Stormwater Management
Protecting our water from weather woes
Stormwater Management
The Goshen Department of Stormwater Management was established by Ordinance 4295 in May of 2005, to comply with the requirements of Indiana’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer General Permit (MS4GP), which was put in place to comply with the Clean Water Act’s Phase II requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
The Goshen Department of Stormwater Management works daily to prevent polluted stormwater runoff from impacting our natural water resources by working closely with a variety of other public and private partners within the City of Goshen, Elkhart County, and the State of Indiana.
The goal for stormwater management is “Clean Water for Everyone and Everything“. To get there, the Department of Stormwater Management provides education and opportunities for the public to be involved, identifies and addresses illicit discharges to the storm sewer system or our local waterways, monitors construction sites and newly developed areas for stormwater compliance, and makes sure the City conducts operations and maintains its facilities in a manner that does not introduce pollution into our local waterways.
Why is Stormwater Pollution a Concern?
Within the City of Goshen and other urban areas, stormwater runoff comes from yards, roofs, driveways, parking lots, construction sites, and streets (these are all called hard surfaces except for yards), and flows into miles of storm sewers, swales, and ditches located under or next to our City streets and eventually reaches our local waterways. Stormwater picks up oil, grease, sediments, automotive fluids, trash, lawn chemicals, and other pollutants that are harmful to the environment and are often discharged/released into our local waterways untreated.
Untreated stormwater affects our ability to use our local water bodies for drinking, fishing, and recreational purposes, and it degrades fish and other aquatic habitats. The only way to lessen stormwater pollution is to reduce the amount of pollutants washed away by stormwater. The goal of the Department of Stormwater Management is “Clean Water for Everyone”.
Why does Goshen need a Department of Stormwater Management?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers pollution contained in stormwater runoff to be one of the most significant sources of contamination in our nation’s waterways. To help reduce stormwater pollution, the EPA, in 1990, established rules requiring larger cities to create programs, policies, and rules at the local level to minimize stormwater pollution. In the late 1990s, the EPA applied these stormwater rules nationwide to communities like ours and other densely populated areas. Thus, the primary role of the Stormwater Management Department is to ensure that the City of Goshen identifies pollutant sources and develops and implements plans to eliminate or minimize the impacts of these pollutants. Additionally, the Stormwater Management Department strives to lessen the impact of stormwater on our local groundwater resources, streams, and rivers. By doing these things, the Department of Stormwater Management ensures that the City of Goshen is meeting state and federal stormwater requirements.
How is the Department of Stormwater Management paid for?
The budget for the Department of Stormwater Management comes from a semi-annual fee added to all property tax bills. All residential parcels pay $15.00 per year to support the program, and non-residential parcels pay $15.00 per 3,600 square feet of impervious surface (hard surface areas that won’t absorb stormwater, such as driveways, rooftops, and sidewalks). The City’s authority for collecting this fee is found in Resolution 2006-1, Ordinance 4624, and Ordinance 4712.
Who Manages the Goshen Stormwater Department?
This department is overseen by a three-member Board of Directors, which includes Mayor Gina Leichty, Mary Nichols, and Michael Landis. The meetings of the Stormwater Management Board are held in conjunction with the Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety meetings, which are held on the first, second, fourth, and fifth Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. in the City Court Room/Council Chambers at the Goshen Police & Court Building located at 111 East Jefferson Street, Goshen, Indiana.
Stormwater Coordinator
Jason Kauffman is the City’s Stormwater Coordinator and works to manage the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program. If you have a question or concern, you can reach him at 574-537-3832 or [email protected].
Stormwater Specialist
Ryan Miller is the City’s Stormwater Specialist. Ryan conducts erosion and sediment control inspections at construction sites and works to assist in carrying out the goals and requirements of the MS4 program. You can reach him at 574-533-8733 or [email protected].
Stormwater Superintendent
Dustin Sailor serves as the City’s Stormwater Superintendent and Director of Public Works. His efforts go towards planning, design, and management of construction projects dealing with stormwater and utility infrastructure throughout the City.
What to Do if You Find a Pollutant
We encourage the community to help maintain the cleanliness of our waterways by reporting potential hazards in or near our waters with the following information.
24 Hour Emergency Spill Contact
For large, hazardous spills or spills that may enter a waterway, please contact Elkhart County Emergency Dispatch by calling 911. Emergency responders will determine whether the Elkhart County Health Department and/or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) should be contacted.
Report-A-Pollutant – City of Goshen
The Stormwater Department needs each citizen’s help in identifying sources of pollution. Storm inlets, pipes, and ditches are meant to carry “clean” stormwater away from our roadways to permit safe passenger travel, but this infrastructure also provides an easy path for pollution to reach our valuable waterways. Discharging anything other than clean water onto the ground where it can enter a storm sewer, or discharging it directly into a storm sewer, poses an environmental concern and must be reported. Common sources of pollution to storm sewers include contaminated runoff from construction sites, concrete truck washouts, dumping of paint and other household wastes, draining used oil, grass clippings, and RV holding tank or port-a-john releases.
To report a stormwater pollution concern to the City of Goshen, please contact the Stormwater Department by calling 574-534-2201, sending an email to [email protected], or by filling out the Report-A-Pollutant form.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
- Board of Works – Every Thursday except the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Police/Courts Building (111 East Jefferson Street). Click here for a 2024 calendar showing the City Meeting schedule.
- Goshen Stormwater Board – Every Thursday except the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m.in the Police/Courts Building (111 East Jefferson Street)
- MS4 Advisory Board – To be Announced at the Elkhart County Public Services Building (4230 Elkhart Road, Goshen, IN 46526)
- Partnership Stormwater Board Meeting – The fourth Monday of every month, at 9:00 am at the County Administration Building (117 N. Second Street, Goshen, IN 46526)
For more information on Goshen’s storm drain art, including an interactive map on where to find them, visit the Storm Drain Art page.
For more information on the Greater Elkhart County Stormwater Partnership, visit its information page on the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District or call John Heiliger, the Partnership Stormwater Coordinator, at 574-971-4678.