Stormwater Management
4. What is an effective stormwater management?
Vision
Lycoming County recognizes the significance of a Stormwater Manangement Plan to prevent adverse impacts related to uncontrolled accelerated runoff.
Mission
To minimize stormwater runoff within the County by effective land use management and inter-municipal collaboration and partnership.
Stormwater Transmittal Letter
MS4 Stormwater Partnership
MS4 Information from D.E.P. County Press Release MS4 Municipalities / 2010 Urbanized When It Rains, It Drains Brochure
What is stormwater runoff and negative impacts of inadequate stormwater management?
Stormwater is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into storm sewer systems – a system with inlets and pipes that directly connect to local waterways. Stormwater becomes a problem when it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants, clogging storm sewers and causing flooding and erosion of stream banks. This untreated stormwater runoff empties in our local streams and rivers!
Inadequate management of stormwater runoff results in:
- Increase in flood flows and velocities
- Increased erosion and sedimentation
- Inadequate carrying capacity of streams and storm sewers
- Increased cost of public facilities
- Reduced groundwater recharge
- Undermined floodplain management efforts
- Endangered public health and safety
To understand more about stormwater impacts, please download DEP When It Rains, It Drains brochure.
The negative impacts of stormwater runoff can be reduced by practicing effective stormwater management strategies. Some strategies are simple and low-cost ways to reduce runoff pollution and problems caused by flooding. Some examples include: rain barrels, rain gardens, vegetated filter strips, level spreaders, disconnecting impervious surfaces, porous pavements and many others Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail Vegetated Swale
Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail Porous Pavement
LCWSA Porous Pavement