International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database

Initiated by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1996 and now led by the Water Research Foundation since 2004, the International Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Database contains a growing collection of BMP studies with metadata on site conditions, design parameters, and stormwater monitoring results. The database features hundreds of BMP studies, performance analysis methods and results, tools for performance studies and reporting, monitoring guidance, and other study-related publications. Green infrastructure practices to manage stormwater are becoming increasingly important as more frequent and intense precipitation and flooding events are occuring nationwide due to climate change.  

A key purpose of the database project has been to provide better guidance on urban stormwater BMP monitoring and reporting protocols. This guidance has been released in various BMP database reports that are updated to incorporate lessons learned and address new stormwater management approaches. The BMP database can serve as a tool to support large-scale adoption of green infrastructure (GI) by making GI performance data more accessible. GI BMPs included offer information on grass strips, bioretention, bioswales, composite/treatment train BMPs, extended detention basins, media filters, porous pavement, retention ponds, wetland basins, and wetland channels. By collecting scientifically sound performance data for GI practices and sites, and making them publicly available, the database is helping break down barriers and show the benefits of GI practices. 

The database includes a Mapping Tool showing the location of all BMPs, primarily in the U.S., with the ability to filter by BMP category (eg. bioretention, green roof, maintenance practice, or manufactured device). Statistical Analysis Tools generate summary statistics for groups of BMP studies. The database also provides access to performance summary technical papers, BMP monitoring guidance documents, and other BMP-related publications.

 

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