The City first obtained a General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in 2003. In 2023, the new general permit was approved. The City is covered under this general permit.
The City is required to develop, implement, and enforce a stormwater management program, referred to as an "MS4 Program". The MS4 Program must include an MS4 Program Plan that includes six minimum control measures and Special Conditions for approved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and non-Chesapeake Bay TMDLs (e.g. for Blacks Run/ Cooks Creek). The six minimum control measures are:
- Public Education and Outreach - on stormwater impacts - includes classroom educational activities for students K-12, plantings and stream restoration activities, the CleanStream website, and educational campaigns for residents, businesses and households on pet waste management, proper fertilization techniques, automobile maintenance, etc.
- Public Participation/Involvement - includes partnerships with local universities, state agencies, local citizen organizations to organize clean up activities and Blacks Run Clean Up Day, to lead volunteer opportunities, and involving citizens in the development and implementation of the MS4 program.
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination - receiving citizen and staff reports on pollution issues such as spills and dumping and responding and remediating them to keep pollutants out of our waterways. Also includes the City's efforts in GPS mapping the City's storm sewer system and to provide household hazardous waste recycling and encouraging used oil recycling. Please report pollution events.
- Construction Site Stormwater Runoff - on active construction sites - generally enforced through the City's Erosion and Sediment Control Program and the state's required Virginia Stormwater Management Program permit.
- Post-Construction Stormwater Management in New Development and Redevelopment On Prior Developed Lands - efforts in design and plan review, inspections, and maintenance of stormwater management facilities after construction has completed to address quantity (flooding) and quality (pollution) issues on properties.
- Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations - includes training programs for city staff, and internal auditing to address potential stormwater impacts, developing nutrient management programs for select properties, etc.
Information on each of these minimum control measures, Special Conditions for Chesapeake Bay TMDL and non-Chesapeake Bay TMDLs, and their specific requirements can be found in the General Permit available on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's website.
Public Comment
Questions or comments about the MS4 permit program, the Program Plan, or TMDL Action Plans may be emailed to stormwater@harrisonburgva.gov, mailed to Harrisonburg Public Works at 320 East Mosby Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, or directed to 540-434-5928. Questions and comments may also be submitted via the online form here: Share your thoughts
Coverage Letter and General Permit
[245KB] 2023-2028 Coverage Letter and General Permit
[5MB] 2018-2023 Coverage Letter and General Permit
MS4 Program Plan
[4MB] MS4 Program Plan 2023-2028. Details the City of Harrisonburg's comprehensive program to manage the quality of stormwater discharged from the MS4 for the current permit cycle. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on April 29, 2024.
[6MB] Revised MS4 Program Plan 2018-2023. Historical Revised MS4 Program Plan for the 2018-2023 permit cycle.
[5MB] 2018-2023 MS4 Program Plan. Historical MS4 Program Plan for the 2018-2023 permit cycle. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on April 5, 2019.
[5MB] 2013-2018 MS4 Program Plan. Historical MS4 Program Plan for the 2013-2018 permit cycle.
MS4 Annual Reports
[3MB] 2022 - 2023 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 19, 2023.
[3MB] 2021-2022 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 9, 2022.
[4MB] 2020-2021 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 20, 2021.
[2.4MB] 2019-2020 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 18, 2020.
[1.7MB] 2018-2019 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 30, 2019.
[1.7MB] 2017-2018 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on October 1, 2018.
[1.7MB] 2016-2017 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on October 1, 2017.
[1.7MB] 2015-2016 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on September 27, 2016.
[1.5MB] 2014-2015 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on October 1, 2015.
[1MB] 2013-2014 MS4 Annual Report. Reports on the City of Harrisonburg's activities between July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014. Submitted to Virginia DEQ on October 1, 2014.
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (2023-2028)
The City of Harrisonburg's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) general permit, issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), requires the development and implementation of a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Phase 3 (100% cumulative) Action Plan for cleaning up the Bay. The Action Plan identifies strategies to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus by an additional 60% for a total of 100% from the City of Harrisonburg before July 1, 2028, to comply with the TMDL developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
[1MB] Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (2018-2023)
The City of Harrisonburg’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit, issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), requires the development and implementation of a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Phase 2 (40% cumulative) Action Plan for cleaning up the Bay. The Action Plan identifies strategies to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution by an additional 35% for a total of 40% from the City of Harrisonburg before July 1, 2023, to comply with the TMDL developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
[1MB] Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan (2013-2018)
The City of Harrisonburg’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) general permit, issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), requires the development and implementation of a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Phase 1 (5%) Action Plan for cleaning up the Bay. The Action Plan identifies strategies to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution by 5% from the City of Harrisonburg before July 1, 2018, to comply with the TMDL developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
[1MB] Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan
[17KB] Harrisonburg - TMDL Pollutant Removal Estimates 2015
[66KB] Harrisonburg - Homeowner BMP Pollutant Removal Estimates
Guidance with background information and procedures to meet the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Special Condition Requirements is available on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality website. Annual reporting requirements outlined in the General Permit will be submitted with MS4 Annual Reports and posted on this webpage.
Local TMDL Action Plans
Smith Creek TMDL Action Plan
[2MB] Smith Creek TMDL Action Plan
Blacks Run TMDL Action Plan
In development.
Cooks Creek TMDL Action Plan
In development.