CICEET Progress Report for the period 9/01/08 Through 2/15/09

Project Title: Promoting Innovative Stormwater Solutions for Coastal Plain Communities
Principal Investigator(s): Karen Cappiella
Project Start Date: September 1, 2008
Report Compiled By: Deborah Caraco

Project Objectives for This Reporting Period
Objective Description
The objective of this project is to improve the tools available to coastal stormwater managers for the design implementation and evaluation of these practices in order to meet the larger goal of increasing the widespread implementation of LID practices in the coastal plain.

Tasks to meet objectives
Task 1. Hold a kickoff meeting to develop project approach with Coastal Plain Watershed Network
Task 2. Develop coastal stormwater design book
Task 3. Develop coastal LID COW
Task 4. Adapt the Watershed Treatment Model for coastal areas
Task 5. Conduct coordinated education campaign for local governments

Progress on Tasks
To date, progress has been made on:
Task 1. Hold a kickoff meeting to develop project approach with Coastal Plain Watershed Network

During the reporting period, the Center conducted an internal project kickoff meeting, outlining a preliminary strategy for completing the project. In addition, we conducted initial phone conversations with external project team members, including Dan Ahern and April Turner.

Difficulties in Accomplishing Tasks
One of the primary sources of information for this project was to be the Coastal Plain Watershed Network, which has not yet been formally established. As a result, some time has been spent to date identifying appropriate coastal researchers, planners and watershed experts to help develop the various coastal stormwater tools.

Data Generated to date
None

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period

Objectives
This project involves a multi-dimensional approach to increasing implementation of LID practices in the coastal plain. The four major objectives involved with this project include:

Objective 1. Get the designs right. Collect information about successful coastal LID case studies where technical barriers to managing stormwater on coastal sites were overcome using specific design or construction modifications. Highlight these case studies in a coastal stormwater design book that features designs, photos, cost and effectiveness data, and design tips.

Objective 2. Make sure they are allowed in the community. Identify common regulatory and programmatic barriers to implementing LID practices in coastal areas, and develop a set of benchmark principles for LID in coastal regions. Using these benchmark principles, develop an audit for coastal communities to use in evaluating their codes and ordinances governing development to identify potential barriers and opportunities for change.

Objective 3. Demonstrate their effectiveness in improving the health of local watersheds. Update the Watershed Treatment Model (Caraco, 2001) to include more LID practices, updated pollutant EMCs and pollutant removal data specific to coastal watersheds.

Objective 4. Educate local officials about their benefits using successful local case studies. Develop a two-part education campaign to a) educate local officials about the benefits of LID in coastal areas and b) package the tools described above and promote them to the intended users: local government planners, engineers and watershed managers in the coastal plain.

Work Plan to Meet Objectives
Over the next six months, work will begin or continue on the following tasks in support of the objectives outlined above:
Task 1. Hold a kickoff meeting to develop project approach with Coastal Plain Watershed Network
Task 1.1. Identify key members of the Coastal Plain Watershed Network and other appropriate coastal researchers, planners and watershed experts to include in project work sessions.
Task 1.2. Hold formal project kickoff meetings with project team members to discuss the overall project approach.
Task 1.3. Develop a detailed research workplan with specific assignments, roles and deadlines as a result of project meetings and conversations with other coastal researchers, planners and watershed experts.

Task 2. Develop coastal stormwater design book
Task 2.1. Conduct research to identify specific examples of coastal LID practices across a range of coastal plain communities.
Task 2.2. Conduct site visits to up to 12 selected case study sites to collect necessary documentation, photos, life history, and data for each case study.

Task 3. Develop coastal LID COW
Task 3.1. Conduct interviews with coastal researchers, planners and watershed experts to identify common local regulatory barriers to implementing LID.
Task 3.3. Develop a draft codes and ordinance worksheet for coastal communities and share with appropriate coastal researchers, planners and watershed experts.

Task 5. Conduct coordinated education campaign for local governments
Task 5.1. Meet with NEMO to discuss how to best integrate the coastal stormwater tools into NEMO education programs for local elected and appointed officials.
Task 5.2. Develop a slideshow to educate municipal officials about the benefits of LID.

Expenditures
As of February 28, 2009, $1,239.45 of the project budget had been expended. This is within the range anticipated for the work accomplished to date.