BMP options sheet for highway and road runoff management BMP options sheet for highway and road runoff management

BMP options for highway and road runoff management
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BMP Type	Objective	BMP Examples	Safety Considerations
	Diffuse flow energy from concentrated roadway surface before discharging over a slope; reinforce discharge point and slopes; promote sheet flow	Compost sock (see image), bio-slope, outlet reinforcement, spray mulch, compost rip rap matrix (between rocks)	May increase slipperiness of shoulder slope
	Filter litter and debris from flow as it enters catch basins; preferably with pollutant sorbents 2	Catch basin insert (see image); hooded outlet pipe; oil and grease separator	Might become heavy for maintenance crews to lift; must be cleaned to prevent clogging
	Route runoff through a screen or filter material to remove litter and treat particulate, and the associated nutrients, toxics and hydrocarbons	Gross Solids Removal Device (GSRD) (see image), compost tube inside of rock weep,	Often contained in confined space; maintenance crew will need confined space training
	Diffuse heat from road and parking surfaces prior to discharge to sensitive waters	Geotextile wrapped rip rap thermal tube (see image), infiltration trench	None
	Provide vegetated swale drainage systems with low head grade breaks in rural sections	“Living ditch” (see image), check dams (rip rap, bio-weeper, bio-ditch filter)	Can hold water for a time after runoff occurs so need to keep design depths shallow; grade breaks can be obstruction hazard to recreational vehicles using swale
	Retrofit stored water BMPs with proper outlet and skimmer devices	Particulate skimmer (see image), baffle weir, Faircloth skimmer (proprietary device)	None
	Use pervious paving material in areas that will support it	Pervious asphalt and concrete (see image), paving blocks	None for pavement; blocks can pose walking problems if not designed properly; recommendation for minimal salt use could mean ice might be present for short periods
	Route water to bioretention, filtration or infiltration areas where conditions appropriate	Rain garden (see image)	Near-road locations could possibly impede vision at intersections if vegetation not kept low; water might collect adjacent to roadway
	Geomorphically stabilize channels	Cross vanes, fish steps, curvilinear channel restoration (see image), reinforced streambank, grade adjustments, revetments, root wads	None
	Use off-line storage in available floodplain, open space	Off-line pools (see image), enhanced floodplains, wetland restoration/preservation	None if kept away from areas where vehicles expected to travel or go off of the road
	Use sub-grade storage with or without perforations to allow for storage and infiltration where drainage determined not to impact road structure	Under street infiltration trenches (see image), vault storage to replace surface ponds, rest areas parking lots	Maintenance crew will need confined-space training

¹Use of proprietary devices or images merely for illustrative purposes and does not mean endorsement of a product
²Note that housekeeping practices like street sweeping and chemical use are discussed in the Pollution Prevention section