Programs
Regional Stormwater MS4 Program
Stormwater is one of the leading pollution sources to local streams and is therefore a regulatory and quality-of-life priority for all local municipalities that are connected by our watershed.
Stormwater is one of the leading pollution sources to local streams and is therefore a regulatory and quality-of-life priority for all local municipalities that are connected by our watershed.
The Regional Stormwater MS4 Program
The Regional Stormwater MS4 Program works by each MS4 pooling funds into a common account and working together (under the guidance of our Alliance’s expert technical and education staff) in order to deliver a diverse outreach program that meets the needs of targeted audiences. Fees to participate in the program are based upon the population of the MS4 or the combined population of co-permitted MS4s. The program has received high praise and recognition from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for the quality of its product and the thoroughness of its reporting.
Meet and Exceed Regulatory Expectations
Construction Stormwater General Permit, MCMs 1 -5, and More
Our current membership of eleven participating MS4s work as a team to accomplish shared goals and meet and exceed regulatory expectations under the Construction Stormwater General Permit. Our work addresses portions of the following Minimum Control Measures (MCM):
- 1 – Public Education and Outreach
- 2 – Public Participation and Involvement)
- 3 – Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
- 4 – Construction Site Stormwater
- 5 – Post-construction Stormwater Run-Off Control
Our nationally-recognized, fast-growing Clear Choices Clean Water public education and involvement campaign and its associated media promotions are cornerstones of the program, as are our River Assessment Field Teams program, Trained Individual Contractor Training, and Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training. Common messages across municipal lines are uniting our region and raising the collective awareness of stormwater impacts.
The Cornerstone MS4 Programs
The Trained Individual Contractor Training
A Trained Individual is a certified or qualified person required by Federal and State regulations to oversee the installation, maintenance, and management of erosion and sediment control practices at stormwater-permitted construction projects. The White River Alliance Regional Stormwater MS4 Program offers this online training program for those working in and around our member communities to become certified as a Trained Individual .
The annual continuing education certification training will be held on December 11, 2024 from 10am – 11:30. Click the “Trained Individual” button below to learn more and register.
Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training
In many cities and towns, property owners (like HOAs) own and are required to maintain some of the stormwater infrastructure on their property, including ponds, swales, check dams, shoreline plantings, rain gardens, pervious paving, and other features. Local governments are beginning to enforce maintenance requirements associated with these stormwater features. The lack of maintenance can harm important local water quality and quantity management. The Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training Program will help you understand your responsibilities.
Clear Choices Clean Water
Clear Choices is a national, award-winning program that seeks to increase awareness about the daily choices we can make as individuals to improve water quality and conserve water supplies. Focused on individual action and social change, the program employs an online action pledge system, an interactive website, and a variety of materials and media used to communicate program messages. This includes themed postcards and banner displays, radio promotions, TV commercials, billboards, materials for youth, and social media outreach. Significant social research and the application of current social marketing principles have guided the development of the Clear Choices program since its inception in 2009.
Join Us!
Leverage Funds and Expertise
The scale of the water quality and quantity problems in Central Indiana requires coordinated regional action and the engagement of thousands of citizens. Every community shares the same common sources of pollution and the critical need for cooperation in regard to managing water supplies. Common messages create bigger impact and allow us to engage many partners in the same call-to-action efforts. By developing and implementing a common stormwater outreach and engagement program under the Alliance, we are able to leverage financial and communication resources across communities, as well as seek grants unique to non-profit organizations and leverage the reach of significant non-municipal partners like museums, universities, state parks, etc. We also help coordinate bulk buys of outreach materials at lower prices, team up on incentive programs, and share physical training resources such as our table-top storm drain model.