Urban development is associated with an increase in impervious surfaces, that is, surfaces such as rooftops, sidewalks, and streets that prevent precipitation from infiltrating into the groundwater. Impervious surfaces increase the volume and energy of stormwater that reaches streams and can lead to adverse physical and water quality impacts, including erosions and increased nutrient runoff. In this video USGS scientist Tom Cuffney and Tom Schueler, director of the Chesapeake Stormwater Network, discuss the effects of impervious surfaces on stream health.For additional information: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/urban/

News

New Guidebook on Using Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater
The Prairie Rivers Network has released a new guidebook for Illinois communities called Stormwater Management: A Guide to Managing Stormwater with Green Infrastructure (link) This 13-page color guide describes the benefits of green infrastructure (GI), how local governments can use GI to comply with permit requirements, the types of GI practices, case study examples in Illinois and resources for additional information.
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Resources

• Dane County Land & Water Resources Department
• WDNR Runoff Management
• USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center
• US EPA Stormwater Program
• Center for Watershed Protection

Stormwater Management

Stormwater runoff is a natural part of the hydrologic cycle, which is the distribution and movement of water between the earth’s atmosphere, land, and water bodies. However, land use changes and alterations to natural drainage systems result in changes to the rainfall-runoff process. For example, replacing vegetation with impervious surfaces (i.e., pavement and rooftops) and using storm sewers results in increased runoff rates, longer runoff durations, increased runoff volumes, and decreased infiltration. These changes in hydrology, combined with increased pollutant loading, can have adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystems of our lakes and streams. Stormwater management involves the use of best management practices (BMPs) to address these adverse water quality and quantity impacts of uncontrolled stormwater runoff in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. It is a CARPC policy that stormwater management measures should be aimed at mitigating to the maximum extent practicable the cumulative and incremental adverse impacts of development on surface water and groundwater quality and quantity and associated ecological functions. The purpose of this web page is to provide up to date information on BMPs that can be used to achieve this goal.