Hydrologic Modeling for Decision-Makers

McKinley, Steve; ,

Hydrologic Modeling for Decision-Makers

by Steve McKinley, Woolpert Consultants, Louisville, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Resources Planning and Management and Urban Water Resources

Abstract:

All Properties within a community benefit from having an adequate system of storm drainage facilities and controls. Such benefits include: reduction of hazards to property and life resulting from excessive runoff due to urbanization, improvements in the general health and welfare through reductions of standing water; and mitigation of other undesirable conditions affecting water quality of local receiving waters. Consequently, storm water management programs are being recognized by various levels of government as a means to enhance existing drainage systems, reduce the peaks and impacts of stormwater runoff related flooding, plan against potentially harmful land alterations, and control new development activities which may negatively impact the drainage system or its receiving waters. As a result of recent stormwater regulations promulgated by EPA, communities will also need to address water quality issues. The preeminent tool of a stormwater management program and the NPDES stormwater permit regulations is comprehensive, proactive computer modeling. The focus of this paper is to show the benefits of developing community and agency support in the development and implementation of hydrologic models. As a backdrop to these critical issues, experience with program development for the Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District, as well as other water resource and stormwater projects, will be used in the discussion.

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