About this project

This project titled: Rural Property ​Surface Water Management Tools & Training was developed by Washington State University Extension and the Washington Stormwater Center. They created a suite of new educational materials to help manage stormwater and reduce polluted runoff in rural areas.

The purpose of the project was to:

  • Develop peer-reviewed guidance tools​
  • Provide tools and training to empower those who help landowners ​
  • Effectively manage and reduce polluted runoff in rural areas​
Final Project Fact Sheet

New tools you can use

The website: ruralstormwater.wsu.edu, introduces this robust suite of educational materials on the topics of rural stormwater. Included on the site are:

  • Videos
  • Facts sheets
  • Stormwater basics
  • Demonstration sites
  • Options for managing drainage
  • Resources, glossary, references

These peer-reviewed educational materials will empower agency, municipal, and tribal staff; conservation districts, contractors, and landowners to effectively manage and reduce polluted runoff in rural areas. The materials are designed to help better manage stormwater in rural areas around Puget Sound. A detailed white paper: Rural Property Surface Water Management:Surface Dispersion Infiltration Trenches and Bioinfiltration Swales was written and provides the technical foundation for the materials.

Watch this 28 minute video recording of a Rural Stormwater Solutions webinar presented in October 2022, to introduce the project.

The geographic focus area for the project includes, but is not limited to:

  • Hood Canal & ​Strait of Juan de Fuca​
  • Clallam​ County
  • Kitsap​ County
  • Jefferson​ County
  • Mason County

Stakeholders included:

  • County departmental staff including:​
    • environmental health​
    • community development​
    • public works departments​
  • Conservation districts​
  • Municipalities​
  • Tribal Nations​
  • Landscape designers & contractors​
  • Expertise from outside of the region

Funding

Logos of WSU Extension, WA Dept. of Ecology and Washington Stormwater Center
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J18101 to the Washington State Department of Ecology. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Funding for this project was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Puget Sound National Estuary program and the Stormwater Strategic Initiative.

The project started in January 2020 and ran through December 2022.

WSU Extension programs connect the people and communities in the state with the knowledge base of Washington State University to promote quality of life and advance economic well-being through fostering inquiry, learning, and the application of research.


The Washington Stormwater Center provides stormwater management solutions and leadership through research, training, and education and is the State’s central resource for integrated stormwater management, education, and new technology research, development, and evaluation.

Meet the project team