Rain falls onto our landscapes as relatively clean water. It becomes runoff when the water volume is too large to be absorbed by the land. As the runoff moves towards rivers, streams, lakes and estuaries (waterways), it picks up leaves, grass clippings, dirt, and the associated dissolved pollutants, all significant sources of water pollution. The process of handling and treating runoff is stormwater management.
Cold climates present special challenges for stormwater management. The wide ranges in temperature and varying forms of precipitation present unique challenges in how stormwater practices and management are designed and how they perform. Winter weather makes it difficult to monitor stormwater treatment infrastructure and can reduce their performance. Additionally, the use of salt (sodium chloride) as a deicing and anti-icing agent leads to widespread impairments in streams, lakes, and groundwater.
These challenges are addressed by the Cold Climate Stormwater Center of Excellence (CCSCoE), led by the University of New Hampshire and the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA). The Cold Climate SCoE program has three main initiatives: conducting research; providing technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments; and collaborating with the other National SCoEs. There are several goals for the Cold Climate SCoE, including:
- increased number of trained stormwater professionals;
- increased awareness about stormwater control technologies amongst professionals in cold climate regions of the US;
- enhanced sustainable regional collaborations that support the long-term regional stormwater needs;
- increased number of communities (especially small, rural, Tribal, and local communities) that receive information on stormwater technology and financing opportunities for infrastructure projects;
- and stronger involvement and support by local community groups for stormwater projects.
