Euclid Green Integrated Planning

Restoring the Pulse

1) Streams into Sewers

City of Euclid boundary

Google Earth aerial viewer

© 2015 Bluestone Heights

Bluestone

Heightsbluestoneheights.org

2) Initial Green Solutions

4) Eco-Greenways

of Nature in Euclid

3) Integrated Planning

Bluestone HeightsRoy Larick

5) Euclid Ecology Unit

Overview

In five SlideShares, Restoring the Pulsepresents two goals for stormwater Integrated Planning in Euclid, Ohio:

• Revive the natural regulation of stormwater at relatively low cost and high community benefit.

• Reconnect fragmented natural habitat areas as a means to build local biodiversity and natural capital.

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Integrated Planning rationale

Integrated Planning

In 2015, Euclid may be able to revisit the EPA consent decree and its gray stormwater solution.

If so, we will want to pitch an Integrated Plan to EPA. Under such a plan, stormwater becomes a resource in potential benefit the sewer utility and the larger community.

Simply put, Integrated Planning encourages cities to work with nature, not against it.

Integrated Planning is the way we can restore the natural pulse of stormwater flow and also rejuvenate our urban watersheds.

Integrated Wastewater Planning ApproachEPA, May 2012



200th 222nd Babbitt 260th Lloyd


Restoring the Pulse

Euclid storm sewer catchments

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BioretentionManaging stormwater as a resource

Bioretention is the base means for slowing stormwater and for restoring the natural pulse in sewer catchments.

Bioretention helps reduce CSOoverflows and can help revive fragmented watershed features and ecological habitats.

Bioretention is the primary means to rebuild ‘natural capital’ under an Integrated Plan.





Integrated PlanningRestoring the Pulse Integrated Wastewater Planning Approach

EPA, May 2012

Euclid storm sewers

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Euclid watershed evolution

In addition to the priority CSOcatchments, Euclid has many places where bioretention can help restore the natural pulse of diminished watersheds.

Many such places involve ‘ghost water features’, stream course segments abandoned but still showing signs of life.

Ghost features offer good potential for greening under an Integrated Plan.

To understand the nature of ghosts and other ecologically sensitive places, let’s review how local watersheds have waxed and waned over the years.





Integrated PlanningRestoring the Pulse

Euclid storm sewers

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Euclid watershed evolution

The story begins with the retreat of the last glaciers and glacial lakes about 12,000 years ago.

To see the effects of time, we’ll observe a slice of the local landscape from the escarpment down to the lake. The slice long axis parallels Babbitt Rd.

Like Lloyd Rd, Babbitt follows the course of an escarpment run from Euclid Ave to Lake Erie. In this case, it is Babbitt Run.






Euclid storm sewers

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

looking southeast

bluff

hills

face

plain

terrace


Euclid descends to Lake Erie in three steps.

The Portage Escarpment is a shale ‘massif’ capped with Euclid bluestone (fine, hard sandstone). The escarpment has two parts: face and hills.

The St Clair Terrace has a shale surface leveled by the surf of ancient glacial lakes.

The lake plain is covered with soft glacial debris and lake bottom clay.

Intensity of green represents the density of the local forestThe escarpment face is heavily forestedLake plain and hills have a typically urban forestSt Clair Terrace, highly industrialized, is the least forested

Euclid deep history


Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

12,000 BP

Stream headwaters had cut deeply into the escarpment face. ‘Escarpment ravines’ were the result.

Upon reaching the terrace and plain, the streams could cut shallow, shifting channels.

Along the lake bluff, streams dug deeper ravines in final descent.

About 12,000 years ago, with the retreat of the last glacier and associated lakes, Euclid’s watersheds had fully emerged.

The climate was still cool. There were few deciduous trees and lots of shrubbery and grassland. Euclid’s habitat suited mammoth (grazers) and, especially, mastodons (browsers).

Euclid deep history

face


bluff


surface stream

escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

10,000 BP

By 10,000 years ago, climate had warmed enough to support the emergence of the current deciduous forest.

Euclid deep history

face


bluff


surface stream

escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

1830 CE

By 1830 CE, Euclid’s early settlers were clearing the forest for agriculture, charcoal, and timber..

Forest clearing promoted erosion, especially on the escarpment face and the terrace. On the terrace, farmers began rerouting streams in ditches along roads and property lines.

After the Civil War, vineyards became Euclid primary agricultural endeavor, especially on the terrace. As vineyards did not require intensive plowing, agricultural erosion was minimal.

Euclid deep history

face


bluff


surface stream

escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

1890 CE

Trees flourished along property lines and abandoned farmland. Many of Euclid’s current large trees lie along old property lines.

By 1890, Euclid flat land became more valuable for building than for farming. A few vineyards held on to about 1920, but most farmland was abandoned to real estate speculation.

Euclid deep history

face


bluff


surface stream

escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

surface stream

buried stream

storm sewer

1950 CE

Euclid’s residential areas were still pretty bare in 1950. The urban forest ethic arrived in the 1960s.

With industrial and residential growth, Euclid’s streams became polluted and inconvenient for all forms of development.

The storm sewer system was established in the 1920s. On the plain and hills, almost all streams were buried by 1950.

Ghost features are to be found along buried stream courses.

Euclid deep history

face


bluff


escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

surface stream

buried stream

storm sewer

CSO catchment

2015 CE

Since the implementation of the US Clean Water Act in 1972, Euclid has made significant progress in upgrading its sanitary and storm sewer systems.

Storm events bring polluting overflows to 17 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) points. Eight CSOsare activated in even small ‘wet weather’ events. Each combined sewer system has a significant catchment.

Euclid Initial Green Solutions

face


bluff


escarpment ravine

Bioswales

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

hills

plain

terrace

2025 CE

In devising an Integrated Stormwater Plan, we must first address the eight priority CSOs.

Strand’s ‘green sub-catchment’ designs are a good starting point (Initial Green Solutions).

Each would create new storm sewers to shunt pure stormwater to local bioretention facilities or ‘bioswales’.

Euclid green future

face


bluff


Control Runoff

Green Infrastructuresurface stream

buried stream

storm sewer

bioswale

CSO catchment

escarpment ravine

Bioswales

Rain gardens

Curbside bump-outs

Permeable pavement

Green roofs

Control Runoff

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

Green Infrastructure

hills

plain

terrace

2025 CE

The second stage of an Integrated Plan would develop a range of bioretention facilities in non-priority areas.

We can benefit greatly by placing green infrastructure in relation to surviving surface streams and at ‘ghost’ stream locations. There are scores of ghost stream landscapes on the terrace and plain.

Euclid green future

face


bluff


surface stream

buried stream

storm sewer

bioswale

CSO catchment

escarpment ravine

Euclid bluestone

Cleveland Shale

Chagrin Shale

Eco-Greenways

Infiltrate stormwater

Increase habitat richness

Raise species diversity

Link public green spaces

Enhance connectivityPerform eco services

bluff

hills

Reforest

Extend wetlands

Restore streambeds

Stabilize slopes

Restore streambeds

Eradicate invasive species

Expand water bodies

Provide alternative transit channels

plain

terrace

2025 CE

As bioswales grow in number, individual sites can be linked within ‘eco-greenways’. Storm water infiltration can be maximized while greenspace is enhanced.

Eco-greenways regroup fragmented natural habitats. In linking habitat islands we can increase the natural capital of our city.

Greenways are all about restoring the natural pulse.

face

Greenway construction tasks


Eco-Greenways


Euclid Stormwater Integrated Plan

surface stream

buried stream

storm sewer

bioswale

CSO catchment

escarpment ravine

Public PresentationEuclid Public LibraryJune 10, 2015



Restoring the Pulse

1) Streams into Sewers

Bluestone

Heightsbluestoneheights.org

2) Initial Green Solutions

4) Eco-Greenways

of Nature in Euclid

3) Integrated Planning

5) Euclid Ecology Unit


Roy Larick

Walk back in time Look to the Future

Bluestone Heights


A production by

bluestoneheights.org

[email protected] bluestone outcropDoan Brook, Cleveland OHR. Larick

bluestoneheights.org

Euclid Green Integrated Planning

Environment

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