Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program Class

January 16, 2025

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (commonly known as SWPPP) was developed to try to keep polluted storm water draining onto the Truckee River and the Truckee Meadows Water shed. The program is a joint program monitored and enforced by Washoe County, Sparks, and Reno (Reno being the lead agency).

Their authority is derived from the Waters of America Act and the similar Waters of The State (Nevada) policy (see NRS 445A.415)* This is an incredibly wide-sweeping policy which designates virtually ANY amount of water, including rivers, streams, creeks, rivulets, lakes and ponds, and even standing pools of water after a rain event, a protected body of water. Which makes it impossible to avoid the enforcement of SWPPP.

The largest pollution source is topsoil and sediments being carried by storm water runoff into the storm drain system. That is why the SWPPP was instituted and includes Best Management Practices (BMPs) as the main control mechanism used to keep as much sediment as possible from going into the drain system and eventually Pyramid Lake.

Anyone who has tried to garden knows that topsoil is a precious natural resource in Nevada. Plants and natural vegetation germinate and grow much faster in topsoil. This is important because the SWPPP must be permitted. Upon completion of the project the SWPPP must be finalized, and the permit closed out. For this to take place any disturbed slopes must have 70 percent revegetation, which can take several seasons.

As mentioned, a permit must be pulled. That will also require periodic inspections. A weekly inspection must be made to look for any BMP that needs maintenance or repair. An inspection is also required prior to forecasted rain with a chance of 30 percent or greater. And a Post Storm inspection must be conducted to assess any damage that may have been caused. All inspections must be documented and kept onsite and made available to the governing agency inspector. The inspection reports are part of the larger SWPPP document collection that must also be kept onsite for the agency inspector.

BMP’s or Best Management Practices, include straw rolls or waddles. Silt fencing, sandbags, and using natural barriers such as berms. ALL BMP’s must be maintained and repaired as necessary.

Additional inspections will be conducted by the governing agency periodically and unannounced. If the inspector finds any discrepancies, they will generate a list. These discrepancies must be addressed prior to the next inspection. After the third inspection, that still has outstanding discrepancies become violations and could result in fines. The fines start at $100.00 per day, per violation.

This is a summary just to show you how important the SWPPP is. The program is far more complex. If you would like further information, contact me or Mike Woods. There are several websites available with more information available.

* “Waters of the State” means all waters situated wholly or partly within or bordering upon this State, including but not limited to:

1. All streams, lakes, ponds, impounding reservoirs, marshes, water courses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems and drainage systems; and

2. All bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial.