5/21/2014

1

Watershed Planning for Sourcewater Protection

Jeffrey Kerr, ASLA, AICPJim Demboski, P.E.

Nature provides certain services (green infrastructure) that communities would otherwise need to expend resources through engineering, construction, and maintenance of traditional (gray) infrastructure.

We need to start thinking about our natural systems as a BIOUTILITY that provides ECONOMIC BENEFITS to it’s community.

Source: Produces something. In this case, ecological, economic, and social benefit for the communities.

Sink: Consumes something. In this case, consumes resources necessary to mitigate degraded ecological function.

Green vs. GrayNatural Resources = Green Infrastructure

WetlandsStreams

WoodlandsMeadows

SoilsVegetationOrganisms

RoadsStorm LinesSewer Treatment FacilitiesWater systemsBridges Power Plants

5/21/2014

2

Ecological Function

Air filtering

Micro-climate regulation

Habitat quality

Hydrologic cycle balance

Economic Benefit

Noise mitigation

Sewage/Water treatment

Flood mitigation

Energy demand

Social Quality

Property values

Community character

Human health

Recreational needs

Green Infrastructure Benefits Productive Land Uses Consumptive Land Uses

Productive Land Uses

Riparian SystemsRiparian Systems

WetlandsWetlands

Trees & WoodlandsTrees & Woodlands

MeadowsMeadows

Soils & GeologySoils & Geology

Consumptive Land Uses

Impervious SurfacesImpervious Surfaces

DevelopmentDevelopment

Managed TurfManaged Turf

AgricultureAgriculture

Industrial DischargesIndustrial Discharges

Storm Volume

4,3565,227

6,098

9,583

12,632 12,632

82,328

1,000

10,000

100,000

M ature Decid/M ixedWoodlands

SuccessionalWoodlands/Shrub-

Scrub

NatrualizedM eadows/Fallow

Fields

M anagedTurf /Landscapes

Agriculture - RowCrops

Agriculture - Grazing Impervious Surfaces

cf/y

r

Storm Volume

Model: TR-55 (cuy/ohio rain/Soil group C)

Storm water runoff and snow melt pick up chemicals, bacteria, sediment, and debris from roads, lawns, construction sites, industrial facilities, etc.... This polluted runoff flows to storm sewers and directly to rivers, lakes and streams. The increase in velocity of storm water runoff has been shown to increase surface water temperatures and erode natural drainage channels. Ultimately, all these factors combine to damage aquatic habitat which in turn diminishes the capacity for water bodies to support our recreation practices and water supplies.

5/21/2014

3

Phosphorus

0.002 0.0020.003

0.342

1.0 1.0

6.0

0.001

0.01

0.1

1

10

M ature Decid/M ixedWoodlands

SuccessionalWoodlands/Shrub-

Scrub

NatrualizedM eadows/Fallow

Fields

M anagedTurf /Landscapes

Agriculture - RowCrops

Agriculture - Grazing Impervious Surfaces

lbs.

/acr

e

Phosphorus

Model: L-THIA, Purdue University

Excess of phosphate enters the waterway, algae and aquatic plants will grow wildly, choke up the waterway and use up large amounts of oxygen. This condition is known as eutrophication. The rapid growth of aquatic vegetation can cause the death and decay of vegetation and aquatic life because of the decrease in dissolved oxygen levels.

TSS

0.28 0.3330.386

24

86 86

551

0.1

1

10

100

1000

M ature Decid/M ixedWoodlands

SuccessionalWoodlands/Shrub-

Scrub

NatrualizedM eadows/Fallow

Fields

M anagedTurf/Landscapes

Agriculture - RowCrops

Agriculture - Grazing Impervious Surfaces

lbs./acr

Total Suspended Solids

Model: L-THIA, Purdue University

Total Suspended Solids, generally referred to as TSS, is a measure of the settleable solids and non-settleable solids in water. High concentrations of suspended solids can cause many problems for stream health and aquatic life. High TSS in a water body can often mean higher concentrations of bacteria, nutrients, pesticides, and metals in the water.

“As communities need to address haphazard development, they also need

to address haphazard conservation -conservation activities that are reactive,site-specific, narrowly focused, and not

well integrated with other efforts”“Green Infrastructure: A strategic approach to Land Conservation”

American Planning Association

Natural Resource Mapping

Bath Township/Friends of Yellow Creek

Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed Water Protection Plan

Question: How should the City of Akron manage a 209 square mile watershed to ensure water quality protection of its water supply as well as management of its 16,000 acres of property?

Goal: To determine the most effective protection strategy for water quality and what uses could be permitted on its property that would not increase risk to its water supply.

City of Akron Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed

Watershed: 209 square miles

Basin: Cuyahoga River

Counties: Geauga, Portage

5/21/2014

4

City of Akron

Reservoirs: East Branch, LaDue, Rockwell

Acres: 15,941 acres

Counties: Geauga, Portage

Drinking Water Risk Assessment

Drinking Water Risk Assessment Drinking Water Risk Assessment

Productive System Mapping

City of Akron

Slopes & Topography

5/21/2014

5

Hydrology Land Cover

SoilsGreen Infrastructure

Consumptive System Mapping

City of Akron

Land Use

5/21/2014

6

Permitted Discharges Transportation

Development Impacts

Analysis Mapping

City of Akron

Green Infrastructure Time of Travel Model

• Slope• Soil• Land Cover – Impervious• Proximity to stream/water

course • Distance

5/21/2014

7

Priority Management Zones Critical Management Zone

Management Zone Policy Guide Land Management Action Guide

Activity Evaluation Criteria

• Public Access• Passive Recreation • Active Recreation• Oil & Gas Wells• Timber Management• Agriculture• Development• Sand & Gravel Operations

Conflict/Zone Map

5/21/2014

8

Questions?

Jeffrey Kerr, ASLA, AICPJim Demboski, P.E.