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The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) presents the webinar – Pond Patrol: Ensuring Water Quality with Inspection – on January 23, 2025 at 1 p.m. MT. The presenters are Rachel Henderson, stormwater technician, and Alexandra O’Connor, stormwater coordinator, from the City of San Marcos, Texas, 1 PDH credit is available, and you can register here.
Structural controls are implemented to manage flooding and maintain water quality within urban watersheds, however, they require routine inspections and maintenance to function as designed. The City of San Marcos implemented a successful inspection/maintenance program on a shoe- string budget, and the program has inspired other cities in Texas to start their own.
In 2016, the San Marcos City Council passed an ordinance which included Section 86.531- Maintenance and Repair of Structural Controls, laying the groundwork for what would become the Post Construction Structural Control Inspection Program. The ordinance reinforced the city’s requirement for all existing and new Stormwater Management Structural Controls on private and city owned property to be inspected annually by a pre-qualified engineer. In 2020, the ordinance was updated from annual to triennial (once every three years) inspections.
The decision to have a “hybrid” style inspection program was based on the procedures of larger city’s but with concessions made for existing personnel and budget constraints. The experiences in developing and launching this program without a clear playbook have been challenging and ever evolving. However, after seven years of administering this program the department has learned several lessons that could be helpful for other municipalities of comparable size to tackle this type of project. By sharing these challenges and solutions, the hope is to help other cities with alternatives for these types of inspection programs that can better fit a smaller city’s budget.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will learn how to develop a structural control (water quality and detention) inspection program.
This inspection program was designed to be implemented with municipal budgets and limited resources.
A city-wide structural control inspection program must gain support from the community and municipal decision makers. Attendees will learn how to promote a structural control inspection program by focusing on public and environmental health and safety.