What's it all about?

The Washington Stormwater Center (WSC) was created through the passage of House Bill 2222 in the 2009 legislative session. The bill, since codified in RCW 90.48.545, provides for Ecology to establish “a storm water technical resource center in partnership with a university, nonprofit organization, or other public or private entity to provide tools for storm water management.”

To begin the process of creating the WSC, the Department of Ecology provided grant funding to the City of Puyallup and its two primary associates: Washington State University and the University of Washington. The funding is to be used in developing the overall management and administrative strategy for the Center.

According to the RCW, the Center shall provide a number of statewide services.

(1) The center may:

(a) Review and evaluate emerging storm water technologies,

(b) Research and develop innovative and cost-effective technical solutions to remove pollutants from runoff and to reduce or eliminate storm water discharges,

(c) Conduct pilot projects to test technical solutions,

(d) Serve as a clearinghouse and outreach center for information on storm water technology,

(e) Assist in the development of storm water control methods to better protect water quality, including source control, product substitution, pollution prevention, and storm water treatment,

(f) Coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations in administering programs related to storm water control measures,

(g) Collaborate with existing storm water outreach programs, and

The RCW also required the Washington Department of Ecology (department) to perform the following tasks:

(2) The department shall consult with an advisory committee in the development of the storm water technical resource center. the advisory committee must include representatives from relevant state agencies, local governments, the business community, the environmental community, tribes, and the building and development industry.

(3) The department, in consultation with the storm water technical resource center advisory committee, shall identify a funding strategy for funding the storm water technical resource center.

(4) The department shall encourage all interested parties to help and support the technical resource center with in-kind services.

(5) The department shall prepare and submit a biennial progress report to the legislature.

Preliminary planning places the Center's presence at the Washington State University Puyallup Research & Extension Center.

As a way to incorporate and reach out to the largest base of interested and affected groups, the comment form for the Center is open for any and all interested parties to complete and submit. Feel free to send in your comments, questions, or concerns regarding stormwater and ways to manage it.

Information on upcoming meetings, forums and progress is posted on this website as well as the Department of Ecology’s site.

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