Stormwater Engineering Division

PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS: STORMWATER AND FLOODING
The City’s Stormwater Engineering Division is hosting four public discussions this month (August 2026) to share updates on its comprehensive stormwater system analysis and to hear from property owners about their flash-flooding experiences: • Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center, 3124 Wilson Ave. • Wednesday, Aug. 12 – Cecil Webb Community Center, 923 Baker Ave. • Monday, Aug. 17 – Christenberry Community Center, 931 Oglewood Ave. • Thursday, Aug. 20 – Deane Hill Recreation Center, 7414 Deane Hill Drive The City in recent years has been mapping and assessing its stormwater infrastructure. Sharing at these public meetings your experiences with flash flooding — paired with data — will help in prioritizing stormwater system upgrades and investments.
DID YOU KNOW?
Knoxville has 29 watersheds!
A 3-year assessment found that 23.4 percent of Knoxville's stormwater infrastructure is in fair, poor, or failing condition	View study materials from the Aug. 11, 12, 17 and 20 public meetings
TAKE THE SURVEY
Can't make it to a public meeting but want to share your ideas? Tell us about your flooding or stormwater issues. This survey will remain open through Sept. 10, 2026.

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	CITY OF KNOXVILLE ADOPT-A-STREAM PROGRAM
	Contact Charissa Oglesby 865-215-4321 [email protected] The City of Knoxville Adopt-A-Stream Program is a citizen-based monitoring and litter prevention initiative intended to protect the health and serenity of our local waterways. Our goals as an organization are to bolster our citizen's capacity to inspire positive environmental and social change through an elevated awareness of water quality issues, training on stream health monitoring, and an intimate involvement in the solution process through cleanups and other means reducing trash in and around our waterways. For more information on opportunities available in surrounding communities visit WaterQualityForum.org and contact your municipality’s Adopt-A-Stream Coordinator.

David B. McGinley, P.E.
Stormwater Chief
[email protected]
865-215-2148 or 311

STORMWATER ENGINEERING DIVISION PERFORMS A WIDE VARIETY OF TASKS

• Drainage complaints and investigations
• Stormwater quality monitoring
• Stormwater planning

EPA, TDEC, NPDEC, TMDLs

The majority of department personnel work directly with stormwater issues. The City of Knoxville is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to monitor, control, and investigate all aspects of the municipal storm drainage system (which also includes the various creeks and streams).

A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit was initially issued to the City of Knoxville in July 1996, and requires that the city make annual progress reports to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). A new type of federal regulation is the establishment and enforcement of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for any impaired creeks or streams. This program is also administered by TDEC.

There are several local water quality organizations that are active in the Knoxville area. These organizations participate in creek cleanup activities and actively pursue public education for adults and schoolchildren. Organizations include Ijams Nature Center, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, KUB, NPDES, TDEC, TVA, City's Waste and Resources Management, and the Water Quality Forum

CALL 311 FOR WATER QUALITY ISSUES

Please call 311 at any time to report illicit connections or illegal dumping in the creeks, streams, catch basins, storm sewer or any area draining into the creeks or storm sewer system. Callers may remain anonymous, if desired. The hotline is usually manned during working hours on weekdays (depending on the number of calls). The hotline is checked at least daily during weekends, or can be reached by the 911 emergency dispatch center in the event of an emergency call.

Calls will be investigated by personnel from the Stormwater Quality Section. Urgent or emergency calls involving hazardous materials, human safety, or severe environmental damage must also be reported to the fire department (call 911) and other agencies listed in Table AM-07-1 of the Knoxville BMP Manual. See AM-01, AM-07 and IC-01 of the Knoxville BMP Manual for more information on reporting requirements and regulatory contacts for spills and leaks. The responsible party for the spill or leak is responsible for all costs incurred by the Knoxville Fire Department, Engineering Department, and other public agencies involved.

Stormwater Engineering Division

Engineering Director