Stormwater Management and Non-point Source Pollution have moved into the forefront of
Local Government with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Final Rule for Phase
II of the Clean Water Act
(CWA; Dec. 8, 1999; 64 FR
68722) National Pollutant
Discharge
Elimination
System (NPDES).
The
Phase
II
Final
Rule
automatically designates
those Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer Systems
(MS4s)
identified as
“small” MS4s. Phase II
regulates
Municipalities
with a population of at
least 50,000 and not more
than 100,000 and an
aggregate
population
density of at least 1,000
people per square mile. In
addition,
these
Municipalities must be part
of an Urbanized Area (UA)
as defined by the 2000 U.S.
Census (U.S. Bureau of
Census). The objective of
Phase II is control of the last unregulated source of water pollution in the U.S. via a
comprehensive program addressing non-point source (NPS) pollution of surface-and
groundwaters.
Sediment Plume: ; Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Div. of Water Nov.5. 2004
Currently, there are 16 automatically designated Municipalities in Saratoga County.
Saratoga County
Municipalities regulated
by Phase II must initiate
and fully integrate a
permanent non-point
source pollution
prevention and mitigation
program to protect
surface- and groundwater
resources within their
jurisdiction.
Generally titled
Stormwater Management,
each Municipality must
develop and implement a
program of six Minimum
Control Measures:
Source: N Y S Department of Environmental Conservation; 2002 www.dec.state.ny.us
1. Public Education and Outreach
3. Illicit Discharge Detection &
Elimination
5. Post-Construction Runoff Control
2. Public Involvement & Participation
4. Construction Site Runoff Control
6. Good Housekeeping & Pollution
Prevention
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995
Public Education & Outreach
To inform Municipal residents of the NPS pollution problem, the daily activities of residents which
contribute to NPS pollution, and ways their activities can have a positive impact on NPS pollution.
Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn
Plant alternatives to turf grass such as native
perennials and groundcovers
Disconnect your downspout from the storm sewer
system or install a Rain Barrel
Protect your stream buffer
Plant a stream buffer or Rain Garden
Be an erosion and sediment control detective
Source: Center for Watershed Protection: 2002 www.cwp.org
Mow your lawn high
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
Public Involvement & Participation
Create opportunities for residents, citizen groups, business owners, schools, etc. to get involved in
the processes of government and their local Stormwater Management Program (SWMP).
Additionally, create opportunities for such individuals and
groups to become actively involved in direct actions
designed to control
NPS pollution such
as stream clean-ups,
Adopt-a-Stream,
a-Pond & a-Highway
Programs.
Source: Living Lands and Waters; 2004 www.livinglandsandwater.org
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
The detection and elimination of pollutants being discharged into the MS4. Primarily, any discharge
into the MS4 other than stormwater runoff including direct
connections of waste water and effluent from residential or
industrial/commercial sources. Municipalities must map all
outfalls into surface water bodies, outfalls into adjacent
MS4s and all infiltration practices such as dry-wells.
Additionally, Municipalities must adopt a local law prohibiting
illegal connection to or illegal dumping into the MS4. Lastly,
Municipalities must regularly monitor outfalls to maintain
water quality. Examples of prohibited practices include
wastewater/grey water or rooftop runoff conveyances
connected to the MS4 and disposal of chemicals and other
Source: NYS DEC
waste products into ditches, storm sewers, catch basins,
etc.
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
Construction Site Runoff Control
Create a regulatory control of construction activities at the local level for erosion and sediment
control (E&SC). Municipalities must regulate the E&SC practices
of all construction activities disturbing one or more acres of soil
within their jurisdiction.
Municipalities must assume this
responsibility by issuing permits to construction site operators
to control erosion and
sediment transport, at the
site, during construction.

An Unstable Site & Soils


Contractors and Developers Improper Erosion Control
that engage in construction
activities disturbing one or more acres of soil through clearing,
grading and grubbing must prepare a Stormwater Pollution Polluted Construction Runoff
Prevention Plan (SWPPP). “Swips” are a site specific plan
detailing structural and non-structural measures that will be implemented, on-site, to prevent erosion
and control sediment transport from the site.
Once the SWPPP is prepared Contractors and Developers must file a Notice of Intent (NOI)
requesting coverage under the GP-02-01 SPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction
Activities for the project named in the SWPPP. Depending on the SWPPP, applicants whose SWPPP
meets DEC requirements by utilizing the NYS Guidelines for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995
(the “Blue Book”) should receive coverage in 5 business days. Applicants that do not specify that
they have utilized the Blue Book must wait 60 business days. Either way, applicants should begin to
develop a SWPPP early in the development process and be prepared to file the GP-02-01 NOI with
ample time to receive permit coverage before construction commences (clearing & grading).
Contractors & Developers have a special responsibility...preventing erosion and sediment
transportation in Saratoga County are key aspects of better stormwater management and better
watershed health. “My job is only one acre...what could it hurt...?!” QUICK FACTS: From 1980 to
2000 the County population grew by 30.5%. Today the County continues this trend. In any one
year there may be as many as 1,200 or more new project-starts. An un-managed site can produce
up to 2,000 times the sediment-laden runoff as an undeveloped parcel. All those projects add up.
When the project adds up to a little more Contractors & Developers must have included a “PostConstruction” runoff control plans. If you are unsure if your project requires Post-Construction
Runoff Control measures contact the regional DEC Division of Water personnel.
Not only do the post-construction stormwater treatment practices (STP) have to manage the quantity
of flow they must treat the runoff with a proven method of accomplishing A) a percent removal of
pollutants of concern and B) attenuating or slowing the flow of runoff into Federal, State, & Local
Waters. These types of practices help mitigate pollution into our lakes and streams and prevent
flooding and streambank erosion during a large storm event (2-5 inches).
Contractors & Developers can find many of the resources that they need to apply for and
obtain a SPDES GP-02-01 Permit on-line. Please use the links below to find more information
about the Permit and better Stormwater Management.
EPA (NPDES National Menu of BMPs):
W E B~L I N K S
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/menu.cfm
DEC (SPDES Construction Permit Tool Box):
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/toolbox/toolbox.htm
SMRC (Stormwater Managers Resource Center):
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/
ONLINE RESOURCES
Blue Book Section 1
Blue Book Sect 5a
Temporary structures
Technical FAQs
Blue Book Section 2
Blue Book Sect 5b
Permanent structures
Contractor
Responsibilities (Powerpoint)
Blue Book Section 3
Vegetation
N Y S DOS Model E&SC
Law
GP-02-01 Instruction
Manual
Blue Book Section 4
Biotech
Construction FAQs
CDRPC/DEC Phase II
Construction (power point)
E & SC Site Inspection
(power point)
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water.
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995
Post-Construction Runoff Control
Control of runoff from new and re-development projects, of significant size, post-construction.
Although post-construction control has been addressed in the
past, Phase II regulations modify traditional runoff control by
Bio-filtration & Rain Gardens
integrating quantity and quality
stormwater treatment practices.
Stormwater Wetlands
Stormwater Ponds



If the SWPPP requires the
long-term maintenance of
STPs, contractors and developers should contact the
municipality where they are working, inform them of the site
improvements, and get approval by the Planning Board and the Highway or DPW Supervisor before
the improvements have been installed. If the Town, Village or City are going to take responsibility
for the improvements they should approve of the treatment practices before accepting responsibility.
Contractors & Developers can find many of the resources that they need to apply for and
obtain a SPDES GP-02-01 Permit. Please use the links below to find more information about
the Permit and better Stormwater Management.
W E B~L I N K S
EPA (NPDES National Menu of BMPs):
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/menu.cfm
DEC (SPDES Construction Permit Tool Box):
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/toolbox/toolbox.htm
LID (Low-Impact Development):
http://www.lid-stormwater.net/intro/background.htm#top
The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP; downloadable publications):
http://www.cwp.org/pubs_download.htm
SMRC (Stormwater Managers Resource Center):
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/
ONLINE RESOURCES
DEC Stormwater Design
Manual
Rural Design Workbook
LID Hydrology
New Community Tools
Protecting Your Town
Conservation Subdivisions
GP-02-01 Instruction
Manual
Development Impacts on
Water
Watershed Fragmentation
DEC Model Stormwater
Law
Stormwater Site Plan
Review
Addressing Impervious
Cover
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995
Good Housekeeping & Pollution Prevention
Municipal governments will implement a program to minimize or eliminate pollution from
operations, facilities, equipment, and practices. All Municipal operations must be scrutinized
eliminate or mitigate practices that contribute to NPS pollution.
program of inspection and maintenance of the MS4 system must
developed and
implemented.
Finally,
a
program
of
employee
education must
Uncovered
Stockpiles
also
be
Street sweeping
developed
in
conjunction with the auditing of Municipal
operations thereby fully integrating the practice
of NPS pollution control in municipal operations.

all
to
A
be

Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
The Phase II program requirements are comprehensive and complex, requiring efforts form everyone
throughout the County to be successful. Combined, these two facts make the need for innovation,
intergovernmental cooperation, and broad public support the primary tools necessary to make the
Saratoga County Inter-Municipal Stormwater Management Program a success. We must look
throughout Saratoga County for partnership opportunities and the resources necessary to create a
lasting and effective Stormwater Management Program. Everyone can help make a difference.
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995

Although the focus of the
program is stormwater and
the attendant pollution
generated by runoff, the
Saratoga County
Inter-Municipal Stormwater
Management Program is a
tool to more fully incorporate
sound watershed
management throughout the
County. As growth and
development continue to
increase, in rate and scope,
we must take pro-active
control, working to protect
our resources, rural
character, and community
health and viability, now and
into the future.

Source: EPA NPDES Website; http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/swphotos.cfm. 2004
Contact the CCE Saratoga County Stormwater Management Coordinator for more information & how you can
help protect our water
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension Stormwater Management Program (518) 885-8995