CAVE SPRINGS PIT Stormwater Outfall, Cave Springs, Arkansas | USA

CAVE SPRINGS PIT is a stormwater outfall located at AR State Highway 112 in Cave Springs, Arkansas, within Benton County. As a stormwater outfall, it serves as a discharge point for stormwater runoff from the surrounding area, playing a key role in local drainage management. The facility is operational and falls under the jurisdiction of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, which regulates stormwater discharges in urbanized areas. In Arkansas, stormwater management is governed by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which implements the NPDES MS4 permit program. CAVE SPRINGS PIT likely operates under a Phase II MS4 permit, as it serves a small municipality. The facility's design and capacity are typical for a stormwater outfall in a growing suburban area, handling runoff from roads, residential developments, and commercial properties. The environmental significance of CAVE SPRINGS PIT lies in its role in controlling the quality and quantity of stormwater discharged into local waterways. Proper management helps prevent flooding, erosion, and pollution of receiving waters, which in Benton County may include streams and rivers that ultimately feed into the Illinois River or the Arkansas River. The facility contributes to community resilience by mitigating the impacts of urbanization on the natural hydrologic cycle.

Cave Springs is located in the Ozark region of Arkansas, characterized by karst topography with limestone bedrock and numerous springs. Stormwater runoff in this area can quickly infiltrate groundwater or flow into sensitive surface waters. The region's rapid urban development increases impervious surfaces, leading to higher runoff volumes and pollutant loads. Effective stormwater management is critical to protect local water quality and aquatic habitats, particularly for streams that support diverse fish and macroinvertebrate communities.