Bannockburn Swim Club Stormwater Management Study

In 2025, LFWA was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Montgomery County Department of Environment Protection to develop a comprehensive stormwater management design for the Bannockburn Swim Club in Bethesda, MD to use as a road map for solving stormwater management problems at their facility. The assessment would include recommendations and preliminary designs to treat runoff from paved areas as well as capture rain from roof tops. Design elements could include pervious pavers, curb cuts and rain gardens, and impervious surface removal.

community outreach

The grant also includes an opportunity for community education. Meetings are planned to educate the swim club members on the need for stormwater management, on the important role of native plants in helping control stormwater runoff, and how the unabated run-off effects the health of the local waterways.

background

Bannockburn Swim club is tucked into a very narrow stream valley in the buffer of the Bannockburn Tributary. There is currently no stormwater management.  All the water from the parking lot and driveway runs directly to the street.  Most of the unpaved property is uphill from the pool. The creek-side area is dominated by the pool, pool house, pool deck, parking lot, and patio areas. Erosion on the banks of the creek is significant and water flows from the uphill areas unchecked across the parking lot directly to the creek. The pool house gutters are piped to drain in the creek as well as run-off from the pool deck. Back-washing from the pool pumps is also discharged into the creek.

Funding partners

Funding is provided by the Montgomery County Water Quality Protection Fund, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).