The Master Planning Program is funded out of the original 0.1 mill authorization for the District. Key policy decisions which guide the program implementation are as follows:

(1) Each master planning effort must be requested by the local governments and must have a multi-jurisdictional dimension;

(2) Master plans are completed by consultants acceptable to all local project sponsors and the District;

(3) The District will pay up to 50% of the study costs, with the local sponsors sharing the remainder of the costs; and

(4) The master plan must be acceptable to all the affected local governments.

The program has evolved into five major areas of interest:

(1) Major drainageway master planning;

(2) Outfall systems planning;

(3) Drainage criteria manuals for local governments and the District;

(4) Support of local government stormwater NPDES discharge permitting efforts; and

(5) Special projects, such as developing criteria and technical information for stormwater quality and quantity best management practices, benefit-cost analysis, wetland issues, software development and other projects that contribute to the advancement of regional stormwater technology.

Master plans are an important tool to help identify projects for construction. The master plans also provide valuable input to the District's Five Year Capital Improvement Program. They also help guide new land development projects to be consistent with regional drainage needs, and help to identify and acquire rights-of-way for future capital improvements. The program staff consists of a program chief, a project hydrologist, and two student interns. One hundred and twelve major drainageway and outfall system master plans have been completed and 16 are in progress.