PRP BMP Descriptions
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Written by Jonathan Heilman
Updated over a week ago

Attachment B – PRP BMP Descriptions

The BMP descriptions below are from Attachment B of the MS4 Annual Report User Guide, dated June 7, 2023 and are for use with the DEP MS4 eReporting system. The BMP types below are all available as a type selection within CSDatum.

Bioretention - Raingarden (A/B soils w/o underdrain)

An excavated pit backfilled with engineered media, topsoil, mulch, and vegetation. These are planting areas installed in shallow basins in which the storm water runoff is temporarily ponded and then treated by filtering through the bed components, and through biological and biochemical reactions within the soil matrix and around the root zones of the plants. This BMP has no underdrain and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Bioretention - Raingarden (A/B soils w/ underdrain)

An excavated pit backfilled with engineered media, topsoil, mulch, and vegetation. These are planting areas installed in shallow basins in which the storm water runoff is temporarily ponded and then treated by filtering through the bed components, and through biological and biochemical reactions within the soil matrix and around the root zones of the plants. This BMP has an underdrain and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Bioretention - Raingarden (C/D soils w/ underdrain)

An excavated pit backfilled with engineered media, topsoil, mulch, and vegetation. These are planting areas installed in shallow basins in which the storm water runoff is temporarily ponded and then treated by filtering through the bed components, and through biological and biochemical reactions within the soil matrix and around the root zones of the plants. This BMP has an underdrain and is in C or D soil. Use this BMP where the specific design is unknown.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Bioswale

With a bioswale, the load is reduced because, unlike other open channel designs, there is now infiltration into the soil. A bioswale is designed to function as a bioretention area.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Dry Detention Ponds

Dry Detention Ponds are depressions or basins created by excavation or berm construction that temporarily store runoff and release it slowly via surface flow or groundwater infiltration following storms.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Dry Extended Detention Ponds

Dry extended detention (ED) basins are depressions created by excavation or berm construction that temporarily store runoff and release it slowly via surface flow or groundwater infiltration following storms. Dry ED basins are designed to dry out between storm events, in contrast with wet ponds, which contain standing water permanently. As such, they are similar in construction and function to dry detention basins, except that the duration of detention of stormwater is designed to be longer, theoretically improving treatment effectiveness.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Filter Strip Runoff Reduction

Urban filter strips are stable areas with vegetated cover on flat or gently sloping land. Runoff entering the filter strip must be in the form of sheet-flow and must enter at a non-erosive rate for the site-specific soil conditions. A 0.4 design ratio of filter strip length to impervious flow length is recommended for runoff reduction urban filter strips.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Filter Strip Stormwater Treatment

Urban filter strips are stable areas with vegetated cover on flat or gently sloping land. Runoff entering the filter strip must be in the form of sheet-flow and must enter at a non-erosive rate for the site-specific soil conditions. A 0.2 design ratio of filter strip length to impervious flow length is recommended for stormwater treatment urban filter strips.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Filtering Practices

Practices that capture and temporarily store runoff and pass it through a filter bed of either sand or an organic media. There are various sand filter designs, such as above ground, below ground, perimeter, etc. An organic media filter uses another medium besides sand to enhance pollutant removal for many compounds due to the increased cation exchange capacity achieved by increasing the organic matter. These systems require annual inspection and maintenance to receive pollutant reduction credit.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Forest Buffer

Forest buffers are linear wooded areas that help filter nutrients, sediments and other pollutants from runoff as well as remove nutrients from groundwater. The recommended buffer width is 100 feet, with a 35 feet minimum width required.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Hydrodynamic Structures

Hydrodynamic Structures are devices designed to improve quality of stormwater using features such as swirl concentrators, grit chambers, oil barriers, baffles, micropools, and absorbent pads that are designed to remove sediments, nutrients, metals, organic chemicals, or oil and grease from urban runoff.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Impervious Surface Reduction

Disconnecting existing impervious area runoff from stormwater drainage systems such as directing rooftops and/or on-lot impervious surfaces to pervious areas with amended soils. Report disconnect to un-amended soils as Urban Filter Strip.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Acres

Infiltration Practices

A depression to form an infiltration basin where sediment is trapped and water infiltrates the soil. A sand layer and vegetation are required. No underdrains are associated with infiltration basins and trenches, because by definition these systems provide complete infiltration. Design specifications require infiltration basins and trenches to be built in A or B soil types. Use the other BMP without sand or vegetation where the specific design is unknown.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Other

If other is selected as the BMP type, the enter a brief description of the BMP.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Varies

Permeable Pavement w/ Sand or Veg (A/B soils w/o underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has no underdrain, has sand and/or vegetation and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Permeable Pavement w/ Sand or Veg (A/B Soils w/ underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has an underdrain, has sand and/or vegetation and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Permeable Pavement w/ Sand or Veg (C/D soils w/ underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has an underdrain, has sand and/or vegetation and is in C or D soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Permeable Pavement w/o Sand or Veg (A/B Soils w/o underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has no underdrain, no sand or vegetation and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Permeable Pavement w/o Sand or Veg (C/D soils w/ underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has an underdrain, no sand or vegetation and is in A or B soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Permeable Pavement w/o Sand or Veg (A/B Soils w/ underdrain)

Pavement or pavers that reduce runoff volume and treat water quality through both infiltration and filtration mechanisms. Water filters through open voids in the pavement surface to a washed gravel subsurface storage reservoir, where it is then slowly infiltrated into the underlying soils or exits via an underdrain. This BMP has an underdrain, no sand or vegetation and is in C or D soil. Use this BMP where the specific design is unknown.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit – Dry Detention to Bioretention

Retrofit of a Dry Detention basin into a Bioretention Basin (see Bioretention description).

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit – Dry Detention to Extended Detention

Retrofit of a Dry Detention basin into an Extended Detention Basin (see Extended Detention description).

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit – Dry Extended Detention to Bioretention

Retrofit of a Dry Extended detention basin into a Bioretention basin (see Bioretention description).

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit Other

Other type of retrofit that does not fit into the retrofit categories. If this option is selected enter a brief description of the BMP.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit - Runoff Reduction

Total post-development runoff volume that is reduced through canopy interception, soil amendments, evaporation, rainfall harvesting, engineered infiltration, extended filtration or evapo-transpiration. Stormwater practices that achieve at least a 25% reduction of the annual runoff volume are classified as providing runoff reduction.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Retrofit -Stormwater Treatment

Total post-development runoff volume that is reduced through a permanent pool, constructed wetlands or sand filters have less runoff reduction capability. Stormwater retrofit practices that do not achieve at least a 25% reduction of the annual runoff volume are classified as stormwater treatment.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Storm Drain Cleaning

Removal of sediment and organic matter from catch basins in a targeted manner that focuses on water quality improvements.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Pounds of Sediment

Stream Restoration – Default Rate

Stream restoration is a change to the stream corridor that improves the stream ecosystem by restoring the natural hydrology and landscape of a stream and helps improve habitat and water quality conditions in degraded streams. All projects using this BMP must meet minimum qualifying conditions for crediting.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Feet

Stream Restoration – Protocol 1 (Prevented Sediment)

This protocol provides an annual mass nutrient and sediment reduction credit for qualifying stream restoration practices that prevent channel or bank erosion that would otherwise be delivered downstream from an actively enlarging or incising urban stream. All projects using this BMP must meet minimum qualifying conditions for crediting and the requirements listed in the expert panel report for protocol 1.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Pounds of Sediment

Stream Restoration – Protocol 2 (Nutrient Processing)

This protocol provides an annual mass nitrogen reduction credit for qualifying projects that include design features to promote denitrification during base flow. All projects using this BMP must meet minimum qualifying conditions for crediting and the requirements listed in the expert panel report for protocol 2.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Pounds of Nitrogen

Stream Restoration – Protocol 3 (Floodplain Reconnection)

This protocol provides an annual mass sediment and nutrient reduction credit for qualifying projects that reconnect stream channels to their floodplain over a wide range of storm events. All projects using this BMP must meet minimum qualifying conditions for crediting and the requirements listed in the expert panel report for protocol 3.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Pounds of Sediment

Street sweeping – AST 1 pass/12 weeks

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street every twelve weeks.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST 1 pass/2 weeks

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street once every two weeks.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST 1 pass/4 weeks

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street every four weeks.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST 1 pass/8 weeks

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street every eight weeks.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST 1 pass/ week

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street once a week.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST 2 pass/ week

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass the same street twice a week.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST fall 1 pass/1-2 weeks else monthly

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass once every week from March to April, October to November and monthly otherwise.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – AST spring 1 pass/1-2 weeks else monthly

Sweeper is equipped with a sweeping head which creates suction and uses forced air to transfer street debris into the hopper or sweeper is equipped with a high power vacuum to suction debris from street surface. Must pass once every week from March to April and monthly otherwise.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – MBT - 1 pass/4 weeks

Sweeper is equipped with water tanks, sprayers, brooms, and a vacuum system pump that gathers street debris. Must pass the same street every four weeks. Use this BMP where the specific technology type or frequency is unknown.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – MBT 1 pass/ week

Sweeper is equipped with water tanks, sprayers, brooms, and a vacuum system pump that gathers street debris. Must pass the same street every week.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Street sweeping – MBT 2 pass/week

Sweeper is equipped with water tanks, sprayers, brooms, and a vacuum system pump that gathers street debris. Must pass the same street twice every week.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Miles

Vegetated Open Channels (A/B soils)

Open channels are practices that convey stormwater runoff and provide treatment as the water is conveyed. Runoff passes through either vegetation in the channel, subsoil matrix, and/or is infiltrated into the underlying soils. This BMP has no underdrain and is in A or B soil. Use this BMP where specific design is unknown.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Vegetated Open Channels (C/D soils)

Open channels are practices that convey stormwater runoff and provide treatment as the water is conveyed, includes bioswales. Runoff passes through either vegetation in the channel, subsoil matrix, and/or is infiltrated into the underlying soils. This BMP has no underdrain and is in C or D soil.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Wet Ponds and Wetlands

A water impoundment structure that intercepts stormwater runoff then releases it to an open water system at a specified flow rate. These structures retain a permanent pool and usually have retention times sufficient to allow settlement of some portion of the intercepted sediments and attached nutrients/toxics. There is little or no vegetation living within the pooled area. Outfalls are not directed through vegetated areas prior to open water release.

Reporting Metric: Drainage Area, Units: Acres

Tree Planting - Canopy

Urban tree planting is planting trees on urban pervious areas.

Reporting Metric: Extent, Units: Trees Planted


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