Stormwater Management: Innovation & Best Practices

Stormwater management has been identified as a critical component of hazard mitigation plans across the Centralina region and beyond. Natural and manmade disruptions will continue to emerge, threatening the health, safety and economic vitality of our communities. This session introduced planners and local government staff to the challenges posed to North Carolina communities by stormwater and identified several actionable strategies for implementing stormwater management best practices in communities of all sizes. The panel of local experts provided attendees with resources for analysis, infrastructure implementation, planning, communication and funding. Participants left the session with a foundational understanding of stormwater management policy and practice, as well as tips for how to translate and adapt best practices for the health and well-being of their own jurisdictions.

Panelists: Mayor Jonathan Williams, PE from the Town of Spencer; Regina Guyer, PE from Regional Stormwater Partnership of the Carolinas

If you missed the session on November 3^rd, here are five key takeaways you and your jurisdiction should be aware of:

1. 

   Sustainable stormwater management focuses on reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff, as well as improving water quality. Importantly, stormwater management should be proactive rather than reactive to have the most significant impact.
2. Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) collect or convey stormwater during a storm event. In urbanized areas, MS4s are regulated and must be permitted because these communities have more impermeable surfaces, leading to higher quantities of stormwater runoff and concentrations of stormwater pollutants.
3. Regional collaboration enhances local capacity for resilience and responsiveness. Explore membership with the Regional Stormwater Partnership of the Carolina’s at www.regionalstormwater.org.
4. There are a variety of federal and state funding sources available to help communities pursue stormwater management.
5. Successful stormwater management can be achieved with smaller, strategic investments and changes. Leveraging nature’s regenerative abilities through nature-based stormwater management can be more cost-effective up front and over the infrastructure’s life cycle, and can promote livability and other environmental, social and economic benefits.

Please visit our member portal to watch the session in full!