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Surface Water Management

Stormwater Management Program (SWMP)
Updated 3/29/2008

This document has been prepared to meet the City of Des Moines’ Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit requirement for written documentation of the City’s Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).  

The City’s SWMP is intended to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to the maximum extent practicable (MEP), meet Washington State, All Known, Available and Reasonable methods of Treatment (AKART) requirements, and protect water quality.  This goal will be accomplished by the inclusion of all permit SWMP components and implementation schedules into the City’s existing SWMP.

Where the City is already implementing components called for in this permit, the City will continue those actions or activities to the existing extent required, regardless of the schedule called for in this document.

The City will implement an ongoing program for the gathering, tracking, maintaining and using information to evaluate the SWMP development, implementation and permit compliance and to set priorities.  Beginning no later than January 1, 2009, the City will begin to track the cost of development and implementation of each component of the SWMP. 

This document will be updated annually for submittal with the City’s Annual Report to Ecology.

NPDES Phase II permit requirements in black print.  City of Des Moines comments in blue print.

Des Moines Stormwater Management Program

Des Moines 2007 SWM Annual Report

Storm Water Management Program Suggestions

 

Friends of Des Moines Creek

Friends of Des Moines Creek is a volunteer organization where citizens get involved in enhancing and maintaining fish and wildlife habitat along Des Moines Creek.  Learn about volunteer and stewardship opportunities by contacting us by E-mail (preferred) fishpeople@integrity.com or phone: Laura Hartema, (206) 870-7874.

What can you do to improve the water quality and health of our streams?

• Take care of your septic system. Inspect your system every year and pump it out as necessary. Regular maintenance prevents solids from entering into and clogging the drainfield (and prevents very costly repairs). Avoid flushing harmful materials that effect the operation of the system and can contaminate the groundwater. Use water wisely – keep water usage to below the designed daily flow of the system (450 gallons per day for a 3-bedroom home). Online information is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/health. Contact your local sewer district to find out about hooking up to a sanitary system.
• Take care of your pets. Keep pets out of the streams and clean up after pets and discharge wastes in an appropriate container.
• Inspect your car for oil leaks. The street storm system discharge into our creeks and the Puget Sound.
• Preserve plants and trees adjacent to streams, lakes and wetlands. These plants provide shade to cool the temperature as well as habitat and refuge for fish and other aquatic life.
• Reduce pesticide use and if used, read the product label carefully for how it is to be applied.
• Reduce lawn fertilizers. Fertilizers removes dissolved oxygen for our streams.
• Wash your car at a car wash facility or location where runoff will drain to a grassy area and not the storm collection system. Community car wash events should use a free Clean Water Pump Kit available from the King County Department of Natural Resources http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/carwash. Contact Lexi Taylor, King County Clean Water Car Wash Kit Coordinator, at (206) 296-8287, Toll-Free
  (800) 325-6165 Extention 68287 or lexi.taylor@metrokc.gov to borrow a kit.
  
  Des Moines is looking into getting some of these kits as well. An alternative for a fund raising car wash is the Puget Sound Car Wash Association's (PSCWA) Charity Car Wash Program. Fundraiser's sell tickets redeemable at participating commercial car washes to raise money for their charity. Not only do most commercial car washes recycle water, but they also use less water per wash than a home car wash and remove solids before discharging wastewater to the sanitary sewer. Call PSCWA's hotline, Toll-Free (800) 509-9274, or check out their web site at http://www.pugetsound.org/countdown/carwash.html .
• Save hazardous wastes and paints for the semi-annual collection event at the Des Moines Marina. Please do not rinse or clean paint brushes in or around the storm system. For information about the hazardous waste collection program contact Community Development at (206) 870-6576. Information regarding upcoming collection schedules call the Hazards Line at (206) 296-4692 or visit the King County website at www.metrokc.gov/hazwaste for more information.
• Become a “stream watcher” and immediately report any spills or pollutants to the City Public Works Department.
• Become a volunteer for helping with streamside planting projects, storm drain stenciling or stream cleanup events. There are many volunteer programs available to help the Puget Sound (watershed). To learn more how you can help our area streams, contact Dennis Clark, Watershed Public Outreach Coordinator, (206)296-1909, dennis.clark@metrokc.gov or visit the watershed website at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/Wrias/9. You may also contact the City of Des Moines, Loren Reinhold, (206)870-6524 for information on activities within Des Moines. A list of other stewardship organizations can be found at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/wsdir/index.cfm?FuseAction=search.results.

Taking Care of Fish Habitat -- Locally
In 1999, chinook salmon and bull trout were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This federal law protects not only the species itself, but also the habitat the species needs to survive and prosper. The numbers of salmon in our region have declined dramatically over the last 100 years. Scientists agree that the cause of their decline is multi-fold. High rates of fishing, the overuse of hatcheries to compensate for diminished numbers, hydropower dams, and degraded and lost habitat have all significantly contributed to the decline of the species.

Des Moines and other jurisdictions are actively involved on planning the protection and restoration of salmon habitat in the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed (including Vashon/Maury Island). These areas are collectively referred to as Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 9. Additional information on WRIA9 and the salmon recovery effort as well as volunteer opportunities is available at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/9/.

CITY PIPE PROGRAM
Those street ditches can be filled! In a joint venture with the home owners, Public Works crews will provide the heavy equipment and labor to install pipes, catch basins and backfill material (gravel) to fill in the ditches if the owner pays for the materials. For those interested, a cost estimate can be obtained from Wayne Matthews at 870-6567. He would be happy to make a site visit and suggest improvements that are needed for your particular site (some restrictions apply).

Upcoming Projects>>