1. The Homeowners Guide to Stormwater

2. Review Stormwater Runoff- Stormwater runoff is precipitation (rain or snowmelt) that runs across the land.

3. Review The stormwater runoff may: Go into the soil to be taken up by vegetation. Discharge directly into streams/ lakes Or evaporate into the atmosphere.

4. Review Stormwater in our area falls on our rooftops, driveways and patios and discharges into: The Conestoga The Susquehanna The Chesapeake Bay

5. Review Why is this a problem?: Pollutants (chemical, trash) on our roads, driveways and rooftops accumulate in the runoff. This can contaminate our water supplies. Flooding due to too much stormwater. If stormwater flows into streams at high rates it can cause bank erosion. This disturbs habitats of aquatic animals and can cause sediment pollution.

7. What are the Steps You Can Take to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Stormwater Runoff? There are 3 steps you can take: 1. Assess the Stormwater On Your Property 2. Developing a Stormwater Management Plan 3. Implementing the Stormwater Plan

8. Step 1: Assessing Stormwater on Your Property First Draw your property boundaries. Then draw the buildings and other features of your property. 1. Label any impervious areas (areas where water cannot penetrate into the soil) 2. Label any lawn and landscaped areas with any natural vegetation. 3. Label any water features (streams, ponds, etc) around your property.

9. An Example:

10. Step 1: Assessing Stormwater on Your Property Now it is time to figure out how and where water flows on your property. Map out: 1. Roof downspouts 2. Stormwater slow paths using arrows 3. Areas of ponding 4. Any ditches that have resluted from soil erosion.

11. An Example:

12. Step 1: Assessing Stormwater on Your Property Now you can try and figure out how much runoff you have to manage using the following table:

13. Step 2: Developing Your Stormwater Management Plan- Some Ideas Rain Gardens Riparian Zone Rain Barrel

14. Step 3: Implementing the Stormwater Management Plan Some considerations once you have concidered what manangment strategies you can use: Where to locate management strategies: 1. Do not implement where bedrock is present 2. Do not place them near ponds 3. Do not put them near septic tanks

15. You are Ready to Implement!

16. Last Note: Ways to Maintain Your Lawn to Prevent Harmful Runoff Maintain a dense vegetative cover of turf grass to prevent runoff Minimize fertilizer used on your lawn. Keep clippings/ mulch out of streets/ storm drains. Set mower height at three inches or taller. Taller grass keeps a deeper and more extensive root system to absorb water.