Wednesday: Stormwater BMPs
Beyond rain collection, what else can you do around your property to reduce stormwater pollution?
As part of our daily Wisconsin Stormwater Week series, today we explore "Stormwater BMPs." Managing stormwater effectively is crucial for protecting our waterways, reducing pollution, and preventing flooding. Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) are strategies and techniques designed to manage the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff. Whether it's through natural solutions like rain gardens or engineered systems like permeable pavement, BMPs play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and sustainable communities. Dive into this section to learn about the various BMPs, their benefits, and how they contribute to a cleaner, safer environment.
Join residents from around Wisconsin as we explore Stormwater BMPs!
What is Stormwater Runoff?
Stormwater refers to the water that originates from precipitation events such as rain or snowmelt. When it falls on impervious surfaces like rooftops, roads, and sidewalks, it cannot soak into the ground and instead becomes stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff flows over these hard surfaces, eventually finding its way into drainage systems, streams, rivers, and lakes. Essentially, stormwater runoff is the excess water that does not get absorbed into the soil.
Understanding Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) are essential tools for managing the flow and quality of stormwater runoff, helping to protect our environment and communities. BMPs include a range of methods that can be natural, like green roofs and rain gardens, or engineered, like detention basins and permeable pavement. These practices are designed to slow down, capture, and treat stormwater before it reaches our rivers, lakes, and streams.
Types of BMPs
BMPs can be divided into two main categories: structural and non-structural. Structural BMPs involve physical infrastructure, such as retention ponds that hold stormwater and allow pollutants to settle out, or bioswales that filter runoff through vegetation. Non-structural BMPs focus on practices like public education, proper disposal of hazardous materials, and policies that limit impervious surfaces, all of which reduce the amount of pollution that enters stormwater.
Benefits of BMPs
Implementing BMPs offers multiple benefits, including reducing flood risks, improving water quality, and enhancing the resilience of urban areas to climate change. BMPs also help recharge groundwater, support wildlife habitats, and improve the overall health of ecosystems. By managing stormwater effectively, communities can minimize erosion, prevent pollutants from entering water bodies, and create greener, more sustainable environments.
Choosing the Right BMPs
The effectiveness of a BMP depends on local conditions, such as soil type, land use, and climate. Communities need to assess their unique circumstances to select the most appropriate BMPs. Often, a combination of BMPs is used to address various aspects of stormwater management, from reducing runoff volume to filtering out contaminants.
Get Involved
Everyone has a role to play in stormwater management. By understanding and supporting BMPs, individuals and communities can make a significant impact on reducing pollution and protecting our water resources. Whether it’s installing a rain barrel at home or advocating for green infrastructure in your neighborhood, every action helps.
Join the Statewide “Pond Problems, Solutions and Reporting” Webinar
Do you manage pond planning, development or maintenance through your job, HOA, or personal property? Are you looking for a cost-saving or environmentally conscious way to develop, retrofit, or maintain your pond? Or perhaps you're curious about BMP reporting? Join us on September 25th from 5:30 - 6:30 pm CT for an evening with Root-Pike WIN and the Wisconsin DNR to learn WIN-WIN options from Root-Pike WIN's newly published Stormwater Pond Playbook. Then stay for Q and A to get all your burning BMP questions answered! There will be an opportunity to purchase your own Stormwater Pond Playbook, and two lucky attendees will win playbooks for FREE! Please contact laura@rootpikewin.org with questions.
Now What?
Understanding the basics of stormwater runoff and pollution is crucial for protecting our water resources and creating a sustainable future.
We can significantly reduce stormwater pollution by adopting responsible residential practices, implementing best management practices in commercial and industrial settings, and community-wide efforts.
Check out our other daily topics to learn more about how you can make a difference!