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Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is caused by rain or snow melt. Excess stormwater that cannot infiltrate into the soil or be absorbed by vegetation washes pollutants like soil, litter, fertilizers, automotive fluids, detergents, and bacteria into our creeks, rivers, lakes and oceans. In heavy storms, stormwater can cause flooding and drainage problems. Stormwater runoff is a leading source of water pollution.

The Department of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the stormwater drainage system within the Town. The Town's storm drainage systems goes directly into our streams and drains into the Potomac River. The Potomac River is an important drinking water supply, and drains into the Chesapease Bay.


Spring - Fertilizer/Lawn Care

Hold on to your fertilizer!  Contrary to popular practice, spring is not the time to fertilize your lawn.  If you fertilize in early spring, the blades will grow at the expense of the roots developing.  This can lead to disease and insect problems later in the season.  In addition, you will have to mow the lawn more frequently. 

Fall is the best time to fertilize, when the roots that will sustain the plants through the following summer are actively growing.  Even if you missed fall fertilization, you should limit spring fertilization to a light feeding (0.5 lbs. of 10-10-10 per 1000 sq. ft.) after the initial flush of growth has subsided in May or early June.  

Lime, on the other hand, should be applied in early spring if soil tests show it is necessary.  Soil testing kits can be obtained from all Fairfax County public libraries or from the Virginia Cooperative Extension office in the Government Center (Pennino building, 10^th Floor) - there is a small fee for the soil analysis.  Most lawn grasses grow best at a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0.  Your soil test report will provide recommendations on how much lime to apply.  Also use the results of your soils test to determine how much fertilizer to apply in the fall.  Applying too much fertilizer or spillage on sidewalks or driveways can cause stream pollution.
 
Herndon's MS4 Plan to Reduce Stormwater Pollution

When rain falls on impervious areas such as rooftops, parking lots, roads, and driveways it picks up sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, motor oil, and other pollutants generated by various land uses and human activities.  When left uncontrolled, this pollution can harm aquatic habitats and make the water unsafe for human contact.  Eventually, this pollution reaches the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Under the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) permit regulations, the Town is required to control pollution to the maximum extent practical and to develop a pollution prevention plan.  This plan is known as a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program Plan - or MS4 Plan for short.  The Town's initial plan was developed in 2003.

New state regulations require the Town to update the MS4 Program Plan.  Major changes include: (1) enhanced public education and outreach; (2) increased monitoring of stormwater outfalls to detect and eliminate illegal dumping; and, (3) greater focus on pollution prevention from municipal operations.  The plan also contains strategies for reducing pollution from construction activities and for controlling pollution on land after it has been developed.

Protocol for Sponsorship of Non-governmental Volunteer Opportunities

The Town of Herndon welcomes volunteer participation via "Volunteer Fairfax", a non-profit agency that consolidates volunteer opportunities for the Fairfax County region.  The Town of Herndon's Parks and Recreation Department is the lead agency and coordinates with Volunteer Fairfax.  The Parks Department also coordinates directly with corporate and other groups to find opportunities for volunteer participation in the town, including stream clean-ups.  The Town's Urban Forester also coordinates directly with groups, including the Boy Scouts, to accomplish volunteer projects such as storm drain marking.

Non-governmental agencies contact either "Volunteer Fairfax" or the town directly, and are then referred to the Parks Department for coordination with the appropriate volunteer opportunity.  Parks and Recreation, for specific projects, may post on their web page, and a volunteer application is also located there.  That link is:  /Content/Parks_rec/About_Parks_and_Recreation/Working_Volunteer_for_P_and_R/default.aspx?cnlid=524

Please see the related links, located on the right side bar of this page, for more information on stormwater management and how you can do your part in protecting our water ways from pollution. 
 
Link to:  Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners

To learn more about watersheds please click on the following link:      Understanding Watersheds