Increased stormwater velocity and peak flow can cause urban streambanks to become eroded and undermined. The streams become wider and shallower. The frequency and magnitude of flooding increase. Streams are polluted by sediments, nutrients, bacteria, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Management of these problems has been fragmented and localized.
Technical considerations are predominantly site specific.
Local public works managers who must confront these and other stormwater management problems find that the problems are related. It is difficult to address one without touching on another. Yet they are dealt with separately. Ongoing problems are divided among federal, state, and local agencies, with each addressing a narrowly defined subset of urban watershed management issues. The purpose of this project was to examine current practices in stormwater management and provide recommendations for improvement, particularly in the areas of institutional arrangements and technical support.