Oak Island Stormwater

The Stormwater Advisory Board meets the third Monday of every month at the Oak Island Recreation Center from 6:00 pm until 7:00.  Citizens are welcome to attend and participate in any discussions or present issues.

The Problem

Stormwater is the number one source of water pollution in North Carolina.  Stormwater runoff provides the transit for silt, oil, pesticides, animal waste, and other hazardous chemicals to flow directly into local waters, often with devastating effects. 

Sediment, by volume, is the largest pollutant that clouds the water and smothers habitats for fish and plants.  The major sources of sediment are agriculture, construction, and forestry operations. 

Nutrients like phosphates and nitrates can promote excessive algae growth (e.g., algal blooms) as well as affect taste and odor of drinking water.  The major sources include urban and agricultural practices and non-point source (NPS) discharges.

Toxic substances, such as antifreeze and oil, pesticides, and herbicides threaten the health of fish and other aquatic life. 

Fecal coliform contamination is an indication of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites from animal waste, which hinder water processing and may render the beach, Davis Canal, or Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) unsuitable for wading, swimming, or shellfish harvesting.  Sources include malfunctioning waste water treatment facilities, broken sewer lines, failing septic tanks, and runoff from livestock pens or hog lagoons.

Heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, lead can impair aquatic ecosystems but also accumulate in the tissue of certain fish rendering them unfit for consumption (e.g., high mercury levels in tuna and swordfish should be avoided by women who are pregnant).  Sources include automobiles, paints, leaching of heavy metals from landfills, and industrial spills or discharges.

Organic matter, such as leaves, grass clippings, garbage, animal waste, etc. consume dissolved oxygen during decomposition.  Major sources include discharges from waste water treatment plants, livestock operations, yard waste, and pet feces.

Stormwater, which is also known as non-point source (NPS) pollution, is complex and expensive to manage in a rapidly developing area like Brunswick County because you are trying to control both water quantity and water quality in a dynamic environment.  It is even harder on Oak Island because of proximity to shellfish beds and shrimp nursery areas.  A small impact close by can have enormous changes downstream.

As growth continues on Oak Island we will see the effects of development as increased flooding and decreased water quality from (1) more silt deposits from construction flowing into the local watershed, (2) an increase in impervious surfaces, and (3) increased use of lawn and garden supplies like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.  Thus, the target pollutants for Oak Island are sediment, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

If the stormwater system is not properly designed and optimally maintained the impact will be a further decline of water quality and irreparable damage to already critical ecosystems.  However, there are a variety of measures - both large and small - that can have a tremendous impact on improving the quality of stormwater runoff so that the effects of growth are minimized.

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The Solution

The single most effective way to address the problem is through public education of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater.  Thousands of communities have already shown significant improvements to water quality by simple changes in the ways homeowners manage their yards, the ways that businesses operate, and the ways that communities develop.

The purpose of this website is to (1) inform Oak Island residents and businesses on the best way to manage stormwater and (2) inform the construction and development community about the BMPs that can be applied during and post-construction. 

A critical part is ensuring everyone knows what is required per the Oak Island ordinances.  The other part is letting homeowners and businesses know the many ways on how to reduce runoff from their own property as well as improve the water quality that leaves their property.

This website also includes a wealth of information on local water quality; how the Oak Island stormwater system is designed and managed; a list of BMPs for everyday activities; and homeowner projects.  This site provides key links to other stormwater-related sites for more detailed information.

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How you can help, starting right now

As Oak Island continues to develop the percent of impervious surface will increase, driving more stormwater into the streets and adjacent bodies of water.  With uncontrolled stormwater - and all the contamination that comes with it - it won't be long before the delicate ecosystems are impacted even more (e.g., altered salinity, algal blooms, fish kills, etc.).

Considering a single wooded lot (e.g., 60' x 100') can be entirely cleared and replaced with a house and two-car driveway, that property can have upwards of 75-80% impervious surface when fully built.  And if there is no break in impervious surfaces from the structure to the street, the stormwater can quickly add to the problem. 

For example, one inch of rain from a 1,200 square foot area can generate up to 600 gallons of runoff.  That means a 6,000 square foot lot built with 80% impervious surface, or up to 4,800 square feet, will create approximately 2,400 gallons of stormwater runoff for each inch of rain.  Multiply that by thousands of new homes in the new few years and you get an idea of the enormity of the problem. 

As residents we are also responsible for environmental stewardship, particularly when it comes to managing growth.  There are already a host of simple things that homeowners and businesses can do to improve both the water quality and reduce the amount of stormwater runoff.  That is what this website is dedicated to doing, providing the homeowner, business, and development community the latest information and tools on how to better manage stormwater as the island develops. 

On February 21, 2009 there will be a Community Cleanup from 58th St. to 40th St. SE from 9:00 am until noon.  Just click on the flyer to read the details.    Please notify John Michaux, Oak Island Stormwater Director, at 278-5011, ext 228 or e-mail at jmichaux@ci.oak-island.nc.us so that he can arrange to have enough grabbers, trash bags, and gloves on hand.

On October 21, 2008 at the Oak Island Recreation Center (from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm), there was a public hearing on the Oak Island Stormwater Management Plan. This was a chance for the public to review the town's overall goals and strategy and provide input as well as get some questions answered.  If you couldn't attend the meeting but want to comment, a copy of the presentations and draft SW Management Plan is provided on this website on the Presentations page. Please send your comments and questions to John Michaux, Oak Island Stormwater Director, at 278-5011, ext 228 or e-mail at jmichaux@ci.oak-island.nc.us.

There was a rain garden workshop on July 25, 2008 at the newly renovated Oak Island Teen Center behind Middleton Park. There were presentations by Al Hight, NC Cooperative Extension Service and Jean Harwell, Tree City USA Advisory Board.  Approximately 35 area residents attended.  Copies of the presentations are also included on this website on the Presentations page.

There was a rain barrel workshop on February 21, 2008 at the Oak Island Recreation Center where folks could purchase a 45-gallon rain barrel and adaptor kit for $20.00.  Over 70 area residents attended.  The workshop was taped and is playing on Channel 8.  Copies of the presentations are also included on this website on the Presentations page. But if you would like to order a rain barrel please contact John Michaux, Oak Island Stormwater Director, at 278-5011, ext 228 or by e-mail at jmichaux@ci.oak-island.nc.us.

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