capital projects (Marina Steps and Wooden Park canopy preservation) that provide treatment credit.
City stormwater staff delivered the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II annual update to the Des Moines City Council on April 9, outlining last year’s compliance work and priorities to meet Ecology permit requirements.
Tyler Beekley, representing the stormwater utility, said the city’s stormwater management program covers nine permit components, including planning that promotes low‑impact development, a tree‑canopy program with a 2027 implementation deadline, watershed prioritization (Lower Massey and Barnes Creek previously selected), public education and behavior‑change efforts including the Highline Stormwater Festival (about 1,200 students attended last year), volunteer stewardship programs, and a public‑facing GIS map of stormwater infrastructure. He said a consultant will be procured to support the next watershed action plan required by March 2027.
On enforcement and operations, Beekley reported city crews responded to 37 reported spills last year (a downward trend from earlier years), screened 41% of public catchments, inspected 2,155 catch basins (257 required cleaning), and inspected 243 stormwater facilities (44 failed and were maintained). Construction‑site activity included review of 97 projects and 49 unique site inspections with 70 enforcement actions. Beekley said the city will launch an OpenGov asset‑management platform to improve inspection and maintenance tracking.
Beekley identified two capital projects that will generate Ecology permit treatment credit: the Marina Steps project (bioretention cells; 7 acres of treatment credit) and preservation of 16 acres adjacent to Wooden Park (canopy credit). He closed by inviting councilmembers to submit public comment on the stormwater plan via the city website and offered to answer council questions about maintenance, business inspections, and litter reporting procedures.
Councilmembers followed with operational questions about maintenance cycles for bioswale media, how to request litter removal (the city’s “fix it” form), and business inspection selection criteria; staff provided practical answers and agreed to return with additional details if needed.
