As snow melts and rain intensifies, spring brings both renewal and risk – especially for stormwater and drainage systems. County Water Resource Districts (WRDs), municipalities, public works, and communities must embrace springtime maintenance – inspecting and clearing culverts, reinforcing channels, and managing flows – to avert flooding, safeguard infrastructure, keep communities safe, and ensure farmland remains productive. From clearing debris to planning capital improvements, spring is the ideal time to assess vulnerabilities and reinforce resilience. Below are five key strategies to optimize your stormwater management efforts this season, helping you stay ahead of potential issues and set the stage for a smoother summer season.
Clear Debris and Remove Sediment from Drainage Systems
Spring runoff can overwhelm stormwater systems when culverts, storm drains, ponds, and ditches aren’t operating as they are designed. Don’t stop at clearing surface debris – tackle sediment buildup in catch basins, manholes, storm pipes, ditches, and culverts too, since these often-overlooked areas are critical to maintaining proper design capacity and flows.
Document Flood-Prone Areas for Summer Mitigation Planning
Use the wet season to your advantage: monitor and photograph areas with recurring flooding or poor drainage. This real-time documentation is invaluable for prioritizing long-term fixes during drier months and can support funding or grant applications for infrastructure upgrades.
Monitor USGS Gages and Local Water Levels
Incorporate USGS real-time stream gage data into your planning toolkit to forecast flood risks. Municipalities and County Water Resource Districts (WRDs) can leverage these trends to shape emergency response plans and preposition resources – such as sandbags and pump stations – before high-water events occur.
Conduct Internal Pipe Inspections During Dry Periods
Schedule video inspections (CCTV) of critical storm, sanitary sewer lines, and culverts. Major cities often follow a 5-year rotation for internal pipe inspections to catch blockages, root infiltration, or structural failure early. Spring is a great time to plan these before summer workloads ramp up.
Use Spring for Preventive Asset Maintenance & Capital Planning
Review asset conditions, maintenance logs, and budget forecasts to identify systems approaching end-of-life. Spring is ideal for submitting improvement projects for council or budget approvals ahead of the summer construction season.