What Is Stormwater Pond Maintenance?

Tom Pullaro- Vice President of Sales

If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance that you own or are responsible for one or more stormwater control measures (SCM’s). Whether your SCM’s are part of a commercial property or residential HOA, the first step to implementing a successful maintenance program is understanding that SCM’s are engineered devices with specialized maintenance requirements. Wet ponds, dry ponds, constructed wetlands, and bioretentions all have specialized maintenance requirements. Putting off maintenance often leads to large surprise expenditures as well as Notices of Violation from your municipality. In many ways, SCM’s are similar to cars; you can put off routine maintenance, but over time, you are more likely to have a significant and costly failure. In this edition of Ask the Experts, we review the basic components of a good SCM maintenance program.

Are we required to perform routine maintenance at our SCM’s throughout the year?

Although specifics can vary, some level of routine maintenance is recommended even if not explicitly required by your local municipality. For example, the City of Durham expects that your stormwater devices are being maintained throughout the year, while the Town of Apex requires that maintenance records be submitted as part of your Annual Certification package. While requirements regarding maintenance frequency can vary, we have found that routine maintenance visits, generally monthly, are the best way to stay ahead of major failures. This will help you catch smaller issues before they develop into more costly repairs. There are also secondary benefits to routine stormwater maintenance, such as improved aesthetics due to decreased presence of algae, aquatic weeds, and trash. A monthly maintenance program is a great way to keep your devices compliant with a well-maintained appearance throughout the year.

What services should be included in our maintenance program?

A good maintenance program will include:

• General inspection and documentation of the condition of all structural components

• Removal of trash and debris to avoid clogging, as clogged systems can cause flooding and other system issues

• Routine mowing to allow safe access for maintenance and inspections

• Treatment and removal of invasive vegetation to prevent infestation and compliance violations; this will help you stay compliant, reduce mosquito breeding habitats, and increase device aesthetics

• Aquatic plant and buffer management to help establish and promote beneficial plants; these plants are often required by municipalities and contribute to device health and aesthetics

• Documentation of all maintenance activities

Specialized stormwater vendors should provide photographic maintenance records, documenting existing conditions as well as services completed.

Our Stormwater pond is infested with cattails and primrose, and has failed inspection. Does your maintenance program address invasive plants?

Some invasives can be controlled with treatments during routine maintenance visits. In many cases though, a more substantial initial removal will be required prior to starting the maintenance phase. Once the invasive vegetation has been removed, it is important to implement a maintenance plan to prevent rapid regrowth. Remember the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? This is particularly relevant when it comes to stormwater devices. Monthly service during the growing season of March through October is the most effective way to stay on top of nuisance vegetation, including cattails, primrose, and filamentous algae.

This stormwater pond required an initial vegetation removal prior to starting the maintenance phase.

We have a maintenance contract in place, but our SCM still failed inspection. Can you explain why this happened?

There may be years where additional work is needed at inspection time even if you have a quality maintenance plan. Extreme weather events, as well as challenging site grading and drainage conditions, can contribute to these issues. For example, problems associated with washouts, erosion, and unwanted debris are common after a wet year or tropical storm event. Similarly, sites with steep grades and large impervious areas are also prone to damage during wet years due to high flow and runoff volume. Although a routine maintenance program cannot cover every potential scenario, we have found that routine maintenance and inspection documenting the conditions of your devices throughout the year is the most effective way to reduce costly repairs not covered under maintenance.

Stormwater Maintenance Tips Review:

• Avoid unplanned expenses over the lifespan of your stormwater device with routine maintenance from a specialized stormwater vendor

• Ensure your maintenance program includes the key tasks designed for system compliance and health

• Work with your stormwater vendor and SCM inspector during the Annual Certification process to devise a plan to address any damage not covered under your maintenance contract

Team Dragonfly is here to help if you are in need of a routine maintenance plan. Our Stormwater Maintenance Specialists will work with you to create a customized plan focused on system compliance and health. Additionally, working with Dragonfly provides access to a full-service stormwater management company with all in-house repair capabilities. Contact us today to discuss your stormwater device needs.

Learn More

Are improper mowing practices putting you at risk for compliance violations and safety hazards? Our experts explain some of the specialized needs of SCM’s. Is your shoreline a liability? Learn about the risks of shoreline erosion and an innovative solution involving coir logs and stabilizing native plants.

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Dragonfly Pond Works provides specialized stormwater maintenance, compliance repairs, shoreline erosion repair, and more in Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Wilmington, North Carolina, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, South Carolina, Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Florida, and Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah, Georgia.