I recently reviewed a research report conducted by the PEC (Pennsylvania Environmental Council) in September 2007 outlining the efforts by the Council to examine the efficacy of its watershed protection programs. As part of this effort, the Council held a practitioners meeting consisting of attendees from professionals in engineering, planning, academia, watershed organizations, and community groups. The focus of the meeting touched on identifying the challenges to fixing stormwater issues, as well as ways to work together to successfully solve these problems.

While the issues were localized to Pennsylvania, the points addressed are broad and applicable across the country. Furthermore, the cooperation seen through this process is the kind of proactive approach that needs to be taken up to address the multitude of stormwater issues impacting surface water in all regions.

To summarize:

The Challenges

• The need to identify an end result
• Inability to monitor overall BMP effectiveness
• Unclear guidelines for operation and maintenance of BMPs
• Limited sources of funding
• Letting opportunity rather than need control implementation of BMPs

The Opportunities

• Developing better planning and design
• Identifying sources of funding
• Connecting stormwater activities to other community priorities
• Educating public on the importance of stormwater management

The full text of the report can be read at the PEC website.