Stormwater Solutions

When rain falls onto the hard surfaces of streets, sidewalks, parking lots and rooftops, it picks up pollutants in its path, gathering volume and speed until a storm drain pipes it underground or into a stream. Stormwater runoff causes water pollution, localized flooding, stream bank erosion, reduced groundwater levels, and habitat loss for fish and wildlife.

In 2007, OEC convened a statewide task force on reducing urban runoff and produced a report called “Stormwater Solutions: Turning Oregon’s Rain Back into a Resource.”  The report describes how stormwater impacts Oregon’s streams and rivers and includes a set of recommendations for reducing those impacts. There are two main types of recommendations: preventing pollution and using Low Impact Development (LID) to capture and treat stormwater on-site.

Since issuing the report, we’ve organized dozens of LID workshops and rain garden trainings around the state. Check out these additional stormwater resources:

Oregon Stormwater Listserv
To receive updates about OEC’s stormwater work, plus announcements about other educational opportunities and regulatory issues relating to stormwater in Oregon, join the Oregon Stormwater group.

Fact sheet about LID for Oregon
Download the fact sheet (PDF) we created to highlight examples of LID in Oregon and explain the impacts of stormwater runoff and the economic and environmental benefits of water quality-friendly development practices. This is a tool you can use when talking with community leaders and developers about sustainable stormwater management.

Learn about the Western Oregon LID Guide.


1 Reply to "Stormwater Solutions"

  • April showers bring…floods? | Oregon Environmental Council
    April 11, 2019 (7:42 pm)

    […] the fast-moving water and the pollutants it can carry. That’s why OEC worked with partners on a “Storm Water Solutions” guide, giving planners some practical design tips. Today, we’re finding ways to encourage […]