The Magic of Stormwater Landscaping
As we receive more frequent and heavily laden rainstorms, the need to manage excess rainwater as runoff has become a necessity. For each homeowner or commercial building owner, the question is where to direct all the excess rainwater on the property. The smaller the site or more densely developed, the more creative the solution must be to capture the water without flooding other parts of the property. However, taking advantage of Nature's existing ways of handling rainwater can be the magic which solves excess rainwater that ends up being excess stormwater runoff, and the damage that it does to the soil in its path and the creeks and rivers downstream.
Since the size of an open area plays a key role in selecting a landscaping method, the type of capture system from small to large might be:
• Rain barrels (small) or Cisterns (large)
• Rainwater Collection Pit (dry well)
• Rain Garden
• Conservation Garden
• Infiltration Area
• Bioretention Area
Note that each type of rainwater/stormwater area (we use these terms interchangeably here) of increasing size and complexity generally requires a larger amount of soil to be moved on the property. See our Rainwater Resources page for more information on each system, or as they are formally called, Best Management Practices (BMPs or Practices for short).
MHBI can provide stormwater problem reviews, design guidance, construction oversight, and commercial BMP practice functionality evaluations. We are certified by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council as a Stormwater Landscaping Professional. For more information on the program go to Certified.CBLPro.org.
Each locality within each state, which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, may have its own specific stormwater capture, retention, and distribution regulations and requirements. Check the links below for information publicly available for your local jurisdiction.
Since the size of an open area plays a key role in selecting a landscaping method, the type of capture system from small to large might be:
• Rain barrels (small) or Cisterns (large)
• Rainwater Collection Pit (dry well)
• Rain Garden
• Conservation Garden
• Infiltration Area
• Bioretention Area
Note that each type of rainwater/stormwater area (we use these terms interchangeably here) of increasing size and complexity generally requires a larger amount of soil to be moved on the property. See our Rainwater Resources page for more information on each system, or as they are formally called, Best Management Practices (BMPs or Practices for short).
MHBI can provide stormwater problem reviews, design guidance, construction oversight, and commercial BMP practice functionality evaluations. We are certified by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council as a Stormwater Landscaping Professional. For more information on the program go to Certified.CBLPro.org.
Each locality within each state, which is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, may have its own specific stormwater capture, retention, and distribution regulations and requirements. Check the links below for information publicly available for your local jurisdiction.
Resource Info by Locality
Contact us if you have a current need or would like us to add a link.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
• Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council
• Alliance for the Bay - Stormwater Management
DC
• DC Stormwater Management Info
•
Maryland
• Maryland Stormwater Management Guidance
• Maryland Erosion Control Guide
•
Virginia
• Arlington Stormwater Management Guidelines (PDF)
• Arlington Homeowner Guide to Stormwater Management
• Arlington Stormwater Wise Program (Discontinued)
• Alexandria Stormwater Management Resources
• Fairfax County Residential Stormwater Resources
• Virginia DES Stormwater & Erosion Control
•
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
• Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council
• Alliance for the Bay - Stormwater Management
DC
• DC Stormwater Management Info
•
Maryland
• Maryland Stormwater Management Guidance
• Maryland Erosion Control Guide
•
Virginia
• Arlington Stormwater Management Guidelines (PDF)
• Arlington Homeowner Guide to Stormwater Management
• Arlington Stormwater Wise Program (Discontinued)
• Alexandria Stormwater Management Resources
• Fairfax County Residential Stormwater Resources
• Virginia DES Stormwater & Erosion Control
•