Monitoring to Demonstrate Environmental Results: Guidance to Develop Local Stormwater Monitoring Sudies Using Six Example Study Designs

We're excited to announce the release of this long-awaited stormwater monitoring guidance. A joint effort between the Center and the University of Alabama, the manual presents the broad concepts and methods behind setting up special monitoring studies in support of the NPDES stormwater permitting program.

The monitoring study designs cover a range of monitoring areas depending on the sophistication of the monitoring program -- from characterizing the quality of stormwater to developing a paired watershed study that breaks down the larger issue of protecting water quality into manageable components that can be addressed on a priority basis. Each study design covers the essential elements of establishing a monitoring program to include scoping, budgeting, funding and staffing needs as well as equipment and sampling requirements. Special issues associated with each monitoring study design are also covered for those unforseen but inevitable problems. Available as a free download.

Managing Stormwater in Your Community: A Guide for Building an Effective Post-Construction Program

Local stormwater managers across the country are exploring innovative approaches to managing runoff, but are also facing an array of challenges, such as adopting a local ordinance, securing funding, and operating a maintenance program.  This guide provides practical tips, and also features a series of downloadable tools that are designed to be modified by local programs to assist with program implementation. 

The guide covers topics ranging from program planning, integrating stormwater with land use planning, developing locally-appropriate stormwater criteria, stormwater inspection and maintenance programs, and program evaluation and tracking.  The tools include a program self-assessment; model post-construction stormwater ordinance; plan review, inspection, and maintenance checklists; and more.

Article 5 of the Wetlands and Watersheds Series: The Next Generation of Stormwater Wetlands

This article revisits the design of stormwater wetland systems based on lessons learned from the field, and presents new concepts and design objectives for stormwater wetlands.

Visit the wetlands resource page to learn how and why wetlands should be part of watershed management. Also available is Article 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the article series.