1. Stormwater Cost-Effectiveness
& The James
Adrienne Kotula
June 4, 2014

2. Protecting America’s Founding River
Five Core Programs:
• James RIVERKEEPER®
• Education
• Outreach
• Watershed Restoration
• River Advocacy

3. Initial Estimates
Source: Virginia Senate Finance Committee, November 18, 2011

4. Cost-Effectiveness Study
• In-depth investigation of costs
• Review all urban practices
• Costs & Pollutant Removal
• Case Study in City of Richmond

5. Methodology
• 33 Chesapeake Bay Program Approved & Unapproved Practices
• Review Pollution Removal Efficiencies
• Approved by Chesapeake Bay Program
• If unapproved, relied on current research
• Considered 20-Year Life Cycle Costs including:
• Design & Construction
• Land Values & Financing
• Operations & Maintenance

6. Most Cost-Effective Practices: Nitrogen
• Pet waste programs: $ 1.36/lb
• IDDE /sewer repair: $ 8.73/lb
• IDDE /cross connections: $ 13.51/lb
• Forest buffers: $100.31/lb
• Urban stream restoration: $226.67/lb

7. Most Cost-Effective Practices: Phosphorus
• Pet waste programs: $10.43 /lb
• IDDE /sewer repair: $34.94 /lb
• IDDE/cross connections: $54.05 /lb
• Urban stream restoration: $666.69/lb
• Forest buffers: $1,230.76/lb

8. Most Cost-Effective Practices:
Total Suspended Solids
• Urban stream restoration: $0.83/lb
• IDDE /sewer repair: $0.87/lb
• Urban growth reduction: $2.64/lb
• Retrofit of existing dry pond (conversion to wet
pond or wetland): $3.89/lb
• Vegetated open channels
(A/B soils, no underdrain): $4.50/lb

9. Case Study
• City of Richmond
• Stormwater Permit Reductions Used
• Local Data Used:
– GIS layers to determine BMP feasibility
– Local BMP Constraints
– Input locally derived costs, where available

10. Case Study
Three Scenarios Developed:
1. Old CBP Approved Practices, Limited Constraints
2. New CBP Approved Practices, City Constraints
Used
3. All Practices, City Constraints Used

11. Key Findings
*Scenario 2 does not meet pollution reduction targets
$305
$89
$68 $62
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
Initial Estimates Scenario 1 Scenario 2* Scenario 3
City of Richmond Stormwater Pollution Reduction
Costs through 2025 (in millions)

12. Key Findings
• Continued Research on Practices is Vital:
– New Urban Nutrient Management Standard
Approved
– New Stream Restoration Standard Recommended
– Currently Being Reviewed:
• Enhanced Erosion & Sediment Control
• Shoreline Erosion
• Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination

13. Key Findings
• Additional BMP Benefits should be quantified
– Public Health/ Safety
– Public Education
– Recreation
– Neighborhood Beautification
– Urban Heat Island
– Carbon Footprint
– Wildlife Habitat
– Stream Habitat
– Flood Control

14. Future Considerations
• Local Practice Inventories Needed
• Sustainable Funding Sources
• Capital Improvement Planning
• Private Property Incentives

15. Adrienne Kotula
akotula@jrava.org
(804) 788-8811 x206
Questions?