Stormwater Management

A Handbook of Constructed Wetlands

Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This Handbook has been prepared as a general guide to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of constructed wetlands for the treatment of domestic wastewater, agricultural wastewater, coal mine drainage, and stormwater runoff in the mid-Atlantic region; the Handbook is not a design manual.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1980 times

Bioswales Fact Sheet

2005
Fact sheet about the benefits of bioswales and key tips for designing them.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
1644 times

Bioswales/Vegetated Swales Fact Sheet

2008
Organizations/Sources: University of Florida Extension
A bioswale or vegetated swale is a form of bioretention used to partially treat water quality, attenuate flooding potential and convey stormwater away from critical infrastructure. These systems are linear, with length to width dimensions much greater than the more typical 2:1 applied to bioretention cells.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2721 times

BMP 6.4.10: Infiltration Berm and Retentive Grading

Chapter on infiltration berms in Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2906 times

BMP 6.4.1: Pervious Pavement

Chapter about pervious pavement—pavement that allows stormwater to soak through and be absorbed by the ground rather than flowing along the road surface—in the Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2995 times

BMP 6.4.2: Infiltration Basin

Chapter about infiltration basins in the Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs guide.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2849 times

BMP 6.4.3 and 6.4.4: Infiltration Trenches and Beds

Chapters about infiltration trenches and beds in Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual. They help store and absorb overflow runoff during storms.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2378 times

BMP 6.4.5: Rain Garden

Chapter in Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP guide about rain gardens, which are areas planted with native vegetation to absorb stormwater.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2614 times

BMP 6.4.8: Vegetated Swale

Chapter of Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual about vegetated swales, channels planted with trees, shrubs, or grasses to infiltrate runoff.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2662 times

BMP 6.5.1: Vegetated Roof

Short guide about green roofs, from the Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2992 times

BMP 6.7.1: Riparian Buffer Restoration

Chapter of Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual describing riparian buffers, forested areas along waterways that filter pollutants and control flooding.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2974 times

Community Solutions for Stormwater Management: A Guide for Voluntary Long-Term Planning

2016
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The purpose of this guide is to assist EPA, states and local governments in developing new or improving existing long-term stormwater plans that inform stormwater management implemented by communities on the ground. The document describes how to develop a comprehensive long-term community stormwater plan that integrates stormwater management with communities’ broader plans for economic development, infrastructure investment and environmental compliance.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1878 times

Constructed Wetland

Constructed wetlands are shallow marsh systems planted with emergent vegetation that are designed to treat stormwater runoff. This chapter of the Pennsylvania Stormwater BMPs Manual describes them in detail.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2365 times

Constructed Wetlands

Guide provides information about how constructed wetlands work, as well as tips for site selection, design, and monitoring.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1575 times

Developing Effective MS4 Stormwater Programs on a Shoestring

2009
Organizations/Sources: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Presentation on stormwater management programs.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
4279 times

Enhancing Stormwater Management: Bioswales and Storm Basins

Organizations/Sources: Montgomery County Planning Commission
Fact sheets explain two important nature-based solutions to stormwater and flooding: bioswales and storm basins.
Last Modified
Jun 25, 2019
Viewed
1838 times

FAQ for Stormwater Permitting and Trail Development

2018
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about trail development and permitting for PA Code, Title 25, Chapter 102 - Erosion and Sediment Control, and Chapter 105 - Dam Safety and Waterway Management.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
2090 times

Green Infrastructure Guidelines

2017
Organizations/Sources: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
These guidelines were prepared in conjunction with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan Update (2017). The guidelines are important for reinforcing the message of the outstanding natural resources present in the Lehigh Valley and their wide variety of essential services and benefits to local residents and visitors, describing the best practices available for community and site design to preserve or enhance those resources, and defining improved stormwater management site design practices to better mimic natural systems. The guidelines provide 1) an overview of green infrastructure at a regional scale and the associated benefits and 2) engineering guidance for site-specific stormwater management practices to help designers understand and comply with the water balance and green infrastructure provisions of the updated Act 167 Ordinance.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2602 times

Green Infrastructure Handbook: BMPs in Hartford, Connecticut

2018
Outlines various green infrastructure techniques and their benefits, along with links to other resources. Includes color photos.
Last Modified
Jul 03, 2019
Viewed
1670 times

Green Infrastructure Modeling Toolkit

Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA has developed innovative models, tools, and technologies for communities to manage water runoff in urban and other environments. The resources in this toolkit incorporate green or a combination of green and gray infrastructure practices to help communities manage their water resources in a more sustainable way, increasing resilience to future changes.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1459 times

Green Infrastructure Opportunities that Arise During Municipal Operations

2015
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This document provides approaches local government officials and municipal program managers (Figure 1) in small to midsize communities can use to incorporate green infrastructure components into work they are doing in public spaces. The guide demonstrates ways in which projects can be modified relatively easily and at a low cost recognizing that municipal resources can be limited.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2566 times

Greening your SALDO: Minimizing the Impact of Development on Water Quality

2009
Authors: Harry Campbell
Organizations/Sources: Chesapeake Bay Foundation
This presentation focuses on water quality and land development ordinances.
Last Modified
Aug 21, 2018
Viewed
4248 times

Green Streets and Parking Lots

Organizations/Sources: Montgomery County Planning Commission
Series of short guides that describe the benefits of green streets and parking lots, and explore tools such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, and more.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1779 times

Guiding Principles for Constructed Treatment Wetlands

2000
Guide provides founding principles for planning, siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and monitoring of constructed treatment wetlands.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1537 times

Infiltration Berms Fact Sheet

Two-page fact sheet outlining the basics of maintaining infiltration berms.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2515 times

Infiltration Trench BMP Fact Sheet

Fact sheet describing pros and cons of infiltration trenches, as well as BMPs and design considerations.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2683 times

Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Frequently Asked Questions

2013
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Answers to frequently asked questions about municipal stormwater planning, including MS4 compliance.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1709 times

Integrated Planning: Characterizing the Value of Water to Inform Decision Making

2017
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Establishing a value for water resources in a particular community—taking into account ecological, economic, social and quality-of-life considerations—can help inform integrated planning decisions and support communication with stakeholders. This document displays some of the ways to characterize and quantify the value of water, and to apply that value to inform integrated wastewater and stormwater planning.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1427 times

Low Impact Development Stormwater Development

2009
Authors: Andrew Potts
Organizations/Sources: CH2M Hill
Presentation in conjunction with LID/Stormwater issues
Last Modified
Aug 21, 2018
Viewed
4033 times

Making Municipal Stormwater Management Work Presentation

2009
Organizations/Sources: Cahill Associates
This presentation focuses on municipal stormwater management solutions.
Last Modified
Aug 21, 2018
Viewed
4121 times

National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas

2005
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This guidance helps citizens and municipalities in urban areas protect bodies of water from polluted runoff that can result from everyday activities. These scientifically sound techniques are the best practices known today. The guidance will also help states to implement their nonpoint source control programs and municipalities to implement their Phase II Storm Water Permit Programs.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1631 times

NJ Stormwater BMP Manual: Infiltration Basins

2016
Outlines design criteria for various types of stormwater infiltration basins.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2449 times

Paxton Creek Stormwater Project: Stormwater Strategies Session Presentation

2009
Authors: Andrew J Gavin
Organizations/Sources: Susquehanna River Basin Commission
The case study focuses on efforts in the Harrisburg area to implement cost-effective stormwater reduction strategies -- with some focus on the use of education and outreach tools, as well as stormwater monitoring techniques.
Last Modified
Aug 21, 2018
Viewed
4149 times

Prioritizing Wastewater and Stormwater Projects Using Stakeholder Input

2017
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This report describes how communities can use stakeholder input to select and rank criteria and apply those criteria to prioritize stormwater and wastewater projects. Three case studies illustrate this process.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1382 times

Public Outreach for Integrated Wastewater and Stormwater Planning

2017
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Many communities face complex challenges operating their wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, including meeting Clean Water Act (CWA) obligations under financial constraints. Communities with multiple CWA obligations for their wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems and stormwater infrastructure must prioritize their investments. In addition, they must evaluate different approaches and options for improving their systems, including gray, green and data infrastructure investments. Integrated planning is the process of systematically identifying and prioritizing actions and projects to meet CWA obligations. EPA released the Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework to provide guidance on developing integrated plans. The framework identifies the operating principles and essential elements of an integrated plan. It also encourages communities to work with stakeholders to identify and evaluate options to respond to CWA requirements. This report focuses on the essential element of public outreach in the integrated planning process. Two case studies illustrate this process.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
1391 times

Reading Rain Barrell Ordinance

2012
Rain barrel ordinance for Reading, Pennsylvania. Encourages and provides guidelines for the use of rain barrels by residents and businesses.
Last Modified
Nov 15, 2022
Viewed
2754 times

Resource Guide for Planning, Designing, and Implementing Green Infrastructure in Parks

Parks have long played an integral role in community landscapes. As open green space becomes more scarce, public park agencies have new opportunity and reasons to work with other departments and agencies to utilize protected public green space in innovative ways. Designing new or existing parks to manage stormwater using green infrastructure principles is an ideal way to realize many of these benefits. Green stormwater infrastructure installations can be used to revitalize existing parks or enhance the design and functionality of new parks.
Last Modified
Jun 26, 2019
Viewed
3097 times

StormwaterPA: Your Blueprint for Success

Authors: John Laird, PLS
Organizations/Sources: GreenTreks Network, Inc.
StormwaterPA.org provides several dozen videos showcasing best management practices by individuals, organizations and municipalities in Pennsylvania. The site also includes general information, links to municipal stormwater ordinances and a "find your watershed" function.
Last Modified
May 06, 2014
Viewed
4363 times

Stormwater to Street Trees: Engineering Urban Forests for Stormwater Management

2013
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Guide to planting and managing trees in urban environments.
Last Modified
Jul 03, 2019
Viewed
2505 times

Stormwater Trees: Technical Memorandum

2016
Organizations/Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Trees in the urban environment can provide many benefits; however, urban tree programs face numerous challenges that can affect their success. This technical memorandum addresses planting and maintaining trees which are adjacent to roadways or sidewalks in urban areas where buildings and impervious surfaces create harsh environments. These street trees can be planted for many reasons including stormwater management or increased shade and green space.
Last Modified
Apr 17, 2019
Viewed
2242 times

Structural Soils & Stormwater Management: Virginia Tech's Mini Parking Lot

Organizations/Sources: United States Forest Service
Fact sheet investigating new innovations in stormwater management
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
4884 times

Sustainable Green Parking Lots

2015
Parking is essential for economic growth and business success. Almost every development in Montgomery County includes a parking lot. They play a major role in how our communities look and the quality of the environment. Unfortunately, parking lots can pollute stormwater runoff and increase local flooding. They can pose safety issues for pedestrians and can aggravate the urban heat island effect. For something that occupies such a vast amount of land, causes various impacts, and is used on a daily basis by so many people, the surface parking lot should receive more attention than it has. Parking lots can be retrofitted or built more sustainably. Using innovative site design, including best practices in stormwater management, consideration for community character, and safer pedestrian connections, we can transform our parking lots and reduce impacts. By incorporating green and sustainable practices, over time these improvements could have a significant positive impact on the county’s communities.
Last Modified
Jun 25, 2019
Viewed
1899 times

Sustainable Stormwater Management and Small Storm Design

2009
Authors: Michele Adams
Organizations/Sources: Meliora Environmental Design
Presentation regarding Low Impact Development & Stormwater Management Technical Training
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
4357 times

The Value of Green Infrastructure

2010
Green infrastructure is a network of decentralized stormwater management practices such as preservation of undeveloped areas near a water source, green roofs, tree planting, rain gardens and permeable pavement. This paper gives an overview of the methods used to measure the benefits of green infrastructure on water, energy savings, improved air quality, climate change mitigation, urban heat island mitigation, improved community livability and improved habitat. Multiple case studies are provided.
Last Modified
Jul 03, 2019
Viewed
6270 times

Top 10 Best Green/Sustainable Practices for Recreation and Conservation Sites

List of best practices to ensure that parks and recreation sites and environmentally sustainable.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
1770 times

Top 10 Stormwater Best Management Practices for Parks

List of effective nature-based stormwater management practices including riparian buffers, pervious pavement, trees, and bioswales.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2935 times

Transforming Greyfields into Dynamic Destinations

2017
Organizations/Sources: Chester County Planning Commission
These underutilized commercial centers come in all shapes and sizes. Some are simply outdated while others have been converted to non-traditional retail uses or remain vacant. Fortunately, greyfields offer an opportunity for a municipality to rethink and repurpose these areas to become strong financial assets and centers of their community. Adaptive reuse and redevelopment of struggling properties is not a new concept, but as properties age and demand for brick-and-mortar retail stores declines it becomes more important to consider these options. Introducing a mixture of uses and experience-based retail in greyfields, and incorporating green infrastructure and renewable energy, can begin to revitalize these centers.
Last Modified
Mar 13, 2019
Viewed
1473 times

Upper Dublin Township Stormwater Management and Steep Slope Ordinance

2004
Ordinance regulating stormwater management and steep slopes in Upper Dublin Township (Montgomery County). The minimum lot size requirement increases as the average slope increases.
Last Modified
Nov 15, 2022
Viewed
3271 times

Vegetated Filter Strip

Chapter of Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual about filter strips, which are densely vegetated areas between pavement that absorb runoff.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2374 times

Vegetated Filter Strip Fact Sheets

2005
Short fact sheet explaining the benefits of vegetated filter strips, when and where to use them, and how to design them.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2416 times

Virginia Stormwater Design Specification #13: Constructed Wetlands

2013
Design manual for constructed wetlands.
Last Modified
Apr 16, 2019
Viewed
2581 times

Working with Nature to Manage Stormwater

2019
Authors: Nate Lotze
The most effective tools to reduce the water pollution and flooding caused by stormwater runoff are green infrastructure, land conservation, and best management practices on farms. (Print version of ConservationTools.org guide)
Last Modified
Apr 25, 2019
Viewed
2431 times