Introduction

In Lancaster County, 89% of streams are impaired or have poor water quality, largely due to erosion and stormwater runoff. Poorly planned urban and suburban development can lead to accelerated stormwater runoff and flooding, which also causes property damage, traffic accidents, roadway and infrastructure damage, streambank erosion, and loss of aquatic habitat. 

What is an Act 167 Plan?

An Act 167 Plan aims to reduce the impacts of accelerated stormwater runoff that result from land development. The Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of 1978, or Act 167, requires counties to prepare and adopt a watershed-based stormwater management plan (SWMP) for each watershed within the county (or the county as a whole). Municipalities are responsible for adopting and implementing local ordinances to regulate land development consistent with watershed-based stormwater management plans. Additionally, Act 167 stipulates that the SWMP should be reevaluated every five years. 

The current Lancaster County Act 167 Plan, Blueprints, was adopted in April 2013. Other watershed-specific Act 167 Plans adopted in the past include the Conestoga River Watershed (2005), Cocalico Creek Watershed (2002), Little Conestoga Watershed (1998), and Mill Creek Watershed (1996).

Why a Countywide SWMP?

The Lancaster County Planning Department (LCPD) is guided by places2040, the county comprehensive plan, which contains five Big Ideas, twenty-six policies, and seven catalytic tools and strategies for implementation. One of those Big Ideas is Taking Care of What We Have, which includes a policy to “improve water quality and work together on stormwater management”. Additionally, the Lancaster Countywide Action Plan: A Strategy for Restoring Lancaster’s Waterways, more commonly referred to as the CAP, identified updating Lancaster County’s Act 167 Integrated Water Resources Plan as a priority initiative. 

Funding

In June 2023, LCPD applied for a Growing Greener Plus Grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) to fund completion of Phase 1 of the SWMP. The Phase 1 scope establishes procedures for Phase 2, including: a) how to prepare the plan, b) determining the scope, and c) setting goals and objectives. Phase 2 is not a part of this proposal and will be addressed in the future.

Stakeholders

A key component in drafting the SWMP is the formation of a Watershed Plan Advisory Committee (WPAC) to guide development of the plan. The committee includes a variety of stakeholders and will rely on the participation of as many municipalities as possible, as well as organizations from a variety of sectors. 

Partners