Patriot Land & Wildlife’s stormwater and aquatics division has been hard at work these past few months on stormwater & pond related issues for our clients. Stormwater facility maintenance has been a major focus for the Patriot LWM team to ensure our clients are in compliance with EPA and local government regulation issues long before the inspector arrives on site.
Here is an example of Patriot LWM low impact tree removal on a stormwater outfall pipe for a client this summer
Patriot Land & Wildlife is based in Montgomery County, Maryland, a county which coincidentally has been on the forefront of the stormwater management issue for many years. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection publishes some great informative newsletters for homeowners associations, property managers and stormwater contractors on a quarterly basis. Below is an excerpt from the Summer 2012 edition which you can read fully by clicking here. The newsletter describes very well many of the tasks Patriot Land & Wildlife preforms on a daily basis as a Montgomery County certified Stormwater Facility Maintenance Contractor.
“Summer Maintenance Tips
*Avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in and around your stormwater facilities — these products pollute our streams. If manual removal of invasive weeds has been ineffective, limited applications of aquatic-friendly herbicide may be applied by a qualified professional certified by the State of Maryland.
*Removing non-native invasive weeds as soon as you see them in your bioretention facility or sand filter will help to prevent more significant repairs later on. Ask DEP for a copy of your bioretention design if you are unsure what plants should be there. Replenishing mulch to a 3 inch depth (but no deeper) can also help to reduce weeds.
*Contact Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) if a facility holds water for more than 72 hours or if a wet pond has a higher than normal pond level, as this could indicate a problem (Call 311 or email MC.Stormwater@montgomerycountymd.gov).
*With large thunderstorms, comes the movement of trash and debris that can deposit in stormwater facilities or drain inlets. Please continue to remove all trash and debris monthly from your property, especially in and around ponds, filters, and bioretention structures.
Picture from Montgomery County DEP
*Controlling Algae & Other Pond Vegetation – Nutrient Management –Pond algae is often associated with excess nutrients washing into the pond from nearby lawns. Property-owners in the pond’s watershed can help prevent excess algae by only fertilizing at the recommended time and frequency. To learn more about healthy lawns, your community association, along with other residences that may drain into the pond, can contact the Montgomery County Master Gardeners (301-590-9650 or mgmont@umd.edu).
Using fountains, bubblers or other devices may also help control algae in ponds. Be sure to also pick up pet waste, which is a source of bacteria and nutrients in ponds and our local streams.” – End of Citation
Failing stormwater riser structure. *photo by Montgomery County DEP
Preventive maintenance goes a long way, like Patriot crew members painting stormwater riser structures to prevent future failures for our clients.
Patriot’s Stormwater & Aquatics Division prides itself on it’s low impact, environmentally sensitive stormwater maintenance techniques and client services. Contact Patriot today to learn how our preventative stormwater maintenance services can save your HOA or property money and headaches. Visit us at http://www.PatriotLWM.com or call 240-687-7228 for more information.
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