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Home My WebLink About2024-1836 From:Leif Kindberg To:Agenda Item Comment Cc:"Morgan Keeling" Subject:Letter of Support for Fayetteville Stormwater Utility Date:Tuesday, May 7, 2024 5:21:33 PM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png IRWP Letter of Support_Fayetteville Stormwater Utility.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear City Council Members, Please see attached letter of support for the City of Fayetteville stormwater utility. Thank you for your consideration. Leif May7, 2024 Dear Fayetteville City Council, I am writing to express support of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) for the implementation of the stormwater utility fee as proposed by the cityto support stormwater infrastructure maintenance, operations, water quality monitoring, and other stormwater infrastructure quality is increasingly impacted by land cover and land use changes, increasing precipitation, and inadequate stormwater management functionality. Addressing stormwater volume and quality has become increasingly crucial not only for our communitiesand the City staff have dedicated many hours to researching the proposed stormwater utility fee, including consulting with IRWP and otherpartners, that aims to raise necessary funds dedicated to stormwater management, a vital tool for addressing stormwater impacts. Most of the Cityof Fayetteville stormwater infrastructure is designed to manage floods. However, this stormwater utility will enable the cityto maintainexisting stormwater infrastructure, retrofitdetention ponds, upgradesurfacematerials, stabilize streambanks,enhance riparian areas, and add vegetated strips and ditches, bioswales, and other proven best management practices. These types of investments are effective at managing stormwater bysimultaneously protectingwater quality and downstream property owners located throughout the City and on Clear Creek, Goose Creek, and other tributaries that convey stormwater away from Fayetteville. By developing a sustainable source of funds to invest instormwater infrastructure, the city is also committing to progress toward meeting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality standards, addressing flooding risks caused to downstream property owners and communities. The City of Fayetteville added 464 acres ofimpervious area within city limits between 2018 and 2022. With these rates of growth, amodest 1-inch storm is resultinginapproximately 5.6 milliongallons of additionalstormwater runoffin Fayetteville (Table 1). ğĬƌĻ Њʹ DğƌƌƚƓƭ ƚŅwǒƓƚŅŅ źƓ ЊΏźƓĭŷ wğźƓźƓ bğƷǒƩğƌ ǝƭ͵ ƩĬğƓźǩĻķ \[ğƓķ /ƚǝĻƩ 9ǝğƦƚƷƩğƓƭƦźƩğƷźƚƓLƓŅźƌƷƩğƷźƚƓwǒƓƚŅŅ bğƷǒƩğƌ DƩƚǒƓķ /ƚǝĻƩ 40% (5,039,782.4)50%(6,299,728)10% (1,259,945.60) LƒƦĻƩǝźƚǒƭ \[ğƓķ /ƚǝĻƩ ΛАЎіΏЊЉЉіΜ 30% (3,779,836.8)15% (1,889,918.4)55% (6,929,700.8) ΏЊͲЋЎВͲВЍЎ͵ЏЉ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭΏЍͲЍЉВͲБЉВ͵ЏЉ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭњЎͲЏЏВͲАЎЎ͵ЋЉ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭ bƚƷĻʹ Њ źƓĭŷ ƩğźƓͲ Њ ğĭƩĻ ў ЋАͲЊЎЍ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭͲ ЍЏЍ ğĭƩĻƭ ǣ ЋАͲЊЎЍ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭͲ ЊЋͲЎВВͲЍЎЏ ŭğƌƌƚƓƭ ƚŅ ǞğƷĻƩ͵ PO Box 205, Cave Springs, AR 72718 www.irwp.org By funding stormwater practices that improve evapotranspiration, infiltration, and reduce runoff, downstream flooding can be significantly reduced and water quality can be improved. Reductions in nutrients and pollutants can be achieved through the implementation of various green infrastructure BMPs. A summary of estimated reductions are below. Њ ğĬƌĻ Ћʹ {ǒƒƒğƩǤ ƚŅ bǒƷƩźĻƓƷ ğƓķ tƚƌƌǒƷğƓƷ wĻķǒĭƷźƚƓƭ ĬǤ .at bǒƷƩźĻƓƷ wĻķǒĭƷźƚƓƭʹ tƚƌƌǒƷğƓƷ wĻķǒĭƷźƚƓƭʹ Nitrogen (N): Sediment: Green roofs: 50-60% Vegetated filter strips: 37-95% Bioretention cells: 40-70% Permeable pavement: 60-90% Vegetated swales: 20-70% Heavy Metals (e.g., copper, lead, Phosphorus (P): zinc): Green roofs: 50-60% Bioretention cells: 50-80% Bioretention cells: 40-70% Infiltration trenches: 50-90% Vegetated filter strips: 30-90% E. coli Wetland basin 64-86% These estimates can vary depending on factors such as design, climate, soil conditions, and maintenance practices. However, green infrastructure BMPs consistently demonstrate significant reductions in nutrients and pollutants compared to traditional stormwater management techniques, making them valuable tools for improving water quality in urban areas. We commend the city for thoroughly considering the equity in development of this fee. Currently, it is evident that the burden of stormwater falls disproportionately on lower-income residents who may lack the means to address stormwater issues on their properties. By establishing a stormwater utility fee, we can ensure that the costs are shared more fairly among all residents, thus promoting equity within our community. Furthermore, we commend the efforts to implement a modest annual increase to the fee. This approach provides stability while allowing for adjustments to keep pace with evolving needs and inflation. I also want to emphasize the potential for partnerships in addressing stormwater management with the many robust conservation organizations servicing Fayetteville. Since a credit system for reduction of impervious surface area is outlined, there are ways IRWP, the city, and others can work together to decrease runoff, educate citizens, and achieve other benefits like ecosystem services, cultural heritage perpetuation, add social infrastructure, and increase biodiversity and resilience in the urban landscape. By involving property owners and developers, we can collectively work towards reducing impervious surface areas where unnecessary and implement green infrastructure solutions that enhance community benefits, reduce heat island effects, and improve surface and groundwater quality. Initiatives such as loan programs for low or no-interest stormwater funds can incentivize developers to incorporate low-impact practices into their projects, reducing maintenance costs and benefiting both the environment and the community. Homeowners can take advantage of educational opportunities 1 Sources: International Stormwater BMP Database: 2020 Summary Statistics; Minnesota Stormwater Manual, Median pollutant removal percentages for several BMPs; Barnstable/Yarmouth, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nitrogen-reducing Green Infrastructure in Environmental Justice Communities; Abimbola, O. et al, (2021), Modeling and Prioritizing Interventions Using Pollution Hotspots for Reducing Nutrients, Atrazine and E. coli Concentrations in a Watershed; and other sources. PO Box 205, Cave Springs, AR 72718 www.irwp.org and cost-share programs through IRWP and otherpartnersto install practices that qualify for credit. Program opportunities, for example, like through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture -Natural Resources Division utilizing Clean Water State Revolving Funds. In conclusion, I urge the Fayetteville City Councilto move forward with the implementation of a stormwater utility fee. As with Hot Springs, it will take a few years to implement and begin realizing the benefits to residents. However,there are many deferred stormwater projects that need to be addressed before the next rainfall. By taking proactive steps now,the citycan better protect our community, enhance quality of life, and sustainably manage stormwater forthe benefit of all. Thank you for considering our perspective on this important matter. Sincerely, Leif Kindberg Executive Director Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) Ph. 479.422.5676 leif@irwp.org PO Box 205, Cave Springs, AR 72718 www.irwp.org