HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 - Stormwater Maintenance PlanGallatin County Courts
Storm Water Maintenance Plan
May 4, 2022
The Gallatin County Courts building is the newest addition to the Gallatin County Law & Justice
Center (L&J Center). The L&J Center’s existing storm water system has been upgraded and
re-routed to convey storm runoff around the new building. The site-wide storm drainage system
will treat, store and convey storm and snowmelt runoff through the site utilizing on-site surface
and underground storage facilities, with overflow provided for storms exceeding City of
Bozeman retention and storage requirements.
Typically, runoff collects in paved areas and flows either directly to above-ground retention
basins, to dry wells, or to the piped drainage system (storm drain) through curb inlets, drop
inlets, manholes and culverts. The storm drain system discharges to one of four constructed
underground detention and treatment facilities. These facilities are connected in series, and will
convey any overflow runoff to above-ground retention areas and/or to downstream facilities,
ultimately leading to a discharge point at the northeast corner of the property. Areas that are
un-changed by the Courts project will continue to operate as originally designed.
The L&J Center storm drain system is owned and operated by Gallatin County and includes all
storm drain and surface water treatment and conveyance facilities within the property. The
County will maintain the storm drainage system in accordance with this maintenance plan and
with the applicable City of Bozeman regulations, and will maintain a written account of all
maintenance and repair activities, such as a log book, for future reference.
Every Month, May through October
1. Grass Swales (Lawns): Mow to maintain maximum grass height of 6 inches. Do not
allow mulch to discharge or accumulate within 6 feet of the flowline.
2. Storm Drain Pipe and Culverts: Trim and control vegetation near open ends of pipes, to
prevent any significant restriction of flow.
3. Surface Retention/Infiltration Facilities: Clean the area to keep free of leaves, grass
clippings, excess vegetation and debris (paper, cardboard, plastic bags, etc.). If the
basin contains water at the time of inspection, return later to clean the area.
Every Three Months, and Immediately after Major Storm or Snowmelt Events
1. Grass Swales (Lawns and Native Grasses): Walk along each swale to inspect. Clean
as needed to keep free of silt, debris, excess vegetation, or any other material that
impedes flow. Note areas of ponding and areas with dense weeds or sparse grass
cover, and repair within 1 year (see “Repair Procedures” below).
2. Curb Cuts: Verify that storm runoff freely drains from the concrete gutter through the
curb cut and into the grass area beyond the curb cut. Remove sod and soil as needed
to ensure continued positive drainage will occur between inspections.
3. Storm Water Manholes and Inlets: Inspect each inlet grate and grated manhole cover.
Clean as needed to keep free of leaves, debris, excess vegetation, or any other
material (paper, cardboard, plastic bags, etc.) that impedes flow. In winter, ice or snow
may remain over inlet grate. If water ponds excessively and creates a problem during
snowmelt events, chip ice to provide a drainage channel into the manhole or inlet.
4. Surface Retention/Infiltration Facilities: From November through April, continue
inspection and cleaning procedures as stated under the “monthly inspection” category
above, every three months and immediately after major storm or snowmelt events.
5. Underground Retention/Infiltration Facilities: Open inspection port(s) in the isolator row,
and view with a flashlight. If the geotextile fabric (at the bottom of the chamber) is
obscured by sediment, measure depth to sediment level, and subtract from baseline
depth (full depth to geotextile fabric). If the result (sediment level) is greater than
3 inches, schedule to have sediment removed, as stated under the “annual inspection”
category below.
Annually
1. Storm Drain Pipe (pipe terminating in manhole or inlet): Pull inlet grates and manhole
covers as needed, and inspect each end of each pipe. If observed sediment level in the
sump is above the lowest (discharge) pipe flowline, clean all sediment from the pipes
and the manhole or inlet sump.
2. Storm Drain Pipe or Culvert (pipe terminating in open ditch or swale): If sediment has
accumulated to 3 inches or more above the pipe flowline, remove sediment from the
outlet pipe and ditch to provide free drainage and re-seed or sod the area of
disturbance. If soil has eroded and un-vegetated rills are visible, re-seed or sod the
area. If there are recurring problem areas, repair as stated in “Repair Procedures”
below.
3. Underground Retention/Infiltration Facilities: Remove manhole covers leading to the
isolator row. If the observed sediment level is above the lowest pipe flowline, clean all
sediment from the pipes and the manhole or inlet sump. Also, look down the isolator
row to see if sediment level is at or above the lower row of sidewall holes (about
3 inches above the geotextile bottom). Follow OSHA regulations for confined space
entry, or use pole-mounted mirrors or cameras. If this observation or previous
inspections through the inspection ports noted sediment levels greater than 3 inches,
employ a pipe cleaning service to remove all sediment from the isolator row in
accordance with the detention system manufacturer’s recommendations.
Every 5 years
1. Surface Retention/Infiltration Facilities: Sediment, windblown dust and thatch will build
up over time and reduce the storage capacity. Storage capacity is the basin’s airspace
volume below the top of the point of overflow. Employ a land surveyor or engineer to
determine the airspace volume. If it is less than the minimum volume indicated on the
approved construction drawings (record drawings), remove excess material and replace
landscape materials to originally constructed conditions.
Repair Procedures
1. Grass Swales with Dense Weeds or Sparse Grass Cover: Re-seed or sod the area, but
first determine and address the source of the problem. Expand irrigation coverage, add
soil amendments, fertilize, etc., as needed to improve growth media and grass health,
and to control weeds.
2. Grass Swales, Areas of Ponding: Cut sod and re-grade the area for consistent
downgradient slope along the swale. Then re-seed or sod the area of disturbance.
3. Pipe Outlet Ditch, Excessive Sediment Accumulation: Cut sod, remove sediment, and
re-grade the area to a consistent downgradient slope along the outlet ditch or swale.
Extend the re-grading as far as needed to provide positive drainage. Then re-seed or
re-sod the area of disturbance.
4. Pipe Outlet Ditch, Erosion: It is recommended to hire a Professional Engineer to
address this issue. Another option is to cut sod and re-grade the area, install a
permanent, non-degradable turf reinforcement mat (TRM) per the manufacturer’s
recommendations, and re-seed the area of disturbance through the TRM per the
manufacturer’s recommendations.