Executive Summary

Introduction

Discussion

Plan Contents - Adobe Acrobat Reader required

The Farmington River originates in Massachusetts and flows into the State of Connecticut terminating 81 miles later in Windsor. There it connects with the Connecticut River, which then flows south to Long Island Sound and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.

Windsor, Connecticut's first community, was launched in 1633 when settlers sailed from Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts up the Connecticut River to establish themselves at the confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers. These rivers have defined history, shaped the present and will forge tomorrow.

The Farmington and Connecticut Rivers both have particular significance to the Windsor community. For approximately 100 years (1830-1930) woolen mills and paper mills located on the Farmington River in the Poquonock and Rainbow sections of Windsor made use of the water resources and provided employment for up to 500 people.

Following passage of the Federal Clean Water Act in 1972, communities and businesses stopped using the rivers as a dump. The water quality is dramatically improved today. The shad returns each year, community riverfronts are being revitalized and the rich natural diversity and special qualities of the Connecticut and Farmington Rivers have gained national recognition.

Today, activity and use of the rivers is at a high level with anglers and outdoor enthusiasts paddling in canoes and kayaks. Three small boat launches in Windsor attest to the popularity of the rivers. Most recently, annual hovercraft Expositions have brought attention to the waterways and their splendor.

Despite these gains, there are still threats to these precious natural resources. It is our hope that the Town of Windsor Stormwater Management Plan will play a role in the continued protection and revitalization of the rivers – two waterways so deeply embedded in our community’s history, and its future.

The Town of Windsor prepared the following Stormwater Management Plan as required by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems issued in January 2004.

This plan is a five-year initiative with the objective of improving the overall quality of the Town of Windsor’s stormwater runoff conveyed into the Town’s storm drainage network by overland and underground drainage systems, which flow into watercourses, waterbodies, and watershed areas. It includes several goals and actions to accomplish the cleaner stormwater objective. The quality of stormwater runoff in the Town of Windsor will be improved by removing and preventing many of the hazardous contaminants entering the storm drainage system through the implementation of the proposed measures and with the cooperation of the public and property owners.

The Town of Windsor is required to develop, submit and implement a Stormwater Management Plan. This requirement has its origins in the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) as amended in 1987, and is further required by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

The primary goal of the CWA and thus the Stormwater Management Plan is to improve the quality of the nation's waterways for drinking and recreation purposes.

Stormwater is defined as precipitation from rainfall or snowmelt that flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.

Along the way, this stormwater collects debris, dirt, motor oils, animal droppings, soaps, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants. These pollutants then flow into the drainage collection system from catch basins and culverts to wetlands, marshes, brooks and eventually into the rivers. This stormwater is discharged untreated and thus affects the water bodies and those that use the water bodies for use as recreational activities and for providing drinking water.

This polluted stormwater has adverse effects on people, animals, fish and plants. For example, bacteria and pathogens can create health hazards by flowing into swim areas. Numerous beaches along the Long Island Sound are forced to close for days during the summer because of these unhealthy conditions. Fish and shellfish taken from polluted water that are consumed by people can cause illness or death. Likewise stormwater that affects drinking water sources can affect human health and increase water treatment costs.

In January 2004, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection issued a "General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems". This permit requires over 120 Connecticut Municipalities to prepare a Stormwater Management Plan.

Thus the importance of improving the quality of stormwater in Windsor is to both preserve the environment for future generations and to comply with the laws and regulations.

In this regard, the Town of Windsor staff has prepared this Stormwater Management Plan for implementation over the next 5 years.

The Town of Windsor prepared the following Stormwater Management Plan as required by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems issued in January 2004. The Town’s plan is a five-year initiative with the objective of improving the overall quality of the stormwater runoff conveyed into the Town’s storm drainage network by overland and underground drainage systems, which flow into watershed areas watercourses, and water bodies.

The plan contains several goals and actions for each of the proposed Minimum Control Measures identified by the General Permit. These Minimum Control Measures include:

• Public Participation and Involvement
• Public Education and Outreach
• Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
• Pollution Prevention and Municipal Practices
• Construction Site Runoff Control
• Post-Construction Site Runoff Control

The plan also includes water quality testing at Town maintained drainage outfalls representative of commercial, industrial, and residential areas.

Several Town Departments and staff representatives formed a Stormwater Management Team to develop, implement, and modify the plan as necessary. These Town Departments include the Town Manager’s Office, Engineering Department, Department of Public Works, Planning Department, and the Health Department. The plan was developed by Town staff using software specifically designed to assist with the development and tracking of the plan.

In order to facilitate public comment, Town staff will present the plan at the Town of Windsor Conservation Commission meeting and present annual reports and future plans. These meetings will address public concern and allow comment on the proposed plans and associated activities.

After the public information meeting at the Conservation Commission meeting, we will submit the final Town of Windsor Stormwater Management Plan to the DEP in early July 2004.