A GIS Analysis of Stormwater Facilities in Rockingham County: Policy and Geographical Distribution
Channel: JMU ISAT
Date: 2017-07-02

Full Title: A GIS Analysis of Stormwater Facilities in Rockingham County: Policy and Geographical Distribution by Andria Grossenbaugh
Advised by: Dr. Robert Brent
Sponsors: Ms. Helen White, Rockingham County Community Development, Rockingham County Public Works
Abstract: As urbanization expands and rain events become more frequent and extreme, due to an increase in population and climate change, stormwater runoff has become an increasingly important area of environmental focus. The quantity and quality of stormwater runoff directly impacts downstream flooding and can damage property and infrastructure, and degrade downstream water quality. Stormwater quality and quantity is managed by best management practices, BMPs, which are installed by cities and counties in order to prevent or reduce the volume of polluted stormwater flowing downstream. This project aims to identify and track the management of current (post 2012) permanent stormwater facilities in Rockingham County and make recommendations for future policy through the completion of a geographic information system (GIS) layer. GIS tools were used to map and analyze BMPs throughout the county, and the results were used to inform policy recommendations for improved tracking and maintenance. Covering six watersheds, 70 BMPs are currently identified in Rockingham County. Dry and wet ponds, basins, bioretentions, and filters categorize these 10 different types of BMPs. These BMPs differ in their ability to remove solids and nutrients from stormwater before entering downstream water bodies. Bioretentions remove up to 90% of total suspended solids (TSS), detention basins remove up to 40-60%, and wet ponds remove up to 50-90%. This thesis sets out to outline the best management practices in Rockingham County and analyze the current policy in place in order to make future recommendations to improve overall water quality in the county.