Integrating Stormwater Management into Municipal Programs: A Cost Effective Method for Achieving Clean Water Goals Ruth Ayn Hocker, P.E., D.WRE, CFM rhocker@cityoflancasterpa.com 717-735-0350
About Lancaster Pittsburgh Lancaster
About Lancaster Pittsburgh Harrisburg Lancaster Philadelphia 1742 incorporated 60,000 people 7.4 sqmi 50% impervious 750 Million gallons CSO 19.1 sqkm 2.8 Billion litres CSO
About Lancaster 4.1 mi 2 (10.6 km 2 ) MS4 Local and regional WQ impairments Sediment, Nitrogen, Phosphorus 3.3 mi 2 (8.5 km 2 ) CSO 750,000,000 annual capture goal 110 mi (177 km) city streets 11 mi (18 km) state streets 572 alleys (400 mi / 644 km) 464 common alleys 500 ac (202 ha) surface parking lots 18,000 parcels
Building a Stormwater Program 2011 2012 2014 2015 2018 Green Infrastructure Plan SW Ordinance & Bureau SW Utility Fee Monitoring & Assessment Expanded Staff & Scope Pilot/Demonstration Projects -------------> Programmatic Integration 60+ complete 160+ in design
How It All Started To provide more livable, sustainable neighborhoods for City residents and reduce combined sewer overflows and nutrient loads to local streams and rivers.
Where Is It Coming From? GIS Analysis of Impervious Cover, Land Use, and Ownership to Determine Potential Implementation of Different GI Technologies
What Can We Do? The Green Infrastructure Benefit Calculator Projects Future Benefits for CSO and MS4 Areas Impervious Area Type Imperviou s Area Green Technology Impervious Area Managed Annual Runoff / Runoff Reduction Pollutant Load Reductions Manage 1,200 ac (485 ha) of Impervious Area Capture 750M gallons (2.8B Litres) of Stormwater Runoff over 20 years
What We Are Doing? GI Plan in 2011 Incorporate GI and Complete Streets concepts into plans and ordinances Implement projects that integrate GI and Complete Streets Implement policy actions that require GI on all public and private projects Conduct extensive partnering and outreach Develop technical tools/studies to support GI
Where Are We Doing It? Catchment Priority Siting GI Pavement Condition Slope & Other Site Factors ADA Priority Identify opportunities to integrate GI with capital improvements and development projects already or to be planned!!
How Are We Doing It? Integrating GI parks streets other ROWs private property
How Are We Doing It? Integrating GI parks streets other ROWs private property site-specific concepts area-wide disconnection CIP for park improvements education opportunities
What Does It Look Like? GI integrated with planned park facility improvements allow cost effective management of approximately 4-million gallons of stormwater annually and restored hydrology of an historic stream valley.
How Are We Doing It? Integrating GI parks streets other ROWs private property site-specific concepts Pavement Management Plan area-wide disconnection COMPLETE STREETS CIP for park improvements 2-way conversion education opportunities water/sewer
What Does It Look Like? Plum & Walnut Green Intersection Using Traffic safety and transportation funding to reduce accidents and runoff 5 MPH reduction in average traffic speed
What Does It Look Like? Integrating traffic improvements improves safety, local business, and brings new funding sources Built with Transportation and GI Grant funds Helps local business Public/Private Partnership
What Does It Look Like? New outdoor seating with Porous Pavers and Public Art
What Does It Look Like? 700 Gallon Cistern Functions As Public Art and Irrigates Planters with Roof Runoff from Brewery
What Is a Complete Street? Complete streets are... designed and built for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit passengers of all ages and abilities, as well as trucks, buses, emergency vehicles, and automobiles. connected and create a comprehensive, integrated network for all modes. both new and retrofit projects.
What Does It Look Like? Liberty Street Extension: A New(ish) Complete Street The Missing Link: a much needed completion of a portion of the city s east/west transportation grid. 20
What Does It Look Like? Liberty Street Extension: A New(ish) Complete Street GI integrated from inception as part of Complete Street project. Parking lot flow captured and directed to bioretention and infiltration trenches Shared lane markings for bicyclists BMP selection and placement integrated with multi-modal transportation design. Raised crosswalk Back-in angle parking Rain garden
Complete Street Conversion Traffic Considerations New traffic patterns - Traffic analysis and signal coordination Turn lanes - balance parking and traffic operations Truck/bus turns - 2 nd lane no longer available for turns Parallel Parking with northbound bike lane
What Does It Look Like? Mulberry Street Two-way Conversion Benefits of Two-Way Operation Reduced speeds Pedestrian safety Improved access Alternative routes Complete Street Sidewalks already present ADA compliant curb ramps Bike accommodations New pavement and pavement markings Signal modifications Preserve on-street parking Green Infrastructure Increase/protect tree canopy Bioretention areas Permeable pavers Infiltration trenches
What Does It Look Like? Mulberry Street Two-way Conversion
What Does It Look Like? Complete Street
What Does It Look Like? Complete Street
What Does It Look Like?
What Does It Look Like? Charlotte Street Two-way Conversion
How Are We Doing It? Integrating GI parks streets other ROWs private property site-specific concepts reconstruction trees area-wide disconnection 2-way conversion sidewalks CIP for park improvements water/sewer SW easements education opportunities PMP alleys
What Does It Look Like? Alley 148 Changing Alley cross section to provide stormwater capture Conventional reconstruction ~$20.30/SF (8-inch reinforced concrete) Green alley retrofit ~$22.40/SF (permeable pavers with infiltration trench)
What Does It Look Like? Intersection at Charlotte and Orange Streets
What Does It Look Like? Intersection at S. Broad and New Dauphin Streets
How Are We Doing It? Integrating GI parks streets other ROWs private property site-specific concepts reconstruction trees incentives area-wide disconnection 2-way conversion alleys regulatory CIP for park improvements water/sewer sidewalks tree program education opportunities PMP SW easements parking lots
What Does It Look Like? Community Mennonite Church
What Does It Look Like? Residential Retrofit
What Does It Look Like? Residential Retrofit
What Does It Look Like? Residential Retrofit
How Do We Know It s Working? Metrics 1. Gallons of stormwater captured annually 2. Gallons of combined sewer overflow reduced 3. SW permits & credits 4. # of projects completed 5. Pounds of TN, TP, TSS diverted 6. Public outreach events & interactions Inspection & Performance 1. BMP s are installed and maintained properly 2. BMP s function as intended 3. Functionality maintained over time 4. Reducing maintenance & observation
How Do We Know It s Working? Monthly Inspections
How Do We Keep It Working? Routine Maintenance Monthly (during growing season) weeding of rain gardens and vegetated curb extensions Regular replanting of dead vegetation Regular trash and sediment removal Regular inlet/structure cleaning
How Do We Keep It Working? Routine Maintenance Monthly (bi-weekly in fall) vacuum sweeping of all porous pavement surfaces Monthly (during growing season) weeding of rain gardens and vegetated curb extensions Regular replanting of dead vegetation Regular trash and sediment removal Regular inlet/structure cleaning
How Do We Keep It Working? Non-Routine Maintenance Plant replacement Media replacement Concrete repair Auto removal?
How Do We Keep It Working? Maintenance Staff Field staff are a vital part of a successful stormwater program! Plant identification throughout growth/seasons Appropriate maintenance methods Feedback for improvements
What About Private Project Maintenance? Operations and Maintenance Agreements Identify responsible part(ies). Recorded legal document with site plan exhibit. Run concurrent with deeds in perpetuity; responsibilities transfer even with sale of property. Allow City to enforce O&M. Allow City to enter property to perform maintenance/repair and bill responsible party at cost PLUS 10% with penalties for late payment (or lien).
Does It Ever Go Wrong? Getting it Right: Lessons Learned Planting Palette: Primarily shrubs (winterberry) and grasses PA natives End Result: Plants mostly died Causes Soil media Road salts
Does It Ever Go Wrong? Getting It Right: Lessons Learned Planting Palette: Replanted in 2014 using coastal Mid-Atlantic species Herbaceous plants under 3 Denser planting No mulch End Result: Plants are thriving in sandy soils and tolerant of salt exposure
Does It Ever Go Wrong? Getting It Right: Lessons Learned Sediment Forebays: Designed using stone cobbles to dissipate the energy of the flow and capture sediment Very difficult to maintaincobbles must be removed and cleaned to remove sediment Only weeds grow in sediment accumulation
Does It Ever Go Wrong? Getting It Right: Lessons Learned Remove stone cobbles and replace with poured concrete sediment forebay with energy dissipater Sediment can be removed from forebay with a flat-edged shovel Build up is highly visible and easy to maintain
What Have We Learned So Far? 1. Choose appropriate plant material. 2. Consider the impact of surrounding surface areas. 3. Design with maintenance in mind. 4. Try new technologies and techniques. 5. Inspect regularly. 6. If a system isn t working, find out why. 7. Finding the $ to fix a problem after installation is often much more difficult than funding it in the first place.
What Else Are We Doing? Urban Tree Canopy / Street Tree Inventory
What Else Are We Doing? Adopt-A-BMP Public Participation
What Else Are We Doing? Public Involvement, Public Education, Public Input, Public meetings resident & business owner concerns Construction impacts - road closures, parking Opportunity to educate on stormwater utility Encourage private investment in green infrastructure and Partnerships Lancaster City Alliance Lancaster County Conservancy Urban Greening Program PA Department of Environmental Protection Lancaster County Planning Commission School District of Lancaster Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Local developers & contractors Local residents
What Else Are We Doing? Public Education Annual Contractor Workshops
What Else Are We Doing? Public Education Brochures and Factsheets
What Else Are We Doing? Public Education Brochures and Factsheets Wolf Museum Residential Demonstration Project As part of the Green Infrastructure (GI) plan the City of Lancaster encourages property owners to manage the, first flush, first 1-inch of rainfall on their property and not allow it to discharge to the combined sewer. The use of GI to reduce pollution and erosive flows supports the attainment of the Watershed Implementation Plan for the Chesapeake Bay and to improve water quality in the Conestoga River. The Wolf Museum demonstrates methods that support the GI plan and function as a model for future projects. The Lancaster County Conservancy in partnership with the Wolf Museum, adjacent property owners, and neighborhood volunteers used multiple methods such as rain barrels, a rain garden, and dry creek to address storm water runoff coming from and onto the Wolf Museum property. CREATING A RAIN GARDEN A Rain barrels connected to rain garden A B Digging out the rain garden Mixing the soil, sand and compost Figure 1 Downspout A is fed by approximately 1,500 sq ft. of roof surface; during a 1 inch rain storm this would equal 938 gallons of water The location of 2 Rain Barrels and the Rain Garden addresses runoff from Downspout A. The rain garden was installed at least 10 from the foundation, in line with the downspout and slope to intercept the rooftop water. The rain garden was excavated to a depth of 18-20 and filled with a mixture of 40% topsoil from the site, 40% sand, and 20% compost for improved infiltration. Rain garden mulched and planted
What Else Are We Doing? Education and Outreach Internet Branding and Social Media
What Else Are We Doing?
That s Great, But. Image credit: constructible.trimble.co.uk
How Do We Pay for It All? Stormwater Utility (Fee) implemented in 2014 $ Equity: fees are determined based on amount of impervious area - ALL properties pay; $ Reduces reliance on general fund; $ Stable and reliable funding source. $ Credits available for a property s on-site treatment of impervious area. Applications must be renewed every 2 years with inspection to ensure proper maintenance and continued function Grants/Loans/Innovative Funding Mechanisms Clean Water State Revolving Funds/PennVest PennDOT Liquid Fuels Program PennDOT Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Program Smart Growth Transportation Program (SGT), Lancaster County MPO PA DEP Growing Greener PA DCNR - Dirt and Gravel Roads Maintenance Program National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Streets Green Jobs Green Towns CROWDFUNDING!
In Summary 1. Political support and public education are integral early in process. 2. MESSAGE 3. Engage diverse partners and stakeholders often. 4. Funding strategies INTEGRATED PROGRAM MANAGEMENT 5. GRANTS 6. Inspection is critical. 7. A responsible party must be identified and held accountable for continued operation and maintenance. 8. Learn from your mistakes. 9. Learn from others mistakes and successes. 10. Innovate!
THANK YOU Ruth Ayn Hocker, P.E., D.WRE, CFM rhocker@cityoflancasterpa.com +001 717-735-0350 http://www.cityoflancasterpa.com http://www.saveitlancaster.com/ http://www.cityoflancasterpa.com/resident/city-tree-map http://www.cityoflancasterpa.com/government/stormwater https://ecode360.com/la1674 (Codes/Ordinances)