Sustainable Stormwater

Sustainability for all the places between the buildings

Today’s Agenda

Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality

• With Infiltration• Without infiltration

Best Management Practices (aka BMPs)Two Types

N

The Water Balance ModelWater Quantity Before

23% base flow

(shallow infiltration)

40%

evap

ora

tion

0.005% runoff

X” r

ain

fall

yearl

y a

vg

35%

gro

un

dw

ate

r(d

eep

in

filt

rati

on

)4

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Detention pondsare not low impact development

Impervious SurfacesA Watershed Perspective

If you win the infiltration argument…

Structural BMPsUnderground infiltration facilities anywhere

Vegetated Filter Strips

18

Structural BMPsPorous Pavement on Lot 2

• Look ma! No runoff!

Structural BMPs - Rain Gardens on less occupied areas of Lot 2 & Lot 3

Structural BMPsDownspout Disconnections to some areas of

Lot 2

Dispersion

While you’re making the case for infiltration, you might advocate for…

Non-structural BMPsReduce lawns

Swales instead of pipes

25

Non-structural BMPsPollutant Source Control

Non-structural BMPsCultural Landscape Practices

Lawn senescence

Use compost not nitrogen fertilizers

Non-structural BMPsControl Invasives (preferably without

herbicides)

Courtesy of Jefferson Co Weed Control

Courtesy of J.S. Peterson

Courtesy of Glenn Mller

Protecting Soil Protects Watersheds

Image from Soil Quality Information Sheet, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Non-structural BMPsKeep Soil Covered

Courtesy of James Santana

Non-structural BMPsLimit Compaction

Non-structural BMPsPrevent Erosion

STRESS

COVER ABANDONED * AVOIDANCE *

INCREASED RESPIRATION * REDUCED

FEEDING * INCREASED COUGHING RATES

REDUCED GROWTH RATES * DELAYED HATCHING *

LONG TERM REDUCTION IN FEEDING

DEATH

RELATIONSHIP OF FISH ACTIVITY TO TURBIDITY

TIME (LOG 10)

TU

RB

IDIT

Y (

LOG

10)

Courtesy of James Santana

Non-structural BMPsAmend Disturbed Soils with Compost

Protecting Air Protects Stormwater

Non-structural BMPsShade south facing walls

Non-structural BMPsShade air conditioners

Non-structural BMPsSalvage Materials

Non-structural BMPsRecycle Construction Materials

The Hydrologic CycleA Definition

The continuous movement of water through everything.

Thank You!

Sustainability for all the places between the buildings

503.334.8634

The Water Balance ModelWater Quality Before

Some sediment

The Water Balance ModelWater Quality After

Sediment (air particulates)Feces

Other debris

Sediment/turbidityHydrocarbonsHeavy metals

Other chemicals

Sediment/turbidityfertilizerspesticidesherbicides

Non-Structural BMPsHave fun