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Water quality and the St. Joseph River
The St. Joseph River is a major waterway, its course winding for more than 200 miles in northern Indiana and southern Michigan before emptying into Lake Michigan . Polluted runoff from urbanized areas, agriculture, forestry, and construction causes physical changes to the river’s channel, harms fish and wildlife populations, kills native vegetation, fouls drinking water supplies, and can impair recreational uses.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Storm sewers collect surface runoff and convey these flows directly to the river without treatment. Pollutants picked up as runoff enter the storm sewer system causing serious water quality problems. The MS4 program is designed to minimize the discharge of pollutants to the storm sewer system.
Protection under the Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was implemented to protect our nation’s water supply. As part of this effort to protect and maintain water quality, the EPA established the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program, known as MS4. Both the City of Mishawaka and Bethel College have been designated MS4 entities and must comply with the MS4 program requirements. Mishawaka and Bethel have partnered as co-permittees under the MS4 program, sharing responsibilities for program implementation.
Mishawaka Department of Planning
To initiate the review and IDEM NOI approval process of the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for parcels one acre and greater, please submit complete plan to the Department of Planning in duplicate. The Erosion and Sediment Control plan is required to comply with the City Ordinance, Rule 5 and Rule 13. Please see IDEM website for specific plan guidance documents.
For more information about nonpoint source pollution and how you can help prevent it, as well as community activities, contact the Mishawaka MS4 Coordinator or the Bethel College Physical Plant Director using the contact information on the right side of this page.