How Wetlands Act as the Kidneys of the Watershed

Wetlands are often described as the kidneys of the watershed because they filter, slow, and transform the water that passes through them in ways that protect downstream ecosystems. This comparison is more than a poetic metaphor. It captures the essential truth that wetlands perform quiet but powerfu…continue

Protecting and Utilizing Natural Waterways in Stormwater Management Planning

Natural streams, creeks, and drainage swales evolved to carry rainfall runoff long before culverts and pipes existed, and they remain one of the most efficient, resilient, and cost-effective elements in any municipal stormwater network. When a community plans for development or retrofit, treating th…continue

Protecting Special Value and Sensitive Features During Site Development

Stormwater management succeeds when the landscape itself is considered the first line of defense. Certain parts of that landscape offer outsized benefits or face outsized risks, and thoughtful planning around them is essential. Special Value Features are areas that deliver exceptional stormwater ben…continue

Restoring Riparian Corridors: Proven Techniques for Healthy Waterways

Riparian corridors, the vegetated strips that border rivers, streams, and lakes, serve as protective edges for both land and water. They filter pollutants, stabilize banks, slow floodwaters, recharge groundwater, and create habitat highways for fish and wildlife. When these corridors are degraded by…continue

Safeguarding Hydric Soils from Stormwater Runoff

Hydric soils, those that form under prolonged saturation and develop anaerobic conditions, are ecological powerhouses. They store carbon, filter pollutants, support wetlands, and buffer floods. Because they are already close to saturation, even modest increases in runoff volume or velocity can trigg…continue

Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs): Your Municipality’s Unsung Stormwater Ally

What exactly is an SWCD? Created under state law in every state and most U.S. territories, nearly 3,000 locally led Soil and Water Conservation Districts now cover almost every county in the nation. Their boards, typically a mix of farmers, municipal officials, and at-large residents, design and del…continue

How to Create a Drainage System Map

Mapping a drainage system is a critical task for municipalities aiming to improve stormwater management, identify illicit discharges, support maintenance planning, and ensure regulatory compliance (e.g., MS4). A well-structured drainage system map reveals how stormwater flows through catch basins, p…continue

How to Identify Illicit Stormwater Discharges

Protecting your community’s waterways starts with knowing what doesn’t belong. Illicit discharges are one of the most persistent threats to stormwater systems and local water quality. These unauthorized flows, often containing pollutants like oils, detergents, sewage, or industrial waste…continue

A Brief History of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Severe dust storms sweeping across the Great Plains during the early 1930s highlighted how badly America’s soils had been over-worked, and they spurred the first coordinated federal response. Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act on April 27 1935, establishing the Soil Conservation Service…continue