Stormwater BMP Maintenance and Certification Program in North Carolina, USA

Stormwater practices are being installed across the world and studies show they are not being properly inspected and maintained. If not properly maintained, stormwater practices will not perform as intended, but minimal guidance on maintenance procedures is available. In North Carolina, U.S.A., the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service has developed a 1.5 day training and certification program that has certified approximately 500 design, local government, and landscape maintenance professionals and practitioners in stormwater practice inspection and maintenance. To date the response has been very favorable, as several communities now require the certification for anyone who designs and/or maintains stormwater practices. Officials with the state of North Carolina have incorporated designing for inspection and maintenance as part of their stormwater practice review.