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Comments Invited on Stormwater Management

The Washington State Department of Ecology wants to hear from local governments, businesses, tribes and citizens on how best to manage stormwater runoff, one of the state's most prevalent and elusive water-quality problems.

Ecology is asking for public comments on its final draft of the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, a guidance manual designed to help municipalities, industries and construction companies manage stormwater runoff and prevent water pollution.

Decades of paving roads, constructing houses and buildings, and cutting down trees have resulted in a significant challenge to manage stormwater, or polluted runoff. Stormwater runoff in urban areas drastically changes streams and wetlands and causes flooding. In addition, because land has been paved for business centers and neighborhoods, less stormwater seeps into ground water and streams, which results in less water in lakes and rivers for salmon.

Ecology worked with technical staff from governments, businesses, environmental groups and other organizations to revise the manual, which has gone through several drafts and public reviews during the past few years.

The public now has an opportunity to review and comment on the final draft October 17 from 1:30-5 p.m., at the Department of Ecology on 300 Desmond Dr. in Lacey.

For a copy of the manual, visit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/stormwater/manual.html

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