Not all of the water generated when it rains or snows are able to be absorbed into the ground. What is left is called stormwater. As stormwater washes over roads, yards, roofs, and parking lots, it picks up pollutants such as motor oil, pet waste, fertilizer and litter. The stormwater then makes its way into storm drains and the city’s storm sewer system. Unlike the sanitary sewer system, storm sewers do not transport runoff flows to a treatment plant to remove the pollutants. The stormwater is discharged directly into creeks and streams, along with the litter and pollutants it has picked up along the way. This can lower the quality of our natural waterways and make our creeks and streams unfit for swimming and fishing and for supporting aquatic life.
Stormwater can also pose problems with flooding. When rain falls on impervious surfaces such as roads and rooftops, it cannot infiltrate into the ground, but it does concentrate and drain downhill, and as it does, it picks up speed. Without detention basins and retention ponds to temporarily hold the fast-moving stormwater, these flows would reach our creeks and streams faster than they did prior to development, which can lead to flooding in low-lying areas. The speed of the water can also create erosion, which introduces sediment pollution in our waterways and decreases the clarity and quality of our creeks and streams.
Flooding program
- Stormwater priority projects map
- Flooding SEP: Our plan for moving forward
- Stormwater severity scoring system
- Updated Stormwater Priority Project List, January 2022
-
Priority Projects Evaluation (82-85)
*Appendices can be made available upon request
Stormwater projects
- Southland Area Storm Drainage Project
- Appendix 1 (Public Involvement Responses)
- Appendix 2 (Field Data Collection)
- Appendix 3 (Concept Drawings)
- Appendix 4 (Opinions of Probably Cost)
- Appendix 5 (Model Performance Graphics)
- Appendix 6 (SWMM Model) – available upon request
- Silverleaf Court technical memorandum
- Woodhill/Peachtree Road stormwater project
- Lyon Drive technical memorandum
- Campbell Lane & Bob-O-Link Drive Technical Memorandum
- Barnard Drive Stormwater Preliminary Design Technical Memorandum
- Barnard Drive Flooding Analysis Technical Memorandum
- Cooper Drive stormwater analysis
- Bellcastle Road Stormwater Drainage
- Cane Run Bank Stabilization Project
- Joyland Stormwater Project
- Technical Memorandum
- Appendix 1 - File Review Documentation
- Appendix 2 - Field Survey
- Appendix 3 - Model Construction and Calibration
- Appendix 4 - Proposed Improvement Concept Drawings
- Appendix 5 - Preliminary Costs Estimates
- Appendix 6 - Hydraulic Model Performance Graphics
- Appendix 7 - Critical Elevation Survey
- Appendix 8 - Digital Files (Please Note: Modeling files are available upon request)
- Kearney Ridge & Beaumont Woods Basins Technical Memorandum
- Pepperhill Road Engineering Analysis
- Fleetwood Drive Engineering Analysis
- Savannah Lane / Guilford Lane Stormwater Improvements
- East Third and Ohio Engineering Analysis
- Furlong Drive Greenway Feasibility Study
Stormwater and water quality program
- Lexington's MS4 Permit (June 1, 2015)
- Stormwater Quality Management Program (SWQMP) (June 1, 2016)
- Lexington's MS4 Permit Annual Report (2020)
- Stream impairments maps (2010 – 2014)
- 303d summary table (2012)
- Watershed-Focused Monitoring Program
- Water Quality Monitoring Results
- Monitoring Plan (QAPP, Revision No. 2 dated Aug. 10, 2017)
- Rain Garden Manual
- Stormwater Manual
- Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee
- Post-Construction Stormwater Management Workshop (Feb. 10, 2017)
- ESC Plan Preparers Workshop with the Development and Construction Industry (March 20, 2018)
- Multifamily Stormwater Retrofit Manual (Feb. 2018)
- Neighborhood Tree Planting Guidebook (April 2019)
- Workshop with the Engineering, Development, and Construction Industry
- Redevelopment Workshop (March 25, 2022)
Success stories
2021
2020
2019
- Soaking in the Stormwater at Habitat for Humanity in Lexington
- Ten Years and Going Strong: Lexington's Water Quality Incentive Grant Program
- Stormwater Success Story: WGPL Storm Sewer Project
- LEXServ and the Water Quality Management Fee
2018
- Interagency Team Tackles Stormwater Challenges
- Restoring Natural Conditions Along Coldstream’s Cane Run
- Water Quality Work Through Inspection and Sampling Program
- Lexington’s Stormwater Program Wins Two National Awards!
Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program
The Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program provides financial assistance for projects that improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff and educate residents about stormwater and water quality issues in our community.