Storm Water Program 101
What is Storm Water?
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT)is committed to conducting activities in a manner necessary to preserve and protect South Dakota's soil and water resources. This includes designing, implementing, inspecting, maintaining, and enforcing protective storm water measures for all construction projects and regulated separate storm sewer systems. The SDDOT will accomplish this in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Storm Water Phase II regulations implemented by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The storm water regulations are intended to reduce the amount of pollutants entering lakes, wetlands, streams, and rivers as a result of runoff from industrial facilities, construction sites, and urban areas. Land disturbing activities, such as road construction, can increase the number of un stabilized areas which become more vulnerable to erosion. Land development increases the amount of impervious surface area within a watershed. Rain or snow melt runoff wash over these areas, collecting pollutants as it gains in volume and velocity. Storm water runoff can harm surface water quality by changing natural flow patterns, and by increasing velocity, pollutant concentrations and sedimentation. Common pollutants in storm water runoff include oil and grease from road and parking lots, sediment from construction sites, pesticides from lawns and discarded trash, such as cigarette butts, paper wrappers, cans and plastic bottles.
Storm Water Program Assistance
Information or assistance with SDDOT-related storm water activities is available by
contacting the following:
Other Information Available
SDDENR Storm Water Program website
USEPA Storm Water Program website
EPA's National Menu of Best Practices for Storm Water Phase II
The Stormwater Manager's Resource Center
International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Database, sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
AASHTO Construction Stormwater Field Guide
AASHTO Maintenance Stormwater Field Guide
Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO
Stormwater Best Management Practices in an Ultra-Urban Setting: Selection and Monitoring
Construction Field Manual for Construction Site Management and Erosion and Sediment Control
Erosion & Sediment Control and Storm Water Management Course Manual
AASHTO Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control in Highway Construction, Volume III, 1999. ISBN: 1-56051-114-1. This guide requires purchasing through the AASHTO bookstore.