Public Education and Outreach

The most critical component of the University's charter as a land grant institution is to provide education and outreach. For the purpose of the SWPPP, the "public" is defined as employees, students, and contractors that make up the campus community. In realizing that we are but a small part of the Lake Superior watershed area, and that most of our "public" live in the Duluth/Superior area, we are working with the surrounding municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to promote storm water education and to address shared storm water problems.

Best Management Practices: - New practices will be added as they are completed.

• UMD 101 - RSPT - Watershed Moment TV Spots
• UMD 102 - Employee Training Program - Identify Employee Groups Impacted
• UMD 102 - Employee Training Program - Schedule
• UMD 103 - Contractor Training Program w/ RSPT
• UMD 104 - UMD Website Litter Committee Article

Public Education and Outreach Best Management Practice Summaries

UMD 101 - Regional Surface Water Education Program

The Regional Surface Water Education Program is a joint educational effort by the Regional Storm Water Protection Team, comprised of the Cities of Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor and Cloquet in Minnesota, Duluth Township, St. Louis County, Rice Lake Township, South St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Minnesota Sea Grant, MN Department of Transportation and the City of Superior, Wisconsin.

These entities have formed a working team to identify a regionally effective message and delivery format to efficiently reach the broadest audience, including members of the UMD campus community. The program will encompass a strong watershed emphasis. Messages developed will address specific regional issues including identification and recognition of local creeks and streams, awareness of the complex watershed network (from catch basin or ditch to creek to river to lake), specific regional concerns for erosion and sediment, winter salt and gravel, lawn chemicals, dumping into storm sewers and creeks, the impact of litter and large areas of impervious surface.

The Regional Team has filed joint grant applications to secure funds for a regional media campaign related to storm water issues and creation of a contractor training and certification program. The proposed educational program grant requests funding to support development of a recognizable logo for surface water protection in Northeastern Minnesota/ Northwestern Wisconsin; development and airing of a series of public service announcements for television and radio; and development of a brochure and mailing flyer to promote positive community and individual activities to protect the waters of the region. Program response will be tracked to measure effectiveness.

The University of Minnesota Duluth and University of Minnesota Sea Grant will provide educational outreach experience, opportunity for student and faculty involvement, and the availability of additional resources and scientific knowledge. A UMD Storm Water web site will be developed and linked to the existing http://www.duluthstreams.org/ web to highlight UMD's connection to the larger watershed.

UMD 102 - UMD Employee Training Program

Employees of UMD will be trained to integrate best management practices into their daily operations. To accomplish this goal, a sub-committee will be created to Identify employee groups impacted and to develop training materials for each BMP specified in the six minimum measures. Production of training materials may also be used as an educational exercise, and other opportunities for integration with UMD programs and research will be encouraged.

UMD 103 - Contractor Training and Certification Program

Contractors leave a lasting impact on the UMD Campus, whether constructing new buildings or performing repairs. The University of Minnesota Standards and Procedures for Construction specify many new practices that can help prevent storm water pollution, but only if the contractors are aware and appropriately trained. To this end, UMD is working with the Regional Storm Water Protection Team to develop a training program for construction site storm water pollution control. This program will integrate specific BMP's and will be initially presented in a workshop format. After refinement, the completed curriculum will be published as web-based training in preparation for a certification program. The goal is to develop a unified approach among MS4's to create consistent expectations of contractors in the Duluth/Superior region.

UMD 104 - Student Storm Water Education Program

The goal for educating students about storm water is to increase awareness and to create changes in behavior. In addition to the Regional Storm Water Education Program, a campaign specific to common student activities such as vehicle use on campus and associated need for impervious surface parking, poor vehicle maintenance and littering will call attention to their contribution to contaminated storm water. This campaign will be integrated into annual activities such as Earth Day and the "Clean Sweep" campaign. A sub-committee, comprised of interested students and employees, will develop the educational campaign.

UMD 105 - Storm Water Web Site

UMD's Storm Water web site will provide a central place for UMD's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan including best management practices and other related information. The web site will also provide forms for comments or requests to be involved.