Citizen Advocate Handbook: A Guide to Successful Tree Advocacy in the Nation’s Capital
An award-winning handbook that tells the story of DC's long relationship with tree canopy.
Author: Casey Trees
Date published: 2014
Construction Site Runoff Control Minimum Control Measure
This fact sheet profiles minimum control measure #4, Construction Site Runoff Control.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Developing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
EPA website with resources on developing effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans.
Author: US EPA
Date published: Ongoing
Getting in Step: Engaging and Involving Stakeholders in Your Watershed
Primer on how to effectively engage stakeholders in watershed restoration.
Author: Tetra Tech for US EPA
Date published: 2015
Homeowner Guide to Make Your Property Bay Friendly
Sample public education and outreach document.
Author: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Date published: 2013
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Minimum Control Measure
This fact sheet profiles minimum control measure #3, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Measurable Goals Guidance for Phase II Small MS4s
Guidance document designed to help small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) operators comply with permitting requirements, specifically the development of "measurable goals" by which pollution control m
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2016
National Menu of Best Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater
Menu of programmatic BMPs that Phase II MS4 regulated communities can use to achieve minimum control measures required under NPDES permits. Practices listed in the menu are representative, not exhaustive.
Author: US EPA
Date published: Ongoing
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) website
Provides background technical and regulatory information about the federal NPDES stormwater program.
Author: US EPA
Date published: Ongoing
Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox
This toolbox contains a wealth of resources for public agencies and other organizations seeking to educate the public about stormwater pollution.
Author: US Environmental Protection Agency
Date published: Ongoing
Phase II Storm Water Management Program Public Education and Participation Plan: Worksheets for Developing Your Plan
Provides guidance on development an effective Public Education and Participation Plan for a Phase II Stormwater Management Program. Includes sample worksheets.
Author: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Date published: Undated
Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Minimum Control Measure
Profiles minimum control measure #6, Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Post-Construction Runoff Control Minimum Control Measure
Profiles minimum control measure #5, Post-Construction Stormwater Management.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Public Education and Outreach Minimum Control Measure
Profiles minimum control measure #1, Public Education and Outreach.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Public Participation/Involvement Minimum Control Measure
This fact sheet profiles minimum control measure #2, Public Involvement and Participation.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Soak Up the Rain Customizable Outreach Tools
Customizable outreach tools such as business cards, banners, posters, etc.
Author: EPA
Date published: Ongoing
Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Sources
This EPA website includes background information on the MS4 regulatory program as well as the six minimum control measures (MCMs).
Author: US EPA
Date published: Ongoing
Summary of State Post Construction Stormwater Standards
A full summary of each state's post construction standards for stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites. Many of these standards are applied to MS4s.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2016
The Clean Water Program Guidebook Series for Prince George's County Municipalities: Building Effective Local Public Education and Community Engagement Programs
This guidebook was written for those municipalities within Prince George's County that are required under the State general stormwater permit to incorporate public education, outreach, public involvement and participation into their local stormwater management programs.
Author: Prince George's County Department of the Environment
Date published: 2017
The Clean Water Program Guidebook Series for Prince George's County Municipalities: Understanding Roles and Responsibilities
This guidebook provides municipal program administrators and staff with practical information to help in the implementation of clean water actions.
Author: Prince George's County Department of the Environment
Date published: 2017
Be a Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Designing Effective Outreach Programs to Reduce Pet Waste
This report focuses on an education and outreach technique to reduce pet waste. Local efforts on pet waste pick-up can be one of the best opportunities to help meet MS4 permit conditions for public education and outreach and improve the health and safety of local waters.
Author: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Date published: 2017
Building the Case for Green Infrastructure: Outreach and Education
Addresses community outreach strategies and lessons learned from two successful stormwater outreach and education programs: Save the Rain (Onondaga County, NY) and Stormwater Utility Education Pr
Author: US Environmental Protection Agency
Date published: 2016
Chesapeake Bay Midpoint Assessment Progress website
Shares information on progress toward implementing the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, which was enacted in 2010 and applies to six states and the District of Columbia.
Author: US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program
Date published: Ongoing
Citizen Complaint Illicit Discharge Form
This form is intended for use by Pennsylvania MS4 communities to log and track public and employee complaints concerning illicit discharges.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
Community Outreach Toolkit: Supporting the Reduction of Nutrient Pollution in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin
Provides a framework for developing effective communications materials, with chapters on developing key messages, developing press materials, preparing for outreach, pitching to the media, and measuring results.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2012
Compendium of MS4 Permitting Approaches Part 1: Six Minimum Control Measures
Illustrates the types of permit provisions for the six minimum controls measures of a stormwater management plan that may qualify as "clear, specific, and measurable" requirements under the final MS4 General Per
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2016
Compendium of MS4 Permitting Approaches Part 2: Post Construction Standards
Describes standards to control discharges from new development and redevelopment.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2016
Compendium of MS4 Permitting Approaches Part 3: Water Quality-Based Requirements
Discusses MS4 permits' water quality-based requirements for specific pollutant parameters that are consistent with approved TMDLs.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2016
Connect with Nature at Anacostia River
Two-minute video about stream cleanups in the Anacostia River watershed.
Author: The Nature Conservancy
Date published: Undated
Construction Site Reporting Form
This form can be used by MS4s to log and track complaints about construction-related stormwater issues.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
Construction Sites Practices and Pollutants
Lists common construction site pollutants and which practices they are associated with.
Author: US EPA
Date published: Undated
Deriving Reliable Pollutant Removal Rates for Municipal Street Sweeping and Storm Drain Cleanout Programs in the Chesapeake Bay Basin
Provides information to support pollution removal efficiencies for street sweeping and storm drain cleanout practices for Phase I and II communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Author: Center for Watershed Protection
Date published: 2008
Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites
Guidance document for use by construction site operators to develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan in order to receive NPDES permit coverage for stormwater discharges.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2007
Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Program Manual
Provides technical guidance to all those engaged in preparation of Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Plans for earth disturbance activities within Pennsylvania.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: 2012
Erosion and Sedimentation on Construction Sites
Describes the impacts of erosion on construction sites and ways it can be controlled.
Author: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Date published: 2000
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Municipal Stormwater Programs
Factsheet summarizing how to evaluate the effectiveness of municipal stormwater management programs.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2008
Fecal Indicator Bacteria Management
Elevated fecal indicator bacteria levels remain the most frequent cause of water quality impairment in streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, beaches and drinking water supplies across the U.S.
Author: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Date published: 2018
Federal and State Operated MS4s: Program Implementation
Discusses considerations for federal and state operators of regulated small MS4s as they develop and implement stormwater management programs.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Funding Stormwater Programs
This fact sheet provides information on funding alternatives available for local stormwater management programs.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2008
Getting In Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns
Provides tips and tools for creating awareness, educating specific audiences, and motivating positive behavior change to improve water quality.
Author: Tetra Tech for US EPA
Date published: 2010
Guidelines for Maintaining Streams in Your Community
A simple guide to help residents, businesses, and municipal governments understand Pennsylvania regulations related to stream work.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: 2017
Hotspot Site Investigation Worksheet
This worksheet can be used to identify and record hotspots for illicit discharges of pollutants into stormwater conveyance systems.
Author: US EPA
Date published: Undated
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination: A Guidance Manual for Program Development and Technical Assessments
Provides support and guidance for establishing Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) programs as well as procedures for investigating non-stormwater discharges into stormwater drainage systems.
Author: Center for Watershed Protection
Date published: 2004
Inappropriate Discharge Detection and Elimination: What Phase I Communities are Doing to Address the Problem
Looks at 24 Phase I MS4 communities representing various geographic and climatic regions in the US to learn what they are doing to detect and eliminate illicit discharges.
Author: Center for Watershed Protection
Date published: 2015
Incorporating Environmentally Sensitive Development into Municipal Stormwater Programs
Factsheet for local stormwater managers seeking to encourage or require low impact development practices to meet stormwater goals.
Author: EPA
Date published: 2008
Let's Be Stormwater Smart (PA)
An excellent model outreach tool, this short video introduces the problem of stormwater and shares how residents can be part of the solution.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
LID Strategies and Tools for NPDES Phase II Communities
Shares ideas to assist stormwater Phase II communities in integrating low impact development (LID) strategies into their compliance programs.
Author: Low Impact Development Center, US EPA
Date published: 2012
MCM #6: Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
Models how to conduct an inventory of municipal facilities and activities and to develop a stormwater operations and maintenance (O&M) plan for each asset on the inventory.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
Minimum Control Measures
Compendium of resources related to each Minimum Control Measure.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Ongoing
Model MS4 Map for Illicit Discharge Detection
A sample map that illustrates the detail necessary to meet the basic requirements of MCM #3 (Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination) as well as the advanced requirements for Pollutant Reduction Plans, TMDL
Author: Pennsylvania DEP
Date published: Undated
Monitoring to Demonstrate Environmental Results: Guidance to Develop Local Stormwater Monitoring Studies Using Six Example Study Designs
This manual presents six monitoring study designs that can be used by MS4 communities to assess their local stormwater programs.
Author: Center for Watershed Protection
Date published: 2008
Mr. Raindrop: Help Be a Solution to Water Pollution
A humorous 30-second public service video that follows a raindrop on its journey through a neighborhood and identifies causes of nutrient and sediment pollution.
Author: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Date published: 2015
MS4 Illicit Discharge Detection Checklist
This checklist is intended for use by Pennsylvania MS4 communities to ensure implementation of minimum control measure #3, illicit discharge detection and elimination.
Author: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
MS4 Permit Improvement Guide
Guidance document that assists National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit writers in strengthening municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2010
MS4 Program Evaluation Guidance
Guidance document that assists state and NPDES permitting authority staff in assessing the compliance and effectiveness of Phase I and Phase II MS4 programs.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2007
One Drop: Why We Need Green Infrastructure
Two-minute animation illustrating the benefits of green infrastructure.
Author: American Rivers
Date published: 2012
Permitting and Reporting: The Process and Requirements
This factsheet overviews the permitting and reporting processes and requirements for the Stormwater Phase II Final Rule (including for all six minimum control measures).
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Phase II MS4 Storm Water Management Program Minimum Control Measure: Public Involvement and Participation: Stream Clean-Up Event Planning Resources
A planning checklist for use by MS4s in conducting stream cleanup events.
Author: Unknown
Date published: Undated
Potential Pollutants on Construction Sites
Developed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, this one-page document lists pollutants that may be found at construction sites.
Author: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Date published: Undated
Program Evaluation Worksheets
A set of program evaluation worksheets that may be used by stormwater managers to conduct onsite evaluations of stormwater program elements.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2007
RiverSmart Homes: Getting Smart about Runoff in Washington, DC
12-minute video that tells the success story of DC's award-winning RiverSmart Homes retrofit program.
Author: US Environmental Protection Agency
Date published: 2011
Safe Waters, Healthy Waters: A Guide for Citizen Groups on Bacteria Monitoring in Local Waterways
Provides guidance for citizen groups to engage in water quality monitoring in order to detect discharges of untreated or partially treated sewage.
Author: Center for Watershed Protection
Date published: 2016
Sample Self Inspection Form for Stormwater Practices: Field Version
Adaptable templates that can be used in the field when inspecting stormwater practices, as required by EPA's Construction General Permit.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2012
Soil Facts: Using Baffles to Improve Sediment Basins
Describes the benefits of using baffles (sediment traps and basins) for erosion and sediment control. Outlines different types of baffles and their uses.
Author: North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Date published: 2005
Solutions to Stormwater Pollution: Easy Things You Can Do Every Day to Protect Our Water
Sample factsheet developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to educate residents and businesses about how they can help protect water resources.
Author: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Date published: Undated
Source Verification of Inappropriate Discharges to Storm Drainage Systems
Present and discusses various methodologies for investigating, identifying, and correcting illicit discharges into storm drain systems.
Author: Pitt, R. et al, University of Alabama
Date published: 2015
Stormwater Best Management Practice: Concrete Washout
Describes best practices for controlling the flow of concrete washout water at construction sites.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2012
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule
This factsheet describes the Stormwater Phase II Final Rule.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule: Small MS4 Stormwater Program Overview
This factsheet briefly overviews the Small MS4 Stormwater Program.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2005
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule: Urbanized Areas: Definition and Description
The Phase II Final Rule covers all small MS4s located within an "urbanized area." This factsheet describes what constitutes an urbanized area.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2012
Stormwater Phase II Final Rule: Who's Covered? Designation and Waivers of Regulated Small MS4s
The Stormwater Phase II Final Rule applies to operators of regulated small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), which are designated based on the criteria discussed in this factsheet.
Author: US EPA
Date published: 2012
Stormwater Pollution Benchmarking Tool
This stormwater benchmarking tool can be applied to existing individual industrial, municipal, federal, corporate or institutional facilities less than 50 acres in size within the Bay watershed.
Author: Chesapeake Stormwater Network
Date published: 2010
The Inside Scoop: How to Conduct a Pet Waste Outreach Campaign
This manual provides a step by step guide for designing and implementing a pet waste outreach campaign through explaining how to work with local partners to motivate dog owners/walkers to pick up after their dogs and dispose of the waste in an environmentally sound and safe way.
Author: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Date published: 2007
The Spring Creek Stormwater Activity Book
A children's activity booklet designed to teach kids about water resources and stormwater pollution. Includes illustrations, puzzles, and other activities.
Author: College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton Townships; Penn State; and State College Borough
Date published: 2015
Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook
Outlines state minimum standards and specifications for erosion and sediment control.
Author: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Date published: 1992