In response to municipalities’ requests for stormwater planning assistance, the SNEP Network developed the “Stormwater Training/Facilitated Planning Series” which collectively guides communities to develop to a conceptual design for a nature-based stormwater retrofit option in their selected drainage area. Participants use the tools and techniques presented in the training to identify low-cost stormwater solutions to address the stormwater problem at their specific location.

Communities are encouraged to invite an interdisciplinary team to participate in the planning series including municipal/tribal staff, board members, and/or community members to build a common understanding of options for managing stormwater and cohesion in developing stormwater solutions that align with their communities’ culture and maintenance capacity. The planning series is held virtually with five training sessions over the course of six months.

At the outset of the series, a site visit to the selected area is scheduled for the SNEP Network team and community members to see first-hand and discuss the area’s challenges and opportunities with respect to managing stormwater.  In between the training sessions, participants have “homework assignments” to advance their design concepts and are offered planning sessions with the SNEP Network team to assist with their project and answer questions as needed.

Participants will:

• translate the tools and techniques presented in the training sessions to the identification of low-cost solutions to address stormwater problems in specific locations within their selected drainage area
• generate conceptual designs, magnitude of order cost estimates, and pollutant reduction stormwater credits for green infrastructure installation and/or stormwater retrofits
• employ and assess low-cost strategies to managing stormwater that fit with their municipal/tribal culture and operation and maintenance regime
• demonstrate understanding and confidence when meeting with engineers and other project consultants
• demonstrate understanding of strategies and tools for engaging stakeholders in developing stormwater solutions