RIPDES Storm Water Program Best Management Practices Page

STORMWATER GUIDANCE
RI Draft Stormwater Design and
Installation Standards Manual

Notice: DEM and CRMC have scheduled two meetings with the RI Builders Association to discuss their comments on the Draft Stormwater Manual. All interested parties are welcome to attend. The meetings will be on Thursday, September 17, 2009 and Thursday, October 15, 2009. Both meetings will be from 9:00 – 12:00 in Room 300 at the DEM Offices in Providence.

The R.I. design standards for handling and treating stormwater runoff are being updated and revised jointly by the RIDEM and CRMC. A Public Review Draft - May 2009 of the proposed manual and appendices are listed on the column at the left of this page. The changes to the manual are partly in response to passage of the Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007, RIGL 45-61.2, which contains three major provisions, namely: control of stormwater and peak runoff, maintenance of pre-development groundwater recharge, and use of low impact development (LID) techniques as the primary strategy to control and reduce stormwater impacts. A new provision allows use of qualifying pervious areas (QPA) to reduce the amount stormwater requiring structural BMPs and constructed water quality treatment. Extended detention basins are being phased-out for water quality treatment, in favor of more effective practices, many of which are already familiar to the engineering community. These include infiltration basins, bioretention filters, grass swales, and wet vegetated/soil treatment systems. The manual will apply to certain types of redevelopment projects as well, and use by all municipalities will be encouraged.

A public workshop was held June 4, 2009 to present the draft manual. A copy of the slide show is available here. Comments may be made by e-mailing stormwater@dem.ri.gov or in writing to:

   Russ Chateauneuf
   RIDEM
   Office of Water Resources
   235 Promenade Street
   Providence, RI 02908

In conjunction with CRMC, the Department intends to post summary comments and replies on this site and may invite further comment on key issues. Please check periodically for updates. Further changes to the manual are expected as a result of this comment phase after which the agencies plan to begin formal public notice and adoption procedures.

Existing 1993 Stormwater Manual
The existing 1993 State of Rhode Island Storm Water Design and Installation Standards Manual, developed by RIDEM and RICRMC, is in effect until the new manual is officially adopted. Notwithstanding, both agencies have been accepting similar, improved stormwater methods and practices on a case-by-case basis where agency reviewers agreed that greater water quality benefits would result.

Storm Water Program > Guidance > Design Manual:

Rules and Guidance Draft Stormwater Design and Installation Standards- Manual Draft Stormwater Design and Installation Standards- Appendices Stormwater Manual Comments – 8/17/09 Existing Storm Water Design and Installation Standards Manual Reports and Publications Summary of Revisions Background Document for Draft Manual Better Site Design for Communities Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) Strategies and Practices Presentations Public Workshop- 6/4/09 Overview Workshop- 6/24/09 Slide Show Stormwater Manual and MS4s LID Site Planning and Design LID Resources		*Stormwater Guidance*

		STORMWATER GUIDANCE RI Draft Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual Notice: DEM and CRMC have scheduled two meetings with the RI Builders Association to discuss their comments on the Draft Stormwater Manual. All interested parties are welcome to attend. The meetings will be on Thursday, September 17, 2009 and Thursday, October 15, 2009. Both meetings will be from 9:00 – 12:00 in Room 300 at the DEM Offices in Providence. The R.I. design standards for handling and treating stormwater runoff are being updated and revised jointly by the RIDEM and CRMC. A Public Review Draft - May 2009 of the proposed manual and appendices are listed on the column at the left of this page. The changes to the manual are partly in response to passage of the Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007, RIGL 45-61.2, which contains three major provisions, namely: control of stormwater and peak runoff, maintenance of pre-development groundwater recharge, and use of low impact development (LID) techniques as the primary strategy to control and reduce stormwater impacts. A new provision allows use of qualifying pervious areas (QPA) to reduce the amount stormwater requiring structural BMPs and constructed water quality treatment. Extended detention basins are being phased-out for water quality treatment, in favor of more effective practices, many of which are already familiar to the engineering community. These include infiltration basins, bioretention filters, grass swales, and wet vegetated/soil treatment systems. The manual will apply to certain types of redevelopment projects as well, and use by all municipalities will be encouraged. A public workshop was held June 4, 2009 to present the draft manual. A copy of the slide show is available here. Comments may be made by e-mailing stormwater@dem.ri.gov or in writing to: Russ Chateauneuf RIDEM Office of Water Resources 235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908 In conjunction with CRMC, the Department intends to post summary comments and replies on this site and may invite further comment on key issues. Please check periodically for updates. Further changes to the manual are expected as a result of this comment phase after which the agencies plan to begin formal public notice and adoption procedures. Existing 1993 Stormwater Manual The existing 1993 State of Rhode Island Storm Water Design and Installation Standards Manual, developed by RIDEM and RICRMC, is in effect until the new manual is officially adopted. Notwithstanding, both agencies have been accepting similar, improved stormwater methods and practices on a case-by-case basis where agency reviewers agreed that greater water quality benefits would result.