03/25/2008: "Stormwater Low Impact Development Practices"

The San Juan Marine Resources Committee (MRC) applied for a grant back in October of 2007 that would provide funding for “on-site technical-assistance" , providers to work with small businesses to keep the Sound clean.

The Puget Sound Partnership, through AHBL Inc. , is also providing free technical assistance to 13 cities and counties in Puget Sound -including San Juan County.-to help them integrate stormwater low impact development (LID) practices into their regulations.

The Partnership is also providing new technical workshops on LID through Washington State University (WSU) Extension. WSU Extension will offer a series of four newly developed, two-day classes on LID in 2008-09.

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Specific topics include: bioretention and soils; permeable pavement; LID foundations, green roofs and rainwater catchment; and LID project design, review and inspection.
For more information on some of the past assistance and recommendations. a visit to their website will provide examples of some of the information that was made available in years past

The County is in the middle of updating the SJC Critical Areas Ordinance, which may be a part of the target for the assistance.

This is the third year the Partnership (which took over the efforts of the Puget Sound Action Team) has provided such assistance. In 2005-06, 19 local governments received support.

The WSU Extension’s first set of classes will be held in Sequim in May and June. The classes will be replicated in Bellingham, Seattle and Olympia, and are designed for professionals who design, engineer, build, review, inspect or maintain LID practices and projects. Pre-registration is required.
For more information and to register for classes, visit: http://capps.wsu.edu/conferences/lidworkshops/ , or Click Here for an on-line registration form.

Both projects are part of the Puget Sound Initiative, the regional, cooperative effort to recover Puget Sound