Defining a stormwater management plan: setting the stage for watershed protection

Abstract

We propose a new approach to stormwater control, which we call The 10-25 Plan. The 10-25 Plan is a stormwater management framework whose goal is to prevent and mitigate the adverse economic and environmental impacts of stormwater. The framework sets a 10% threshold for impervious surfaces, above which stormwater fees are levied, with a second tier of fees that are imposed when impervious surfaces exceed 25%. Exceeding the 10% trigger would require active stormwater controls, such as the use of stormwater fees at the local level for stormwater prevention and mitigation, as well as onsite stormwater control for new and existing developments. An important priority is the establishment of Watershed Protection Areas (WPAs) in critical watersupply areas. WPAs could be acquired using stormwater fees or by using Transferable Stormwater Rights (TSRs), which are commodities that can be bought, sold, and traded - providing flexibility in meeting stormwater management goals.