Rebuilding Landscapes Permit Ready Garden Design Templates
Project Goals Streamline permitting Save homeowner cost Water saving designs Fire Safer guidelines Attractive, engaging front yard plans Integrate sustainability elements Restore neighborhood vitality and ecology Improve climate adaptability
Landscapes that are Adaptive to Climate Change Rising temperatures will generate warmer conditions in summer and winter Rainfall is likely to be more variable in extremes The North Bay region is becoming more arid Runoff may be increasingly flashy http://climate.calcommons.org/crnb/home
Neighborhood Historical and Ecological Context Development period: style of neighborhood Infrastructure elements Drainage and Imperviousness Urban Forest Characteristics: percent tree cover tree species and variability
Russian River Friendly A whole systems approach to landscapes that supports the integrity of one of California s richest and most diverse ecosystems: the Russian River watershed
Planting Guidelines: Low water plantings for 75% of area Street Trees: Low water trees Fire safer Non invasive
Fire Safer Guidelines Plants < 3 tall near house Higher water use plants near house Fire safer plant selection Critical area - 30 from house Reduce connectivity of fuels Islands of larger shrubs Keep plants clean and green Prune tree limbs 15 from structures Consider wind direction of fire weather Non flammable fencing materials Adapted from CalFire
How Not to Plant for Fire Safer
Separate shrubs, more lower groundcovers
Sustainable Design Direct Downspouts and Hardscapes to Raingardens & Swales - protect creeks, recharge groundwater Greywater - inexpensive year round water source Rainwater Harvesting - captures rainwater to infiltrate or use for irrigation Neighborhood Tree Cover - Urban Forest - keeps neighborhood cool, raises property values, reduces AC use and expense See Daily Acts Fact Sheets
Slow, spread, sink Rain into the earth
Examples of Raingardens & Swales
Greywater Laundry to Landscape
Simple Modifications of Plumbing
Greywater Shower to Flower
Site Design Styles Sonoma Contemporary: minimalistic, modern Sonoma Native/Adaptive: emphasis on native, fire safer, low water use, habitat Sonoma Cottage: Sonoma version of a cottage garden - natural materials, colorful plantings Sonoma Eco-Edible Style: mix of edible and habitat plantings, maximizing sustainability
Site Considerations Aspect solar access for south solar power arrays, shade trees to West Slope: typical lots have modest slope back to front (more sloping lots need site specific grading plan) Lot size and shape: typical lot sizes configurations housing shapes Soil characteristics: assume clay loam topsoil Moderate to low percolation rates Urban Forest Characteristics - increase tree cover mindful of fire safer and solar access
PLANTING CONCEPT LAWN 2 RESIDENCE 1 LEGEND 1 Metal fencing to house 5 Boulders 9 2 Raingarden 6 Table 10 3 Decomposed granite path 7 11 4 Trellis 8 12 SONOMA NATURAL Scale 1/8 =1-0
PLANTING CONCEPT 1 RESIDENCE 2 LEGEND 1 Metal fencing to house 5 Boulders 9 2 Raingarden 6 Table 10 3 Decomposed granite path 7 11 4 Trellis 8 12 SONOMA NATURAL Scale 1/8 =1-0
PLANTING CONCEPT RESIDENCE 1 2 LEGEND 1 Metal fencing to house 5 Boulders 9 2 Raingarden 6 Table 10 3 Decomposed granite path 7 11 4 Trellis 8 12 SONOMA NATURAL Scale 1/8 =1-0
1 8 PLANTING CONCEPT 2 1 3 4 5 1 1 RESIDENCE 1 1 1 2 1 8 LEGEND 6 1 1 Grape Kiwi Fence Trellis 5 Fruit tree 9 7 8 1 1 2 3 Raised garden bed Cutting fowers 6 7 Gravelpave drive Trash area 10 11 4 Mulch trench 8 Rain garden vegetated 12 ECO GROOVY Scale 1/8 =1-0
Landscape Permit Requirements Landscape areas < 2500 sf Smart irrigation controllers with weather sensor 75% low water use 25% medium water use Owner signs plan set Drip irrigation systems and components in plans Owners self certify Simplified inspection Climatic water deficit = the amount of additional water that would have evaporated or transpired had it been present in the soils given the temperature forcing. Used as an estimate of drought stress on soils and plants (Cornwell 2010)
Rebuild Design Template Team Ann Baker Landscape Architecture Daily Acts Equinox Landscapes ForeSite Mapping Project Advisory Committee: City of Santa Rosa (WUE, Permitting, Stormwater and Fire), County PRMD, SCWA