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 2026 theme is On the Road to Clean Water!

  • In 1940, only 60% of Americans owned cars. Today, about 92% of Americans do, and along with this increase came our movement from cities to suburbs… and more and more roads. Though convenient for travels, our enormous national network of roads, highways, and bridges also contributes to major water pollution issues. Transportation infrastructure now accounts for up to 75% of all impervious surfaces in towns and cities.

  • The rainwater and melting snow that once soaked into soil now hits the pavement, runs over roads, bridges, driveways, and parking lots, then into storm drains and ditches that drain directly into our nearby streams and rivers.

  • Along the way, this water picks up and carries pollutants from vehicles and road construction & maintenance activities. These contaminants include dirt and dust, rubber and metal deposits from tire wear, salt, dripping engine oil and antifreeze, sediment, cigarette butts, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and loads and loads of litter.

  • What are some ways you can help reduce road pollution? How can you protect the quality of freshwater draining from the land and being discharged into our nearby rivers and streams? From winter salting to car care, boating behaviors to vehicle maintenance, and trash clean ups to roadside litter reduction, now is the time to "brake" the bad habits and navigate through simple measures and new methods that help us "steer clear" of water pollution!

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.
Address
Geauga County Office Building 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite #240 Chardon, Ohio 44024
© Copyright Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District. All rights reserved.
Contact
(440) 834-1122
geaugaswcd@geauga.oh.gov