Stormwater

Traditional stormwater management directs runoff into a piped system that carries it quickly offsite for discharge into a river or stream. This can have an adverse effect on the river or stream, including flooding and erosion, increased pollution levels, and damage to fish and wildlife.

Water quality friendly stormwater management is a new way of thinking. It focuses on managing stormwater on site, at the source. These techniques mimic natural processes by allowing stormwater to slowly filter through vegetation and soak into the ground. This reduces the quantity and improves the quality of stormwater runoff flowing from the property to stream.

A number of Actions in the Estuary Partnership Management Plan address stormwater management, including:

The Estuary Partnership has worked on a number of projects to help implement these Management Plan actions.

		Stormwater Projects Information on the Estuary Partnership’s projects with the cities of Oregon City, Oregon and Longview Washington.
		Stormwater Field Guide A site celebrating innovative water quality friendly development thought the lower Columbia River area and profiling 22 water quality friendly development techniques.