Resources and Information About Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure

Resources for Residents | Resources for Municipalities & Consultants | Maintenance Fact Sheets | Reports & Case Studies | Websites

Resources for Residents

There are many things homeowners can do to.....

Plant trees. Watch our video on how to plant a tree or visit TenMillionTrees.org for other helpful resources and planting events.
Plant native flowers and grasses.
Practice low-impact lawn care.
Plant a rain garden.
Add a rain barrel (or two) to your downspouts.
Replace hard surfaces with pervious pavement.
Make an appointment to service your septic system.
Calculate your nitrogen footprint.
Google "stormwater credit program" for your area to see if you can receive a stormwater fee reduction by implementing these or other practices.
Go to a local government meeting and voice your support for effective stormwater management changes.
Check out the BUBBA Residential Awards. The Chesapeake Stormwater Network's "Best Urban BMP in the Bay Awards" (BUBBA) recognize innovators in the field in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and share techniques for the challenges of urban and residential stormwater management.
Visit The Homeowner's Guide to Stormwater.  If you are simply looking for a way to help protect or improve your watershed or you are doing a small home improvement project that creates new impervious area and you need to manage the stormwater that is generated, this guide is for you.
Visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and learn more out about the importance of trees and how you can get involved.

Resources for Municipalities & Consultants

Seven Focus Areas for a Quality Urban Municipal Stormwater Plan to Reduce Pollutants
The Pennsylvania Stormwater Workgroup of the Campaign for Clean Water encourages citizen-based groups interested in local watershed health, DEP permit reviewers, and municipal stormwater managers to use this outline to guide Pollutant Reduction Plan development, review, and evolution through the five-year permit cycle. Download PDF

Best Practices Guide for Stormwater Utilities, Fees, and Authorities
This 8-page guide by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation includes best practices in public education and outreach; fair local ordinances and state statutes; setting budgets and fees; innovative financing; and implementing effective programs. Download PDF

Finding the Green!
A guide to Pennsylvania state funding opportunities for conservation, recreation, and preservation projects. Download PDF

Navigating the Stormwaters
What's available where for stormwater management within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed—a companion piece to the Finding the Green Guide Download PDF

EPA's Green Infrastructure website includes resources, webcasts, case studies, partnership opportunities and a listserv featuring updates on publications, training, and funding opportunities.

The BUBBAs is the website for the Chesapeake Stormwater Network's "Best Urban BMP in the Bay Awards" (BUBBA). The BUBBAs recognize innovators in the field in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and share techniques for the challenges of urban and residential stormwater management.

Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a collaborative effort of national, regional, state and local agencies, conservation organizations, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses, and citizens committed to improving Pennsylvania's communities, economy, and ecology by planting 10 million trees throughout the Commonwealth. Visit the site to learn more about the importance of trees and how you can join.

The Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials website provides information, education and assistance to local land use officials and other community groups on how they can accommodate growth while protecting their natural resources and community character. Check out the National NEMO Network for more resources.

MS4 Webinar Archive
CBF held these webinars for various locales in Pennsylvania and Virginia. They include webinar recordings and referenced downloadable documents. We encourage you to browse these resources and hope you will find some information or ideas to assist in your efforts.

Green Infrastructure Maintenance Fact Sheets

Information on low-impact, environmentally sensitive, and green infrastructure practices, designs, and potential funding options.

Dry Well Maintenance Download PDF

Infiltration Trench Maintenance Download PDF

Stormwater Pond Maintenance Download PDF

Rain Barrel Maintenance Download PDF

Underground Hydrodynamic Separators Maintenance Download PDF

Pervious Pavement Maintenance Download PDF

Vegetated Swale Maintenance Download PDF

Maintenance Summary
Recommended maintenance timeframes for bioretention areas and rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs, permeable pavement, dry wells, and tree boxes. Download PDF

Reports & Case Studies

Polluted Runoff: How Investing in Runoff Pollution Control Systems Improves the Chesapeake Bay Region's Ecology, Economy, and Health Download PDF
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, January 2014

Holistically Analyzing the Benefits of Green Infrastructure: Guidance for Local Governments Download PDF
University of Maryland Environment Finance Center, October 2017
This report provides information about the direct benefits and co-benefits of green infrastructure for water and air quality, habitat, wildlife, people, and communities.

The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits Download PDF
The Center for Neighborhood Technology and American Rivers

Paying for the Rain: The Evolution of Stormwater Fees in the United States, 1964-2017 Download PDF
Brian Alexander Chalfant, University of Pittsburgh

Community Solutions to Stormwater Management
Community strategies and links to case studies.

A Little City With Big Plans to Minimize Stormwater Pollution
A case study of Lancaster, Pa.

Brubaker Run Floodplain Restoration
Case study of Lime Spring Square in East Hempfield Township, Pa.

As flood risks intensify, stormwater utilities offer a more resilient solution
Brookings Institute, The Avenue