Stormwater Management Program

What’s happening?

Each year, the City is required to create a Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) Plan. The SWMP Plan lays out the actions we will take to protect our streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, and Puget Sound from stormwater runoff. It’s like a roadmap that helps us plan for the coming year and shows how we meet the requirements of our Municipal Stormwater Permit.

The 2026 SWMP Plan includes:

• Program planning
• Community education and outreach
• Public involvement
• Stormwater system mapping
• Finding and stopping illegal dumping, leaks and spills
• Helping businesses
• Inspecting privately owned stormwater systems
• Managing runoff from existing development
• Addressing runoff from development activities
• Inspecting, operating and maintaining public infrastructure
• Addressing watershed clean-up plans
• Monitoring and documenting progress

Learn more about each under the "SWMP Plan Sections" tab below.

What is stormwater management?

As our city grows there are more hard surfaces like roadways, parking lots and roofs. Rainwater can’t soak into hard surfaces, so it becomes stormwater runoff. Stormwater management refers to the tools and programs that we have put in place to reduce this runoff from flowing into our streets and waterways while also improving water quality. By managing stormwater we help keep our community safe and water clean for people and wildlife.

Why is this important?

Stormwater pollution is one of the biggest threats to our streams, wetlands, lakes and Puget Sound! When stormwater travels over hard surfaces, it picks up chemicals, tire particles, nutrients, oil and other pollutants, and enters our municipal stormwater system. Sometimes treatment happens before stormwater enters local waterways, but often not.

Water pollution harms aquatic creatures like salmon and orca and their habitats, and impacts activities that we enjoy, like fishing, swimming, and shellfish harvesting.

What we heard

Thanks to everyone who took our survey, we appreciate the time and thought put into your responses! Your input is helping us improve our stormwater programs with the goal of creating a healthier and more resilient Olympia.

On this page there’s a link to the final 2026 Stormwater Management Program Plan which will be in effect through March of 2027. The last part of the document provides a report back to the Olympia community, including highlights of the community’s top concerns, major themes, and key issues. It includes the survey results and how we are using the information shared with us. To view the full survey results and unedited comments, please see appendix A of the document.