Stormwater Management
Welcome to the Goshen Department of Stormwater Management
What is Stormwater?
Stormwater is water from snow and ice melting, as well as rainwater from storms. When rain or melting snow and ice fall or flow across natural surfaces like forests and grassy areas, most of it will soak into the soil. When it lands on streets, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, it runs off to another location like a storm drain or a local waterway.
What is Stormwater Pollution?
As stormwater flows (or snow melts), it picks up debris (such as trash, grass clippings, etc.), chemicals (such as fertilizers and pesticides), sediment, and other pollutants. This “contaminated” water then enters a storm sewer system and is eventually discharged to a local wetland, stream, or river.
Why is Stormwater Pollution a Concern?
Within the City of Goshen and other urban areas, stormwater runoff comes from yards, roofs, driveways, parking lots, construction sites, and streets (these are all called hard surfaces except for yards), and flows into miles of storm sewers, swales, and ditches located under or next to our City streets and eventually reaches our local waterways. Stormwater picks up oil, grease, sediments, automotive fluids, trash, lawn chemicals, and other pollutants that are harmful to the environment and is often discharged/released into our local waterways untreated.
Untreated stormwater affects our ability to use our local water bodies for drinking, fishing, and recreational purposes and it degrades fish and other aquatic habitats. The only way to lessen stormwater pollution is to reduce the amount of pollutants washed away by stormwater. The goal of the Department of Stormwater Management is “Clean Water for Everyone”.
For more information on the Department of Stormwater Management and the Staff, click here.
Important Links
Federal and state laws and local ordinances
Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter
March 2023 Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter – This month’s Newsletter contains a recap of the City’s Flood Awareness Public Meeting, World Water Day 2023, and what you can do to help reduce stormwater pollution.
2022 Stormwater Annual Report/Informe 2022 – This month’s Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter was replaced with the 2022 Stormwater Annual Report! The annual report contains information for the river, rainfall, project highlights, and program numbers for 2022. We also highlight what is to come in the year 2023!
We want to hear from you! Email questions and suggestions regarding the Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter to stormwater@goshencity.com.
To see past editions of the Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter click here.
Stormwater News
- December 7, 2022 – The St. Joseph River Basin Commission in conjunction with the Greater Elkhart County Stormwater Partnership has published a report analyzing over a decade of water quality data collected by the Elkhart County Health Department as part of the Stormwater Partnership’s long-term surface water monitoring program. The report focuses on long-term trends in water quality in major waterways throughout Elkhart County as well as comparisons of trends across testing sites.
- For stormwater and water quality-related news visit the Stormwater News Archive.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
- Goshen Stormwater Board – Every Monday at 2:00 pm in the Police/Courts Building (111 East Jefferson Street)
- MS4 Advisory Board – To be Announced at the Elkhart County Public Services Building (4230 Elkhart Road, Goshen, IN 46526)
- Partnership Stormwater Board Meeting – The fourth Monday of every month, at 9:00 am at the County Administration Building (117 N. Second Street, Goshen, IN 46526)
