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Cullen Park stormwater wetlands

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www.MannikSmithGroup.com Project Description Cullen Park is situated just past the mouth of the Maumee River and is considered part of the Maumee Bay and lies within the 100-year floodplain. This 36-acre park is Ohio’s westernmost public access to Lake Erie and the City of Toledo’s only direct access site to Lake Erie and the lower reaches of the Maumee River. The park is a public boat launch facility that provides fishing access, trailer parking and benches with scenic views. The park is also a popular bird watching venue with much of the area to the south of Cullen Park maintained as a natural area that is readily accessible by path to the community at large. The City contracted with The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. (MSG) to design improvements for the Cullen Park Best Management Practices (BMP) project, which is a demonstration project funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The Cullen Park BMP project uses green infrastructure, including vernal pools, sand filters, native plantings, habitat restoration and bio-retention techniques to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality. As a project in an Area of Concern, a key programmatic objective is to reduce Beneficial Use Impairments and to support the goals of the GLRI Action Plan; the 2011—2015 EPA Strategic Plan; and the Maumee Area of Concern Stage 2 Watershed Restoration Plan. The design includes green infrastructure techniques and improvements to improve Great Lakes Water Quality; vernal pools (1.5 Acres); a habitat restoration area (1.7 acres); an ADA –accessible boardwalk (2,084 sf); a gravel path (1,100 lf); native plantings; habitat observation areas; interpretive signage; Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMP’s); and a Universal Accessible Design. The project, funded with a $300,000 GLRI grant and a $300,000 local match from the City of Toledo, restored critical ecological services to the park by creating three high quality vernal pools, permeable paths, and other best management storm water features. Though not originally conceptualized, the project even incorporated into the final design the acceptance of stor water from two adjacent residential roadways to alleviate flooding, avoid the use of the City’s combined sewer overflow system, and passively filter the stormwater on the park site using green infrastructure. Client : City of Toledo, Ohio Services Provided: Site Inventory & Analysis Topographic Survey Preliminary Design Report Site Research & Permitting Concept Designs & Design Development Construction Documentation Specifications Bidding Services & Field Review Final Report Interpretive Signage Graphics Site & Facility Maintenance Plan Organization and Facilitation of Public Meetings Resident Project Representative Services (RPR) during construction Cullen Park Best Management Practices Toledo, Ohio AL_TOLE_OH15_001
Transcript
Page 1: Cullen Park stormwater wetlands

www.MannikSmithGroup.com

Project Description Cullen Park is situated just past the mouth of the Maumee River and is considered part of the Maumee Bay and lies within the 100-year floodplain. This 36-acre park is Ohio’s westernmost public access to Lake Erie and the City of Toledo’s only direct access site to Lake Erie and the lower reaches of the Maumee River. The park is a public boat launch facility that provides fishing access, trailer parking and benches with scenic views. The park is also a popular bird watching venue with much of the area to the south of Cullen Park maintained as a natural area that is readily accessible by path to the community at large. The City contracted with The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. (MSG) to design improvements for the Cullen Park Best Management Practices (BMP) project, which is a demonstration project funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The Cullen Park BMP project uses green infrastructure, including vernal pools, sand filters, native plantings, habitat restoration and bio-retention techniques to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality. As a project in an Area of Concern, a key programmatic objective is to reduce Beneficial Use Impairments and to support the goals of the GLRI Action Plan; the 2011—2015 EPA Strategic Plan; and the Maumee Area of Concern Stage 2 Watershed Restoration Plan. The design includes green infrastructure techniques and improvements to improve Great Lakes Water Quality; vernal pools (1.5 Acres); a habitat restoration area (1.7 acres); an ADA –accessible boardwalk (2,084 sf); a gravel path (1,100 lf); native plantings; habitat observation areas; interpretive signage; Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMP’s); and a Universal Accessible Design. The project, funded with a $300,000 GLRI grant and a $300,000 local match from the City of Toledo, restored critical ecological services to the park by creating three high quality vernal pools, permeable paths, and other best management storm water features. Though not originally conceptualized, the project even incorporated into the final design the acceptance of stor water from two adjacent residential roadways to alleviate flooding, avoid the use of the City’s combined sewer overflow system, and passively filter the stormwater on the park site using green infrastructure.

Client : City of Toledo, Ohio Services Provided: Site Inventory & Analysis Topographic Survey Preliminary Design Report Site Research & Permitting Concept Designs & Design Development Construction Documentation Specifications Bidding Services & Field Review Final Report Interpretive Signage Graphics Site & Facility Maintenance Plan Organization and Facilitation of Public

Meetings Resident Project Representative Services

(RPR) during construction

Cullen Park Best Management Practices

Toledo, Ohio

AL_TOLE_OH15_001

Page 2: Cullen Park stormwater wetlands

CULLEN PARK BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICESCULLEN PARK

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

STORM WATER RUNOFF AS A SOURCE OF POLLUTION

GREEN INFRASTRUCTUREIMPROVEMENTS INSTALLED AT CULLEN PARK

PLANS

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT CULLEN PARK1. Preservation of Existing Vegetation2. Vernal Pools 2a. Semi-Shaded Vernal Pool 2b. Sunny Vernal Pool 2c. Semi-Shaded Vernal Pool 2d. Semi-Shaded Vernal Pool 3. Boardwalks4. Rip Rap Outlet Protection

5. Vegetated Filter Strips6. Rigid L.I.P. Level Spreaders7. Vegetated Swales8. Naturalized Prairie and Tree Plantings 9. Wetland Preservation10. Gravel Verge

SECTION A-A’The vertical scale has been exaggerated.

A

A’

Beyond Section Line: 4, 5 & 6

Uniquely located at the confluence of the Maumee River and the western basin of Lake Erie, Cullen Park sits within the 100 year floodplain of the Maumee River watershed. The site is influenced by seasonally fluctuating water levels from its surrounding waters, off site storm water sources and on site development. This 36-acre park is Ohio’s western-most public boat access site to Lake Erie and the lower reaches of the Maumee River. The park functions as a very popular passive recreation site, bird watching venue and a Best Management Practices (BMP) demonstration site.

• TotalProjectArea:9.21Acres• ExistingOpenSpaceArea:8.09Acres• StormWaterfromOn-SitePavedAreas:1.2Acres• StormWaterFromOff-SiteResidentialAreas:5.3Acres• Theretentioncapacityofthevernalpoolsandothergreeninfrastructureelementsinstalledaspartofthisprojectexceedsanestimated650,000gallons.

The Great Lakes nearshore areas are a valuable ecological and economic resource. They provide drinking water for municipalities and critical habitat for numerous species of birds, fish and other aquatic life.

•Stormwatercantakemanypaths.Stormwaterfromrain,snoworicemeltcanremainonthesurfaceandevaporate,soakintothesoilorrunoffandendupinnearbystreams,riversorotherwaterbodies.

• Innaturallandscapesthesoilabsorbsmuchofthestormwaterandplantmaterialholdsitclosetowhereitfalls.

• Indevelopedenvironments,stormwatercancreatetwomajorissues:floodingandwaterpollution.• Inanurbanenvironment,ourdailyactivitiesdepositpollutantsonimpervioussurfacessuchasparkinglots,roads,sidewalksandbuildings.

•Traditionalengineereddrainagesystemsweredesignedtocollectrunofffromimpervioussurfacesandquicklyconvey it toreceivingwaterways,meaningthatevensmallstormeventsresult inincreasedwaterwayflowsandincreasedconcentrationsofpollution.

•Aswegainawarenessofthreatstoourenvironment,weareremindedofhownaturemanagesmanyoftheseissues.It is imperativetolearnfromandmimicnature’snaturalprocessesandimplementthemwithinthebuiltenvironment.

Funding to construct the Maumee River Best Management Practices project at Cullen Park was provided by way of a $300,000 U.S. EPA Great Lakes Initiative grant. This grant demonstrates alternative “Green Infrastructure” or BMP storm water management techniques. These techniques manage storm water runoff, improve biodiversity and increase public awareness of practices that improve water quality and biological function within the watershed.

As a project conducted in an Area of Great Lakes Water Quality Concern, the green infrastructure or BMPs installed at this site are intended to support the goals of the following plans and objectives:

•Maumee Area of Concern Stage 2 Watershed Restoration Plan•2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan•GLRI Action Plan

SUM

MIT

STR

EET

OFF-SITE RESIDENTIAL

LAKE ERIE

ON-SITE PAVED AREAS

MAUMEE RIVER

1

3

8

9

2d4

56

7

1

8

97

2c4

56

2a

1

3

4

5

56

2b

8

10

8 2a 32b

5 10

Page 3: Cullen Park stormwater wetlands

CULLEN PARK VERNAL POOLS & WETLANDSWHAT IS A VERNAL POOL?WHAT IS A WETLAND?

WHY ARE VERNAL POOLS AND WETLANDS IMPORTANT?

Seasons of a Vernal Pool

A vernal pool is a shallow depression in the landscape where water collects seasonally. They are usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species. Most pools are dry for at least part of the year and fill up in the spring with winter snow melt.

•Vernal pools vary in size & depth. They can be as shallow as 4 inches and as small as several square yards.

•Water depth is dependent upon annual precipitation, evaporation, soil permeability, watershed size, amount of sunlight and transpiration of the surrounding landscape.

•Vernal pools are critical for the development of amphibian life cycles and provide key habitat for several other types of flora and fauna.

•Vernal pools are a valuable and increasingly threatened ecosystem. The development of urban and agricultural areas have been a major cause of vernal pool habitat and wildlife loss.

•Cullen Park represents an area where opportunities existed to create vernal pools in strategic locations. At Cullen Park, the vernal pools have been located in sunny and semi-shaded environments as a way to diversify the habitat at the Park.

Vernal pools and wetlands protect water quality by trapping sediments and retaining excess nutrients and other pollutants. These functions are especially important when a wetland is connected to groundwater or surface water sources (such as a river or a lake) that are, in turn, used by humans for drinking water, fishing, swimming or other activities. These same functions are also critical for fish and other wildlife that inhabit these waters. -State of Washington, Dept. of Ecology

“Wetlands are lands which water covers the soil or is present either at or near the surface of the soil or within the root zone, all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. The recurrent or prolonged presence of water (hydrology) at or near the soil surface is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant

and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. Wetlands can be identified by the presence of those

plants (hydrophytes) that are adapted to life in the soils that form under flooded or saturated

conditions (hydric soils) characteristic of wetlands.” (NAS 1995; Mitsch and

Gosselink 1993). “There also are wetlands that lack hydric soils and hyrdrophytic vegetation, but support other organisms indicative of recurrent saturation.”

-NAS 1995

“For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet, and we think little about it beyond this point of contact. We have lost a sense of respect for the wild river, for the complex workings of a wetland, for the intricate web of life that water supports.” -Sandra Postel

EXAMPLES OF FLORA AND FAUNA FOUND IN VERNAL POOLS

Photo Credit: Patty Hankins Photo Credit: Stefan Bloodworth Photo Credit: Roy & Marie Battell

Photo Credit: Henk Wallays Photo Credit: David Cappaert Photo Credit: Richard Manuel

Cardinal Flower Great Blue Lobelia Common Dragonfly

Blue Spotted Salamander Spring Peeper Fairy Shrimp

Page 4: Cullen Park stormwater wetlands

CULLEN PARK BIODIVERSITY

1. Bald Eagle Photo Credit: Eric Frommer2. Indigo Bunting Photo Credit: Kevin Bolton3. Yellow Warbler Photo Credit: MDF4. Green Heron Photo Credit: Basar5. Cedar Waxwing Photo Credit: Jason Quinn

6. Ruddy Duck Photo Credit: Dick Daniels7. Baltimore Oriole Photo Credit: Andy Reago8. American Lotus Photo Credit: Liz West9. White Oak Photo Credit: Will Cook10. Red Twig Dogwood Photo Credit: Paul Slichter

11. Common Watersnake Photo Credit: MDF12. Midland Painted Turtle Photo Credit: Andrew C.13. Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle Photo Credit: Kim Pardi14. Red Admiral Photo Credit: Paul Jacyk15. Monarch Photo Credit: Sarah Huddas

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

WHY IS BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANT?

HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

BIODIVERSITY FOUND IN CULLEN PARKBiodiversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and microorganisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. -World Wide Fund for Nature

Enhancement of the native landscape in the form of trees, shrubs and groundcover is intended to provide a place for birds, butterflies and other animals to flourish. A broad range of plant material has been installed at Cullen Park to improve the diversity of cover and foliage for wildlife as well as to improve the storm water quality of the site. Plant species were selected from the following categories: canopy trees, understory trees, woody shrubs, prairie grass plants and wetland or vernal pool plantings. These have been strategically placed to improve habitat and create niches for wildlife.

This list represents a small sample of the flora and fauna found at Cullen Park. Can you identify some of the species listed?

Biodiversity is extremely important to people and the health of ecosystems. A few of the reasons are:

•Biodiversityprovidesuswithanarrayoffoodsandmaterials.

•Mostmedicaldiscoveriestocurediseasesandlengthenlifespansweremadebecauseofresearchintoplantandanimalbiologyandgenetics.

•BiodiversityisanimportantpartofecologicalsystemsthatmakelifelivableonEarth.

•Biodiversityallowsforecosystemstoadjusttodisturbanceslikeextremefiresandfloods.

•Genetic diversity can prevent diseases and also help species adjust to changes in theirenvironment.

•Simplyforthewonderofitall.TherearefewthingsasbeautifulandinspiringasthediversityoflifethatexistsonEarth.

-TheNationalWildlifeFederation

BIRDS •GreatBlueHeron•GreatEgret•Mallard•SpottedSandpiper•DownyWoodpecker•AmericanGoldfinch•White-BreastedNuthatch

MAMMALS•RedFox•AmericanMink•Coyote•Raccoon

PLANTS•ButtonbushShrub•BoxelderTree•EasternCottenwoodTree•CommonArrowheadWaterPlant•CommonMilkweed•BlackCherryTree•Black-Eyed-Susan•ElderberryShrub

REPTILES•SnappingTurtle•EasternFoxsnake

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