Stormwater SCM inspections include a thorough evaluation of the primary features of SCMs in place. Particular attention is placed on the following areas:

Dam and Emergency Spillway
The dam and emergency spillway are very important in protecting lives and property downstream in the event of a catastrophic failure. Too much woody vegetation or too many mature shrubs and trees can degrade the integrity of a dam if their root structure gets into the dam foundation. Burrowing animals, such as muskrats and mice, can cause even more degradation. Dams must be inspected for any cracks, seepage, or excessive erosion that may cause a failure of the pond. The emergency spillway should be maintained from any excessive woody vegetation or significant erosion as well.

Inlets and Outlets
The inlets and outlets to and from the pond may become clogged with sediment, trash or debris. Structural failure of the inlet or outlet may occur as a result of blockages or improper installation. Blockages should be removed and pipes should be repaired or replaced as needed. The riser pipe and orifice holes should be visually inspected from shore to ensure they are not blocked and that the pond appears to be draining properly.

Erosion
Erosion can be of minimal importance or it can be the most significant problem associated with the pond. Minor erosion should be noted and can be corrected by revegetating. Major erosion on the dam or spillway, or where it impairs the sediment storage capacity of the pond, should be corrected by regrading and vegetating or dredging. Erosion of side slopes may occur if the slopes are too steep and/or if there is limited vegetation to stabilize the slopes. On slopes with less than a 3:1 ratio, revegetation of the side slopes is recommended to prevent erosion. On steep slopes, regrading the slope to less than a 3:1 ratio and then revegetating that slope should prevent erosion.

Sediment Storage Capacity
One of the major functions of the wet detention pond is to trap pollutants, including sediment. Periodic sediment removal is required to ensure that stormwater runoff is treated. A visual inspection of the pond forebay should reveal any excessive sedimentation problem. If a pond requires sediment removal, sediment capacity calculations should be used to determine the extent of removal necessary to restore the pond to designed conditions.

Water Quality
Water quality problems in ponds may result from needed maintenance, upstream influences, or urban runoff. Algae or sedimentation is the most likely problem, but on occasion, stagnation or fish kills may result for no apparent reason. Other problems, such as oil, trash, and bacterial growth, will occur as well. Commonly, algae will grow when sedimentation has begun to fill in the pond and the nutrients do not have enough room to settle out and be treated. Dredging to remove the sediment usually resolves this issue. General appearance and overall function should be visually inspected to ensure proper function.