Bio-Retention Treatment Train Serves as Low Imapct Development Stormwater System, Cleaning Runoff and Providing Habitat for University of North Florida

The low impact designed bio-retention stormwater treatment system shown in the below photos successfully cleans stormwater, provides wildlife with habitat and forage, and is an attractive landscape feature.

Stormwater runoff from the University of North Florida parking lot drains into the swale vegetated with native herbaceous groundcovers including Frog Fruit (Phyla or Lippia), Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle) and other species.

The runoff filters into the soils and the surrounding plant roots act biologically to remove nitrogen, phosphorous and other pollutants.

During hard storms, the excess stormwater runoff overflows into a larger, wet-meadow type system.  In this system plants and trees such as Cypress, Wax Myrtle, Muhly Grass and Andropogon conduct the same nutrient uptake and evapo-transpiration processes yet on a larger scale.

Ultimately, the bio-retention system replaces open-water, mosquito breeding ponds.  The UNF system efficiently accomplishes stormwater cleansing, provides wildlife with communal habitat and foraging stock, and creates a pallet of native beauty.

Hopefully, site designers will utilize the proven and effective bio-retention technology for site development in the future.

Bio-retention Swale for Low Impact Development, UNF

Bio-Retention Meadow or Wet-Prairie Type SWMF, UNF