Bowling Green, KY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Erosion control in Bowling Green is governed by Code Section 21-2.03 of the City stormwater ordinance and is enforced by the City Stormwater Inspector out of Public Works at 1011 College Street, (270) 393-3628. The 750-square-foot threshold is unusually low — well below state and federal floors — and reflects the city's karst-driven sensitivity to sediment, which can plug sinkholes and slug groundwater turbidity. For any disturbance of 750 sq ft up to one acre, the EPSC plan must show silt fence at the down-gradient perimeter, inlet protection at every storm drain and sinkhole opening, vehicle tracking control pads at site egress, stabilized stockpiles, and concrete washout containment. The plan must be signed by a City Certified EPSC Contractor — Bowling Green runs its own certification course several times a year so contractors hold a city credential, not just the state KYDOW certification. For disturbances of one acre or more (or smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development), the contractor must develop a full Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) under City Ordinance 21-2.03 AND enroll in the Kentucky KPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit (KYR10) administered by KY DOW under 401 KAR 5:055. The SWPPP must remain on site for inspection by both city and state inspectors. Karst-specific BMPs include trenching to intercept and divert flow away from active sinkholes, geotextile-lined sediment traps before any sinkhole discharge point, and a prohibition on storing fuel, fertilizer, or concrete washout within 50 feet of a known sinkhole.