HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR_Stormwater_20080429.pdfMAYOR
Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Wanda Doyle
Charlie R. Brewer
Barry Brown
Eddie Crone
Dick Smith
Paul Wolff CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
CITY MANAGER
Diane Schleicher
CITY CLERK
Vivian Woods
CITY ATTORNEY
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contacts: Joe Wilson, Dir. DPW
For Immediate Release (912) 786-4573, x132
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO STORMWATER ON TYBEE ISLAND
Tybee Island, Ga. – (April 29, 2008) Managing storm water on a barrier island presents special
challenges relating to quantity and quality of runoff. Once the issues have been identified, a logical
and systematic approach can be applied to address both capacity and quality issues.
Over the past year and a half, Tybee‟s Department of Public Works has been inventorying, inspecting
and mapping the current storm drain system on Tybee to address the current and future needs more
effectively. Working with the Army Corps of Engineers, the department has established a
Geographical Information System (GIS) map of storm drains and worked on field verification of
current infrastructure. According to DPW‟s manager, Joe Wilson, “This information helps in
determining condition and capacity, as well as in point source pollution detection.”
Siltation from construction sites, runoff from unvegetated lands, and dirt from vehicle tires as well as
parking lots contribute to pollution at the outfalls. Eliminating the “fines” (small dirt particles to which
heavy metals adhere) greatly influences the quality of storm water. Because there are a multitude of
sources affecting the quality of the runoff, a multifaceted approach is used to address these issues
through established Best Management Practices (BMPs).
There have been a number of these BMPs enacted on Tybee Island:
Sweeping roads with a vacuum sweeper on a consistent basis – DPW sweeps Highway 80,
parking lots, and other major arteries three times a week, resulting in 30 tons of debris per week.
Cleaning catch basins –Implementing twice a year cleaning of all catch basins has resulted in
better flow and less debris at outfalls.
Putting paved inverts in all catch basins – These inverts allow each basin to be self cleaning,
resulting in better flow.
Installing catch basin filtration systems in parking lots which catch the „fines‟ and floatables,
resulting in less pollution at outfalls. Six of these filter systems have been placed in the 16th
Street Parking Lot, and two more in the 14th Street lot, as part of Tybee‟s recent downtown
business district renovation project.
Encouraging grass swales while maintaining open ditches which provide storm water filtration
and slow down velocity, allowing silts to settle out.
Upsizing and retrofitting all outfalls to allow more retention and to reduce tidal intrusion.
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
Establishing oyster beds at outfalls, a biological BMP established with the UGA Research Station
at Skidaway Institute, using the oyster recycling center at DPW.
Establishing a ground water table survey in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers to
help determine capacity levels in retention basins.
According to Joe Wilson, “Utilizing all of these BMPs will allow us to address our quantity and
quality issues with which we are currently faced. Future policy enhancements may be needed as the
demand on our current infrastructure increases.”
Other BMPs could also help significantly in reducing storm water runoff. These could include
retention basins that double as sources for irrigation, pervious pavements, rain barrels, green roofs,
and other similar efforts.
Regarding water quality efforts by DPW, Tybee‟s Mayor Jason Buelterman said, “The City of
Tybee and its citizens place a very high value on our beautiful coastal environment. By finding
creative and innovative ways of managing our storm water runoff, the City is helping to ensure that
we are doing whatever we can to protect and preserve our coastal ecosystem." The City is confident
that Tybee can address future capacity needs if the Island‟s quality requirements are met with a
considered, “holistic” approach.
Tybee Island is one of Georgia‟s barrier islands, protecting the marshlands and inland areas from
some of the severe weather that the Atlantic serves to the coast. For more information about the City
of Tybee Island, visit us online at http://www.cityoftybee.org.
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Attachment: Picture with caption, “Tybee Island DPW‟s Joe Wilson examines one of the new catch basin filtration systems
in the newly completed construction in the Strand parking lot near 18 th Street. These new filters are helping to reduce
pollution at storm water outfalls on the island.”
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org