Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP)

Transcription

1 Lake Whatcom Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP) Previously funded by the Department of Ecology, a continuation of HIP is now available through the City s stormwater utility fund through This brochure describes the 2015 program for city residents. Changes to the program will be made in 2016 please contact the City at that time to learn about the new program. County residents, please direct program inquiries to the contact information on the back of this brochure. Residents are building a legacy of improved water quality with technical assistance and financial support from the Homeowner Incentive Program. Photo by Stacie Michaelson 2008

2 Know the Facts Rain and wash water from residential properties might seem harmless, but it threatens the health of one of Bellingham s most indispensable and well-loved natural resources. Sediment, leaves, grass, and other organic materials collect in rain and wash water as it flows from lawns, roofs, and hard surfaces. This polluted runoff travels directly into Lake Whatcom via storm drains and ditches. The resulting excess organic input, mainly phosphorus, fuels the growth of bacteria and algae, raising water treatment costs and degrading the taste and quality of our tap water as a result of treatment by-products. Phosphorus is not just found in fertilizer it comes from sediment, leaves, grass, pet waste, and detergents like carwash soap. Even an unfertilized lawn contributes excess nutrients and phosphorus to the lake. While using phosphorus-free fertilizer is important, there is so much more you can do to help reduce the unhealthy phosphorus levels currently found in Lake Whatcom. Phosphorus in runoff from ten acres of... FOREST = 1 lbs. LAWN = 10 lbs. One pound of phosphorus can grow 100 pounds of algae. 1 Forest Functions A healthy forest acts as a sponge, a filter, and a cooler. In a forest, rainwater soaks into the ground, gradually draining through layers of plants, mulch, and soil that help filter excess nutrients out of the water before it flows into the lake. Trees from the forest also shade creeks, keeping water cool and oxygenated for the aquatic life that depends on it. Water moves through our neighborhoods too quickly. When rainwater falls on lawns, roofs, driveways, and patios, it runs off much more quickly than it would in a forest. These fast flows cause erosion and flooding, and carry excess sediment into the lake. In addition, water heats up as it flows over warm roofs and pavement and into creeks that feed the lake, harming native aquatic plants and animals and threatening the resilience of the lake s ecosystem. You can mimic the positive water quality effects of a forest by installing a project that soaks up runoff to slow the flow, cool the temperature, and filter out nutrients before the water reaches the lake.

3 Protect the Lake What will our legacy be? Lake Whatcom s health affects us all not only as the reservoir for our drinking water, but as a flood-control system for our lowlands, a recreational treasure for generations of residents, and an integral component of our environmental health and quality of life. You can help leave a legacy when you complete a HIP project that... Improves water quality by reducing runoff from your property Improves on-site drainage issues on your property Gains code compliance necessary for future projects Leaves a healthier Lake Whatcom for the next generation Lake Whatcom is listed as an impaired water body under the Clean Water Act for high phosphorus and low dissolved oxygen. Bellingham s goal is to reduce Lake Whatcom s phosphorus load by 85% (about 400 lbs.). Collective Action Lake Whatcom s phosphorus problem will only be solved if we work together. We re leading the way. The City of Bellingham continues to build pollution-reduction facilities that capture and treat polluted water in public areas of the watershed. So far, we ve captured runoff from more than 300 acres in the watershed, removing more than 200 lbs. of excess phosphorus from the lake annually. And more projects are being done each year. But we can t get there without your help. Retrofitting all public areas in the Lake Whatcom Watershed will not reduce phosphorus inputs enough to protect the lake. We need your help. Your neighbors have collectively completed more than 120 projects, removing 20 lbs. of excess phosphorus from Lake Whatcom annually. By completing a project on your property, you can remove up to 90% of the pollution from your property s runoff before it flows into the lake that s a legacy you can be proud of. Join the collective action of hundreds of your neighbors who have installed pollution-reducing projects. 2

4 We ll Help You Free technical and financial assistance Homeowner Program Staff Describe project ideas on-site Provide input on project design Implement project or oversee hired-out implementation Submit receipts for reimbursement Explore strategies to meet water quality goals during site visit Prepare design plans and permits Provide guidance during project implementation Process reimbursements to homeowner It was easy to get information, answers to questions, and prompt reimbursement. I can t say enough good things about the program. - HIP Participant Money Matters How much financial assistance is available for my project? You can receive $1,000 to $6,000 in reimbursement based on the percentage of your property that is improved to manage runoff. Projects that improve 10-30% of the property qualify for $1,000 in reimbursement. Every percentage point above 30% adds an additional $80 for up to $6,000. What can be reimbursed? All necessary project materials are 100% reimbursable, regardless of whether you purchase them or a contractor supplies them. In addition, labor provided by a licensed, registered contractor is 75% reimbursable. Permits for the work are free. EXAMPLES of reimbursable materials: (100% reimbursable) (75% reimbursable licensed, registered Native plants contractors only) Lake-Whatcom-friendly mulch Labor to operate an excavator Drains and piping Labor to install rainwater cisterns Permeable pavers Labor to install plants Cisterns and rain barrels Labor to set pavers Downspouts and gutters Landscape design services Tool and equipment rental Haul-away of waste materials 3

5 Get Started Is your home within the eligible program area? City of Bellingham Lake Whatcom Watershed City residents: Residents of singlefamily homes within city limits of the Lake Whatcom Watershed (grey shaded area) are eligible. County residents: Contact Whatcom County staff listed on back page for eligibility details. 4

6 Simple Solutions What s the next step? Find project ideas below, then invite program staff to meet with you at your property to discuss them. We ll help you plan a project that you like and that works on your site. Not sure where to start? Try thinking about landscapes you like that you ve seen in person or in pictures. Find ideas to discuss during your site visit by looking through the project ideas below. Next, consider what you don t like about your property and might want to change. We can help you brainstorm at your site visit to find something that fits your needs and protects the lake. Stay small and efficient. These projects are a good fit for those who want to start small, and can be easily paired with a bigger project. Rainwater Tanks Install rain tanks, barrels, or cisterns to help slow the flow of runoff from your property and save on metered water for your garden. Rain barrels can be paired with a rain garden or pollution filter to capture and treat water that overflows during especially rainy days. Lawn Replacement Lawns leach approximately ten times more phosphorus per year than a forest of the same size. Replacing your lawn with a native planting can reduce phosphorus in runoff by 80%. Landscape Enhancement Some gardens contribute as much polluted runoff as a lawn. Thin mulching and ill-suited plants can cause poor rainfall absorbancy. Simply adding more mulch and planting native plants in bare spots can turn your landscaping into an active pollution filter that adds beauty to your yard! 5 Stormwater Planters Both small and contained, a stormwater planter can have a sizeable impact for a very small investment. These vegetated planters use soil, mulch, and plants to filter pollution from runoff, much like a forest would. Planters work best where downspouts or driveway drains are easily accessible.

7 Make a big impact. These projects make a real dent in the collective action of your neighborhood. Permeable Pavement Permeable pavement acts like a sieve, using many small openings to let runoff soak into the ground. Options include concrete pavers, concrete or plastic grids, and poured-inplace permeable concrete. Pavement Strips and Pads Adding a center ribbon of permeable material to your driveway allows water to drain from the hard surfaces and soak into the ground where it can be filtered. Underground Pollution Filters These structures allow runoff to soak into the ground where pollutants are captured by simple layers of rocks and sand. The underground layers can be topped with landscaping, decorative rock, sand, pavers, or permeable pavement, and are a great option for shoreline homeowners or those looking to keep projects out of sight. Hard Surface Removal Replacing unused gravel or paved areas with landscaping aligns your yard with the natural beauty of Lake Whatcom and contributes a direct reduction in runoff to the lake. Take it to the next level. The value of these projects is immeasurable! Rain Gardens Rain gardens build on the aesthetics of a native planting, adding simple elements to maximize phosphorus removal. By creating a depression in the landscape and installing simple layers of rock and sand underground, these projects can remove up to 80% of phosphorus from runoff. Beauty and efficiency in one go! Rainwater for Flushing Toilets Instead of flushing precious drinking water down the toilet, consider collecting rainwater to use for toilet flushing and wash cycles for washing machines and dishwashers. A licensed plumber is important to have on board for this type of project. 6

8 Ready to learn more? City residents contact: Eli Mackiewicz County residents contact: Melissa Gehrmann lakewhatcom.whatcomcounty.org/our-programs/hip Photo by Jennifer Bonstein 2008