Stormwater Education and Involvement Programs Through Clemson Extension Urban Water Quality Issues Greensboro, NC July 17, 2008

Carolina Clear is a comprehensive education and outreach initiative designed to inform South Carolinians about stormwater runoff and about practices they can undertake to minimize impacts. What Is Carolina Clear?

Polluted runoff is the #1 water quality problem in South Carolina 60% of our lakes, rivers and creeks are listed by DHEC as impaired Federal and state regulations require many communities to begin storm water outreach and education programs for their citizens. Education is better than enforcement for addressing this important issue Why Carolina Clear?

Polluted runoff is the #1 water quality problem in South Carolina

60% of our lakes, rivers and creeks are listed by DHEC as impaired

Federal and state regulations require many communities to begin storm water outreach and education programs for their citizens.

Education is better than enforcement for addressing this important issue

Why Clemson Extension? Education is our mission. Expertise in water quality, soils, horticulture, community and economic development, and other relevant natural resource issues. Presence in every county and watershed Opportunity for a unified message Expertise in evaluating program effectiveness Sound, thorough reporting mechanisms already in place

Education is our mission.

Expertise in water quality, soils, horticulture, community and economic development, and other relevant natural resource issues.

Presence in every county and watershed

Opportunity for a unified message

Expertise in evaluating program effectiveness

Sound, thorough reporting mechanisms already in place

Homeowners Community and Homeowner Associations Local Elected and Appointed Officials Developers and Realtors Youth Farmers Timber Industry Lawn and Landscape Contractors Nurseries Business Leaders Tourism Industry Who Can Carolina Clear Target?

Homeowners

Community and Homeowner Associations

Local Elected and Appointed Officials

Developers and Realtors

Youth

Farmers

Timber Industry

Lawn and Landscape Contractors

Nurseries

Business Leaders

Tourism Industry

The Cornerstones of Carolina Clear Direct Programs: Web Pages Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods Home-A-Syst/Coast-A-Syst Master Gardeners Fairs, Festivals, Events Household Hazardous Waste Numerous other programs targeted at adult, youth and under-represented populations Public Education and Outreach

Direct Programs:

Web Pages

Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods

Home-A-Syst/Coast-A-Syst

Master Gardeners

Fairs, Festivals, Events

Household Hazardous Waste

Numerous other programs targeted at adult, youth and under-represented populations

Indirect Programs: Television PSAs Radio PSAs Billboards Bill Stuffers News Articles/Press Releases Programs appearing on Your Day and Making It Grow The Cornerstones of Carolina Clear Public Education and Outreach

Indirect Programs:

Television PSAs

Radio PSAs

Billboards

Bill Stuffers

News Articles/Press Releases

Programs appearing on Your Day and Making It Grow

4H2O Pontoon Classroom Adopt-A-Watershed/Storm Drain Volunteer WQ Monitoring Paint the Drain/Storm Drain Stenciling Neighborhood Associations Southeastern Phytoplankton Monitoring Network Varies for each MS4 The Cornerstones of Carolina Clear Public Participation and Involvement

4H2O Pontoon Classroom

Adopt-A-Watershed/Storm Drain

Volunteer WQ Monitoring

Paint the Drain/Storm Drain Stenciling

Neighborhood Associations

Southeastern Phytoplankton Monitoring Network

Varies for each MS4

Consortium Approach Way back in 2004… Idea was established for a consortium approach in the Myrtle Beach UA Clemson University Cooperative Extension CCU – Waccamaw Watershed Academy SC Sea Grant Extension Program NIWB NERR Each entity had education goals related to water quality Joined with communities to discuss providing the stormwater education and involvement requirements

Way back in 2004…

Idea was established for a consortium approach in the Myrtle Beach UA

Clemson University Cooperative Extension

CCU – Waccamaw Watershed Academy

SC Sea Grant Extension Program

NIWB NERR

Each entity had education goals related to water quality

Joined with communities to discuss providing the stormwater education and involvement requirements

Consortium Origin Recognized need to coordinate stormwater education Reasons: Optimize regional education efforts Differentiate between education providers Assist with Phase II NPDES compliance for regional MS4s

Recognized need to coordinate stormwater education

Reasons:

Optimize regional education efforts

Differentiate between education providers

Assist with Phase II NPDES compliance for regional MS4s

Initial Consortium Meeting Attendees MS4s: Conway, Georgetown Co, Horry Co, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach DHEC-OCRM Core Education Providers Review Motivation for Consortium Select Name Brainstorm List of Participants Define Consensus Points Regional coordination IS a good idea Push forward with education efforts despite lack of Phase II general permit

Attendees

MS4s:

Conway, Georgetown Co, Horry Co, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach

DHEC-OCRM

Core Education Providers

Review Motivation for Consortium

Select Name

Brainstorm List of Participants

Define Consensus Points

Regional coordination IS a good idea

Push forward with education efforts despite lack of Phase II general permit

1992

2001

2010 3:1

2020 3:1

2030 3:1

CWSEC Goal Develop and implement effective, outcomes-based stormwater education and outreach programs that will meet federal requirements and satisfy the environmental and economic needs of the community that they serve.

Develop and implement effective, outcomes-based stormwater education and outreach programs that will meet federal requirements and satisfy the environmental and economic needs of the community that they serve.

Who Is Using Carolina Clear? 24 MS4s in 6 urbanized areas Myrtle Beach UA Charleston UA Columbia UA Florence UA Sumter UA Greenville UA (Pickens) Carolina Clear takes a regional approach, forming education consortia within watersheds Coordinate development of public education and involvement strategic plans Implement customized plan for each urbanized area

24 MS4s in 6 urbanized areas

Myrtle Beach UA

Charleston UA

Columbia UA

Florence UA

Sumter UA

Greenville UA (Pickens)

Carolina Clear takes a regional approach, forming education consortia within watersheds

Coordinate development of public education and involvement strategic plans

Implement customized plan for each urbanized area

Carolina Clear Reputation SC DHEC has carefully reviewed the scope and plan for Carolina Clear, and provided an unequivocal endorsement: "Carolina Clear is an excellent program (for educating about stormwater) and DHEC endorses the [program] and encourages it to be used by local government in administering their local NPDES MS4 program." Marion Saddler, SC DHEC February 2002

SC DHEC has carefully reviewed the scope and plan for Carolina Clear, and provided an unequivocal endorsement:

"Carolina Clear is an excellent program (for educating about stormwater) and DHEC endorses the [program] and encourages it to be used by local government in administering their local NPDES MS4 program."

Marion Saddler, SC DHEC February 2002

Questions? THANK YOU!