Carson City updating stormwater plan

Carson City is updating its stormwater management plan.

The Public Works department will work on it this summer and will make the plan available on its website for a 30-day public review and comment before taking it to the Board of Supervisors, possibly in September, for approval.

The plan, updated every five to 10 years, provides a guide for the city’s stormwater management program and covers public outreach, illicit discharge, construction requirements, best practices for municipal entities and separate requirements for the Clear Creek watershed.

This updated plan also will include a roadmap to develop a low-impact development ordinance, which the federal government now requires of each state.

The ordinance will apply to new development, both residential and commercial, and redevelopment, and will outline low-impact practices such as permeable pavement and curb cuts, which are designed to keep water on site rather than running it off.

The goal is to develop the ordinance within two years.

The city is also looking at launching an adopt-a-watershed program in the plan.

The details are still being worked out, according to Robb Fellows, senior project manager, stormwater, but would be similar to widely used adopt-a-highway programs.

Businesses, organizations and individuals would take some responsibility for a small portion of a watershed.

Each would have unique needs, but the overall goal is the same for all.

“Pick up trash, look for noxious weeds, keep an eye out for it,” said Shyla Lemons, engineer tech II, floodplain/stormwater management.

“You would not believe what people do.”

Every day Public Works finds what some people do, from dumping trash in Goni Canyon to evidence of paint dumped into a storm drain on Table Rock Drive behind Walmart.

“People think the sewer and storm drain are connected,” said Lemons. “That storm drain goes straight to the river.”

Most people, she said, are happy to do the right thing once they know what that is.

For example, many people don’t know dumping grass clippings adds nitrogen to the river which can create algae blooms.

Citizens can report problems they see via Carson City Connect, the online reporting tool available at the city’s web site, carson.org.

They can also ask questions by calling the stormwater hotline at 887-2305 or by emailing stormwaterhotlime@carson.org.

The department is also looking for suggestions on how to implement its adopt-a-watershed program as well as the stormwater management plan and is soon going to be sending out the second of its annual educational brochures to homeowners.

“The whole point is to change habits,” said Fellows.