On March 10, 2003, the Village of Pelham began the development of its Stormwater Management Plan, mandated by the United States Department of Environmental Protection and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The plan requires that the Village make every effort to improve the water quality of its streams, lakes, and rivers. The Village must implement six minimum control measures including educating the public, soliciting participation and involvement of the public, detecting and eliminating illicit discharges, control of construction site runoff, maintaining and operation of post construction structural Best Management Practices and pollution prevention, and good housekeeping at municipal facilities.