CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL ISLAND PROJECT Water: The Essential Ingredient & Thoughts for...

CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOLCHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOLISLAND PROJECTISLAND PROJECT

Water:Water: The Essential Ingredient

&

Thoughts for Sustainability

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Respect the Nature of WaterRespect the Nature of Water

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Looking at Water as a Looking at Water as a ResourceResource

DrinkingWashing and BathingRecreation & TourismWildlife & Plant Life

Agriculture and IndustryTransportation

Energy ProductionHeatingCooling

Trading or selling©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Can Water Be a Liability Can Water Be a Liability For Your Island?For Your Island?

• Severe weather deaths• Flooding & storm damage• Drought may limit water availability• Pollution or improper treatment• Attracts too many people-resources

compromised• Rising sea levels

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Take a Watershed ApproachTake a Watershed ApproachDelineate your watersheds

and sub-basins for planning and management

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Environmental InventoryEnvironmental Inventory

– Map waterways and natural springs – Map sub-basin watersheds– Identify and map endangered species– Identify and map sensitive species or

areas– Map soil types– Measure and map slopes/elevations

(contour map)

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Land ConservationLand Conservation

• Critical habitats (essential spaces for

plant and animal communities)

• Aquatic corridors (floodplains, stream

channels, springs, estuarine coves, shorelines, riparian forest, caves, sinkholes)

• Hydrologic reserves (undeveloped

areas that act to store water)

• Cultural areas (historic/archaeological

sites, scenic areas, recreational areas)

• Water pollution hazards (land

use that has potential for polluting water)

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Non-Stormwater Discharges Non-Stormwater Discharges

• Septic Systems/Sanitary Sewers• Industrial leaks, runoff or discharges• Salt from desalinization operations• Concentrated animal feeding

operations (CAFOs)• Dumping

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Without buffers-Without buffers-Erosion & Stream DamageErosion & Stream Damage

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Aquatic BuffersAquatic BuffersSlow & Filter Runoff, Shade Streams, Slow & Filter Runoff, Shade Streams,

Stabilize BanksStabilize Banks

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Illustration of multi-species riparian buffer strip (Source: National Agroforestry Center, 2000).

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division EPA File

Impervious Surfaces Affect Impervious Surfaces Affect Water Quality & FloodingWater Quality & Flooding

Impervious cover may need limitsImpervious cover may need limits

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Impervious cover over 10% Impervious cover over 10% degrades environmentdegrades environment

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Erosion & Sediment Erosion & Sediment ControlControl

• Perhaps the most destructive stage of the development cycle is the relatively short period when vegetation is cleared and a site is graded in preparation to build.

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Poor Erosion Control at Poor Erosion Control at Construction SiteConstruction Site

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Terracing to use slopes; Terracing to use slopes; prevent erosionprevent erosion

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

httpwww.worldisround.comarticles25788photo27.html

Terracing to use slopes; Terracing to use slopes; prevent erosionprevent erosion

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Street Infiltration for RunoffStreet Infiltration for Runoff

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management DivisionPhoto by LID Center

Bioretention CellBioretention Cell

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Rain GardensRain Gardens

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Photo by NC DENR

Roof Drain Roof Drain Disconnection/DiversionDisconnection/Diversion

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Photo by Rain Water Solutions

CisternsCisterns

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Wet PondsWet Ponds

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Permeable PavementPermeable Pavement

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Green RoofsGreen Roofs

Photo by Greenroofs.com

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

SwalesSwales

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Sand FiltersSand Filters

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Street Sweeping & Surface Street Sweeping & Surface Maintenance Maintenance

Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

Watershed Stewardship Watershed Stewardship • Educate residents and visitors about

clean water• Provide easy to follow rules and tools

to protect water resources (no littering, tree protection rules, septic tank pump out required every 3-5 years, development rules, etc.)

• Promote water conservation and clean water activities

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division

How Can You Mitigate Damage How Can You Mitigate Damage to Your Island?to Your Island?

• Inventory natural resources and know what you want to protect & how.

• Know Slopes, Elevations and Soils. Map them!

• Follow strict construction BMPs.

• Develop for most severe weather conditions.

• Mitigate flooding hazards.

• Identify potential pollution sources.

• Mitigate runoff pollution.

• Choose water treatment processes carefully.

• Control visitation if necessary.

• Educate all workers, residents and visitors about water resources & best management practices.

©Town of Chapel Hill Stormwater Management Division