Name
Beyond the permit: Strengthening stormwater through outreach & education
Date & Time
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 8:50 AM - 9:30 AM
Description
Building a stormwater outreach program that changes behaviors requires more than meeting MS4 permit requirements. Missoula, Montana's Stormwater Utility rebuilt its program from the ground up, shifting from traditional one-way outreach to community-driven stewardship.
Using the Pattee Creek Watershed initiative as a case study, the presentation explores how partnerships with neighborhood councils, nonprofits, landowners and local agencies created momentum around a creek long viewed as a drainage ditch. Shared storytelling, informal public meetings and direct communication of water quality challenges helped residents take ownership of their watershed.
The session also covers how Missoula's Adopt-A-Drain program expanded citywide reach and improved public participation metrics. Lessons learned, including what worked and what required adjustment, offer practical guidance for MS4 communities with limited staff or resources.
Location Name
M100 B-C
Full Address
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
United States
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
United States