River Smart Homes Presentation

Jenny Guillaume Environmental Protection Specialist RiverSmart Homes Watershed Protection Division RiverSmart Homes Clean Water Starts in Your Yard

17% of the urban and suburban areas in Chesapeake Bay watershed are impervious .

Imperviousness
User fees for CSO and MS4 to be based on concept of “imperviousness”
i.e. hard surfaces that prevent drainage and infiltration of rainwater, and that increase stormwater runoff
Impervious cover is a good surrogate measure for stormwater runoff generated from a property
Examples: Parking lots, sidewalks, rooftops, etc.

Impervious Area in the District of Columbia
Map of impervious area in Washington DC
Map of impervious area in Chesapeake Bay watershed

The Effects of Stormwater Runoff in the District of Columbia:
Over 34 miles of District rivers and streams do not support swimming or aquatic life use.
The major cause of impairment to District surface water is pathogens.
Combined sewer overflow and urban runoff are the main causes of pollution in District bodies of water.

Stormwater Background
1/3 of District served by combined sewer
2/3 of District served by separate storm and sanitary sewers (MS4)
CSO MS4 MS4 MS4 1 pipe 2 pipes

Challenges with Managing Stormwater in DC
The Federal Government controls 1/3 of the District’s lands
Smaller tax base
Difficult to perform work on these lands
Combined Sewer System controlled by a non-District Government entity
State & Local Government at the same time

Why Focus on Private Property?
Federal lands – where most space is available but they are not often a willing partner
Residential development makes up greatest land use in the District
Area the slowest for redevelopment & least likely to require stormwater retrofits

Background: Tried in the past and failed.
Transportation difficulties –
35% of District households do not own cars
Those with cars typically have small cars
Homeowners have difficulties installing and/or maintaining BMPs
Downspouts not or poorly disconnected
Dead trees
Rain barrels overflowing
City regulations
Inspections of disconnections
Installation of rain gardens and permeable pavement

RiverSmart Homes Defined:
This District-wide program offers incentives to homeowners interested in reducing stormwater runoff from their properties.
Homeowners receive up to $1,200 in landscaping services for one or more of the following landscape enhancements: Shade Trees, Rain Barrels, Pervious Pavers, Rain Gardens and BayScaping.

Rain Gardens Permeable Pavement BayScaping Rain Barrels Shade Trees
Reduce quantity and improve quality of stormwater runoff
Recharge groundwater
Habitat diversity
Promote water conservation
Promote watershed stewardship
Goals of RiverSmart Homes :

How the Program Works Today
Homeowners enroll in the program either online at http://ddoe.dc.gov/riversmarthomes or by calling 202-535-2252.
DDOE will contact the homeowner to schedule a Stormwater Site Audit.
DDOE audits property and provides recommendations to homeowner.
Homeowners let DDOE know what they would like to do from the recommendations.
DDOE matches the homeowner with our non-profit partners Casey Trees, DC Greenworks, and Alliance for Chesapeake Bay who will schedule the installations.

A Snapshot of Today
Over 1,800 DC Homeowners interested in the program!
Pilot program in Pope Branch:
125 audits completed
100 landscape installations completed
City-wide:
800+ audits completed
500 rain barrels installed
200+ trees planted
List of 320 homeowners waiting for rain gardens and BayScaping

River Smart Homes Presentation

by Bobette1031 on Jul 27, 2010

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River Smart Homes Presentation — Presentation Transcript