Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are powerful tools for dealing with a site’s stormwater. They go beyond the typical methods of dealing with stormwater by addressing more water quality concerns than conventional methods. When runoff is generated from a site the primary concerns are the rate at which this water will leave the site, the volume of water produced and the quality of the water entering our natural systems.

Stormwater ponds are a conventional method for dealing with runoff that everyone is familiar with. Their strength is in dealing with the rate of runoff and in dealing with water quality through sediment reduction. Generally ponds collect water very quickly as runoff comes off a site and then slowly bleed this water off. This slows the speed at which our streams rise following a storm. Because ponds also hold the water for a time the site, sediment is allowed to settle out. This increases the water quality by reducing the sediment carried into our water. Because sediment often carries nutrients, by reducing the sediment levels in our streams, we also reduce nutrient levels which helps to keep our streams and lakes clean.

Best Management Practices do this and more by addressing the actual volume of water that eventually leaves the site and they go even further in addressing water quality than conventional methods. In a natural system, a portion of water infiltrates into the ground and is used by the plants which live there. Plants are a potent mechanism to improve water quality and BMPs often use native vegetation to help with this. When used by themselves or in concert with traditional stormwater features, BMPs can address all three primary water quality concerns, rate, volume and quality.

All the techniques detailed here are innovative methods for dealing with stormwater and although not all of them will be appropriate for every site, they should all be considered every time as they go a long way towards improving the water resources of the Rice Creek Watershed. Each method detailed here includes things to consider, sample plans, tools, and vendor lists to help you get started implementing these best management practices. Additionally, innovative BMPs constructed with an RCWD permit may be eligible for the Rice Creek Watershed District grant program.