Stormwater Planning
Community Solutions for Voluntary Long-Term Stormwater Planning
Guide
Urban stormwater continues to be a significant source of water pollution and public health concern. As communities continue to grow and develop their local economies, they look for sustainable and effective approaches to reduce these existing and emerging sources of pollution.
EPA released a draft guide, Community Solutions for Stormwater Management: A Guide for Voluntary Long-Term Planning, to assist states and local governments in developing and implementing effective long-term stormwater plans.
The document describes how to develop a comprehensive long-term community stormwater plan that integrates stormwater management with communities' broader plans for economic development, infrastructure investment and environmental compliance. Through this approach, communities can prioritize actions related to stormwater management as part of capital improvement plans, integrated plans, master plans or other planning efforts.
Early and effective stormwater planning and management by communities as they develop will provide significant long-term cost savings while supporting resilience, economic growth and quality of life.
Toolkit
Communities working through the long-term stormwater planning process provided in the Community Solutions for Stormwater Management guide may reference EPA’s models and tools for communities to manage urban stormwater: Green Infrastructure Modeling Toolkit.
Technical Assistance
EPA will provide coordinated technical assistance in four communities to develop long-term stormwater plans to serve as national models:
- Burlington, Iowa
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Rochester, New Hampshire
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
EPA will leverage the lessons learned from these efforts by sharing information related to lowering barriers to long-term stormwater planning, making progress on human health and water quality objectives, and decreasing the costs of stormwater management.