Stormwater Management Planning for Sustainable and Affordable Housing Development

Abstract

Bridgewater Township, in collaboration with the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) and the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), initiated a stormwater management project to incorporate sustainable stormwater practices into a new 120-unit housing development. The primary objective was to evaluate and recommend stormwater control measures (SCMs) that would effectively manage runoff, improve water quality, and integrate into the community’s development plan. In addition, this project represented an opportunity to incorporate stormwater management at the beginning of the conceptual plan phase as opposed to later stages of final design. This allows Bridgewater Township to consider more innovative practices, achieve elevated water management goals (e.g., net zero discharge), and create a framework of planning that can be applied elsewhere.