Stormwater Management Utility Guidebook Workshop: Helping Communities Plan for Resilient Infrastructure

On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, approximately 60 local officials, municipal employees, and stormwater management professionals from across Southeast Michigan came together for the Stormwater Management Utility Guidebook Workshop. Attendees learned about the features of a well-designed stormwater management utility, helping communities transition from uncertainty about stormwater fee structures to a clearer path toward implementation informed by recent legal decisions.

Stormwater management is more than a technical responsibility—it is a community investment. From reducing localized flooding to improving the health of rivers, lakes, and streams, effective stormwater management programs help municipalities protect public assets, meet regulatory expectations, and build resilience in the face of extreme rain events.

What the Workshop Covered

The Stormwater Management Utility Guidebook is a new SEMCOG resource intended to help municipalities evaluate, develop, and implement stormwater management utilities. Participants learned alongside peers who are asking similar questions:

• How do we fund stormwater infrastructure improvements equitably?
• How are these fee structures analogous to water and sewer rates?
• How do we build support for necessary stormwater infrastructure investments?
• How do we align stormwater planning with broader community goals such as public safety, environmental stewardship, and economic development?

Key Takeaways

Lessons from the workshop included:

• Stormwater Management Utilities are a service-based fee, not a tax
• Key considerations for developing a fair and transparent fee structure
• Ways to communicate the value of stormwater investment to residents, elected officials, and community partners
• Practical steps municipalities can take when assessing readiness for a stormwater management utility
• Considerations for Townships and multi-jurisdictional stormwater management investments
• Examples of challenges, opportunities, and decision points communities may encounter during implementation

Building Capacity for the Future

For local officials and municipal employees, stormwater management decisions often involve balancing infrastructure needs, budget realities, regulatory requirements, and community expectations. Whether a community is just beginning to discuss stormwater management funding or is ready to take the next step toward implementation, the Stormwater Management Utility Guidebook offers valuable support for informed decision-making.

The Stormwater Management Utility Guidebook Workshop highlighted practical strategies to develop local stormwater management utilities. As attendees bring these insights back to their communities, the conversation around stormwater funding and resilience can continue to grow across Southeast Michigan.

The PDF version of the Guidebook and other resources can be found at the Stormwater Management Utility webpage.