Welcome to Wharton's Corner
Stormwater Professionals Group News & Blog
What Can I Put in the Storm Drain?
A few nights ago, I saw this story on Houston’s local Fox affiliate on channel 26. Houston business accused of leaking chemicals illegally into storm drains, hazmat investigates. Being an environmental issue, it piqued my interest. Quite frankly, I was surprised to...
Employee Spotlight – Josue Maldonado
Josue has been with the Stormwater Professionals Group pretty much from the start. He manages all of our field services, including landscaping services, skimmer basket installation and maintenance, and assisting in special projects wherever his expertise is needed. ...
What Were They Thinking? – Sheet Drain to Detention Pond
Today I’m kicking off a new blog series. And while the title is reasonably descriptive of the content, I thought it prudent to explain why this might be a good exercise for our development and engineering friends. Over the last 18 years in the stormwater industry, it...
Rethink Using Your Detention Pond as a Stormwater Quality Pond
As a stormwater consultant, I’m often asked why we rarely advise using a detention pond as a dual-purpose (detention and stormwater quality) pond. On the surface, it would make sense that since detention is already required, we could simply add a trash screen or cage...
Houston Underground Detention Requirement
Hurricane Harvey Devastates Houston On August 17th. 2017 Houston was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, one of the worst disasters in the city’s history. The cost was staggering. According to the National Hurricane Center, it caused $125 billion in damages and ranked...
Why Contract Out Stormwater Quality Management Plan Preparation?
Stormwater Quality Management plans are required in the city of Houston and Harris County for properties over an acre. And while there are some caveats, this is the rule rather than the exception. And as these government agencies periodically review and amend their...
Benefits of Fall Fertilization on Turf Grasses
As I look out my window and see the big yellow school bus pass by I’m reminded of another summer winding down and the hope that the hot weather will break and the fall cold fronts will be soon approaching. Back to school represents a change of season. A time of...
Preparing Your Drainage System for Hurricane Season
If you live on the Gulf Coast (if you’re reading this I assume you do) then you know that there are a multitude of outdoor activities to be enjoyed by all. Fishing, surfing, boating, and lounging at the beach just to name a few. But it’s not all fun and games...
I Received a Stormwater Quality (SWQ) Violation Notice, Now What?
Have you received a stormwater quality permit renewal notice or notice of violation? If you have, don't panic. And if the letter comes from the city or county attorney’s office, don’t panic. And definitely don’t ignore it! It won’t go away. So what do you do? ...
5 Things You Can Do To Improve Pond Health Now
Mow Monthly The first question I always ask the owner when looking at a detention pond is how often they mow. The answer can often provide clues about the current condition of the pond. If the pond looks unkempt and trees are growing in the bottom the answer is...
Why Is My Detention Pond Full Of Cattails…And How Do I Fix it?
Whether you manage a commercial facility, apartment complex, school, or subdivision, you know that detention ponds are a fact of life. If you maintain a detention pond, you also know how difficult that can be. For a pond that was designed and constructed correctly,...
What Is The Difference Between A Detention Pond And A Retention Pond?
Someone asked me the other day, “What is the question you get asked the most in your industry?” The most common question I get from customers is, “What’s the difference between a detention pond and a retention pond…And why do I have one”? And while it may seem...
Why Should I Maintain My Pilot Channel?
Pilot Channel Project Recently, I was contacted by a customer who was having some problems with standing water at his pond outfall. He stated that the concrete pilot channel had some mud on it that needed to be removed because the area at the outfall was perpetually...
Slope Stabilization 101
If you live in Texas then you are probably familiar with stormwater detention ponds. You most likely see them every day as you navigate the roads and highways in your town or city. Let’s face it; detention ponds are a fact of life for commercial property owners,...
Is Hydromulch The Best Option For Slope Stabilization?
Being in this industry for the last 17 years, you can imagine that I've seen just about all the great (and mostly not so great) recommendations concerning the proper stabilization of a slope. Now we're talking about pond slopes here, and pond slopes are a little...
Is Annual Fertilizer & Overseeding of Detention Pond Slopes Necessary?
The short answer is yes, of course! Imagine what would happen to your front yard if you never applied fertilizer, weed control, pest control, or water. It may not die, but it will get unhealthy rather quickly. And when that process starts, it’s challenging to...