Erosion Control
Stormwater Systems & Basin Management
Stormwater basins are important because they help prevent flooding, reduce erosion, improve water quality, and protect the environment by controlling and treating stormwater runoff.
Using native plants helps to hold the soil in place due to their deep roots (24”-15’). Native plants are dynamic and can adapt to the changing seasons, making it a favorable long-term solution. In addition, native plantings are much more cost effective compared to other methods of maintaining proper function of stormwater management.
Better Flood Mitigation
Improved Water Quality
Shoreline Stabilization
Stormwater Management
Storm Basin Maintenance
Subdivision "Ponds" & Why Are They Important
Technically they are not ponds, they are basins. They are part of the Engineered Stormwater Management System (ESMS) that was designed when the subdivision was built. All development (commercial, industrial, residential…) includes stormwater management as part of the development plan to help with flood mitigation and water quality.
Engineered Stormwater Management System
The ESMS is designed to manage the stormwater that falls on buildings, roads, parking lots, and the land. The purpose is to release the water at a similar rate to the land before development. It also acts as a filter for the pollutants and eroded soil that the stormwater picks up from the developed areas and require on-going maintenance to ensure function.
Natural ESMS Maintenance Service
Maintaining a Engineered Stormwater Management System is Critical to Mitigate Flooding
First it is essential that any pipes that handle stormwater be free from obstructions. Inspect them after every storm. Keep the grates in the streets and parking lots free from debris. Keep dense woody plants and invasive species from growing in the stormwater management areas and along the shorelines. Brush and trees create debris that can clog the pipes. Next inspect he pipes to make sure there is no erosion around them from waves or animals like muskrats. Erosion can cause the pipes to pull a part. Fixing broken stormwater pipes is expensive. Promptly remove any trash as it frequently causes the pipes to be blocked.
Shorelines with Rip Rap
If the shoreline is covered in rip rap (rock) it is important to add more rock where is has eroded. This is expensive but necessary if further erosion is to be prevented. Rip rap is a static system that cannot adapt to the season.
Lawn Shorelines
If the shoreline is lawn, then there is probably already erosion. Lawn grasses do not have deep roots necessary, 4” at best, to hold the soil against the waves and the freeze thaw cycle in the winter. The options are to place rip rap along the shore. This is very expensive. The other option is to use native plants with their deep roots (24”-15’) to hold the soil in place. This is a more permanent solution as the native plants are dynamic and can adapt to the changing seasons. Native plantings are cost effective compared to rip rap.
Shorelines With Native Plantings
If the shoreline is already native plantings, then it is important to keep the invasive species out. Controlled burns help stimulate the native plants.
