Stormwater Management

The planning, design, construction, regulation, improvement, operation of facilities and programs relating to flood control, erosion prevention, conservation, and water quality. 

Mission Statement

The Division of Stormwater Management was established to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the City of Hot Springs citizens by preventing the pollution, impairment or destruction of its natural resources. 

The Importance of Stormwater Management

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the land surface. The addition of roads, driveways, parking lots, rooftops and other surfaces that prevent water from soaking into the ground to our landscape greatly increases the runoff volume created during storms. This runoff is swiftly carried to our local streams, lakes, wetlands and rivers and can cause flooding and erosion, and wash away important habitat for wildlife that live in the stream. Stormwater runoff also picks up and carries with it many different pollutants that are found on paved surfaces such as sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria, oil and grease, trash, pesticides and metals. It comes as no surprise then that stormwater runoff is the number one cause of stream impairment in urban areas.

During construction, soil is highly vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Eroded soil endangers our rivers, creeks, streams and underground water resources by reducing water quality and damaging aquatic habitats for fish and other species. Clearing and grading during the construction process reduces the amount of native vegetation necessary for wildlife habitats. 

The Division of Stormwater Management was created by Federal mandate to provide a safeguard to persons, protect property., and prevent damage to the environment. The City of Hot Springs Stormwater Management promotes public welfare by regulating the design, construction, use and maintenance of developments and other activities that disturb soil in order to prevent erosion from construction job sites or into our water resources and drainage structures.