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 DoanPatricia.doan@dc.gov202-535-1653(RiverSmart Schools Toolkit)