UWRI Releases Free Tool to Calculate Water Quality Capture Volume

If you are an MS4 or a Floodplain Administrator in Nebraska, you should consider using the WQ-COSM tool to get an accurate value of your local water quality rain event.  

If you are interested, we can consider running this simulation for a couple communities in Nebraska when we host the NeFSMA Annual Conference on June 23rd, 2011.  Send an email to jesse.poore@fhueng.com if you want us to consider running the tool for your community at the conference.

URBAN WATERSHEDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

To all stormwater management professionals:

The Urban Watersheds Research Institute, with the help and guidance of the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District and the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Colorado Denver, developed new software for the sizing of the Water Quality Capture Volume (WQCV), an essential part of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that control the volume and rates of runoff. 

This software calculates surface runoff using continuous simulation.  To do so, it uses continuous 15- and 60-minute rainfall data available from the National Climatologic Data Center.   Two runoff options are available, the Rational Method and the modified Horton's Equation, similar to that employed by the EPA SWMM 5.0 model.  Runoff is based on the hydrologic properties of the tributary catchment and will work anywhere in the country.  The WQCV is calculated using the runoff volumes generated and the user-input drain time for this volume, something the user should know for the BMP being designed.

The model provides the user with a comprehensive list of WQCVs to choose from along with the percent of all runoff volume captured, as well as the percent of the storm events captured in total for each capture volume.  In addition, the maximized WQCV (i.e., the point of diminishing returns) is also identified for the user to consider.  This information greatly simplifies the sizing and the design of BMPs.  Best of all, it is simple to use and BMP design is then based on continuous simulation results using rainfall data collected over long periods of time (i.e., most of the time exceeding 20 years) and not on synthetic design storms. 

A document describing what the software does, the software itself, and the user manual may be downloaded and used at no cost from the following three links: 

http://urbanwatersheds.org/links/pdf/Description%20of%20the%20WQ-COSM%20Computer%20Model.pdf

http://urbanwatersheds.org/software/WQ-COSM%201.0.msi

http://urbanwatersheds.org/software/WQ-COSM_v1.0-Users_Manual.pdf

UWRI would appreciate hearing from you if you use it, how it performs and what enhancements or changes you would like to see implemented in the future.  E-mail Ben Urbonas your comments at info@urbanwatersheds.org.

Ben Urbonas, PE, D.WRE

President

Urban Watersheds Research Institute

North Platte Rain Garden Workshop

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Stormwater Management Team will be hosting a rain garden workshop in North Platte.  The event will include classroom and hands-on instruction.

When: Friday May 20, 2011 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Where: West Central Research Extension Center - 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte
Cost: $15 - Lunch will be provided

Contact Katie Pekarek at (402) 643-2981 for more information.

EPA Solicits Public Comment on Permit to Reduce Stormwater Discharge From Construction Sites

Contact Information: Enesta Jones, Jones.enesta@epa.gov, 202-564-7873, 202-564-4355


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing for public comment a draft permit that will help improve our nation's waterways by regulating the discharge of stormwater from construction sites. Stormwater discharges during construction activities can contain sediment and pollutants that harm aquatic ecosystems, increase drinking water treatment costs and pollute waters that people use for fishing, swimming and other recreational activities.

The proposed Construction General Permit (CGP) includes a number of enhanced protections, including enhanced provisions to protect impaired and sensitive waters. Some of the significant proposed permit modifications include new requirements for: Eligibility for emergency-related construction; Required use of the electronic notice of intent process; Sediment and erosion controls; Natural buffers or alternative controls; Soil stabilization; Pollution prevention; Site inspections; Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans; and Permit termination.

Many of the new permit requirements implement new effluent limitations guidelines and new source performance standards for the construction and development industry that became effective on February 1, 2010. These requirements include a suite of erosion and sediment controls and pollution prevention measures that apply to all permitted construction sites.

The permit will be effective in areas where EPA is the permitting authority, including four states (Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Mexico); Washington, D.C.; most territories; and most Indian country lands.

The public will have 60 days to comment on the draft permit. EPA anticipates that it will issue the final construction general permit by January 31, 2012.

The current permit is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2011; however, EPA is proposing to extend the current permit until January 31, 2012 to provide sufficient time to finalize the new permit.

Click here for more information on the proposed construction general permit.

Two For Tom (Liptan) - Stormwater Webinar and Seminar

The learning opportunities just keep on coming our way.  This post is about two separate events this Wednesday that include speaker Tom Liptan, FASLA, Registered Landscape Architect with the City of Portland, OR.

Below is the information needed to participate in Tom Liptans' Good Housekeeping Webinar.


When: Wednesday, April 27, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (45 to 50 minutes of presentation, 30 - 45 minutes for questions and answers if needed)

Topic: "Good Housekeeping for Stormwater Management" - preventing and reducing stormwater pollution from activities such as park and open space maintenance, new construction and land disturbances, and other municipal operations. Focus on controls for reducing or eliminating discharge of pollutants from streets, roads, highways, and municipal parking lots.

How to Participate: The URL is http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/unl for the conference.

Click on the URL; then enter the conference (Connect Room) as a guest. The phone # will be in the Connect room when you login that day. Ideally, please select the option to "receive a call from the meeting". You can call the 800 # from your phone; however, it is preferred that you allow the system to call you. If you have a question for Tom during the webinar or immediately following his presentation, we ask that you type it into the chat box.

Please call Kelly Feehan 402-563-4901 or e-mail her if you have any questions.

Below is the description of Tom Liptans Seminar for that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at Hardin Hall on East Campus in Lincoln. Click the image to open readable version!

In The News

Two dams that affect river flows in Nebraska were in the news this week.

The Omaha-World Herald reported that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted permission to Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District to increase the water level in Lake McConaughy to help alleviate downstream flooding concerns.  Click here for original article.

The Sioux City Journal reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be increasing release rates from the Gavins Point and Fort Randall Dams in order to alleviate flooding upstream of those dams.  Click here for original article.

As we move into the spring flooding season, what is your community doing to prepare?