Low Impact Development

In the Houston Region

Perspectives:

Landscape Architecture

Urban Design

Planning

� Design Margaret Robinson Asakura Robinson Co.

� Construction David Batts Construction Eco Services

� Agency Nick Russo Harris County Public Infrastructure Dept.

Houston Land Water Sustainability Forum (HLWSF)

OBJECTIVES:

� Explore land/water related practices, methods, technologies and materials which may

provide economic benefit and improve quality of life in the greater Houston area.

� To weight our focus on practical applications rather than theoretical concepts.

� To promote the implementation of practices that protect our land and water resources.

� To engage the broadest possible range of constituencies, including public agencies, in

order to facilitate and speed adoption of practices.

� To track the progress of adoption and implementation of sustainable land/water practices

Bob Adair-Steering Committee Chair, International Erosion Control Association (SCIECA)

US Green Building Council (USGBC)

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Houston Council of Engineering Companies (HCEC)

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), American Institute of Architects, Houston (AIA)

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA)

Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)

Harris County Public Infrastructure Dept., Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD)

City of Houston, Public Works, Engineering and Code Enforcement Departments

Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT)

Bayou Preservation Association (BPA)

Energy Corridor District

Texas Coastal Watershed Program

LID-low impact development – what is it?LID is an approach to land development that works with nature to

manage stormwater as close to its source as possible.

LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural

landscape features, minimizing imperviousness to create functional

and appealing site drainage that treats stormwater as a resource rather

than a waste product.

There are many practices that have been used to adhere to these

principles such as bioretention facilities (bioswales), vegetated swales,

rain gardens, vegetated rooftops (greenroofs), rain barrels, tanks and

cisterns, and permeable pavements.

Westpark Tollway

LID Works Everywhere

LID can be applied to new development, redevelopment, or as retrofits

to existing development. LID has been adapted to a range of land uses

from high density ultra-urban settings to low density development.

LID and Green Infrastructure

EPA intends the term "green infrastructure" to generally refer to

systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate,

evapotranspirate or reuse stormwater or runoff on the site where it is

generated.

http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/lid/

Citation Campus

Gene Green Park

LID-benefits

� Filters stormwater through plants /engineered soil mixes-

removes 80%+ pollutants, total suspended solids (TSS) and

heavy metals

� Diverts floatable trash from stormwater systems, bayous, lakes

� Provides detention volume within media, swales, reservoirs

� Bioswales may reduce drainage system costs by up to 30%

� Captures rainwater for use as a resource rather than discarded

Horn Elementary

� Captures rainwater for use as a resource rather than discarded

as a waste product

� Adds landscape area

� Creates wildlife and native plant habitat

� Contributes to LEED, Sustainable Sites, Green Roadway and

Living Building Challenge point systems

� Encourages coordination between Engineers, Hydrologists,

Landscape Architects, Architects, Contractors, Maintenance

Programs, Clients

Dickenson Library

Meador Library

LID projects-constructed

2009 Gene Green Park Harris County Precinct 2

2009 Kendall Library City of Houston, English Assoc. Arch.

2009 Federal Reserve Bank-Bioswales

2009 Houston Arboretum

2009 Inverness Residence Strasser Ragni Arch.

2010 Meador Library Harris County Precinct 2, English Assoc. Arch.

2010 Firestation 90 City of Houston, English Assoc. Arch

2010 Lonestar College Conroe Campus

2010 Westside Senior Educ. Center Harris County Precinct 3, BNIM

2010 Westchase Drainage Corridor Westchase Manage. District2010 Westchase Drainage Corridor Westchase Manage. District

2010 New Hope Housing, Sakowitz Val Glitsch Arch.

2011 Horn Elementary School HISD, English Assoc. Arch.

2011 Lonestar College Atascocita Campus

2011 Lonestar College Victory Center

2011 Dickenson Library Rain Garden TX AgriLife

2011 Peck Elementary School Taft Architects

2011 Federal Reserve Bank-Green Roof

2011 DeChaumes Elementary HISD, ArcTec Assoc.

LID projects-in design/construction

2012 Bagby St. Reconstruction Midtown Manag. Dist., WPMoore Eng.

2012 New Hope Housing, Rittenhouse Glassman Shoemake Maldonado Arch.

2012 Sherwood Forest Montessori English Assoc. Arch.

2012 McKenzie Park Subdivision Peron Dev.

2012 SARA Stormwater Audit URS

2012 MD Anderson Park Vaughn Construction

2012 Carnegie Vanguard High School HISD, Rey de la Reza Architects

2012 Brazoria County Parks: Quintana Beach Resoft, Mohawk and Follet’s Island

2012 Lockhart-Turner Elementary HISD, Harrison Kornberg Arch.

2013 N. Main St., Harris County Pct. 2 Dannenbaum Eng.2013 N. Main St., Harris County Pct. 2 Dannenbaum Eng.

2013 TAMU Joint Library Facility Harrison Kornberg Arch.

2013 Mandell Park Houston Parks Board, Friends of Mandell Park

2014 Memorial Running Center MPC, Kirksey Arch.

2014 Almeda Blvd. Reconstruction City of Houston, TXDOT, WPMoore Eng.

2014 Springwoods Village, Dr. Cor. Coventry Dev., Design Workshop, WPM

2014 Historic Holman Street Recons. OST Almeda TIRZ

2014 Halls & Inwood Detention Basins COH, WPM/Dodson

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

1919 DECATUR STREET

Permeable Pavement

Raingarden (Bioretention Cells)

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Bioswale

FEDERAL RESERVE HOUSTON

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Bioswale with Underground Rain Tank

MEADOR LIBRARY

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Bioswale

GENE GREEN PARK

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Raingarden (Bioretention Cells)

LONESTAR COLLEGE ATASCOCITA

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Bioswale

LONESTAR COLLEGE ATASCACITA

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Bioswale

PECK ELEMENTARY

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

BioswaleL. Coffman

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

BioswalesMcKenzie Park

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Green Roof

RESIDENCE IN HOUSTON

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Green Roof

FEDERAL RESERVE HOUSTON

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Green Roof

FEDERAL RESERVE HOUSTON

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Cisterns

FIRESTATION 90

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Cisterns

BAKER RIPLEY CENTER

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Cisterns

NEW HOPE HOUSING SAKOWITZ

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Cisterns

HOUSTON ARBORETUM

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Permeable Pavement - PaversKEMPWOOD MANOR

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Permeable Pavement - Pavers

KEMPWOOD MANOR.

Permeable Pavement

The LID

Toolbox

Bioswales / Raingardens

Green Roofs

Cisterns / Tanks

Permeable Pavement

Permeable Pavement - Concrete

FIRESTATION 90

Permeable Pavement

LEED Points

� Sustainable Sites

� Water Efficiency

� Innovation in� Innovation in

Design

12+ Points Available Using LID Techniques

LID in LEED

� Can be applied to

12+ points

� Underutilized

Same LID solution works for:

• SS 6.1: Stormwater Design – Quality Control

• SS 6.2: Stormwater Design – Quantity Control

• SS 7.1: Heat Island Effect – Non-roof

• WE 1: Water Efficient Landscaping

Low maintenance does not mean NO

maintenance – use LID to augment irrigation.

Economics Drives Ecology in Today’s Business EnvironmentSelling Low Impact Development on Economics

� What Are The Existing Costs?

– Opportunity Costs – Real Estate for Detention Systems

– Upfront System Costs – Storm Sewer & Water Quality Systems

– Long-term Maintenance Costs

� What Opportunities Exist?� What Opportunities Exist?

– How can we use drainage as an amenity?

– How can we increase property values?

– How can we create a better sense of place?

Site

FurnishingsHardscapes

Design Svs

Site

Furnishings

Design Svs

Drainage

$$$$$$$

Cost DistributionTraditional Site Design Vs. Low Impact Development

Softscapes

Design Svs

Softscapes Hardscapes

Design Svs$$$$$$$

� Typical

detention

storage

� 7 residential

buildings

Queenston ManorProving the Opportunity LID Affords Developers

buildings

� 7.4 acres

� LID design

spreads

drainage

throughout site

as an amenity

� Redesign

yielded 2

additional

Queenston ManorProving the Opportunity LID Affords Developers

additional

buildings

� 48 more

apartment

units

Queenston ManorProving the Opportunity LID Affords Developers

Lessons Learned The System is Greater Than the Sum of It’s Parts

� Media Performance is the Critical Component

� Eliminate Choke Points in the Media Section

� Match Underdrain to Media

� Protect the System

Media Performance A Better Understanding of Nature

Understanding Media Performance Will Improve System Functionality

Verifying Performance Will Insure Long Term Functionality

Choke PointsFabrics are the Achilles Heel of LID

Bridge Media With Aggregate / Do Not Separate Media From Aggregate

Require Bridging Analysis in Specifications

Engineered Media -

70% Sand -

25% Organic or Inorganic -

>5% Silt / Clay / Fines

12

” –4

8”

>5% Silt / Clay / Fines

Intermediate Layer -

Fine Gravel 2mm – 4mm

Drainage Layer

- Pea Gravel 1/4” – 3/8”

3” –

6”

12

” –6

0”

Systems Parts Must Match PerformanceUnderdrain Flow Must Match Media Flow

Perforated Pipe Has 2” of Orifice Opening Per Linear Foot

For High Flow Soils, Look To Higher Performing Underdrain Systems

Protect The SystemGood Designs Are Compromised if Proper Protection is Neglected

Stabilize the Side Slopes ASAP / Do Not Wait For Construction to Commencer

Protect the Soils During Construction / An Ounce or Prevention is Worth a Gallon of Cure

Installation of Biofiltration SystemCopper State Rubber

Installation of Biofiltration SystemCopper State Rubber

developing LID criteria

� Adopted April 2011

� Only County in TX with LID criteria.

� Optional, not every project must be LID.

� YOU MUST HAVE A

PRE-PROJECT MEETINGPRE-PROJECT MEETING

developing LID criteria

� Stakeholder review & public interest

� County interest

� Alternative designs, tools, BMPs

� Storm water management (quantity & quality)

� EPA Requirements

� TCEQ MUD re-imbursements� TCEQ MUD re-imbursements

� Expect criteria to allow for MUD reimbursement for

LID projects

� Increased treatment, similar to LEED.

� Treatment of the 1” Water quality volume.

� Although not specified, we believe the LID practices

will generally result in 80% TSS removal.

� All LID based projects >1acre receive a SWQ permit.

storm water quality

� Treat the first 1” of runoff volume

� Safety factor of 2.

� actual design capacity of the soil is to be 60”/hr to

meet the 30”/hr criteria with safety factor.

� In situ test (see Appendix B).

engineered soil media

development considerations

Specific considerations for

development types:

� Public Streets

� Commercial Developments

� Subdivisions� Subdivisions

� Ownership & Maintenance.

� Safety cannot be compromised.

� Safe conveyance of the 100 year

event.

� We’re gaining experience in LID projects, similar to

our LEED experience.

� Past projects: Evelyn Meador Library, Gene Greene

Park

� Roadways:

LID projects

� Birnamwood Dr. – (under construction)

� N. Main – (in design)

� A 3rd, (under evaluation).

Birnamwood drive – HC Pct 4

� East of I-45, North of Cypresswood.

� Road leads to Pct 4’s John Pundt Park & Spring Creek Greenway.

� First LID-road project in our region.

Birnamwood drive

LID roadway section

Floodplain mitigation

Birnamwood Drive� Curb & False inlets.

� Storm Sewer at

outfalls only.

� 32 ft median.

� native plants, trees,

grasses.

Engineered Soils

Planting plan

Engineered Soils

Clearing: August 2011

Bioswale

September 2011

Bioswale

Bioswale

October 2011

Bioswale

January 13 2012

Bioswale

April 03 2012

Bioswale

April 24 2012

Engineered Soils

final design components

� Consider the project goal

� Evaluate project costs

� Visualize the landscape plan

� Determine vegetation establishment

Planning considerations

� Eliminated offsite detention; reduced our floodplain

mitigation pond. -Reduced wetland impact. –SWQ treatment.

� Saved ROW cost.

� Saved cost of Storm sewer.

� Reduced mowing to 1-2x/year.

� Enhanced landscaping, warranty, irrigation.

� Gained aesthetic benefit (road to Park).

our first experience

� Gained aesthetic benefit (road to Park).

� Utilized 2 Bid packages (road & landscape).

� Still evaluating all costs as we move through construction

(SWPPP, Extra work items, plants).

� Next time- evaluate landscaping and seeding, single bid

package

resources

www.houstonlwsforum.org

Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum

www.TexasLID.org

a centralized, accessible resource for important information and guidelines for

effectively implementing Low Impact Development (LID), or Green Infrastructure,

practices and policies across Texas. The website is collaborative effort between:

� Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Ecosystem Design Group

� The Center for Research in Water Resources, University of Texas at Austin� The Center for Research in Water Resources, University of Texas at Austin

� The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

www.asla.org

Banking on Green: A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities

Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-wide. Joint report by American

Rivers, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Society of Landscape

Architects and ECO Northwest – April 2012