Free Live Webinar 3/24 - All About Detention Ponds
Detention ponds are everywhere.
From commercial developments and residential subdivisions to public infrastructure projects, they are one of the most common stormwater management tools in use today. But while they are common, they are often misunderstood — and even more often, they don’t perform exactly the way they were designed.
That gap between design intent and field performance is where problems begin.
On the surface, a detention pond looks simple: excavate a basin, install an outlet structure, and let it manage runoff. But beneath that simplicity lies a complex interplay of hydrology, hydraulics, regulatory requirements, and long-term maintenance considerations.
That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in our upcoming live webinar:
🎓 All About Detention Ponds: Design, Function, and Performance
Live on the 24th | 1 PDH Available
Instructor: Scott Jeffers, PE, PhD
Why Detention Pond Design Matters
Before development, rainfall follows a natural hydrologic cycle — infiltrating soil, evaporating, or slowly moving through vegetation. After development, impervious surfaces change everything. Runoff increases. Peak flows spike. Hydrographs shift dramatically.
Detention ponds are engineered specifically to address that shift. Their purpose?
✔️ Temporarily store runoff
✔️ Reduce peak discharge rates
✔️ Protect downstream systems
✔️ Help meet regulatory and MS4 requirements
But how do we actually design them to achieve that?
It starts with understanding the hydrograph — how we “chop the peak” of a storm event — and how design storms like the 10-year or 100-year event influence pond sizing and discharge calculations.
Detention vs. Retention: Not Just Semantics
One of the most common areas of confusion in stormwater management is the difference between detention and retention.
- Detention systems temporarily store water and release it at a controlled rate.
- Retention systems store water permanently and manage total runoff volume, often promoting infiltration.
The hydraulic differences between these systems affect everything — storage calculations, outlet design, regulatory compliance, and long-term maintenance.
During this webinar, Dr. Jeffers will break down how to identify each system in the field — even without plans — and how modeling approaches like design-storm routing vs. continuous simulation (e.g., HydroCAD vs. SWMM) influence engineering decisions.
When Modeling Meets Reality
Even the most carefully modeled system can fail if field conditions change.
Common failure modes include:
- Sediment loading that reduces storage capacity
- Clogged orifices that alter discharge curves
- Compaction that limits infiltration
- Inlet blockages that disrupt conveyance
A detention pond is only compliant if it performs as designed — and maintenance is part of that compliance equation.
This webinar bridges the gap between engineering theory and real-world performance so engineers, inspectors, MS4 managers, and construction professionals can better understand how these systems function over time.
Who Should Attend
This session is ideal for:
- Civil Engineers
- Municipal Reviewers
- MS4 Program Managers
- Stormwater Inspectors
- Construction Managers
- Environmental Compliance Professionals
If you design, review, inspect, or maintain detention ponds — this webinar will strengthen your technical foundation.
💧 Join Us Live on the 24th
Detention ponds aren’t just basins. They’re engineered hydraulic systems that must perform under real-world conditions.
Join us on the 24th for this technical deep dive with Scott Jeffers, PE, PhD, and walk away with a stronger understanding of hydrology fundamentals, outlet design, regulatory implications, and field performance.
🎓 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) Available
📅 Live Webinar on March 24th at 1PM Eastern
👉 Register now and secure your seat for this live session.
We look forward to seeing you there.