Stormwater Control Measure Inspection & Maintenance (SCM I&M) Certification Workshops

Certification Workshops

SCMs must have annual, and sometimes more frequent, inspection and maintenance to perform as intended. Maintenance includes hydrologic and water quality function, landscape functions, and consideration of impacts on human health and safety. Many communities across North Carolina are now requiring annual inspection, and if called for, maintenance of SCMs.

After full participation in the workshop and passing the certification exam with a score of 80% or higher, attendees will become certified in SCM Inspection & Maintenance. Those attending the course online will also be able to complete the certification exam online.

Recertification Workshops

The Stormwater SCM Inspection & Maintenance Update (Recertification) workshop is intended to allow certified stormwater inspection and maintenance professionals to maintain their certification with an update on the changes to regulations, maintenance requirements, inspection criteria, as well as new technologies available in the past three years. There is no exam for the Update workshop.

Type of Recertification Workshops

• Classroom: a typical classroom training with a short tour to nearby installations
• Walking Tour: a half-day outdoor experience that includes viewing of several difference SCM installations
• Online: a half-day training via zoom

Stormwater Design Workshops

Please note that Stormwater Design Workshops do not fulfill the requirements for SCM I&M Recertification.

Revisiting Bioretention: Looking Back to Inform the Future

Bioretention became an in vogue Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) in North Carolina about 25 years ago. It is likely the most studied SCM in North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic as well.

What have we learned? Design standards have evolved during this period and by synthesizing both “hard core” research and knowledge gained from the “school of hard knocks”, we can better design, construct, and maintain this practice today. Moreover, bioretention has produced important progeny, namely bioswales and regenerative stormwater conveyance.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide “state of the science” guidance for the practice considered the “queen of green stormwater infrastructure” and its offspring.

Minimum Design Criteria (MDC) for Stormwater Design

The state of North Carolina has redone design standards for every single stormwater control measure (SCM), aka Best Management Practice (BMP). The changes are based upon an NCDEQ-led work team consisting of researchers, local municipalities, and consultants to develop Minimum Design Criteria (MDCs) and establish pollutant removal credits for SCMs in North Carolina. Faculty from NC State along with NCDEQ personnel have teamed up to provide this workshop.

Stormwater Nitrogen and Phosphorus (SNAP) Tool Training

This workshop will provide fundamental background information on the NC DEQ Stormwater Nitrogen and Phosphorus (SNAP) Version 4.2 tool. Attendees will learn how to use the tool to design stormwater control measures (SCMs) to meet nutrient regulations, estimate nutrient runoff from sites with and without SCMs, evaluate the development of stormwater treatment alternatives. Demonstrations of the model will be given, and attendees will also participate in hands-on design exercises. It is strongly encouraged that attendees use an excel-friendly laptop for the workshop.

This workshop is usually held once per year

No workshops available at this time.
Please peruse resources available through the NC State Stormwater Engineering Group.

Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) Training

Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) is an “up and coming” Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) that has been installed, albeit sparingly, across North Carolina. Please join NC State and NCDEQ personnel as we discuss what RSC’s are and how exactly they function among various design iterations. From NC State monitoring of several RSC’s and by synthesizing out-of-state design standards, an up-to-date, North Carolina-centric RSC design standard has been proposed for NC. Learn what types of design requirements are needed for an RSC to be considered a “Primary SCM” by NCDEQ. The webinar will close with a presentation of RSC Minimum Design Criteria (MDC’s).

No workshops available at this time.
Please peruse resources available through the NC State Stormwater Engineering Group.

Stormwater for Realtors, Builders, and Other Professionals

Stormwater 101 for Realtors

Real estate agents are increasingly being tasked to be more knowledgeable about the influence of flooding and stormwater on property values. The subjects covered in this new workshop encompass:

• What is the Rainwater Cycle and how does development change it?
• How is excess stormwater treated? Where does it go?
• What are the red flags to watch for when showing properties?
• What stormwater practices can realtors suggest to clients to mitigate additional impermeable surface expansion (like decks, patios, and pools?
• A review of stormwater terminology, including 2-year, 10-year, and 100-year storms
• What opportunities are there for homeowners to pay for stormwater improvements?

Please join NC State University’s Dr. Bill Hunt for this informative presentation and Q&A session. Attendees with leave with a certificate of attendance from NC State University and a link to a helpful resource page.

Horticulture 101 for Green Stormwater Infrastructure Professionals

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at nurseries that provide the vegetation that you spec on your design plans? NC State University and other local experts will discuss extension resources, plant selection, propagation, and harvesting. Please join us for a behind the scenes tour and a delicious lunch at the Hoffman Nursery north of Durham, NC.

Real-Time Control Field Day

Real-time control (RTC) is an emerging technology that allows stormwater ponds, rainwater harvesting systems, and other stormwater control measures to respond dynamically to rainfall events using sensors and automated controls. But what is RTC, why do we need it, and what does it actually look like in the field?

NC State University’s Stormwater Engineering Group will walk attendees through the why and how of RTC, including their open-source system StormPack RTC for stormwater ponds, simple methods for RTC rainwater harvesting, and real-world case studies from Convergent and Opti.

The workshop will end with a tour of two RTC installation sites. Whether you design, review, or maintain SCMs, this is a great chance to see new smart stormwater technology in action.

Rain Garden Certification

Rain gardens are shallow depressions and serve as landscape features that can effectively collect and treat stormwater and reduce localized flooding. Rain gardens can be integrated into the existing landscape as a retrofit or be included in the initial landscaping plan. To effectively manage stormwater, rain gardens must be accurately sized and properly constructed. This workshop will present a method for sizing and designing rain gardens and will detail proper construction techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to take an exam and become certified in rain garden design and installation.

No workshops available at this time.
Please peruse resources available through the NC State Stormwater Engineering Group.

Big Storms Workshops

North Carolina has been rocked by extreme events over the past decade, causing widespread flooding that significantly impacted people. Recent work by NC State and others has focused on what we, as engineers and designers, can do to partially mitigate large floods with existing infrastructure, while making our stormwater infrastructure more resilient.

While not a focus during floods, large storms deliver disproportionally large pollutant loads to streams. How can we, as water quality professionals, better account for large storm pollutant loads in our SCM designs? Experience tells us that our precipitation prediction tools are outdated. Is help on the way? (Hint, yes it is.)
We invite you to come join researchers from NC State as we deliver a stormwater-focused discussion on how to manage big storms

No workshops available at this time.
Please peruse resources available through the NC State Stormwater Engineering Group.