Stormwater Management Services for Land Development.
SWPPPs, detention and retention pond design, drainage, BMPs, and stormwater permitting coordination for residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use projects across Minnesota and Colorado.
Senior PE on every project. Big-firm experience. Independent-firm fees.
Stormwater management, in plain English.
Stormwater management is the engineering practice of controlling rainwater and snowmelt runoff on a developed site. It uses grading, drainage systems, detention or retention ponds, and best management practices (BMPs) to slow runoff, capture pollutants, prevent flooding, and meet federal, state, and local stormwater regulations.
For land development projects, stormwater management is rarely optional. The federal Clean Water Act, EPA's NPDES program, and state-level agencies (Minnesota's MPCA and Colorado's CDPHE, for example) all require permitted construction sites to control runoff and prevent pollution. Local watershed districts, cities, and counties typically layer additional requirements on top.
A well-designed stormwater system protects the project from flooding, satisfies the regulators, makes the site insurable, and (when done right) saves significant developable acreage compared with an over-conservative or generic design.
Constructed detention pond with grate inlet and surrounding wetland buffer.
What we deliver on a stormwater engagement.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
Site-specific SWPPP documents that identify pollution sources, prescribe BMPs, and meet EPA, MPCA, and CDPHE Construction Stormwater General Permit requirements. Required for most projects disturbing one acre or more.
Hydrologic & Hydraulic Analysis
Runoff volume calculations, peak flow analysis, and detention sizing using methods recognized by the local jurisdiction. The math behind every downstream design decision.
Detention & Retention Pond Design
Pond sizing, outlet structure design, embankment grading, and integration with the broader site. Designed to perform during real storm events, not just to satisfy a checklist.
Drainage System Design
Storm sewer layout, inlet sizing, swales, and conveyance design integrated with site grading and utility design.
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Bioretention, rain gardens, infiltration basins, permeable pavement, sediment basins, and other structural and non-structural BMPs to meet water-quality treatment requirements.
Permit Coordination
MPCA Construction Stormwater General Permit (Minnesota), CDPHE construction stormwater permit (Colorado), watershed district reviews, and municipal stormwater approvals.
Stamped, submitted, and built. Not template plans.
Every stormwater scope produces the construction documents your contractor and reviewing agency need to actually move the project forward. Here's an example: a residential grading and drainage construction set with stormwater integration.
Real soil conditions. Real topography. Real construction notes. Stamped by a Minnesota-licensed PE.
Detention pond vs retention pond: a quick reference.
| Detention Pond | Retention Pond | |
|---|---|---|
| Water in pond | Temporary — typically dry between storms | Permanent pool, fills during storms |
| Primary purpose | Slow the release rate of runoff | Slow runoff & provide water-quality treatment |
| Outlet behavior | Drains completely after a storm event | Overflows above the permanent pool elevation |
| Best for | Sites with limited footprint or seasonal use | Sites where water quality, aesthetics, or habitat matter |
| Maintenance | Sediment removal, outlet inspection | Aquatic vegetation, sediment, outlet inspection |
Most jurisdictions accept either, but local watershed districts often require water-quality treatment that effectively pushes a project toward retention or a hybrid design.
Stormwater regulations vary by state. We work both.
MPCA & Watershed Districts
Minnesota stormwater is regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) under the Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSWGP), with additional reviews from local watershed districts (especially in the Twin Cities), MnDOT for state highway access, and city or county engineering departments.
Land Pro in MinnesotaCDPHE & Local Jurisdictions
Colorado stormwater is regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), with construction stormwater permits issued under the state's CDPS program. City and county jurisdictions across the Front Range and mountain communities add their own stormwater criteria, especially for water-quality treatment.
Land Pro in ColoradoStormwater engineering for the people who move land forward.
Land Developers
Residential subdivisions, commercial sites, mixed-use, and industrial campuses.
Architects
Firms that need a civil partner for stormwater scope on building-driven sites.
Builders & GCs
Contractors needing SWPPP development, BMP design, and inspection support.
Solar Developers
Stormwater design and permitting for ground-mounted solar across MN and CO.
Tell us the site, the scope, and the schedule. We'll come back with a fee.
Stormwater management questions, answered.
What is stormwater management?
Stormwater management is the engineering practice of controlling rainwater and snowmelt runoff on a developed site. It uses grading, drainage systems, detention or retention ponds, and best management practices (BMPs) to slow runoff, capture pollutants, prevent flooding, and meet federal, state, and local stormwater regulations.
What is a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)?
A SWPPP is a site-specific document required for most construction projects disturbing one acre or more. It identifies pollution sources on a construction site and the BMPs used to prevent pollutants (sediment, fuel, debris) from entering nearby waterways. SWPPPs are required by EPA, MPCA in Minnesota, and CDPHE in Colorado for permit-covered construction sites.
What is the difference between a detention pond and a retention pond?
A detention pond holds stormwater temporarily and slowly releases it back into the drainage system, typically dry between storm events. A retention pond holds water permanently, with a permanent pool that fills with stormwater and overflows during larger storms. Both are used to control runoff rate and improve water quality, but retention ponds also provide ecological and aesthetic benefits.
What does a stormwater management engineer do?
A stormwater management engineer designs the systems that control how rainwater moves through a developed site. The work includes hydrologic analysis (calculating runoff volumes and peak flows), drainage design, sizing and locating detention and retention ponds, designing infiltration practices and other BMPs, preparing SWPPPs, and coordinating stormwater permits with the regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over the site.
How much does stormwater management design cost?
Cost depends on site size, soil conditions, regulatory complexity, and the scope of stormwater work needed. A basic stormwater management plan for a small commercial site is a different number than a multi-phase subdivision with a regional detention pond. Land Pro Civil offers fixed-fee, retainer, or hourly engagements with the number agreed in writing before work starts. As a smaller, senior-led firm we are meaningfully more affordable than larger regional engineering firms for comparable scope.
Do you handle stormwater permitting in Minnesota?
Yes. We coordinate Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Construction Stormwater General Permit submittals, develop site-specific SWPPPs, and work with watershed districts across the Twin Cities metro and Greater Minnesota.
Do you handle stormwater permitting in Colorado?
Yes. We coordinate Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) construction stormwater permits, develop SWPPPs, and work with local jurisdictions across the Front Range and mountain communities.
Founder of Land Pro Civil. Professional Engineer licensed in Minnesota, Colorado, North Dakota, and Utah. University of Minnesota Civil Engineering graduate. More about Paul →
Tell us about your site and stormwater scope.
Whether you need a SWPPP, detention pond design, drainage analysis, or full stormwater scope from feasibility through construction, we'll come back with a clear proposal and a fee in writing.
Tell us about your project
We'll respond the same business day.
Open Project FormOr call (303) 229-0180 to speak with Paul directly.