The Utilization of Stream Restoration to Meet MS4 Permit Requirements
Katie Boehmer, PE
JMT
Pittsburgh, PA
Andrew Donaldson
JMT
York, PA
Authors: Boehmer, K., Donaldson, Andrew
The MS4 Stream Restoration Projects in the City of Pittsburgh repaired two impaired stream channels utilizing natural stream channel design. JMT, in conjunction with Pittsburgh Water performed design and permitting for this water quality improvement project which helped Pittsburgh Water to meet their sediment reduction goals as part of their MS4 Permit Requirements in which they were co-permittees with the City of Pittsburgh. As part of this project, two sites had initially been identified in Pittsburgh Water’s Pollutant Reduction Plan (PRP) however, one of the sites was no longer viable once design started. JMT was tasked with identifying an alternative site that met the eligibility requirements outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection for stream restoration projects to be used as an MS4 Best Management Practice.
The presentation focuses on the eligibility requirements for utilizing stream restoration projects as an MS4 Best Management Practice. JMT provided design for stabilizing eroding stream banks through natural stream channel design techniques for restoring ecological functions and obtaining water quality credits within two watersheds to meet Pittsburgh Water’s MS4 Pollutant Reduction Plan’s (PRP) requirements in accordance with their NPDES Permit. This presentation will discuss in detail the eligibility requirements in order to qualify a stream restoration project as an MS4 best management practice and go over the site search and the revisions that were required to the pollutant reduction plan. The presentation will touch on the design approach as well as give a construction update as this project has a compliance date of June 30th, 2025.
About Katie Boehmer, PE
Katie Boehmer is a Professional Engineer with 8 years of water resources engineering and ecological restoration design experience working on numerous GSI projects, stormwater management / storm drainage projects and stream restoration projects throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Katie received her Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Penn State University and her Masters of Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.
About Andrew Donaldson
Andrew Donaldson is a Senior Environmental Scientist at JMT and has 28 years of experience in stream, floodplain, and wetland restoration and ecological design projects throughout the eastern and southeastern United States. Andrew’s expertise is in the assessment and design of stream, floodplain, and wetland restoration projects using the principles of fluvial geomorphology to reestablish appropriate riverine, palustrine and valley bottom ecological functions and services. Andrew has a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Drexel University and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He has designed numerous successful ecological restoration projects throughout his professional career and also has extensive experience in construction inspection and construction oversight for the implementation of stream, floodplain, and wetland restoration and mitigation projects.