Best Management Practices
When land is developed, ground that previously had very little runoff is covered with buildings and pavement, making it much harder for water to filter. Best management practices (BMPs) is a term that describes a wide range of tools for managing stormwater.

Used to control the volume and quality of stormwater that leaves a developed site, BMPs increase or maintain infiltration on a site, preventing runoff, and filter the remaining runoff to reduce pollutants. BMPs vary greatly in look, form and specific function, encompassing everything from roadside grassed ditches to constructed wetlands to rain gardens and even stormdrain trash filters.

BMPs help protect downstream waterbodies by reducing nonpoint source pollution and can improve aesthetics and visual interest in the community.

BMPs in Lenexa
Lenexa actively participates in the MidAmerica Regional Council, which, with the American Public Work Association, developed a stormwater BMP manual to provide guidance for using BMPs in the Kansas City metro area. Lenexa contributed to design criteria and construction information for BMPs featured in the manual.

Lenexa requires the use of BMPs through its development Plan Review process. Development in Lenexa must meet a Level of Service calculation, a numerical value that address runoff quantity and quality through site design and BMPs. The calculation is also applied to city projects, ensuring newly constructed streets and municipal facilities reduce the effects of stormwater runoff and can serve as example projects.

Lenexa’s public and privately owned BMPs are regularly inspected by the city when they are constructed and periodically over the long-term to verify their performance. The city works with owners and maintenance contractors to ensure that once BMPs are installed, they are kept in working order to provide the intended water quality and flood protection benefits.

BMP inspection and maintenance Lenexa’s BMP Inspector provides technical assistance to contractors, homeowners, developers, maintenance personnel and city staff to facilitate the successful installation and long-term performance of BMPs. The inspector is involved in plan review, pre-construction meetings and on-site construction inspections through the installation, establishment and maintenance of BMPs. As part of the inspection process, construction sites must have a BMP maintenance plan approved before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

For more information, contact Nikki Guillot, BMP inspector and green infrastructure specialist.