About the Stormwater Management Division
The Stormwater Management Division (SMD) of the Prince George's County Department of the Environment protects and improves the County's water resources through innovative stormwater management, flood mitigation, watershed restoration, and community partnerships.
Prince George's County is recognized as a national leader in Low Impact Development (LID), using sustainable approaches to manage stormwater, improve water quality, and strengthen communities.
Our Vision
Our Water, Ours to Protect - Clean Water, Healthy Environments, Quality of Life.
Our Mission
Protect and Restore
Preserve local water quality, restore stream ecosystems, and protect aquatic natural resources.
Mitigate Flooding
Develop and implement sustainable solutions for long-term flood control and stormwater management.
Engage Communities
Promote environmental stewardship through public education, outreach, partnerships, and opportunities for residents and organizations to take action.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance
Implement the County's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements and support Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) goals.
What We Do
SMD plans, develops, and implements stormwater and green infrastructure programs throughout Prince George's County.
The Division works across the public and private sectors and coordinates with local municipalities and state and federal partners, including the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Our work includes capital improvement projects, stream restoration, green infrastructure, flood mitigation, regulatory compliance, stormwater inspections, community programs, and long-term maintenance of stormwater assets.
Programs and Initiatives
Clean Water Program
The Clean Water Program manages capital improvement and partnership projects designed to reduce stormwater pollution, restore waterways, and improve environmental resilience throughout Prince George's County.
Projects and practices include:
- Low Impact Development best management practices
- Second-generation high-flow media filters
- Pond retrofits
- Stream restoration
- Green streets
- Reforestation
- Impervious surface restoration
- Environmental reviews associated with NEPA and Draft Environmental Impact Statements
Rain Check Rebate Program
The Rain Check Rebate Program helps property owners install practices that reduce stormwater runoff and improve local water quality.
Eligible residential properties may receive up to $6,000, while eligible commercial and nonprofit properties may receive up to $20,000.
Eligible practices include rain barrels, cisterns, rain gardens, permeable pavement, impervious surface removal, tree planting, green roofs, and conservation landscaping.
Stormwater Stewardship Grants
The Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program supports organizations working to improve water quality and engage communities in environmental stewardship.
Funding includes:
- $20,000–$200,000 for eligible structural restoration projects
- $5,000–$50,000 for eligible community engagement and education initiatives
Alternative Compliance Program
The Alternative Compliance Program (ACP) provides eligible nonprofit organizations and houses of worship opportunities to reduce their Clean Water Act Fee by 25% to 50%.
Participating organizations can qualify through activities such as conservation easements, environmental education and approved green-care practices.
Clean Water Partnership
The Clean Water Partnership (CWP) is Prince George’s County's innovative community-based public-private partnership for delivering stormwater infrastructure and water-quality improvements.
The partnership uses a three-phase delivery model and leverages low-interest State Revolving Fund financing to support projects while incorporating long-term maintenance of stormwater assets.
Regulatory Compliance and Water Quality
Prince George's County operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit, commonly known as an NPDES MS4 permit.
The County's current Fifth Generation NPDES MS4 Permit was issued on December 2, 2022, and extends through December 2, 2027.
Under the previous permit and Consent Decree requirements, the County successfully restored 6,308 acres of untreated impervious surfaces.
Under the Fifth Generation permit, the County is required to restore an additional 2,137 acres of untreated impervious surface by November 2027.
As of Fiscal Year 2025, the County had completed 1,725 acres toward that goal and remains on track through Capital Improvement Program water-quality restoration projects, watershed-based planning, and other restoration initiatives.
How the Division Is Organized
SMD's specialized teams work together to plan, build, inspect, and maintain the infrastructure and programs necessary to protect Prince George's County communities and waterways.
Environmental Programs Section
The Environmental Programs Section (EPS) manages major regulatory, financial, and data functions supporting the County's stormwater program.
Responsibilities include:
- NPDES MS4 annual reporting
- Biennial Financial Assurance Plans
- Clean Water Act Fee assessments for more than 300,000 parcels
- Enterprise geographic information system (GIS) databases
- Regulatory and program data management
Section Manager: Jerry Maldonado, Engineer V
Capital Projects Design Section
The Capital Projects Design Section (CPDS) plans and designs stormwater infrastructure and restoration projects.
Responsibilities include:
- Impervious surface restoration site selection
- Green infrastructure engineering and design
- Stormwater capital project development
- Storm Drain Priority Relief Program
Section Manager: Frank Galosi, Engineer V
Capital Projects Construction Section
The Capital Projects Construction Section (CPCS) manages construction of stormwater Capital Improvement Program projects throughout Prince George's County.
Projects typically range from approximately $400,000 to $18 million.
The section oversees construction management, quality control, wage compliance, and two-year post-construction warranty inspections.
Section Manager: Gadisa Yami, Engineer IV
Inspection and Compliance Section
The Inspection and Compliance Section (ICS) conducts regulatory inspections and monitors compliance associated with stormwater infrastructure and environmental requirements.
The section conducts triannual inspections and works to ensure stormwater facilities continue to operate as intended.
Section Manager: George Nicol, Engineer V
Division Leadership and Administration
The Stormwater Management Division is led by:
Jeff DeHan
Associate Director
Sudhanshu Mishra
Deputy Associate Director
Division administrative operations, including procurement and budget coordination, are managed by Cindy Head, Administrative Specialist I.
Administrative responsibilities include operating and capital budget functions as well as the Department of the Environment's stormwater permitting components within the County's ePermits and ePlans/ProjectDox systems, consistent with interagency agreements.
The Clean Water Partnership is administered by Jim Lyons, Administrative Specialist II.