Sustainable Infrastructure and Low Impact Development Images

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Sustainable Infrastructure and Low Impact
DevelopmentImages

• Nancy Givens and Dr. Terry Wilson, WKU Center
  for Environmental Education and Sustainability

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(No Transcript)
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DEGRADATION
Increased runoff flooding Groundwater and
surfacewater contamination Increased
sedimentation Decreased infiltration Degraded
vegetation Soil loss andcompaction Increased
Irrigation needs
STEWARDSHIP
Degradation vs. Stewardship Effective land
management practices can preserve and restore
ecosystems, promote water and air quality, and
contribute to human and other species well-being
Beauty HabitatRestoration Improved soil
conditions Cleaner air and water Reduced potable
water irrigation needs Increased water
absorptionand filtration
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Objectives

1. Create an integrated green infrastructure model
   that retains, filters, and reuses all stormwater
   on the site
2. Provide professional training and community
   education on NPS pollution LID techniques
3. Involve residents and the community in project
   shared stewardship of environment
4. Seek building policy revisions for KyHfH

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Notable Features
Amphitheater Walking trails / connection with
Greenways Green infrastructure Green
housing Community Center Housing and access
roads restricted to perimeter Rain gardens,
community gardens, edible landscaping Educational
programming Shared functions bike swap, car
sharing program
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Low Impact Development (LID) Techniques

• Conservation design
• Permeable Pavers and Asphalt
• Underground cisterns, rain barrels, and piping
• Rain gardens and community gardens
• Native plants, edible plants, and tree cover
• Sedimentation basin, retention and detention
  basins

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BMP Conservation Design

• Land use development that allows sustainable
  development while preserving the natural
  features and creating a park like environment for
  residents.
• Benefits Preserves open space and vista,
  creates or protects habitat for wildlife, creates
  natural spaces for recreation and reflection
  puts people in communities in contact with
  nature.
• Design Siting Considerations
• Unique, scenic or significant natural features
  are preserved
• Homes and lots are laid out to maximize visual
  and physical access to the natural spaces
• Homes are clustered to maximize open space (up to
  50)
• Cost Considerations
• When well-designed, generally not higher cost
  then traditional developments

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BMP Permeable Pavers

• Alternate paving systems that integrates
  stormwater management with an aesthetic amenity
  on the site
• Benefits Slows stormwater reduces runoff
  volume permits infiltration into ground
  resources groundwater
• Design Siting Considerations
• Best suited to low traffic, low speed areas
• Avoid in high pollution areas since direct
  filtration is uses
• Pavers hold up well to freeze/thaw cycles
• Cost Considerations
• Initial costs may exceed traditional paving
  materials, but long-term maintenance are less
  over the 25-year life cycle
• Costs offset by reduced amount of stormwater
  structures and land to manage stormwater that is
  needed

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BMP Permeable Asphalt

• Resembles conventional asphalt but has more
  airspaces that allow water to pass and into an
  underlying stone reservoir that stores the
  surface runoff.
• Benefits Reduces stormwater runoff volume and
  peak discharge rates allows water to infiltrate
  into the ground reduces pollutant transfer
• Design Siting Considerations
• Best suited for low to medium traffic areas
• Avoid areas with high amount of sediment or
  erosion
• Less prone to cracking or buckling from freezing
  and thawin
• Dont use in areas with high potential for
  contamination
• Cost Considerations
• Initial costs may exceed traditional materials,
  costs may be offset by reduced amount of
  stormwater structures costs vary depending on
  site size, design, piping, and soil
  characteristics

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BMP Underground Cistern

• Allow stormwater to be treated as a resource and
  harvested for reuse, reducing water demand water
  collected is for non-drinking
• Benefits Capture rainwater for reuse reduce
  stormwater runoff volume and discharge rate
  provide alternative source for irrigation needs
• Design Siting Considerations
• Designed with a filter to capture debris pumps
  to facilitate reuse and overflow systems to
  convey excess rainwater
• Lifespan estimated at 20-50 years
• To maximize storage drain cistern between storm
  events
• Cost Considerations
• Without installation, cost can range from 250
  for 200-gal. to 5,000 for 10,000 gal. cistern.
  Long-term savings include lower water usage fee.

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BMP Rain Barrels

• A system to collect and store rainwater from
  roofs that would otherwise be lost to runoff and
  diverted to storm drains and streams relatively
  simple and inexpensive to construct
• Benefits Collects and stores water from storm
  events during periods of drought provides ample
  and free soft water for gardens diverts water
  from storm drains thereby reducing runoff saves
  money and improves the environment
• Design Siting Considerations
• Can be placed under any downspout elevate from
  ground
• Drain after storm events so water can be stored
  at next event
• A longer hose will give more flexibility in where
  you water
• Cost Considerations
• Costs range from 60 to 250 for purchased, or
  make your own for about 35 some are designed as
  art forms.

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BMP Rain Gardens

• A shallow depression that biofilters stormwater
  runoff rather than allowing it to flow into
  storm drains and surface water where it can
  cause erosion, pollution, or flooding.
• Benefits Prevents erosion, pollution, flooding
  filters water and improves water quality slows
  runoff rate beautifies site
• Design Siting Considerations
• Where soils are not permeable enough to allow
  water to drain and filter properly the soil
  should be replaced 60 sand, 20 compost, 20
  topsoil
• Subsurface drainage from a thick bed of gravel
  may be used
• Native plants are recommended because they
  generally dont require fertilizer and are
  drought-resistant
• Cost Considerations
• Moderate costs but high benefits

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BMP Community Gardens

• Promote healthy communities, provide
  nutritiousfood and food security especially for
  low income persons. Contribute to the
  preservation of open space and create
  recreational opportunities.
• Benefits Provide nutritious food give control
  over the quantity and kind of pesticides used
  increase food security save increase
  community bonds get people outside improve
  health
• Design Siting Considerations
• Plots should be leased per season
• Some aspects can be shared, e.g., tools and
  equipment watering according to a schedule
• Soil preparation is crucial, and as you sow so
  you shall reap
• Cost Considerations
• Generally, a great return for the amount invested

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BMP Native Plants

• Plants that evolved naturally in a particular
  area and are well-suited to the soil, moisture,
  and weather conditions. Their root systems help
  rainfall percolate into the soil reducing
  erosion and runoff. This improves water quality
• Benefits They are low-maintenance, require less
  water, are in natural balance with other species
  and are often quite beautiful.
• Design Siting Considerations
• Many are heat and drought tolerant
• Plant to provide habitat to butterflies, birds,
  and other wildlife
• Cost Considerations
• These can be planted from seed, transplanted from
  the wild (if access), or purchased. Reduced
  water and maintenance needs offset the purchase
  costs.

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BMP Tree Cover

• Planting trees provides shading and can moderate
  the microclimate. Trees prevent direct
  sunlight, reduce surface temperature, create
  habitat, and have strong aesthetic appeal.
• Benefits May be the most economical and
  practical method to provide shading benefits to
  buildings and outdoor areas they are inexpensive
  and fairly easy to plant. The main disadvantages
  are they are slow-growing and require some
  maintenance.
• Design Siting Considerations
• Plant where cutting solar gain does the most good
• Plant along banks to slow flow rate and increase
  absorption and filtration
• Maintain properly watering, pruning,
  (naturally) fertilizing
• Cost Considerations
• Generally inexpensive and easy to maintain

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BMP Edible Landscaping

• An alternative to conventional landscaping that
  can be just as beautiful but offers fruits and
  vegetables for home use.
• Benefits Enjoy fresh and flavorful home-grown
  foods control the quantity and kind of
  pesticides used increase food security save
  get outside, interact with the world, and have
  fun
• Design Siting Considerations
• Choose a variety of fruit and nut trees, berry
  bushes, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers
• Most like well-drained soil and at least 6 hours
  of full sunlight
• Plants will require a certain amount of attention
  watering, pruning, (naturally) fertilizing,
  pest-control, harvesting
• Plant to maximize the decorative garden aspects
• Cost Considerations
• Well-maintained plants and abundant yields will
  minimize costs

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BMP Sedimentation Basin

• A controlled stormwater release structure formed
  by constructing an embankment of compacted soil
  across a drainageway and installing an outlet
  structure and pipe - detains runoff long enough
  for the majority of sediment to settle.
• Benefits Effective at trapping medium and
  coarse-grained particles helps to control
  runoff relatively easy to construct
• Design Siting Considerations
• Drainage area should be at least 10 acres
• Must be cleaned regularly to maintain
  effectiveness
• Not particularly effective for fine silts or clay
  soils or for intense rainfall events
• Cost Considerations
• Relatively inexpensive to construct good
  maintenance practices required

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BMP Retention Basin

• A constructed pond that maintains a permanent
  pool of water for stormwater control plus
  aesthetics
• Benefits Reduces stormwater runoff volume and
  rate reduces sediment, solids and metals
  Improves water quality aesthetic and
  recreational benefits provides wildlife habitat
• Design Siting Considerations
• Drainage area should be at least 10 acres
• Cannot be placed on steep or unstable slopes
• Should have a sediment forebay and proper depth
• Proper lining is required
• Cost Considerations
• Costs vary due to value of land, size, and
  complexity of basin design

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BMP Detention Basin

• Holds stormwater and then slowly releases it to
  the receiving stream after a storm event.
• Benefits Effective in controlling peak
  stormwater discharge rates and therefore
  downstream flooding some water quality control
• Design Siting Considerations
• Drainage area should be at least 10 acres
• Should be designed to properly drain so no
  standing water
• Approval may be needed by dam safety authorities
• Fencing may be needed
• Cost Considerations
• A low-cost BMP for water quality control. Cost
  will vary depending on the value of the land,
  location, size, and design

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Strength of Project Partners

• WKU CEES, Planning and Construction,
  Landscaping, WKYU-PBS
• KY HfH HfH BG WC
• Mayors Office BG Dept. Public Works
• BG City Schools
• BGGreen Partnership for a Sustainable Cmmty.
• Bluegrass PRIDE
• River Basin Coordinator Team