Municipalities across the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed are grappling with how to meet MS4 and Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan requirements, as well as local water quality and nutrient reduction goals. Many are now looking to collaboration across multiple municipalities as a means to creating efficiencies that can reduce overall costs to each community.
The EFC is partnering with the Brandywine Conservancy to work with six municipalities that have formed the Oxford Regional Planning Committee (ORPC). The member municipalities include: the Borough of Oxford, Elk Township, East Notthingham Township, West Nottingham Township, Lower Oxford Township, and Upper Oxford Township. The group was formed to collaborate on planning activities, including the adoption of a regional comprehensive plan. Most of these municipalities are new to the MS4 program and do not have extensive stormwater management infrastructure. In addition, some of these communities do not have significant capacity or resources to take on stormwater management activities. The EFC and the Brandywine Conservancy are helping the municipalities assess the feasibility of a regional approach to stormwater management to address the six minimum control measures required for all MS4 permittees and the pollution reduction requirements to address any impairments, including those for the Chesapeake Bay. As a result of new funding, EFC and the Brandywine Conservancy have been able to expand our work in this region to include all of the municipalities in Chester County that are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and take a broader look at how to meet the Chesapeake Bay water quality goals across all land uses.
Partners
- Oxford Regional Planning Committee
- Borough of Oxford
- Upper Oxford Township
- Lower Oxford Township
- East Nottingham Township
- West Nottingham Township
- Elk Township
- Brandywine Conservancy
Sponsors
EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office
