Wet and Extended Detention Stormwater Ponds
Removing pollutants for stormwater management
Stormwater ponds capture stormwater and use settling, biological uptake, and extended storage time to remove pollutants.
Wet ponds maintain a permanent pool, while extended detention ponds temporarily hold runoff to reduce peak flows. While not as popular, they remain one of the most common stormwater practices in the Chesapeake Bay region.
5 Things to Know About This Practice
- High pollutant removal, but some concerns about long-term accumulation of toxins in bottom sediments
- Provides efficient treatment for drainage areas up to 20 acres
- Ponds can provide community amenities and aesthetic benefits IF they are properly managed
- Not as common as they once were as BMPs, though they are becoming more popular again as their amenities are utilized, such as walking trails around the pond
- Should be avoided in watersheds with cold water fisheries, as they are downstream warmers with large impacts on cold water systems.
Related Resources
View All ResourcesDesign Spec
Design Spec: Wet Pond, 2010Developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, this design specification (Version 1.9, March 1, 2011) provides guidance on...
Design Spec
Design Spec: Extended Detention Pond, 2011Developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, this design specification (Version 1.9, 2011) provides guidance on designing extended...