Public invited to provide feedback on King County’s Stormwater Management Program

King County residents can provide feedback on local stormwater management program elements throughout the year by submitting comments via email to stormwater@kingcounty.gov .  Prior to the submittal of King County's Annual Report to the Department of Ecology in March of each year of the permit term, King County may host public meetings to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about planned updates to the County’s Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).  This effort is part of King County’s ongoing commitment to protect public health and improve environmental conditions in our local streams, rivers and Puget Sound.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) has identified stormwater as a significant contributor to reduced water quality in Puget Sound, which is targeted for clean up by a new state agency, the Puget Sound Partnership.

As part of the clean-up strategy for Puget Sound, DOE used its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting authority to issue strict new stormwater permits to municipalities. King County has developed the SWMP to meet the requirements of this new permit. The program will be reviewed and updated annually, providing the public with an ongoing opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about the program’s development and implementation. The new 2009 SWMP document, which outlines what King County will do in 2009 to comply with the permit, was submitted to Ecology on March 31, 2009.

• Link to Stormwater Management Program Page
• Online stormwater survey
  The first 200 survey participants will receive a voucher for a free car wash.
• Summary of 2009 SWMP Public Comments (PDF, 14.5 KB)

2009 Stormwater Management Public Involvement Meetings

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Place:
Issaquah City Hall South, Eagle Room
135 E. Sunset Way
Issaquah
Directions to Issaquah City Hall

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Place:
Covington Library
27100 164th Ave. S.E.
Covington
Directions to Covington Library

Date: Monday, March 9, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Place:
Redmond City Hall
Council Chambers
15670 NE 85th Street
Redmond
Directions to Redmond City Hall

For more information and to participate, please visit:

• King County Stormwater Services Web site
• King County's 2008 Stormwater Management Program document
  (New 2009 document will be posted for review on February 20)
• Answers to frequently asked questions
• King County's Municipal NPDES Stormwater Permit (DOE Web site)

Three ways to comment:
Members of the public can provide comments on the program at the public meetings, via e-mail at stormwater@kingcounty.gov, or through the U.S. mail by sending comments to the Stormwater Management Team, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104.
Public comment on the program will be accepted through March 13.