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Green Infrastructure Pollinator Garden SCIF Proposal

Project Summary The University of Utah Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund has a unique opportunity to fund an innovative student-led project that has environmental, economic, educational, and social benefits for the campus, its students, faculty, and staff. We are proposing adding green infrastructure and a pollinator garden in place of the existing lawn area between the Architecture Building, School of Business, and University Museum of Fine Arts. This project will help mitigate a current flooding problem to Architecture building, reduce irrigation requirements, increase biodiversity on campus by supporting native pollinators, and create a space where students and teachers will want to go to enjoy campus and learn about sustainable solutions being pioneered by the University. We are at an especially critical and opportune moment to act on this idea because Campus Facilities is tearing up the existing landscape in the area to replace building utility lines. We would like to leverage this timing and the resources dedicated to re-landscaping to achieve these multiple goals.

Introduction As is evident from the Sustainability Plan 2016 and the 2010 Climate Action Plan, the University of Utah cares about sustainability in its campus planning and policy development. The 2010 Climate Action Plan specifically states that the University seeks to achieve water neutrality by 2020 through place-based solutions. A near-term goal is to reduce 75% of stormwater runoff in next 10 years. To achieve this lofty target, the University has been introducing more water-conserving fixtures and water-efficient native vegetation. Our project aligns with and will help meet these sustainability goals. It will aim to reduce stormwater runoff and concomitant flooding during heavy storm events by increasing infiltration in the affected area while creating a thriving habitat for pollinator species, helping achieve broader food security. At the same

Project Concept:

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time, this project will create a space that is environmentally sustainable, socially engaging, educational and promotes collaboration and stewardship on campus; all these aspects closely mirror the University’s vision statement of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, interaction, and synergy. Already, this effort has brought together faculty and both undergraduate and graduate students from multiple departments on campus including planning, engineering and biology. Once completed, it has even greater potential for on and off campus outreach and partnership. Statement of Need University of Utah Facilities staff, and faculty within the College of Architecture and Planning have noted that rooms in the southwest corner of the Architecture Building (ARCH) flood during large rain events. Upon visual inspection during storms, it is clear the flooding is caused by stormwater runoff from a 0.5-acre area of concrete pathways (Figure 1) that flows over a small grass lawn starting at ‘X’, directly to the architecture building. Facilities will be excavating this approximately 3750 ft2 grassy area in the coming months due to utility upgrades, which provides an opportunity to address the flooding problem by rerouting the flow to ‘Y’ using an environmentally conscious green infrastructure approach.

Figure 1: Overview of the project site

A landmark study by Walsh et al. (2005) found that degradation in urban waterways due to impervious surfaces is ubiquitous, and that implementation of green infrastructure systems distributed throughout watersheds is key to restoring healthy urban ecosystems. Green infrastructure is an approach to stormwater management that imitates the natural hydrology of the landscape; it minimizes the effects of impervious surfaces by increasing infiltration and filtering pollutants, consequently reducing polluted runoff and flooding downstream. This unique project will capture most stormwater runoff and complement the handful of existing pilot projects on campus to create a network of green infrastructure systems that together take us closer to a campus that mimics the natural water system. In addition to flood mitigation and water pollution abatement, a primary goal of this project is to transform the

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irrigation-intensive turf grass lawn in front of architecture building into a beautiful, sustainable, and educational biodiversity hotspot with pollinator-friendly and low-water-demand native plant species. Pollinators play a critical role in our ecosystem. They are an important part of plant reproduction with over 80% of flowering plants requiring a pollinator. This has direct impacts both on natural ecosystems and on agricultural production; 1/3 of all the food we eat, including some of the most delicious and healthy items like most fruits, nuts, and vegetables, are the result of successful pollination. Unsurprisingly, pollinators are also responsible for the reproduction of many plants that provide food and habitat for wildlife. Yet, pollinator populations are in rapid decline as a result of multiple factors–especially habitat destruction. This garden can counter that trend by providing a habitat haven for these important ecosystem players. Bees are the most common pollinator, and Utah is home to over 1500 native species. While there is a common misconception that bee and human habitat should not mix, the native bees that would be attracted to this pollinator garden are solitary, non-aggressive, and generally ignore humans. Therefore, the potential for bees stinging visitors to the proposed garden is very limited. The garden will also attract the three hummingbird species that commonly live in or migrate through Utah: broad-tailed, black-chinned, and rufous hummingbirds. As a result, garden visitors will be able to partake in the enriching and connective experience of hummingbird viewing. Together, the green infrastructure and pollinator garden will be a step toward the University’s master plan vision of smart open space, intelligent landscaping and finally water neutrality. Once built, it will also provide a point of reference and education for students to see how sustainable systems like this work, and how challenges that arise during implementation can be addressed. In essence, it will serve as a living lab helping students convert sustainability principles learned in class into practice.

Project Objectives & Benefits Our proposal has five main objectives:

1. manage stormwater runoff with the creation of a hybrid bioretention-infiltration channel system

2. replace the existing lawn with water-wise and xeric vegetation 3. create a pollinator garden and small pollinator habitats 4. create an inviting and beautiful garden for students, faculty, and passersby in this highly

trafficked corridor that allows them to enjoy and learn about the importance of green infrastructure, pollinators, and sustainability

5. leverage the opportune timing of Facilities renovating this area

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Achieving our objectives will provide the following sustainability benefits: Environmental

● increase biodiversity on campus ● purify stormwater and allow nutrients to be reclaimed into the soil ● reduce runoff from campus that is damaging to downstream aquatic communities ● get closer to reaching the University’s water conservation goals

Economic ● save the campus money on repairs and cleanup by preventing flooding ● reduce irrigation costs by using hardy landscaping instead of a water-intensive lawn ● help the University avoid fines related to excessive stormwater discharge

Social and Educational ● create an environment where people want to spend time on campus ● inspire more outdoor education opportunities on campus ● showcase how the U is a leader in integrating different sustainability solutions that improve the

environment, reduce water use, and contribute to the well-being of plants and animals Design The design of our proposed project as illustrated in Figure 2 is broken into two functional components laid one over the other: pollinator garden and stormwater green infrastructure.

Figure 2: Green infrastructure and pollinator garden design concept

Green Infrastructure We propose building the first of its kind on campus hybrid bioretention-infiltration channel system designed to: A) slow stormwater runoff, B) infiltrate as much runoff as possible, and C) provide small subsurface reservoirs for pollinator plants to draw water. From an engineering perspective, the sole requirement for the stormwater system is to divert flow away from ARCH. With this project we have additional opportunities to not only prevent flooding, but also improve water quality, reduce downstream flooding, and help create more natural flow patterns that enable healthy habitats to establish downstream. To maximize these benefits, the hybrid bioretention system meanders in a way that increases flow length, thereby increasing infiltration and slowing the flow of water as much as possible (Figure 3).

X

Y

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Figure 3: Concept diagram of infiltration channel-bioretention system (Excavation)

To ensure all runoff from the paved areas is captured, two narrow swales filled with small cobble will be situated on either side of an infiltration bay that captures sediments, bark, and other debris (Figure 4). By forcing sediments to deposit, the infiltration bay will ensure the remaining 57 foot long main portion of the system does not clog, allowing it to manage and infiltrate water as intended. The centerline of the main section will serve purely as an infiltration channel while both sides will be covered with soil (Figure 5). Small subsurface check dams will back up the water and create temporary small subsurface reservoirs that are accessible to plants growing in the overlying soil (displayed in Appendix). This will reduce the need for irrigation as well as aid in stormwater purification. A rendering of just the hybrid bioretention system in the current ARCH Lawn can be seen in figure 6.

Figure 5: Conceptual horizontal cross-section

Figure 4: Conceptual plan view

X

Y

X

Y

A

A’

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Using this design, hydrologic modeling conducted in the EPA’s stormwater modeling software (Rossman, 2010) shows that the hybrid system reduces the total runoff volume by approximately ⅓ (Figure 7). While this reduction is substantial, it is equally important that there is no runoff for nearly 13 hours, which is more reflective of runoff behavior from natural areas. Together, reducing runoff volume and creating more natural runoff timing create a more natural downstream flow environment that is essential for reversing the trend of degradation in urban streams (Walsh et al. 2005). A flooding analysis of this design (Appendix) shows that the primary channel will easily be able to handle even a large, 100-year, storm (a berm will provide auxiliary flood protection). Pollinator Garden The pollinator garden will be designed around the hybrid bioretention-infiltration channel system and we will strategically place vegetation near it to take advantage of the hydrologic benefits. The garden will have three entrances that are linked by an ADA compliant flagstone chip path. The majority of the plants in the garden (grasses, cactus, perennials, shrubs, and trees) will be water-wise

Figure 7: Impact of green infrastructure system on stormwater runoff from 2-year 24-hour storm

Figure 8: Solitary bee nest

Figure 6: Concept diagram of infiltration channel-bioretention system

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species that attract pollinators. Pollinator nesting habitats, such as hollow stick bundles, rocks, and dirt patches (Figures 8 and 9) will also be placed throughout the garden, and flowering trees will be planted along the sidewalk to create visual appeal and shade for pedestrians. In this phase of the project, large sitting boulders will be placed in two areas of the garden to create space for people to linger and enjoy the environment. Informational signs will be installed to help visitors learn more about the project. A number of small signs will feature in front of unique species in the garden while occasional taller signs throughout the garden will provide interesting short facts about pollinators, green infrastructure, and how the project contributes to the University’s sustainability goals.

Promotion & Education A new stormwater retention and pollinator garden would provide unique value to the University of Utah’s campus and this novel project could be a model for future landscaping design in certain areas of campus. For these reasons, we think education about the redesigned site and celebration of its construction should be an integral part of the project.

Ongoing Education and Monitoring A successful project will include both an eco-literacy component and a scientific monitoring component. While specialized scientists, planners, and engineers understand the importance of building pollinator gardens and creating imaginative solutions for capturing stormwater through green infrastructure, many people do not. With the high volume of pedestrian traffic passing in front of the proposed area, this project presents a unique opportunity to both implement an environmentally friendly engineering solution and educate the general public about the principles of green infrastructure, ecosystem services, and ecological stewardship. It also leverages the idea that campus is a learning lab, where new ideas about sustainability can be tested and their effectiveness can be measured. We propose a few ideas for ongoing education and monitoring of the new site.

Figure 9: Mature pollinator garden example

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Lesson Plans/Outdoor Classroom Opportunities We think it is valuable to make it easy for classes from architecture, planning, biology, civil engineering, and urban ecology to integrate lessons that can be learned from this garden in their curriculum. To this end, we will work with faculty from each department to make short lesson plans that correspond to their courses. Students and professors will easily be able to take field trips to the site and see the interplay between ideas that hail from many disciplines. We are confident that this form of teaching can inspire future students to design similar SCIF proposals across campus, and in turn continue transforming our campus into a more sustainable place to live, work, and learn. Online Information Hub To communicate the information about the improved site to a broader university and public audience, we would create a simple page on the College of Architecture and Planning’s website. The website would contain information such as background, project goals, specifics and details on the project like plant species, links to lesson plans and ideas for integrating the site into educational curriculums. Photos of how the garden has been evolving over time will also be added.

Maintenance Campus Facilities would be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the garden; however, students are also eager to be involved in stewardship of the space. Already, the University of Utah Beekeepers association has offered to help maintain the garden. As much as possible, we will request the garden be maintained organically using minimal to no pesticides and doing weed control manually. Timeline April – August 2018

● Facilities excavates site to perform utilities maintenance ● Hybrid bioretention-infiltration channel system installed ● Topsoil replaced ● Large vegetation planted ● Path and sitting areas installed ● Smaller vegetation planted

September – October 2018 ● Ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating project completion

Future Phases This site holds the promise of being a place of continued experimentation, innovation, and learning. Ideas we would like to see implemented in the future include additional vegetation and bee habitats.

Hybrid Pollinator Habitat and Study Area A “bee hotel” structure in Figure 10 could be added to allow for a sturdy, permanent location for native, cavity-nesting, solitary bee species. This would attract additional non-honeybee species that neither form hives nor produce honey. Solitary bees are exceptionally gentle, like the Orchard bee shown here on Biology Professor Amy Sibul’s hand in Figure 11. Figures 10 and 11: Bee hotel and a solitary bee

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This structure would have the dual purpose of providing nesting habitat as well as a place for students to retreat. Part of our vision for the area is to provide a place with seating in addition to tables. Providing students with a place to sit and enjoy the beauty of the garden while working on school work. The design of the structure will also feature solar panels so students are able to charge their electronics while they work. One of the biggest parts of our vision is providing a space where people and nature can coexist and improve each other’s well-being. Additional Seating We would also like to add more seating for students and faculty to enjoy the thriving garden in a subsequent phase. This would include benches and possible small tables for studying. Research We also want to make the garden an area where research can be conducted. One potential project is using a computer software called RANA (used by the Red Butte Garden Conservation Director) that monitors pollinator activity by constantly recording a flower and showing which pollinator makes use of the flowers resources. This will provide a perfect opportunity for ongoing research as well as a way for students to see research in action. All students could have the opportunity to monitor pollinator visitation to the garden.

Conclusion We believe this project epitomizes the type of work SCIF was created to support. It encourages sustainability by reducing stormwater output, increasing water conservation, and creating biodiversity habitat in an underperforming space on campus. Furthermore, it creates a one-of-a-kind place for students to enjoy spending time outdoors while also being exposed to more sustainable development practices. And finally, we believe this project exemplifies an interdisciplinary, integrated, and collaborative approach to working better to improve life at the University of Utah. References Rossman, L.A., 2010. Storm water management model user's manual, version 5.0 (p. 276). Cincinnati: National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency. Walsh, C.J., Fletcher, T.D. and Ladson, A.R., 2005. Stream restoration in urban catchments through redesigning stormwater systems: looking to the catchment to save the stream. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 24(3), pp.690-705.