BMP Maintenance - I&M Trng 2011

Installation and Maintenance of Stormwater Treatment BMPs Workshop, December 2011

Stormwater BMP MaintenanceImportance

• Maintain the function of the BMP• Maintain environmental and habitat

benefits• Maintain appearance-public acceptance• Prevent costly future repairs


Developing a Maintenance StrategyFacility Inventory

• Obtain maintenance plan and design documents

• Visit the site to review conditions, access

• Contact the local governmental jurisdiction


Developing a Maintenance Strategy Work Plan

• Review facility inventory• Review maintenance guides• Create a list of activities,

equipment needed and cost• Review plan with owner and local

governmental officials• Modify or create checklist and

record keeping procedures• Assign and educate personnel• Implementation and evaluation


Regular InspectionsLocation

• Upstream Parking Lots & Paved Areas• Upstream Unpaved Areas• Forebays• Main Treatment Area• Storm Sewer Pipes and Structures


Regular InspectionsFrequency

• Weekly during establishment period• Weekly/monthly after establishment period• Complete when doing regular site maintenance• Some inspections should occur during rainfall• Some inspections should occur 24 hours after rainfall

Weeds and invasive species a few months after planting

Immediately after planting

During rain eventAfter establishment period


Regular InspectionsVisual Assessment

• Trash and debris• Sediment accumulation• Bare soil and erosion• Plant coverage• Plant health

Trash and debris

Sediment accumulation

Plant coverage

Erosion

Plant Health


Regular InspectionsVisual Assessment

• Soil moisture and percolation• Weeds and invasive species• Animal and insect damage• Mulch condition

Weeds and invasive species

2 months after planting

Soil percolation

Animal damage Mulch


Periodic InspectionsFrequency

• Annually or as needed• Increase frequency to monitor

identified potential problems• During storm events


Periodic InspectionsVisual Assessment

• Storm sewer pipe and structure condition

• Dam, embankment, overflow weir condition

• Stormwater Flow


Periodic InspectionsTesting and Surveys

• Soil testing• Soil profile• Stormwater flow• Detention volume• Water testing


Regular Maintenance ProceduresSoil Stabilization

• Establishment Period• Management Period• Repairs


Regular Maintenance ProceduresClean Up – Trash and Debris

• Location• Equipment• Frequency• Disposal


Regular Maintenance ProceduresClean Up – Sediment Removal

• Location (Upstream, Forebay, Structures, Ponding & Treatment Area)

• Equipment• Method (Avoid heavy equipment

of select soils)• Frequency• Disposal• Amount (All or partial)


Regular Maintenance ProceduresPlant Density

• Facility age• Plant loss• Season• Plant spacing

Year 1 Year 2

Year 4


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –General

• Importance• Frequency• Environmentally sensitive practices• Plant identification-use photo guides


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –By Hand

• Method• Frequency• Weed species knowledge• Clean Up (removal of Biomass)


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –Mowing

• Equipment• Method• Height• Frequency• Edging• Clean Up (removal of Biomass)


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –Edging & Trimming

• Purpose• Equipment• Method• Frequency• Clean Up (removal of

Biomass)


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –Burning

• Benefits• Local regulations• Method (Spot and Large Area)• Frequency


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Species Removal –Chemical

• Integrated Chemical Management• Product Selection• Timing• Method/Application


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Aquatic Species Removal

• Cattails• Reed Canary Grass• Algae


Regular Maintenance ProceduresInvasive Woody Species Removal

• Location• Equipment• Method• Frequency


Regular Maintenance ProceduresPlant Maintenance

• Aesthetic Goals• Frequency• Plant Characteristics• Watering• Replacements• Disease


Regular Maintenance ProceduresSoil Amendments

• Type (Organic vs Inorganic• Composition• Frequency• Application Rate• Adjacent Areas


Regular Maintenance ProceduresPest Management

• Animal damage• Insects


Stormwater BMP MaintenanceResources

• APWA MARC Maunal of Best Management Practices for Stormwater Quality, Mid America Regional Council, August 2009

• “Maintaining Stormwater Systems: A Guidebook for Private Owners and Operators”, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, January 2007

• “Practically Easy Landscape Maintenance: A Care Manual for Natural Drainage Systems”, Seattle Public Utilities, 2005

• “Landscape Guide for Stormwater Best Management Practice Design”, Metropolitan St Louis Sewer District, 2009

• “A Citizen’s Guide to Maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices”, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, October 2004

• “Stormwater Wet Pond and Wetlands Management Guidebook”, EPA 833-B-09-001 February 2009

• Stormwater BMPs Selection, Maintenance & Monitoring, Gordon England and Stuart Stein, July 2007


Stormwater BMP MaintenanceQuestions?

BMP Maintenance - I&M Trng 2011

Self Improvement

maintenance plan

regular site maintenance

periodic inspections

invasive species animal

removal of biomass

procedures assign

sediment removal location

periodic inspections