1 The spring 2014 Myra Kraft Open Classroom Water: Challenge of Extremes Every Wednesday, 6pm – 8pm January 8 through April 9 West Village F, Room 20 Northeastern

1

The spring 2014 Myra Kraft Open Classroom Water: Challenge of Extremes

Every Wednesday, 6pm – 8pmJanuary 8 through April 9West Village F, Room 20

Northeastern UniversitySchool of Public Policy and Urban Affairs

School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs | Northeastern University

“Innovations in Urban Water Management”Featured Guests:

This week (March 12, 2014)

Thomas BradyConservation Administrator, Conservation

Commission, Town of Brookline

Kate BowditchDirector, Projects, Charles River Watershed

Association; Chair, Conservation Commissioner, Town of Brookline

Myra Kraft Open Classroom series "Water: A Challenge of Extremes."

Green Infrastructure:Natural Hydrologic Processes

in an Urban Environment

Kate BowditchDirector of Projects

• Introduction to the CRWA and the Charles River

• Green Infrastructure– Definitions– Historical precedents– Opportunities in the Charles River

watershed• Landscape scale• Subwatershed scale • Street scale

• Environmental Science and Advocacy Organization founded in 1965

• Mission: To use science, advocacy, planning and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed

Interdisciplinary staff, including engineers, scientists and planners

More than 3,600 volunteers each year

Charles River Watershed Association

www.charlesriver.org




Charles River: Winner 2011 International River Prize

Charles River Watershed

• 80 miles• 20 dams• Mean annual

flow ~ 370 cfs• 308 mi2

• 35 towns• Over 1

million residents

Green Infrastructure

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=XyQ3bSJsGnFRVM&tbnid=xIotjTIy9QkvPM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://disturbingpleasures.wordpress.com/lexicon/aesthetics/&ei=p4QgU-6vNsqfkAfFh4DIAw&bvm=bv.62788935,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGJ9oqHTFvbALyT4z_qp8Vo8ggBdg&ust=1394726351282138

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=x7u8QNpGf4ffOM&tbnid=e9UFoEe3z4f3RM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://tclf.org/blog/city-shaping-v-can-philanthropy-bostons-parks-break-through-grass-ceiling&ei=5IQgU965Acy_kQeMqIHABQ&bvm=bv.62788935,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGJ9oqHTFvbALyT4z_qp8Vo8ggBdg&ust=1394726351282138

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=BQSMLyiH7PZMWM&tbnid=CV23_UcgodpZWM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2011/04/29/documentary_shows_frederick_law_olmsteds_huge_influence_on_urban_park_design/&ei=CIUgU6LXDJSQkAf0ooCYBA&bvm=bv.62788935,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGJ9oqHTFvbALyT4z_qp8Vo8ggBdg&ust=1394726351282138

Bioswale, Community Rowing, Soldiers Field Road

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Massachusetts/Boston-794476/Things_To_Do-Boston-Commonwealth_Avenue-BR-1.html%232

Sidewalk stormwater planters

Infiltration trenches

http://www.sarasotagreenconnection.com/SGM/flexipave_galleries/selected_pictures/pages/007_07.htm

Porous pavers in parking lane

Green Infrastructure precedents in the Charles River Watershed

• Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace

• US Army Corps of Engineers Natural Valley Storage Area

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=dRZ5vReStS6vFM&tbnid=PdDJRX55S-vABM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://www.pinebank.org/muddyriverproject.htm&ei=-YggU-aSB46gkQfMhoCYCg&bvm=bv.62788935,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNGJ9oqHTFvbALyT4z_qp8Vo8ggBdg&ust=1394726351282138

Source: Emerald Necklace Conservancy

Photos courtesy Emerald Necklace Conservancy

The Emerald Necklace: A ‘Synthetic Landscape’

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=K72Z6WFnmN9K7M&tbnid=cwPOpuBTu7TnQM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://www.greenspaceboston.com/2012/06/29/frederick-law-olmsted-hermann-grundel-and-the-remaining-back-bay-fens/&ei=gZsgU8yCDem2yAG1tIHQCQ&psig=AFQjCNHAEYl99r8YFjvLd99egd0D8jlNQA&ust=1394732125376689

US Army Corps of Engineers Charles River Natural Valley Storage Project

1938 Flood, Boston, MA

New Charles River Dam• Completed 1978• 6 diesel powered pumps• 3 locks• fish ladder

Charles River Natural Valley Storage Project

8,500 acres of wetlands protected in 17 discreet project areas

50,000 acre-feet of flood storage (similar to a New England flood storage reservoir)

Cost a fraction of dams and dikes, and added tremendous additional benefits in habitat, water quality and recreation

Opportunities for Green Infrastructure in the Charles River Watershed

• Landscape scale• Subwatershed scale• Street scale

Allston Creek subwatershed

Source: Gretchen Hooker

Source: Vladimir Novotny, Northeastern University

Chelsea Creek Sub-watershed

Kate BowditchCharles River Watershed

Association190 Park Road, Weston, MA

[email protected]

Thank You


Thomas BradyConservation Administrator, Conservation

Commission, Town of Brookline

Kate BowditchDirector, Projects, Charles River Watershed

Association; Chair, Conservation Commissioner, Town of Brookline

Any Questions?

The spring 2014 Myra Kraft Open Classroom lecture seriesMarch 12, 2014 – “Innovations in Urban Water Management”


“Storms and Hazards”Featured Guests:

Next week (March 19, 2014)

Ken Nowak, PhDHydrolic Engineer, Boulder Canyon Operations Office, Lower Colorado

Region, Bureau of Reclamation

Laurens van der Tak, PE, D.WREVice President, Principal Water

Resources Engineer, Water Business Group, CH2M Hill

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The spring 2014 Myra Kraft Open Classroom Water: Challenge of Extremes

Every Wednesday, 6pm – 8pmJanuary 8 through April 13

West Village F, Room 20

Northeastern UniversitySchool of Public Policy and Urban Affairs

Documents

1 The spring 2014 Myra Kraft Open Classroom Water: Challenge of Extremes Every Wednesday, 6pm – 8pm January 8 through April 9 West Village F, Room 20 Northeastern