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Environmental Standards
Objective 8: Improve Compliance with Environmental Standards & Protections
Relevant Standards
- Meet requirements of the Clean Water Act, anticipate future legal/regulatory requirements
- Operate and maintain facilities to minimize impacts on the environment
- Swift response to pollutant/contaminant spills and illegal discharges
- Support watershed health, and a proactive approach to habitat protection and enhancements
Background
Stormwater management and protecting the environment are related. However, this Strategic Objective focuses less on flood management and more on pollution. The City and the Division participate in a variety of activities that address environmental protection, many arising from standards in the Clean Water Act, including monitoring and ensuring compliance related to:
- Wastewater treatment plant discharges
- Restricting development in rural flood plains
- Run-off and discharges from construction sites and industrial facilities
- Managing flood plains and addressing sources of contaminants in these flood plains
The Low Impact Development (LID) program requires collecting and treating stormwater from impervious development sites. Flagstaff has one of the most effective LID programs in Arizona. In addition, the Division participates in mitigation and restoration of wildlife and natural habitats
Challenge/Opportunity
Despite the City’s and Division’s successes with respect to environmental protection, there is a need for continued improvement, including the following:
- The standards and capabilities for responding to illegal discharges are not fully developed
- Some flood channels are filled with contaminating debris, e.g. tires and old automobiles
- A better overall assessment of environmental issues in Flagstaff’s watersheds is needed
- Maintaining NPDES permits related to wastewater discharges
Timing Concerns
This is an ongoing effort, but improved response to illegal discharges should happen immediately.
Water Services Strategic Plan 2025 | ||||
Objective 8: Improve Compliance with Environmental Standards and Protections |
| Reporting Period: January - June 2021 | Reporting Period: July- December 2021 |
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Specific Responses | Champion & TEAM | Accomplishments | Accomplishments | Next Steps |
Update the Low Impact Development (LID) Code, addressing errors, emissions, and clarity |
Stormwater Manager | This may be addressed with the revision of the Stormwater Manual. | This may be addressed with the revision of the Stormwater Manual. | Stormwater Design Manual to be revised. |
Continue to improve the standards and response related to illegal discharges | Regulatory Compliance, Stormwater Manager | Trained City field staff on responses to illicit discharges, through a PPT presentation, focusing on new flow chart. Field staff responded to two questions during the presentation to assure training was completed. |
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Develop a better assessment of wildfire issues and recommend corrective actions | Stormwater Manager, Management Analyst, Flagstaff Fire |
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Assess the resources required to produce the Watershed and Flood Plain Management Plans |
Stormwater Manager, Floodplain Manager | 1. Continued coordination with Friends of the Rio and Southwest Decision Resources to produce Watershed Management Plan. | 1. Continued coordination with Friends of the Rio and Southwest Decision Resources to produce Watershed Management Plan. | Continue coordination with Friends of the Rio and Southwest Decision Resources to produce Watershed Management Plan. |
Develop schedule for completing the Watershed and Flood Plain Management Plans |
Stormwater Manager, Floodplain Manager | The Watershed plan schedule is driven by external agencies, Stormwater is working with the WARF to produce this plan in a timely fashion. | The Watershed plan schedule is driven by external agencies, Stormwater is working with the WARF to produce this plan in a timely fashion. |
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Increase water-use efficiency through active and passive rainwater capture | Stormwater Manager, Water Resource Manager, Management Analyst | No action during this quarter | Resumed rainwater catchment workshops | 1. Credit manual updates. |
Evaluate the overall environmental impact of Water Services on our natural resources | Water Resource Manager, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Stormwater Manager, Management Analyst | Completed a surface water hydrology report based on 10 years of gauge and infiltration data. |
| Studies are ongoing. |
Water Services Strategic Plan 2025 | 2020 Accomplishments | |||
Objective 8: Improve Compliance with Environmental Standards and Protections | Reporting Period: January-June 2020 | Reporting Period: July-December 2020 | ||
Specific Responses | Champion & TEAM | Accomplishments | Accomplishments | Next Steps |
Update the Low Impact Development (LID) Code, addressing errors, emissions, and clarity | Stormwater Manager | Funding and staffing does not support at this time. | Stormwater Design Manual to be revised. | |
Continue to improve the standards and response related to illegal discharges | Regulatory Compliance, Stormwater Manager | Created an outline-flow charts to guide staff in response procedure and identified responsibilities. | 1. Met with outreach staff and Flagstaff PIO to deliver outreach to prevent illegal discharges. 2. Developing training for delivery in April 2021. | Train impacted staff on responses to illicit discharges, focusing on new flow chart. |
Develop a better assessment of wildfire issues and recommend corrective actions | Stormwater Manager, Management Analyst, Flagstaff Fire | 1. Continued operation of Upper Dry Lake gauges. 2. Coordinated monitoring of Forest Thinning Projects near Mormon Mountain. 3. Continued monitoring for Museum Fire. | 1. Continue coordination with COF Wildland Fire Section. 2. Ongoing coordination with Water Resources Section. | |
Assess the resources required to produce the Watershed and Flood Plain Management Plans | Stormwater Manager, Floodplain Manager | 1. Continued coordination with Friends of the Rio and Southwest Decision Resources to produce Watershed Management Plan. | Continue coordination with Friends of the Rio and Southwest Decision Resources to produce Watershed Management Plan. | |
Develop schedule for completing the Watershed and Flood Plain Management Plans | Stormwater Manager, Floodplain Manager | Same as above | Staffing does not support at this time. | |
Increase water-use efficiency through active and passive rainwater capture | Stormwater Manager, Water Resource Manager, Management Analyst | 1. Standard procedures established, Rain barrel program continued 2. Proposed edits to Stormwater Credit Manual. | Proposed edits to Stormwater Credit Manual sent to Legal. | 1. Credit manual updates. |
Evaluate the overall environmental impact of Water Services on our natural resources | Water Resource Manager, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Stormwater Manager, Management Analyst | SW is assisting Water Resources with aquifer recharge study. | SW continues to assist Water Resources with aquifer recharge study. | This study is ongoing. |