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Springfield StationBioswale Case Study


By: Hannah Cooley and Stefanie Young

University of OregonArch 497

Walter GrondzikJune 1, 2006

UPDATED: JULY 2011


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ..................................................................................................... 7

Description ...................................................................................................... 8

Questions ...................................................................................................... 10

Hypotheses .................................................................................................... 11

Methodology .................................................................................................. 12

Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 14

Conclusions ................................................................................................... 19

Design Lessons Learned ................................................................................. 20

References ..................................................................................................... 21

Definitions of key words used: (http://www.stormwaterauthority.org/gloassary.aspx)

Stormwater: Water from rain, irrigation, garden hoses or other activities that picks up pollutants (cigarette butts, trash, automotive fluids, used oil, paint, fertilizers and pesticides, lawn and garden clippings and pet waste) from streets, parking lots, driveways and yards and carries then through the storm drain system and straight to bodies of water.

Runoff: Water originating from rainfall and other precipitation that ultimately flows into drainage facilities, rivers, streams, springs, seeps, ponds, lakes, and wetlands as well as shallow groundwater.

Bioswale: A long, gently sloped, vegetated ditch designed to filter pollutants from stormwater. Grass is the most common vegetation, but wetland vegetation can be used if the soil is saturated.

6

INTRODUCTIONThe newly developed Lane Transit District (LTD) Springfield Station is acknowledged for its inno-

vative and environmentally friendly design. Located at 355 South A Street in Springfield, Oregon,

it is the main circulation hub for the LTD buses operating in Springfield. The station includes a

series of environmental features such as rainwater catchment device (see photo below), and a

system of bioswales to help reduce and clean stormwater runoff from the site. There are three

bioswales on site, two function as major elements and one as a minor element. The two major

bioswales are on the back corners of the site, while the minor bioswale, which is referred to as

a platform garden, runs in between the bus shelter structures.

The landscape architect, Brian McCarthy, informed us that the intent of the bioswales is to

mimic natural filtration processes by treating the quantity and quality of stormwater. The goal

of the bioswales on site is to reduce and slow runoff, increase water quality by decreasing the

three major pollutants of stormwater, and be an aesthetically pleasing feature. The three major

pollutants that the bioswale is designed to decrease are sediment pollution, petroleum-based

pollutants, and heavy metals.

When we began developing our case study, we immediately decided that our main goal was to

focus on some aspect of green design performance, and narrowed it down to the performance

of the largest bioswale at the Springfield Station. Choosing water quality as our parameter, our

desire was to see if this element was functioning at the level that it was initially intended. Basi-

cally, we wanted to see if the resulting design is effective.

The entrance of the Springfield Station with view of the rainwater catchment system.

Springfield Vicinity Map with Willa-mette River. Yellow rectangle shows site location. (Google Map)

Hannah Cooley and Stefanie Young, Arch 497

7

DESCRIPTIONThe Springfield Station, located off of Main Street in Springfield, Oregon, was a collaboration

between three design firms. The firms’ intentions in the design of the transit station were to

utilize the latest in sustainable technologies. Through the combination of a stormwater manage-

ment system, a rainwater catchment system, energy efficient luminaires, and a ground source

heat pump to heat and cool the building, the station is extremely impressive at first glance. The

design team collaborated to offer natural gardens, an open shelter, daylight, and parking for

transit users. The most prominent features on the site are the three bioswales, which all offer

attractive scenery both around and within the outside sheltered waiting area. A new and innova-

tive development in downtown Springfield, on of the goals of the project was to help revitalize

the center of the city.

Our goal is to test the theories and claims of the designers. Our society has popularized the

term ‘green design,’ but are there any studies done to see if these ‘green’ systems are working

to do what we are expecting to do?

Focusing mainly on vegetation and the stormwater management system, we want to study just

how effective and beneficial the bioswale remediation of water quality is. We also will compare

the effectiveness of the system to the initial goals and intents of the design team. By first inves-

tigating and learning how the stormwater management system works, we will then examine the

factors that determine the success or failure of the system.

DESIGN TEAM:

WBGS Architecture and Planning, PC - Principal Design Team

Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade and Douglas, Inc. - Civil and Traffic Engineers

Cameron McCarthy Gilbert and Shiebe - Landscape Architects


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9

QUESTIONSOn our first walk through of the Springfield Station complex, we developed a list of questions

mainly concentrating on the bioswales on site. We later used these questions to help us develop

our hypotheses and narrow our case study parameters.

1. What is the maximum hourly rainfall for the location of Springfield, Oregon?

2. What kinds of plants are selected for the bioswale?

3. What is the effect of littering on a bioswale and rainwater catchment system?

4. What is the significance of the various sized rocks and pebbles?

5. What type of maintenance is required for a bioswale, and who performs the maintenance?

6. What is the purpose of the culverts located within the bioswale?

7. What vegetation and materials are used in the bioswales, and what implications do these

materials have on the stormwater management system?

8. Since the bus station is located in such an urban space, what are the implications on the

stormwater management system because of all the through traffic from cars, buses, and the

trains that run by the station?

9. Why does the bed look dry after there was a heavy rainfall last night?

10. Does the bioswale landscaping continue on to the other areas of the station (where the

bike storage is located and toward the edges of the site)?

11. How is the structure of the bus station shelter integrated with the design of the bioswale

system?

12. What are the materials used between the bioswale and how do they affect the system?

13. Did the designers plan for natural growth of the vegetation within the bioswale? If so, how

did they accommodate growth within the design?

14. What are the initial goals and concepts for this project? Did the designers meet these

goals?

15. Does it work in conjunction with the stream already there? Or does the bioswale function

as its own entity?

16. Hoe many pollutants are in the creek, and how does it affect the landscape or bioswale?

17. What are the effects of the water once it reaches the creek, after it has been through the

entire bioswale system?

18. Are they using plants to naturally filter the water?

19. What level of control is exercised on pollutants affecting the bioswale system?

20. Is the creek man-made or natural?

21. How do they control the runoff from the parking lot into the bioswale system?


10The good news is most, if not all, of our questions were answered by the end of our case

study.

HYPOTHESES1. The primary bioswale reduces the volume of stormwater runoff from the site.

2. The primary bioswale improves the water quality of the runoff from the site.

Plan of the primary bioswale from WGBS.


N

11

METHODOLOGYIn preparation for our study, we began by contacting the principal landscape architects of the

Springfield Station, Brian McCarthy and Sandy Dymale. They provided us with essential infor-

mation, which helped us proceed with the case study. We learned how the bioswale systems

work and the design intents the landscape architects had for the Springfield Station site. After

the background design information about the system was obtained, we had to begin devising a

way to capture the water from the culverts and a way to have the water quality tested. Numerous

phone calls were then made, to try to gain permission to access the bioswale for testing and also

to have a laboratory test the water quality for us, hopefully free of charge. This turned out to be

very difficult, and after getting brushed off and having difficulty making contact with the right

people, we finally got in touch with Chuck Gottfried, who is charge of stormwater management

for the City of Springfield. He helped us get in contact with Analytical Testing Laboratories, in

Eugene, Oregon. Through them, we received a cost estimate for each test and what information

the tests’ would provide. When gaining permission from Charlie Simmons, the facilities manager

of Springfield Station, he offered to support most of the testing costs, and the director of the

laboratory covered the remaining cost.

We began the water quality testing by trying to capture water flowing through the system. Usu-

ally not a factor in Spring in Eugene, Oregon, but there was no rain. It finally rained on May 7th,

2006 with 0.16” of precipitation. There was morning dew present on the concrete, but there was

no water coming from the bioswale system.


Since no water was

present, we had to wait

for a larger rainfall, so

we could get the amount

of water needed to take

samples. On May 19,

2006, enough precipi-

tation occurred on the

site for us to gather

water from two points

within the bioswale, one

before the water enters

the bioswale system

and another after it has

filtered through.

Pictures of the bioswale.

Bioswale and collection locations from WGBS. (To the Right)

N

In the first spot, catching the water was easy because of a large puddle piling up before water

entered the bioswale. We scooped the water into a sample jar and poured it into the various

sized bottles required to test the water.


The second sample gathering did not go as smoothly as the first. We devised a way in which

we channel the water leaving the culvert through a chain of rocks onto a leaf, where the water

could then slowly drop into the sample jar. Each sample jar took about 20 minutes to fill. Unfor-

tunately, there were many issues with this. First, the leaf could have contaminated the samples.

Secondly, the culvert is in the open and throughout the water collection process, it was rained

upon. The rain water could have dramatically affected the sample readings through dilution.

Furthermore, there was a large amount of litter in the area, including inside the culvert (see

pictures below), which could contaminate the samples.

After gathering all the samples, we tried to put all the water containers in the refrigerator as

soon as possible. Although some did not immediately enter, all were temporarily stored in a cold

environment until it was possible to transport them to a refrigerator. We took the samples on a

Friday night, meaning we had to wait two days until it was possible for us to return the samples

to Analytical Testing Laboratories. Unknowingly, some of the bottles in the refrigerator ended up

frozen, causing a bottle to break, and causing us to throw out some samples.

Through many challenging events, we were still able to collect samples for the testing of: gaso-

line, diesel, heavy metals, total suspended solids, pH, lead, cadmium, and chrome both before

and after water entered the bioswale system.

The puddle after being used to gather the water samples. The catchment system imple-mented to get the water runoff from the culvert.

Litter found around and in-side the end culvert.(There were larger amounts far in the pipe system that we were not able to photograph.)

13

DATA ANALYSISThrough our sample collections and observations, we were able to determine that both of our

hypotheses are correct. The primary bioswale at the Springfield Station reduces the amount of

stormwater runoff and improves the water quality of the stormwater runoff from the site.

Although we have no hard numbers of the total amount of water entering and leaving the site

before and after rain events, we can still deduce from visual observations that the stormwater

runoff is reduced. On May 7th, 2006, there was 0.16” of precipitation, according to Weather

Underground. When observing the bioswale the next morning, there was no water coming out of

the system, just a possible morning dew lightly covering the concrete. Comparatively, after the

rainfall on May 19, 2006, which a more concentrated and heavy rainfall (0.2” of precipitation),

there was water visibility exiting the system well into the night and next day.

Furthermore, when turning our samples into Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., one of

our glass bottles that was to test for petroleum contamination broke due to ice formation while

in the refrigerator. Two of the other samples that were in plastic bottles also had frozen chunks

of ice inside, possibly affecting the accuracy of our water quality test results. Please note that

all three bottles that contained ice were our samples of the water after it passed through the

bioswale. There was no ice in the water samples containing the water before it entered the bio-

swale, even though the samples contained more H2O and less pollutants within the bottles. The

water runoff from the concrete, in the first samples, would have more contaminants that would

keep the water from freezing, although they were introduced to the same conditions. Through

deducting what happened to the second batch of samples, we can intuitively say the bioswale

will reduce the amount of pollutants, thus improving the water quality in the stormwater.


View of the culvert on May 8, 2006 after a light rain.

View of culvert after a longer rainfall on April 28, 2006. Type of lab bottle that broke under freezing conditions.

Following our direct on-site observations, our data analysis also includes our results from the

water quality testing done by Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., in conjunction with

Neilson Research Corporation. As testing parameters, we chose to include a range of seven ma-

jor contaminants in stormwater runoff from the categories of suspended solids, heavy metals,

and petroleum pollutants, all of which would likely be found on the Springfield Station site. We

conducted seven tests to see contaminant levels of:

1. Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

2. Lead (Pb)

3. Cadmium (Cd)

4. Chromium (Cr)

5. Diesel Pollution

6. Lube Oil Pollution

7. Gasoline Pollution

We also chose to do a pH test to see if the water is acidic, neutral, or alkaline.

Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., and Neilson Research Corporation did all testing

according to EPA standard testing methods, which is denoted in both the chart below and in the

appendix. All tests were recorded in units of parts per million (ppm), also known as milligrams

per liter (mg/L).

*ND - Not detected at the Minimum Reporting Limit.

All analysis reports and results are provided by Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., in

conjunction with Neilson Research Corporation, who performed the petroleum tests.

All results are in the form of comparative charts in the following pages, but the petroleum pol-

lutant gasoline was below the reporting limits of the test performed. As a result, there was no

detection of gasoline in either of the water samples, both before entering the bioswale, and

after going through the bioswale


ANALYSIS (TEST) TESTING METHOD "BEFORE" RESULTS "AFTER" RESULTSpH EPA 150.1 7 7.2Total Suspended Solids EPA 160.2 436 mg/L 58 mg/LLead EPA 239.2 0.0599 mg/L 0.0077 mg/LCadium EPA 213.2 0.0011 mg/L 0.0002 mg/LChromium EPA 218.2 0.0344 mg/L 0.0048 mg/LDiesel Range (C12-24) NWTPH-DX 0.493 mg/L 0.588 mg/LLube Range (C24-C40) NWTPH-DX 4.85 mg/L 1.45 mg/LTPH as Gasoline NWTPH-GX ND* ND*

15

pH LEVELS IN STORMWATER RUNOFF

Based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Oregon’s Department of Environmen-

tal Quality (DEQ) standards, a pH value of 7 denotes a neutral solution, while a value below 7

indicates an acidic solution and a value above 7 indicates an alkaline solution. The pH tests

concluded that both water samples, before and after entering the bioswale, were relatively neu-

tral. According to Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., a pH of 7 is a good indication of

relatively pure water. Since both resultants are measured in parts per million (ppm), a 0.2 differ-

ence shows that they are comparatively the same. This difference can be accounted by variables

explained in the methodology, like rain water dilution of the water samples after going through


6.9 6.95 7 7.05 7.1 7.15 7.2 7.25

"BEFORE" RESULTS

"AFTER" RESULTS

pH

pH Levels in Stormwater Runoff the bioswale. For maximum ac-

curacy, pH should be analyzed

as soon as possible after col-

lecting the samples. Unfortu-

nately, we were unable to per-

form the tests until 3 days after

the samples were originally

collected from Springfield Sta-

tion, so this could also account

for the slight differentiation be-

tween the two results.

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS CONTAMINATION LEVELS IN STORMWATER

58/436 = x/100

x = 13.3%

100% - 13.3% = 86.7%

According to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality

(DEQ), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are particulate matter

that is suspended in water and is not able to be removed by

a filter. A large amount was removed from the water by being

trapped in the bioswale grasses. Looking at the Total Suspend-

ed Solids (TSS) as a percent of removal, we categorized the

“before” result of 436 ppm as being equal to 100%. Based on

this assumption, there was 86.7% of TSS removed from the

water after traveling through the bioswale, with a remaining

13.3% of TSS still present in the water after traveling through

the bioswale. 16


HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION LEVELS IN STORMWATER RUNOFF

Based on our results, the removal of heavy metals was at an order of a magnitude. All three

heavy metals, Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Chromium (Cr), were significantly reduced based

on their initial levels in the water before traveling through the bioswale.

Based on an interview with Michele Hanson, an environmental biologist for the U.S. Army Corps.

of Engineers, the removal of the heavy metals is associated with the removal of the Total Sus-

0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045 0.05 0.055 0.06

"BEFORE" RESULTS

"AFTER" RESULTS

"BEFORE" RESULTS "AFTER" RESULTS Chromium 0.0344 0.0048

Cadium 0.0011 0.0002

Lead 0.0599 0.0077

Heavy Metal Contamina/on Levels in Stormwater Runoff in ppm (mg/L)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

"BEFORE" RESULTS

"AFTER" RESULTS

"BEFORE" RESULTS "AFTER" RESULTS TSS 436 58

Total Suspended Solids Contamina1on Levels in Stormwater

in ppm (mg/L)

17


0 1 2 3 4 5 6

"BEFORE" RESULTS

"AFTER" RESULTS

"BEFORE" RESULTS "AFTER" RESULTS Lube Range (C24-‐C40) 4.85 1.45

Diesel Range (C12-‐24) 0.493 0.588

Petroleum Contamina.on Levels in Stormwater Runoff in ppm (mg/L)

pended Solids (TSS) because they absorb to the TSS. Lead, Cadium, and Chromium are all

inorganic compounds which can be found in stormwater runoff mainly from automotive residue.

PETROLEUM CONTAMINATION LEVELS IN STORMWATER RUNOFF

After receiving our analysis results for the petroleum pollution testing, we found that there were

detectable levels of both diesel and lube oil but no detection of gasoline.

Base on our graph and results, there was 0.493 ppm of diesel-based contaminants detected

in the sample of water before going through the bioswale and 0.588 ppm of diesel-based con-

taminants detected in the water sample after traveling through the bioswale. While this would

seem to be odd after talking to Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc., we learned that it

was miniscule difference and that these two figures could be considered the same. This means

that while the bioswale is reducing the lube oil pollution significantly, it is not effecting the level

of diesel pollution in the stormwater runoff. This came as a surprise to us and would require

further investigation to determine why diesel pollution is not being reduced. This issue is of

great importance because the LTD buses that run through Springfield Station are diesel fueled,

based on information gained from Charlier Simmons, Springfield Station LTD Facilities Manager.

18

CONCLUSIONSAlthough a hard and complicated process, we were able to prove that both of our hypotheses are

correct. The bioswale at the Springfield Station reduces the amount of stormwater runoff and

improves water quality. We were able to deduce this through the large amount of observations

made while visiting the site under a multitude of weather conditions and water quality testing.

Bioswales are a natural way for designers to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter our

water systems and help control flooding during wet seasons. The vegetation within bioswales

filter out contaminants that would normally enter directly into our streams and rivers. Through

bioswales, designers can reduce the loads of water that will need to be cleaned in Waste Water

Management Plants, thus reducing future water costs. Furthermore, by reducing the amount of

water entering our streams and rivers, we are able to help control flooding during heavy rain-

falls. This is possible because vegetation reduces the amount of water leaving a site and slows

down the flow causing a longer lag before the water enters the system.

Quantity and quality are the two main purposes of stormwater management. These have both

been achieved by the main bioswale at the Springfield Station. This is a good example of how

man can mimic the natural processes in the built environment, reducing the negative environ-

mental impacts that urban areas can have.


Springfield Station outflow into the Springfield Millrace. Picture of a typical outflow of stormwa-ter from a site in British Columbia.(http://www.fraserroverkeeper.ca/Quickstart/Im-ageLib/pipe_pollution_from.jpg19

DESIGN LESSONS LEARNEDIn our study of the bioswale system at Springfield Station, we discovered some design flaws that

could potentially detract from the beneficial qualities that a bioswale could provide.

We repeatedly saw alarming amounts of litter around and inside the last culvert of the bioswale

on site. This litter can re-pollute the water that just went through the system, reversing the filtra-

tion and remediation process that the water just went through. Regular maintenance needs to

be made to the system, to clean the litter that can easily collect there because of the amount

of water that runs through the bioswale, consideration needs to be made that flooding occurs

and water can back up into the system. This is what happened this past winter season. The

Springfield Millrace backed up and litter that was in the millrace ended up deep within the exit

culvert. To prevent this from happening, the culvert needs to be placed on a higher elevation.

This is beneficial for two reasons: it creates a longer rock bed for the excess stormwater runoff

to filter through and a higher flood water level before it reaches the culvert.

Overall, a bioswale can help with stormwater problems. If maintained and well planned is done

by the designers, a bioswale should be able to help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and

pollutants that enter our streams and rivers. If more designers employ bioswales on their sites,

a large impact will be made on our stormwater systems.

If time permitted, we would further compare our results to Oregon’s Department of Environ-

mental Quality Stormwater Standards and the Total Daily Maximum Load (TDML) and contami-

nant levels. We would also like to further explore why the diesel level of contamination remained

unchanged.

A final design lesson learned is that strong lines of communication need to be formed between

designer, client, and policy makers to have a successful project. This discontinuance of design-

ers’ responsibility for a project should not stop when the project is completed, but should be

present throughout the life of the design.


20

REFERENCES1. Analytical Laboratory and Consultants, Inc. in conjunction with Nielson Research Corpora-

tion provided us with all of the analysis reports for water quality testing, and explained what

the results meant.

2. Begin, Lisa, Stormwater Authority, accessed as a resource tool throughout April and May

2006: http://www.stormwaterauthority.org/glossary.aspx.

3. Cohen, Joshua and Angela Matt, Case Study on ‘Harvesting Rainwater’: http://www.uoregon.

edu/~hof/S01harvestingrain/intro.html.

4. Department of Environmental Quality. Laboratory Analytic Methods. Accessed as a resource

tool on June 14, 2006: http://www.deq.state.or.us/lab/methods/methods.htm.

5. Fraser Riverkeeper, Vancouver, British Columbia, accessed for comparison on May 31, 2006:

http://www.fraserriverkeeper.ca/Quickstart/ImageLib/pipe_pollution_from.jpg.

6. Gottfried, Chuck. Interview regarding stormwater management and bioswale operation, May

18, 2006. (He also got us in contact with Analytical Testing Laboratories to help with testing

our samples.)

7. Hanson, Michele. Environmental Biologist with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers. Interview

regarding water quality testing results and general stormwater management information.

May 20, 2006 and June 9, 2006.

8. McCarthy, Brian D., Principal Landscape Architect. Interview regarding the design and sys-

tem of bioswales in the Springfield Stations’ Landscaping, April 10, 2006. (All plans of

Springfield Station provided by Brian McCarthy and Sandy Dymale.)

9. Pivot Architecture (WGBS Architecture and Planning), accessed April 6, 2006: http://www.

pivotarchitecture.com/portfolio/transit/springfield_station_info.html

10. Simmons, Charlie, LTD Facilities Manager of Springfield Station, Interview regarding the

bioswales located on site.

11. Stein, Benjamin, John S. Reynolds, Walter Grondzik, Alison Kwok, Mechanical and Elec-

trical Equipment for Buildings, 10th ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New Jersey, Hoboken,

2006.

12. SKS-Science, accessed for picture of lab container that broke when ice formed within,

May 31, 2006: http://www.sks-science.com/Glass_Bottes_Amber_SilverCa.jpg.

13. Weather Underground, accessed as a resource tool throughout April and May 2006: http://

www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KEUG/2006/5/31/MonthlyHistory.html#calendar.


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