Watershed and Stormwater Management

We have built our national stormwater management practice to focus on urban runoff management and other water quality and quantity issues that can influence the environment, project economics and long-term regulatory compliance management. We apply engineering, earth science, and ecological disciplines to the planning, permitting, design, and implementation of practical solutions for state governments, local agencies, and private sector interests.

For development projects, Geosyntec works with clients to design and implement Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs); Erosion and Sediment Control Plans; hydrologic models; and stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) designs, particularly treatment systems and erosion and sediment control methods. We develop technical documents on project plans for stormwater management and modeling and analyses to support state environmental policy act requirements (e.g., California Environmental Quality Act). We have also assisted with litigation and regulatory support. We provide our clients with innovative applications of proven urban runoff management techniques that improve stormwater quality beyond that achievable with conventional, prescriptive approaches. We have incorporated Low Impact Development (LID) approaches into new development and rehabilitation projects to improve control over both quantity and quality of stormwater. Our work in erosion and sediment control has earned national acclaim, particularly for the rapid management of highly sensitive areas of California prone to flash floods and mudslides after seasonal wildfires. We have developed and are implementing hydromodification analysis tools and control plans for municipal stormwater agencies and multiple large-scale projects.

We use the latest technologies to rapidly characterize watersheds so that we can focus on the development of cost-effective, high-value solutions for stormwater management. For example, Geosyntec is among the first to employ satellite image processing technologies to rapidly calculate watershed impervious cover. The accuracy of this technology allows communities to more effectively target problem areas without extensive on-the-ground surveys. As a result, communities on both coasts are spending fewer dollars on projects to achieve the same or better levels of water quality improvement. We have also led a team to develop national-level guidance on how to apply a unit processes-based approach to BMP selection, design, and operation/maintenance so that BMPs are being targeted on the pollutants and other parameters of concern.

We work with some of the largest property development companies in the United States to incorporate stormwater BMP designs into their projects. We also assist developers and owners in the creation and implementation of internal and third-party auditing programs to ensure that pollution prevention plans and BMP designs are implemented in compliance with applicable regulations and NPDES permit requirements.