Living Walls Remove NItrogen and Phosphorous

Living Walls are a great way to; Clean site runoff and site roof runoff, create vertical green habitat for lizards, frogs and other green - height dependent species, and are beautiful.  The hydroponic systems can incorporate sorptive media - a variety of medias are available - some attracting N, others P - these systems are built around the Atlantis 52mm cell panel.  CallRJ or I today!

Curbs and Stormwater - Options for Swale Treatment

During a meeting in Orange Park, FLorida this morning a senior PE expressed her dismay at Landscape Architectural review by cities and municipalities and the requirement for curbs.

Acknowledging safety issues, those involved in the discussion all agreed ways of routing stormwater directly into swales for quality and quantity treatment was an important part of sustainable stormwater BMP design.

Having read the recent article on how Philadelphia is proposing to use stormwater for urban landscape irrigation (great article) - I mentioned the program and passed along the link to the resource.

I am always looking at the design of new plant-based stormwater technologies and whenever I happen across the successful integration of landscape and stormwater I take pictures and share here on the blog.

The photos here are of the stormwater treatment system in the UNF visitors parking lot adjacent the nature center. Stormwater flows from the parking lot, interestingly adjacent to an ADA ramp into a curb lined swale within the interior of the parking lot. The stormwater both infiltrates into the ground under the swale and flows down-gradient into a central landscape island doubling as a pond.

Curb cuts along the gradient allow stormwater to enter the swale from the asphalted parking lot.

One idea for carrying the design to the next level would be the installation of a non-woven geosynthetic wrapped underground volume storage system under the swale. OF course, groundwater levels dictate the quantity of underground storage, however I have seen systems with H-20 loading capabilities (Atlantis Drain Cell) that are only 2" in thickness - ranging up to several feet (stackable).

Stormwater, Landscape and Parking combined - the new paradigm in site design.

Kevin

Slow it, Spread it, Sink it (it = stormwater), LID and Green Streets - Click Here

Slow, it, Spread it, Sink it. Stormwater needs to go back into the ground, as most did before development occurred.

Click on the Title here for an attached newsletter from San Mateo, an example of a municipality utilizing green design practice to keep pollutants and nutrients out of the adjoining estuary.

Slow it, Spread it, Sink it.

San Mateo has a great LID Design Manual full of ideas and design drawings. Due to the manual's size, I've divided up the chapters and in some instances the pages and included all into a folder. Click on the link and open each chapter as needed.

Excellent design examples can be found throughout the entire manual. Let me know if you find the information useful - you can email me - ksonger@acfenvironmental.com

Stormwater Brings Beauty - Cypress & Stormwater Treatment

The above Stormwater Pond was constructed and planted in 1996 and is celebrating 13 years of existence. The cypress were about three years old when planted so they are approximately 16 years old now. Cypress was chosen due to a low leaf litter rate (it is one of my favorite trees), its ability to withstand drought and floods, & because Florida's wildlife utilizes the tree for food and shelter.

When we looked at the site initially there were no wetlands or native water sources available - no surface water or groundwater to hydrate a constructed wetland. During design the team integrated a system that allows enough water to be conserved in the pond to allow for wetland plant establishment and provide an anaerobic environment capable of allowing denitrification.

The site here is downtown Tallahassee near the corner of Park Avenue and Magnolia Drive - the City of Tallahassee allowed the developer more site development density in exchange for a created wildlife habitat - the new paradigm in site development - combination of landscape and stormwater.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, however I'd say this small cypress wetland provides wonderful landscape beauty along with habitat where habitat is needed and especially clean water! With the new Florida Unified Stormwater Rule coming up soon, maybe more and more of these created wetlands will be built, serving to remove pollutants and nutrients, clean stormwater, provide habitat and a sense of place in the Urban Core.

This is a Stormwater Pond...Can you Tell?

Combining Stormwater, Landscape and other site design features is the approach to take when maximizing site usefulness. The stormwater volume storage in the picture above is located under the white stone. Water loving plants are grown in special containers that keep roots out of the stormwater system but allow the plants to drink up the stormwater. Did you know that Florida's water management districts allow for evapotranspiration to be considered as part of volume recovery calculations? More importantly - the site takes advantage of combining required functions - stormwater and landscape into one cost effective and functional unit. And the system is rated for H20 loading so it is structural! The new paradigm in site design is Low Impact Development!

Federal Judge Rules EPA can step in and set Florida's water quality standards...

On November 16th, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said he will approve a legal settlement calling for the federal government to set water quality standards for nutrients (pollutants) in Florida .

The State of Florida already restricts nitrogen and phosphorus discharges however environmental groups say the state is not doing enough.

To see the full consent decree click here.

To view the Google results of articles and blogs discussing the issue and impacts to various components of Florida's environment and economy, click here.