Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash has announced plans to implement new stormwater engineering design standards. The new technical standards, requirements, rules, and design criteria for stormwater management were discussed in detail at a virtual stakeholder rollout meeting last month.
The standards take effect on May 31 and apply to any new or redevelopment projects that are 1 acre or greater, or are part of a larger common development, and connect directly to an Oakland County drain. The standards are the culmination of more than 40 meetings facilitated by Nash with input from neighboring counties, along with numerous Oakland County communities and stakeholders.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), requires Oakland County and other regulated entities to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements. The purpose of these standards is to address post-construction stormwater runoff controls required under this permit. The new standards are formulated to achieve eight primary objectives:
1. Improve surface water quality as well as channel and stormwater infrastructure protection.
2. Require volume-reducing, low-impact development measures and protect natural features.
3. Control both the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff.
4. Promote sustainable regional stormwater management practices.
5. Long-term operation and maintenance of stormwater systems.
6. Consistent and straightforward regional standards that meet federal and state permit requirements.
7. Promote consistent stormwater reporting, tracking, and mapping.
8. Recognize that similar standards are anticipated for combined sewer areas.
These standards establish minimum requirements for the design, construction, and maintenance of stormwater systems for subdivisions, site condominiums, commercial, industrial, and other development, and redevelopment projects. Local municipalities may elect more restrictive standards and, when conflicting standards arise, the more stringent requirements govern.
The standards are expected to be adopted by local communities later this year. The standards generally apply to development and redevelopment projects with construction activity of 1 acre or more, or are part of a common plan of development or sale resulting in a development or redevelopment activity of 1 acre or more. The standards may apply to development projects smaller than 1 acre if a community chooses.
“We’re confident that communities within Oakland County will appreciate how straightforward these standards are,” Nash said. “This was a goal of our regional collaboration effort from day one. Changes to meet local needs are expected, but they may require approval from EGLE.”
The new rules were developed in close coordination with Wayne, Macomb, and Livingston counties, as well as with the City of Detroit, to provide a generally consistent set of standards across the region.
To view the presentation from the stakeholder rollout meeting, visit oakgov.com/water and go to the Stormwater Engineering Design Standards tab.
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