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INDIANA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION ACT 167 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PHASE I, SCOPE OF STUDY Indiana County, Pennsylvania March 2015 801 Water Street • Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 • P:724.465.3150 • F:724.465.3150 Indiana County Phase 1 Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan Scope of Study ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The framework for Indiana County Phase I Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan was crafted by the following individuals and organizations. Indiana County Board of Commissioners Rodney D. Ruddock, Chairman Michael A. Baker Patricia A. Evanko Robin Maryai, Chief Clerk Michael T. Clark, Solicitor Indiana County Planning Commission Ed Nehrig, Chairman Delbert Highlands E Martin Nupp, Jr. John Somonick Laurie Lafontaine William Cornman Gary Fulton James Parson Ross Bricklemyer Thomas Rivosecchi, Solicitor Indiana County Office of Planning & Development (ICOPD) Byron G. Stauffer, Jr., Executive Director Jerry W. Richardson, Assistant Director LuAnn Zak, Deputy Director, Community Development & Housing Nicholas R. Rado, Deputy Director, Permitting & Facilities Management Jeff Raykes AICP, Deputy Director, Planning Angela M. Campisano, Chief, Economic Development David A. Morrow, Chief, Community Development & Housing Teresa L. Bachy, Chief Fiscal Zachary Norwood, Chief Planner George R. Urban, Planning Specialist James L. Roach, Development Technician III Roy Ribblett, Development Technician III Denise Remy, Fiscal Officer Dana P. Henry, Economic Development Specialist Christina L. Coleman, Department Clerk V Carla A. Minarcin, Department Clerk V Students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of Geography and Regional Planning who assisted with the development of the Plan through the ICOPD’s Student Planner Program: Jessica Bruckhart Crew Newcomer Indiana County Conservation District Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Adam Cotchen, District Manager Erin Kepple, Water Resource Manager Brooke Esarey, Watershed Specialist Sarah Koenig, Water Resource Planner Indiana County Phase 1 Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan Scope of Study ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Watershed Planning Advisory Committee (WPAC) Over 40 residents, with varied backgrounds and interests, volunteered to serve as members of the Watershed Planning Advisory Committee (WPAC) for Indiana County Phase I Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan. The leadership of this group was instrumental in the development of this Plan. PJ Ackerson John Ferraro Dennis Remy Chris Anderson Joanne Ferraro Cindy Rogers Tom Baltz Jeff Fliss Dr. Chris Schaney Rob Barto Dennis Hawley Gail Smith Mike Bertolino Larry Henry Dave Smyers Vera Bonnet Mike Holiday John Somonick Tom Borellis PJ Hruska Timothy Stewart James Brendlinger Bob Kossak Terry Stiffler William Burba Don Lancaster Tom Stutzman Jennifer Christman Anthony Mano Dana Turgeon John Dudash Pam Meade Patty Yamrick Mike Duffalo Rob Nymick Dr. Robert Eppley David Osgood Brooke Esarey David Overdorff Tim Evans Tracy Pearce Indiana County Phase 1 Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan Scope of Study TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................1 Purpose 1 Stormwater Runoff Problems and Solutions 1 Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act (Act 167) 2 Act 167 Planning for Indiana County 3 Plan Benefits 3 Stormwater Management Planning Approach 4 Previous Stormwater Management and Related Planning Efforts 5 2. GENERAL COUNTY DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................................................5 Political Jurisdictions 5 NPDES Phase II Involvement 6 General Development Patterns 6 Land Use 8 Physiography 8 Soils 10 Water Resources 10 PA Chapter 93 Stream Classifications 15 Impaired Waterways 15 Dams and Impoundments 18 Abandoned Mine Discharge 20 Floodplains 20 Climate 20 3. ACT 167 PLANNING FOR INDIANA COUNTY, PHASE I PLANNING PROCESS ......................................... 20 Indiana County/ Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Joint Efforts 21 PADEP and Indiana County Letter of Intent (LOI) 21 Survey Creation and Distribution 21 Watershed Plan Advisory Committee (WPAC) 22 WPAC Meetings 24 4. INDIANA COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SURVEY RESULTS .................................................... 24 Stormwater Problem Prioritization 25 Modeling Needs Assessment 26 5. PHASE II SCOPE DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 27 General Workplan 32 6. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 34 APPENDICES MAPS Appendix A - Stormwater Survey Form Map 2.1 - Project Area Appendix B - Stormwater Survey Summary Map 2.2 - Existing Land Use Appendix C - Phase II Scope of Work Map 2.3 - Indiana County Watersheds Basins Appendix D - Proposed Phase II Schedule Map 2.4 - Indiana County Watersheds Appendix E - PADEP Letter of Intent Map 2.5 - Local Designations and Act 167 Watersheds Map 2.6 - Indiana County Dam Locations Map 4.1 - Indiana County Stormwater Problem Areas and Development Pressures Map 4.2 - Future Land Use Map 4.3 - Indiana County Modeling Needs Assessment Indiana County Phase 1 Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan Scope of Study 1. INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The Indiana County Office of Planning & Development and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission worked together to produce a Phase I Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan for the County. This report presents the results of the Phase I planning effort. There are three key components contained in this report. These include 1) a summary of Indiana County watershed characteristics (Section 2), 2) an inventory of existing stormwater problems in the County (Section 4), and 3) a proposed project scope, schedule and budget for completion of the Phase II of the Indiana County Stormwater Management Plan (Section 5). STORMWATER RUNOFF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS Stormwater occurs when any precipitation, rain or snow melt, runs over the surface and into a body of water. Impervious surfaces, such as roads, parking lots, roof tops, and compacted land, do not allow for any stormwater infiltration into the ground. The presence of impervious surfaces results in an increase in the volume and rate of stormwater runoff and can also negatively impact water quality in local waterways. Increased volumes and rates of stormwater can cause a variety of problems, such as erosion, infrastructure damage, more frequent flooding events, and lack of groundwater recharge. Stormwater negatively impacts water quality in a variety of ways, including: discharging non-point source pollution such as trash, oils, heavy metals, bacteria, and nutrients to local waterways; sedimentation; and increased stream temperatures. The effects of stormwater runoff are directly related to development. Conventional development practices include creating large amounts of impervious surfaces and clearing native vegetation. Historically, development was viewed as an independent project, tied to a single plot of land, and it only affected that area. However, the outcome of an individual project can affect everyone downstream in the watershed. Stormwater management is critical to preserve our local waterways, drinking water sources, and to avoid economic damages to infrastructure. Watersheds do not follow political boundaries, so in order to manage stormwater, a comprehensive approach needs to be taken. Employing best management practices (BMPs) can prevent and mitigate problems related to stormwater. BMPs include mechanisms that control the volume, rate, and quality of stormwater. BMPs also include practices that prevent the creation of stormwater runoff and stormwater pollution. The most effective time to incorporate BMPs is during site planning, design, and development. This allows the opportunity to utilize non-structural BMPs, which are BMPs that prevent and/or minimize stormwater runoff. Structural BMPs, which are engineered systems designed to mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff, can be incorporated during development or in retrofit situations. Coupling non-structural and structural BMPs during site development can greatly minimize stormwater problems while also increasing the marketability of a site. Indiana County Phase 1 Act 167 1 Stormwater Management Plan Scope of Study PENNSYLVANIA STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (ACT 167) Since it is clear that stormwater runoff is a serious and growing problem, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted Act 167 in 1978. Act 167 clearly defines the close relationship between development, increased runoff, and floodplain management. Specifically, this statement of legislative findings points out that: 1. Inadequate management of accelerated stormwater runoff resulting from development throughout a watershed increases flood flows and velocity, contributes to erosion and sedimentation, overtaxes the carrying capacity of streams and storm sewers, greatly increases the cost of public facilities to carry and control stormwater, undermines floodplain management and floodplain control efforts in downstream communities, reduces groundwater recharge, and threatens public health and safety. 2. A comprehensive program of stormwater management, including reasonable regulation of development and activities causing accelerated runoff, is fundamental to the public health, safety, welfare, and the protection of the people of the Commonwealth, their resources, and