Lessons-learned from the army's stormwater and erosion control programs

The U.S. Army runs an extensive program in stormwater management and erosion control. Along with the traditional driver of flow management, two other influences play primary roles. Within the cantonment or city portion of an installation, that may have a population in excess of 50,000, a major influence is the Industrial Stormwater Rule (Phase 1) of the Clean Water Act which requires a NPDES permit for stormwater. That rule, with its focus on water quality improvement and environmental compliance, led to tens of millions of dollars being spent to improve the quality of water emerging from industrial activities such as the motor pools that maintain thousands of tracked and wheeled vehicles, airfields, hazardous waste sites, open burn/open detonation sites and other activities. The second influence is erosion and sediment control at military training areas such as maneuver areas forwheeled and tracked vehicles; drop zones for paratroop training; firing ranges and impact areas; bivouac areas; and similar activities. Erosion and sediment control for these land use categories presents an interesting challenge. A variety of new techniques involving the use of new methods and materials have been developed and implemented. This paper will describe lessons-learned from the development and implementation of new techniques to manage stormwater, control erosion, and protect water quality at military installations. Stormwater management techniques include pollution prevention, detention basins, physical diversion techniques, etc. Erosion control techniques include hardening of firing points, stabilization of assembly and bivouac areas, use of selected vegetation as sediment barriers, improvement of stream crossings, and stabilization of steep slopes at drop zones. Altogether, the development and implementation of these techniques have made a substantial contribution to the protection of water quality.