DCNR Releases Technical Bulletin On Managing Stormwater In Karst Areas Of Pennsylvania

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has released a new resource to support engineers, planners, and municipal officials tasked with managing stormwater in areas of karst topography. 

Titled-- Stormwater Best Management Practices in Karst-- this technical bulletin addresses the complex challenges of development in regions characterized by limestone, sinkholes, springs, and underground drainage. 

As land development accelerates in central and southeastern Pennsylvania, this publication offers science-based recommendations to help communities protect water resources, avoid infrastructure failures, and reduce the risks associated with groundwater contamination and sinkhole formation.

Karst terrain, common in much of Pennsylvania, poses unique risks that traditional stormwater design approaches often fail to address. 

The guide emphasizes tailored site assessments, appropriate selection of best management practices (BMPs), and careful integration of features like karst swales, shallow bioretention areas, and vegetated filter strips. 

It discourages the use of large-scale infiltration systems and centralized detention basins due to their higher potential for triggering sinkholes and contaminating aquifers. 

The resource also outlines specific planning and construction techniques - such as groundwater modeling, dye tracing, and sinkhole remediation protocols - to inform safe and sustainable land development.

Developed in collaboration with geologists, stormwater experts, and regulatory agencies, the DCNR's new technical bulletin is intended to serve as a living document, with updates reflecting emerging science and on-the-ground experiences. 

Local governments are encouraged to incorporate their recommendations into ordinances and review processes, especially in karst-dominated regions. 

By equipping communities with practical tools and knowledge, DCNR aims to foster resilient infrastructure and protect vital groundwater resources in Pennsylvania’s growing communities.

Click Here for a copy of the Bulletin.

Click Here for the Bulletin announcement.

(Reprinted from the latest Ag Conservation Currents newsletter from Penn State Extension.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

[Posted: August 18, 2025]  PA Environment Digest