After the Storm: Committee Plans Park to Manage Stormwater Runoff

The Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Park planned for the Springfield municipal complex area on Powell Road was the topic of discussion at the (EAC) monthly public meeting May 24.

BMP’s are sets of techniques used to control stormwater in a way that imposes minimal disruption on the natural environment while mitigating runoff effects.

The committee agreed that stormwater management is necessary because street flooding from excessive runoff can cause traffic hazards. Plus, excessive runoff can lead to erosion.

Committee officials also said unmanaged runoff can carry pollution into streams, requiring more costly water treatment for human use and degrading natural ecosystems.

The BMP project will be implemented in several phases and will take nearly 10 years to complete. That will allow the township to take advantage of state and federal grants for fund design and construction while protecting taxpayers from footing the bill.

Each BMP constructed will have an expected 20-year lifespan. Officials say the project can provide educational and training opportunities to inform residents and landscapers how to implement these types of BMPs on their own properties.

Springfield Environmental Advisory Committee, created in 1977, advises township commissioners regarding environmental issues identified by community members, sponsors forums and information sessions and seeks to create long term projects to improve the environmental well-being of Springfield Township.