Rain Garden Feasibility Study

Text

Green Street Infrastructure as a Coastal Resiliency Strategyand Route 35 Rain Garden Feasibility Study

Study Location: Route 35 and J StreetBorough of Seaside Park, Ocean County, New Jersey

Richard Bartolone, ASLA, Landscape ArchitectDarlene Messina, CFM, Sustainability Consultant

March 30, 2011

This report was made possible through a grant fromMonmouth University, Urban Coast Institute’s ModelSustainable/Resilient Coastal Community Program and theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

2 Green Street Infrastructure as a Coastal Resiliency Strategy and Route 35 Rain Garden Feasibility Study

ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS:

Mayor Thomas Connors, Borough of Seaside ParkBob Martucci, Administrator, Borough of Seaside ParkNancy Koury, Councilwoman, Borough Council, Operations CommitteeSherry Villiano, Chair, Mayor's Bayfront Flooding CommitteePat Kuchon, Chair, Environmental Advisory CommitteeAnn Hayes, Citizens for Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Communities

Special thanks to Remington, Vernick & Vena Engineers for their help with engineering analysis of the study site.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ......................................................................................4

Description of the Problem...............................................................4

Description of Green Infrastructure ................................................ 6

Research............................................................................................8

Demonstration Project and Engineering Analysis..........................10

Technical Team and Cost Estimates................................................14

Funding Opportunities....................................................................14

Organizational Feasibility and Sustainability ................................ 15

Opportunities for Creating Success ............................................... 15

Co-Benefits and Other Considerations...........................................15

Summary and Conclusion...............................................................18

Appendix A......................................................................................19

Appendix B ......................................................................................20

Index of Illustrations........................................................................22

Works Cited.....................................................................................23


1. INTRODUCTIONThe costs and concerns associated withthe increasing frequency of flood eventshas triggered many communities toresearch cost–effective solutions toaddress chronic and increased problemsof water “management.” Within the pastdecade, many of these communities havepassed Green Infrastructure legislation asa way to mitigate future flooding and

gardens, street swales and otherretention methods to provide addedflood protection during peak stormevents. Benefits presented in this reportinclude reduced flooding, reduction ofpollutants into the bay, reduction of heatislands, and improved streetscapes for amore livable and walkable community.

This report first introduces the reader tothe unique challenges of flood controland management, stormwatermanagement and storm drain overflowsin the Borough of Seaside Park. Thereport then makes a case for GreenInfrastructure strategies as anopportunity to manage a number ofwater-related challenges and regulatoryobligations and as a mitigation andcoastal resiliency measure. The multiplebenefits of Green Infrastructure make itcost effective and are measurable. Thereduction of local flooding and pondingon area roads is the most importantbenefit, which can be calculated throughfield monitoring and modelingcalculations1,2. The following pagespropose a “green street” infrastructuredemonstration project (rain garden) atRoute 35 and J Street.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM SEASIDE PARK LOCATION

Seaside Park, a Borough in OceanCounty, New Jersey, is situated on theBarnegat Peninsula. The BarnegatPeninsula is a 120-mile long, narrowbarrier peninsula that separatesBarnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Itis commonly called “Barrier Island.”Because of its location, Seaside Park isparticularly vulnerable to bay and oceanflooding from hurricanes, storm surge,nor'easters and periods of strongeasterly winds that prevent the bay fromdraining into the Atlantic Ocean. (SeeImages 2A & 2B).

better manage stormwater runoff fromexisting development. Roads, anessential infrastructure to urbandevelopment and economic growth,represent the largest percentage ofimpervious surface area in communities(See Image 1). Roads also present thegreatest opportunity for GreenInfrastructure application. Types of GreenInfrastructure approaches include rain

1 Green Values Stormwater Management Calculator®. http://logan.cnt.org/calculator/calculator.php 2 National Green Values™ Calculator. A tool for comparing the performance, costs, and benefits of Green Infrastructure.

http://greenvalues.cnt.org/national/calculator.php

Image 1. Roadway Functional Street Map, Borough of Seaside Park. T & M Assoc.

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PRESENT CONDITIONS ANDINFRASTRUCTURE

Approximately 98% of the developedcommunity of Seaside Park is designatedas a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) (SeeImage 3). Land areas that are at high riskfor flooding are delineated by the FederalEmergency Management Agency (FEMA)as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), orfloodplains on Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRMs). The SFHA is the area where theNational Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP)floodplain management regulations mustbe enforced and the area where themandatory purchase of flood insuranceapplies. A home located within an SFHAhas a 26% chance of suffering flooddamage during the term of a 30-yearmortgage3 (see Appendix: Flood Protection- Borough of Seaside Park).

Heavy rainfall accompanied by high tides orwind can cause serious flooding anddamage in the low-lying areas of SeasidePark. All Borough storm water drains to thebayfront. The municipal storm drainagesystem consists primarily of undergroundpipelines and catch basins that are locatedat street level, which carry untreated stormrunoff directly to Barnegat Bay. Thestormwater conveyance system providesan important function, as it minimizeslocalized flooding caused by rainwater (tothe greatest extent possible). However,unique to Borough of Seaside Park is thecompounding flooding conditions inducedby surcharging storm sewer systems at lowelevations, as well as elevated water levelsin back bay systems4. It does not takemuch rain fall for storm drains to reachcapacity, resulting in the flooding of localstreets and low-lying areas.

Rainwater generally drains along Route 35,(also known as Central Avenue,) bisectingthe Borough from north to south. Thisdrainage system takes water from the eastside, and transports it to the west side viabubbler systems. These systems are always

3 FloodSmart, http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/faqs/what-is-a-special-flood-hazard-area.jsp4 Piaskowy, S.; Young, Y., Coastal Flooding Induced by Surcharging Storm Sewer Systems at Low Elevations, American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2007,

abstract #H31B-08

Image 2A. March 16, 2010 / The Star-Ledger Image 2B. Friday, May 28, 2010 / The Star-Ledger

North Bayview Ave, Seaside Park, NJ. Flooding due to powerful storms. Major and minor flooding:12 floods within a 6 month period (Nov 2009-May 2010).

Image 3. FEMA Flood Hazard Area, Borough of Seaside Park, T & M Assoc.


full of water, and work by way of excesshead pressure on the East side pushing thewater through the system and out of thegrate on the West side. After exiting thegrate on the west side of Route 35, thewater drains toward Barnegat Bay and isgenerally captured by the Ocean Countydrainage systems along Bayview Avenue,before finally discharging into the bay.

The majority of the Route 35 right-of-waydrains from its center out to its edges.Vegetated islands are located at the localstreet intersections; unfortunately, theseislands do not accept runoff from the roadsor parking areas that surround them. Theislands are curbed and are at a higherelevation than the surrounding paved areas.A significant opportunity for stormwaterinfiltration is being missed within theexisting configuration of these islands.

Runoff quantity, water quality andrecharge are all addressed in the NJDEPStormwater Management Rules (seeAppendix: NJ Stormwater Management).Seaside Park has challenges with all threeof these issues, as the topography withinthe Borough is predominately flat withoccasional low points. As the Borough hasdeveloped, these low points holdstormwater rather than releasing it. Theselow points typically develop as roadwaysage and pavement deteriorates. As stated,a large portion of the drainage systemconsistently retains water, especiallyduring periods of strong winds from theeast that keep water in the bay andprevent drainage into the Atlantic Ocean.

3. DESCRIPTION OF GREENINFRASTRUCTUREGREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OVERVIEW

Communities across the nation are learningabout the multiple benefits of GreenInfrastructure as a way to addressstormwater management, nonpoint sourcepollution control and flooding. The EPA

operating at (or beyond) capacity. It is a cost-effective alternative to installing and/orrepairing traditional (grey) infrastructureitems such as pipes, catch basins and sewerlines. Green Infrastructure enablescommunities to become healthier, morebeautiful and ultimately more economicallyand ecologically sustainable over time. OnSeptember 30, 2010, David Yocas, FASLA,testified in front of Congress:

In a September 9, 2010 CNN.comarticle on Green Streets, theauthor writes:

The tiny port town of Edmonston,Prince George County, Maryland isconstructing an ecologicallysustainable street that will divert thestorm water that would typically beflushed into the nearby AnacostiaRiver and ultimately in theChesapeake Bay into natural “rain”gardens. The water runoff will benaturally filtered of its toxins andpollution from the parking lots anddirty streets. Most cities and townshave underground concrete drainsystems that collect the runoff anddump into rivers and streams,pollutant and all. “The rain gardensare engineered to absorb water andnaturally filter it before it gets intothe water table and keeps it fromwashing all those pollutants in theriver,” says Edmonston’s mayorAdam Ortiz. The eco-street projectincludes using porous bricks inbuilding the road and creatingbioretention cells or rain gardens.The idea is to trap the pollutedrunoff water, send it though naturalfilter systems so that when it makesit into the Anacostia River it is a lot cleaner.

GREEN STREET DESIGN

As a matter of function, as well asconventional thought and design,

compiled a report of case studies whichconfirms many of the benefits, andpresents ways local governmentsdeveloped and implemented stormwaterpolicies to support Green Infrastructure(see Appendix: Case Studies). Benefitsgermane to Seaside Park include reducedhard engineering infrastructure expenses,increased stormwater retention and overallflooding reduction. Relevant secondarybenefits are also noteworthy. The coolingfunctions of “greening” help to reduce theheat island (HI) effect and there is anincreased potential for economic growth,as Green Infrastructure is a marketablecommunity asset that attracts residents,visitors and businesses. The resultingimprovements provide opportunities forimproved streetscape aesthetics, quality oflife and outdoor enjoyment.

Green Infrastructure is a planning andengineering approach to managestormwater runoff at the local level. It uses“sustainable” design and engineeredsystems to infiltrate, evapotranspire, captureand reuse stormwater to maintain or restorenatural hydrologies5. Timothy Beatley,author of Planning for Coastal Resilience:Best Practices for Calamitous Times, arguesthat sustaining, nurturing, and restoringcoastal environments will be one of theessential resiliency factors in a community'sability to respond to coastal hazards.

Furthermore, Green Infrastructureimprovements are typically less expensiveto install and maintain when compared totraditional forms of infrastructure. Theseapproaches contribute to the overallhealth of local and regional naturalecosystems, reduce flooding risk andimprove water quality (see Image 4).

Approaches include green roofs, permeablepavement, rain gardens, planned street treecanopies and other design solutions thatprovide significant economic and ecologicalbenefits for municipalities facingoverburdened infrastructure systems

5 EPA: Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure. http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298

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developed areas such as roofs, sidewalksand parking lots are typically coveredwith impervious surfaces. Although allcontribute to stormwater runoff, theeffects and required mitigation strategiesfor the many types of surfaces can varysignificantly. Of all these areas, roadsand traveled surfaces are among thelargest sources of pollution, but alsopresent the most promisingopportunities for Green Infrastructureuse. Roads, along with sidewalks andparking lots, are estimated to constitutealmost two-thirds of the totalimpervious cover and contribute asimilar ratio of runoff. While they are asignificant source of runoff, roads are alsoa part of the infrastructure system,conveying stormwater along gutters toinlets and the buried pipe network.Effective road drainage, (translated asquickly moving storm water into theconveyance system,) has become astructural engineering priority while

a wide variety of pollutants, deliverthem into the conveyance system andeventually, into the bay. Metals,combustion by-products and automotivefluids from vehicles are chemicalcontaminants that, when combined withubiquitous nutrients and suspendedsolids, add to the toxic mix thatdegrades the fragile eco-system ofBarnegat Bay.

The use of Green Streets solutions offersthe means to transform a significantstormwater and pollutant source into aninnovative treatment system. GreenStreets optimize the performance ofpublic right-of-ways by integratingsustainable engineered stormwatercontrol systems. Effectivelyincorporating green techniques intoroad design provides significantopportunity to decrease infrastructure demands and reducepollutant transport6.

opportunities for enhancedenvironmental management have been overlooked, especially in developed communities.

The altered flow regime from traditionalroadways, increased runoff volume, morefrequent runoff events and high runoffpeak flows are damaging to theenvironment and a risk to propertyowners in Seaside Park located at the lowpoints. These erosive and excessivestormwater flows burden the alreadynear-capacity storm drains, and createflooding conditions as the watereventually finds its path to the bay.

Compounding the deliberate rapidconveyance of stormwater, roads are alsoprime collection sites for pollutants.Because roads are a component of thestorm conveyance system, they areimpacted by precipitation as well as byvehicles that travel on them. They collect

Image 4. The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing Its Economic, Environmental and Social Benefits, 2010. Page3.http://www.cnt.org/repository/gi-values-guide.pdf

6 Green Streets Policy Paper & EPA Green Infrastructure Collaboration. http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/greenstreets/projects.htm


The following items from Seaside Park’s 2008Master Plan are noteworthy to this report:

VISION STATEMENT

“The Borough is committed toprotecting the environment,supporting its business community,encouraging family-friendlyneighborhoods and enhancing thequality of life for its residents.Through effective environmentalpractices the Borough will continueto contribute towards keeping theOcean, Bay waters and beachesclean, healthy and environmentallysound.”

GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES

B. CIRCULATION1. Provide for an improvedcirculation system within theBorough.

D. The feasibility study provides anaffordable test case/first look at therecommendations from the advisorycommittees’ report. Theimplementation of these suggestionswill provide the pedestrian-friendly,traffic calming and landscaping issuescontained in the Mayor’s AdvisoryCommittees’ report, in addition toproviding flooding and stormwatercontrol measures.

SEASIDE PARK’S 2008 MASTER PLAN

During 2007, the Borough of Seaside Parkcommissioned T&M Associates, anengineering, planning and environmentalconsulting firm, to provide guidance andexpertise to the Seaside Park PlanningBoard and Master Plan AdvisoryCommittee for the preparation of itsupdated Master Plan. The Seaside Park2008 Master Plan was adopted onNovember 25, 2008 by the Planning Board.

4. RESEARCHROUTE 35 REPORT, 2004.

During May 2004, the Borough of SeasidePark Mayor’s Route 35 ImprovementAdvisory Committee commissionedNajarian Associates to prepare a summaryreport and recommendations for the NewJersey Department of Transportation“Proposed Pavement Restoration andDrainage Improvements, Route 35.” Thefollowing items from the report arenoteworthy and relevant:

A. Pedestrian crossings are recommendedto be installed on the southern side ofthe Route 35 intersections. Thesouthern island within the Route 35 andJ Street intersection should be modifiedto include a pedestrian crossing with apedestrian refuge area (see Image 5).

B. The report recommends removingseveral areas of existing right-of-waypavement and angled median parking,and installing landscaping in its place.The suggested landscaping wasrecommended to be “low maintenance,non-sprinklered, indigenous plants.”These recommendations are consistentwith the vegetation proposed for therain garden. The vegetationrecommended in this study could beused as a test case or general guidelinefor the Advisory Committee’srecommended landscaping.

C. The report also suggested theelimination of the slip lane at the JStreet intersection. It was proposed tobe made into “a standard perpendicularintersection like all others in theBorough.” If the proposed rain garden,pedestrian crossing and the pedestrianrefuge area were all constructed and ifthe slip lane was eliminated (SeeImages 12, 13, and 14), the J Streetintersection would become the safest,most improved and attractiveintersection within the Borough.

Image 5. Median nose extended beyond the crosswalk to provide an enclosed pedestrian refuge.Source: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Traveled Way Design Guidelines, Designing WalkableUrban Throughfares: A Contex Sensitive Approach.www.ite.org/css/online/DWUTO9.html

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• Maintain and upgrade thesidewalks, curbs, and handicapaccessibility for increasingpedestrian activity.

• Maintain and upgrade bicyclefacilities and paths for increasedbicycle activity.

• Consider traffic calmingtechniques.

C. MUNICIPAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES1. Provide for improvedcommunity facilities and servicesto meet the needs of Boroughresidents in an efficient andeffective manner.• Control storm water flow in

cooperation with the state andcounty.

• Ensure the water and sewerinfrastructure is monitored andmaintained to minimizeinfiltration and prevent systemfailure.

• Aggressively pursue everyopportunity to obtain grantfunding for both current and longterm municipal projects.

D. NATURAL RESOURCES/ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION1. Protect the natural resourcesand barrier island environment ofthe Borough.• Continue to explore alternative

solutions to minimizing floodingalong the Bay front.

• Ensure effective programs areimplemented and monitored tosafeguard water quality.

• Encourage efforts to reducestormwater runoff and flooding.

• Comply with stormwaterregulations.

SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONSTo implement these Re-Examination Planrecommendations, the Planning

explored before relying onstructural Best ManagementPractices (BMPs). Structural BMPsshould be integrated withnonstructural stormwatermanagement strategies andproper maintenance plans.Nonstructural strategies includeboth environmentally sensitivesite design and source controlsthat prevent pollutants from beingplaced on the site or from beingexposed to stormwater. Multiplestormwater management BMPsmay be necessary to achieve theestablished performancestandards for water quantity, andgroundwater recharge.

NATIONAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

FEMA recommends a combination ofstructural and non-structural measures tominimize and mitigate flood risk fromfuture storms and climate change impacts.Green Infrastructure can be used tofacilitate adaptation and mitigation ofpotential climate change impacts.

In 2008, a federally solicited and endorsedcommittee called the Coastal Elevationsand Sea Level Rise Advisory Committee(CESLAC) submitted a set ofrecommendations in response to thestudy titled Coastal Sensitivity to Sea LevelRise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The report included a detailedassessment of the effects of sea level rise(SLR) on coastal environments, andpresented challenges that would need tobe addressed to adapt to SLR whileprotecting environmental resources andsustaining economic vitality. The committee of thirteen experts andstakeholders included representationfrom the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency (FEMA), Associationof State Floodplain Managers and NewJersey Department of Environmental

Board proposes the followingchanges to the developmentregulations and developmentreview procedures of the Borough.

11. Flood and storm water issuesneed to be addressed. TheBorough has a community ratingwith FEMA that gives residents a10 percent discount on floodinsurance. Seaside Park shouldstrive to improve that rating. TheBorough needs to improvestormwater runoff with a multi-faceted approach, so that there isa reduction in runoff, flooding,and pollution.

DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:STORMWATER CONTROL ORDINANCE

Seaside Park has recognized theimportance and benefits of nonstructuralstormwater Best Management Practices(BMPs), i.e., rain gardens, greenroofs,rainbarrels, vegetated properties, etc.) forsite development as a means to controlflooding and reduce pollutants instormwater runoff. Green Infrastructureapproaches essentially achieve the samegoals by the same natural systems asthose recommended for sitedevelopment. Referenced below, SeasidePark’s Stormwater Control Ordinancerecommends nonstructuralenvironmentally sensitive strategies toreduce stormwater runoff from sitedevelopment.

DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:CHAPTER 25 Stormwater Control Ordinance(Page 2578)§25-626 Adopted 5-24-06 /Ordinance No. 1387A. Scope and Purpose.1. Policy Statement Flood control, groundwaterrecharge, and pollutant reductionthrough nonstructural or lowimpact techniques shall be


(e.g., Nationwide Permits)and procedures todiscourage the placementor replacement (includingfollowing disasters) ofbulkheads and other hardstructures. In the eventthat protection is allowed,the use of soft protectiontechniques should beencouraged. There needsto be a comprehensivereview and evaluation offederal laws, rules andpractices in response toextreme events andcoastal disasters todiscourage the rebuildingof physical infrastructurein high hazard coastalareas (e.g., Coastal BarrierResources Act).

Under next generationmap modernization(RiskMAP), FEMA shouldinclude relevantinformation regardingSLR, coastal erosion,and/or projected coastalinundation.

Implementation of this will bedependent on results obtainedfrom a recently initiated study ofthe impact of climate change onthe NFIP, and would require newlegislative mandates.

5. DEMONSTRATIONPROJECT ANDENGINEERING ANALYSISPROPOSED SITE: J STREET AND ROUTE 35

Route 35Route 35 is a state highwaytraveling through the Borough ofSeaside Park. It runs 58.11 miles(93.52 km) from the entrance to

Island Beach State Park on the BarnegatPeninsula in Berkeley Township, OceanCounty to an intersection with Route 27 inRahway, Union County. It begins as adivided highway with parking spaces inthe median through residential areas ofSouth Seaside Park. It briefly becomes anundivided highway before crossing intoSeaside Park, where the route becomes afour-lane, divided Central Avenue, withmedian parking. Route 35 passes throughthe residential and mixed use area, withthe median widening for the Seaside ParkPolice Department building at the SixthAvenue intersection. The road thenwidens to six lanes. Upon crossingDecatur Street, Route 35 continues intoSeaside Heights.

J StreetJ Street travels east to northwest fromOcean Avenue to K Street.

SITE ANALYSIS

This analysis includes research criteria fordesigning and obtaining a prime locationfor installation of a rain garden, (alsoknown as a bioretention area,) as oneelement of a proposed Green Streetinfrastructure plan for the Borough ofSeaside Park that will incorporate asmany elements of an ideal bioretentionarea as possible. According to the UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency,a rain garden has the following definition:

Protection. Eighteen recommendationswere submitted. Of note arerecommendations #10 and #15 relevant tothis report, which recommended non-structural and “soft” solutions to floodmanagement and climate change adaption.

10. Tax code modifications andother appropriate mechanismsshould be developed to provideincentives for more strategiclandscape conservation practicesas well as personal and communityadaptation strategies. Climatechange legislation needs torecognize that adaptation is animportant step to initiate early on.15. In the near-shore environmentthe USACE should adopt policies

EPA: Green Infrastructure Benefits by Type

Benefit Type Environmental

Flood protection

rotection

Reduce sewer overflow events

waters

Economic onstruction costs

Maintain aging infrastructure

Reduce energy consumption and costs

Social

Provide pedestrian and bicycle access

that enhance livability and urban green space

Educate the public about their role in stormwater management

Urban heat island mitigation

http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/gi_case_studies_2010.pdf EPA-841-F-10-004 | August 2010

Image 6.

Image 7. Google map of intersection Route 35 and J street

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Bioretention areas, or rain gardens,are landscaping features adapted toprovide on-site treatment ofstormwater runoff. They arecommonly located in parking lotislands or within small pockets ofresidential land uses. Surfacerunoff is directed into shallow,landscaped depressions. Thesedepressions are designed toincorporate many of the pollutantremoval mechanisms that operatein forested ecosystems. Duringstorms, runoff ponds above themulch and soil level in the system.Runoff from larger storms isgenerally diverted past the facilityinto the storm drain system. Theremaining runoff filters through themulch and prepared soil mix. Thefiltered runoff can be collected in aperforated underdrain and returnedto the storm drain system.

In order to find a site suitable for a raingarden, the following criteria were utilized:

A. The site should have high visibility andpedestrian traffic for educationalpurposes and serve to increase publicawareness and buy-in fromstakeholders.

B. The area must have a large volume ofrunoff directed toward it, preferably fromroadways and parking lots. These sourceareas typically produce highly pollutedwaters and provide an opportunity totreat the most highly toxic waters thatwould otherwise discharge directly intothe Barnegat Bay. This would also providea constant source of water to for theplants in the rain garden.

C. The area should have a history of‘ponding’ after typical coastal stormsand should ideally be located at thelower elevations of the watershed, butbefore discharge into open waters. This

located as close as possible to thedrainage system’s outlet structure.

D. The greater the depth to seasonal highwater, the greater the removal of

will provide treatment to the highestvolume of polluted water prior todischarge. The effectiveness of the raingarden will be maximized when it is

Image 9. Existing Plantings within Rain Garden - Northern Island

Image 10. Low point to be 24 inched below curb line, highpoint to be 24 inches above existing curb line.

Image 8. Plan prepared by Remington, Vernick & Vana Engineers, June 2010

proposed vegetation. This would nototherwise be possible withoutreconstructing the road to drain towardthe center of the right-of-way. Also, if theroad were reconstructed to drain towardthe center of the right-of-way, the depthof groundwater would limit theeffectiveness of the system. Since thecurb on both sides of the Route 35 right-of-way has a set elevation, the road couldnot be raised at the curb line withoutflooding the existing adjacent properties.

If optimally located, the project shouldreduce the volume of runoff, improve thequality of the water that is ultimatelydischarged and provide additionalinfiltration opportunities as the water

percolates back into theground. Estimates of runoffreductions can be calculatedusing the National GreenValues™ Calculator (seeAppendix). Thedemonstration rain gardenwould enhance water qualityat the ultimate dischargepoint (Barnegat Bay), andalso reduce ponding effectsalong the Route 35 and Jstreet intersection (Seeimages 11A and B).

The existing soil type and thedepth of seasonal watertable are controllingelements for the occurrenceof natural filtration of thestorm water at our site inSeaside Park. Siteinvestigations will benecessary to determine thewater table depth and thepotential effectiveness of thenative soils to filterpollutants. At the very least,the proposed rain gardenwould capture the first flushof storm water that collectson the nearby roadway andparking area, delaying its


entrance into the existing storm watersewer system. The amount of infiltrationinto the soil and ultimately into the watertable cannot be determined at this time,but even with minimal infiltration, theproposed rain garden will have a positiveeffect on the existing stormwater controlsystem.

The New Jersey Department ofEnvironmental Protection has recentlyrevised its own stormwater controlrecommendations to abandon the use ofdetention systems, which delay therelease of captured stormwater toinfiltration systems. The New JerseyStormwater Best Management PracticesManual lists the following definition,purpose and design criteria for thesesystems.

DEFINITION

A bioretention system consists of asoil bed planted with nativevegetation, located above anunderdrained sand layer. It can beconfigured as either a bioretentionbasin or a bioretention swale.Storm water runoff entering thebioretention system is filtered firstthrough the sand/soil mixturebefore being conveyeddownstream by the underdrainsystem. Vegetation within thesystem provides uptake ofpollutants and runoff and helpsmaintain the pores and associatedinfiltration rates of the soil. Runoffstorage depths above the plantingbed surface are typically shallow.The TSS (total suspended solids)removal rate for a bioretentionsystem is 80 or 90 percent. Abioretention system can becombined with infiltration to be abioretention-infiltration system,with an adopted TSS removal rateof 90% for the bioretentionsystems and of 80% for theinfiltration system.

pollutants the system will eliminate priorto discharge into the water table. (SeasidePark generally has very shallow depths toseasonal high water table which meansthat all pollution removal will need to bedone at the top of the proposed crosssection prior to discharge into the aquifer.)

Optimally, the rain garden would beplaced in the center of the right-of-way,with all of the runoff directed toward it.Once trapped in the center of the right-of-way, the water would be filtered and theexcess runoff directed to an outletthrough a grate. This grate would be setat a level designed to maximize theamount of water that can be held andinfiltrated without causing damage to the

Image 11B. Ponding on Central Ave. Photograph by D.Messina

Image 11A. Ponding on Central Ave. Photograph by D.Messina

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• The minimum diameter of any outlet oroverflow orifice shall be 2.5”.

• The bottom of a bioretention system,including any underdrain piping orgravel layer, must be a minimum of onefoot above the seasonal highgroundwater table.

• The planting bed, underdrain and/orinfiltration system shall be designed tofully drain the stormwater runoffvolume within 72 hours.

The design permeability rate must bedetermined by field or laboratory testing.Since the actual permeability rate may varyfrom test results and may also decrease

PURPOSE

Bioretention systems are used toremove a wide range of pollutants,such as suspended solids,nutrients, metals, hydrocarbonsand bacteria from stormwaterrunoff. They can also be used toreduce peak runoff rates andincrease stormwater infiltrationwhen designed as a multi-stage,multi-functional facility.

As previously stated, the exact amount ofreduction in flooding and pollutant removalcannot be determined at this time. Thedepth of the water table must bedetermined and the native soils underliningthe proposed rain garden must beevaluated in order to determine thepotential pollutant removal at this location.

According to the BMP Manual, bioretentionsystems are most effective when theyreceive runoff as close to its source aspossible. This is something we can certainlyaccomplish, since the proposed rain gardenis designed to capture runoff from theadjacent parking area located in the centerof Route 35/Central Avenue. Bioretentionsystems can vary in size and can receive andtreat runoff from a variety of drainage areaswithin a land development site. They canbe installed in lawns, median strips, parkinglot islands, unused lot areas and certaineasements. They are intended to receiveand filter storm runoff from imperviousareas and lawns. The elevation of theSeasonal High Water Table (SHWT) is criticalto ensure proper functioning of thebioretention basin and must be evaluatedto ensure that the SHWT is a least one footbelow the bottom of the bioretention basinor its underdrain system (if it has one)during non-drought conditions. Finally,both the SHWT and the permeability of thesoil below the system are critical factors forbioretention systems that utilize infiltrationrather than an underdrain system. Thesystem at the selected location does notdepend on an underdrainage system.

Rather, it has been designed with anoverflow inlet that will provide an outlet forwater that does not infiltrate into the soil.The most relevant conditions informationfor our particular site is the elevation of theseasonal high water table.

A detailed maintenance schedule is alsoan essential component in the long-termviability of any successful bioretentionsystem.

DESIGN CRITERIA

• The maximum water depth within abioretention basin shall be 12” and 18”in a bioretention swale.

Image 14. Rain Garden Illustrative Plan R. Bartolone and Ty Triplett

Image 12. Southern Island Planting Plan:Plantings and grading similar to northernisland’s rain garden. R. Bartolone and T. Triplett

Image 13. Rain Garden Planting Plan –Northern Island R. Bartolone and Ty Triplett


Geraldine R Dodge FoundationMichelle Knapik, Program Director,Environment14 Maple AvenuePO Box 1239Morristown, NJ 07962-1239Phone (973) 540-8442 Fax (973) 540-1211http://www.grdodge.org/howtoapply/index.htm

FEMA Guidance for 2011Mitigation Grant Programshttp://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=4225

NOAA SeaGrant –Coastal ResiliencyUrban Coast Institute, MonmouthUniversity, NJ400 Cedar Avenue West Long Branch, New Jersey07764-1898http://www.monmouth.edu/urban_coast_institute/default.aspTony MacDonald, [email protected]

Sustainable JerseyGrants and ResourcesMunicipal Land Use Center at TheCollege of New Jersey McCauley House P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718http://www.sustainablejersey.com/resources.phpMedea Villere, 609-771-2938.

NJDEP NONPOINT SOURCEPOLLUTION CONTROL GRANTS(319 Grants) Dave McPartland, 319(h) Program CoordinatorNJDEP- Division of WatershedManagementBureau of Watershed PlanningWatershed Protection andRestoration SectionGrants Management UnitPO Box 418 Trenton, NJ 08625-0418Telephone: (609) [email protected]

APPLICATION HOT LINKhttp://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/319grant.htmhttp://www.nj.gov/dep/grantandloanprograms/eps_nspc.htm

over time due to soil bed consolidation or theaccumulation of sediments removed fromthe treated stormwater, a factor of safety oftwo shall be applied to the testedpermeability rate to determine the designpermeability rate. For example, if the testedpermeability rate of the soil bed material is 4inches/hour, the design rate would be 2inches/hour. This design rate would then beused to compute the system’s stormwaterquality design storm drain time.

6. TECHNICAL TEAM AND COST ESTIMATES To carry out the design, engineering andimplementation of a rain garden at J Streetand Route 35, the following qualified team isrecommended. • Civil Engineer• Land Surveyor• Landscape Architect • Site Construction Contractor• Landscape Construction Contractor • Landscape Maintenance Contractor/

Public Works Forces

7. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIESThe following is a short list of suggested sourcesfor funding a Green Street demonstration raingarden on Route 35 and J Street.

FUNDING Green Infrastructurehttp://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/gi_munichandbook_funding.pdfDescribes strategies and providescase study examples of how localgovernments are generating reliablefunding for green infrastructure.

Barnegat Bay Partnership Ocean County College College Drive, PO Box 2001 Toms River, NJ 08754 phone (732) 255-0472 fax (732) 864-3851http://bbp.ocean.edu/pages/243.aspFunding opportunitieshttp://bbp.ocean.edu/pages/144.asp

COST ESTIMATES �MARCH 2011�: PROBABLE COST OF PROJECT

Project Survey ......................$1,500.00

Project Engineering .............$3,500.00

Soil borings, including seasonal high water tabledetermination ....................$1,500.00

Grading and stone work ..........................$3,000.00

Concrete reinforced doghouse outlet structure ..............................$5,000.00

Removal and reconstruction of curb and road as required .........$10,000.00

Traffic control ......................$3,000.00

Fine Grading/planting preparation .............................$750.00

Plantings...............................$3,500.00

A pre-application meeting and subsequent submission to the NJDOT....................... $1,500.00(not including permitting fees).

Total....................................$33,250.00

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8. ORGANIZATIONALFEASIBILITY ANDSUSTAINABILITYEssential to the success and sustainabilityof a Green Infrastructure rain gardendemonstration project is bi-partisan andgovernmental leadership, public interestand support, and strong partnerships withlocal environmental advocacy groups andvolunteer organizations. Seaside Park hasthe capacity to implement GreenInfrastructure projects. To this end, theBorough of Seaside Park Council passedtwo significant resolutions thatdemonstrate commitment and leadershiptowards adopting environmentalapproaches to solving infrastructurechallenges. In March 2009 Council passeda resolution to join a SUSTAINABLEJERSEY™ to adopt practices and policiestowards becoming a “sustainablecommunity” and in April 2010 Councilpassed a resolution to establishEnvironmental Advisory Committee aka“Green Team.” Additionally there is swellof citizen interest in local environmentalchallenges. Volunteer groups such asSand Dollar Garden Club, NativeGardeners of Seaside Park and Citizens forSustainable and Resilient Communitieshave successfully taken the lead on localenvironmental initiatives. The Mayor,Planning Board and Borough departmentssuch as Public Works and Water andSewer, have demonstrated a track recordin leading and coordinating many largeand small infrastructure projects.

9. OPPORTUNITIES FORCREATING SUCCESSSuccessful community Green Streetsprojects share in a number of factors criticalto implementing and sustaining a beneficialmunicipal program. Each of items belowsuggests an incremental progression of apublicly supported program.• Leadership from the top: Towns with the

strongest green programs are those withmayors, councils and community

Infrastructure and multi-objectivemanagement to address flooding andstormwater runoff

B. Obtain public support and buy-in fromstakeholders

C. Green Team and Council supportproject, identify funding and apply forgrant funds

D. Obtain grant monies to fullyimplement demonstration project

E. Organize Borough of Seaside Park’sGreen Team and citizen volunteercommittee to provide support andmonitor progress

F. Invite area university stakeholders andresources to monitor and measureenvironmental and flood risk reductionbenefits

G. Borough of Seaside Park staff tocoordinate project with consultantsand volunteers

10. CO�BENEFITS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONSRETHINKING ROADS: INNOVATIVESTORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Roads present many opportunities forreducing and treating stormwater closeto its source. Green Infrastructureapproaches complement street facilityupgrades, street aesthetic improvementsand urban tree canopy efforts that alsomake use of the right–of-way and allow itto achieve multiple goals and benefits.Using the right-of-way for treatment linksgreen (soft) with grey (hard)infrastructure by making use of theengineered conveyance of roads with(green) stormwater managementpractices7.

Green Streets can incorporate a widevariety of design elements includingstreet trees, permeable pavements (SeeImage 15), bioretention and swales.Although the design and appearance ofGreen Streets will vary, the functionalgoals are the same: to provide sourcecontrol of stormwater, reduce transportand pollutant conveyance to the

stakeholders that have championedsustainable green infrastructure. Thepolitical support results in bindingpolicies or mission statements thateffectively institutionalize andoperationalize Green Street approaches.This leadership is required to establish alasting Green Street infrastructureprogram and is one of the most oftenoverlooked critical components tosuccess.

• Buy-in from all municipal infrastructuredepartments: Streets cut across manymunicipal programs. Green Streetpractices impact stormwatermanagement, street design,underground utilities, public lighting,green space planning, public workmaintenance, and budgeting. Allrelevant local government departmentsand agencies must be representedduring program development toidentify and address technical andadministrative issues. Coordinationamong the agencies can also decreaseimplementation costs by takingadvantage of coordinatedimprovements.

• Documentation: It is recommendedGreen Street projects document designand construction information andmonitor and quantify aggregatebenefits. Partnering with an areauniversity to track and monitor projectshas proven to be valuable asset in manylocal municipalities.

• Public outreach: Outreach is importantfor public awareness and buildingsupport. Green Street programs havegrown in communities because ofpublic request for green retrofits intheir communities. In addition, publicworks departments have coordinatedmaintenance responsibilities forvegetated stormwater BMPs with localcitizen groups.

PROPOSED STEPS

A. Public information session andpresentation about Green

7 Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure, Municipal Handbook, Green Streets. R. Lukes, C. Kloss, Low Impact Development Center,December 2008


Pennsylvania and Texas with encouragingresults for road use and local waterretention. In England, it was laid over aconventional airport runway surface; thiscombination improved landing safety andwithstood the abuse of commercialaircraft landings. A demonstrationproject at Walden Pond in Massachusettsused suitable combinations of pavementthickness and sub-base depth for soilsand weather in the New Englandenvironment. This installation provedthat when properly used and installed,porous pavement can withstand theextreme freeze/thaw cycling of New

appealing flowers, colors, textures andincreased bird and butterfly activity, whiledecreasing landscape maintenance costs.

POROUS PAVEMENT

Another potential Green Streetimprovement that may be applicable tothis intersection is the installation ofporous pavement within the low-volumetraffic areas of the Route 35 right-of-way.The most obvious area for use of porouspavement is in the parking area withinthe center portion of the right-of-way.Porous pavement can be made with amodified mixture of standard bituminousasphalt or concrete pavers that areinstalled with joints that are filled withsand, which allows water to percolateinto the water table (See Image 16).

Porous pavement looks and acts likeconventional pavement but is permeable,allowing water to percolate through it.Porous asphalt pavement is made andinstalled with conventional asphalt pavingequipment, with only the recipe changed.Conventional asphalt pavement is amixture of large and small stone particlesbonded together with asphalt tar; inporous pavement, the smaller particlesare left out and the percentage of tar isreduced. This modification providesadequate bonding while leaving spacesthrough which the water may pass. Inlaboratory tests, porous pavement wasable to pass “rainfalls” of over 60 inchesper hour, more than 60 times greaterthan our typical “downpour.” Of coursethe capability to handle water in realapplications depends upon the ability ofthe underlying soils to absorb the water.For engineers, this translates to howmuch additional water-holding sub-base,if any, must be provided under thepavement to store the water until it cansoak in.

Since the early 1970's, porous pavementparking lots have been installedsuccessfully in Massachusetts, Delaware,

collection system, restorepredevelopment hydrology to the extentpossible and provide environmentallyenhanced roads. Utilizing greentechniques can potentially help reducelocal flooding and ponding on roadways.Successful application of thesetechniques will encouragesoil/vegetation contact, as well asinfiltration and retention of stormwater.

AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS

The existing traffic islands located in thecenter of the Route 35 right-of way offeran excellent opportunity to improve theoverall visual quality of the Borough. Theislands were planted some time ago andare very well maintained. Each islandcontains one Japanese black pine tree,six pfitzer juniper shrubs, shore juniperground cover and lawn. The installationof the rain garden will necessitate theregrading of the island and removal ofexisting vegetation. Efforts should bemade to save as many of the existingplants as possible. The surface will beregraded into a slight depression that willhold stormwater runoff for a limitedperiod of time.

The installation of the proposed plantingswill provide opportunities for nativeplants diversity and increase overallaesthetic appeal. Lessons have beenlearned from past utilization of a limitedplant palette that has allowed a singleplant disease or insect infestation to wipeout the entire population of a singleplant species.

The introduction of native trees, shrubs,grasses and wildflowers in the plantingislands could also help visually tie theBorough to the nationally significantvegetation of Island Beach State Park anddistinguish the Borough from itsneighbors (See Appendix B: Native PlantSelection). Appropriate plantings couldprovide year round interest with

Image 15. Cross-section of porous pavement.POROUS PAVEMENT Pavement That Leaks, A.Richard Miller, Executive Director of the LakeCochituate Watershed Association

Image 16. 7 SW 12th Avenue Green StreetProject, Portland, Oregon. Photo Credit: KevinRobert Perry. Source: City of Portland, Environ-mental Services ©2009

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England winters. After more than tenyears, no potholes were observed (Wei).For home driveways, loose gravel acts likeporous pavement. So will a mat ofconcrete slabs cast into open patterns,with soil and grass filling the holes - adurable driveway you can mow!

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Route 35 brings a considerable amount ofvehicular traffic into the Borough. Asignificant disadvantage of having thestate highway bisect the town is thedifficulty pedestrians have crossing it. Thisis exacerbated during the summer monthswhen thousands of pedestrians walk withchildren and also carry beach equipment,such as chairs, umbrellas and beach toys.Even with extra help from seasonal policecrossing guards, safely crossing Route 35 isa daunting task. In addition to standardcrosswalk striping and pedestrian crossingsigns, efforts have been instigated byseveral towns to make additional siteimprovements (See Images 17, 18, and 19).

INTERSECTION BUMP OUTS

Benefits • Reduce roadway width curb to curb,

creating shorter crossing distances forpedestrians and thereby reducing trafficdelays

• Provides pedestrians and bicyclists arefuge partway through crossing

• Effective at un-signalized crossings ofhigh-volume thoroughfares of four ormore lanes, or with high volumes ofroadway traffic

• Improve driver visibility of pedestrians• Slow vehicular traffic• Allow for pedestrian amenities

ADAPTABILITY OF DESIGN

Rain gardens can be installed anywhere anexisting catch basin is located within a streetright-of-way. With the use of curb bumpouts, an area can be created for stormwater

existing storm sewer system. Theseimprovements will keep cars from parkingwithin street intersections, providingadditional vehicular and pedestrian safety.Rain gardens can also be installed withoutremoving on-street parking when they areinstalled within the street tree planting area.

infiltration and rain garden plantinganywhere along an existing curb line.Ideally located at street intersections, thecurbed bump outs provide additionalsidewalk area to help minimize pedestriantime within traffic areas. They also providea location for stormwater to infiltrate intothe water table, instead of flowing into the

Image 18. Bump out in West Palm Beach, FL. Creating a Neighborhood Plan: TransportationStrategies City of Madison,WI, Department of Planning, Community & Economic DevelopmentNeighborhood Planning, Preservation and Design Section October 2008

Image 17. Example of a bump out. Creating a NeighborhoodPlan: Transportation Strategies City of Madison, WI, Departmentof Planning, Community & Economic Development Neighbor-hood Planning, Preservation and Design Section October 2008

Image 20. Pervious pavers used in the roadway in a neighborhooddevelopment in Wilsonville, OR. Photo Credit: Portland BES.

Image 19. This Green Street design combines stormwater treatment with abump out to reduce pedestrian crossing distances. Photo Credit: PortlandBES. Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.


11. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONThe installation of the proposed rain gardenat the intersection of Route 35 and J Streetis a unique and valuable opportunity forSeaside Park to obtain credits towardsSustainable Jersey certification and take thelead as a coastal New Jersey communitydemonstrating the benefits of Green Streetimprovements. The demonstration projectis a low cost, high reward effort that willhelp illustrate Green Street methodology toBorough residents and to the New JerseyDepartment of Transportation for futureconsideration in the upcoming redesign ofRoute 35.

The suggested intersection improvementswill help keep Barnegat Bay a bit cleaner byreducing the amount of water that flowsinto the existing storm sewer system,reduce stormwater flooding and pondingon local streets. Moreover, the programcan provide an opportunity to improveboth pedestrian safety and the Borough’saesthetic appeal to help reinforce SeasidePark’s reputation as “The Family Resort.”

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National Green Values™ CalculatorNational Green Values™ Calculator is atool for quickly comparing theperformance, costs, and benefits of GreenInfrastructure, or Low ImpactDevelopment (LID), to conventionalstormwater practices. The GVC isdesigned to take you step-by-step througha process of determining the averageprecipitation at your site, choosing astormwater runoff volume reduction goal,defining the impervious areas of your siteunder a conventional developmentscheme, and then choosing from a rangeof Green Infrastructure Best ManagementPractices (BMPs) to find the combinationthat meets the necessary runoff volumereduction goal in a cost-effective way.http://greenvalues.cnt.org/national/calculator.php

Sustainable JerseySUSTAINABLE JERSEY is a certificationprogram for municipalities in New Jerseythat want to go green, save money, andtake steps to sustain their quality of lifeover the long term.

Complete Streets: http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actiondesc.php?arr_num=53&id_num=8!3

Operations & Maintenance:Efficient Landscape Design:http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actiondesc.php?arr_num=105&id_num=12!8

Innovative Demonstration Projects: Rain gardens http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actiondesc.php?arr_num=144&id_num=15!5

The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guideto Recognizing Its Economic,Environmental and Social Benefits, Centerfor Neighborhood Technology, Chicago, IL

A guide for municipalities that helps toquantify the multiple energy, economic,and environmental benefits of adoptingsustainable stormwater bestmanagement practices. http://www.cnt.org/repository/gi-values-guide.pdf

planning for hazard mitigation before adisaster or initiating recovery planningafter a disaster, can integrate theconcepts and principles of sustainabledevelopment into each phase ofmitigation planning. FEMA 364 alsoshows how disaster resistance can be acatalyst to help communities incorporatesustainable development practices intotheir day-to-day planning anddevelopment functions. Finally, FEMA364 gives real-life examples ofcommunities that have successfullyimplemented sustainable developmentpractices in their community anddescribes how citizens and local officialscan become advocates for disasterresistance as a part of sustainabledevelopment and livability in theircommunities. Publication 364http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1541

Flood Protection and Coastal Storm Safetyfor the Borough of Seaside Park, OceanCounty, N J

http://www.seasideparknj.org/flood-information/

Green City, Clean Waters, PhiladelphiaWater Department, City of Philadelphia

Through the evaluation of a number ofalternative implementation approaches,Philadelphia determined that a greenstormwater infrastructure-based approachwould provide maximum return inenvironmental, economic, and socialbenefits within the most efficienttimeframe, making it the best approach forthe City of Philadelphia. Green stormwaterinfrastructure is partnered with streamcorridor restoration and preservation andwith wet weather treatment plantupgrades. Each is mutually supportive andessential. The program report describesstrategies and the specific tools andprograms of Philadelphia’s greenstormwater infrastructure approach. http://www.phillywatersheds.org/ltcpu/LTCPU_Summary_LoRes.pdf

New Jersey Stormwater Management. Title7 of the New Jersey Administrative Code.

Stormwater Management, April 19, 2010. http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/rules/njac7_8.pdf

APPENDIX AEPA Case studies: MunicipalitiesImplementing Green Infrastructure

EPA: Case Studies, Managing Stormwaterwith Green Infrastructure This case studyreport describes a dozen cities andcounties that are using GreenInfrastructure approaches to reduceimperviousness and preserve naturalopen space throughout a watershed andat the neighborhood scale, as well asadding Green Infrastructure practices atthe site level. http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/gi_case_studies_2010.pdf

EPA/NRDC: Managing Wet Weather withGreen Infrastructure Handbook Series

The Municipal Handbook is a series ofdocuments to help local officialsimplement Green Infrastructure in theircommunities. Handbook topics coverissues such as financing, operation andmaintenance, incentives, designs, codes &ordinances, and a variety of othersubjects. The handbook documents areintended to serve as "how to" manuals onthese topics, written primarily from thestandpoint of municipal implementation.The handbook is being produced insections, with each new element beingreleased as it is completed. http://www.efc.unc.edu/publications/pdfs/gi_munichandbook_funding.pdf

FEMA: Report on Costs and Benefits ofNatural Hazard Mitigation

This report reviews the types of benefitsthat can accrue to different segments ofsociety from mitigative measures, thetypes of costs that can be incurred byundertaking the actions, and the types ofanalyses needed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness associated with themitigation measure. In addition, the reportprovides a review of the tools of hazardmitigation, to give the reader anunderstanding of how mitigation measuresare implemented. FEMA-294/7/97http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1712

FEMA: Planning for a Sustainable FutureThe Link Between Hazard Mitigation andLivability “Planning for a SustainableFuture: The Link Between HazardMitigation and Livability” (FEMA 364)illustrates how communities, whether

APPENDIX BNATIVE PLANT SELECTIONINFORMATION

OVERVIEW

The New Jersey Stormwater BestManagement Practices Manualrecommends the use of native plantspecies and defines them as: “species thatevolved naturally to live in the region.Practically speaking, this specifically refersto species that grew in New Jersey beforeEuropeans explored and settled inAmerica. Many introduced species werebrought in by accident; others wereintentionally introduced and cultivated foruse as medicinal herbs, spices, dyes, fiberplants and ornamentals.” Fortunately,extensive research has been done onnative plant species of the barrier islandon which Seaside Park is situated. Anexcellent source of information aboutthese native plants is the PlantCommunities of New Jersey, a Study inPlant Diversity by Beryl Robichauld Collinsand Karl H. Anderson, Rutgers UniversityPress, 1994. The following is noted in theCollins and Anderson text:

One of the most importantinfluences to plant success is itsrelationship to soil features. Soil,which is nothing more thandisintegrated rock particlesmodified by plants, water and airand combined with decomposedorganic material, is the medium inwhich plants root and obtain theirnourishment. Soils differ in theirwater-holding capacities, in theirsupplies of mineral elements andin their properties that affect theavailability of nutrients to plants.One of the soil characteristics thataffect the water holding capacity istexture, that is, the relativeproportions of sand, silt and clayparticles that make up soil. Waterquickly drains through sandparticles but adheres tightly to

distinct plant communities, (determinedby their distance from the ocean). TheDunegrass Community is located on theprimary dune immediately adjacent tothe ocean. The Beach HeatherCommunity is located behind the ridgeof the foredunes, a flattened area withhollows and smaller dunes that offeradditional moisture and protection fromthe salt spray of the ocean. Still furtherinland, a decrease in the salt spraycombined with an increase in soilmoisture allows additional varieties ofvegetation to survive in the ShrubThicket Community. The final plantcommunity in this region, the DuneWoodland Community, is located in themoister and more protected hollowsbeyond the heavy salt spray. Large treesgrow in abundance in this area, forminga dense forest. Tree species prevalent inthis community include American holly,black cherry, red cedar and red maple.The Plant Communities of New Jerseybook identifies Island Beach State Parkas the primary example of the state’scoastal sand dune community. As onetravels inland from the ocean, thedecreasing amount of salt spray andgreater soil moisture combine toproduce conditions that result in thegrowth of a varied natural plant cover.Among the species found in this plantcover are the woody plants thatcommonly grow in the Borough such asbayberry, beach plum, shadbush,highbush blueberry, red cedar, blackcherry, scrub oak, winged sumac andAmerican holly. On the drier areas,dunegrass, seaside goldenrod andswitchgrass can be found.

NJDEP’s Best Management PracticesManuel, Chapter 7, Landscaping describesthe benefits of using native plant species:

Native species have distinctgenetic advantages over non-native species. Because they haveevolved to live here naturally,indigenous plants are best suited

smaller clay particles. The result isthat very sandy soils tend to bedry; those with a lot of clay oftenare waterlogged. Soil substratesvary wildly not only in water-holding capacity but also in thetype and amount of mineralelements most needed by plants -such as nitrogen, phosphorous,calcium, magnesium, potassiumand iron. Each plant speciesexhibits a specific range of needand tolerance for particularnutrients as well as for the otherfactors such as soil acidity. Thus aplant species that grows andreproduces successfully on onetype of soil may not be able toexist under different conditions.Too little or too much of a specificelement in the soil or too low ortoo high a level of acidity, asmeasured by a scale known as thepH scale, a plant will die.

Native plants should be utilized for all raingarden plantings. The RutgersCooperative Research & Extension RainGarden Fact Sheet advises: the “use ofhardy native perennial species with well-established root systems that survive inboth dry and wet conditions. Typically,native species do not require substantialfertilization, absorb water more efficientlythan turf-style lawns and are much easierto maintain than exotic species.” InFebruary 2004, the New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protectionpromulgated new guidelines respectingthe control of stormwater in the state.

PLANT SELECTION

The authors of Plant Communities ofNew Jersey divide the state into 8different plant habitats. Seaside Park islocated in the Coastal Sand Dune Habitat.Due to the unique environmentalconditions of the state’s barrier islands,the area is further subdivided into 4


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for our local climate. Thistranslates into greater survivorshipand less replacement maintenanceduring the life of a stormwatermanagement facility. Both ofthese attributes provide costsavings for facility owners.

In addition, native plant species give theappearance of “belonging” in the raingarden, as the sites are designed to mimicthe physical conditions of the indigenousplant community. The selected plants willenhance the stormwater infiltration and

filtering systems. Vegetation located inpre-treatment buffers trap sediments thatare often bound with phosphorous andmetals and can aid in nutrient uptake andwater storage. Additionally, plant rootsprovide arteries from within whichstormwater can permeate soil forgroundwater recharge.

We selected the following plants from theShrub Thicket Plant Community, which willprovide a variety of heights, textures andseasonal interest. Spring will introduce thefragrant pink Pasture Rose; Black Eyed

Susan will bloom from June into July; andthe Purple Cone Flower blossom willprovide color from July into August. Thetextures and colors of the selectedgrasses will provoke interest all summer,and the Gray Goldenrod’s flowers willilluminate the garden in autumn. Theplants will also provide food and cover forsongbirds and butterflies. After an initialestablishment period, the plants shouldthrive in the harsh conditions of the raingarden and will offer delightful viewing tothe surrounding community for manyyears to come.


15. Cross-section of porous pavement.POROUS PAVEMENT Pavement ThatLeaks, A. Richard Miller, ExecutiveDirector of the Lake CochituateWatershed Association

16. 7 SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project,Portland, Oregon. Photo Credit: KevinRobert Perry. Source: City of Portland,Environmental Services ©2009

17. Example of a bump out. Creating a Neighborhood Plan: Transportation Strategies City of Madison,WI,Department of Planning, Community& Economic DevelopmentNeighborhood Planning, Preservationand Design Section October 2008

18. Bump out in West Palm Beach, FL. Creating a Neighborhood Plan: Transportation Strategies City ofMadison,WI, Department of Planning,Community & EconomicDevelopment Neighborhood Planning,Preservation and Design SectionOctober 2008

19. Green Street design combiningstormwater treatment with a bumpout to reduce pedestrian crossingdistances. Photo Credit: Portland BES.Portland Bureau of EnvironmentalServices.

20. Pervious pavers used in the roadwayin a neighborhood development inWilsonville, OR. Photo Credit:Portland BES

6. EPA: Green Infrastructure Benefits by Type.http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/gi_case_studies_2010.pdf, EPA-841-F-10-004, August 2010.

7. Google map of intersection Route 35and J street

8. Intersection of Route 35 and J Street,Seaside Park, New Jersey. PlanPrepared by Remington, Vernick & VenaEngineers, June 2010.

9. Existing Plantings within Rain Garden -Northern Island. R. Bartolone and T.Triplett

10. Grading Plan: Low point to be 24inched below curb line, high point tobe 24 inches above existing curb line.R. Bartolone and T.Triplett

11. Ponding on Central Ave. (a & b)Photograph by D.Messina

12. Southern Island Planting Plan:Plantings and grading similar tonorthern island’s rain garden. R.Bartolone and T. Triplett

13. Rain Garden Planting Plan - NorthernIsland. R. Bartolone and Ty Triplett

14. Rain Garden Illustrative Plan. R.Bartolone and T. Triplett

INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS1. Roadway Functional Street Map,

Borough of Seaside Park. T & M Assoc.,Seaside Park 2008 Master Plan, Page 74.http://www.seasideparknj.org/files/FINAL_MASTER_PLAN.pdf

2. Flooding due to powerful storms.North Bayview Ave, Seaside Park, NJ.Major and minor flooding: 12 floodswithin a 6 month period (Nov 2009-May 2010). Sources: (2a) TheStar-Ledger, Friday, May 28, 2010; (2b)The Star-Ledger, March 16, 2010.

3. FEMA Flood Hazard Area, Borough ofSeaside Park, T & M Assoc., SeasidePark 2008 Master Plan, Page 39.http://www.seasideparknj.org/files/FINAL_MASTER_PLAN.pdf

4. Green Infrastructure Benefits andPractices Table. The Value of GreenInfrastructure: A Guide to RecognizingIts Economic, Environmental and SocialBenefits, 2010. Page3.http://www.cnt.org/repository/gi-values-guide.pdf

5. Median nose extended beyond thecrosswalk to provide an enclosedpedestrian refuge. Source: Kimley-Hornand Associates, Inc. Traveled WayDesign Guidelines, Designing WalkableUrban Throughfares: A Contex SensitiveApproach.www.ite.org/css/online/DWUTO9.html

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Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) A biennial forb, it grows to about 3 feet tall with yellow ray flowers and dark brown spherical centers.After germination, the seedling grows into a rosette with oblong leaves. Sometimes flower stalks willappear in the first summer, but typically black-eyed Susan blooms from June to September of thesecond year. After flowering and seed maturation, the plants die. It is adapted throughout theNortheast on soils that are well-drained to somewhat poorly drained. It will perform acceptably ondroughty soils during years with average or above rainfall; best growth is achieved on sandy, welldrained sites.

Coastal Panic Grass (Panicum amarum) Also known as Bitter Panicum, this is a perennial, U.S. native, warm season grass growing to a height of7 feet with a growth habit ranging from erect to prostrate. The leaves are 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, 7 to 20inches long, smooth without hair and bluish in color. A robust grass, it spreads slowly from short, strongrhizomes to form open clumps. Coastal Panic Grass is adapted to very dry sterile sites. It can withstandperiods of extended drought and is somewhat winter hardy.

Grey Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)A native perennial wildflower, this is one of the smaller species of goldenrod, growing from 6 inches andseldom reaching 2.5 feet tall. It flowers later than most other goldenrods. The narrow flower is wider in themiddle and has numerous yellow compound flowers that are about ¼ inch across. The blooming periodoccurs during the fall and lasts about a month and the flowers occasionally have a slight fragrance. Insuitable locations, grey goldenrod has a tendency to form groups of plants. It is a carefree plant that prefersgrowing in full sun and dry soil. This plant thrives in sand, clay or gravel soils. It will also grow in fertile soil.However, it can be short-lived if the site is too rich.

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) An upright shrub, the bayberry typically grows to 5 to 8 feet in height, except on sand dunes and poorquality sites. The species has male and female plants; the flowers occur in early spring and are notshowy. Female plants produce numerous small, blue-grey, waxy round fruit in the fall. Bayberry is anative of the eastern coastal zone. Although adapted to a variety of soil conditions, it performs best onlight textured soils. It naturally spreads to bare sandy soil areas, but not into sod or cultivated sites.

Pasture or Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)An upright shrub growing between 4 to 6 feet tall, it has glossy dark green foliage that developsexcellent yellow to red fall color. This species bears fragrant pink flowers that are 2 to 3 inches indiameter and occur in clusters of five to eight. Pasture rose grows along the edges of salt marshes,roadsides and in pastures. It succeeds in moist soils, growing well in heavy clayey soils. It prefers asunny position and does well in winter conditions. This is an outstanding ornamental shrub that iseasy to grow.

Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea purpurea)A perennial herb 6 inches to 2 feet tall with a woody rhizome. It has one to several rough-hairy stems,mostly unbranched. Leaf blades are ovate to ovate-lanceolate with serrate edges, up to 8 inches longand 6 inches wide and slightly heart-shaped at the base. The flowers are in heads like sunflowers withthe disk up to 1.5 inches across. The drooping ray florets have ligules 0.4 to 1.2 inches long and arereddish-purple, lavender or rarely, pink. The disk florets are approximately 2 inches long and aresituated among stiff bracts. Flowers bloom from June to August; fruits are small, dark, 4-angledachenes. It is cold and heat hardy, and easy to grow. Goldfinches love the Echinacea seed crop and canclear out all the seed in a few days.

All preceding plant information was obtained from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Guide.

Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) A medium height grass with coarse stems and basal leaves, this is a warm season grass that beginsgrowth in late spring and continues through the hot summer period until the first killing frost. It hasvery flat bluish basal shoots. Plants are green, but often purplish at base of the stem and the entireplant has a reddish cast after frost. Its leaves are smooth, but frequently covered with hair at the basenext to the sheath. Leaves tend to fold with maturity. Seed head clusters are about three inches long.The clustered stems are hairy. Plant height varies from 18 inches on droughty sites to 3 feet on deep,fertile soils.

PLANT PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS


T&M Associates. Commissioned byBorough of Seaside Park to provideguidance and expertise to Seaside Park’sPlanning Board and Master Plan Advisorycommittee for the preparation of itsupdated Master Plan. Adopted 25November 25 2008.

United States Environmental ProtectionAgency. Definition of a rain garden.

Wei, Irvine W., Ph.D. “Installation andEvaluation of Permeable Pavement atWalden Pond State Reservation.”February 1986.

Yocas, David, FASLA. Congress testimony.30 September 2010

Department of Planning, Community &Economic Development NeighborhoodPlanning. “Creating a Neighborhood Plan,Transportation strategies.” Preservationand Design Section. Madison, WI.

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Rain Garden Feasibility Study

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Transcript of Rain Garden Feasibility Study