iswm.nctcog.orgIntegrated Stormwater Management iSWM™

Home What is iSWM? What is TriSWM? Participating Cities News Resources Program Guidance Criteria Manual Technical Manual Training iSWM Implementation Committee Meetings Case Studies Rayzor Ranch Elm Fork Merritt Road contact Home What is iSWM? What is TriSWM? Participating Cities News Resources Program Guidance Criteria Manual Technical Manual Training iSWM Implementation Committee Meetings Case Studies Rayzor Ranch Elm Fork Merritt Road contact Helping Communities meet their construction and post-construction obligations under state stormwater permits. Rain water runs across a parking lot, picking up pollutants Pollutants and litter are filtered out by rocks and native plants Water is spread out to slow it down and reduce erosion Water enters the creek where it is further filtered by native plants. The total volume of water is reduced, and the water that does flow downstream is cleaner as a result. The iSWM™ Program for Construction and Development is a cooperative initiative that assists cities and counties to achieve their goals of water quality protection, streambank protection, and flood mitigation, while also helping communities meet their construction and post-construction obligations under state stormwater permits. Development and redevelopment by their nature increase the amount of imperviousness in our surrounding environment. This increased imperviousness translates into loss of natural areas, more sources for pollution in runoff, and heightened flooding risks. To help mitigate these impacts, more than 60 local governments are cooperating to proactively create sound stormwater management guidance for the region through the integrated Stormwater Management (iSWM) Program. Reduce Flooding Designs based on the iSWM program mean that a community can handle stormwater more effectively and with fewer flooding impacts. Protect Property Values iSWM reduces the potential for erosion by addressing streambank protection during design, protecting properties and infrastructure along creeks and rivers. Improve Water Quality iSWM techniques give a community new tools to improve water quality, thereby reducing costs and protecting residents. Meet State/Federal Regulations NCTCOG has worked to make iSWM compatible with existing state and federal regulations. Reduce Operation Costs iSWM methods emphasize sustainable, natural systems which can reduce maintenance and result in a lower lifetime cost of ownership. NCTCOG Technical Assistance The North Central Texas Council of Governments is here to provide free technical assistance to communities implementing iSWM strategies. iSWM Communities The iSWM program has completed their Stormwater Criteria Community Inventory. The ordinances and Drainage Criteria Manuals of fifty-three (53) communities were reviewed and compared to eight (8) iSWM Design Criteria: Fully developed land use conditions Detention structure discharge Streambank protection Flood mitigation/downstream assessments Operations and maintenance Spread Finished floor elevations Water quality protection Data was also collected from an NCTCOG email survey completed in December 2018 asking if use of fully developed land use conditions was required in drainage criteria. The iSWM criteria review was based off the NCTCOG Tiered Measurement Form which is utilized as a checklist that can be used to determine iSWM status when applying to become an iSWM certified community. Upon review, each criterion reviewed for each community was placed in one of the three categories: "Follows iSWM criteria", "Partially follows iSWM criteria", or "No coordinating criteria found." What Does it Mean to be iSWM Certified? -- Latest News Halff Releases Criteria Community Inventory May 2019 Halff Associates, in partnership with NCTCOG, has completed their Stormwater Criteria Community Inventory. read more City of Irving iSWM Silver Certified July 2018 The City of Irving has been recognized as the latest municipality to receive the silver iSWM designation. read more City of Fort Worth iSWM Silver Certified May 2017 The City of Fort Worth has been recognized as the latest municipality to receive the silver iSWM designation. read more What are the key principles? Natural Areas and streams are highlighted tastefully within a development. But these features do more than look good, they treat stormwater runoff from streets and parking lots. By creating systems that mimic the natural environment, development can coexist within a space in a way that is visually pleasing and does not increase runoff. Slow it Down Spread it Out Soak it In iSWM Examples Real world examples on the ground in the North Texas area that exemplify the principles of the iSWM program. all Parking Lots Roads Pedestrian Spaces Storage Parking Lot Curb Inlet Read More Parking Lot Curb Inlet - Rayzor Ranch – Denton, TX Rayzor Ranch North (officially Rayzor Ranch Marketplace), is a 100-acre parcel within the Rayzor Ranch development, a privately-owned, 400-acre mixed-use development in Denton, Texas. Rayzor Ranch is one of the first projects in the City of Denton using iSWM design criteria. The project, owned by Allegiance Hillview, L.P., was begun in 2008 and construction for Phase I was completed in 2010. Within the 400-acre Rayzor Ranch development, the Marketplace is an approximately 100-acre retail center with an ultimate buildout of approximately 800,000 SF of large retail, junior anchors, specialty retailers, restaurant and financial institutions. A 39-acre tract includes anchor tenants Walmart and a Sam's Club. Rayzor Ranch North incorporates several iSWM site controls including a water quality pond, four bioretention areas, a pocket wetland, an enhanced swale, a filter strip, and several parking lot islands with filter strips as components in the treatment train. The treatment train was integrated into the overall landscape concept which has led to a truly integrated design that is aesthetically pleasing, utilitarian in conveying drainage, and environmentally responsible in the treatment of the water quality for removing both on and off-site pollutants before discharging the storm drainage. Stormwater Treatment Read More Stormwater Treatment - UTA College Park - Arlington, TX The Green at College Park is a focal point along the City of Arlington's Center Street Pedestrian Trail, offering green space as a retreat from urban life for the University community, neighbors and downtown visitors. Notable features of The Green include a large lawn, seating along a curved stone wall, recycled paving materials, native grasses, adaptive plants, and a dry creek bed that will help manage rainwater and stormwater runoff that drains into Johnson Creek. The first priority for The Green was to design it as a "green sponge." The design encourages infiltration of stormwater through micro-depressions, drains stormwater from grey to green, sheet flows stormwater, reduces impervious surfaces, and amends soil with organic matter to help it return to pre-development infiltration rates. The second priority was to improve the quality of the stormwater. The design filters water through vegetated areas and soil, slows down the flow of water to allow sediment to settle, utilizes plants that break down pollutants in the water, and provides a highly organic soil for microorganisms to break down pollutants. Bioswales Read More Bioswales - Congo Street – Dallas, TX Congo Street, located in South Dallas, is now recognized as Dallas' first Green Street. In 2008, bcWORKSHOP began working with the residents on Congo Street to craft an alternative strategy that focused on rebuilding the homes and street infrastructure. The one-block-long street that had been inadequately and poorly designed could not handle the stormwater demands placed on it. Congo Street and several homes had been targeted for demolition and redevelopment. The Congo Street design incorporated permeable pavement, biofiltration, and retention basins as strategies to manage ...