Overview
US Coast Guard Base Ketchikan operates a stormwater outfall in Ketchikan, Alaska, managing runoff from military and industrial activities under federal and state regulations.
The US Coast Guard Base Ketchikan stormwater outfall is located at 1300 Stedman Street in Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. This facility manages stormwater discharge from a military base that includes shipbuilding (NAICS 336611), industrial manufacturing (NAICS 332999), and national security operations (NAICS 928110). As a stormwater outfall in a coastal Alaskan community, it operates under the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting framework, which regulates discharges to protect water quality. Stormwater outfalls like this one are typically designed to convey runoff from impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roofs, and industrial areas. In Alaska, stormwater management must account for seasonal snowmelt and heavy precipitation, which can increase runoff volumes and pollutant loads. The facility's location in a coastal zone means discharges may affect nearby marine waters, requiring compliance with state water quality standards and potentially additional permitting under the Clean Water Act. The environmental significance of this outfall lies in its role in managing urban and industrial runoff in a sensitive coastal ecosystem. Ketchikan is situated in the Tongass National Forest, a temperate rainforest with high annual rainfall. Proper stormwater treatment is critical to prevent pollutants like heavy metals, oils, and sediments from reaching receiving waters, which support salmon fisheries and other aquatic life. The facility's operational status indicates ongoing management of stormwater to mitigate impacts on local water resources.
Environmental context
Ketchikan, Alaska, experiences a maritime climate with heavy precipitation, averaging over 150 inches of rain annually. This high rainfall volume increases stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, carrying pollutants such as sediment, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons from industrial and military activities. The outfall discharges into nearby marine waters, which are critical habitats for salmon, herring, and other species. Effective stormwater management is essential to prevent degradation of these ecosystems and to comply with the Clean Water Act's goals of protecting fishable and swimmable waters.
Frequently asked questions
The outfall is located at 1300 Stedman Street in Ketchikan, Alaska, within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
Runoff comes from military base operations, including shipbuilding, industrial manufacturing, and national security activities, as classified under NAICS codes 336611, 332999, and 928110.
Under the Clean Water Act, stormwater discharges from industrial and municipal sources must be authorized by an NPDES permit, which sets limits on pollutants and requires best management practices to protect water quality.
Ketchikan's high annual rainfall (over 150 inches) and seasonal snowmelt generate large volumes of runoff, increasing the risk of pollutant transport to sensitive marine ecosystems.
Coastal waters in Alaska support vital fisheries, including salmon, and are home to diverse aquatic life. Proper stormwater management prevents pollution that could harm these resources and ensures compliance with state and federal water quality standards.
Other Stormwater Outfall plants in United States · 6 nearby