“STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: A LINCOLN, NEBRASKA INITIATIVE”

Water quality management at the local level is closely tied to flood prevention and land subdivision ordinances. A joint stormwater initiative led by the City of Lincoln and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District has been successful in achieving three goals:Adoption of comprehensive stormwater ordinances for new development;Implementation of revised, comprehensive, stormwater design criteria; andCompletion of the City's first stormwater basin plan.The community identified the need for an enhanced community-wide stormwater program, and public and stake holder involvement was critical to this initiative. The basin plan will be the first in the development of a comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan for the City of Lincoln and its projected growth areas.Ordinance and design standard revisions addressed maintenance issues for stormwater storage facilities, erosion and sediment control, localized flooding, water quality, and specific criteria for meeting objectives in these areas. Remaining issues include strategies for implementation of the new standards and establishing a dedicated financial base for stormwater management.