Stormwater Projects Open HouseJanuary 29, 2013

Agenda

1. Why be concerned about Stormwater?1. Why be concerned about Stormwater?

2. County-wide Stormwater Retrofit Study

3. Arlington Green Street program

Stormwater Challenges

Volume: Significant quantities of stormwater enter Arlington’s stream during g q g gstorms, causing erosion that exposes our infrastructure and undermines trees along our streams.

Pollutants: Stormwater washes pollutants like nutrients (nitrogen andPollutants: Stormwater washes pollutants like nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), sediment, bacteria, and litter into our streams. This causes poor water quality in our streams.

Regulations: Arlington’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit (MS4 Permit) and the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) require Arlington to address the volume and pollutant loads in our stormwaterstormwater.

Stormwater Challenges

Volume: Significant quantities of stormwater enter Arlington’s stream during g q g gstorms, causing erosion that exposes our infrastructure and undermines trees along our streams.

Pollutants: Stormwater washes pollutants like nutrients (nitrogen andPollutants: Stormwater washes pollutants like nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), sediment, bacteria, and litter into our streams. This causes poor water quality in our streams.

Regulations: Arlington’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit (MS4 Permit) and the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) require Arlington to address the volume and pollutant loads in our stormwaterstormwater.

Stormwater Retrofit Study• County‐wide effort initiated May 2008

d f h d i• Contracted Center for Watershed Protection• Result is an inventory of potential stormwater retrofit 

j tprojects.• Projects will decrease stormwater volume and remove stormwater pollutantsremove stormwater pollutants.

• Projects also contribute to Chesapeake Bay clean‐up requirementsrequirements.

Types of Stormwater RetrofitsTypes of Stormwater Retrofits

• Wetlands and improved stormwater pondsWetlands and improved stormwater ponds

Types of Stormwater RetrofitsTypes of Stormwater Retrofits

• Swales rain gardens pervious pavementSwales, rain gardens, pervious pavement

Types of Stormwater RetrofitsTypes of Stormwater Retrofits

• Green roofs and cisternsGreen roofs and cisterns

Rain Garden in ActionRain Garden in Action

For a Stormwater Retrofit You Need…• Stormwater • A place to treat it• A connection to the storm drain system

Stormwater Retrofit Study• Methodology developed by CWP*• GIS desktop assessment• GIS desktop assessment• Public input

* Schueler, T., Hirschman, D., Novotney, M., and J. Zielinski. 2007. Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices Version 1.0. Center for Watershed Protection. Ellicott City, MD.

Stormwater Retrofit Study• Field work• Measurements & basic project sketchMeasurements & basic project sketch

Score and Rank Projects

Results• Completed field assessment

f 200 fi j• Inventory of ~1200 stormwater retrofit projectsthroughout Arlington CountyP j t h b d d k d b t h d• Projects have been scored and ranked by watershed

• www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sustainability/page67082 aspxvices/Sustainability/page67082.aspx

Next Steps• Finalize a County‐wide ranking

l d i f h k d• Complete concept designs for the top‐ranked projects in each watershedI t th lt i t A li t ’ St t• Incorporate the results into Arlington’s Stormwater Master Plan

• www arlingtonva us/departments/EnvironmentalSer• www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sustainability/page74076.aspx

• Incorporate the results into Arlington’s GIS data• Incorporate the results into Arlington s GIS data

Implementation• Three stormwater retrofit projects complete.• 1 project in construction and 7 additional in design• 1 project in construction and 7 additional in design.• Majority of these projects are Green Streets projects.• www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Suswww.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sus

tainability/page81126.aspx• Highly ranked projects that correspond with other County 

k ill b i l d fiwork will be implemented first.• Implementation of projects is required to meet Arlington’s 

Chesapeake Bay clean‐up responsibilities.Chesapeake Bay clean up responsibilities.• Arlington’s streets and landscapes will be changing as 

implementation continues.

Arlington’s Impervious SurfacesAlleys0%

Airport4%

Roads33%Buildings

31%

Parking Lots15%Sidewalks

9%Paved Medians

Driveways7%

1%

A Green Street provides a vegetated area in the public right-of-way that reduces the volume of stormwater andright of way that reduces the volume of stormwater and stormwater pollutants that enter our local streams, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The vegetated areas in a Green Street are rain gardens.

MaintenanceMaintenance

• Initially after any large stormsInitially, after any large storms• Thereafter, quarterly

di• Remove sediment• Weed, inspect, replant, prune plants• Remove trash• Make sure underdrain overflow all pipes andMake sure underdrain, overflow, all pipes, and catch basins working correctly

Patrick Henry Green StreetJUNE 2011

SEPT 2011 MAR 2012

JUNE 2012 SEPT 2012

Green Streets Projects• Initial meeting with local residents

d if i ifi d i• Identify site‐specific concerns and issues• Respond to questions – via e‐mail & web site• If possible, address concerns from residents within the project design

• Project Open House• Residents select plant palette• Final design 

Green Streets Program• Presentations to civic association and County groups

i l i d i i bli i• Articles in County and organization publications• Farmer’s market• Educational signs and curb markers• Public meetings• Other ideas?

Summary• Green Streets and other stormwater retrofits will be changing 

Arlington’s streetscapes and landscapesArlington s streetscapes and landscapes.• The locations of these projects have been selected via a 

comprehensive County‐wide study.• The goal of stormwater retrofit projects is to reduce the 

volume of, and pollutants in, stormwater runoff.• State and federal requirements for Chesapeake Bay protection• State and federal requirements for Chesapeake Bay protection 

must also be met through these projects.• Projects that are highly ranked and correspond with other j g y p

County work will be implemented first.• You can help build support for these projects, and help us 

understand and address resident concernsunderstand and address resident concerns.

StormwaterWise LandscapesStormwaterWise Landscapes

• Rain GardensC ti L d i• Conservation Landscaping

• Removal of pavement• Pervious PaversApplications due by February 15, 2013.Applications due by February 15, 2013.www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sustainability/page87826.aspx

For More InformationChristin Jolicoeur Jen McDonnell(703) 228‐3588  (703) 228‐3042cjolicoeur@arlingtonva.us jmcdonnell@arlingtonva.us

Stormwater Retrofit Study Resultswww.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sustainability/page67082.aspx

Green Streets www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/Sustainability/page81126.aspx