Stormwater | Richland Soil & Water

Harvesting the Numbers: Fall Stormwater Update

Stormwater permit numbers and soil stabilization requirements.

By Sam Foley

Our third quarter of 2025 brought in quite a few stormwater permits. We issued 5 permits for commercial projects between July 1 and September 30. We also issued 106 residential permits during that same time frame with 63 of those being some sort of exemption.

Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated parts of Richland County you need to consult with us about a stormwater permit to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations.

And now for a Stormwater Minute: Did you know that the county’s Stormwater Management Regulations have a section outlining the requirements for soil stabilization? We’ve defined soil stabilization as “Vegetative or structural soil cover controlling erosion, including permanent and temporary seed, mulch, sod, netting, jute mat and silt fence.” Temporary stabilization should be provided for rough graded areas that will be idle for longer than 30 days. Upon achieving final grade, permanent stabilization should be installed within seven days. Any portion of a site within 50 feet of a stream, wetland, or other body of water should be stabilized immediately. Be sure to use appropriate measures for the time of year, site conditions, and length of use. If you need advice on seeding schedules, we are always happy to help. As summer ends and cooler weather rolls in, it is an ideal time to plant grass seed and stabilize your site. Please plan accordingly to prevent soil loss and stay in compliance with the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations.

Seeded and mulched site with a silt fence

To Soak or Not to Soak

Summer storms and impervious surfaces mean faster runoff. Check out our updated data and tips to help slow the flow!

The spring rainy season has passed and now we’re in the summer season where rains can be less frequent, but a summer thunderstorm can be quite intense and can dump a lot of rain in a short amount of time. These rain events are needed but relate to a term we use here in the office a lot, impervious area!

Impervious areas are areas that are man-made and do not allow water to contact the soil. Instead, this water is forced to flow off this impervious area, eventually to some type of outlet. A typical outlet is a lawn, road ditch, street, storm sewer or stream. This means that the rain water now gets to an outlet a lot faster than it used to.

Imagine an empty lot full of trees, shrubs and grass. At this point, the whole lot would be considered pervious area. Pervious meaning that when rain falls on the land, it now can penetrate or enter the soil. Some of the water is taken up by the many plant roots. More water soaks into the soil, being absorbed as it goes down. It makes it’s way down by pores & holes in the soil made by old roots, earthworms, animals and insects. Eventually the rain would soak all the way to the water table and some would then be carried to streams. Some water makes it down even further to the ground water. This water has now been filtered by the soil and has recharged our ground water resources. Once the soil has become totally saturated, additional rain would not be absorbed and that water would become runoff, but as you can see it would take quite some time and a lot of water to get to this point.

Now, imagine this empty lot has been sold to someone who wants to build a new home and garage. The soil will be disturbed and a portion of the lot will be developed into impervious area by way of roofs, driveways and sidewalks. That rain water will no longer make it to the soil. Since this water has nowhere to soak, it adds up fast! This becomes runoff immediately.

In the past, the accepted method to deal with impervious runoff was to gather it, put it into a tile or pipe and outlet it directly into a street, road ditch, stream or neighboring property. After many years and thousands of acres of impervious areas developed, it was observed that the rivers and streams began to widen, erode and change course drastically. This was due to all this impervious runoff getting to the stream too quickly and the stream was just adjusting to handle all of this rapid runoff.

Now we’ve learned from our past mistakes, and our focus is to slow impervious water down, giving streams time to handle the runoff. We’re not saying that development can’t happen, we’re saying impervious runoff needs to be managed.

The Stormwater Regulations of Richland County were developed for this purpose. Richland SWCD administers the Stormwater Regulations for the Richland County Commissioners.

On residential sites we encourage applicants to outlet water from their impervious areas onto the soil, on their own property, giving this water a chance to soak into the soils as it did before development. This unlocks the benefit of water soaking into the soil but also slows the water so it’s not getting to the stream too quickly.

On commercial projects, engineers design practices to hold back the very large amounts of impervious runoff that large commercial sites generate. These can consist of detention/retention basins, pervious pavement, rain gardens and underground detention.

Since Richland SWCD began administering the Stormwater program in 2000, we’ve been tracking the amount of impervious areas being developed in square footage. We’ve tracked residential, commercial and agricultural projects and we’ve recently updated our website to include this data all the way to 2024. Please check this out on our website.

If you want to do your part in reducing impervious runoff, you may want to look into installing rain barrels and/or rain gardens on your property. You can also change your downspouts so that they outlet onto your lawn. Even small steps like these help protect our streams and reduce the impact of impervious surfaces in our community.

Impervious Areas in the Clear Fork Watershed

Stormwater Season in Full Swing: Are You Covered?

Find out if your site is in compliance with the local stormwater regulations plus permit numbers from the second quarter.

Our 2nd quarter of the year brought in many stormwater permits. We issued 14 permits for commercial projects between April 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025. We also issued 72 residential permits during that same time period with 48 of those being some sort of exemption. Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated areas of Richland County you need to consult with us about a stormwater permit to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations of Richland County.

And now for a Stormwater Minute: Did you know that Agricultural projects are NOT exempt from the county’s Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations? While agricultural construction is typically exempt from building and zoning regulations (still check in with each of these departments if you have an ag project), it is still subject to stormwater permitting requirements. We require site plans and the permit application to be submitted to our office. We inspect projects that go over the 2,000 square foot threshold outlined in the County’s regulations. Stormwater Permits for Agricultural projects are fee exempt though and never cost the farmer anything.

Zoe on a stormwater inspection for an agricultural project

Stopping the Slide: How to Stabilize Streambanks and Prevent Erosion

Springtime brings back warmer temperatures, green plants, beautiful blooms – and unfortunately heavy, damaging rain events.

Springtime brings back warmer temperatures, green plants, beautiful blooms – and unfortunately heavy, damaging rain events. Sometimes an after effect of these heavy rains is streambank erosion. This occurs when heavy rains make their way to streams, dramatically increasing the speed and force of the water. These flow velocities can be too much for the streambank and sections of the soil can be eroded away. In some instances, erosion is significant enough to remove a portion of the property and establish a new streambank edge. Another detrimental effect of this erosion is that soil is washed into the stream and suspended in the water column, which is a type of pollution (See MS4 Update: Why Soil Matters More Than You Think).

There are actions that can be taken to protect stream banks. Mechanical methods can be installed, this would include placing materials such as large rip-rap stone, timber pilings, stream rock veins, rock gabion baskets or retaining walls made of treated timber or metal sheet piling to hold the bank in place. These methods would offer immediate relief, but they can be extremely expensive and if not professionally designed and installed, they could fail in short order.

Cross section of vegetated gabion revetment from Ohio Stream Management Guide

Another action that should be considered would be planting live trees and shrubs. This method requires a little forward thinking and is not an immediate fix, but it is much more affordable and if established properly, could offer a very long-term solution. Trees and shrubs along stream corridors offer their live root systems to hold soil in place and are called Riparian Buffers. The root systems of vegetation resists the force of storm surges in the river and keep the streambanks and the soil in its place.

There are many types of trees and shrubs that would be suitable for this purpose, but I would like to highlight one tree in particular for landowners to consider – the American Sycamore tree. The American Sycamore is a native tree and can be recognized by its mottled brown, gray and white bark that can look like a camouflage pattern. It is typically found growing wild along stream and river corridors and has the largest circumference and leaves of any hardwood tree in North America. It is a large tree with a potential diameter of greater than 10 feet, and a height range between 80 and 140 feet! They are a long-lived tree as well. A living tree was cut down in southeastern Indiana in 1970, it’s diameter was more than 7 feet, and it was found to be 430 years old!

As far as stream benefits, here’s what the Sycamore can offer. Their massive root systems not only hold and secure stream banks, but they also filter out sediments and other surface pollutants from the stream. These root systems also create flow eddies in the stream which can reduce erosive flow and offer resting areas for fish from strong flow currents. Their large size can offer shade to the stream channel too. This cools the water which increases dissolved oxygen and inhibits nuisance algae. The tree itself offers multiple wildlife benefits, it can provide cavities for shelter along with roosting and nesting sites for birds. The Sycamore is the preferred tree by Bald Eagles and the canopy of a mature tree can support a 2,000-pound Bald Eagle nest!

So, the next time you have a chance to drive or hike next to a stream, take a look and see if you can spot this amazing tree. Notice how the roots are securing the streambank and take a peek into the canopy and see if you can spot an eagle’s nest. I hope this will give you a new appreciation for the Sycamore and consider it an option as a streambank stabilization technique.

Quarter One Stormwater Update: Permits Issued and Compliance Reminders

Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated parts of Richland County you need to consult with us about permit requirements…

Our first quarter of the year was very active for Stormwater Permits. We issued 12 permits for commercial projects between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025. We’ve also issued 59 residential permits during that same time period with 30 of those being an exemption.

Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated parts of Richland County you need to consult with us about permit requirements to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Let’s work together to be good stewards of our county’s natural resources!

Managing Stormwater: Year-End Updates and Insights

Our fourth and final quarter of the year has been a busy one for stormwater permits.

Our fourth and final quarter of 2024 was a busy one for stormwater permits. We issued 17 permits for commercial projects between October 1 and December 31. We also issued 65 residential permits during that period, with 44 of them being exemptions.

Apply Online for a Stormwater Permit

Educating the Educators: Realtors and Permitting

On August 8, we presented information on Richland County’s stormwater permitting process during a Lunch & Learn hosted by the Mansfield Association of Realtors. The purpose of the Lunch & Learn…

Pleasant Hill Dam & Reservoir. *Credit: Richland SWCD*

On August 8, we presented information on Richland County’s stormwater permitting process during a Lunch & Learn hosted by the Mansfield Association of Realtors. The purpose of the Lunch & Learn was to educate local realtors on the intricacies of permitting in the county so that they may better assist their clients.

Also presenting was US Army Corps of Engineers Realty Specialist Eric Dowing who provided participants information on the Army Corps’ flowage easements. According to the Army Corp, flowage easements are non-federal lands where the U.S. Government has acquired rights to back up water if necessary (to a certain elevation).

Flowage easements exist in Richland County and stretch for miles upstream from the Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Dams. Knowledge of flowage easements is critical because land use within the easement is heavily restricted. Thank you to the Mansfield Association of Realtors for hosting the event and allowing us to speak with their members about permitting in Richland County!

Blue is the New Yellow – Stormwater Program Notes

Why are we so blue?, Stormwater Permit numbers, and MS4 happenings.

A good-looking bunch. Credit: Richland SWCD

Why Are We So Blue?

We recently traded our old, yellow, high-visibility vests for new blue ones with our logo! These vests will help keep us safe and stand out when we do stormwater inspections or other fieldwork.

Our Stormwater Technicians regularly inspect permitted projects, visiting projects in all 18 townships about once every other month. They also inspect storm sewer outfalls.

If you see the blue vest, know that Richland Soil & Water is hard at work!

Busy With Stormwater Permitting

This quarter, our office issued 87 residential permits (this includes all residential & agricultural permits, fee exemptions, and permit exemptions), up from 66 last quarter.

We also issued 6 commercial permits. We’re as busy as ever.

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) manages Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. For more info, click on the link below.

Richland SWCD’s Stormwater Permit Page

A dry weather screening in progress. Credit: Richland SWCD

Successful Screenings – MS4/NPDES Update

This quarter we focused on conducting dry weather screening of stormwater outfalls in Madison Township as part of our ongoing MS4 efforts. We successfully screened 4 outfalls for signs of illicit discharge or pollution.

These screenings are an essential part of our work to ensure stormwater runoff remains clean and free from harmful pollutants. We only have 6 more dry weather screenings to complete this permit term!

The MS4/NPDES permit is a crucial regulatory measure designed to manage and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. For more information, click on the links below.

Richland SWCD’s MS4 Page

More on MS4s from Penn State

Small Space, Big Impact: Urban Composting

Figure 1: Worm bin at the Foley household

The Importance of Composting

Following our 2024 “Pollution Prevention” theme for the MS4 program, composting is one of the easiest ways for the average person to keep food scraps and other organic matter out of the landfill. Nearly 1/3 of all food produced is wasted (~1.3 billion tons each year) and around $165 billion a year is spent managing that waste (data from TED Ed, link below). Composting is a sustainable practice that can coincide with organic gardening.

“Urban Composting” is a practice that can be performed in a city setting with limited space. In this article, I’ll discuss two unique and viable options to get you started: vermicomposting and using compost tumblers.

Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses earthworms to decompose organic matter (see Figure 1). The byproduct of vermicomposting is vermicast, a substance rich in humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes. Vermicast can help neutralize soil pH and improve plant health and nutrient uptake. Some folks refer to it as “Black Gold”. Worms can be somewhat sensitive and picky, so avoid putting spicy foods or anything acidic in your vermicompost. You don’t want to upset the balance!

Figure 2: Compost tumbler at South Park Children’s Educational Garden

Compost Tumblers

Traditional composting can be easily performed in a tumbler or similar bin at home. Again, this option does not require a ton of space, and the closed bin keeps any unpleasant smell contained. The composter needs to be turned often—and that is most of the maintenance required. Adding composted organic matter to your soil is a fantastic way to supplement it. Your plants and the planet will thank you.

Resources – Click or tap!

Video on Vericomposting (TED Ed)

Vermicomposting for Beginners (Rodale Institute)

Stormwater Program Updates – Summer 2024

Stormwater Permitting | MS4/NPDES

Stormwater Permitting

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is the manager of Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations.

Stormwater Permitting | MS4/NPDES

Stormwater Permitting

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is the manager of Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Any building projects that entail earth disturbance and/or new impervious surface are permitted through our office (applies to all unincorporated areas in Richland County, and the Village of Lexington, only).

For more info on our Stormwater Permit process and how to complete the process fully online using GeoPermits, click or tap the links!

Richland SWCD’s Stormwater Permit Page

GeoPermits Overview Video

MS4/NPDES Program Update

The MS4/NPDES permit is a crucial regulatory measure designed to manage and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. The permit, part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, specifically targets Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in communities with populations of 100,000 or more. By mandating the implementation of effective stormwater management practices, the MS4/NPDES permit plays a vital role in minimizing pollutants entering local water bodies.

Sam and Zoe have been focusing on illicit discharge detection and elimination. This quarter, they dry weather screened five outfalls in Madison Township. Through these comprehensive efforts, Richland SWCD strives to ensure effective stormwater management, helping to prevent pollution and protect local water bodies.

Fore more information on MS4 in Richland County, click the link below.

Richland SWCD’s MS4 Page