Uploaded byRobert Emanuel
Operations and Maintenance of Vegetated Water Quality Facilities
The document outlines the maintenance of rain gardens, swales, and stormwater planters, emphasizing the importance of managing stormwater due to its potential pollutants and flooding risks. It details various maintenance tasks, legal responsibilities, vegetation management, irrigation, soil health, sediment control, and spill response procedures. It serves as a guideline for landscape contractors and professionals involved in stormwater facility maintenance, with an emphasis on safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.
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Similar to Operations and Maintenance of Vegetated Water Quality Facilities
Operations and Maintenance of Vegetated Water Quality Facilities
- 1. Maintenance of RainGardens, Swales, and Stormwater Planters OLCA Expo December 1, 2011
- 2. Partners Candace Stoughton EMSWCD Gail Shaloum Clackamas WES Rob Emanuel Clean Water Services Damon Richardson Pacific Sports Turf Henry Stevens Portland BES Maria Cahill Green Girl Land Development
- 3. Agenda • What is stormwater? Why manage it? • Legal issues • Role for landscape contractors • Types of facilities • Maintenance activities • Vegetation • Pests • Irrigation • Soils/Mulch • Structures • Erosion Control • Spills/Trash • Take home messages
- 4. What is Stormwater? Photo:morgueFile Rainfall and snowmelt that runs off instead of seeping into the ground.
- 5. Sources of stormwater? Roofs Driveways Streets Parking Lots Rainfall and snowmelt that runs off instead of seeping into the ground.
- 6. Water cycle More Runoff Arriving Faster
- 7. Stormwater Photo: East PortlandNews Can cause unnatural flooding
- 8. Stormwater Photo: morgueFile Photo: East Portland News Photo: Johnson Creek Watershed Council Can degrade streams
- 9. Stormwater Carries pollutants towaterways
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- 11. Rain garden-municipal Photo: EMSWCD Planted landscape facility designed to collect and absorb runoff and filter out pollutants.
- 12. Swales (aka bioswales) Long,planted, open channel that carries, slows stormwater and filters out pollutants.
- 13. Rain garden-residential Photo: EMSWCD Planted landscape facility designed to collect and absorb runoff and filter out pollutants.
- 14. Stormwater planter Structural landscapereservoir designed to filter out pollutants, and in some cases, infiltrate stormwater.
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- 19. What is involved? •Facilities need inspection and maintenance (annually, or more) • Maintenance includes: • hydrologic and water quality function • landscape functions • impacts on human health and safety
- 20. Business opportunity Specialized trainingto design, inspect and maintain • Landscape Architects P • Civil Engineers • Landscape Designers • Landscape Contractors • Green industry professionals Example: City of Portland • 9000 stormwater facilities • ≈ ¼ are LID facilities
- 21. Legal roles andresponsibilities EPA (US Clean Water Act) ODEQ Jurisdiction Facility Owner Contractor
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- 23. Inspection log • Eachjurisdiction will have different requirements for inspections, reporting, etc.
- 24. General observations Before yougo… • O & M plan or manual • As-built or design report • Locations of inlets/outlets, plantings, irrigation, historical problems, previous observations
- 25. General observations Once youarrive… • Current and recent weather conditions? • Last rain event? • Inlets and outlets clear? • Banks stable? • Draining as designed or short-cutting? • Pavement in good condition? • Animal damage? • Can you access? • Steep or uneven terrain? • People entering/cutting through the facility?
- 26. Contributing area • Trash •Leaves • Oily • Gravel • Sediment • Street or parking lot sweeping • Fertilizer or pesticide use • Other activities going on upstream
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- 29. Safety and access Access •Need to have access • Flat or evenly sloped • If fenced, trim fenceline for 3 feet if space allows • Consider safety before you begin (do not enter flooded facility)
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- 31. Safety and access PersonalProtective Equipment (PPE) • Sturdy boots • Gloves, puncture resistant gloves • Ear plugs/earmuffs if operating power equipment • Eye protection when “weed wacking” or mechanical trimming, handling large branches • Long sleeved shirts and pants • Hard hat if cutting overhead 35
- 32. Safety and access OtherEquipment • Rakes: to clean out under shrubs where you can’t see • Grabbers: for trash, sharp objects, or needles • First aid kit
- 33. Safety and access PublicSafety • Vehicle entrances/exits • Where people walk through, create a path
- 34. Trash • Remove trashto prevent clogging and contamination
- 35. O&M tasks relatedto vegetation • Functions • Moving • Appearances • Pests • Irrigation
- 36. vegetation can bepart of the solution…… vegetation can be part of the problem.…..…
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- 50. Do’s and Don’tsfor Plants • Do strive to keep good plant cover in a WQF • Do pay attention to facility design • Do replace dead plants promptly • Don’t overly trim grasses and grass-like plants • Don’t let plants block water flow
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- 52. Principles of IPM • Start with healthy plants • Monitor and identify pests • Be tolerant of some damage • Choose the least toxic control first • Combine techniques
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- 56. Pests Canada thistle (Cirsiumarvense) Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Red clover (Trifolium pratense) Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
- 57. Pests Field Bind Weed(Convolvulus sepium) Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) Birdsfoot Trefoil (Convolvulus sepium) Armenian Blackberry (Rubus armenicus)
- 58. Pests English Holly (Ilexaquifolium) Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens balsamorhiza)
- 59. Pests Herb Robert (Geraniumrobertianum) Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)
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- 62. Herbicides • Avoid if at all possible! • Follow the label directions carefully • Do not apply in standing water • Try to stay above water-line in facilities • Never apply when rain is forecasted • Apply during calm weather, cool weather
- 63. Herbicide use: discretionof local jurisdiction Use herbicides when a pest is uncontrollable by other, less toxic means.
- 64. Herbicides • DON’T reachfor herbicides at the first sign of a pest, make a plan! • DON’T apply herbicides directly to water in a WQF • DO apply herbicides during dry weather (mostly June-September) • DO apply herbicides when a pest is uncontrollable by other means
- 65. Irrigation P • Plants are critical to the function of LID facilities • Irrigation is essential for plant establishment and health
- 66. Irrigation • Irrigation especiallyimportant during establishment period (approx. 2 yrs) (true for native plants as well) P • Temporary irrigation fine for facilities with vegetation that can handle OR’s dry summers
- 67. Irrigation High exposure areascan also require permanent Irrigation after the establishment period. P • Areas near pavement • Vast areas of minimal shade or lots of wind exposure • areas prone to drought or fire
- 68. Irrigation Water Efficiency • Handwatering and drip type irrigation systems P are the most efficient irrigation methods. • Adjusting the irrigation heads should be done as needed to ensure water is not wasted on hard surfaces. • Avoid irrigating when the plants do not need water.
- 69. Irrigation How to Irrigate •Water must be applied in a manner that lets it P percolate into the soils and not run off the surface. • Hand watering- Put as much down as possible until water begins to migrate along surface. Then go to the next plant. Automated Systems • Permanent • Temporary • Utilize several short watering times or cycle/soak.
- 70. Irrigation for PlantEstablishment 1st Year Full irrigation schedule during the dry season to P ensure good plant establishment. 2nd Year Water less than previous year to encourage plants to adapt to local climate. 3rd Year Should be little need for irrigation.
- 71. Irrigation Do: • Irrigate heavilybut infrequently P • Water in the early morning or evening • Automate if possible • Check automated systems weekly during the heavy irrigation season • Blow out any above ground system to winterize Don’t: • Allow runoff • Over water • Allow overspray • Irrigate when unnecessary
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- 73. Soils • Healthy soilshold water, sediment, and pollutants • Too much sediment (and compaction) will clog the system • Regular maintenance will keep the facility working as designed City of Portland Environmental Services
- 74. Soils City of PortlandEnvironmental Services
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- 76. Soils City of PortlandEnvironmental Services
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- 78. Soils • Well-designed systems capture sediment near the entrances • Sediment loads vary by facility • Regular visual checks are the key City of Portland Environmental Services
- 79. Soils City of PortlandEnvironmental Services
- 80. Soils • Visit thefacility at least twice a winter after big storms • Check sediment accumulations as you’re doing routine maintenance • Monitor draw-down rates – how long does it take for standing water to disappear after the end of a storm ? • Make notes for future reference
- 81. Plants and sedimentcan reduce depth
- 82. When do YouNeed to Remove Sediment ? • If 2-3 inches of sediment accumulates • When draw- down rates exceed about 36 hours • Don’t let things City of Portland Environmental Services get out of control (photo)
- 83. When do YouNeed to Remove Sediment ? City of Portland Environmental Services
- 84. Soils: Removing Sediment •Schedule all maintenance for dry weather unless there’s an emergency • Rakes and shovels (hand removal) are best to avoid damaging the plants • Be sure to loosen the underlying native soil • If large equipment is needed avoid compacting the soils • If slow infiltration rates persist, remove the top couple of inches of soil
- 85. When to BeConcerned…. Nccwep.org waynedaley.com
- 86. Soils: Sediment andSoil Disposal • Check for evidence of contamination: color and smell • In most cases stormwater sediment is not hazardous and can be disposed of as solid waste. • Places to be concerned: recycling facilities, fueling stations, industrial storage areas, etc. • If you have questions, contact DEQ at 503-229-5263. • Or consult DEQ’s guidelines for hazardous waste at http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/hw/hwmanagement.htm
- 87. Mulch • Suppresses weedsand maintains soil moisture • Is a surface for deposition of sediment (for easy sediment removal) • Apply 2-3 inches after planting, after removing sediment, and any time there are bare spots • Common mulches: medium hemlock,yard- debris compost. Gravel “mulch” is sometimes used at entrances Maria Cahill
- 88. Mulch • Mulch sometimes floats in the first storms just after construction. • Yard debris compost is less prone to floating, but it can be a source of weeds Maria Cahill • Many LID systems are densely planted and need only spot- mulching after the first couple of years
- 89. Do’s and Don’ts Do • Visually monitor the facility on a regular basis • Remove sediment when it reaches 2-3 inches • Plan to take action if drawdown times exceed 36 hours • Mulch and plant bare spots for erosion control • Loosen the soil after removing sediment Don’t • Compact the soils by working in the facilities when the soils are wet (wait until summer) • Assume a facility is permanently clogged until steps have been taken to remove sediment layers • Handle soils that smell or look odd (contamination)
- 90. Structures Prevent Erosion • Rip rap vs. no erosion prevention
- 91. Structures Remove Sediment & Debris • Rip rap
- 92. Structures Remove Sediment & Debris • Shallow forebay
- 93. Structures Remove Sediment & Debris • Forebay with sump
- 94. Structures Remove Sediment & Debris • Curb cuts
- 95. Structures Remove Sediment & Debris • Flat outlets vs. beehive outlets
- 96. Structures Prevent Excessive Ponding • Under drains
- 97. Structures Prevent Excessive Ponding & Flooding • Overflows
- 98. Structures Prevent Flooding • Obstructions
- 99. Structures Protect Structural Integrity • Curb damage
- 100. Structures Protect Structural Integrity • Walls
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- 102. Structures Protect Structural Integrity • Wood/less durable check dams vs. stone/more durable check dams
- 103. Structures Protect StructuralIntegrity & Prevent Flooding • Culverts
- 104. Structures Protect StructuralIntegrity & Prevent Flooding • Culvert
- 105. Structures Dos and Don’ts Do’s • Do remove sediment, debris & trash from inlet & outlet structures such as curb cuts, rip rap, sumps & grates. • Do control and handle the removed sediment so it won’t get back into the storm system. • Do prevent excessive ponding by inspecting underdrains. • Do prevent flooding by clearing outlets of obstructions. • Do protect the integrity of structures such as curbs, & walls. • Do inspect less durable materials more often.
- 106. Structures Dos and Don’ts • Do inspect culverts to look for UV degradation, cross-section shape changes that may cause flooding, and corrosion.
- 107. Erosion Prevention • Erosionprevention is any practice that protects the soil surface and prevents the soil particles from being detached by rainfall or wind.
- 108. Erosion Prevention Cover Soilswith Fabrics
- 109. Soil Quality Protection Limit Compaction
- 110. Sediment (aka Source)Control • “Sediment Control is any practice that traps the soil particles after they have been detached and moved by wind or water”…
- 111. Sediment (aka Source)Control • …to prevent this! Photo excerpted from “ODEQ Erosion and Sediment Control Manual”, DEQ, Apr 2005
- 112. Sediment Control forSheet Flow Compost Socks
- 113. Sediment Control forSheet Flow Wattles (are your friends!)
- 114. Sediment Control forConcentrated Flows Inlet Filters
- 115. Sediment Control forConcentrated Flows Protecting Catch Basin Inlets
- 116. Erosion Prevention &Sediment Control Dos and Don’ts Do’s • Do prevent erosion by keeping soil covered and getting plants established. • Do prevent erosion by staying out landscape areas when possible. This also prevents soil compaction, which slowly kills vegetation and creates erosion long-term. • Do control sediment when erosion cannot be prevented by using wattles & filter sacks.
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- 118. Clean up thespill Do • Determine what type of material has spilled • Block stormwater inlets • Use absorbent material to contain the spill • Remove contaminated soil from facility • Protective gear for workers
- 119. Clean up thespill Don’t: • Dispose of hazardous material in the garbage. Must be taken to a hazardous waste facility.
- 120. Notify the appropriateauthorities Do • Contact owner of the facility Photo: morgueFile • Contact local jurisdiction emergency response • Contact OR Emergency Response 800-452-0311
- 121. Spills Do • Document thespill in the O&M report
- 122. Take Home Messages •These recommendations are general guidelines • Check with the local jurisdiction for specific requirements • Operations and Maintenance guidance document being developed for our region • For more information, contact: candace@emswcd.org