Watershed Management






Announcements
2024 Annual Meeting

The 2024 APDES Annual Meeting will be held on March 6th at the BP Energy Center.

A save the date and copy of the preliminary will be emailed to last year's attendees.
2023 Annual Report

The 2023 APDES Annual Report will be availabe on February 15, 2024.
2022 Annual Report

The 2022 APDES Annual Report was submitted to ADEC on February 15, 2023

A copy of the 2022 report can be viewed on our APDES Page.
APDES Term IV Permit

In June, 2020, a new 5-year APDES Permit became effective.

M&O Agreements

The MOA has a new requirement for Maintenance and Operation Plans for permanent stormwater controls. Click here for more information on the program.

The O&M Agreement Document can be found here.

WELCOME

The Municipality of Anchorage Watershed Management Services works to protect and improve the quality of all Anchorage’s streams and waterways in order to comply with federal and state regulations, specifically the Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES).

Our Watershed

The creeks, streams, wetlands, and other waters within the Municipality of Anchorage give our city much of its unique character. This network of waterways supports not only fish, wildlife, and natural habitats, but also businesses, neighborhoods, and the health of our community, improving our quality of life.

Stormwater and Water Quality

As Anchorage grows, development can disrupt and permanently alter natural watershed conditions and functions through clearing, altering topography (flattening hills, filling low lands), compacting soil, and building parking lots, roads, and driveways. As Anchorage is developed, more stormwater flows directly into creeks and waterways, rather than being filtered through the soil. This runoff accumulates pollutants (car oil, grease, pesticides, detergents, etc.) that flow directly into the streams and waterways. The change in stormwater volumes and timing can also cause higher than natural rates of erosion along stream banks and streambeds.

Many people believe that stormwater is clean and does not harm water quality. Although the amount of pollution from any one spot is not usually significant, when many small amounts are combined they can cause significant water quality problems. Similarly, while small volumes of stormwater may not change runoff patterns, many small runoff events taken together can cause significant erosion problems and flooding.

Mission Statement

The mission of Watershed Management is to:

  • Maintain the viability and integrity of our aquatic resources by protecting and preserving healthy watersheds.
  • Provide leadership and guidance in watershed management through sound technology and ecological engineering and planning.
  • Encourage sustainable growth, maximize safety, minimize flood damage, and conserve natural resources to ensure the best quality of life for current and future generations.
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