Design and Analysis of Stormwater Management Ponds

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply hydrologic and hydraulic principles to support stormwater management planning and design
• Evaluate stormwater management objectives and select appropriate pond configurations for site-specific requirements
• Estimate runoff volumes and peak flows for urban and rural watersheds using accepted engineering methods
• Design and analyze stormwater management ponds that address flood control, water quality, erosion, and regulatory requirements
• Assess operational, environmental, and long-term performance considerations that influence pond effectiveness

Description

Managing stormwater is becoming increasingly complex as urban development, climate variability, regulatory requirements, and environmental expectations place greater demands on municipal and private infrastructure. Stormwater management ponds play a critical role in reducing flood risks, protecting receiving waters, controlling erosion, and supporting sustainable site development. Designing these systems requires a solid understanding of hydrology, hydraulics, regulatory requirements, and site-specific constraints.

This course provides a practical framework for the design and analysis of stormwater management ponds. You will examine the engineering principles that support runoff estimation, storage sizing, flow control, and pond configuration while exploring how stormwater facilities contribute to flood management, water quality protection, and watershed objectives. The course also reviews key design criteria, approval considerations, and the factors that influence long-term system operation and performance.

Through practical examples and design-focused exercises, you will strengthen your ability to evaluate stormwater management requirements, analyze drainage conditions, and develop pond designs that meet technical, environmental, and regulatory objectives while supporting resilient infrastructure and sustainable development practices.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Municipal, drainage and stormwater engineers
• Civil engineers involved in land development and infrastructure projects
• Stormwater management and water resources professionals
• Engineering consultants supporting municipal and private developments
• Technologists and technicians involved in drainage and stormwater projects
• Land development professionals and developers
• Urban planners involved in servicing and infrastructure review
• Operations and maintenance personnel responsible for stormwater facilities
• Regulatory and review staff evaluating stormwater management submissions

Day I - Building Blocks of Pond Design

Welcome, Introduction, Workshop Preview, Learning Outcomes & the Assessment Method

Introduction

• Why do we need stormwater management?
• Review of stormwater best management practices & role of ponds
• Review of the latest flood control & stormwater management criteria

A Hydrology Refresher

• Rainfall analyses
• Time of concentration
• Rainfall losses
• Estimating flows using rational & hydrographs methods
• Estimating flows using recorded stream discharges
• Effect of climate change

A Hydraulics Refresher

• Open channel hydraulics
• Pipe hydraulics
• Orifice & weir flows

Pond Design Criteria

• Pond types: dry, wet, extended detention, above and below ground facilities
• Typical design objectives and approval criteria
• Flood control
• Water quality control
• Erosion control
• Temperature
• Water balance
• Landscaping and Planting
• Private and Public Ponds

Workshop Examples

• Rational Method Examples
• Estimating natural flood discharges from records
• Flow Estimation Using EPA-SWMM

Day II - Overview of Pond Design

Catchment & Site Characteristics

• Site drainage area
• Space requirement
• Topography
• Depth to the water table
• Depth to bedrock
• Presence of wetlands
• Soil characteristics
• Receiving water(s)
• Need for additional stormwater quantity & quality control
• Needs for an extended wet pond
• Decide where on the site the pond is most likely to be located

Overview of Pond Components

• Permanent & active storage
• Inlets
• Forebays
• Outlets
• Spillways
• Embankments
• Spillway & embankment
• Landscaping
• Cold climate consideration
• Safety & recreational activities
• Costs
• Legal implications
• Liabilities & risk reduction

Step-by-Step Review of Pond Design

• Input hydrology and design discharges
• Establish control works
• Hydrograph routing using EPA-SWMM
• Iterate for pond volume and configuration
• Effect of water quality features
• Typical layout of stormwater ponds
• Design of inlet
• Design of forebay
• Design of outlets
• Pond routing & sizing
• Pond design reports

Operation, Inspection, Maintenance & Monitoring

• Municipal input during design review
• Post-construction operation, inspection & maintenance of ponds
• Preparation of Monitoring Plans

Case Studies

Questions & Answers & Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes