Chesapeake Stormwater Network Summer Webinar Series – Thermal Evaluation of Upland Stormwater BMPs

Every year, CSN provides numerous webinars on the hottest topics in the stormwater world. Speakers from across the country share new research, case studies, tools, and resources to help make your job easier. Registration is required, but is FREE for you and your employer. Interested in presenting a webinar or suggesting a topic? Please reach out to CSN!

Thermal pollution from urbanization and ponding of water in stormwater management facilities is a known detriment to the biological functionality of streams. Section 502(6) of the Clean Water Act considers heat as a pollutant, and temperature continues to be a focus of the category 5 listings within MDE’s integrated report. Currently, typical stormwater retrofit designs address nutrient and sediment inputs, but do not necessarily include design elements that address thermal impacts, which likely increase stream temperatures during warmer months. Carroll County consists primarily of Use III and IV streams, and to generate a better understanding of what capacity specific BMPs have on reducing thermal impacts to the receiving waters, studies were initiated that looked at the efficacy of these practices at reducing thermal impacts to our waterways. Long-term monitoring was set up at a large sand filter BMP to understand how dry facilities buffered stormwater temperatures from pavement to tailwater. Additionally, an ongoing paired BMP study is comparing a traditional bottom release wet pond with one that incorporated a “gravel lens” around the dewatering pipe. Ideally, the “gravel lens” will provide better temperature buffering, reducing the thermal impact to receiving waterways than that of traditional bottom release wet ponds.

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