Control and management of stormwater volume and water quality is an important concern for the people of Oklahoma. In 2003, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality adopted “Phase II” stormwater regulations that required smaller cities with “Urbanized Area” to comply with Phase II stormwater permits. In Oklahoma, the two Phase I cities (Tulsa and Oklahoma City) each have individual permits, while approximately 45 Phase II areas come under the General Permit (OKR04) Phase II Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. To meet EPA requirements, these communities, along with the Phase I communities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, will need to implement stormwater control structures and practices that are both practical and sustainable.
A popular and effective approach for stormwater management and control uses the principals of low impact development (LID). LID is the practice of minimizing changes to the hydrologic cycle (runoff and infiltration after a storm) during and after development. LID strategies integrate green space, native landscaping, natural hydrologic functions, and various other techniques to generate less runoff from developed land. However, the implementation of LID into stormwater systems requires institutional knowledge of how to construct and maintain the practices once they are implemented. Additionally, the soils of Oklahoma introduce unique situations and challenges for the proper selection and implementation of appropriate LID practices for stormwater treatment and control within the landscape.
