SSCAFCA STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

SSCAFCA believes that public education is fundamental to addressing storm water pollution and therefore will implement the following practices. All activities related to public education and outreach will be documented in the annual report.

The Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SSCAFCA) was created in 1990 as a quasi municipality to address regional flooding and storm water drainage problems in the urbanized area of southern Sandoval County. Sandoval County is located just north of and abutting Bernalillo County in central New Mexico. SSCAFCA’s jurisdiction includes the City of Rio Rancho, and portions of the Village of Corrales, the Town of Bernalillo and Sandoval County. SSCAFCA currently owns or operates storm water facilities including dams, channels, ponds and other storm water related infrastructure within its jurisdiction. The population within SSCAFCA’s jurisdiction is estimated to exceed 50,000 within a jurisdictional area of approximately 225 square miles.

SSCAFCA’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan was submitted on March 9, 2003 and utilizes the required six (6) Minimum Control Measures to meet the conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water permit.

First, SSCAFCA published a notice of the Board’s intention to adopt the SWMP and submit the NOI in the local newspapers. Public comment was requested. All of the public’s comments applicable to the SWMP and accepted by the Board were incorporated into the permit. SSCAFCA fully complied with the public notice requirements.

How is our storm water regulated?

The federal government (EPA) oversees the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, which regulates discharges (including stormwater discharges) to the nation’s waterbodies.

The State of New Mexico sets stream standards for the state. The State of New Mexico has been contracted by EPA to enforce these stream standards and run the Storm Water Phase II NPDES program for the State of New Mexico.

Local governmental entities, such as SSCAFCA and its associated communities, implement programs to meet the permit requirements of Storm Water Phase II NPDES permits which govern local waterbodies.

Regulated small entities (like SSCAFCA and its associated communities) must:

• obtain coverage under an NPDES storm water permit. This involves applying for and obtaining the NPDES storm water permit.
• implement storm water pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) or storm water management programs
• implement best management practices (BMPs).
• implement a small MS4 storm water management program comprised of six elements that, when implemented in concert, are expected to result in significant reductions of pollutants discharged into receiving waterbodies

How can we achieve all of our region’s storm water requirements?

SSCAFCA and its associated communities have already obtained our MS4 Phase II storm water permit and identified actions. We now must work together to implement them!

• Community groups can help spread the word to the public about what actions we all need to take in our individual lives to help protect storm water from pollution!
• We must all work together to meet the Phase II storm water permit goals!
• We need the help of community groups such as:
  º community service organizations
  º home owner associations
  º libraries
  º schools
  º government agencies
  º newspapers and television news stations