2026 MS4 Recognition Recipients Announced
2026 National MS4 Recognition recognizes Phase I and Phase II stormwater programs for watershed protection and infrastructure work.
The Water Environment Federation recognized Phase I and Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System programs through its 2026 National MS4 Recognition for Stormwater Excellence at WEFTEC. Established in 2015 through a cooperative agreement between WEF and EPA, the recognition honors high-performing communities that meet and exceed regulatory requirements in technically effective and financially efficient ways. This year’s recipients span watershed restoration, stormwater credit trading, asset management, and maintenance programs. The recognition covers work to protect water quality, watershed health, and stormwater infrastructure across the United States.
Phase I Recipients
Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration in Maryland received Management and Innovation Recognition for its comprehensive approach to watershed restoration, innovative funding strategies, nutrient trading initiatives, and community stewardship programs.
Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District, Kentucky, received Management Recognition for stormwater program administration, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, and continuous improvement. As Kentucky’s largest Phase I MS4 permit holder, the organization has worked to protect water quality while strengthening organizational effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
The City of Anaheim, California, received Innovation Recognition for its stormwater credit trading program, a funding mechanism designed to improve water quality, reduce flooding, enhance groundwater recharge, and support future stormwater infrastructure investments.
Phase II Recipients
New Hampshire’s Municipal Alliance for Adaptive Management received Program Management and Innovation Recognition for its collaborative adaptive management approach to watershed protection. The organization has developed a science-based framework for improving water quality and achieving nutrient reductions within the Great Bay Estuary.
The Town of Westwood, Massachusetts, received Program Management Recognition for stormwater program implementation, including comprehensive asset management, compliance oversight, infrastructure assessment, and strategic planning that support long-term watershed protection and environmental stewardship.
Capitol Region Watershed District, Minnesota, received Innovation Recognition for its Facility Management Program and Permitted Sites Maintenance Program. These efforts improve long-term best management practice performance and provide scalable approaches that strengthen maintenance, accountability, and water resource protection throughout the region.
MS4 Program Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System as a publicly owned conveyance or system of conveyances designed to collect or convey stormwater runoff and discharge it to waters of the United States. MS4s are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program.
EPA’s Phase I regulations apply to medium and large cities and certain counties with populations of 100,000 or more, while Phase II regulations apply to small MS4s in designated urban areas, MS4s designated by the permitting authority, and certain nontraditional public entities, including universities, departments of transportation, hospitals, and prisons.
Stormwater Management Resources
Information on stormwater management and the MS4 program is available through WEF’s Stormwater & Watershed Management resources and the latest U.S. MS4 Needs Assessment Survey results.
