Stormwater Solutions announces 2025 Top Projects

The Top Projects Awards Program seeks to recognize the most remarkable and innovative projects that have been in the design, construction or completed phases in the past 18 months.

This year, Stormwater Solutions’ editorial staff scored all submissions and selected five projects to receive an award. The winning projects focused on innovation, collaboration and community efforts, while also tackling unique challenges.

Stakeholders from the 2025 Top Projects were recognized at StormCon on Thursday, August 28. These projects will also be featured in videos on stormwater.com and are featured in the September/October print issue of Stormwater Solutions.

The 2025 winning projects are:

Maple Canyon Restoration & Flood Mitigation Project

Combining engineering, environmental stewardship and community collaboration, the Maple Canyon Restoration and Flood Mitigation Project implemented a comprehensive watershed-scale solution to severe flooding in the canyon. Project phases included replacing 16 storm drains, addressing channel degradation and using nature-based solutions while maintaining the canyon’s popularity as a recreational hotspot.

Watch the video interview here.

Caloosahatchee River Estuary Storage and Treatment (CREST)

This project reduced flood time and provides a connection between the Bedman Creek and Carlos Waterway Drainage basins to allow for real-time basin management to direct stormwater away from the most impacted basin. Additionally, a BMP treatment train system, which includes a planted circuitous treatment marsh, shallow and deep lakes, planted wide swamps, marsh areas and created uplands, results in nutrient removal.

Watch the video interview here.

Adventure Park Multi-Benefit Stormwater Capture Project

This project, which was initiated to support compliance with the Regional Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, implemented an advanced stormwater capture and treatment system to address persistent pollution challenges, especially targeting zinc, which is the San Gabriel River Watershed’s limiting pollutant. The project also includes five acres of enhanced park space.

Westport Stormwater Improvements

The Westport Stormwater Improvements project in Kansas City's Westport neighborhood was initiated to address flash flooding that caused widespread property damage and posed serious public safety risks. Located in a combined sewer area, the project also supports Kansas City's federally mandated efforts to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and improve local water quality. The $30 million project is currently under construction and is being delivered via a design-build approach.

9th Street Basin Stormwater Retrofit

The 9th Street Stormwater Retrofit project in Wenatchee, Washington, was implemented to improve stormwater drainage and enhance water quality in the 620-acre 9th Street basin, which discharges into the Columbia River and No. 2 Canyon Drain. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, with a total cost of just over $1.4 million, nearly $600,000 under budget.

To learn more about each of these projects visit the video and magazine tabs of stormwater.com.