Do you ever think about what happens to a drop of rain that falls onto the ground? It may land on a tree and evaporate; it may land on a farm field and be absorbed into the soil; or it may land on a rooftop, driveway, or road that travels down the street into a stream or storm drain. Any precipitation in an urban or suburban area that does not evaporate or soak into the ground, but instead pools and travels downhill is considered stormwater. Stormwater is also referred to as urban stormwater runoff and polluted runoff. Increased development across York County’s watersheds has made stormwater runoff the fastest-growing source of pollution to the creeks, river, and the Chesapeake Bay.
Urban stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) are designed to prevent sediments and other pollutants from running off the land during and after construction. They include:
The York County Conservation District Board has not taken a position on the Stormwater Authority proposal, which is still a work in progress. However, we are actively participating in the discussion, and are involved to help represent the interests of the Ag community and all citizens of York County through the District Manager participating on the Steering Committee with District Board support and at the request of the County Commissioners.
Information on the Stormwater Authority proposal can be obtained by calling the York County Planning Commission at 771-9870 or sending an email to stormwaterauthority@ycpc.org. The Planning Commission’s website address is www.ycpc.org.