Visit
Stormwater Management for more information about managing stormwater on your property, the Douglas County Stormwater Master Plan, Low Impact Development, Area Drainage Master Plans and Studies, and additional Stormwater resources.
Visit
Floodplain Management for more information about the Douglas County Stormwater Master Plan, floodplain development, Title 20.50 Floodplain Management of the Douglas County Consolidated Development Code, high water mark signs, and links to floodplain resources.
Visit
Flooding in Douglas County for more information on flood zones, flash flood awareness, flood safety and preparedness, and emergency services.
Inspection and Maintenance
Inspection of drainage facilities are performed by Douglas County staff at least once annually, after major storms, and in response to citizens’ complaints. Douglas County believes in active and timely response, followed by documentation. When conditions requiring maintenance are identified, maintenance or repairs are conducted in a reasonable time frame (not to exceed 30 days).
Action to resolve drainage problems are researched and prioritized. Specific actions to minimize drainage damage to property include routine ditch, culvert, and channel cleaning, reconstruction of facilities, engineering designs, and drainage diversions to redistribute stormwater flows.
All stormwater drainage infrastructure is documented in GIS software. Features, inspections, and maintenance records are associated with each Douglas County drainage asset.
Types of Maintenance the County Will and Will Not Do
Douglas County maintains culverts, roadside ditches, and storm drains located within the County right-of-way in areas that are maintained by Douglas County.
Douglas County does NOT maintain private driveway culverts.
How to Report a Drainage Issue
To report a County drainage or maintenance issue
email Douglas County Stormwater Division or call (775) 782-6215. On-site visits can also be arranged to provide drainage advice.
Flood Insurance: Are You Covered?
For many of us, our home and its contents are our greatest investment. Standard homeowner and renter insurance policies do not cover losses due to flooding. Douglas County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and its Community Rating System (CRS). This means residents are eligible to receive flood insurance coverage at a discounted rate. Call your insurance agent or the NFIP at (800) 427-4661 for more information.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS)
The National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions. Douglas County participates in the program, and as a result, flood insurance premiums are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from community actions based on:
• Reducing flood damage to insurable properties
• Strengthening and supporting the insurance aspects of the NFIP
• Encouraging a comprehensive approach to floodplain management
Currently, Douglas County is rated as a 6, which gives property owners required to obtain flood insurance a 20% discount. CRS classes are based on 18 creditable activities, organized under four categories:
• Public Information
• Mapping and Regulations
• Flood Damage Reduction
• Flood Preparedness
Additional Resources
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)
FEMA Flood Insurance Information
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS)
Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
The Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a science-based stormwater plan to restore Lake Tahoe's famous clarity. This program was initiated to better understand the causes of clarity loss, determine how much pollution needs to be reduced, and develop a realistic implementation approach to restore historic clarity. Douglas County has an Interlocal Agreement with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to accomplish this goal.
Each jurisdiction around the Lake is responsible for reducing the amount of fine sediment particles (FSP) that reach Lake Tahoe. Douglas County is reducing the pollutant load to Lake Tahoe through water quality improvement projects, improving road operations such as sanding and plowing, and working with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to achieve parcel best management practices (BMP) certificates. To date, Douglas County has met the second milestone (2016 and 2021) by reducing 21% of its contribution of fine sediment particles flowing into Lake Tahoe.
Additional Resources
Lake Clarity Tracker
Lake Tahoe TMDL Program Targets
Douglas County Small MS4 Permit
Polluted stormwater is often discharged into local rivers and streams without treatment. Common pollutants include oil and grease from roadways, pesticides from lawns, sediment from construction sites, and carelessly discarded trash, such as pet waste, cigarette butts, paper wrappers, and plastic bottles. Once these pollutants make it into the Carson River, they can contaminate drinking water supplies, degrade recreational uses, and interfere with habitat for fish, other aquatic organisms, and wildlife. Douglas County is mandated by the EPA and the State of Nevada to implement a stormwater program under the
Small MS4 Permit to reduce the discharge of pollutants, protect water quality, and satisfy the water quality requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act.
The Federal Clean Water Act requires large and medium-sized towns across the United States to take steps to reduce polluted stormwater runoff. The law was applied in two phases. The first phase addressed large cities. The second phase, often referred to as “Phase II,” requires medium and small cities, fast growing cities, and those located near sensitive waters to take steps to reduce stormwater. Currently, in Douglas County, the Clear Creek area and parts of Johnson Lane are subject to these regulations.
The main activities Douglas County is required to conduct through the permit are public outreach and involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site stormwater runoff control, post construction stormwater management, and pollution prevention for municipal operations. The County’s MS4 permit boundary is likely to expand to include Minden, Gardnerville and the Gardnerville Ranchos in the near future.
Illicit Discharge
Only rain belongs down the storm drain system. Dumping into storm drains is illegal. To report an illicit discharge, or illegal dumping down a storm drain, please
email Douglas County Stormwater Division or call (775) 782-6215.
Additional Resources
Clear Creek Stormwater Plan
Johnson Lane Stormwater Plan
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stormwater Program