Urban Hydrology: theory and new approaches for stormwater management

Jack Ahern, Professor Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning UMass Amherst

The site is to the watershed as the cell is to the body

Patrick Condon, 2000

Hydrograph

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Urban Conditions: Impervious Surface Cover

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Percentage of Impervious Surfaces

Increased impervious surface increases runoff, decreases evapotranspiration, and decreases infiltration

Urban Hydrology

Non-point source pollutants

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Increased Impervious Cover Affects the Number and Quality of Aquatic Lifee

Stormwater: The Conveyance Approach

Stormwater conveyance is the rapid removal of stormwater from impervious surfaces to receiving streams by way of engineered drainage systems (e.g. culverts, stormdrains, and channelized streams and rivers).

water is a problem. Its the enemy. Get it away from here. NOW!

Stormwater: The Infiltration Approach

Infiltration is the the retention of stormwater as close as possible to its originating source(s), and infiltrating as much as possible into the soil through the implementation of best management practices and strategies. water is a precious resource, keep it here, clean it, save it for later - we need it, and our local our ecosystems need it too!

Guidelines: 1. Start at the source 2. Integrate the solutions 3. Maximize permeability 4. Minimize directly connected impervious areas 5. Use drainage as a design element

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Greenroofs

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Rainbarrels

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Raingardens

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Raingarden with overflow

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Raingarden Interpretive Sign

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Streetside Raingarden

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Porous paving

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Porous paving

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Biofilter, created wetland

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) Greenwalls

Integrated Solutions: Sustainable Community Design, Condon and Proft, Vancouver BC

Integrated Solutions: Green parking, Wild Center, NY

Integrated Solutions: SEA Street Seattle

Integrated Solutions: Green Corridors, Toronto

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Kronsberg New Town, Hannover, Germany

Integrated Solutions: Kronsberg New Town, Hannover, Germany

Hammarby Sjostad, Stockholm 150HA, mixed use brownfield development, 11,000 units, 25,000 population

Title
The Hammarby Model: integrated, renewable, circular

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Stormwater Biofilter

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UMass first raingarden/bioswale

Location: North of Studio Arts Building Design: Max Cohen, Michael Davidsohn, Jack Ahern Construction: Michael Davidsohns Stockbridge construction class + UMass Physical Plant

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UMass first raingarden/bioswale: Under construction

Summing up: Start at the source Integrate Solutions Ubiquitous Infiltration Landscapes for Learning