USF Civil & Environmental Engineering/East Tampa Service Learning Partnership

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1 USF Civil & Environmental Engineering/East Tampa Service Learning Partnership Sarina J. Ergas, Ryan Locicero and Maya Trotz Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering University of South Florida October 30, 2012 St. Petersburg FL

2 East Tampa Historically African-American neighborhood northeast of downtown Tampa. ~ 7.5 mi 2 and 30,000 residents, surrounded by interstate highways,. Has lost residents and businesses to suburban sprawl. Areas identified as concerns by local residents: Neighborhood cleanliness, health, early childhood education, wholesome youth programs. Air quality, water quality, soil pollution, flooding retention ponds. Environmental health issues asthma, cancer, birth defects, and lead poisoning Need for more outreach, education, sustained communication, and resources for informed decision making and action.

3 USF/East Tampa Partnership Actively involved with East Tampa community over the past decade through research, teaching and service. More than 60 service learning classes, 22 faculty, 17 departments, and hundreds of students. Community surveys to identify concerns and needs Development of neighborhood parks around stormwater ponds Façade improvement plans. Curriculum development and professional development activities for teachers in local schools through Water Awareness Research and Education (WARE). Capstone Engineering Design Projects NSF Research Experience for Teachers teachers working as interns in Environmental Engineering research labs. Increased property values, new development and redevelopment, decreasing crime rates, and improved cleanliness and services

4 Community Partnerships Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) student chapter University of South Florida Civil and Environmental Engineering, Anthropology and Architecture & Community Design Departments City of Tampa Stormwater and Parks and Recreation Departments. Lockhart Elementary, Young Middle Magnet, and Middleton High School East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership

5 Water Awareness Research and Education (WARE) East Tampa Conception Funded in 2008 through EPA People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) student design competition for sustainability. Objectives Reduce non-point source pollutant loading to coastal ecosystems through community and K-12 education, Improve green space within urban landscape utilizing existing dilapidated infrastructure Mission Statement Promote public awareness in the area of environmental stewardship, water resource conservation, and environmental protection through educational outreach programs and activities centered around accessible community resources.

6 WARE Community Events and Outreach WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio Low Impact Development (LID) educational kiosk East Tampa Community Survival Day Lockhart Elementary Night of Ecology East Tampa bus tours

7 WARE Educational Projects Water Quality Testing and Monitoring Educational Scale model of Robert Cole Sr. Community Lake and Young Middle Magnet School

8 WARE Projects Young Middle Magnet STEM Program Student driven design and construction of oncampus rain garden. Weather station monitoring. Student mentoring Environmental Campus Care Club (EC 3 ) to support student initiatives.

9 CEE Capstone Design Projects Required design class for Seniors in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Student teams work on real world design projects. Students develop varying expertise : Engineering science and design Project management Written, oral & graphical communication Economic and life cycle analysis Community benefits through student designs and analysis.

10 Course Content Little formal instruction Outside speakers: clients, local consultants, regulators Field trips: project site and others organized by teams Interactions with clients, community members, team mentors Consultations: increasing intensity as semester progresses Deliverables Scope of work, roles & responsibilities, timeline Oral and written reports (30 and 60%) Final oral reports at client s site (attended by various stakeholders) Final written reports Detailed feedback given on all deliverables incorporated into subsequent work. Client present for most presentations.

11 Regan Park Stormwater Problems City of Tampa Public Park East Tampa Older infrastructure Center for Community Activities Park used for local gatherings Weddings, barbeques, birthday parties, community meetings, etc Problems with Water Quality Pond eutrophication Excessive vegetation Odors Drainage Issues Standing water in parking lots and grassed areas after rainfall

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13 Louise Ave. N Flooding Area East Lake Ave.

14 Fountain Dredging Pond Improvements Floating Wetlands Nutrient removal Experimental design 2 (6 x10 ) PVC frames Coir fiber mat layer Options to expand Collaboration with USF? Floating Treatment Wetlands Cost Total Capital Costs $1900 Annual Maintenance $200

15 Site Runoff Improvements Porous Concrete Eliminate standing water Encourage infiltration Rational Method design Area calculated from required storage Partial coverage From curb-stops outward Minimal maintenance Initial Cost Yearly Maintenance $31,000 $160

16 Site Runoff Improvements Rain Gardens Simple layout Uses natural depressions sq. ft 1 35 sq. ft Shallow design dimensions 18 excavation depth 6 gravel 8 soil amendment 2 mulch layer Initial Cost Yearly Maintenance $3,000 $1,300

17 Best Management Practices Fence off pond inlets and outlets Clear out 18 NE culvert (drainage easement) Weekly trash pick-up (bank) Possibilities for future: Line pond banks with vegetation Landscaping along sections of walking trail

18 Community Recommendations USF Anthropology Results Park used for multiple purposes Exercise Sports Shelter from sun Prevailing concern for practical amenities Open restrooms Additional seating and BBQ grills Trash cleanup

19 Final Site Design Technology Quantity Dredging 1 Fountain 1 Floating Wetlands 2 Rain Gardens 3 Porous Concrete Repave Inlet/Outlet Fencing 4 2

20 Osborne Ave. Stormwater Ponds 1) Flooding on Hillsborough Ave. and 30 th St. 2) Site Lacks Visual Appeal 3) Odor Problems

21 East Tampa Community Stormwater tour Resident Interviews Community Meetings Educational Events Results of Investigation Creation of a park Running Trails Educational Opportunities Aesthetically pleasing Wildlife / Trees Place to relax

22 Sub-Basin Hydrological Characteristics

23 Tier 3 Pond Design

24 Constructed Wetland Muhly Grass /10/09/tapestry/ Little Blue Stem Florida Gamma Grass oducts/large/fakahatchee_dwarf.jp g

25 Rain Garden (Natural Zeolite)

26 Community Center Mini-Park bawi.org/comm unity/ ndrec/trails/cosmonature.php

27 FWEA & WEFTEC

28 Parting quotes the best experience that I had in college It was truly a capstone project in that I learned how to put my academic knowledge to practical use and matured as a student, manager, leader and engineer. bridged a gap between finishing college and entering the workforce that no other experience could have given the students. gave us a real project while other teams worked on hypothetical problems without real data. FWEA and the community of professionals have shown us why Florida is so successful in environmental engineering and affirmed my career choice in engineering.