AN ALL-VOLUNTEER, GRASSROOTS EFFORT

The Louisiana Stormwater Coalition is an all-volunteer, grassroots effort dedicated to educating and advocating about the benefits of permanently funded stormwater management programs. Coalition co-founders Dr. Jeff Kuehny, Kelly Hurtado and Renee Verma continue to collaborate on new demonstration projects and keep the stormwater management conversation alive across the state.

In 2021, the coalition passed SCR 24, which called for a stormwater feasibility study. The coalition originally identified three demonstration projects to show how stormwater management can be implemented in various Louisiana watersheds, including a bayou, a wetland, and a lake. Bayou Fountain and the LSU Burden Wetlands projects are completed. The last demonstration project at Capitol Lake has begun. Once data is collected, equipment is installed, and the project is studied and assessed, we will submit a manual on developing and implementing a stormwater management program in Louisiana; this manual will be made available to the public.

We believe Louisiana must focus on permanent funding and creating accountable stormwater management programs so cities can:

1.   Keep litter off the streets through anti-litter education, garbage and recycling best practices, and litter enforcement.

2.  Keep flood-causing sediments, litter and pollution out of the watersheds with infrastructure build-outs, capital outlay projects, drainage maintenance, litter-catching equipment such as booms, band-a-longs, hydrodynamic separators, and green infrastructure projects designed to take in and absorb stormwater.

 

WHAT WE KNOW

  • Louisiana is ranked #1 in rainfall in the United States — we live with large amounts of water and litter so we must manage as one.

  • Water has no boundaries; Louisiana parishes must work together to prevent flooding and litter.

  • When you see litter on the street, you know there is a massive litter problem in the watershed.

  • When large amounts of rain, litter and pollutants mix they cause drainage issues, clog storm drains, cause flooding, and harm wildlife.

  • Loose garbage is the enemy — litter on the street heads straight into storm drains during heavy rainfall and flows into our rivers, lakes, bayous and wetlands.

  • To reduce litter on the streets and in watersheds, please BAG YOUR GARBAGE and tie it tight, and DO NOT OVERFILL your bins!

  • Single-use items and plastics are predicted to double by 2050 (Reuters, Plastic consumption on course to nearly double by 2050 - research, February 26, 2023)

  • Litter is a vicious cycle no matter how much litter we pick up; permanently funded stormwater management programs provide a reliable source of funding to help put programs, equipment, and systems in place to address issues.

  • Stormwater management programs focus on improving water quality and helping cities comply with the Clean Water Act and MS4 permits.

  • Many communities with established stormwater management programs have earned good Community Rating Systems (CRS) rankings, which leads to affordable insurance rates.

  • Litter comes from many sources — not just people. Solid waste and recycling best practices, as well as proper handling and transportation, are key to keeping our streets and watersheds clean.

  • The best stormwater programs are those with a two-pronged approach: 1) attack litter on the streets with anti-litter education and public awareness campaigns and staff dedicated to effective solid waste management as well as litter enforcement and fines. 2) capture flood-causing sediments, pollution and litter before they enter watersheds with infrastructure projects and improvement, drainage maintenance, and the strategic purchase, placement, and maintenance of stormwater equipment such as booms, band-a-longs, and hydrodynamic separators. Green infrastructure projects designed to “take-in” or hold and absorb stormwater diverting it from homes and businesses are also important stormwater program elements.

  • Closing the loop on pollution in the watersheds with stormwater equipment will help us protect our wildlife, reclaim Sportsman's Paradise, and keep litter out of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

  • Stakeholder outreach and public education, citizen accountability and transparency, are critical first steps to creating a successful stormwater management program. Define and understand the problem, devise a solution and determine a stormwater fee that reflects the political realities of your community.