For industrial facilities in California, stormwater management is more than a rainy-season concern. It can be an important part of regulatory compliance, site maintenance and protecting surrounding waterways.
California’s Industrial General Permit regulates stormwater discharges associated with certain industrial activities. Depending on the type of facility and its operations, businesses may be required to obtain permit coverage, develop and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), use appropriate Best Management Practices (BMPs), monitor stormwater discharges and report compliance information.
While much of the compliance process involves environmental consultants, Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioners (QISPs) and facility operators, the physical condition of the property also matters.
That is where Landscape Development, Inc. can help.
Why Industrial Stormwater Management Matters
When rain falls on an industrial property, the water does not necessarily remain clean.
As stormwater travels across parking lots, service yards, loading areas, landscape areas and other surfaces, it can pick up sediment, debris and pollutants before reaching a storm drain or leaving the property.
California’s stormwater regulations are designed to reduce the amount of these pollutants entering waterways.
For facility owners and managers, that means looking closely at how water moves through the entire property—not simply what happens at the storm drain.
Landscape, irrigation, grading, drainage and erosion control can all play a role.
Start With the Landscape
One of the most effective stormwater strategies is addressing water where it falls.
Thoughtfully designed landscape areas can help slow runoff, encourage infiltration, stabilize soil and reduce erosion. Existing properties may also have opportunities to retrofit underperforming landscape areas so they contribute more effectively to the site’s overall stormwater strategy.
LDI can evaluate existing landscape conditions and identify improvements that support the stormwater management goals established for the facility.
Depending on the property, solutions may include:
- Bioswales and vegetated swales
- Bioretention areas
- Rain gardens
- Drainage improvements
- Erosion-control planting
- Soil stabilization
- Strategic grading
- Irrigation improvements
- Landscape retrofits
- Drought-tolerant and climate-appropriate planting
- Permeable landscape applications
- Drainage and runoff management improvements
The right approach depends on the site’s existing conditions, drainage patterns, operations and applicable stormwater requirements.
Control Erosion Before It Becomes a Stormwater Problem
Bare soil and eroding slopes can quickly become sources of sediment during a storm.
Industrial properties often include perimeter areas, slopes, drainage channels and low-use landscape areas that may not receive much attention until heavy rainfall exposes a problem.
Improving these areas before the rainy season can help reduce erosion and sediment movement.
Landscape solutions such as appropriate planting, mulch, soil stabilization and erosion-control measures can help protect exposed areas while improving the appearance of the facility.
Make Irrigation Part of the Solution
Stormwater compliance may focus on rain, but everyday irrigation practices can affect site runoff as well.
Broken sprinklers, overspray, excessive irrigation and poorly performing systems can send unnecessary water across pavement and into drainage systems.
An irrigation audit can identify leaks, coverage problems, outdated equipment and opportunities to improve system performance.
Modern irrigation controls, properly adjusted schedules and targeted repairs can reduce runoff while helping facilities lower water use and maintain healthier landscapes.
Use Green Infrastructure to Manage Runoff
Traditional drainage systems are designed to move water away quickly. Green infrastructure takes a different approach by using landscape and engineered systems to slow, capture, filter or infiltrate stormwater.
Bioswales and bioretention areas are increasingly important tools for managing runoff on commercial and industrial properties.
These systems can be incorporated into parking areas, property edges, medians and existing landscape zones. When properly designed and maintained, they can become functional parts of a site’s stormwater strategy while still contributing to the overall appearance of the property.
Don’t Forget About Maintenance
Installing a stormwater feature is only the beginning.
Vegetated BMPs and landscape-based stormwater systems require ongoing maintenance to perform as intended. Sediment can accumulate. Plants can decline. Irrigation systems can malfunction. Drainage paths can become blocked by leaves, debris or overgrown vegetation.
Regular landscape maintenance provides another opportunity to identify problems before they become larger issues.
A trained landscape team can monitor site conditions, maintain vegetation, address irrigation issues, remove accumulated debris and flag drainage or erosion concerns for facility managers.
Preparing Before California’s Rainy Season
The best time to discover a drainage or erosion problem is not during the first major storm.
Before the rainy season, industrial facility managers should walk their properties and pay particular attention to areas where water, sediment or debris may collect or leave the site.
Look for eroding slopes, exposed soil, clogged drainage areas, irrigation runoff, failing vegetation, standing water and evidence that previous storms have moved sediment across the property.
These observations can help identify landscape improvements that should be addressed before significant rainfall arrives.
Stormwater Compliance Requires a Team
Stormwater compliance is ultimately the responsibility of the facility operator, and some aspects of California’s Industrial General Permit require specialized environmental expertise.
Landscape Development, Inc. does not replace a facility’s environmental consultant, QISP or regulatory compliance team.
Instead, we can work alongside those professionals to help implement the physical site improvements and landscape BMPs identified for the property.
That distinction is important.
A consultant may identify a stormwater concern or recommend a particular BMP. LDI can help turn that recommendation into a functioning improvement in the field.
How Landscape Development, Inc. Can Help
With expertise in landscape construction, irrigation, drainage, erosion control, landscape maintenance, arbor care and landscape architecture, LDI can provide industrial property owners and facility managers with a coordinated approach to outdoor site improvements.
Whether a property needs a targeted drainage correction, erosion-control improvements, irrigation upgrades, a new bioswale or a broader landscape retrofit, our teams can help develop and implement practical solutions based on the needs of the site.
For existing facilities, we can also help evaluate landscape and irrigation conditions to identify potential areas of concern before the rainy season.
Stormwater compliance may begin with regulations and documentation, but successful implementation happens on the property.
Need help improving the landscape, drainage or erosion-control systems at your industrial facility? Contact Landscape Development, Inc. to discuss practical site improvements that can support your stormwater management goals while improving the performance and appearance of your property.
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