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Stormwater Master Plan

What is Stormwater?Image of cover of EPD brochure After the Storm

Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off of rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and compacted soil when it rains. The stormwater runoff then flows into the City’s drainage system and eventually into our local creeks and rivers. Stormwater runoff contributes to flooding problems and washes chemicals, debris, sediment, trash, and other pollutants into the City drainage systems and our local surface water bodies. The City is responsible for the management of the public storm sewer system. Thomasville's stormwater drainage system includes City streets with drainage systems, publicly maintained detention ponds, pipe systems, catch basins, inlets, culverts, and ditches, all of which must be maintained by the City to ensure they function properly when rainfall events occur.

Stormwater Master Plan

Stormwater management planning is necessary to protect public safety and infrastructure while meeting regulatory requirements. Due to aging infrastructure, land use changes from development, and extreme rainfall events, the development of a comprehensive city-wide Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP) was identified as a need.

In 2022, the City contracted Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) to develop a SWMP, created through community input and assessment of stormwater issues across the city. The SWMP provided the structure to establish prioritized capital improvement projects, maintenance needs, and a policy framework that will protect public safety, infrastructure, and the environment.

Click here to view the Stormwater Master Plan.

Stormwater Utility

Based on the recommendations from GMC consultants in the SWMP, City staff has conducted preliminary research since 2024 on the adoption of an ordinance to establish a Stormwater Utility Fee to operate, manage and fund the City’s SWMP. The adoption of an ordinance to establish a Stormwater Utility Fee would require approval from the Thomasville City Council. If approved by City Council, a potential Stormwater Utility Fee would be implemented in January of 2026.

Project Update

The SWMP completed several items to establish a solid framework to address existing drainage problems or areas of concerns.

  • March 2025 – The City will hold a Stormwater Public Information Meeting.
  • March 2025 – Throughout 2024, based on recommendations from GMC in the SWMP, City staff conducted preliminary research to identify proper implementation strategy for a stormwater utility.
  • January 2025 – GMC provided the City with a draft Stormwater Utility ordinance that is being reviewed by City staff.
  • November 2022 – GMC presented the City’s Stormwater Masterplan to the Utility Commission.
  • March 2022 – The city held four Open House meetings and had available an on-line survey in February and March to capture citizen input on their drainage concerns.
  • March 2022 – The consultant team of GMC created a map that delineated the city’s watersheds and then overlaid it with the drainage concerns and existing Land Use data.
  • March 2022 – Developed a list of drainage projects, the cost estimate, and recommended priority.
  • March 2022 – GMC met with staff and several local engineers, who do a lot of development work in the city, to get their thoughts on the City’s current codes and policies pertaining to stormwater.