Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) toolkit
This page is in development
The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) toolkit is a resource for stormwater program staff. It is intended to help entities regulated under the MS4 program meet the requirements of the general permit. It offers a wide range of stormwater education information including sample fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and other resources.
Documents in the MS4 toolkit are available to all site users for download and use.
Contents
MCM 1: Public education and outreach
Stormwater overview
===What is stormwater? Here are materials that provide introductory-level information on stormwater.
Newsletter articles
- History of Stormwater
- History of stormwater
- Wetland social media
- What is a watershed?
Print materials
- After the storm: a citizen's guide to understanding stormwater
- EPA solution to pollution: a homeowner’s guide to healthy habits for clean water
- Everyone lives in a watershed: short answers to frequently asked questions about watersheds
- Wetlands
Videos
- Our Groundwater Connection
- What is stormwater? - Produced by students at the Institute of Production and Recording
- What can you do to prevent stormwater pollution - Produced by students at the Institute of Production and Recording
- "Open your eyes to freshwater's demise" - Savvy
Photos
- MPCA Flickr
- Join Watershed Partners for access to hundreds of high-quality stormwater photos
- Wetlands and ponds
- What is a watershed?
Additional resources
- Clean Water MN - for articles and print materials
- East Metro Water - for articles
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Info about common pollutants
===As a state, we all work together to protect our lakes, streams, and rivers. Here are some resources and stories about these initiatives.
Newsletter articles
Fact sheets
- Stormwater Pollution and the MS4 Permit Program
- Water Pollution 101: Help protect our waters, environment and wildlife
- Water Pollution 101: Pollutants & Stressors
- Water Governance in Minnesota
Additional resources
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What residents can do
===Newsletter articles
Fact sheets
Additional Resources
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Sweep up, rake up, pick up
For videos, programs, and print materials, click here
Lawn and garden care
For newsletter articles, displays, and print materials, click here
Planting for clean water
For newsletter articles, displays, programs, other resources, and print materials, click here
Winter salt use
For newsletter articles, videos, and print materials, click here
Small scale erosion control
For print materials, click here
Waste management and illegal dumping
For newsletter articles and print materials, click here
Motor vehicle care
For print materials, click here
Septic systems
For resources and print materials, click here
Swimming pools
For print materials, click here
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Programs
Adopt-a-Drain
- Adopt-a-drain program - asks residents to adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood and keep it clear of leaves, trash, and other debris to reduce water pollution (for Metro Area & Rochester only).
Social Media
- Example Tweet
- Newsletter articles
- Graphics
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Photos
Citizen water monitoring
- Citizen water monitoring - volunteers measure the water clarity of lakes and streams, and the MPCA uses that valuable data to make decisions on watershed protection and restoration.
Master Water Stewards
- Master Water Stewards - program that certifies and supports community leaders to install pollution prevention projects that educate community members, reduce pollutants from runoff, and allow more water to soak into the ground.
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===Stormwater education materials that can help MS4s reach out to different audiences in their communities.
Renters and HOAs
- What to ask for from your lawn care provider
- Green communities: a guidebook for developing clean water projects with Homeowner's Associations
- Condos and Townhomes Going Green Newsletter
- Condos and Townhomes Going Green Example Tweet
Lawn care providers
Restaurants
Students and youth
- Minnesota project WET: Water education for teachers
- The watershed game - The Watershed Game helps students understand connections between land use, clean water and their community. Working in teams, students apply practices, plans, and policies to decrease water pollution while juggling financial resources. Successful teams reduce water pollution without going broke.
Faith communities
- Environmental education toolkit for congregations
- Water resource education toolkit for congregations: information & activity guide
