Stormwater ABCs - Terms You Should Know

Baffle Box

A baffle box is a structure with a series of settling chambers whose primary function is to remove sediment, debris, trash, and their associated pollutants from stormwater. Baffle boxes often include filtration media to remove total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total suspended solids (TSS), and pathogens from the water before it enters a waterway.

BMAP - Basin Management Action Plan

As defined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), a BMAP is a framework for water quality restoration that contains local and state commitments to reduce pollutant loading through current and future projects and strategies. BMAPs contain a comprehensive set of solutions designed to achieve pollutant reductions established by a total maximum daily load (TMDL). 

Living Shoreline

The phrase living shoreline encompasses a range of shoreline stabilization techniques. A living shoreline project utilizes a variety of structural and organic materials, including aquatic and wetland plants, oyster shells, sand, and stone to provide shoreline protection and maintain valuable habitat.

NPDES - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NPDES is a federal permit program that regulates the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States. The program was created by the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the discharge of "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" without an NPDES permit (NPDES Permit Basics | US EPA). A permit contains limits on what can be discharged, as well as requirements for monitoring and reporting. It regulates point source discharges from three potential sources: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), construction activities, and industrial activities. In Florida, NPDES permits are issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Stormwater Pond

Stormwater ponds are man-made depressions that are designed to mitigate flooding by capturing runoff from storms and excess irrigation. Stormwater ponds slow runoff and either allow it to percolate into the ground (retention ponds) or reduce the rate that it travels into downstream water bodies (detention ponds). Stormwater ponds are defined as wet or dry. Wet stormwater ponds typically hold water year-round. Dry stormwater ponds are typically dry and only hold water after rain events. Stormwater ponds reduce flooding and provide natural pollutant removal.

    Detention Pond

Stormwater detention ponds temporarily store (detain) stormwater and runoff, before slowly releasing it to a waterbody downstream.

    Retention Pond

Stormwater retention ponds keep (retain) stormwater and runoff and prevent it from moving downstream.

TMDL - Total Maximum Daily Loads

TMDLs are water quality targets based on state water quality standards for specific pollutants (such as nitrogen and phosphorus).