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.