Stormwater

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is defined as the flow of water that results from precipitation which occurs immediately following a rainfall event or results from a snowmelt. When a rainfall event occurs, the precipitation is "absorbed" by the environment. The water may soak into the soil recharging groundwater supplies, while some is taken up by plants, and some is evaporated into the atmosphere. All the other water that flows or runs off the land is considered stormwater. Unfortunately, as development increases, the ability of our environment to perform its natural process of "absorption" decreases. This is because the natural landscape that was once able to absorb and clean stormwater is covered by impervious surfaces. An impervious surface is simply a surface that water is unable to penetrate. Rooftops, driveways, and roads are all examples of impervious surfaces.
Increased impervious surface results in both an increased amount of stormwater runoff and an increased chance for pollution to enter our waterways through our storm sewer systems (throughout most of Geauga County these are ditches.). This type of pollution that results from stormwater runoff is called nonpoint source pollution.

The 2024 theme is Backyard Conservation!

Whether you have a large country lot, a suburban yard, or a tiny plot in the city, now's the time to re-imagine your yard and GROW FOR IT with backyard conservation!
The rapid change of our farms, fields and forests to urban and suburban areas is profoundly altering how water flows during and after storm events. When we develop land, vegetation and topsoil are removed to make way for buildings, homes, roads, and infrastructure. This loss of water-slurping soil, plants and trees causes stormwater from rain and melting snow to travel faster over impervious surfaces, pick up more pollutants along the way and flood streams in shorter, concentrated bursts. Seemingly inconspicuous, stormwater runoff is now one of the biggest threats facing our fresh water and accounts for an estimated 70% of all water pollution.ENTER OUR YARDS! Lawns in the United States now cover more land than any one crop – approximately 40 million acres. Thinking of our yard as a stormwater sponge is a powerful reminder that we can make simple choices and small changes on our property to drastically improve our water and soil quality. Through BACKYARD CONSERVATION we can keep rain where it falls, minimize stormwater runoff and pollution, provide wildlife habitat, and improve soil health and landscape beauty! There are so many things we can do to incorporate backyard conservation practices.Check out a few of these backyard conservation practices to consider incorporating in your own yard:• Learn your soil type and take a soil test• Compost or mulch your yard waste and leave grass clippings on the lawn. Be sure to keep these out of the street, storm drains, and streams• Use lawn care products (ie: fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides) sparingly and always follow the application instructions• Plant native trees, shrubs, and plants to add beauty, improve habitat and soil structure, and reduce runoff• Use sensible salting strategies on your driveway and sidewalks• Design and install a rain garden or pollinator patch to slow the flow of runoff while adding biodiversity• Properly dispose of household hazardous waste and pet waste • Maintain or widen streamside buffers to protect the channel from erosion • Keep drainage ditches and storm drains free of debris, litter and obstructions• Install a rain barrel• Wash cars at a commercial wash or over areas of gravel or grass
Feature Articles
Latest Brochures and Publications
Other Regional Workshops, Partners, and Resources:

  • What is Nonpoint Source Pollution?

    Did you know that two-thirds of the nation’s polluted runoff comes from highways and roads (the same roads that run through our neighborhoods)? It is a shocking statistic, considering that a majority of the population believes that they do not have any affect on the pollution problem.
    Let’s review for a minute: nonpoint source (NPS) pollution comes from many different sources over a large drainage area, or watershed. It is difficult to control because there are so many sources of the pollution in a given area. It is created when rainwater or melted snow moves over the land and through the ground, collecting impurities as it travels. This water (or stormwater runoff) deposits these pollutants into our water sources. View a brochure on NPS Pollution Around the Home that illustrates sources of pollutants and ways to reduce or eliminate.

  • What is a Watershed?

    No matter where you live, you’re in a watershed. A watershed is a geographic area that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, or lake. The boundaries of each watershed is determined by the landscape and the topography.
    The landscape is made up of many interconnected basins, or watersheds. Within each watershed, all the water runs to the lowest point— a stream, lake, or river. On its way, water travels over the surface and across farm fields, forest land, suburban lawns, and city streets, or it seeps into the soil and travels as ground water. Learn more about Geauga County Watersheds by viewing this brochure.
    Geauga County is rich in its natural resources, including rivers and streams. We are home to four major watersheds: the Chagrin River Basin, the Cuyahoga River Basin, the Grand River Basin, and the Mahoning River Basin. Geauga County itself is in the Lake Erie Watershed. This means that all of the water that flows in our streams will eventually drain into Lake Erie. The only exception to this is the Mahoning River Basin. The Mahoning River flows south to the Ohio River Watershed.

Storm Water Banners

The Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) awarded $21,900 to the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District on behalf of the Northeast Ohio Public Involvement and Public Education (NEO PIPE) work group to implement “From the Upper Reaches to Lake Erie’s Beaches: A Banner Year for Nonpoint Source Pollution Solutions.”
This project is a watershed awareness and nonpoint source pollution education campaign targeting residents and homeowners in the Lake Erie Basin. Collaborators include the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties, the City of Avon Lake, and the Black River Watershed Project -Lorain County Community Development Department.
Eight sets of six collapsible banner displays have been created to deliver a unified, regional message empowering residents to practice healthy household and backyard habits that improve water quality and reduce storm water pollution.
The banners cover five main storm water topics and are being showcased at events, workshops, and public locations in over 100 communities in Northeast Ohio. Please contact our office if you are interested in borrowing a banner. Banners are also displayed in this handy brochure Household Habits for Healthy Waters. Banner topics include: 1. Watersheds and The Rundown on Runoff, 2. Clean Storm Water Starts at Home, 3. Steer Clear of Pollutants, 4. Slow Down, Spread Out, and Soak In Storm Water, 5. It’s Not Hard to Have Healthy Yard

Alternative Storm Water Management Practices

Many people are familiar with the typical methods to manage storm water such as detention and retention ponds. But are you familiar with alernative methods of storm water management commonly referred to as Low Impact Development?

What is Low Impact Development (LID)

Low Impact Development (LID) is a method of land development and use that aims to minimize the impact of development on the local watershed by maintaining the natural hydrologic character of the site. The natural hydrology, or movement of water through a watershed, is shaped over centuries under location specific conditions to form a balanced and efficient ecosystem. When our natural areas are replaced by hard surfaces such as driveways, rooftops, and parking lots the movement of water is altered; particularly, runoff increases and infiltration decreases. This may result in increased downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, and nonpoint source pollution.
LID designs with nature in mind by working with the natural landscape and existing hydrology to retain water where it falls rather than using traditional methods of funneling water via pipes and ditches directly into local waterways.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Rain Barrels - Rain from rooftop areas or paved areas can be diverted into a rain barrel rather than into a storm water system or into your yard. The collected rainwater can later be used to water lawns and gardens. These rain barrels can be painted and act also as yard art. Check out Geauga SWCD's annual yard art campaign and find out how you too can bid on one of these beautifully decorated barrels that are functional. Geauga SWCD also sells plain rain barrels year-round. Contact the office or check out the Other Services and Products tab above for more information.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Rain Gardens - Specially designed areas planted with native plants can provide natural places for rainwater to collect and soak into the ground. Rain from rooftop areas or paved areas can be diverted into these gardens rather than into storm drains, which drain directly to a ditch or a stream.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Riparian Setbacks - Riparian setbacks are a zoning and planning tool that communities may use to maintain flood and erosion control, in addition to protecting water quality and property. They are similar to front and side yard setbacks as they control the location of construction and related soil disturbing activities.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Permeable Pavement - Traditional concrete and asphalt don’t allow water to soak into the ground, rather they repel it. Permeable pavement systems allow rain and snowmelt to infiltrate into the underlying soils, which promotes recharge and treatment of pollution while decreasing storm water runoff.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Green Roofs - Are rooftop gardens. They reduce energy costs, lower the heat island effect, enhance air quality, and conserve valuable land that would otherwise be required for storm water runoff controls.

  • Types of LID Practices

    Conservation Development - Houses are carefully arranged and grouped within a development to maintain overall density requirements and to conserve a large area of open space which preserves the existing natural resources. Current zoning density for the whole is preserved, so if 25 lots were originally permitted the new plan still could only support 25 lots. The open space is often placed in an easement which is held by a third party in order to protect it in perpetuity.
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Address
Geauga County Office Building 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite #240 Chardon, Ohio 44024
Contact
(440) 834-1122; (440) 279-1761
geaugaswcd@geauga.oh.gov