Call Us Now : 804-271-1460
STORMWATER
- Surface water in abnormal quantity resulting from heavy falls of rain or snow.
DEQ CERTIFIED FOR INSPECTIONS AND SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
With Harbor Dredge & Docks rich and lengthy experience dredging in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed our crews have become the go to experts for the installing and maintaining of stormwater BMP systems and structures. The Chesapeake Bays health depends on the BMP's being properly cleaned and maintained. All of our equipment (barges, long-reach excavators, boats, LGP bulldozers, pumps, etc.) can be hauled by tractor trailer ensuring we can service your project. Below is a list of our qualified services for stormwater management systems and structures as well as dredging.
HDD list of Stormwater Construction Services
-
Pond Retrofits/Creation
-
Articulated Concrete Matting
-
Retention Ponds
-
Water/Sanitary Sewer Lines
-
Culvert Replacement/Rehab
-
Pavement Drainage
-
Inlet/Outfall Rehab/Replacement
-
Inlet/Catch Basin Repairs
-
Natural Stream Restoration
-
Tree Box Filters
-
Restore Living Shoreline/Creation
-
Proprietary Devices
-
Storm Drains
-
Channel Improvements
-
Temporary Erosion Control
-
Permanent Erosion Repairs
-
Fore Bay Installation
-
Earthen Embankments
-
Dredging
-
Seeding/Aquatic Plantings
Maintenance Packages for all the above items and structures available.
WHAT IS STORMWATER?
Stormwater, is water that originates during precipitation events and snow/ice melts that run off buildings, streets, parking lots and other impervious grounds creating three issues; flooding, erosion and pollution.
What are the types of Stormwater Management BMP’s (Best Management Practices)?
EXTENDED DETENTION BASINS – “DRY PONDS” - Dry ponds retain water for a specified period of time (usually 48 hours) after a storm to reduce erosion and pollutant runoff.
INFILTRATION TRENCHES - Infiltration trenches are gravel-filled excavations that temporarily store stormwater and allow it to sink into the underlying soil trapping any pollutants.
RETENTION BASINS – “WET PONDS” - Wet ponds contain a permanent pool of water much like a pond or lake. The wet pond is designed to hold a permanent pool, above which stormwater runoff is temporarily stored and released at a controlled rate to ensure minimal erosion to downward waterways.
SAND FILTRATION SYSTEMS - Sand filtration systems (sand filters) are used to treat runoff from highly impervious settings (commercial/office complexes and high density residential areas). To save space, sand filters are usually constructed inside a concrete shell and placed underground.
BIORETENTION FACILITIES – “RAIN GARDENS” - Bioretention facilities, or “rain gardens” as they are often called, are basins designed to mimic the conditions found on a mature forest floor. Configured to act as a sink and underlain with specific layers of soil, sand, and organic mulch, runoff is trapped and treated by vegetation and microbes.
GRASSED SWALES - Grassed swales can be seen along many of Virginia’s roadways, although they are not always designed to treat stormwater. Typically, grassed swales are concave, earthen conveyance systems designed to simply transfer runoff. As a water quality device, a grassed swale is constructed to allow stormwater to soak into the soil, and particles are trapped by the ground-cover – usually turf grass.
Governance was Established
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 was the first major U.S. law to address water pollution. Growing public awareness and concern for controlling water pollution led to sweeping amendments in 1972. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA). On June 16, 2014, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was signed in which established goals and outcomes for the restoration of the Bay, its tributaries and the lands that surround them.
Should WE care?
Yes! The great pond’s, lakes, streams, tributary’s and rivers of Virginia drain directly into one of Virginia’s great resources, the Chesapeake Bay. Every water resource in our watershed plays an important part to the overall health of each resource.
OUR Part
Harbor Dredge & Dock has been maintaining water systems since we opened our doors in 1987. Our dredging operation was started by supporting industrial clients with clearing and maintaining retention ponds but in 1995 we shifted into maintaining the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Repairing and maintaining stormwater BMP’s was a natural fit for our team due to all of our shoreline repair projects that we have completed on ponds, lakes, rivers and The Chesapeake Bay.
STORMWATER BMP SELF-EVALUATION GUIDE
Many Property Managers in the state of Virginia have one or many BMP's on the land that they manage. Stormwater BMP's were implemented in the 1990's with limited educational programs available of the maintenance needs for the health of the BMPs. Property owners today are dealing with stricter stormwater regulations since the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was established in 2014. Feel free to download the Self-Evaluation Guide to understand the health and functionality of your stormwater BMP's.
STORMWATER BMP SELF ASSESSMENT GUIDE
JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Stormwater BMP Structures
James River High School in Chesterfield County Virginia opened its doors to students in the Fall of 1994. When originally built, three stormwater BMP’s were constructed to retain, clean and manage all the stormwater runoff from the schools’ roofs, roadways and parking lots. In 2015, the implemented stormwater systems were sited for not properly retaining, cleaning and managing the stormwater as it was designed to do because of the lack of proper maintenance to the system. HDD Stormwater Management Construction Team rebuilt all three BMP’s to meet the new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Act regulations in a 9-month time frame. The first BMP is a Wet Pond BMP with aquatic benches and a forebay system, the second BMP Wet Pond BMP with forebay and Third BMP is a Wet BMP with an oil separator. All three BMP’s flow directly into the James River.
Slope Erosion Stabilization
Large rills were created by the heavy down pours of 2018 at a local county park. HDD regraded the land and installed EC2 matting to stop the erosion problems.
BELL NURSERY
This project consisted of installing a retention pond BMP for Bell Nursery. The scope of work necessary to complete this project included erosion control measures, excavation, grading, compaction, dam embankment creation, riser/outfall creation, concrete flume installations and soil stabilization. This newly installed BMP was created to catch the runoff coming from the nursery and filters the drainage water leaving the premises prior to entering our water system.
VIRGINIA CENTER COMMONS
Retaining Wall
In 2019 the businesses located next to the stormwater pond at Virginia Center Commons (VCC) were experiencing significant erosion and structural issues resulting from this erosion. Harbor Dredge and Dock was contacted to help stop this erosion and any further structural deterioration. In order to complete this HDD launched our barge system mounted with our long reach excavator into the pond. We then lowered the pond and drove vinyl sheet piles in front of the existing retaining wall, approximately 250 linear feet long. The void between the newly installed sheet piles and the existing retaining wall was then pumped full of concrete to create the footer for the new proposed retaining wall. The installation of this new sheet pile/concrete footer provided a solid foundation for the new wall and prevents any further erosion from occurring.