surface & stormwater management performance audit final report

Surface & Storm Water Management Performance Audit
Kitsap County, Washington
Final Report
II. SSWM PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
In 1993, Kitsap County established its SSWM Program to begin to address the impacts and
management of inadequate drainage controls. As indicated in the SSWM 1993 ordinance, the
Board of Commissioners was concerned about the impacts of runoff on unstable slopes and
intrusion on adjacent properties, increased sedimentation in ponds, creeks, and streams,
degradation of water quality and shellfish habitat, excess water runoff that posed a safety hazard
to lives and property, and cooperation among adjacent jurisdictional areas. To meet their
concerns about these issues, the Commissioners established the following specific purposes that
guide the SSWM Program.
• To promote and protect the public health, safety, and welfare by establishing a
comprehensive approach to surface and storm water management,
• To protect life and property from storm, waste, flood, or surplus surface waters,
• To protect water quality by preventing siltation, contamination, and erosion of the
county’s waterways,
• To protect aquifers,
• To provide shellfish protection,
• To assure compliance with federal and state surface water management and water
quality regulations and legislation,
• To increase public education and citizen involvement, and
• To encourage the preservation of natural drainage systems.
As part of the ordinance, the Board of Commissioners also identified the following specific
program elements and activities that were to be included as part of the SSWM Program.
• Basin and watershed planning
• Education
• Capital Improvements
• Operations and Maintenance.
• Monitoring
• Source Control
• Shellfish Protection
The SSWM Program’s policy direction has not changed since 1993 when Ordinance 156
established the Program.
Observation: The SSWM Program has funded programs and activities that are generally
consistent with the purposes and program elements established by either Kitsap County code,
inter-local agreements, or interdepartmental agreements. However, there is some question
regarding whether work on the planning activities for the Water Resource Inventory Area
(WRIA) 15 is appropriate.
The scope and activities of the current SSWM Program are still very consistent with the original
vision that was established by the Board of County Commissioners when the Program was
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