Why Stormwater Management is Needed

The City of Rincon is rapidly urbanizing and developing economically.  The associated changes in land use can negatively impact the Coastal Georgia environment if not properly managed.  Increases in impervious area results in an increase in stormwater discharge rates, volumes, and pollutant loads, which can cause sanitary sewer overflows, erosion, and water quality impairment, among other problems.  The problems associated with increased stormwater runoff require a proper stormwater management program to balance economic growth with the goal of preserving Georgia’s natural, environmental, historic, archaeological, and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations. 

Coastal ecosystems and resources can be sensitive to the problems associated with urbanization.  The coastal salt and freshwater marshes, tidal creeks, and estuaries can be negatively impacted by increases in the volumes of stormwater (Center for Watershed Protection (CWP), 2008) from counties within the coastal zone.  The Georgia coastline supports one-third of the vegetated salt marsh along the Atlantic coast.  These marshes are home to diverse wildlife, from “recreational finfish, shellfish and crustaceans such as the blue crab and the world famous ‘Wild Georgia’ shrimp” (Georgia Environmental Protection Division, 2008).  Thus, ensuring the City of Rincon has a strong and sustainable stormwater management plan is of the utmost importance to the continued preservation of the remaining salt marshes and the coastal environment.

Stormwater management programs are a vital aspect of coastal management goals.  Georgia has three planning initiatives that support development of coastal stormwater utilities. Georgia’s State Water Plan (Georgia Water Council, 2008), the GCMP and Georgia’s Statewide Nonpoint Source Management Plan (Georgia's Statewide Nonpoint Source Management Plan, 2014) recommend that local governments set up and implement a stormwater utility as a mechanism for funding the administration, operations and maintenance, and capital costs of local stormwater management programs and non-point source pollution controls.