Storm Water Management
Current Value
3,449acres
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
A majority of storm water from impervious surface is managed. This indicator measures the percent of impervious area managed by two types of storm water permits. Storm water is precipitation that runs off impervious surfaces rather than infiltrating into the soil. Operational storm water permits address storm water from projects over 1 acre of disturbance. The MS4 permit covers permitting in nine municipalities and three public entities in Chittenden County: Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston, Winooski, Burlington International Airport, UVM and VTrans.
Why Is This Important?
Management of our storm water is critically important to maintaining and improving water quality throughout the County. Storm water treatment is challenging in both urban and rural areas of the County for a variety of reasons: existing urban areas need to retrofit old infrastructure, financing new infrastructure in areas planned for growth when development is incremental, and impacts from agriculture and forestry practices that don’t follow best management practices. Additionally, VT’s discharge permits are structured to address site level development for projects over 1 acre of disturbance; therefore, incremental and cumulative impact of development is not addressed through this program.