Stormwater BMP Recognition Program - The BMP Recognition Program recognizes innovative stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania.

EPA Urban Stormwater BMP Study - EPA conducted a study of urban storm water discharges in 1997-98 to explore how the Effluent Guidelines program can contribute to the Agency's efforts in implementing the national storm water program requirements under Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act.

Greenworks TV Managing Stormwater: Best Management Practices - Video series that describes what BMPs are and where each is effective.

Low Impact Development (LID) Center - The Low Impact Development Center was established to develop and provide information to individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and our water resources through proper site design techniques that replicate pre-existing hydrologic site conditions. See the Low Impact Development Center brochure.

Maryland's Stormwater Management Program - Maryland's Department of the Environment Stormwater Program

Metropolitan Council -Urban Small Sites Best Management Practice Manual - This manual provides information on tools and techniques to assist Twin Cities municipalities and WMOs in guiding development and redevelopment. The manual includes detailed information on 40 BMPs that are aimed at managing stormwater pollution for small urban sites in a cold-climate setting.

National Stormwater BMP Database - This database provides access to BMP performance data in a standardized format for over 190 BMP studies conducted over the past fifteen years. The database was developed by the Urban Water Resources Research Council (UWRRC) of ASCE under a cooperative agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual - The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual provides designers with a general overview on how to size, design, select, and locate stormwater management practices at a development site to comply with State stormwater performance standards.

Pennsylvania Handbook of Best Management Practices for Developing Areas - This non-regulatory handbook features thirty-seven (37) water quality and wildlife habitat-improving practices that can be used to develop site plans to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania regulations for erosion control and local stormwater control regulations.

Preliminary Data Summary of Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices - EPA conducted a study of urban storm water discharges in 1997-98 to explore how the Effluent Guidelines program can contribute to the Agency's efforts in implementing the national storm water program requirements under Section 402(p) of the Clean Water Act.

Revised Manual for New Jersey: Best Management Practices for Control of Nonpoint Source Pollution from Stormwater - This manual has been developed by a public-private workgroup coordinated by the NJDEP Division of Watershed Management for municipalities, engineering consultants, land use planners, and other interested individuals. The purpose for the Manual is to provide effective and economical alternatives for control of nonpoint source pollution resulting from land development.

Stormwater Manager's Resource Center - This site is designed specifically for stormwater practitioners, local government officials and others that need technical assistance on stormwater management issues. See also: Bioretention as a Water Quality Best Management Practice.

Stormwater Management Volume Two: Stormwater Technical Handbook - Stormwater management handbook developed by
MA Department of Environmental Protection and MA Office of Coastal Zone Management

Villanova Bio-Infiltration Traffic Island - An existing traffic island was retrofitted to become a bio-infiltration BMP.

DEP Resources

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) - The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the state agency largely responsible for administering Pennsylvania's environmental laws and regulations

DEP's Environmental Futures Planning Process - The DEP is reorienting its management and planning to a watershed-focused, priority-setting approach. The new approach will measure real results in the environment, using 17 environmental indicators.

DEP's Office of Water Management - Main page for DEP's Office of Watershed Management

DEP's Southeast Regional Stormwater Management - Main page for Southeast Regional Stormwater Management

DEP's Watershed and Nonpoint Source Management - Main page for Watershed and Nonpoint Source Management Program Initiatives

DEP’s Five-Year Plan for TMDL Development - Developed by the Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management

Total Maximum Daily Loads - Main page for DEP's TMDLs

Educational Links

EPA Non-point source Pollution - Education & Outreach Materials - The Nonpoint Source Management Program provides grant money for education and outreach efforts to States, Territories, Indian Tribes and local organizations. The US Environmental protection Agency, other federal agencies, state agencies, Tribes, private groups, and nonprofit organizations offer a wide variety of materials.

EPA Resources

Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Non-point Sources (BASINS) [EPA] - BASINS is a multipurpose environmental analysis system for use by regional, state, and local agencies in performing watershed and water quality based studies.

Construction and Development Effulent Guidelines [EPA] - EPA is proposing regulatory options to address storm water discharges from construction sites.

CSO nine minimum controls [EPA] - EPA listing of the nine minimum controls

Ecoregional Nutrient Criteria Documents for lakes and reservoirs [EPA] - These documents present EPA's nutrient criteria for Lakes and Reservoirs in eight Ecoregions across the country. They contain EPA's recommendations to states and authorized tribes for establishing their water quality standards

Envirofacts Data Warehouse and Applications [EPA] - A single point of access to select U.S. EPA environmental data. This website provides access to several EPA databases to provide you with information about environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States.

Post-Construction Controls - Model Ordinances to Protect Local Resources [EPA] The management of stormwater runoff from sites after the construction phase is vital to controlling the impacts of development on urban water quality.

Smart Growth [EPA] - Smart growth is development that serves the economy, the community, and the environment. It changes the terms of the development debate away from the traditional growth/no growth question to "how and where should new development be accommodated."

Volunteer Wetlands Monitoring [EPA] -This booklet provides an introduction to why and how people monitor wetlands and includes a multi-page resource guide to handbooks and manuals that offer detailed information on wetland monitoring for the layperson.

Watershed Academy Web [EPA] - Online Training in Watershed Management - this Web site offers a variety of self-paced training modules that represent a basic and broad introduction to the watershed management field.

GIS / Mapping

Census 2000 Geographic Products and Information - TIGER/Line Files, Census 2000 Maps, Census 2000 Data Files, and Census 2000 Reference Resources

*City Maps - Philadelphia area mapping provided by phila.gov

EPA EnviroMapper - Mapping application for Index of Watershed Indicators

EPA GIS Informational Links - GIS Informational sources supplied by the EPA

EPA Window to My Environment - "Window To My Environment" (WME) - a powerful new web-based tool that provides a wide range of federal, state, and local information about environmental conditions and features in an area of your choice.

ESRI Homepage - Homepage for ESRI, a producer of GIS software

ESRI Training - ESRI's education solutions

ESRI Live Seminars - ESRI's free monthly live seminars

National Geographic Map Machine - Create your own maps with this map machine from National Geographic

Neighborhood Information System by University of Pennsylvania's Cartographic Modeling Lab - The Neighborhood Information System (NIS) is an online mapping and data analysis tool used by city agencies and over 100 nonprofit groups across Philadelphia. There are 3 major components of the NIS are ParcelBase, NeighborhoodBase, and Housing & Vacancy Reporter.

(PASDA) Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access - Pennsylvania's official geospatial information clearinghouse

Philadelphia Municipal GIS - A place where city employee's can create maps and manipulate data

*Streets Department GIS - Philadelphia Streets Department GIS site

The GeoCommunity - The GeoCommunity is a place for GIS, CAD, Mapping, and Location-Based industry professionals, enthusiasts, and students to gather.

The Geography Network - A global network of geographic information users and providers

US Census Bureau TIGER data - TIGER data from the US Census Bureau

USGS National Hydrography Dataset - The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a comprehensive set of digital spatial data that contains information about surface water features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, springs and wells.

Handbooks / Factsheets

EPA Technology Fact Sheets - Technology Factsheets on Combined Sewer Overflows Treatment, Storm Water, Disinfection, Biological Treatment (Secondary and Advanced), Water Efficiency, Decentralized Systems Technology, Collection Systems O&M, Biosolids, and Wastewater Technology

Fact Sheet Provides Recommendations for Effective Parking Lot Shade Ordinances - The Center for Urban Forest Research has produced a fact sheet that outlines the steps necessary to make shade ordinances more effective. The fact sheet addresses adding trees to parking lots, increasing soil volume, information on tree care for property managers, and proper planning for the retrofit.

Federal Interagency Stream Corridor Restoration Handbook - Handbook by Stream Corridor Restoration for training and educational purposes for advancing the principles, processes, and practices of stream corridor restoration.

Law Resources

Pennsylvania Land Use Law Library - Bills that are introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that relate to land use and planning issues.

The Pennsylvania Bulletin - The Pennsylvania Bulletin Online includes the following: Statewide and local court rules; the Governor's Proclamations and Executive Orders; Actions by the General Assembly; Rulemakings by State agencies; Proposed Rulemakings by State agencies; and State agency notices.

Organizations and Groups

America's Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) - A not-for-profit organization located in Washington, D.C. that was created to serve as a forum for citizen outreach, youth education and technical program exchange.

American Forests - American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry, and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests.

Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) - A non-profit corporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting some of the nation’s most precious natural resources: our streams, lakes and rivers

Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) - An all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of all the Darby Creek watershed's resources, including water, wildlife, historical sites, and the floodplain.

Delaware RiverKeeper Network - A nonprofit, membership organization that has worked since 1988 to strengthen citizen protection of the Delaware River and its tributary watersheds.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) - DVRPC works to foster regional cooperation in a nine-county, two state area. City, county and state representatives work together to address key issues, including transportation, land use, environmental protection and economic development.

GreenSpace Fun - A partnership organization working to preserve the region's open space and history

National Park Service (The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program) -The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program is an outreach program of the National Park Service. Our program can help your community turn ideas into results. We lend our skills in planning, design, and organizing to your community, and help your group achieve its goals.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary - The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. is a regional, non-profit organization, based in Wilmington, Delaware, that is dedicated to the promotion and conservation of the Delaware Estuary.

Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) - DCNR is charged with maintaining and preserving the 116 state parks; managing the 2.1 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state's ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space and natural areas. See also: DCNR Rivers Conservation Program - The PA Rivers Conservation Program has been developed to conserve and enhance river resources through preparation and accomplishment of locally initiated plans.

Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservations Services (NRCS) - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the federal government agency that works hand-in-hand with the American people to conserve natural resources on privately owned lands.

Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) - A non-profit organization composed of individuals, watershed associations, conservation organizations and other corporations who are dedicated to the protection, sound management and enhancement of the Commonwealth’s rivers and watersheds and to the empowerment of local organizations with the same commitment

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy - The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 by local citizens to combat pollution in the Perkiomen Creek and its tributaries. The many changes accompanying growth in the valley must take place with careful consideration for its ecological systems.

Trout Unlimited - An organization whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District

Professional Organizations

Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) - A Pennsylvania organization dedicated to actively advance the education and information for the preservation, protection, and improvement of the water environment.

Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP) - A national non-profit professional association of women involved or interested in environmental law, science, business, and policy

Water Environment Federation (WEF) - A not-for-profit technical and educational organization

Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) - A not-for-profit organization that seeks to promote the development and application of sound science to water quality issues

Reports

Concepts for National Assessment of Water Availability and Use - A USGS report that describes in the efforts needed to develop and report on indicators of the status and trends in storage volumes, flow rates, and uses of water nationwide.

Reducing Combined Sewer Overflows Toward Clean Water in Washington, D.C. - Report prepared by School of Public Affairs
University of Maryland in May 2002

Report: Paving our way to water shortages: How sprawl aggravates the effects of drought - American Rivers Report that estimates the extent of sprawl in 18 rapidly growing cities.

Resources

Local Government Environmental Assistance Network - The Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff. Also see: LGEAN Toolbox

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Project - A University of Connecticut educational program for local land use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection.

Philly Neighborhoods Online - Neighborhoods Online was created as an online resource center for Philadelphia's neighborhood builders--the thousands of people who work to build strong neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia and to improve our quality of life.

Rouge River Program - The Rouge Project began in 1992 and is a comprehensive program to manage wet weather pollution to restore the water quality and beneficial uses of the Rouge River.

NOAA / National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Prediction Center - Precipitation prediction center

What's a Watershed Partnership? - Building Local Partnerships: A Guide for Watershed Partnerships

Pennsylvania's Greenway Connections - The purpose of this Web site is to establish a greenways resource center specific to Pennsylvania.

National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) - The purpose of NEMI is to provide a mechanism to compare and contrast the performance and relative cost of analytical, test, and sampling methods for environmental monitoring.

Guidelines for Natural Stream Channel Design for Pennsylvania Waterways - The guidelines were developed through a partnership with the Keystone Stream Team and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

www.sewerhistory.net - A website on historical research on Philadelphia watersheds

Seminars / Conferences / Training

AWRA Philadelphia Monthly Luncheon Meetings - The Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Section meets regularly on third Thursday of every month in downtown Philadelphia and the luncheon features a guest speaker addressing an urban water issue of local interest.

Drexel School of Environmental Science, Engineering and Policy Winter 2003 Seminar Series - Seminars offered by Drexel's Environmental Engineering Program

*Mayor's Office of Information Systems - Computer Training

University of Pennsylvania Institute for Environmental Studies Weekly 2002 Seminar Series - A weekly seminar series to promote interactions among faculty, students, and interested members of the community.

USGS Resources

Habitat Suitability Index / Species Index - USGS species habitat suitability index

National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program - (USGS) In more than 50 major river basins and aquifers covering nearly all 50 states, USGS scientists collect and interpret data about water chemistry, hydrology, land use, stream habitat, and aquatic life.

Real-time USGS Data for Frankford Creek at Castor Ave, Philadelphia, PA

USGS Water Resources Applications Software - This software and related material (data and documentation) are made available by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to be used in the public interest and the advancement of science.

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Last updated: August 04, 2006 .