Determining the State of the Practice in Data Collection and Performance Measurement of Stormwater Best Management Practices

Federal Highway Administration2014PDFTech ReportMayfield, MichelleNarayanaswamy, KarthikJackson, David W.Cambridge Systematics, Inc.URS CorporationUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyJones, SusanUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyUnited StatesRunoffPerformance measurementPerformance based specificationsBest practicesFHWA-HEP-16-021DTFH61-11-D-0032-P12-001Susan JonesFinal ReportThis report assesses the state of the practice of data collection and performance measurement in stormwater programs at state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). Specifically, this study evaluated if performance measures for stormwater could be developed for use in performance-based planning and programming, for both construction-phase as well as post-construction application of BMPs. Stormwater runoff has been identified as one of the major causes of surface water impairment. Resource agencies may assume that transportation-related runoff plays a major role, despite the fact that highways may comprise a small portion of the overall watershed. Additionally, managing stormwater assets is a component of the broader asset management activities performed by state DOTs. Quantitative measures to evaluate stormwater performance would support compliance and program efficiency. The project team developed a feasibility assessment process to analyze potential stormwater-related performance measures to quantify beneficial stormwater program practices. The protocol included an analysis of state of the practice from a literature review and interviews with staff at eight state DOTs. The protocol was applied to a variety of stormwater topics, resulting in seven performance measures that were recommended for further evaluation by a panel of state DOTs.99