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Stormwater

Chelan County Comprehensive Stormwater Plan

Chelan County Public Works, in addition to the Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are responsible for surface water management in unincorporated Chelan County pursuant to the Federal Clean Water Act and conditions set forth within the Department of Ecology’s Eastern Washington Municipal Stormwater Permit.

In carrying out this responsibility, Chelan County Public Works plans, designs, and secures permits for new public drainage facilities, reviews private drainage system designs and maintains existing public storm drainage and surface water management facilities.

In January 2008, Chelan County adopted a surface stormwater utility boundary and program to fund and manage the stormwater needs within the unincorporated areas around the City of Wenatchee. The Chelan County 2012 Comprehensive Stormwater Plan, dated July 2012, is the compilation of this effort. It provides detailed information on the stormwater systems, drainages, water quality, and deficiencies. The plan identifies and prioritizes stormwater projects which would address these deficiencies within the utility area. Additionally, the plan identifies possible funding sources to implement and complete projects.

On December 28, 2012 the Board of Chelan County Commissioners held a public hearing and voted to adopt amendments to the Chelan County Comprehensive Plan, which included the addition of the 2012 Comprehensive Stormwater Plan (Resolution 2012-124). The Comprehensive Stormwater Plan can be downloaded below.

Chelan County Comprehensive Stormwater Plan 2012

Stormwater NPDES Program

Program Pollutants carried in stormwater runoff are quickly becoming a leading cause of water pollution in rivers and lakes. The Urban Growth Area of Wenatchee falls under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II requirements which require a specific set of actions to meet these Clean Water Act mandates. Chelan County is required to get a stormwater quality permit from the Department of Ecology for this service area under the NPDES regulations. This NPDES Phase II planning area will have the same boundary as the new Chelan County stormwater utility area.

In February of 2007, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued the Eastern Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit to the City of Wenatchee, Chelan County, Douglas County and the City of East Wenatchee. This permit requires each jurisdiction to develop and implement a stormwater program with the goal of reducing the amount of pollution in stormwater.

In addition, the permit requires each jurisdiction to maintain records on stormwater acitivites and provide annual reports to the Department of Ecology.

Chelan County 2011 Annual Report

Chelan County 2012 Annual Report

To share resources and develop a consistent regional stormwater program, representatives from both cities and counties have been working together to meet the requirements of the permit. This group is called the Wenatchee Valley Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee (WVSTAC). Over the past five years the program has be developed and implemented. Additional information can be found on the WVSTAC webpage.

Stormwater Hotline

Stormwater is runoff from rain and snow storms. A system of gutters, ditches and storm drains collect the runoff and discharge it into local rivers and streams. Stormwater becomes a source of water pollution when oil, trash or other contaminants are dumped into gutters and storm drains.