design presentation from community hike 6.30.11

PANTHER HOLLOW WATERSHED RESTORATIONCommunity HikeJune 30, 2011

A WALK IN THE PARK A community hiking tour to discuss potential demonstration projects

Stop 1: 6:00 pm Schenley Park Visitor Center

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Stop 7: 8:00 pm Overlooking the Lake

Stop 2: 6:20 pm Westinghouse Pond

Stop 3: 6:35 pm Schenley Drive

Stop 6: 7:40 pm Bartlett Street Stop 5: 7:30 pm Bartlett Street

Stop 4: 7:00 pm Schenley Drive

WHAT WE HEARD

PEOPLE PLACES

May 23, 2011 Community Meeting, Schenley Plaza

What are your favorite water, land, and people places in the Panther Hollow Watershed?

• Vibrant neighborhood business district with it’s pedestrian scale, shops, and restaurants

• Variety of recreation amenities including the Anderson Playground, swimming pool, Panther Hollow and Phipps trails, and areas to run, walk, bike, meditate, and fly kites

• More water play areas• Make lake more friendly to skating and hockey• Improve pedestrian access and safety along sidewalks• Bring Saline Street connection back

LAND PLACESWATER PLACES

• Lawn areas that invite use

• The trees make the park! Enjoy looking at the fall foliage and spring wild flowers,

• The topography of the park connects people to each other and other destinations in town

• Phipps Run trail is eroded• Improve maps and signage of the trials in the park so users know where they are• Slow traffic• Convert lawn to flowers or a meadow

• The relaxing sound of water and walking through and around the streams

• Looking for wildlife including watching the birds bathing in the stream and looking for turtles in the water

• Soften the hard edges around the lake• Improve access and visibility of the lake from Panther Hollow and Oakland• Create a pond behind the Bartlett Playground• Improve water quality as a primary asset in the City• Expose water along the edge of the golf course• Create permeable streets through the park

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ADVISORY FEEDBACK May 23, 2011 Advisory Committee Meeting

• Priority demonstration projects to find the balance between economic, social, and environmental benefits

• Create projects that are replicable at many scales including parcel, park, and municipal

PHIPPS RUN BASIN

Potential projects• Porous pavement demonstration• Infiltration along Schenley Drive• Landcover conversion at lawn areas

PANTHER HOLLOW STREAM

Potential projects• Storage and slow release• Landcover conversion at lawn areas

ECONOMICReplicability

SOCIALVisibility

ENVIRONMENTALEcological Impact

MOMENT OF CLARITY

Best Management Practice (BMP): Activities, facilities, measures, or procedures used to manage the volume, rate and water quality of stormwater runoff.

Intervention: A disturbance to an ecosystem under manipulation, requiring external assistance to ensure future health and integrity.

Infiltration: The downward movement of water through soil.

Vegetated Swale: A channel densely planted with a variety of trees, shrubs, and/or grasses designed to ease and in some cases infiltrate runoff volume from adjacent impervious surfaces, allowing some pollutants to settle out in the process.

Rain Garden: An excavated shallow surface depression planted with specially selected native vegetation to treat and capture runoff (also called Bioretention).

Pervious/Porous Pavement: Pervious pavement consists of a permeable surface course underlain by a stone bed which provides temporary stormwater storage and promotes infiltration. The surface course may consist of porous asphalt, porous concrete, or porous pavers.

Infiltration Berm: A mound of compacted earth with sloping sides that is usually located along a contour to retain runoff and allow for infiltration.

Storage & Slow Release: A storage reservoir used to temporarily store runoff with a control structure designed to slowly release the stormwater at a controlled rate.

Check Dam: A small dam built across a channel designed to reduce erosion and allow sediments and pollutants to settle. Check dams are typically built with logs or stone.

Meadow: Typically consists of native grasses and flowers, which reduce runoff, capture pollutants and requires very little maintenance, as they do not require frequent mowing.

Pocket Wetland: Shallow marsh systems planted with vegetation that are designed to treat stormwater runoff.

Riparian Buffer: A permanent area of trees and shrubs bordering streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Riparian forests are the most beneficial type of buffer for they provide ecological and water quality benefits.

Woodland Restoration: An activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of a land covered in trees with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability.

Stream/Lake Restoration: A set of activities that help improve the environment health of a river or stream.

POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS

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Direct Drainage to LakePanther Hollow Sub-Basin

Intervention TypesNon-StructuralStructural

Pocket Wetland

Porous Pavement

Rain Garden

All possible interventions were identified throughout the watershed to create a long term “Master Plan” for Panther Hollow.

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1Vegetated Swale along north and south side of Schenley Drive

Best

2Porous Pavement bike and pedestrian path (actual location TBD).

Better

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Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Schenley Drive south of Westinghouse Pond

Good

4Rain Garden/ Bioretention along Schenley Drive/Golf Course

5Constructed Pocket Wetland at Wet Area along Schenley Drive/ Golf Course

6Porous Pavement with Infiltration Bed at Clubhouse

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Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Circuit Drive south of Westinghouse Pond

8Reduce Impervious Areas- narrow Schenley Drive (from Tech St to Darlington Rd)

9Landcover Conversion- lawn to meadow on hill above Westinghouse Pond

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Landcover Conversion- lawn to woodland restoration within golf course and at existing forest edge (preserving WWII memorial)

11Landcover Conversion- lawn to rough/expand rough in golf course

12 Riparian Buffer/Stream Restoration

13Porous Pavement Demonstration along Beacon Street (within park)

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Infiltration Berm and Trench along downhill side of Beacon Street (remove sidewalk w/in Park) and add in path along the BMP

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Storage / Slow Release and Porous Sidewalk/Parking Demonstration along Bartlett Street at Park entrance

16Repair/Restore Check Dam along Circuit Drive (retrofit)

17Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Bartlett Street

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Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow intersection of Circuit Drive & Serpentine Drive- change to meadow

19Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Circuit Drive

20Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Panther Hollow Road to two lanes

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Landcover Conversion & Retentive Grading - lawn to meadow around playground and between Bartlett & Beacon Streets

22Landcover Conversion - lawn to woodland restoration at the existing forest edge


Qualifiers Colors

Ranking System

Social Benefit

Non-Structural BMPs

Environmental Benefit Economic Implication

Phipps RunStructural BMPs

Non-Structural BMPs

Panther HollowStructural BMPs


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Non-Structural BMPs


ASSESSING IMPACT

Non-Structural: Natural measures and design practices which are designed to mitigate any number of stormwater impacts and typically prevent stormwater generation (i.e. convert lawn to meadow).


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Structural: Includes natural system-based, which include vegetation and soils mechanisms as part of their functioning and more conventional “bricks and mortar” structures. These BMPs are site-specific.


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STARTING AT THE TOP

- PHIPPS RUN SUBBASIN -

SCHENLEY DR

PHIPPS RUN

CIRCUIT DR


Priority InterventionsNon-StructuralStructural

- PANTHER HOLLOW SUBBASIN -

PANTHER HOLLOW STREAM

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BEACON ST


Priority InterventionsNon-StructuralStructural

Potential pilot projects were identified which manage runoff where it is generated. Strategies at the top of the hill provide best opportunity for infiltration.

1. Vegetated Swale

2. Porous Bike & Pedestrian Path ( Future Project)

21. Landcover Conversion & Retentive Grading

14. Infiltration Berm & Trench

PHIPPS RUN - SCHENLEY DRIVE PANTHER HOLLOW - BEACON & BARTLETT

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G N O W | upper schenley dr.Schenley Drive does not offer a separate and safe path system for cyclists and pedestrians and all stormwater goes to the stormwater pipes.

Stormwater is piped and catapulted to Phipps Run; causing erosion, sedimentation and flashy storm events.

Conventional street and lawn maintenance.

Unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists.

$EnvironmEntal BEnEfits Economic BEnEfits social BEnEfits

40’ ROW

24’ 8’8’

Lawn with minimal potential for infiltration

Runoff to catch basins, then to Phipps Run

No barrier between pedestrians/ cyclists and cars

Curvy and wide road

WHERE THE WATER HITS THE ROAD | upper schenley dr.

0 50 100 150 20025Feet

Create a signature boulevard that welcomes people, slows stormwater and improves water quality through the development of a vegetated swale.

To Squirrel Hill

To Oakland, CMU, Park

Upper Schenley Dr.

Potential Crossing for Water and People

Lower Schenley Dr.

Inlets

Proposed Vegetated Swale

Proposed Pedestrian + CyclistCirculation

Proposed Rain Garden + Wetlands

Gateway or Crossing

Possible Future Stormwater Intervention

F O R T H E W AT E R | vegetated swale only optionA vegetated swale along the north and south hills of Schenley Dr. can enhance the ecological and hydrological health of Phipps Run. The intervention occurs outside the right-of-way and the road profile does not change.

24’ 8’8’

40’ ROW

Swale close to street maximizes visibility, but far enough to minimize impact

of road salt

Swale aligned to not disrupt the golf game

P l A N N I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E | “green street”The swales can be positioned to allow for future plans of a path system. This option uses one swale for two jobs: to separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles and to convey and infiltrate stormwater from the road.

40’6 - 8’ 24’8 - 10’

40’ ROW

Crossings needed for golf course users

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G N O W | lower schenley dr.Above the headwater of Phipps Run, a shallow grass lined swale exists along with a small wet area, where groundwater seeps. This is also an area where golfers cross the road.

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Grass-lined swales along with intense

maintenance regimes offer little ecological

and hydrological value.

Turf areas on golf courses traditionally require

high inputs such as intense mowing regimes,

fertilizers and herbicides.

Pedestrians and golfers do not have safe

means for crossing the road or walking along

the road.

EnvironmEntal BEnEfits

Economic BEnEfits

social BEnEfits

Existing Wet Area

Existing Swale

Existing Crossing

P l A N N I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E | rain gardens + a wetlandThe vegetated swale can be designed with future rain gardens and wetlands in mind. The swale can also be positioned to accommodate the alignment of a future path system and road crossing, whether it be within the existing road bed or meander throughout the floriferous rain gardens and pocket wetland.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW | between bartlett + beacon

$

Grass-lined swales along with intense

maintenance regimes offer little ecological

and hydrological value.

Turf areas traditionally require high inputs such

as intense mowing regimes, fertilizers and

herbicides.

Pedestrians from the surrounding

neighborhoods do not have a continuous

connection to the park from Beacon St.


Economic BEnEfits

social BEnEfits

Runoff from the hillside starting above Beacon St., spills onto Bartlett St. then to the road catch basins. The sidewalk ends on Beacon St. once it leaves the neighborhood.

0 50 100 150 20025Feet

INFIlTRATION TRENCHES + BERMS | bartlett + beacon

Inlets

Proposed Meadow

Proposed Infiltration Berm + Trench (exact shape + location TBD)


Gateway or Crossing


0 50 100 150 20025Feet

To Squirrel Hill

To Oakland

Infiltration berms and trenches can help slow down and infiltrate water on the hillside and also be sculptural elements in the landscape that adorn the hillside. A meadow can also enhance the infiltration capacity of the area, provide rich habitat and decrease mowing. The meadow mowing schedule can coincide with the Grand Prix event.

lANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | bartlett + beacon

Mown path through wildflower meadow Infiltration berm, fiber log and vegetation to slow down water

Shallow trench to infiltrate water

Potential future sidewalk extension

Utilitypole

Potential future vegetated swale

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW | the playground, bartlett + beacon

$

Turf areas offer little ecological and

hydrological value. Stormwater is rapidly

eroding the hillside behind the playground.

Turf areas traditionally require high inputs such

as intense mowing regimes, fertilizers and

herbicides.

The playground is a great amenity for families.

Access to the playground could be improved

from the surrounding neighborhoods.


Economic BEnEfits

social BEnEfits

Runoff from the playground and roads is eroding the steep slopes of Panther Hollow Run.

0 50 100 150 20025Feet

lANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | the playground, bartlett + beacon

Converting lawn to meadow and grading shallow lenses in the land can enhance the infiltration capacity of the area, provide rich habitat and decrease mowing.

Inlets

Proposed Meadow + Retentive Grading


Gateway or Crossing


0 50 100 150 20025Feet

To Squirrel Hill

To Oakland

lANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | between bartlett + beacon

WHAT’S AN INTERVENTION WORTH?

Intervention TypeReduced

RunoffIncreased

ETIncreased Baseflow

(in) (in) (in)

Lawn to Meadow 4 2 2

Improved Woods 3 2 1

Removed Impervious 34 20 14

Impervious to Bioretention 11 5.5 5.5

Impervious to Infiltration 34 0 34

Value of Intervention Types(inches per year per square foot conversion)

Value of Pilot ProjectsValue of Intervention Types(inches per year per square foot conversion)

Note:Impervious to Bioretention assumes 30% capture of the annual runoff from the road.

HEARING FROM YOU

Schenley Drive Swale

Beacon Street Infi l tration Berms

INTERVENTIONSIs this innovative to

PittsburghDo you find this

aesthetically pleasingWould you consider a smaller

version of this on your propertyWhere else in the watershed

would you like to see this happen

Beacon to Bartlett Land Conversion

design presentation from community hike 6.30.11

Documents

favorite water

pm schenley drivewhat

pm schenley drivestop

water play areas

pm bartlett streetstop

downward movement of

relaxing sound of water

pm bartlett street stop