Download - Biohabitats, Inc
Restoring the future
From the streams to the Bay
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance & Floating Wetlands
Keith Bowers, President
www.biohabitats.com
Restoring the future
drivers:
Growth
Restoring the future
drivers:
Changes in land cover
Restoring the future
effects:
Disproportionate impacts on headwater streams – stormwater dominated
Andrew J. Elmore and Sujay S. Kaushal, Front Ecol Environ 2008; 6(6):308-312, doi:10.1890/070101
Disappearing Headwaters: Patterns of Stream Burial Due to Urbanization
Restoring the future
effects:
Loss of stream base flow, riparian wetlands, groundwater recharge and flood attenuation
Restoring the future
effects:
Erosion and transport of nutrient-rich legacy sediments to the coastal plain and coastal waters
Restoring the future
effects:
degradation and loss of habitat –species - biodiversity
6th Great Extinction- Holocene Extinction
Restoring the future
Living Systems applications =
Whole Systems thinking for…
regenerative design
Restoring the future
convergence:
of research, ideas and implications
– Walter and Merrits (2008) in Science (319) support idea that pre-colonial streams in eastern North America were small shallow flow paths frequently connected to their wetland floodplain, not bankfull channels containing range of flows moving coarse sediment (current form result of adjustment to recent land use)
– Craig et al. (2008) in Frontiers in Ecology (6) documents that close connection between the stream and floodplain, carbon-rich sediment, and an aggraditional/ depositional character contribute to effective nitrogen processing
– Disappearance of headwater streams due to urbanization and agriculture vs. recent research demonstrating the ecological importance of ephemeral and 1st order streams
– Correlation of impervious surface to stream health and integrity (physical, biological, chemical)
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Project Cost Benefits ValueWilelinor $750,000 4.6 acres of
wetland restoration
$803,000
2,000 LF of stream restoration
$300,000
3 acres of reforestation
$225,000
200,000 cf of water storage
$2 million
Total $750,000 $3,328,000
Cost/Benefit ratio: 1:4.4*Value is calculated based on a conventional cost of: $175k/acre wetland; $150 lf/stream; $75k/acre of reforestation; and, $10 cf of water storage.
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative stormwater conveyance
Water Quantity
Water Quality
Ecological Processes
Reduced construction and O&M costs
Community engagement, aesthetic improvements
Life-giving
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Pollutant
Projected Removal
BOD 3,000
mg/day/ft2
Nitrogen 759 mg/day/ft2
Phosphorus 106 mg/day/ft2
Metals ?Franks et al. 2008. Floating islands as an alternative to constructed wetlands for treatment of excess nutrients from agricultural and municipal wastes – results of laboratory-scale tests.
Source: www.watergarden.com
Restoring the future
enablers:
floating wetlands
Recycling
Water Quality
Aquatic Habitat
Nutrient Uptake
Community engagement, aesthetic improvements
Life-giving
Restoring the future
enablers:
regenerative
Place based
Whole
Connect
Resilient
Life-giving