Tools for Stormwater Management
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Rain gardens are gardens containing flowering
plants and grasses that can survive in soil soaked with water
from rain storms. However they are not gardens that have standing
water. Rain Gardens collect and slow stormwater run off and
increase its infiltration into the soil. |
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Grassed swales are vegetated channels designed to treat
and attenuate stormwater runoff for a specified water quality
volume. As stormwater runoff flows through the channels, it
is treated through filtering by the vegetation in the channel,
filtering through a subsoil matrix, and/or infiltration into
the underlying soils. |
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Pervious pavement is designed to allow percolation or infiltration
of stormwater through the surface into the soil below where
the water is naturally filtered and pollutants are removed.
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Parking Lot
Filter
Strips |
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Filter strips are gently sloping, vegetated areas adjacent
to impervious surfaces. They are intended to reduce impacts
of sheet flow and velocity of stormwater and help improve
its water quality. Sometimes referred to as vegetated filter
strips, grassed filter strips, grassed filters or buffer strips,
they help remove sediments, other pollutants and increase
infiltration.
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Bioretention basins are landscaped depressions or shallow
basins used to slow and treat on-site stormwater runoff. Stormwater
is directed to the basin and then percolates through the system.
The slowed, cleaned water is allowed to infiltrate native
soils or directed to nearby stormwater drains or receiving
waters.
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On-site, underground stormwater retention /detention captures
and stores stormwater collected from surrounding impervious
areas. Stored water is then released directly through an outlet
pipe back into natural waters at rates designed to reduce
peak flows and mimic pre- development conditions. In some
cases stored water can be allowed to infiltrate to recharge
groundwater.
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Green roofs or vegetated roof covers (also referred to as
living roofs, nature roofs and eco-roofs) are a thin layer
of living plants growing on top of a roof. A green roof is
not a collection of potted plants to decorate a roof space
but rather an extension of a conventional roof which involves
instillation of a layered system of membranes, substrate and
plants.
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Rain barrels (sometimes called cisterns) are above ground
water storage vessels that capture water runoff from a
building’s
roof using the gutter and downspout system.
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Stream, or riparian buffers, are vegetated areas along the stream shore. These buffers slow down rain and snow melt runoff that can add nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants to streams.
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Many of these practices can also be designed with pollinators in mind. Check out these resources to learn how your Best Management Practices can attract pollinators:
Gardening for Pollinators (USDA-USFS)
Ecoregional Planting Guides (Pollinator Partnership)
Pollinator Conservation (Xerces Society)
Bees and Flowers (UMN Bee Lab)
Also see:
Choosing Best Management Practices -
This section guides designers through key factors involved in stormwater BMP selection,
and features a series of tables that present comparative BMP information.
(from the Minnesota Stormwater Manual 2014)
Wisconsin: Stormwater Management on Lake Superior Clays: A Best Management Practice Guidance and Information Source -
UWEX Stormwater