In 1992, the Town appointed a Stormwater Management Committee to study
stormwater management issues in Chapel Hill. In 2004, the Town’s discussions
and recommendations led to creating a Stormwater Management Utility, funded by
property owner fees based on the amount of impervious surface on the property. See
Background Documents for history of this
development.
The Engineering Department’s Stormwater Management Division responsibilities
cover a variety of stormwater-related issues within Chapel Hill and the Cape Fear River Basin.
During the first two years, staff was hired and trained; billing procedures
for the stormwater management utility were developed and implemented; an advisory board was
established; the Division worked with other Town entities as needed to respond
to and support stormwater issues; federal, state and local coordination was
developed; and responsibilities as listed below have been and continue to be
fulfilled.
In 2006, Jewell Engineering Consultants, PC was selected for developing a
long term Master Plan
for the Stormwater Management Division. The multi-year planning process will take
into consideration the need to:
Respond to stormwater-related citizen inquiries and requests-for-assistance
Investigate inquiries associated with stormwater management, floodplain
management, drainage, pollution, etc. and provide follow-up with citizens
Develop and implement activities to comply with the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal stormwater permit
including the six minimum measures and annual reporting requirements:
Public education and outreach
Public involvement and participation
Illicit discharge detection and elimination
Construction site stormwater runoff control
Post-construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment
Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations
Perform field classification of streams; identify and map breakpoints
between perennial and intermittent stream regimes; update and maintain Resource
Conservation District (RCD) mapping and related database/filing system; and
assist the Town Zoning Compliance Officer with investigation of RCD
inquiries/violations
Perform development reviews involving stormwater management, floodplain
management, and RCD criteria and requirements. Review and make recommendations
regarding RCD and Stormwater Impact Statement exemption requests
Provide technical assistance concerning stormwater management practices,
sediment and erosion control, and floodplain issues
Interpret the FEMA floodplain maps for citizens; compile mapping
comments for submission to FEMA and the NC Division of Emergency Management;
coordinate and maintain records of active and completed floodplain map
revisions/amendments; and assist the Town Zoning Compliance Officer with
investigation of floodplain inquiries/violations
Conduct instream water quality sampling; confirm sampling sites and
sampling procedures; submit samples for laboratory analysis; and prepare
quarterly reports and graphic displays of sampling and analysis results
Manage and update stormwater billing file; manage databases to track
payment and fee review data; process applications for Stormwater Fee
Assistance; respond to customer requests-for assistance regarding impervious
surface data, billing, procedures, etc.
Manage the development and implementation of the Town’s Stormwater
Management Program Master Plan
Administer Hazard Mitigation Grant projects (e.g. Camelot Village voluntary buyouts)
Prepare and coordinate annual review of the Town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan
Conduct field inventory and data collection of all storm drainage infrastructure
Provide technical and staff support to the Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board
Develop and administer Stormwater Management Program capital improvements projects
Identify grant opportunities to fund drainage and water quality
improvement projects and stream bank stabilization projects; prepare and submit
grant applications; develop and monitor approved grant-funded projects
Prepare contract documents and administer stormwater-related
professional services and construction contracts
Inspect public and private stormwater facilities
Conduct annual stream monitoring and survey for stream restoration
projects (e.g., Eastwood Lake/Booker Creek project)
Coordinate biennial bridge inspections program; implement corrective
actions identified in inspection reports
