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{{alert|We recently updated this page and will continue to work on information about MS4 stormwater management. If you have suggestions, we welcome comments using the comment box at the bottom of most pages in the manual.|alert-info}}
 
{{alert|We recently updated this page and will continue to work on information about MS4 stormwater management. If you have suggestions, we welcome comments using the comment box at the bottom of most pages in the manual.|alert-info}}
  
[[file:Municipal stormwater icon.jpg|thumb|300px|alt=icon for MS4 stormwater]]
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[[file:Aerial city.jpg|300px|left|alt=icon for MS4 stormwater]]
[[file:Check it out.png|200px|thumb|alt=check it out image|<font size=3>See how one city tackled the issue of pet waste. Click on [http://www.scoopthepoopchallenge.org/ this link].</font size>]]
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[[file:Check it out.png|150px|thumb|alt=image|<font size=3> [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_staff_contact_information_and_staff_assignments  <b><center>MPCA MS4 staff contact information can be found at this link]</center></b></font size>]]
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[[file:Check it out.png|150px|thumb|alt=image|<font size=3>[https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=9af02c9b2a994e56910cce1dbba400c4 The City of Austin, MN, has created this neat web-based story map about stormwater and MS4.]</font size>]]
  
The municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater runoff has on our valuable water resources.
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The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of <span title="any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water"> '''sediment'''</span> and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater <span title="the portion of rainfall or snowmelt not immediately absorbed into the soil that drains or flows off the land and becomes surface flow"> '''runoff'''</span> has on our valuable water resources.
  
 
Proper stormwater runoff management in urbanized areas is especially important for restoring and protecting surface waters. Urbanized areas are more likely to have activities that contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff, like applying anti/deicing mixtures to roads; fueling vehicles; grease, oil, and other spills; landscaping; and using pesticides and fertilizers. Urbanized areas have a large amount of impervious surfaces, or surfaces that rain and snowmelt cannot pass through, such as streets, driveways, rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. Stormwater runoff from these surfaces travels faster and in higher amounts, damaging rivers, streams, and wetlands; destroying aquatic habitats; increasing the amount of pollutants that enter surface waters; and limiting groundwater recharge.   
 
Proper stormwater runoff management in urbanized areas is especially important for restoring and protecting surface waters. Urbanized areas are more likely to have activities that contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff, like applying anti/deicing mixtures to roads; fueling vehicles; grease, oil, and other spills; landscaping; and using pesticides and fertilizers. Urbanized areas have a large amount of impervious surfaces, or surfaces that rain and snowmelt cannot pass through, such as streets, driveways, rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. Stormwater runoff from these surfaces travels faster and in higher amounts, damaging rivers, streams, and wetlands; destroying aquatic habitats; increasing the amount of pollutants that enter surface waters; and limiting groundwater recharge.   
  
==MS4 stormwater program overview==
 
 
*[[What is a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)?]]
 
*[[What is a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4)?]]
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*[[Why is a municipality regulated under the MS4 permit?]]
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==2020 MS4 General Permit==
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*[[2020 MS4 General Permit|Link here to the 2020 MS4 General Permit]] - this is the wiki version of the permit
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-94.pdf Link here to the 2020 MS4 General Permit] - this links to a pdf of the permit
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==2020 MS4 General Permit reissuance==
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Visit the [[MS4 General Permit reissuance]] page for updates on the new MS4 General Permit.
  
 
==MS4 stormwater permit==
 
==MS4 stormwater permit==
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_General_Permit MS4 General Permit]
 
 
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_Annual_Report MS4 Annual Report]
 
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_Annual_Report MS4 Annual Report]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Mpls_MS4Permit_Mod.pdf 2018 Minneapolis Phase I Permit]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Final_Permit-StPaul_MS4Permit.pdf 2018 St. Paul Phase 1 permit]
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==Previous permits==
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=2013_MS4_General_Permit MS4 General Permit]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:Minneapolis_2011_Phase_I_Permit_-_Minnesota_Stormwater_Manual_July_2022.pdf Minneapolis 2011 Phase I Permit]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:St_Paul_2011_Phase_I_Permit_-_Minnesota_Stormwater_Manual_July_2022.pdf St Paul 2011 Phase I Permit]
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-51.pdf 2006 permit]
  
==MS4 Permit Minimum Control Measure (MCM) overview and guidance==
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==Minimum Control Measures==
*[[MCM 1 Public Education and Outreach]]
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{{alert|NOTE: Minnesota uses the term Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for MS4 stormwater, while several states and EPA may use the term Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). These terms refer to the same thing.|alert-info}}
*[[MCM 2 Public Participation/Involvement]]
 
*[[MCM 3 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination]]
 
*[[MCM 4 Construction Site Stormwater Control]]
 
*[[MCM 5 Post-Construction Stormwater Management]]
 
*[[MCM 6 Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping]]
 
*[[Overall Program Management]]
 
  
==Other technical assistance and guidance==
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When seeking to manage a Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4), an effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) has six different components known as [[Minimum Control Measures (MCMs)]]. Follow this link to learn more about each MCM along with resources and guidance.
*MS4 fact sheets
 
**Visit the [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/municipal-stormwater-ms4#guidance-and-bmps-da807a70 MPCA MS4 website] for additional guidance documents and fact sheets
 
**[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_fact_sheets Pollution prevention guidance]
 
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm1-07.pdf Stormwater and Wetlands - Planning and Evaluation Guidelines]
 
**[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-28.pdf Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands]
 
*[[MPCA MS4 Compliance Assistance | Compliance Assistance]]
 
*[[MS4 case studies]]
 
  
 
==Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)==
 
==Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)==
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Overview_of_TMDLs TMDL Overview]
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[[Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)]] are EPA approved amounts of pollutant loading that can occur and have a water body meet water quality standards. Follow this link to learn more about them along with guidance and resources.
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Summary_of_TMDL_requirements_in_stormwater_permits Summary of TMDL requirements in stormwater permits]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Forms_and_guidance_for_TMDLs Forms and guidance for TMDLs]
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==Tools and resources==
*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=File:2014_AR_Questions.pdf TMDL Annual Report questions]
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*[[Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) toolkit]]: A collection of resources for use by 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 downloadable stormwater education information including sample fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and other resources.<br />
*[[Summary of data received from permittees on MS4 TMDL permit reporting forms]]
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*Visit the [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/total-maximum-daily-load-tmdl-projects#draft-pending-projects-990aee4d MPCA TMDL Project page] for information on specific projects across the state
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*[[MS4 Digital Document Library]]: Provides guidance to help local MS4 staff meet the requirements of the six [[Minimum Control Measures (MCMs)]] in the [https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_General_Permit 2013 MS4 General Permit] and assist with overall stormwater management. In addition to general guidance documents and photos/graphics, the Digital Document Library has example documents that stormwater staff are using to manage their stormwater pollution prevention programs (SWPPPs). All documents in the Digital Document Library are MPCA reviewed and available for anyone to download and use.<br />
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*[https://mpca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8d310e604baa43699b25395834d0c69a MS4 mapping tool]: An interactive online map tool that can be used to view and explore Minnesota MS4 boundaries, defined urbanized areas, impaired waters, outstanding resource value waters, trout waters and approved TMDL study areas.<br />
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*<font size=4>'''NEW'''</font size>  [[Assessing total suspended sediment and total phosphorus removal efficiency of permittee owned/operated constructed stormwater ponds]]: guidance related to assessing the total suspended sediment (TSS) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency of MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permittee owned/operated ponds constructed and used for the collection and treatment of stormwater.
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_fact_sheets Pollution prevention guidance fact sheets]: A collection of links to a variety of Minnesota Stormwater Manual fact sheets on stormwater pollution prevention methods within MS4s.
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==MS4 audit guidance==
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to evaluate MS4 permittees for compliance with the [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-59k.pdf MS4 General Permit]. The MPCA does this through compliance audits. To find out more information about the audit process see the pages below:
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*[[Phase II MS4 audit process]]
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*[[Self-audit guidance for Phase II MS4s]]
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==MPCA MS4 technical assistance==
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/municipal-stormwater-ms4#guidance-and-bmps-da807a70 MPCA MS4 website]
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*[https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=MS4_staff_contact_information_and_staff_assignments MPCA MS4 staff contact information]
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*[[MS4 case studies]]
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*[[MS4 webinars and videos]]
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*[[2017 MS4 Technical Assistance and Outreach Needs Survey Results]]
  
==Other links==
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==Other resources and documents==
*[[MS4 staff contact information and staff assignments]]
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm1-07.pdf Stormwater and Wetlands - Planning and Evaluation Guidelines]
*[http://pca-gis02.pca.state.mn.us/ms4/index.html MS4 mapping tool] is an electronic map tool using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.
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*[https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-strm4-28.pdf Untreated Stormwater Runoff to Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands]
 
*[[Pond, lake, and wetland inventory]]
 
*[[Pond, lake, and wetland inventory]]

Revision as of 02:13, 23 July 2022

Information: We recently updated this page and will continue to work on information about MS4 stormwater management. If you have suggestions, we welcome comments using the comment box at the bottom of most pages in the manual.
icon for MS4 stormwater

The municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) stormwater program is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface and ground water from storm sewer systems. Public entities that own or operate an MS4 play a key role in preventing or reducing the negative impacts stormwater runoff has on our valuable water resources.

Proper stormwater runoff management in urbanized areas is especially important for restoring and protecting surface waters. Urbanized areas are more likely to have activities that contribute pollutants to stormwater runoff, like applying anti/deicing mixtures to roads; fueling vehicles; grease, oil, and other spills; landscaping; and using pesticides and fertilizers. Urbanized areas have a large amount of impervious surfaces, or surfaces that rain and snowmelt cannot pass through, such as streets, driveways, rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. Stormwater runoff from these surfaces travels faster and in higher amounts, damaging rivers, streams, and wetlands; destroying aquatic habitats; increasing the amount of pollutants that enter surface waters; and limiting groundwater recharge.

2020 MS4 General Permit

2020 MS4 General Permit reissuance

Visit the MS4 General Permit reissuance page for updates on the new MS4 General Permit.

MS4 stormwater permit

Previous permits

Minimum Control Measures

Information: NOTE: Minnesota uses the term Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for MS4 stormwater, while several states and EPA may use the term Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). These terms refer to the same thing.

When seeking to manage a Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4), an effective Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) has six different components known as Minimum Control Measures (MCMs). Follow this link to learn more about each MCM along with resources and guidance.

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are EPA approved amounts of pollutant loading that can occur and have a water body meet water quality standards. Follow this link to learn more about them along with guidance and resources.

Tools and resources

  • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) toolkit: A collection of resources for use by 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 downloadable stormwater education information including sample fact sheets, newsletters, videos, and other resources.
  • MS4 Digital Document Library: Provides guidance to help local MS4 staff meet the requirements of the six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) in the 2013 MS4 General Permit and assist with overall stormwater management. In addition to general guidance documents and photos/graphics, the Digital Document Library has example documents that stormwater staff are using to manage their stormwater pollution prevention programs (SWPPPs). All documents in the Digital Document Library are MPCA reviewed and available for anyone to download and use.
  • MS4 mapping tool: An interactive online map tool that can be used to view and explore Minnesota MS4 boundaries, defined urbanized areas, impaired waters, outstanding resource value waters, trout waters and approved TMDL study areas.

MS4 audit guidance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to evaluate MS4 permittees for compliance with the MS4 General Permit. The MPCA does this through compliance audits. To find out more information about the audit process see the pages below:

MPCA MS4 technical assistance

Other resources and documents