Incorporating LID in D.C.’s RiverSmart Schools Program · D.C.’s RiverSmart Schools ... •...
Transcript of Incorporating LID in D.C.’s RiverSmart Schools Program · D.C.’s RiverSmart Schools ... •...
Incorporating LID in D.C.’s
RiverSmart Schools Program
P. Trinh DoanDistrict Department of the EnvironmentWatershed Protection Division
Presentation Agenda• Overview of District’s issues• Stormwater requirements• Cistern projects (harvest/reuse)• Stream Restoration projects• School case studies• RiverSmart Schools process and workplan
Stormwater in Washington DC
• Stormwater runoff is rainfall that flows over land and hard (impervious) surfaces and into drainage pipes which then empty to surface water such as the Potomac and the Anacostia River. – Stormwater runoff carries sediment and other pollutants that degrade the quality of our waterways.
Impervious Surface in Washington DC
Map of impervious area in Chesapeake Bay watershed
Map of impervious area in Washington DC
Challenges with Water Quality
• Aging infrastructure• Growing population• MS4 vs CSO• Largest sources of pollution:– Combined sewer overflows
– High volume stormwaterdischarges
Eroded stream bank in Rock Creek
Trash accumulation in Pope Branch
Combined Sewer Overflow into Anacostia River
Current District Regulations for Stormwater Management
• Current regulations: requirement is treatment of first 0.5 inch)
• Effective at capturing suspended solids, oils/grease• Less effective at
capturing N, P
Proposed regulations
• Retain first 1.2 inches of every rain event for all NEW construction projects over 5,000 sq ft in disturbance (previous requirement was treatment of first 0.5 inch)
• Federal regulations require retention of 1.7 inches on all new federal sites
• This will likely force usage of cisterns in downtown core area.
Demonstration projects funded by DDOE: Firestation Cisterns
• 2 Firestation cistern projects
• Stormwater to be used to wash trucks (daily)
Schematic of system
Stream restoration projectsRestoration in DCTidal Wetland projects (3)Stream restoration projects (3)
Schoolyard Conservation
Schoolyard Strategy: Primary Goals1. Create an attractive, safe and secure schoolyard
In order for a schoolyard to be fully functional, it must be inviting and safe.
2. Increase opportunities for outdoor learning Learning landscapes and connections to the environment enrich the educational experience.
3. Increase opportunities for children (and the community) to participate in physical activities. The schoolyard environment should promote a healthy lifestyle.
4 Continue to promote a participatory process Community. School buy-in is critical for short-term and long-term success.
5. Integrate LID opportunities and the conversion of impervious to pervious surfaces.A comprehensive approach can significantly reduce storm water runoff.
Schoolyard Strategy: Approach1. Identify a case study schoolyard site that highlights representative
opportunities and challenges
Are the most important components identified? Are issues framed correctly?
• Based on “lessons learned” from the case study develop recommendations to be considered for schoolyards District-wide;
• Final District-wide recommendations may include a phasing strategy or tiered approach that emphasizes more basic/critical elements to enhanced versions).
Demonstration projects funded by DDOE: IDEA public charter school cistern project
• Cisterns to capture rainwater from roof and parking lot separately
• Overflow to go to raingarden
• Water from roof to be used to irrigate playing field
Demonstration projects funded by DDOE: Anacostia High School Harvest and Reuse
• Roof runoff to be harvested in cisterns
• Water to be used in flushing toilets
Schoolyards Strategy Process
RESOURCE ANALYSISVision
AMENITIES (ACTIVE REC., OPEN
SPACE, ETC)
LOCATION
LOCATION
ADJACENT RESOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
COMMUNITY GOALS
DISTRICT-WIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
NEEDS ANALYSIS
SCHOOL OFFICIALSPARENT COORDINATORS
DDOE21st CENTURY SCHOOLS
Etc.
STAKEHOLDERSGREENING
LID
FINAL CONCEPT PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE
CASE STUDY
DRAFT CONCEPT
PLAN
RECREATION
Phase 1 Phase 2
Case Study: Benjamin Orr Elementary School
• Representative challenges and opportunities
• Average schoolyard size
• Not undergone major renovation
• Located in area underserved by parks and recreation facilities
• Schools provide 40% of all active recreation facilities (East of Anacostia)
• Schools provide:– 49% of playgrounds– 56% football fields– 39% basketball courts(District‐wide)
Orr Elementary School
ORR
Orr Elementary School: Key Statistics
• Built: 1974
• 352 students
• 1:22 teacher: student
• 75% eligible for free or reduced lunch
• Boys and Girls Club branch location
Orr Elementary School: Existing Conditions
Play Area Basketball Hoops
Concrete Amphitheater
Orr Elementary School: Existing Conditions
Grass Lawn and Baseball Area
Orr Elementary School: Existing Conditions
Orr Elementary School: Summary of Challenges
Orr Elementary School: Summary of Challenges
Orr Elementary School: Summary of Challenges
Orr Elementary School: Summary of Challenges
Orr Elementary School: Summary of Challenges
Orr Aerial View
Parking
Blacktop
Athletic Field
Perimeter
Hybrid Approach to School Yard Access
24 hour public access
limited public access organized approved after school hours
student access only
Orr Concept Plan: efficiency, scale, green
• Parking• Active Recreation
– hardscape: asphalt– softscape: fields
• Outdoor Learning• Unique Site Elements• Secured Play Area• Perimeter Opportunities
Existing School Yard Greening Efforts to Build On:
• Bottom Up, Grassroots, Parent/Teacher – DC Schoolyard Greening– DDOE & USDA/NRCS – NFWF Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed– Other Large Grants
• Top Down, Facilities Driven– DDOE & OPEFM
Primary Goals can be Contradictions:
OUTDOOROUTDOORLEARNING
SAFETY:closed
COMMUNITY:open
PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
hardsurfaces
LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT: soft surfaces
Next Steps:
• Define the components of a successful school yard– Can every site balance the contradictions?– How do we best support existing efforts?
• Plan to achieve these elements– Can a grassroots approach get us there?– What requires major investment?
Other Demonstration Stormwaterprojects
• Raingardens• Low Impact Development• Bioretention
M Place Rain Gardens
Senate Parking Lot: Excavation of landscaped area for bioretention
Green Roof Subsidy
• $5.00 per square foot, up to $20,000.00
• Green roof project up to 4,000 square feet
• Vegetated cover over at least 50% of the available roof space (excluding skylights and utilities)
• Growing medium depth of at least 3 inches
Department of TransportationGreen Roof
Before During
Chevy Chase LibraryAfterBefore
Programs for Schools & Homeowners: RiverSmart
Rain Gardens Permeable Pavement
BayScaping
Rain Barrels
Shade Trees
RiverSmart
District of Columbia Sedimentation and Erosion Control Program
• Erosion and sediment control plan and approval– Pre‐construction meeting – DDOE inspectors review plan with contractors
• Inspection and enforcement– Throughout duration of construction– DDOE signs off at completion of construction
Erosion Control Best Management Practices
• Road Stabilization• Sediment Barriers• Dikes and Diversions• Sediment Traps and Basins• Inlet and outlet protection• Soil and slope stabilization
Soil/Slope Stabilization: Seed and Straw
Rock Creek restoration
Before After
Case Studies
• Sidwell Friends– Green roof – Unique harvest/reuse project captures both site storm water runoff and building greywater
– 3000 gpd– Terraced constructed wetlands– Re circulating sand filter– Trickle filter– Final use in low flush toilets
School’s greenroof also provides a living science observatory for students.
What you can do on your school grounds
• Conservation vegetation: native plant beds
• Reforestation• Strategic Grading• Downspout
disconnection• Soil Amendments
• Permeable pavement
• Bioswales• Planter Boxes• Bioretention• Rain gardens• Rain
Barrels/Cisterns
What you can do on your school grounds (continued)
• Reduce pollutants that get in stormwater
– School energy audit– Get your school to eat
locally (school gardens)– Use public transit– Reduce/eliminate the use of
toxic cleaning supplies, fertilizers & pesticides
– recycle everything!
How about your schoolyard?
• Teacher Training will be provided by DDOE on SW, soils, native plants, trees, ect.– Curriculum materials– Classroom support – Building greening team and to support thee teachers integrating
conservation practices into the curriculum.
Phase I: Application, Site assessments, Master Plan, Habitat team, EE curriculum connections
Phase II: Project installation – landscaping and/or LID, EE curriculum connections
Phase II: Initiate RiverSmart Schools Volunteer Maintenance Program
This will depend on what type of school you are:
• DCPS: through OPEFM• DCPCS: thru an outside contractor• Parochial School: outside contactor• Private school: outside contractor
RiverSmart Schools Program (Process, con’t)
THANK YOU!
P. Trinh [email protected](RiverSmart Schools Toolkit)