Stormwater projects in Sherborn and Westport
Posted by John McAllister on Mon, Aug 08, 2011 @ 02:27 PM
Norfolk Ram Group was contracted by the Towns of Sherborn and Westport to put together an application for a section 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) in 2010.
The two projects intend to improve water quality through the design, environmental permitting and construction of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) control and treatment systems in their target watersheds. The BMP controls will include low impact development (LID) techniques such as grass swales, bioretention rain gardens, subsurface infiltration systems and gas baffles. These projects will also incorporate on-going operation and maintenance, and a public outreach and education component.
In the Town of Sherborn, the project is focused on the Charles River watershed and particularly, the Farm Pond Recreation Area. The project main goal is to control stormwater runoff which is currently discharging into Farm Pond and reduce the concentration of non-point source (NPS) pollutants contained in stormwater runoff. The BMPs will be designed to filtrate, remove pollutants though uptake by plants and recharge stormwater runoff. The BMPs incorporate underdrains to collect and direct any excess treated stormwater to the existing drainage system, which will slow the rate of discharge to Farm Pond.
The Town of Westport desired to improve water quality for the Westport River, which ultimately discharges to Buzzards Bay, by focusing on the Westport Middle School. The Westport River is considered to be one of the most significant natural features in the Town. The various stormwater BMPs to be strategically placed around the school will intercept stormwater runoff which is currently discharging into the Town’s drainage network in the street and then into the East Branch of the Head of the Westport. This project will attempt to remove the stormwater “footprint” of the school to the greatest extent practicable.
Both of the Town’s were recently awarded the grants and given a notice to proceed from the Massachusetts DEP.
For more information about stormwater management practices, low impact development, or grant application assistances, please contact John McAllister at jmcallister@norfolkram.com or at (508) 747-7900 x 117.