Public Works Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management is an important part of the community's effort to improve water quality, protect fish habitat and protect properties and infrastructure from flooding. "Stormwater" refers to runoff from urban areas. Stormwater flows to storm drains, gutters, ditches, swales, or a system of pipes, eventually ending up in the McKenzie or Willamette Rivers. Unlike wastewater from indoor plumbing, stormwater is not treated before being emptied into our waterways.

The City of Springfield operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program of the Federal Clean Water Act. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued Springfield a permit for stormwater discharges, along with a requirement to address specific areas recognized as sources of stormwater pollution.

Springfield's Stormwater Management Plan outlines the actions that will be taken in each of the following areas:

  • Public Education and Outreach- informs citizens, businesses, and industries about urban stormwater runoff and pollution prevention
  • Public Participation - involves the public in the stormwater planning process
  • Illicit Discharge of Contaminants - addresses illegal or illicit dumping of pollutants, whether accidental or intentional
  • Construction Site Runoff - work with contractors and developers where land clearing or construction may result in erosion, sedimentation, and soil loss
  • Post-Construction Erosion Control - ensures that new developments "build in" features (such as bio-swales) to continuously manage water quality in the future
  • Good Internal Housekeeping - assesses the City's own maintenance practices and policies to ensure that work crews use the best practices to minimize pollution in their everyday tasks

Annual Report, November, 2011 - June 2012

Stormwater program activities at a glance November 2011 - June 2012
City of Springfield, Oregon Public Works