Biochar is a charcoal-like substance produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass. Long utilized as a soil amendment for its moisture retention properties and stable carbon content, biochar has recently gained substantial attention as a novel stormwater filter material. Numerous studies have demonstrated the utility of biochar to treat a broad array of contaminants; including nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, pathogens, organic carbon, and organic contaminants. While the literature demonstrates a striking understanding and ability to control and tune these removal processes at the laboratory scale, application at the field scale has resulted in challenges and mixed success. What is getting lost in translation?