Department of
Environmental
Programs
OCTOBER 2, 2014
GVMC BOARD MEETING
Overview
Milestones
Programs
Partnerships
Outreach
Milestones
Staff
Stormwater Program Coordinator
Bonnie Broadwater
GVSU Graduate Assistant
Brian Zuber
KCAD Photography Interns
Ashley Dettloff & Christopher Struck
Environmental Programs 2009-2013
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0
2009
Revenues
Expenses
2010
End Year Fund Bal
2011
2012
2013
Programs
Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds
(LGROW)
NPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
(MS4) Permit
Environmental Education
Community Resiliency and Sustainability
Farmland Preservation
Grand River Restoration
LGROW
Completed Business Plan August 2014
 The Organization and its Environment
 The Programs/Services and Social Return on Investment
 Sustainable Human Resource Plan
 Governance and Leadership
 Sustainable Income Plan
 The Financials
 Articles of Organization & Bylaws
 Statement of Assets, Revenue, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance
 Strategic Plan
 Logic Model
Call to Action!
LGROW
History & Purpose
 Began in the late 90’s as a Stormwater Task Force
 Relationships firmed up in 2002
 Early efforts included the 2003 Grand River Beacon
 Focus has always had two parts
 Governmental Compliance
 Environmental Stewardship
Scott Conners, P.E.
LGROW/MS4
What has LGROW done
for you?
Collaborative Savings for Walker!
 2002 Estimated cost of NPDES Compliance - $100,000
 2003 Actual cost of NPDES Compliance - $13,000
Tremendous cost savings was realized as communities
firmed up relationship and partnerships to share in the
cost of compliance.
Scott Conners, P.E.
MS4
Stormwater Ordinance

LGROW has led the state in collaboration on regional stormwater ordinance
creation.

The MDEQ’s MS4 Stakeholder Group has representation from Walker, Grand
Rapids, & KCRC…..all of which represent LGROW and our entire region!

Kent County’s Model Ordinance has set the stage for continued cooperation and
now this ordinance is the backbone of our proposed 2014 rewrite to meet the
new regulations proposed as part of our new MS4 permit requirements.

LGROW and our local MS4 group is now reaching out to state officials with
alternative approaches to proposed design restrictions in an effort to balance
development with good environmental practice. AS A REGION! This process has
been engaged by local government agencies, local MDEQ staff, the design
community, and even the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce..
Scott Conners, P.E.
LGROW/MS4
City of Grand Rapids
Watershed approach allowed transition from Phase I
to Phase II Community to join other communities in
watershed-based permit
Committee structure promotes sharing of resources
and expertise
Stormwater Ordinance (the SWOrd)
Public Education Plan/Public Awareness and Marketing
(PEP/PAM)
Data, Information, and Procedures (DIP)
Carrie Rivette, P.E.
LGROW/MS4
City of Grand Rapids
Public Education Plan/
Public Awareness and
Marketing (PEP/PAM)
Carrie Rivette, P.E.
LGROW/MS4
City of Grand Rapids
Data, Information, and
Procedures (DIP)
Carrie Rivette, P.E.
LGROW/MS4
Village of Spring Lake
Jurisdictional to Watershed Permit
Converted Stormwater Management Plan to
align with Watershed Management Plan and
other communities’ SWPPIs
Regional cooperation allowed for cost savings
and assistance in meeting permit compliance
Roger Belknap
Environmental Education
Building partnerships and presence in region
Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative Groundswell Program
Lower Grand River Education Initiative Grant
 Grand Rapids Public Schools, Fountain Street Montessori School (4-6)
 Forest Hills Eastern Middle School (7-8)
 Kent Innovation High School (9-12)
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) event
Collaborating on 3rd floor renovation – river exhibits
Hosting LGROW 2014 Spring Forum
Grand Valley State University programs
Annis Water Resources Institute
Departments of Geology, Biology, and Natural Resources Management
Mike Posthumus and Clay Pelon
Other Programs
Community Resiliency
Farmland Preservation and Conservation
Grand River Restoration Project
Partnerships
Grant Funded Projects
Timberland RC&D
Ottawa Conservation District
Plaster Creek Stewards
GR Public Museum
Kent Conservation District
Trout Unlimited
Groundswell
Ionia Conservation District
Partnerships
Regional Partners
Middle Grand River Organization of
Watershed (MGROW)
Grand River Environmental Action Team
(GREAT)
Macatawa Area Coordinating Council
(MACC)
West Michigan Shoreline Regional
Development Commission (WMSRDC)
Outreach
Social Media
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
E-newsletter
Google+
Outreach
Events
Other Media
Conferences
Farmers’ Markets
City, County, and Local
Planning Commissions
Students & Teachers
Professional Society
Presentations
WYCE
Detroit TV
The Rapidian
Grand Rapids Press
Other groups’
newsletters
What’s Next?
Send survey to GVMC board members
Prioritize programming
Add more staff for programs
Continue collaboration with partners