GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Practices, Benefits, and Implementation
in your community
September 2013
Jeremiah D. Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA
Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., PE
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
www.water.rutgers.edu
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) helps the diverse population of New Jersey adapt to a rapidly changing society and improves their lives through an educational process that uses science-based knowledge.
Water Resources Program The Water Resources
Program is one of many specialty programs under Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Our Mission is to
identify and address community water resources issues using sustainable and practical science-based solutions.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is the water from rain or melting snows that can become “runoff,” flowing over the ground surface and returning to lakes and streams.
More development More impervious surfaces
More stormwater runoff
10% 20% 30% 55%
The Impact of Development on Stormwater Runoff
It is all about controlling runoff from impervious
surfaces
What are ways we can better manage stormwater in our community?
Play
We must deal with impacts from impervious cover
Are there impervious surfaces that you can eliminate?
Are there impervious surfaces that you can harvest rainwater for reuse?
If we can't eliminate it, can we reduce it?
If we can't eliminate or reduce it, can we disconnect it?
Are there conveyance systems that can be converted to bioswales?
Eliminate it!
Reduce It!
Disconnect It!
Runoff Direction
1 acre directly connected
impervious cover
2 acres pervious cover
Total drainage area = 3 acres
For 1.25 inch storm, 3,811 cubic feet of runoff = 28,500 gallons
Stormwater Inlet
1 acre directly connected
impervious cover
2 acres pervious cover
Total drainage area = 3 acres
For 1.25 inch storm, 581 cubic feet of runoff = 4,360 gallons
Runoff Direction
Stormwater Inlet
Volume of Runoff
Design Storm
Connected (gallons)
Disconnected (gallons)
Percent Difference
1.25 inches (water quality
storm)
28,500 4,360 85%
Disconnect your downspout by installing a
rain barrel
Disconnection with Rain Water Harvesting
Impervious area is now “disconnected” from flowing directly into the storm sewer system
So Many Barrels to Choose From…
Or Larger Rainwater Harvesting Systems…
Rooftop runoff is now “disconnected” from flowing directly into the storm sewer system
Disconnection with Rain Gardens
Lots of Rain Gardens
Implementing Green Infrastructure
• Flooding
• Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) - raw wastewater discharge in parks, streets, basements, and waterways
• Inflow & Infiltration – stormwater “leaking into” sanitary sewer system
What are the water resources issues in your community?
Green Infrastructure is ... …an approach to stormwater management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green Infrastructure projects:
• capture, • filter, • absorb, and • reuse
stormwater to maintain or mimic natural systems and treat runoff as a resource.
Green Infrastructure includes: Green Roofs Rainwater Harvesting Tree Filter/Planter Boxes Rain Gardens/Bioretention Systems Permeable Pavements Vegetated Swales or Bioswales Natural Retention Basins Trees & Urban Forestry Green Streets
Parker Urban Greenscapes. 2009.
Begin by building Partnerships
…to conduct education programs and implement demonstration
projects
Public Works Department
Greening the Department of Public Works Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County and Clark, Union County
Schools
Stormwater Management In Your Schoolyard
1. Educational Lectures 2. Hands-on Activities 3. Community Level Outreach 4. Rain Gardens, Rain Barrels, Watershed
Management, and Water Conservation
Objective Empower students to take action in their local community. Partners Rutgers Cooperative Extension County 4-H Youth Development Programs AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassadors Master Gardeners
Stormwater Management In Your Schoolyard Birches Elementary School
Timber Creek High School
Penn Tech High School
Utilities Authority
Green Gateway and Camden SMART, Camden, NJ Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority
PVSC’s Plan for Green Infrastructure
• PVSC is dedicated to leading efforts throughout the PVSC Sewerage District to: 1) intercept stormwater runoff 2) reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) 3) manage existing water infrastructure 4) minimize frequent flooding events
• PVSC has entered into a partnership with Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program to achieve these goals
PVSC’s Plan for Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure Program (Year 1)
3 Main Objectives:
1) Municipal Outreach and Education
2) Community-Based Technical Assistance (develop green infrastructure assessments for 6-9 municipalities in sewer service area)
3) Green Infrastructure Demonstration Projects
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.water.rutgers.edu/PVSC.html
Government Leaders and Commissions
Hamilton Township, Mercer County Flood Reduction and Stormwater Management Program
• Develop Hydrologic Model for Hamilton Township
• Conduct Inventory and Assessment of Stormwater Management Basins
• Prepare a GIS Database of Stormwater Infrastructure
• Implement Rain Garden Demonstration Projects
• Implement Detention Basin Maintenance Training, Inspection, and Monitoring Program
• Conduct Rain Barrel Workshops for residents
• Educate Municipal Officials
City of Hoboken, Hudson County Sustainable Jersey Grant for Green Infrastructure
PROPOSED CURB EXTENSIONS EXISTING
STORM INLET
City of Hoboken, Hudson County Sustainable Jersey Grant for Green Infrastructure
Princeton Township Environmental Commission Rain Barrel Program
Sussex County Planning Board Green Infrastructure Educational and Training Seminars
1. Green Infrastructure: Opportunities for
Municipalities
2. Detention Basin Retrofits and Maintenance
3. Green Infrastructure: Projects & Programs for Green Teams & Environmental Commissions
4. Green Infrastructure Planning, Design & Implementation: Training for Design Professionals
5. Green Infrastructure: Green Alternatives and Opportunities for Business & Industry
Sussex County Planning Board Demonstration Rain Gardens
1. C.O. Johnson Park (Byram Township)
2. Franklin Senior Center (Franklin Township)
3. Long Pond School (Newton Township)
4. Sparta Public Library (Sparta Township)
Community Organizations
298 Sussex Avenue Newark, NJ – Community Garden Above Ground Cistern Installation Workshop with Rainwater Harvest Company
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Greater Newark Conservancy http://www.citybloom.org/
298 Sussex Avenue Newark, NJ – Community Garden Above Ground Cistern Installation Completed
Puerto Rican Unity for Progress, Camden, NJ Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Programs
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.prupnj.org/
What you can do…
Can your community benefit…
1. Does your community suffer from localized flooding?
2. Does your community have combined sewers?
3. Does your community pay too much for treating wastewater because of inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems?
4. Is your community committed to protecting the health of its residents?
Next Steps • Evaluate existing infrastructure for green opportunities
• Identify local partners and technical assistance
• Prioritize needs
• Educate residents, staff, and professionals
• Identify funding mechanisms
• Develop implementation strategy
Contacts
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. [email protected] 848.932.5711 Jeremiah Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA [email protected] 848.932.5708 Amy Rowe, Ph.D. (Essex & Passaic) [email protected] 973.287.6360 Pat Rector (Morris & Somerset) [email protected] 973.285.8300 Michelle Bakacs (Middlesex & Union) [email protected] 732.398.5262
Mike Haberland (Burlington & Camden) [email protected] 856.566.2914 Sal Mangiafico, Ph.D. (Cumberland & Salem) [email protected] 856.769.0900 NJ Watershed Ambassadors 609.633.1441 [email protected] NJDEP Green Infrastructure Program www.nj.gov/dep/gi/
Resources
• http://www.asla.org/ (American Society of Landscape Architects)
• http://njasla.org/ (American Society of Landscape Architects NJ Chapter)
• http://www.sustainablesites.org/ (Sustainable Sites Initiative)
• http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/index.cfm (USEPA)
• http://greeninfrastructure.net/ (Green Infrastructure Network at The Conservation Fund)
• http://water.rutgers.edu/ (Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program)
• http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/stormwater/nyc_green_infrastructure_plan.shtml (New York
City Green Infrastructure Plan)
• http://www.phillywatersheds.org/what_were_doing/documents_and_data/cso_long_term_cont
rol_plan (Philadelphia Water Department Green City, Clean Waters Program)
• http://www.dcwater.com/education/lowimpact.cfm (Washington DC Water Low Impact
Development Program)
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
www.water.rutgers.edu
Jeremiah D. Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA [email protected]
848.932.5708
