(Sandwich, MA –January 10, 2011) – Rhode Island rang in the New Year with the publication of arguably the most progressive stormwater design manual in New England.
“For the first time, the Manual mandates the use of LID strategies for stormwater management in site planning and design for development projects in Rhode Island, and provides enhanced stormwater practice design criteria,” explains Rich Claytor, P.E., Principal Engineer at Horsley Witten Group and for the Project.
“The new criteria limits acceptable water quality stormwater practices to only those with a proven track record of successfully removing high levels of sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen, and bacteria.”
Of greatest significance is that the Manual establishes LID as the “industry standard” for stormwater management, representing a paradigm shift for development in Rhode Island, and setting a precedent in New England.
Effective January 1, 2011, the Manual mandates a proactive and integrated approach to managing stormwater and protecting water quality, through eleven minimum standards. These changes will radically affect how new and redevelopment projects are designed.
Cape Cod-based environmental consulting firm, Horsley Witten Group, has been leading a team since 2008 to assist the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) develop new standards and coordinate an extensive public review and comment process.
The update is the result of a 2007 legislative mandate “Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act,” which required the DEM and the CRMC to amend the 1993 Stormwater Manual to require the use of low impact development (LID) techniques as the primary method of stormwater management.
While some New England communities are already embracing LID as a more sustainable approach to development by integrating runoff reduction and groundwater recharge through smarter site planning and design techniques, this is the first time in the region that regulators at the state level have moved from encouraging LID to requiring it.
HW has also developed a companion Community LID Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual targeted at local Rhode Island municipalities. This local LID guidebook is designed to help communities revise applicable ordinances and/ or adopt new regulations to facilitate the implementation of LID at the local level.
Upcoming LID Stormwater Trainings
Beginning on January 13th, HW will be conducting a series of trainings with the DEM and CRMC and in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island to acquaint users with the revised manual. These trainings are targeted at Rhode Island designers and developers, including engineers, scientists, planners, builders, and contractors, and will range in focus from a general overview of the manual to more specific design and construction issues such as sizing calculations and material specifications.
Further information about the various training sessions is available at http://www.ristormwatersolutions.org/SW_wevents.html.
For information about upcoming stormwater trainings or other information regarding the newly revised Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installations Manual, please contact Michelle West, P.E. at Horsley Witten Group, Inc. at (508) 833-6600 or mwest@horsleywitten.com.
The revised Manual was made effective on January 1, 2011 and applies to permit applications received on or after that date. An extension to the deadline for compliance with the updated manual – to June 30, 2011 – is provided for certain projects that are already in the planning or design process, including projects currently before local planning boards and several DOT road and bridge projects.
The DEM point of contact for questions about the trainings is Eric Beck who may be reached at 401-222-4700 ext. 7202 or eric.beck@dem.ri.gov. Questions can also be directed to James Boyd, Coastal Policy Analyst at CRMC, by calling (401) 783-3370 or emailing jboyd@crmc.ri.gov.
Horsley Witten Group, Inc. is an interdisciplinary environmental services firm that integrates engineering and science with land use planning, economics, and public policy. Incorporated in 1988, our corporate goal is to create innovative solutions to environmental problems by successfully integrating engineering, scientific and management skills. # # #
