Stormwater runs off the land to streets, sewers, and waterways during heavy rains, and when it's not "managed" effectively, it can cause downslope flooding and carry all kinds of pollutants directly into our creeks, lakes, rivers, and streams. Most Residential Developments have some form of stormwater management system in place, whether we realize it or not. It's worth knowing about yours--and whether it's working the way it was designed.

Stormwater Detention Basins have been one of the most common methods of managing stormwater runoff in residential developments over the past 30 years, but today, it's widely acknowledged that they don't work as well as they could. The good news is that a "basin retofit" can be a cost-effective way to upgrade the functionailty of basins that were installed in the past:

Similarly, most developments are surrounded by manicured lawns -- which in many cases, are just as impervious as if the grounds were paved or made of concrete. Replacing mowed areas with stretches of natural meadow is a great way of handling runoff while also creating habitat, beauty, and lowering maintenance costs:

 With increased awareness of the flooding and water quality problems caused by uncontrolled runoff -- not to mention new stormwater regulations and laws -- there's a movement afoot to prevent stormwater woes using a "greening" approach. Solutions are out there, and WE ALL PLAY A ROLE: 

We shouldn’t think of stormwater as a nuisance or waste product to flush down the drain; instead, we should take a pro-active approach to managing it as a valuable resource that supports our environment, econmy, and quality of life.

There's plenty to know about managing runoff and there's alot to this site. To get started, we've organized some materials below. To get started, check them out, along with the videos we've highlighted off to the right. After that, look around the rest of the site. Let us know what you find useful, what we're missing -- and most of all, share the stories of your stormwater management success!

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