Neighborhood Stormwater Pond Maintenance Log & Resources

Compiled by: Sara Rollins, College of Charleston, from original content by Ben Powell, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Services

Stormwater ponds do much more than add beautification to the landscape—they are an important component of your community’s drainage system. This article provides homeowners associations (HOAs), community managers, and waterfront residents with information on best management practices for maintaining their community’s stormwater ponds. Designed as a reference and maintenance log, the document is also a diagnostic tool that contains recommendations for preventing and fixing common problems that occur as ponds age. Broken into twelve chapters, the information covers pond design and construction; regulations; aquatic plants and weed control; nuisance wildlife; water quality; fish kills; and fountains and aeration. This is a useful resource for superintendents to have on-hand when concerns about poor pond conditions arise. Stormwater ponds are not designed for recreation but rather are engineered devices to moderate flooding by suppressing surges of stormwater runoff that wash from lawns, buildings, and paved surfaces. They are also designed to protect water quality by holding water long enough to allow sediment and other pollutants to settle in the bottom of the pond before discharge to nearby rivers or beaches. By the very nature of these ponds, the entire community contributes to their condition.