BMPS and stormwater management

The initials "BMP" does not stand for a new oil company! They are an abbreviation of "best management practices", a phrase that has become common in the vocabulary of ecological and environmental debate. BMPs are what makes the difference between flooding and non-flooding in our communities. The lack of BMP led to the construction site and runoff farming on a large scale in the Chesapeake Bay basin and approached to destroy the Everglades of Florida.

BMP include not only the management of excess water created in storms, but also the allocation and use of water, when there is not enough to go around. The problem is that the Everglades of Florida sugar growers are diverting the water to be flowing into the Everglades. The Everglades and the Chesapeake are big, dramatic, highly visible examples of what happens when there is water management by default. But gives the default occurs every day in a more small through most of our communities. These include drainage channels that are not cleaned out the leaves that people still blow into the street to be washed into storm drains, and used oil that is still discharged into the sewer.

Default management is a current "hot topic" with regard to storm water runoff. This is partly because where there is drought, the management of runoff to capture rainwater and melted snow becomes more important. Of course it takes designing and redesigning infrastructure to capture more runoff, an expensive task. Another motivation for examining management practices on storm water management is that with better management there would be less flooding and less severe floods. The comparison becomes much it would cost a deluge the community with respect to the proper management of water runoff to prevent flooding?

Waste water (what comes out of houses and buildings) can be managed and monitored daily. On the contrary, the rainwater is managed and monitored only when it is storming. The rest of the time we do not see the rain and the confidence that the flow systems are in good condition. What I do not think, however, is that systems of rainwater in our communities are designed to fail in storms really great! Writing in Issue Stormcom Show rainwater, in an article titled "stormwater management for the organization of waste water", Andrew Reese points out that storm water management systems were generally in a short segment of the budgeting process and zoning process. Costs too much money for flood protection 100 years. Costs too much money to protect neighborhoods built on flood plains to the catastrophic rains but there is pressure to allow the developments in order to increase the tax base and the value of the land. And so in many cases the community know in advance that if the flooding is severe enough to be destroyed.

Unfortunately, it will probably take a long time for BMP to become the rule rather than the exception in zoning and community and regional operations. There is so much to undo. The Chesapeake does not deteriorate in a day or a year. Neither the Everglades or the majority of our nation's lakes, rivers, streams and brooks. The cost of doing that is just so great and the economic impact on landowners and taxpayers is so great that the need for change will be gradual and long term. On the positive side, however, in our personal activities and on any land they own or control that we can all start doing immediately BMP.

Sometimes these small BMP are nothing more than common sense: do not throw trash in the paint and not disperse. Properly dispose of old drugs, instead of flushing down the toilet, use of lawn fertilizers sparingly, mulch those leaves and recycle whenever practical. On land you own or control the starting point would be good land management and proper supervision. Repair and correct erosion with planting and ponds. Banning customers and visitors from destructive activities of the territory, such as the discharge of oil from their vehicles or outbreak of fire of garbage.

BMP Other times require us to study and learn new things. Connect to local watershed planning and regional management. Recognize that each parcel of land is part of a larger region that requires all owners work together for common goals. These objectives include flood control and prevention of fires and pollution prevention. Have clean air and pure water. They include affordable energy and controlling inflation, good use of public funds and reasonable tax rates, all conditions that make viable businesses and help keep each and every person safe.

As for the community and each regional BMP is an influence for or against what is necessary to do things the right way. Discuss what is the right way is important. So looking at the facts and costs. Pay attention to meetings and hearings that are designed to inform taxpayers and public warning that something must be done. Science provides the knowledge but the political decision makers. Individuals, therefore, need to study the facts as they assess the costs. Public policy is made by individuals acting together, if they act. How many communities have tragically experienced already this year, it only takes one flood to ruin a lifetime of hard work and the devastation. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and those whose livelihoods were destroyed.

We try to resolve everything to keep history from repeating .......