BMP decision support system for evaluating stormwater management alternatives

Prince George's County, Maryland, in the Washington D. C. metropolitan area has developed a best management practice decision support system (BMPDSS) to support analysis and decision making for stormwater management planning and design at both the site scale and the watershed levels. This paper presents a detailed description of the BMPDSS. A case study that demonstrates the application of the system is also included. The case study involves a Green Highway project located in a highly urbanized area within the Anacostia River watershed of the county. Several best management practices (BMP) such as bioretention, filter vegetative swale, porous paving, and landscape infiltration are proposed for reducing highway runoff and improving water quality. The BMPDSS is used to identify and evaluate various alternatives to determine the most cost-effective types and combinations of BMPs that minimize the highway runoff pollution.