Stormwater Management

A storm drain in a winter wonderland where snow is just stormwater waiting to happen.

Welcome to the Goshen Department of Stormwater Management

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is water from snow and ice melting, as well as rainwater from storms. When rain or melting snow and ice fall or flow across natural surfaces like forests and grassy areas, most of it will soak into the soil. When it lands on streets, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, it runs off to another location like a storm drain or a local waterway.

For more click on this Stormwater Information link

What is Stormwater Pollution?

As stormwater flows (or snow melts), it picks up debris (such as trash, grass clippings, etc.), chemicals (such as fertilizers and pesticides), sediment, and other pollutants. This “contaminated” water then enters a storm sewer system and is eventually discharged to a local wetland, stream, or river.

Why is Stormwater Pollution a Concern? 

Within the City of Goshen and other urban areas, stormwater runoff comes from yards, roofs, driveways, parking lots, construction sites, and streets (these are all called hard surfaces except for yards), and flows into miles of storm sewers, swales, and ditches located under or next to our City streets and eventually reaches our local waterways. Stormwater picks up oil, grease, sediments, automotive fluids, trash, lawn chemicals, and other pollutants that are harmful to the environment and are often discharged/released into our local waterways untreated.

Untreated stormwater affects our ability to use our local water bodies for drinking, fishing, and recreational purposes and it degrades fish and other aquatic habitats. The only way to lessen stormwater pollution is to reduce the amount of pollutants washed away by stormwater. The goal of the Department of Stormwater Management is “Clean Water for Everyone”.

Click here to Report-a-Pollutant.

For more information on the Department of Stormwater Management and the Staff, click here.

Important Links

• Federal, State, and Local Regulations and Ordinances
• Report-A-Pollutant
• Educational Resources
• Reports and Studies
• Guidance Documents and Resources
• Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan (PCSMP)
• Development Resources & Technical Review 
• Elkhart River in Goshen – USGS Real-Time Monitoring
• City Maps

​Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter

To see past editions of the Stormwater Toolbox Newsletter click here.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

• March 4 & 5, 2025
  • Pay Dirt Conference at the Elkhart County Fair Grounds
• Board of Works  – Every Thursday except the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Police/Courts Building (111 East Jefferson Street). Click here for a 2024 calendar showing the City Meeting schedule. 
• Goshen Stormwater Board – Every Thursday except the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m.in the Police/Courts Building (111 East Jefferson Street)
• MS4 Advisory Board – To be Announced at the Elkhart County Public Services Building (4230 Elkhart Road, Goshen, IN 46526) 
• Partnership Stormwater Board Meeting – The fourth Monday of every month, at 9:00 am at the County Administration Building (117 N. Second Street, Goshen, IN 46526)