BMP Retrofit Homeowners Guide
INFORMATION ABOUT BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS) FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PARCELS IN NEVADA
Thank you for contacting the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District for assistance with your BMPs. This section of our website provides information on what homeowners can do to prepare for BMP installation. Please click on the type of property you are inquiring about:
- Properties currently under permit
- Single Family Residential Parcels in California
- Single Family Residential Parcels in Nevada
- Multi-Family home, lake front homes and/or commercial properties
If you need immediate assistance for a home that has received an enforcement letter or is in escrow, please call our BMP Hotline at 775-586-1610 x 28.
WORKING WITH THE NEVADA TAHOE CONSERVATION DISTRICT'S BACKYARD CONSERVATION PROGRAM
The District is a non-regulatory, 100% grant funded organization that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the TRPA to assist single-family homeowners with the design and installation of BMPs. Working with the District is completely voluntary. It is a way to obtain free conservation assistance from a non-regulatory agency. The District is bound by law to work with you in strict confidentiality, although we will need authorization to share documentation of your completed BMPs with the TRPA to request your BMP Certificate of Completion.
COMMON BMP QUESTIONS:
When do my BMPs need to be done?
What are the penalties if I don’t get my BMPs completed by the deadline?
Has my property already had a BMP site evaluation?
Has a BMP Certificate of Completion been issued for my property?
I want to know more about BMPs.
What other services does NTCD offer?
How much will my BMPs cost to install? Use the Cost Estimator.
How to use the Cost Estimator.
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EVALUATING YOUR OWN PROPERTY
This step will help you prepare for a site visit from an NTCD employee. It is intended to facilitate effective communication between you and our staff so that you can get the most from our services. In this step you will:
- Investigate your property to determine what types of BMPs you will likely need
- Start creating a plan for your BMPs that will let District staff know what type of design characteristics you want for your property
It is our goal to help you comply with the BMP retrofit ordinance in a manner that makes your home more enjoyable and valuable.
STEP 1: On a large piece of paper draw a rough sketch of the shape of your lot.
STEP 2: Add the street and any other major landscape features.
STEP 3: Draw the footprint of your home and any other hard surfaces such as driveways, decks, walkways, sheds, etc. Do your best to draw these features in the correct locations and with accurate proportions.
STEP 4: Outline any areas of bare soil. These areas will need to be mulched or vegetated.
STEP 5: Outline any areas of eroding soil. These areas will need to be stabilized.
STEP 6: Are the driplines under each roof eave protected from erosion? These areas will need to have a BMP installed.
STEP 7: Are the areas below all decks protected from erosion? These areas will need to have a BMP installed.
STEP 8: Is the driveway paved? If not, it will need to be paved according to your local jurisdiction.
STEP 9: If the driveway is paved, does the storm water flow off your property and into the roadside ditch or road? Use a hose to determine where the runoff goes. According to the BMP retrofit ordinance, runoff equivalent to the 20 year/1hour storm must be captured before it leaves your property boundary. Driveways that slope toward the street are commonly retrofitted with swales and slotted channel drains to convey runoff to an on-site infiltration system.
For more information, consult the Home Landscaping Guide.
WHAT TYPES OF BMPS CAN BE INSTALLED?
Driveways
Driplines
Under Deck and Stairs
Infiltration Systems
Slope Stabilization
Landscaping
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COMMON SITE EVALUTION QUESTIONS
Should I be present for the site evaluation?
Yes, if possible. If you are present, we will explain what we will be recommending on site which makes the site evaluation easier to interpret. Additionally, we can better tailor the recommendations to your preferences if you are present.
How long does the site evaluation take?
The average amount of time for the field portion of your site evaluation is one hour. Some variables that influence the amount of time we are on your property are if you elect to be present, the complexity of your property, and time taken to answer any questions you have. It usually takes another 3-4 hours to process your evaluation in the office and produce a final BMP site evaluation for you. We do our best to mail you the evaluation packet as quickly as possible.
What happens during the Site Evaluation?
First, District staff will walk your property (with you if you elect to be present) to get a feel for the layout of all structures and photograph areas needing BMPs. A sketch of the property including all hard structures, hard surfaces, and erosion problems will then be made. If you made a sketch for us, we will utilize it to increase our efficiency. The dimensions of the hard surfaces, slope, and runoff patterns for each surface will be measured for the purpose of calculating runoff volumes and sizing and locating the BMPs.
How long will it take for me to schedule an appointment?
We try our hardest to schedule BMP site evaluations as efficiently as possible. There is a large demand for our services and your patience is appreciated. Properties that have received a TRPA enforcement letter or are in escrow are given priority and can usually be scheduled in 2-3 weeks.
INTERPRETING YOUR BMP SITE EVALUATION
Included in the BMP site evaluation packet:
-BMP site plan showing locations of your BMPS
-BMP treatment form describing the treatment and dimensions
-Attachment explaining each treatment in detail
-Compost Tip Sheet
-Mulch Tip Sheet
-Nutrient Tip Sheet
-Pest Management Tip Sheet
-Pond Tip Sheet
-Terrace Tip Sheet
-Tree Planting Tip Sheet
-Water Management Tip Sheet
-Wetland Tip Sheet
-Wildlife Tip Sheet
-Privacy Release
-Home Landscaping Guide
-Native plant seeds for areas needing revegetation
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BMP Standard Drawings/Installation Guidelines
-Geo-Textile Fabric Specification
-Armored Dripline
-Dripline Infiltration Trench
-Elevated Structures
-Low Elevated Structures
-Parking Barriers
Can someone meet with me at my home to discuss the evaluation?
The District is available to provide technical assistance to address any questions or needs that are not met through printed materials or this web site. Please do your best to fully utilize the material that we provided to you, but if you still have questions, please call us to schedule an appointment for Technical Assistance: 775-586-1610 x 28.
How do I make changes to my evaluation?
If you want to alter your evaluation, it is recommended that you do so with the assistance of the District to ensure that you are meeting the BMP retrofit ordinance. To schedule an appointment for Technical Assistance: 775-586-1610 x 28.
INSTALLING YOUR BMPS
The primary options for BMP installation are:
-install them yourself
-hire someone to install them for you
-some mix of the two
We are happy to assist you with technical assistance through the installation process.
Call Service Alert First!
Before excavating any soil to install your BMPs, it is imperative that underground utilities be located and marked on your property to avoid damage or service interruption during construction. Service Alert must be contacted 2 working days (48 hours) before any excavation occurs to mark gas and electric lines. Service Alert can be reached at 1-800-227-2600.
Installing BMPs on your own
The most economical option is to install your BMPs on your own. We try to recommend the simplest BMPs possible to help homeowners install them on their own. The District can meet with you to help ensure a successful installation.
Hire a contractor
There are a number of contractors in the Lake Tahoe area that specialize in BMP design and installation. This list of BMP Resource Professionals provides you with contacts working in this business. The District can meet with you and/or the contractor to help ensure a successful installation.
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BMP MAINTENANCE
Your TRPA Certificate of Completion is valid only if your BMPs are maintained and functioning properly. There are several installation techniques that can reduce maintenance intervals and make maintenance easier when it is necessary.
Reducing maintenance intervals and making maintenance easier
- Above ground systems such as bio swales and shallow basins are easier to inspect and maintain
- Install BMPs that prevent sediment from being transported. Some examples include vegetation, organic and inorganic mulch, erosion control blankets
- Installing borders around your BMPs can help to keep adjacent soil from filling them in and retain BMP materials such as rock in place
- Runoff should be passed through a sediment trap prior to conveyance to underground infiltration systems, especially in the case of driveways.
- Filter fabric is commonly used to wrap underground infiltration systems. Installing filter fabric will allow water to pass through the system, but can stop even fine sediment from entering the bulk of the system depending on the weave of the fabric. The fabric prevents infiltration systems from filling in with sediment.
When do I need to maintain my BMPs?
It is best to visually check your BMPs after major storms, just before winter, and in the spring. Snow removal often causes damage to BMPs. It is especially important to check your BMPs during the spring thaw to ensure that runoff from snow piles is captured.
Sometimes a visual inspection can reveal problems with your BMPs, but it is best to test the system. To do so, run a garden hose on the impervious surface to be tested (your driveway for example) for at least 10 minutes. Confirm that the water is being captured by the associated BMP.
How do I maintain my BMPs?
Appropriate maintenance for above ground BMPs such as basins and swales may include removal of accumulated sediment, tilling, and re vegetating to ensure that water is infiltrating into the system. Other maintenance needs include repairing containment structures (berms/ sides of the system) and removing obstructions in the conveyance system which transports the runoff generated from the associated impervious surface to the above ground BMP.
Underground systems should be covered by a layer of filter fabric and rock. As designed, this surface layer of rock and filter fabric collects sediment rather than allowing it to enter deeper into the system. In even one season enough sediment can collect to clog the top layer forcing water to run over the surface rather than infiltrate. To clean the top layer, carefully remove the rock (be careful not to damage the filter fabric) and strain it. A simple way to do this is to make a sieve with old 2x4s, wood trim, and sturdy wire or plastic mesh:
- Construct a frame with the 2x4s that will sit on the rim of your wheelbarrow or trash can
- Cut a piece of mesh that is 6" wider and longer than your 2x4 frame
- Lay the mesh on your frame and wrap the extra material up the sides evenly
- Cut pieces of trim the approximate length and width of your frame to use for securing the mesh
- Mount the trim pieces over the mesh with wood screws
- Set the sieve on the rim of your wheelbarrow or trash can and load it with a shovel full of the rock to be cleaned
- Rinse the rock with hose water and set it aside for reinstallation
- Discard dirty water and sediment in a contained area on your property such as a planting bed
Be sure to document the Maintenance that you perform
The primary reasons to document your BMP maintenance activities are to:
- Provide yourself with guidance for future maintenance needs
- Make modifications to your BMPs to reduce future maintenance requirements
- Ensure that your BMP Certificate of Completion with not be revoked
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FINAL INSPECTION OF YOUR BMPS
After installing your BMPs according to your BMP site evaluation, you can request a final inspection from the District. The District will need your authorization to share documentation of your completed BMPs with the TRPA and request your BMP Certificate of Completion.
What happens during the final BMP inspection?
At your request, District staff will visit your property with a copy of the site evaluation and confirm that all required BMPs are installed and functional. If the installation meets all requirements of the BMP Retrofit Ordinance, the District will request a Certificate of Completion from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the TRPA to process the request. You can check the status of your Certificate on the TRPA website. In order for your Certificate of Completion to remain valid, all BMPs must be maintained and functional.
To request a final inspection for your property, call 775-586-1610 x. 28.
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