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1. What Does the Stormwater Management Program Do?

Our program oversees Robinson's Storm Water Management Plan. Multiple departments within the City are instrumental in implementing this plan. The City maintains the storm drainage system, inspects industrial and construction sites, performs stormwater sampling and system monitoring, investigates suspicious discharges or illegal dumping, and participates in public outreach and education.

2. What is stormwater, and where does it go?

Stormwater is runoff that is NEVER treated. When it rains, snows, sleets, or hails that precipitation comes into contact with many types of surfaces in the city: buildings, parking lots, streets, houses, yards, cars… and the list goes on! Ideally, rainwater would be absorbed into the ground however, in urbanized areas like parts of Robinson, there are surfaces that prevent absorption. When the rainwater cannot be absorbed it becomes runoff. Without a storm drainage system that runoff would cause a lot of flooding.

Robinson's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is comprised of storm drains, ditches, lined and unlined channels, creeks, and streams. Stormwater in the City of Robinson drains into these conveyances and flows to the Brazos River.

3. Why does this program matter?

Rain washes over everything– including pollutants. Common stormwater pollutants include:
Motor oils and other automotive fluids
Soaps and detergents
Litter
Fertilizers, pesticides, and other yard chemicals
Pet waste
Soils and sediment
Yard debris (grass clippings, leaves, etc.)

Once these pollutants get into the storm drain system, they go straight to our local waterways without any treatment and can cause many negative impacts. Some of the harmful chemicals like motor oils, soaps, and pesticides are toxic not only to wildlife but also for our drinking water supply. Fertilizers can support harmful algae blooms. Decaying yard waste and pet waste can deplete the water of oxygen and kill fish. Pet waste also leads to increased bacterial contamination that can make water unsafe for swimming and other recreational activities.

4. How Do I Report A Concern?

To report a stormwater concern you can contact Justin French at the city by calling (254) 662-1415 or email Justin French. You can also submit a concern through our website.

5. How Can I Get Involved?

Check with the Texas Department of Transportation to see if there are any Adopt-a-Highway spots available in your area.

Interested in getting involved to protect our local streams, rivers, and lakes? Joining the local Texas Stream Team chapter allows you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience while helping monitor waterways on a monthly basis. In addition to our region, basic water quality data is collected at sites across Texas and contributes to an overall picture of our state's water quality.

Participate in a Stormwater Volunteer Study! CoCoRaHS is the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network– a grassroots volunteer organization that measures precipitation rates across the country. Volunteers measure and report daily precipitation amounts in their own backyards, providing a more accurate understanding of just how differently rainfall occurs, even across our city! Visit the CoCoRaHS website.

Check out more pollution prevention tips and gather other ideas on how you can prevent stormwater pollution at home by visiting TakeCareofTexas.org.

Do you have an idea for a volunteer project? Are you already doing a project you want us to know about? Contact us and let us know!