Stormwater Management

The Port of Skagit obtained coverage as a secondary permittee under the Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit on Feb. 16, 2007. Under the terms of the Municipal Permit, the Port is developing a Stormwater Management Program for the coverage area over a period of five years. The Draft SWMP is being revised annually during the five-year program development period to address progress toward required elements of the program. Public comment will be accepted throughout the program development period, with the Final SWMP to be fully implemented by Aug. 16, 2011.

The coverage area of the SWMP includes approximately 1,800 acres of Port-owned land, including the Skagit Regional Airport and Bayview Business Park located on Bayview Ridge. The SWMP is intended to protect downstream water quality by implementing six program elements:

• Public education and outreach;
• Public involvement/participation;
• Illicit discharge detection and elimination;
• Construction site stormwater runoff control;
• Post construction stormwater management in new development and redevelopment; and
• Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations.

The Port currently holds an NPDES Industrial Stormwater General Permit, which covers the Skagit Regional Airport and Port maintenance shop area. Pursuant to the Industrial Permit, the Port maintains a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for the covered facilities. Stormwater sampling is conducted quarterly for the Industrial Permit at a discharge point located south of Ovenell Road. The SWMP developed under the requirements of the Municipal Permit will be compatible with and complementary to the Port’s SWPPP and will address both areas that are covered by the Industrial Permit, as well as areas that are outside the Industrial Permit coverage area.