If you represent a community that has an MS4 permit, your permit requires you to "...implement an education program that includes educational goals based on stormwater issues of significance within the MS4 area. The ultimate objective of a public MA MS4 General Permit education program is to increase knowledge and change behavior of the public so that pollutants in stormwater are reduced."
The permit goes on to define the following four audiences for this required educational program:
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Residents
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Businesses, institutions (churches,hospitals), and commercial facilities
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Developers (construction), and
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Industrial facilities.
U.S. EPA requires you to distribute two educational messages over the permit term to each of these audiences, spaced at least a year apart. The U.S. EPA explictly allows you to "...use existing materials if they are appropriate for the message the permittee chooses to deliver." The permits states that you "... may partner with other MS4s, community groups or watershed associations to implement the education program to meet this permit requirement."
Finally, your permit requires you "to show evidence of focused messages for specific audiences as well as evidence that progress toward the defined educational goals of the program has been achieved."
Think Blue Massachusetts offers pre-prepared materials that you can use to meet these permit requirements, along with guidance on how to provide evidence that you are making progress towards the goals of the program.
Think Blue Massachusetts Partner Materials
Permit Section 2.3.2: Public Education and Outreach Objective:
Here is the complete text of the Public Education and Outreach Objective of the 2018-2022 General Permits for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. Click Here
Think Blue Massachusetts Training Webinar
Here is a pre-recorded webinar that provides an overview of the package of materials that you can expect to receive and how to use it. Click here to view the presentation. Click here for the audio.
Sample NOI
If you want to use the Think Blue Massachusetts toolkit as part of your MS4 education and outreach, here is a suggestion about what to put into your NOI.
How to Measure Your Outreach
If you are using the Think Blue Massachusetts toolkit for your MS4 education and outreach, here are tips on how to evaluate and measure your results. Click Here
Annual Permit Report Guidelines
If you intend to use Think Blue Massachusetts materials to meet your Year 1 MS4 stormwater permit requirements, here are guidelines on what you should be able to include in your annual permit report to the U.S. EPA Click Here
Materials for Impaired Waters
Stormwater Curricula for Central MA 5th Graders - WPI
Campaign Results, FY2018 to FY2020
FY2019 Post Campaign Survey
The Massachusetts Statewide Stormwater Coalition surveyed a cross-section of Massachusetts residents about their knowledge, attitudes, and habits related to stormwater to measure the impact of our "Fowl Water" advertising campaign. Click here for the results!
FY2020 Post Campaign Survey
The Massachusetts Statewide Stormwater Coalition surveyed a cross-section of Massachusetts residents about their knowledge, attitudes, and habits related to stormwater to measure the impact of our "Fowl Water" advertising campaign. Click here for the results!
Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative Campaign Results
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Cape Cod Stormwater Coalition
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Charles River Stormwater Collaborative
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Connecticut River Stormwater Committee
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Fore River Stormwater Partnership
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Greenscapes North Shore
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Merrimack Valley Stormwater Collaborative
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination
FY2018 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2019 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here
FY2020 "Fowl Water" ad Facebook and YouTube campaign results. Click Here