Elements of a Comprehensive Stormwater Management Program

Abstract

Programs for stormwater management (SWM) have been promulgated by a variety of state, regional, and local government agencies. Existing SWM programs exhibit significant variation in objectives, requirements, and the division of responsibilities among public agencies and private parties. Some of these programs have been more successful than others. In some cases, this lack of success is partly attributable to deficiencies in program content. A list of regulatory elements that should be considered for inclusion in a comprehensive SWM program is presented. This list was compiled by examining and analyzing the regulations of many existing programs. The purpose of each element is discussed, as are the relationships among the various elements. This material should be useful to governments both in developing appropriate regulatory programs for SWM and in revising existing programs.