Stormwater Control Measure Manual

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This Stormwater Control Measure Manual is intended to provide guidance on the design, construction, and maintenance of post-construction stormwater management required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and permitted through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for applicable KDOT projects.

Stormwater control measures (SCMs) are techniques used for post-construction stormwater management to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff from impervious areas. SCMs incidentally minimize adverse water quality impacts by filtering out pollutants from stormwater before the runoff enters our rivers, creeks, and streams.

SCMs are designed to infiltrate and retain frequent rainfall runoff volumes. SCMs may also be known as post-construction best management practices or BMPs, permanent stormwater BMPs, stormwater treatment facilities or green infrastructure.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Does long-term maintenance responsibility impact compliance with the Stormwater Control Measures Manual?
No. Any SCMs built on KDOT-owned right-of-way and property is subject to compliance with the Stormwater Control Measures Manual and the TS4 permit. The TS4 permit requires ongoing maintenance and inspection of constructed SCMs. When maintenance responsibilities are turned over to a local jurisdiction, the jurisdiction must track inspection and maintenance activities and submit documentation to KDOT to verify that each has been performed.
What are stormwater control measures?
Stormwater control measures (SCMs) are techniques used for post-construction stormwater management to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff from impervious areas. They are designed for infiltration, retention, detention, and/or filtration of frequent rainfall runoff volumes. SCMs may also be known as post-construction best management practices or BMPs, permanent stormwater BMPs, stormwater treatment facilities or green infrastructure. SCMs incidentally improve water quality by filtering out pollutants from stormwater before the runoff enters our rivers, creeks, and streams.
What are the penalties for not implementing SCMs in a project?
If the Stormwater Control Measures Manual is not used on applicable projects, or due diligence is not documented to demonstrate the effort to include SCMs in applicable projects, then KDOT is not complying with the TS4 permit. If KDHE or the EPA were to determine that KDOT is not in compliance, either through an audit or by reviewing KDOT’s annual report, then KDOT may be subject to monetary fines and/or penalty for violating the Clean Water Act.
What if it’s not feasible to implement SCMs in a project?
The TS4 permit requires applicable projects to capture the first 0.5 inches of rain from 100% of the impervious area. If project or site conditions do not allow for 100% capture, a thorough due diligence analysis must be completed and documented explaining the challenges to implementing SCMs in the project and the reasons they are insurmountable. This due diligence analysis must be reviewed and approved by the TS4 Stormwater Program Manager for any portion of the project where stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces is not being captured by an SCM. This is for documentation purposes in the event that KDHE or the EPA were to audit KDOT’s TS4 permit and find KDOT not in compliance due to SCMs not being implemented for any particular project.

Note that long-term maintenance is a key factor when considering appropriate SCMs for a project. KDOT’s TS4 permit requires inspection and documentation of SCM maintenance. The need for longterm maintenance is not considered a justifiable reason to exclude SCMs from a project.
Where are stormwater control measures needed?
SCMs must be considered for any project within KDOT-owned right-of-way that disturbs one acre or greater of land during construction and is located within the MS4 coverage areas. The MS4 coverage areas were delineated by using the urbanized areas boundaries as defined in the 2010 U.S. Decennial Census. The map below is an excerpt from the Stormwater Control Measures Manual and delineates where SCMs must be considered. For exact extents within each MS4 coverage area, reference the figure numbers indicated in the map in the Stormwater Control Measures Manual.
Why are stormwater control measures required?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires public entities, including departments of transportation such as KDOT, to develop, implement, and maintain stormwater management programs. This requirement is enforced by issuing either a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, or a Transportation Separate Storm Sewer System (TS4) permit. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is the permitting agency for all permittees in the state. They enforce this requirement and regulate permittees on behalf of the EPA.

Related Links

Kansas Department of Environment and Health - Municipal Stormwater Program
The Kansas Department of Environment and Health oversees the Municipal Stormwater Program, which aims to manage and reduce stormwater pollution in urban areas. This program focuses on implementing best practices to provide clean water and protect the environment for all Kansans.

US EPA
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) site contains technical and regulatory information about the NPDES stormwater program.

FHWA Stormwater Resources
Extensive training, reports, and publications related to stormwater issues.

AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence
The Center for Environmental Excellence, created by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, promotes environmental stewardship and innovative transportation solutions. It serves as a valuable resource for transportation professionals, offering technical assistance, training, information exchange, partnership opportunities, and easy access to environmental tools.

International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database Project website features a database of over 300 BMP studies, performance analysis results, tools for use in BMP performance studies, monitoring guidance and other study-related publications.

Center for Watershed Protection
The Watershed Protection Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that equips local governments, activists, and watershed organizations with technical tools to protect streams, lakes, and rivers. The Center's multi-disciplinary strategy includes watershed planning, restoration, stormwater management, research, better site design, education, outreach, and training to safeguard these vital natural resources.

Contacts

Staff	Title	Phone	Email
Stormwater Management Program MS4			Email
Kirmer, P.E., Dale	MS4 Stormwater Program Manager	(785) 296-6355	Email
Lare, P.E., Mervin	Stormwater Compliance Engineer	(785) 250-4793	Email

Frequently Asked Questions

Does long-term maintenance responsibility impact compliance with the Stormwater Control Measures Manual?

What are stormwater control measures?

What are the penalties for not implementing SCMs in a project?

What if it’s not feasible to implement SCMs in a project?

Where are stormwater control measures needed?

Why are stormwater control measures required?

Related Links

Contacts