MS4 Permits

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates stormwater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The NPDES provides guidance on how to meet stormwater pollution control goals as flexibly and cost-effectively as possible. The EPA requires that public entities located in an urbanized areas that own and operate a municipal separate stormwater system (MS4) have a permit to discharge stormwater into Waters of the State. In Michigan, the state permitting authority is the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Several communities within the Macatawa Watershed are small to medium-sized MS4 operators and must comply with stormwater permit requirements. They include the City of Holland, City of Zeeland, Ottawa County, Allegan County, the Ottawa County Road Commission, and the Allegan County Road Commission. These six entities work cooperatively with the MACC to maintain compliance with their stormwater permits.

The State of Michigan issued the first stormwater permits in 2003 and they are renewed every 5 years. The Macatawa Watershed communities re-applied for permit coverage in 2013. As of May 2021, four of the six permits have been issued. One key component of the permit is that the public is provided an opportunity to review and provide comments on the Stormwater Management Plan (SMP). The SMPs for the issued permits are provided below.

Have comments, suggestions for improvement or questions about any of the stormwater management plans? Submit them using this form:

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