Applicability of BMPs for cold climate use

BMP Family BMP Classification Notes
PollutionPrevention Housekeeping practices Yes Focus on rapid clean-up of paved surfaces after snowmelt
Atmospheric control Marginal Control of auto emissions and industrial output usually not under local control, but exposed winter soils are controllable
Chemical controls Yes Salt management and chemical spill control can be local programs
Animal waste management Yes Strict waste control can be covered in local ordinance
Streambank stabilization Yes Attention to local erosion sites can reduce ice damage and sediment load from high spring flows
Temporary Construction Sediment Control Preconstruction planning Yes Focus on sequencing to avoid open soils during winter and on limited grading prior to freeze-up
Resource protection Yes Buffers reduce runoff by providing infiltration potential
Runoff control Yes Stable drainageways and sediment basins assure erosion control and provide storage opportunities for spring meltwater
Perimeter control Yes These practices are especially effective during winter construction
Slope stabilization Yes These must be installed prior to freeze-up to be effective; they must be checked often and maintained all winter
Stabilized soil Marginal Seeding, blankets and sprayed stabilizers must all be in place and working before freeze-up; if necessary, blankets can be laid and held in place with sandbags or rock logs
Inspection and maintenance Yes Essential for proper operation all winter
Bioretention Rain garden Marginal By definition, these are growing season practices, but they do provide a sump area for storage and some infiltration during a melt
Depressed parking islands Yes These can provide needed storage during the cold season and for spring runoff events; vegetation will not be a factor during winter
Filtration Media filter Yes-to marginal Surface systems need to be fully dry before freezeup for these to work properly; sub-grade systems can be very effective for meltwater treatment
Surface vegetative filter Marginal Vegetative filtering is reduced once vegetation dies back in the fall; some physical filtering will occur if vegetation density and depth are sufficient
Combination filter Yes-to marginal See comments above
Infiltration Trench Yes with caution Effective when designed, installed and maintained properly; caution applies to limitations on source area to avoid high concentrations of Cl and toxics
Basin Yes with caution See above comment
Stormwater Ponds Forebay Yes Effective if designed with enough available volume to accommodate meltwater in the spring