Achieving water quality goals in Pennsylvania’s waters is now more streamlined with the launch of the PA MS4 Collaboration Toolkit, a resource created by the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) to empower Pennsylvania municipalities to work together and tackle water quality challenges more efficiently and cost-effectively.
As federal and state agencies intensify efforts to improve water quality, local municipalities are under pressure to meet increasingly stringent requirements. Watersheds do not align with municipal boundaries, which make collaboration integral. The PA MS4 Collaboration Toolkit provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap for municipalities eager to team up and address the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements.
The toolkit serves as a guide for communities at any stage of collaboration. Whether just beginning to explore partnerships to address Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) or already working together to meet Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) objectives, actionable insights are provided for all scenarios.
The toolkit is built on the real-world experiences of Pennsylvania’s existing MS4 collaborations. The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) interviewed these groups, identified their successes, challenges, and distilled those lessons into this comprehensive guide. From cost savings and strategic implementation to improved municipal relationships, the benefits of collaboration are clear. It also addresses other challenges —like technical capacity, long-term engagement, legal considerations, and operations and maintenance for stormwater projects.
Ready to start collaborating? The PA MS4 Collaboration Toolkit is available now at https://arcg.is/0Dqu0L0.
The PA MS4 Collaboration Toolkit was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Campbell Foundation and the William Penn Foundation.
About The Center for Watershed Protection: The Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) works to advance clean water resources and healthy ecosystems through responsible land and water management. Our experienced staff of scientists, planners and environmental professionals are the technical experts who help municipalities, advocates, policymakers and individuals get clean water projects in the ground. Founded in 1992, CWP began as a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and education on watersheds. With an initial focus on protecting urban streams from the impacts of land development, the organization has grown over the years to become a national leader on stormwater management and watershed planning.
Contact:
Beth Uhler
Pennsylvania Director, Center for Watershed Protection
beu@cwp.org
