LEWISTON, ID – The City of Lewiston is about one month ahead of schedule for the January 1, 2024 rollout of its proposed Stormwater Utility. At a special meeting this afternoon, Public Works Director Dustin Johnson provided City Council members with an update on the plan to create the utility.
The process began in November of 2020 with a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit followed by the adoption of the City’s Stormwater Masterplan.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued the City and Lewis-Clark State College the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II MS4 permit which became effective on November 1, 2020 and expires at midnight on September 20, 2025. The final permit modification became effective August 1, 2021.
“The MS4 permit requires permittees to develop and implement a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program which includes pollution prevention measures, treatment techniques, monitoring, and other appropriate measures to control the quality of discharge to storm drains which flow to waters of the United States,” the City’s website says.
Council members discussed the plan being focused on – Plan 6 – would cost property owners between $7.75 and $10.60 per Equivalent Residential Unit depending on location and size of property. An ERU in Lewiston is set at 4,500 square feet of impervious surface area, according to the presentation provided by Johnson.
Meanwhile, he says there are still quite a bit of issues to be worked out, but progress is being made – including hiring a Stormwater Coordinator.
Officials also discussed public outreach to educate the community about the Stormwater Utility.
The current Stormwater Master Plan can be found here. For information about Lewiston’s Stormwater Program or the Master Plan, email the Stormwater Program Coordinator or call 208-790-8800.
