Monitoring and Documenting Progress

A key part of stormwater management is understanding how we can improve our programs and methods to protect downstream waters and our community. The Permit allows jurisdictions to do monitoring and assessment within their jurisdiction or contribute to a regional fund called Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM). SAM projects are designed to produce regionally relevant findings. They include effectiveness studies, status and trends studies, and source identification studies. Studies are proposed and selected by the contributing members. The studies help us make informed decisions based on the best available science, local knowledge and experience. With the goal of continually making improvements to our stormwater programs and the health of our community, while demonstrating accountability for our actions.

What we’re doing:

• Olympia participates in SAM to meet Permit requirements. City staff are active in the decision-making process and participate in SAM sub-committees. Additionally, staff have sponsored, been technical advisors and proposed SAM regional studies. For information, visit the SAM website: https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/reporting-requirements/stormwater-monitoring/stormwater-action-monitoring
  • Olympia contributes $14,093.00 annually to Regional Status and Trends Monitoring.
  • Olympia contributes $20,857.00 annually to Effectiveness and Source Identification Studies.
• Through our outreach programs Olympia conducts water quality sampling and aquatic macroinvertebrate (stream bug) sampling in several creeks to evaluate stream health. While not required under the permit, these activities complement and inform other stormwater management activities.
• Olympia will continue to track and maintain records of Monitoring and Assessment activities and summarize these activities in the Annual Compliance Report.