Control and management of stormwater volume and water quality is an important concern for the people of Oklahoma.  In 2003, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality adopted “Phase II” stormwater regulations that required smaller cities with “Urbanized Area” to comply with Phase II stormwater permits.  In Oklahoma, the two Phase I cities (Tulsa and Oklahoma City) each have individual permits, while approximately 45 Phase II areas come under the General Permit (OKR04) Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System.  To meet EPA requirements, these communities, along with the Phase I communities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, will need to implement stormwater control structures and practices that are both practical and sustainable.

A popular and effective approach for stormwater management and control uses the principals of low impact development (LID).  LID is the practice of minimizing changes to the hydrologic cycle (runoff and infiltration after a storm) during and after development.  LID strategies integrate green space, native landscaping, natural hydrologic functions, and various other techniques to generate less runoff from developed land.  However, the implementation of LID into stormwater systems requires institutional knowledge of how to construct and maintain the practices once they are implemented.  Additionally, the soils of Oklahoma introduce unique situations and challenges for the proper selection and implementation of appropriate LID practices for stormwater treatment and control within the landscape.

General LID and stormwater regulation in the News    

Houston Chronicle: LID project first in area 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pilot irrigation system takes a load off storm sewers 

KATC.com: Lafayette Public Works encourages Low Impact Development 

Environment360: To Tackle Runoff, Cities Turn to Green Initiatives

Forbes: Smart Communities will Build Green Infrastructure

...click here for older general LID news stories

 

Los Angelos Times: Supreme Court to hear dispute over polluted runoff in L.A. County 

Maine Telegram: Panel backs adoption of Portland stormwater fee 

Associated Press: Wisconsin town barred from beefing up farm water rules 

Mid-Columbia Tri-City Herald: Stormwater permits have new regulations 'to mimick Mother Nature' 

Los Angelos Times: New storm water runoff rules could cost cities billions

...click here for older stormwater regulation stories

Fact Sheets 

Decreasing Runoff and Increasing Stormwater Infiltration, Virginia Tech

Low Impact Development-A Sensible Approach to Land Development and Stormwater Management, California Water and Land Use Partnership

Low Impact Develop-an economic fact sheet, North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Low Impact Development, Washington State University Extension

Green Infrastructure in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates, US EPA

Checklist for Minimizing Vector Production in Stormwater Management Structures, California Department of Public Health

A Conceptual Guide to Effective Green Streets Design Solutions, US EPA

Chicago's Green Alleys-Stormwater BMP's at Work, Chicago Department of Transportation

Improving Exfiltration from BMPs: Research and Recommendations, Improve the performance of stormwater practices with research-based construction methods, North Carolina State University Extension

Water for sustainable urban human elements, UN World Water Assessment Programme

Videos

Horizon TV segment on Runoff from lawns and pavement, featuring Jason Vogel, OSU Stormwater Specialist

Low Impact Development Maintenance, Center for Watershed Protection

Low Impact Development Construction, Center for Watershed Protection

Low Impact Development Inspection, Center for Watershed Protection

epa.gov (video): Building Green--A Success Story in Philadelphia

Bulletins, journal articles, and Handbooks

Survey of Stormwater Fees in Okahoma, June 2011, compiled by City of Claremore, INCOG, and GCSA

City of Broken Arrow Low Impact Development Manual, City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Low Impact Development--Opportunities for the PlanET Region, City of Knoxville

Green Infrastructure Techniques, Grow NYC

Sustainable Building Sourcebook, City of Austin

Managing Stormwater in Redevelopment and Greenfield Development Project Using Green Infrastructure, ECONorthwest

Forging the Link: Linking Economic Benefits of LID and Community Decisions, University of New Hampshire, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Antioch University New England

Minnesota Stormwater Management Handbook, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

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

Site Design and Landscape Planning SD-10, California Stormwater BMP Handbook

Stormwater BMP Maintenance General Guidelines, City of High Point, North Carolina

Design of a Green Infrastructure “Retrofit” as an Alternative to Conventional Stormwater Management for a Residential Subdivision, a proceedings paper from Low Impact Development 2010: Redefining Water in the City by K.E. Thomas and D. Wible

Incentive Policies to Promote the Use of Enhanced Stormwater BMPs in New Residential Developments, research paper from Clemson University

Past OSU Training Sessions

Stormwater 101, Weatherford, OK, March 25, 2011

Other General LID and stormwater Regulation Web Sites

Green Country Stormwater Alliance--this site has lots of great information about stormwater regulations and stormwater issues in Oklahoma, especially in northeast Oklahoma

Low Impact Development Urban Design Tools, Low Impact Development Center

California LID Portal, California Stormwater Quality Association