All the price tags are not yet calculated, but city must reduce its sediment load in stormwater by 10 percent over the next five years, a joint-project it is partnering with Loyalsock Township to accomplish.

The purpose of the federal mandate to satisfy the federal Cleanwaters Act to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to create a friendlier biology for the bay life, City Council heard Thursday night.

But the mandate is more than likely going to require the addition of a stormwater fee, and calculating existing and proposed “best management practices,” according to Christopher Keiser, of Larson Design Group.

Best management practices can include construction of rain gardens, purchasing street sweepers, such as the new one in the city, streambank stabilization along Miller’s Run and building retention basins — which may be part of the flood-mitigation efforts on Grafius Run and other localized tributaries to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

“It’s not insurmountable,” said Council President Jonathan Williamson of the reduction requirement for the city and township.

“We begin next year but don’t need to get 287,874 pounds per year until five years,” Williamson said while looking at what is required and a map showing areas that are exonerated.

The plan was submitted last week to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

If each year is tabulated, the city would reduce sediment load by 99,956 pounds and the township by 187,834 pounds in a 35/65 percent calculation, Keiser said.

Efforts will be under way besides the stormwater management fees to look for grant and loan opportunities.

“It will probably up to six to nine months until the officials hear back from the department.

The city and township must be prepared to start the reductions by March 19, 2019.