Stormwater Summit Day Two Presentations: Part 3

Session 1: Public Works to the Rescue: Looking Beyond Structural Solutions for Effective MS4 Nutrient Control

Effectively reducing nutrient loads will require a full suite of structural and non-structural implementation strategies. The cost-effectiveness and co-benefits of a full range of management alternatives, from street sweeping to stream restoration to leaf litter collection, must be utilized to meet nutrient reduction targets. To encourage these approaches, regulatory program partners across the country should rely on expert research and implementation insights from within and outside their regions to avoid the misdirected funding and costly mistakes that have already been made elsewhere.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the latest research on leaf litter collection and the benefits for stormwater-related nutrient control.

2. Compare regional nutrient credit policies and discrepancies within the Northeast region.

3. Examine cost implications of widespread decentralized, structural stormwater treatment for nutrient control.

Speaker: Zach Henderson, Technical Manager, Woodard & Curran

Session 2: Practical Stormwater Data Collection with Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

The availability of affordable small unmanned aerial systems – sUAS (also known as drones with lightweight sensors and powerful photogrammetry software has made sUAS a useful and flexible tool for stormwater management data collection. sUAS data collection offers advantages over ground-based methods, including rapid topographic mapping, thermal and multispectral imagery for evaluation of vegetation and hydrology patterns, and increased worker safety. Commercially available sUAS flight planning and photogrammetry software allows for rapid preparation of topographic maps useful for evaluating stormwater drainage patterns. Specialized sensors allow for collection of multiple data types including mapping impervious ground, vegetative health and growth, stormwater discharge mixing zones, and the effects of discharge on receiving waters. This presentation will include an overview of various stormwater applications, sUAS regulations, training, sensor, and software selection, and the accuracy and limitations of sUAS data collection.

Learning Objectives:

1. Communicate within your organization regarding the feasibility of stormwater data collection using sUAS.

2. Identify stormwater data collection tasks on your projects that can be streamlined or enhanced using sUAS.

3. Select sUAS and sensors for specific stormwater-related data collection activities.

Speakers: Brendan Brown, P.W.S., Environmental Scientist, CDM Smith and Howard Young, PG, Senior Geologist, CDM Smith