Office Hours: Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Eric Westfall, PE: Stormwater Management Officer | ext. 14 | (518) 491-6824, (cell)
Kelley Caiazza, Secretary | ext. 16
2 Douglas Street, Wynantskill, New York 12198
Duties of the Stormwater Department
The duties of the Stormwater Department shall include the promotion and enforcement the Town’s Stormwater Management Program Plan (SWMP or Plan). The Town’s SWMP is based on NYS SPDES General Permit GP 0-20-001, which requires MS4 owners and operators to develop a Stormwater Management Program Plan to address sources of potential stormwater pollution from residential and municipal activities as well as municipal facilities. There are six program elements associated with the General Permit that are designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs). These program elements, titled Minimum Control Measures (MCMs), are as follows:
- MCM l: Public Education and Outreach
- MCM 2: Public Involvement / Participation
- MCM 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- MCM 4: Construction Site Runoff Control
- MCM 5: Post-Construction Stormwater Management
- MCM 6: Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations
The MCMs are discussed in greater detail within the SWMP, a copy of which is included in the Plans and Reports section below.
Stormwater Concerns and Potential Violation Investigation
Anyone wishing to report a potential Stormwater Violation or Concern to the Town for further investigation may do so by emailing or calling the Stormwater Management Officer at the contacts listed at the top of this page. The reporting will be treated as confidential while the Town investigates the potential violation.
Similarly, questions or concerns regarding the Town’s Stormwater Management Program may be addressed to the Stormwater Management Officer.
Annual Reporting Review and Comment
Each year, the Town is required to make several stormwater regulatory submissions. This section will post a link to those documents to allow for public review and comment prior to submission. Any questions, comments or concerns may be sent to the Stormwater Management Officer at Ewestfall@northgreenbush.org. Additionally, these items will be briefly discussed during the Town Board and Planning Board meetings in the month prior to submission.
Town of North Greenbush Organizational Chart:
Stormwater Minute
Each month the Stormwater Department will offer a brief tip regarding Stormwater Management Practices that may be considered by residents who are conscious of Stormwater concerns.
May 2024 Stormwater Minute
The Town routinely deals with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding lakes, rivers, streams, and other wetlands. Navigating the rules, regulations, permitting processes, and other requirements associated with working within a jurisdictional waterbody can often be overwhelming, particularly for individual homeowners. These organization can, and do, inspect, cite, and enforce regulatory laws throughout the Town. If you think that you may be conducting an activity within the jurisdiction of one of these entities, please contact the Stormwater Management Officer at EWestfall@northgreenbush.org to discuss.
April 2024 Stormwater Minute
With the spring planting and growing season just beginning, many of us turn our thoughts to the lawn and garden. Those thoughts often include the use of fertilizers and weed killers. Many of these chemicals, in not properly applied, can find their way into local waterbodies or the water table. Please remember to read and follow manufacturer’s instructions before using any of these products and to apply them to the minimum dosage for your needs. Even better would be to consider using natural mulching and composting for your lawn and garden.
March 2024 Stormwater Minute
Although we have not had a particularly snow winter, as Spring approaches the snow begins to melt and the wind picks up. Trash and other debris that was buried or frozen in place now finds itself on the move with the help of Mother Nature. Residents are encouraged to take a few minutes and clean up loose debris and trash that may otherwise find its way into our local drainage systems and waterbodies.
February 2024 Stormwater Minute
A reminder that with the winter months often comes accumulating snow. When plowing or stockpiling snow, either residentially or for a business, consider locations that allow the snow melt to slowly work its way into the water table through infiltration or other stormwater management practices. Care should also be taken when managing snow to ensure that drainage structures are not directly impeded by plowed or stockpiled snow that would obstruct access to these stormwater management elements and prevent the drainage systems from working as designed.
January 2024 Stormwater Minute
With the onset of winter, frozen ground prevents the infiltration of stormwater and snow-melt. As a result, rain, and in particular rain-on-snow, can produce large overland flows that reach and overwhelm stormwater collection systems. As the winter begins, residents and businesses are reminded that good housekeeping practices and the maintenance of stormwater conveyance systems becomes even more important in protecting our homes, businesses and waterbodies.
Public Education, Outreach and Involvement Calendar
The following is a tentative list of Stormwater Department events intended to involve and educate the public with regards to various stormwater policies and activities occurring within the Town:
- July 2023: Town of North Greenbush SWMP Plan: A brief overview of the new SWMP Plan and the Stormwater goals the Town has established for the coming year.
- July 2023: Residential Stormwater Best Management Practices: What can homeowners and businesses do to improve stormwater measures on their property.
Volunteering and Involvement
Interested in getting involved with stormwater management issues in the Town? Do you have a Best Management Practice or tip for individual stormwater management that you’d like to share? Is there an activity you would like to see or perhaps a committee you would form regarding stormwater issues? If so, please feel free to contact the Stormwater Management Officer at EWestfall@northgreenbush.org
Plans and Reports - 2023
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE PLAN – EXHIBITS
- Exhibit 1: Public Presentation: Town of North Greenbush’s Stormwater Management Program:
- Exhibit 2: Pollutants of Concern:
- Exhibit 3: Spill Response Procedures: Exhibit 4: Current General Permit:
- Exhibit 5: Waterbodies of Concern: Exhibit 6: Snyders Lake Water Quality and Best Management Practices:
- Exhibit 7: Geographic Areas of Concern:
- Exhibit 8: Town of North Greenbush’s Annual MS4 Report: Exhibit 9: Developed Measurable Goals:
- Exhibit 10: SWMP Review and Update Procedures: Exhibit 11: Public Concerns Investigation Procedure:
- Exhibit 12: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program:
- Exhibit 13: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Mapping:
- Exhibit 14: Outfall Mapping: Exhibit 15: Outfall Inspection and Monitoring Procedures:
- Exhibit 16: Local Law No. 2 of the Year 2008 Illicit Discharges, Activities and Connections to the Town of North Greenbush’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System:
- Exhibit 17: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Public Awareness Program:
- Exhibit 18: Exempt Non-Stormwater Discharges:
- Exhibit 19: Local Law No. 1 of the Year 2008: Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment Control:
- Exhibit 20: SWPPP Submission and Review Process:
- Exhibit 21: SWPPP Pre-Construction Meeting and Training Verification:
- Exhibit 22: SWPPP Inspection and Enforcement Policy:
- Exhibit 23: SWPPP Post-Construction Inspection and Project Closure Policy:
- Exhibit 24: Stormwater Permit Tracking Spreadsheet: Exhibit 25: Post-Construction Stormwater Management Practices Inventory:
- Exhibit 26: Post-Construction Stormwater Management Practices Inspection and Enforcement:
- Exhibit 27: Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations:
- Exhibit 28: Highway Department Vehicle and Garage Operation and Maintenance Procedures: Exhibit 29: Highway Garage’s Fuel and Petroleum Storage and Use Procedures:
- Exhibit 30: Highway Garage’s Salt Storage and Use Procedures:
- Exhibit 31: SWMP Annual Budget:
- __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Fully Compiled 2023 SWMP:
MS4 Annual Reports:
References
The following links may be helpful if you would like to do additional research regarding stormwater management regulations, programs and issues:
- DEC Water Page: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/290.html
- DEC SPDES Page: https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6054.html
- EPA NPDES Page: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program