RainScapes for Healthy Watersheds Reducing Runoff One Yard at a Time Philadelphia LID Conference 2011 Lessons Learned and Tools for Retrofitting Small-scale Runoff Reduction on Private Property 1
The RainScapes Program Getting to the Source Residential Urban Stormwater Management Reduce Stormwater Runoff Volume Reduce Pollution from Neighborhoods Recharge Groundwater and Stream Baseflow Water Conservation and Habitat Diversity Native Landscapes Harvesting and Reuse Empowering Individual Actions 2
Local and Regional Significance Montgomery County Potomac River Who is ultimately responsible for cleaning up and protecting our water resources? 3
Cabin John Watershed Impervious Area Impacts Rockville Potomac Bethesda Potomac River 4
Cabin John Watershed Impervious Area Impacts Parking Lots Rockville Potomac Bethesda Potomac River 5
Cabin John Watershed Impervious Area Impacts Parking Lots Roads Rockville Potomac Bethesda Potomac River 6
Cabin John Watershed Impervious Area Impacts Parking Lots Roads Buildings Rockville Potomac Bethesda Potomac River 7
Erosion and Inadequate Buffers Most Common Erosion Problem Sloughing of Vertical Banks 8
NFWF Grant to install demo projects 2005/06 Program Beginnings Great Success = growing support within environmental community along with beginnings of national momentum 9
American Elm Park Sligo Creek 10
County Council Approval of Funding from Water Quality Protection Charge Leap from grant funded to fee funded program Funding goal: demonstrate whether water quality and runoff reduction goals can be achieved with on-lot implementation approaches Focus on developing techniques that can achieve a measurable reduction in runoff 11
Requirements of the new MS4 Permit 2011 2015 ~ 4000 acres of imp area to be treated Add stormwater management to currently unmanaged, developed areas Treatment goal is additional 20% of impervious area currently not treated to the MEP (defined as at least WQl treatment volume, with target of ESD volume) Achieve Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) TMDLs set pollutant reduction goals Bacteria, sediment, nutrients, trash Meet commitments in Trash Free Potomac Treaty Increase use of Environmental Site Design (ESD) to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) Assure public input and stewardship opportunities 12
Rooftops In typical urban residential areas, rooftops account for 30-40% of the total impervious area 13
Typical Neighborhood Impervious Cover - Bethesda 45 40 35 42 43 30 25 20 26 29 25 30 driveway rooftop on-street parking 15 roadway 10 5 0 3 2 14
End of Pipe Solutions they meet some goals, but hard to find space for these (the low-hanging fruit has been picked) 15
RainScapes Initiative County Incentive Funding Rebate Program RainScapes Neighborhood Approach Watershed Organization Partnerships FoSC, FORCE, ANS RainScapes for Schools Landscape Professional Training Other activities as time permits Watershed Stewards Academy Demo projects Workshops and presentations - 3000+ reached per year 16
Toolbox Neighborhood and Site Assessment Tools RainScapes Manual Rain Garden and Permeable Paver Installation Templates Rain Garden Sizing Tool On-line application process RainScapes website 17
Rainscapes Practice Residential Commercial, Multi-Family, or Institutional Rain Gardens $1,200 $5000 total- based on $1/ sf impervious area treated or $2500/rain garden whichever $ is greater Conservation Landscaping - Replacement of turf or invasive species Urban Tree Canopy Permeable Pavers Pavement Removal $250-750; $1/square feet - minimum 250 square feet $3000; $3/square foot 350 square feet minimum $600 per lot; $150/tree $600 per lot; $150/tree $1200 100 square foot minimum $600 - $1200 100 square foot minimum; rebate amount varies depending on planting material $5000 350 square foot minimum $1800 - $5000 300 square foot minimum; rebate amount varies depending on planting material Green Roofs $1200 300 square feet or $5000-300 square feet or ¼ of roof- retrofit ¼ of roof- retrofit Rain Barrels $200 (must capture 200 $200 (must capture 200 gallons) gallons) Cisterns $ 500 ($1/gallon stored, 250 $ 2000 ($1/gallon stored, 250 gallons min.) gallons min.) Dry wells $ 600 $ 600 18
RainScapes Techniques A wide range of natural drainage options Downspout Diversion Rain Barrels, Cisterns (water re-use) Rain Gardens Permeable Pavers Green Roofs Soil Reconditioning and Amendment Native/Naturalized Landscaping Urban Tree Canopy Pavement Removal 19
Urban Canopy Trees RainScapes Site Improved infiltration and evapotranspiration Cistern Conservation Landscape Green Roof retrofit PICP Pavement Rain Gardens Compost Amended Soils Rain Barrel Dry Well LID: Small Scale Distributed Stormwater Management Controls 20
Rain Gardens Sized to treat a minimum of the 1.25 rainstorm but the goal is to treat the 2.7 rainstorm volume from impervious surface contributing to rain garden (1 year storm) 75% of plants should be natives 21
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Conservation Landscaping Must convert 250 sf of turf area to 75% native plantings 24
Tree Canopy Must be providing shading of AC or impervious surface, must be a native canopy tree 25
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Permeable Paver Retrofits Must be for conversion of existing hardscape and be a minimum area of 150 sf Working on a funding strategy for RainScapes Neighborhoods 27
Rain Barrels 28
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Cisterns must capture 250 gallons Exterior irrigation only Many forms accepted Profile of Rainwater harvesting system available online http://www.harvestingwater.c om/ 30
CBF Merrill Building 31
Dry Wells May be linear drywell or conventional drywell 32
RainScapes Neigborhoods Reduce residential runoff in a measurable way Promote community participation Widespread implementation! 30% participation goal Can we achieve measurable results? Monitoring stormdrain flows Neighborhood collaboration Research and collaboration Promote partnership and project innovation Unique neighborhood conditions Can we improve infill and redevelopment practices? 33
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Downspout Connection in Chevy Chase 40 35 30 40 25 20 15 10 25 25 pipe driveway grass/yard other 5 0 10 % Connected 35
Chevy Chase Evaluating Options 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 80 100 45 Site Conditions Front yard trees ROW Trees High turf management On-lot space constraints a challenge Good potential for nutrient reductions education programs Conservation landscaping practices, soil reconditioning (soil test program?) Water harvesting? Driveways? 36
Neighborhood Project Elements Neighborhood Assessment and Surveys o opportunities and constraints build upon prior work o potential project sites Modeling and Hydrologic Studies volume reduction Project Templates and Installation Plans Resident Workshops and Survey Tools Implementation Plan and Installation Spring and Fall Angler Environmental County Contractor installed or Property Owner installed w/ rebate up to $5,000 (tbd) Next Steps what to expect in the near future Survey coming very soon, and now planning Community focused public meetings 37
Rain Garden Installations 2010-2011 38
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RainScapes Capacity Building: Watershed Organization Partnerships, RainScapes for Schools and Landscape Professional Training Program 3-pronged effort to create sustainability in the field Developing the capacity of watershed organizations to take on Neighborhood Assessment roles and implement some types of projects Integrating RainScapes concepts into school curriculum and improve site runoff conditions on school property TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING one of the largest unmet needs regionally, perhaps Bay-wide One of the most common questions from residents where can I find a qualified contractor 40
Watershed Organization Partnership Lessons Learned and Recommendations Recommendations Ed Murtagh, Jenny Reed, Kit Gage, Diane Cameron, Wendy Bell 41
Overall Project Elements Lessons Learned Recommendations 1. Rain gardens worked eventually & were well received 2. Meetings and walk throughs effective 3. 4-5 non RG solutions per RG 4. Identified public land retrofit priorities 5. Certain sites too complex for RG 1. Continue stormwater project 2. Continue education mitigation recommendations 3. Step up non-rg implementation 4. Identify mechanisms for increased public partnership 5. Recognize limits of this project 42
Overall Project Elements Lessons Learned (contd.) 6. All drainage information is helpful 7. CASA worker experience positive 8. Keep RG concave 9. Delay in planting caused havoc Recommendations (contd.) 6. DEP to provide drainage maps 7. Homeowners should pay CASA workers with FOSC coordinating 8. Improve homeowner education 9. Deliver plants at time of dig 43
Rain Garden Design Elements Lessons Learned 1. RG placements appropriate 2. Better assess drainage 3. RG storage working well 4. Too much RG soil 5. Too much excavated soil, insufficient dispersal area Recommendations 1. Document placement process 2. DEP drainage maps & advice 3. No change needed 4. Order less RG soil,work with DEP on the issue 5. Use some native soil in RG mix 44
Rain Garden Design Elements Lessons Learned (contd.) 6. Concavity & sloped sides important elements 7. Berms work best with plants in place. 8. Overflow: plan for flooding 9. Plant delivery delay problem 10. Homeowners neglect mulching Recommendations (contd.) 6. Better education & do not overfill the RG 7. Plant at time of RG dig 8. Notch berms or install appropriate overflow mechanisms 9. Deliver plants at time of dig 10. Mulch on site at time of dig 45
RS Schools Program goal: provide curriculum materials/projects to teach students how and what can be done to improve the quality of the watersheds in Montgomery County Grow the proper plants Reduce the amount of impervious area that sheds water directly into streams Plant Trees Plant conservation landscapes Replace turf areas with deeper rooted plants Grow and plant more native plants to better support native wildlife Build Rain Gardens 46
RainScapes for Schools High School Growing Program Goals Teaching about watershed healthy landscapes using the RainScapes HS Growing Program Crops Green Job opportunities Stormwater Management and Horticultural links Developed/ Provided Support materials for classroom use Provide plants, soil, pots to get greenhouse programs growing crops for SWM Growing Program Plants used at a RainScapes project sites & as give away at consumer workshops 47
RainScapes Curriculum Based Demonstration Projects Ten projects in last 3 years Teachers challenged on how to move lessons outdoors If using outside groups (watershed orgs ) don t lose curriculum connection Maintenance major challenge Need Senior Admin. Support or don t bother Establish life-cycle of project curriculums don t last forever Structure annual planting work into curriculum Document project with building maintenance and construction staff * Spring 2011, offered first Teacher Training to introduce/ explain program requirements and opportunities 48
RainScapes Classroom instruction for Landscape Professionals Overview class Watershed issues MS4 requirements Scope of RainScapes RainScapes Rewards RainScapes Neighborhoods Other RainScapes efforts Rain Garden class Rain Garden Site Assessment Charette Continuing need for training esp. basic hydrology and site assessment 49
We now have at least three entities in the Balt/Wash Metro Area providing this sort of training to professionals Need a regional approach Partnerships with local college/university key to success in other similar training programs sustainability. Most LPs are not keyed into SWM/LID don t know it is a business opportunity; don t know or aren t comfortable estimating/bidding for work Involving landscape designers in SWM projects results in fewer design and install failures Our training approach delivers 4-part series to deliver material in manageable amounts don t make them drink from the fire-hose 50
Rain Garden Field Day for Landscape Professionals 51
Several Specific Tools Assessment Tools Design Tools Communication Tools 52
Neighborhood Assessment Tool Street and House # Inwood St. Downspout Connection (% connection of front) DS connection score 1=100% 3=50-75% 5=0% Front yard slope 1=Low 2=Moderate 3=Steep 4=Graded toward house 5=benched Front yard space (e.g. rain garden) 1=Adequete 3=Constrained Landscaping effort 1=Highly Mntd 2=Low 3=No landscaping Driveway slope 1=Low 2=Moderate 3=Steep On-lot driveway retrofit space 1= Grading and space good 3=Grading and space poor On-site retrofit potential Lot to Lot Drainage 1=Obvious Run-off 2=Obvious Run-on 1=No trees/ Good space 3=Fully treed/ No space 1=Y x=n 10306 50 3 2 1 left 2 1 3 2 2 Y 39 13 10307 50 3 5 3 2 2 3 2 3 Y x 19 10304 50 3 2 1 2 1 1 x 2 x x 11 10305 50 3 2 1 2 2 1 x 2 x x 11 10301 0 5 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 x 33, 20 12 10300 0 5 2 3 1 1 1.5 x 3 x 32, 11 15.5 10309 100 1 5 2.5 2 2 3 1,2 2 x x 15.5 10308 100 1 2 1 2 1 2 1,2 2 x x 10 10311 100 1 5 2.5 2 2 3 1,2 1 x x 14.5 10313 100 1 2 2 1 1 3 1,2 2 x x 11 10312 100 1 1 1 1 1 1 1,2 1 Y x 6 10315 100 1 2 3 2 2 3 1,2 3 x x 14 10314 100 1 2 1 1 2 1 1,2 1 Y 31 7 10317 100 1 2 1 2 2 3 1,2 1 x x 10 10316 50 3 2 1 2 1 2 1,2 1 x x 11 10321 100 1 1 2 left 2 1 1 1,2 2 Y 30 9 10318 100 1 2 2 1 1 3 1,2 2 x x 11 10319 50 3 2 1 1 1 2 x 3 x x 12 10320 50 3 2 3 1 2 3 2 3 x x 15 10323 50 3 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 x x 11 10322 50 3 1 1 left 2 1 2 2 2 x 29 11 house count: 21 1450 35 avg 45.5 avg tree 41 % connection 69 avg front yard space 1.7 driveway retrofit 2.2 canopy space 2.0 Front Yard Trees TD to ROW RG ROW retrofit site Yar raw score w/medi an @13 % good front yard space 57 Access to technology is critical barrier right now Area for consolidation across the field % on-lot potential 71 53
Residential Site Assessment Tool 54
Neighborhood Retrofitting Strategies On-lot and right-of-way Need for both Theory vs. reality Challenges of vetting sites both on-lot and ROW need for site assessment work and casting a wide net Modeling Monitoring Coordination with ROW improvements Organizational structure challenges can be very different from place to place 55
RainScapes Installation Templates Homeowners and contractors Rain gardens Permeable driveways 56
RainScapes Installation Templates Planning and design guidance Standard residential designs 57
RainScapes Installation Templates Volume-based sizing table Embedded design assumptions Three media depths Table 4. Sizing table for 2 ft planting media. Inches of rain stored Footprint (square feet) Drainage area (square feet) 100 200 300 400 500 600 70 1.8 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 100 3.7 1.8 1.2 0.9 0.7 0.6 125 5.4 2.7 1.8 1.3 1.1 0.9 150 7.1 3.6 2.4 1.8 1.4 1.2 175 8.9 4.5 3.0 2.2 1.8 1.5 200 11 5.4 3.6 2.7 2.2 1.8 250 15 7.4 4.9 3.7 2.9 2.5 300 19 9.5 6.3 4.7 3.8 3.2 58
RainScapes Installation Templates Volume reduction based sizing table Embedded design assumptions Three media depths Table 4. Sizing table for 2 ft planting media. Inches of rain stored Footprint (square feet) Drainage area (square feet) 100 200 300 400 500 600 70 1.8 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 100 3.7 1.8 1.2 0.9 0.7 0.6 125 5.4 2.7 1.8 1.3 1.1 0.9 150 7.1 3.6 2.4 1.8 1.4 1.2 175 8.9 4.5 3.0 2.2 1.8 1.5 200 11 5.4 3.6 2.7 2.2 1.8 250 15 7.4 4.9 3.7 2.9 2.5 300 19 9.5 6.3 4.7 3.8 3.2 59
On-line application 60
Goal: Streams in Good Condition Volume based strategy: Evaluating in terms of long-range sustainability (construction scale, soil removal, unit cost on individual lots) Next Steps: alternative contracting mechanisms, conservation landscaping model 61
QUESTIONS? www.rainscapes.org pamela.rowe@montgomerycountymd.gov ann.english@montgomerycountymd.gov pjones@biohabitats.com 62