Ford Road Canton Township, MI

1. Ford Road Canton Township, MI Prepared for: SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors March 3, 2009

2. Outline Overview of Ford Road Corridor Traditional Streetscape I-275 Interchange/MDOT I-275 Design Goals DDA Goals MDOT Criteria Sustainable Criteria Understanding Salt Designing for the Effects of Roadside Microclimates Proposed Plantings Q&S

3. Ford Road Overview

4. Ford Road Overview • 1 3/4 Miles/M-153 • SAFETEA-LU Grant • MDOT Roadway • FHWA Review of Interchange Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

5. Ford Road Overview • I-275 Interchange • Established interchange • Existing Plantings • Phragmites lined ditches Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

6. I-275 Design Goals

7. Ford Road ~ I-275 • DDA Goals: • Township Entry • Blend with the East and West Districts • “Reasonable” Maintenance • Not too “wild” • Color • Eradicate Phragmites • Bold & Elegant Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

8. Ford Road ~ I-275 • MDOT Criteria: • Safety, safety, safety • Low maintenance • Clear Vision: < 30” ht. • Clear Zone: Planting setback - 20’ Wall Setbacks – 50’ Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

9. Ford Road ~ I-275 • Sustainable Criteria: • Use of native and adapted plants • Salt tolerant plants • Salt spray • Soil salt • Watering • Site Conditions • Windy/exposed • Clay soils/Low organics • Existing salt levels 100+ ppm • Dry • Limited Maintenance Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

10. Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

11. Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

12. Understanding Salt

13. Understanding Salt • Effects of Salt on Plants • Reduces water uptake by plant roots • Photosynthesis reduced • Nutrient uptake/balance is reduced • Concentration of salt is higher outside of the cell than in it. • Water leaves the plant faster than it taken up • Roots die from dehydration • Brown, dead plants become visible in late winter, through spring and summer • Affects can be cumulative, year to year • 15% soil saturation toxic to plants • Effects of Salt on Seeds • Reduces germination (drought) • Stresses germinating seedlings Celtis - Hackberry Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

14. Understanding Salt • Chlorides: • Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium • Essential for plant health • Salt can be washed out of soils • Drainage/soil type • Water source • Calcium sulfate (gypsum) can help mitigate • Takes time • Once in suspension, salt is still there • Recycled stormwater and soil salts should both be considered and tested frequently Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

15. Understanding Salt • CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) • Measures the ability of soil to hold nutrients • Varies with amounts of clay or sand • Clay soils, expect higher CEC (15-25 typ., up to 38.5 observed) • SAR (Sodium Absorption Ratio) • Measures sodium “hazard” in water (ratio of sodium to calcium and magnesium) • > 12 is hazardous • pH • pH of 6-7 is ideal (7.6 – 8.8 observed) Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

16. Understanding Salt • At what level can you taste salt in drinking water? • MDEQ Aesthetic criteria: 125 ppm sodium • Ocean Water: 35,000 ppm • Irrigation Water Issues: • <70 ppm – none • 70- 180 ppm – increasing • > 180 ppm - severe • Uplands: 40 ppm sodium observed • Swales & ditches: 118 – 3300+ ppm sodium observed. Calcium alarming too. Switch Grass Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

17. Designing for The Effects of Roadside Microclimates

18. Design for Roadside Microclimates • Choosing Plants • Plants that are more winter hardy will withstand salt better • Healthier plants • Salt cannot be mitigated by the plant itself • Prairie plants/drought tolerant plants tend to be more salt tolerant Roses & Rudbeckia Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

19. Design for Roadside Microclimates • Potential Plants for Swales and Roadsides • Sneezeweed • Joe-pye Weed • Black-eyed Susan • Golden Alexander • Carefree Rose • Obedient Plant • Sedge, Rush, Grass (Fescues are more tolerant than Bluegrass) • Salt Tolerant Seed Mix Sneezeweed Sedges Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

20. Design for Roadside Microclimates • Potential Plants for Interchange Uplands (salt &/or drought) • Hackberry (Hackberry) • Oak (Q. bicolor, Q. rubra, Q. macrocarpa) • Nyssa (Protected areas) • K. Coffeetree • Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) • Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Chokeberry - Aronia Bayberry -Myrica Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

21. Contact Information Leigh Thurston, ASLA lthurston@canton-mi.org Canton Township www.canton-mi.org Wendy Fry ASLA, CLARB, LEED AP wfry@manniksmithgroup.com The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. www.manniksmithgroup.com Ford Road – Canton Township SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors

22. Questions & Suggestions Prepared for: SEMCOG University Green Streets: LID for Transportation Corridors March 3, 2009