The DeepRoot Silva Cell

Integrating Trees, Soil & Stormwater for Sustainable Development.

Photo courtesy of James Urban

“Nearly all of the associated problems result from one underlying cause: loss of the water-retaining and evapotranspirating functions of the soil and vegetation in the urban landscape.”

EPA commissioned report Urban Stormwater Management in the United States, 2008.

What’s missing from this picture?

It’s all about soil...

General Design Goals

Water quality and Water quantity

1. Volume and time water is held at the site

2. Increase infiltration and evapo-transpiration to reduce overall surface runoff

3. Reduce pollutant load

4. Reduce water temperature

Check dams

Rain Garden Case Studies

Surface water infiltration – Absorbing soils in planted areas or pervious pavers, and green roof areas.

Pavers and green roof approach is expensive.Limited by infiltration rate of soil and subsoil. Limited storage

How can we start to solve some of these problems?

• Large trees

• Treating stormwater as a resource

• Integrating trees, soil and stormwater

Grow big trees. Manage rainwater. Do it all on-site.

Pervious Pavement is the simplest way to get stormwater in to Silva Cells for storage and treatment

Perforated distribution pipe is installed to bring water from the catch basin through the Silva Cell system

Queensway Installation

Catch Basin

MMarquette Street, Minneapolis

Combined rain garden and below paving treatmentIn a suburban strip development

LR

Large Canopy

How much soil does a tree need?

Summary

PondsCisterns

Green roofsPervious pavers

Rain gardens Biofiltration with trees

Cities must employ all of the design options

Basic Applications

Streetscapes/Plazas

Break-out zones

Parking lots

Green walls

Green roofs/on-structure

All of these applications can be modified to optimize tree growth or stormwater management.

Parking Lot application

Use Silva Cells in parking lots to achieve green canopy cover goals and downsize the stormwater system without compromising parking spaces or utilities.

Wal-Mart SuperStore Parking LotLakeland, FL

Parking Lot application

Image courtesy of Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory (North Carolina)

Research shows trees grow best in uncompacted soil

Flexible and modular.