Early this fall, Stormwater Success, a short course for Property Managers and HOA Leaders, went digital for about 30 County residents.
The first component was Virtual Stormwater Success, developed by WSA's Restoration Coordinator, Josh Clark, in collaboration with our partners in Anne Arundel County Government and the professional sector. This course provided property managers and HOA leaders with tools to reduce pollution coming from their properties and address their critical concerns, such as flooding, maintaining stormwater management devices, reducing management costs, and engaging their residents to reduce pollution from pet waste, litter, and other resources.
You can find a taste of those resources here. If you would like more information, please contact Josh at jyetterclark@aacps.org.
As part of Virtual Stormwater Success, participants attended an “Ask the Experts” session to connect them with stormwater professionals and County officials. Through these sessions, participants were able to troubleshoot community issues and brainstorm solutions. Knowledge in hand, they went back to their communities to promote best practices for managing pollution.
After gaining a base knowledge of stormwater practices, attendees were invited to join an in person Stormwater Best Management Practices Tour. With strict social distancing and safety protocols in place, tour participants visited local stormwater best management practices ranging from small scale infiltration practices to large scale stormwater ponds.
By including a variety of practices and properties “in action”, attendees were able to draw connections between their own communities and potential pollution solutions.
New to the Stormwater Success family this fall was an advanced seminar for HOA leaders, Stormwater Success: 201. The brainchild of Class 12 Steward Candidate Steve Miller, Stormwater Success 201 served as Steve’s capstone project for the WSA certification course.
A dedicated group of about 15 County residents participated in this three-hour seminar, geared toward HOA/Condominium Association Board members and Property Managers. It provided education and resources to attendees who have - or will have - responsibilities for maintaining private stormwater management systems that were built in their communities using Environmental Site Design (ESD) criteria. This included practices such as rain gardens, dry wells, wet/dry swales, bioswales, bioretention areas, and stormwater ponds.
Participants received information on stormwater system design, maintenance schedules for the most common Best Management Practices (BMPs), how to conduct inspections during and after storm events, as well as other actions to ensure successful near- and long-term operation of the stormwater management system.
The seminar also helped HOAs estimate annual and long-term costs for maintaining systems, learn how to hire the right service providers, and request credit on HOA stormwater remediation fees. Participants gained the knowledge they need to comply with the HOA’s Inspection and Maintenance Agreement with the County and to pass the County’s triennial inspection of the HOA’s private stormwater management system.
WSA commends Steve for his thorough and well executed course. His knowledge and experience in navigating community stormwater issues encouraged attendees to take action in their own neighborhoods! Congratulations, Steve!
About Steve Miller: Steve moved to Anne Arundel County in 2013 and has been actively engaged in activities that help achieve better water quality and to promote a healthy environment. He was elected in 2014 to the first Board of Directors for the Deep Creek Village Property Owners Association and is presently serving as its president. The Association is a member of Community Associations Institute and its management company is Associa Select Community Services.
He is also a board member on the Broadneck Council of Communities and a member of the Growth Action Network, Arnold Preservation Council and the Magothy River Association. Steve is serving as one of the first appointed members of the Anne Arundel County Citizens Environmental Commission and participated in the County’s Stormwater Workgroup.
You can review Steve’s presentations here. If you have specific questions about Stormwater Success 201, contact Steve Miller at millerstevej2010@gmail.com