Stormwater CenterDesign · Data · Practice

Stormwater Practice Fact Sheets

Concise design references for the major stormwater management practices — applicability, design criteria, maintenance burden and performance.

Stack of technical practice sheets with a bioretention cross-section
FIL

Filtering Practices

Bioretention

Bioretention areas filter runoff through a planted soil bed, combining treatment with landscaping. Covers applicability, design criteria, monitored removal and maintenance.

Filtering Practices

Filter Strip

Filter strips treat runoff as sheet flow across a band of dense vegetation, most often as pretreatment. Covers applicability, design criteria, performance and maintenance.

Filtering Practices

Sand Filter

Sand filters treat runoff by settling solids in a pretreatment chamber and filtering it through a sand bed. Covers design variants, criteria, performance and maintenance.

Filtering Practices

Water Quality Inlet

Water quality inlets are underground three-chamber vaults that trap grit and oil from small paved areas. Covers chamber design, sizing, performance limits and cleanouts.

Filtering Practices
INF

Infiltration Practices

Infiltration Basin

Infiltration basins capture the water quality volume and infiltrate it through native soils, recharging groundwater. Covers feasibility limits, design criteria and maintenance.

Infiltration Practices

Infiltration Trench

Infiltration trenches store runoff in a stone reservoir and infiltrate it into the subsoil. This fact sheet covers siting limits, design criteria, performance and maintenance.

Infiltration Practices

Porous Pavement

Porous pavement infiltrates parking-lot runoff through a permeable surface course and stone reservoir. Covers applicability, design criteria, performance and clogging prevention.

Infiltration Practices
OPE

Open Channels

Dry Swale

Dry swales filter the full water quality volume through an engineered soil bed with an underdrain. Covers siting, design criteria, monitored performance and maintenance.

Open Channels

Grass Channel

Grass channels are vegetated open channels sized to treat the water quality storm at low velocity. Covers applicability, design criteria, removal performance and maintenance.

Open Channels

Wet Swale

Wet swales intersect the water table and treat runoff in standing wetland cells along the channel. Covers applicability, design criteria, performance data and limitations.

Open Channels
PON

Stormwater Ponds

Dry Extended Detention Pond

Dry extended detention ponds detain runoff for about 24 hours to settle pollutants and protect downstream channels. Covers design criteria, performance data and maintenance.

Stormwater Ponds

Wet Pond

Wet ponds maintain a permanent pool that treats stormwater through settling and biological uptake. This fact sheet covers siting, design criteria, monitored pollutant removal and maintenance.

Stormwater Ponds
WET

Stormwater Wetlands

Stormwater Wetland

Stormwater wetlands pair shallow marsh zones with extended detention to treat runoff. This fact sheet covers design variants, criteria, removal performance and maintenance.

Stormwater Wetlands
STR

Stream Restoration

Bank Stabilization

Bank stabilization practices combine vegetation and natural materials to hold eroding streambanks in place. Covers bioengineering techniques, design guidance and maintenance.

Stream Restoration

Flow Deflection

Flow deflection practices redirect erosive currents away from vulnerable banks while concentrating flow to form pool habitat. Covers deflector types, design and construction.

Stream Restoration

Grade Control

Grade control structures halt channel downcutting and rebuild a stable streambed profile. Covers structure types, design and spacing considerations, construction and maintenance.

Stream Restoration

Streambank Protection

Streambank protection practices armor eroding banks where property or infrastructure is at risk. Covers rootwad revetments, imbricated riprap, boulder revetments, lunkers and A-jacks.

Stream Restoration