Stormwater Management
Questions have been raised about the impact of a redevelopment of Reeds on stormwater runoff and area flooding. In fact, if development plans meet regulations, stormwater problems should improve with each new development, albeit on an incremental basis. Prior to the 1970's, there were no land development regulations in place regarding stormwater management. Developers would build impervious surface without controlling runoff except to the extent demanded by the potential for lawsuits from their immediate neighbors. The Stony Creek Watershed, of which Reeds is a part, is a good example of the problems that this approach created. Act 167, the Stormwater Management Act of 1978, required each county to develop a comprehensive stormwater management plan. Subsequent to that, the Stony Creek Watershed Report was created and the Township enacted regulations detailed in it. There is more information about Act 167 and stormwater management available from the PaDEP, here; the Stony Creek Watershed Report is available, in hard copy only, at the Township Building. The report establishes rainwater release rates that vary depending on where the property falls in the drainage area. In most cases, the post construction rates need to be reduced to something lower than pre-construction rates. In the case of Reed's, there are several sub-drainage areas involved and the amount of rainwater that can be released from the property range from 70% to 100% of pre construction (present) rates. (Looked at the other way, no additional rainwater may be released and in some areas up to 30% of the rainwater that is presently being released must be captured.) In all events, a developer may not raise the floodplain elevation of the stream either upstream or downstream of the property. A stormwater management plan would be required as part of any land development application for Reeds. The plan would be reviewed by the PaDEP, the Montgomery County Conservation District and the Township and permits from the PaDEP would be required. In the event that a land development application is filed, we would expect the PaDEP to require best stormwater management practices and for the Township to demand that rainwater runoff be captured to the maximum extent practicable. If that happens, area flooding will be reduced, albeit incrementally.