City of Lincoln
Lincoln Stormwater Regulations
The city of Lincoln is in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The county does not have a MS4 and the public works for the city administer stormwater inspections. The requirements for BMPs and post-construction maintenance meet the minimum requirements of the federal level, and the EPA has delegated Clean Water authority to the state of Nebraska. The state rules and regulations are in the Nebraska Environmental Protection Act.
Excerpt- Lincoln Flood and Water Quality Manual
8.0 Post Construction Best Management Practices
8.1.2 General Planning and Design Guidelines
The following general planning and design guidelines for structural and nonstructural controls are recommended when developing a water quality control strategy:
- Promote natural infiltration of urban runoff by minimizing on-site impervious areas and preserving natural, broad drainageways.
- Minimize directly connected impervious areas by providing grassed buffer zones between impervious surfaces.
- Divert runoff from impervious areas to pervious surfaces before the flows enter surface drainageways.
- Locate structural BMPs in areas that avoid creating a nuisance and the need for increased maintenance.
- Provide multiple accesses to facilities to improve maintenance capabilities.
- Revegetate and/or stabilize all areas disturbed by construction activities and all drainageways created as a part of a development.
- Ensure the plantings (e.g., grass) are established before the initial owner’s obligation is released and maintenance efforts begin.
- Select the appropriate option for the control objectives, specific conditions at the site, proper implementation, and maintenance for the most successful BMP.
8.4.1 Introduction
For stormwater BMPs to be effective, proper maintenance is essential. Maintenance includes routinely scheduled activities and nonroutine repairs that may be required after large storms
or because of other unforeseen problems. BMP maintenance is the responsibility of the entity owning the BMP. However, the City is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of privately
owned BMPs is being done, per the NPDES permit (i.e., construction stormwater permit). BMPs should be designed with maintenance as a key design consideration. Planning-level
design guidance pertaining to maintenance is included in selected individual BMP information contained within Appendix A of this manual, which also focuses on maintenance and provides
recommendations for BMP owners.
8.4.2 Maintenance Responsibility for BMP
Provisions shall be made in the approval of developments or redevelopments for the permanence of the BMP facilities and ongoing maintenance of BMP facilities using a stormwater management plan and maintenance agreement or other approved process. For private facilities, such as those owned and maintained by homeowners’ associations, there can be a lack of understanding of the maintenance required for BMPs. The stormwater management plan and maintenance agreement, site plans, maintenance plans and any other documents will be prepared and submitted as part of the initial development review / approval process. For new developments, the stormwater management plan, maintenance agreement and any other documents will be signed, submitted, and approved prior to the approval of the final plat. For redevelopments, the stormwater management plan, maintenance agreement and any other documents will be signed, submitted, and approved prior to building permit approval. Submittals will include a check to pay for the recording costs.
Links
Lincoln Stormwater BMP Plan
Lincoln Flood and Water Quality Protection Manual Chapter 8
