Introduction to Urban Stormwater Charles Humphrey Jr. Area Environmental Agent North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Water Cycle in Open and Urban Areas Urban Stormwater Pollutants Common Stormwater Best Management Practices Summary

Water Cycle in Open and Urban Areas

Urban Stormwater Pollutants

Common Stormwater Best Management Practices

Summary

Water Cycle Percolation

Water Cycle

Urban Water Cycle

What is a Watershed? (Osmond, 2000)

Intended Uses of Water Resources Swimming Boating Fishing Drinking water for humans Drinking water for animals Aquatic life habitat

Swimming

Boating

Fishing

Drinking water for humans

Drinking water for animals

Aquatic life habitat

Stormwater Pollutants/Concerns

Nutrients- nitrogen and phosphorus can lead to eutrophication and fish kills

Sediment- clogs drainage ways, clouds rivers and degrades aquatic habitat

Bacteria- public health risk, can lead to closure of fishing areas and loss of revenue Over 1150 acres of NC shellfish waters have been closed since 1990 mostly due to stormwater runoff

Water- flash floods

Stormwater Regulations Address water quantity and water quality leaving developed sites Water quantity- design practices to detain first 1” to 3.5” of stormwater from site Water quality- reduce transport of nutrients and sediment to receiving waters

Address water quantity and water quality leaving developed sites

Water quantity- design practices to detain first 1” to 3.5” of stormwater from site

Water quality- reduce transport of nutrients and sediment to receiving waters

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Types of Structural BMPs Wet Ponds Stormwater Wetlands Bio-retention Areas/ Rain Gardens Permeable Pavement Riparian Buffers Water Management and Conservation

Wet Ponds

Stormwater Wetlands

Bio-retention Areas/ Rain Gardens

Permeable Pavement

Riparian Buffers

Water Management and Conservation

Wet Ponds Inlets Forebay Micropool Outlet Aquatic Shelf

Wet Ponds

Stormwater Wetlands

Stormwater Wetlands

Stormwater Wetlands

Bio-retention/Rain Gardens Inlet

Bio-retention/Rain Gardens

Permeable Pavements

Riparian Buffers

Water Management and Conservation Pump Station 3,000 Gallon Cistern Nest

Water Management and Conservation Nest Water level indicator Spigot

Summary Urban water cycle Less infiltration, more runoff Stormwater transported pollutants Stormwater Pollutants Nutrients Sediment Bacteria Water Stormwater BMPs Wetponds Wetlands Bio-retention / Rain Gardens Permeable Pavements Buffers Water Harvesting

Urban water cycle

Less infiltration, more runoff

Stormwater transported pollutants

Stormwater Pollutants

Nutrients

Sediment

Bacteria

Water

Stormwater BMPs

Wetponds

Wetlands

Bio-retention / Rain Gardens

Permeable Pavements

Buffers

Water Harvesting

Acknowledgements Dr. Bill Hunt Dr. Deanna Osmond Dr. Greg Jennings Bill Lord Mitch Woodward Dwane Jones

Dr. Bill Hunt

Dr. Deanna Osmond

Dr. Greg Jennings

Bill Lord

Mitch Woodward

Dwane Jones