Water Management and Conservation in the Landscape (outline)

1. Water Management and Conservation in the Landscape(outline) The Water Cycle • Stormwater: runoff, conveyance and treatment with urban infrastructure, discharge into streams and rivers creating erosion/sediment, adding pollutants, raising temperature • Potable Water: pumping from ground and surface water resources, uses include landscape, toilets, etc. where potable is not required The Objective • to manage stormwater on-site and reduce demand for potable water • Storm Water Management – LID (Low Impact Development) Practices • LID Practices • Infiltration • Disconnecting conveyance systems, slowing down the flow • Capturing storm water and allowing it to filter into the ground • Examples: disconnected downspouts, uncompacted soils, permeable surfaces, pervious paving, infiltration trenches • Bioretention • Combining infiltration with plantings to process the storm water • Use of appropriate native, drought and wet tolerant plants , soils, and mulches • Examples: Rain Gardens, Bio Swales, Green Roofs • Rainwater Harvesting • Capturing storm water and holding on-site for future use • Active – above or below ground cisterns, rain barrels • Passive – directing flow to provide water to landscape plantings • Common applications: landscape irrigation, toilet flushing • Native and Drought Tolerant Landscaping • Reducing the Need for potable water on-site • Use of appropriate native, drought and wet tolerant plants , soils, and mulches • Trees in canopy and understory intercept rainfall, reduce heat gain, provide habitat • Shrub and groundcover layer hold soil, filter runoff, provide habitat • Conserving natural areas, use of BayScaping, reducing areas requiring intensive maintenance and inputs • Multifunctional Landscape Infrastructure (EPA concept): manage stormwater, ecological functions, human benefit • Efficient Irrigation Systems • Reducing the Need for potable water on-site • Effective in delivering water directly to plants, minimal overspray and loss to evaporation • Water is applied only as needed through intelligent systems, ET and weather based systems, sensors, etc. • Drip and low-flow systems

3. Sustaining Virginia's Water Supply: Challenges and StrategiesA conference sponsored by the Committee on Stewardship of Creation,The Diocese of VirginiaSt. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia,Saturday, September 10, 2011 Landscaping and Building Strategies for Water Quality and Sustainability: Opportunities for Churches, Households, Farms and Municipalities Chris Hale, ASLA LEED Landscape Architect Scott Kyle, A.I.A. LEED Architect

4. The Water Cycle Image courtesy of the National Park Service • Stormwater:runoff, conveyance and treatment with urban infrastructure, discharge into streams and rivers creating erosion/sediment, adding pollutants, raising temperature • Potable Water:pumping from ground and surface water resources, uses include landscape, toilets, etc. where potable is not required

5. Basic Definitions: Runoff = Water flowing over land following a storm event Pervious Surface = Water can pass through (stormwater filters into the ground) Impervious Surface = Water runs off (examples: asphalt, concrete, building roofs)

6. Low Impact Development (LID) EPA Definition: Low Impact Development (LID) is a stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased runoff and stormwater pollution. LID comprises a set of site design approaches and small-scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration, evapotranspiration, and reuse of rainwater. These practices can effectively remove nutrients, pathogens, and metals from stormwater, and they reduce the volume and intensity of stormwater flows. (EPA, 2007) The Goal: to manage stormwater on-site and reduce demand for potable water

7. LID Practices • INFILTRATION • Disconnecting conveyance systems, slowing down the flow • Capturing storm water and allowing it to filter into the ground • Examples: disconnected downspouts, uncompacted soils, permeable surfaces, pervious paving, infiltration trenches • RAINWATER • HARVESTING • Capturing storm water and holding on-site for future use • Active – cisterns, rain barrels • Passive – directing flow to provide water to landscape • Common applications: landscape irrigation, toilet flushing BIORETENTION Combining infiltration with plantings to process the storm water Use of appropriate native, drought and wet tolerant plants , soils, and mulches Examples: Rain Gardens, Bio Swales, Green Roofs

8. Native and Drought Tolerant Landscaping • Reducing the Need for potable water on-site • Use of appropriate native, drought and wet tolerant plants , soils, and mulches • Trees in canopy and understory intercept rainfall, reduce heat gain, provide habitat • Shrub and groundcover layer hold soil, filter runoff, provide habitat • Conserving natural areas, use of BayScaping, reducing areas requiring intensive maintenance and inputs • Multifunctional Landscape Infrastructure (EPA concept): manage stormwater, ecological functions, human benefit

9. Efficient Irrigation Systems • Reducing the Need for potable water on-site • Effective in delivering water directly to plants, minimal overspray and loss to evaporation • Water is applied only as needed through intelligent systems, ET and weather based systems, sensors • Drip and low-flow systems • Use of harvested rain water

10. Case Study: The Greening of Virginia’s Capitol

11. Case Study: The Greening of Virginia’s Capitol

12. Case Study: The Greening of Virginia’s Capitol

13. Case Study: The Greening of Virginia’s Capitol

14. Case Study: Science Museum of VA - BayScape

15. Case Study: River Road United Methodist Church

16. Case Study: River Road United Methodist Church

17. City of Richmond Stormwater Utility Credits Credit Earned =  1/2 *(stormwater fee) * (% of impervious area treated) Credit Manuals and BMP’s for Residential and Non-residential Properties http://www.richmondgov.com/dpu/StormwaterCredits.aspx

18. Links - Design Resources The James River Green Building Council (JRGBC) www.jrgbc.org The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) www.sustainablesites.org EPA Low Impact Development http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/ EPA WaterSense – Landscaping http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/outdoor/landscaping.html American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) www.asla.org Plant More Plants (DCR) www.plantmoreplants.com