Current Issue
Stormwater Work Group Reporter
Issue #51, July 2022
Key news and information you need to stay current on Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM, the regional stormwater monitoring program), and the strategic approach to monitoring and assessment to reduce stormwater impacts in western Washington
New to SWG? Watch the ten minute introductory video
A brief history and explanation of the Stormwater Work Group and SAM is now posted on Ecology’s YouTube page.
More information: SWG support pages
Read the SAM 2021 Annual Report
Each spring the SAM Coordinator writes a summary of study findings and progress during the prior calendar year.
More information: SAM webpage
More new SAM studies coming
This summer SWG subgroups will discuss what topics should be addressed by fourth round of SAM Effectiveness Studies and Source Identification Projects. SWG will solicit a fourth round of proposals in 2023; the selected new SAM studies will begin in 2023 and 2024. To join the conversation about topics for the solicitation, contact the new SWG Coordinator, Amy Waterman.
More information: SAM effectiveness study pages
Read the report evaluating existing BMPs for 6PPD/6PPD-quinone reduction
In preparation for Ecology’s upcoming report to the legislature, Osborn Consulting and Evergreen StormH2O reviewed literature to understand the properties of 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone and evaluated likelihood of existing source control and treatment best management practices (BMPs) to reduce concentrations of these chemicals in roadway runoff.
More information: SWG 6PPD Subgroup page
SWG 6PPD Subgroup discussing stormwater management approaches
Since 6PPD-quinone was confirmed as the chemical responsible for the acute toxicity observed in adult Coho salmon exposed to road runoff, this subgroup has been gathering questions and information about the chemical, the scope of its impacts, and strategic approaches for stormwater management. The subgroup had a series of discussions about treatment BMPs, geographic priorities, stormwater source control, and other related topics and made recommendations to SWG for SAM study topics in April. They will meet again July 7 to discuss the Osborn/Evergreen StormH2O report.
More information: SWG 6PPD Subgroup page and GovDelivery emails (see last item in this newsletter)
Study of Mulch Effectiveness for Bioretention Facilities Completed
This SAM study, led by WSU Puyallup, determined the effectiveness of three mulch types (arborist wood chips, medium bark, and nugget bark) to reduce weeds, retain moisture in bioretention soils, and capture pollutants. Maintenance programs will find useful information to improve plant growth and minimize weeds and costs in the final report and SAM fact sheet.
More information: SAM effectiveness study pages
Bioretention Longevity Study Extended
This SAM study, led by WSU Puyallup, simulated ten water years of stormwater flow through the bioretention soil mix and observed that the protection against coho mortality persists. The first stage was completed June 30 and the final SAM study report will be available this fall. Ecology is extending the study through June 2023 with one year of additional funding from the state legislature. The researchers will simulate an additional three water years and publish a supplemental report.
More information: SAM effectiveness study pages
Retrofit policy discussions underway
In May, Ecology convened a Policy Advisory Committee to gather broader recommendations to inform conditions for future Phase I and II Western Washington municipal stormwater permits. Contact Abbey Stockwell for information about the policy discussions.
More information: MS4 Reissuance webpage
You’re invited to participate in the Stormwater Work Group: join our caucuses!
While our topical subgroups are open to all interested parties and our meetings are open to the public, each person “at the table” in SWG meetings is a formal member or alternate designated to speak for a stormwater management and monitoring interest group. To be added to an interest group list contact: Todd Hunsdorfer for local governments; Abby Barnes for state agencies; Bob Black for federal agencies; Mindy Roberts for environmental groups; Alison Halpern for agriculture; Jane Dewell for public ports; or the SWG Coordinator if you are interested in representing or discussing SWG issues with tribes or business groups, or want to join any of our subgroups.
More information: SWG support pages
About the Stormwater Work Group The Stormwater Work Group (SWG) is a coalition of representatives of local, state, and federal governments, environmental and business organizations, public ports, tribes, and agriculture. SWG formed in 2008 to develop a strategic, coordinated and integrated approach to understanding and addressing the stormwater problem in Puget Sound. Our work supports Strategic Action Monitoring (SAM) implementation and other stormwater-related monitoring, studies, and adaptive management. We participate as a topical work group in the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) .
More information: SWG support pages
Stay in touch! Join the listservs You can join any or all of our new email lists on your Subscriber Preferences Page. Enter your email address, click to add subscriptions, and navigate to the Water Quality Program list to find: STORMWATER-ACTION-MONITORING: up to three newsletters per year to hear about SAM study findings and upcoming workshops; SWG-REPORTER: four issues per year to hear about study findings and the process for prioritizing and selecting studies (read the latest issue); STORMWATER-WORK-GROUP meeting agendas, materials, and summaries of our meetings, and additional announcements related to our work; and SWG-6PPD-SUBGROUP for meeting agendas and notes of those discussions.