Stormwater Retrofitting: Atoning for the Sins of Our Past

In the not too distant past, our general philosophy on stormwater runoff was: Get rid of it… Fast! Now, in a more enlightened time, we know better. We know that it is essential to address both the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff before it makes its way into our precious water resources (rivers, streams, lakes, etc.). But what do we do about the sins of the past? What do we do about all of the cities, towns, subdivisions, and shopping malls that were developed without effective stormwater management? This session offered a look at, and hands-on experience in the art of stormwater retrofitting. We looked at how to set up a retrofit plan, what types of sites offer the best opportunities for retrofits, and what to look for in the field. Then, we went outside to try it ourselves, using the Center for Watershed Protection’s Retrofit Reconnaissance Inventory as a guide.

Presenter: Greg Hoffmann, Center for Watershed Protection