I’m glad to see “Green Infrastructure” become au courant, although, as with “Low Impact Development,” it’s one of the those squishy terms that invites expansion, and drift. “Low Impact Development” is used to refer to everything from sensible urban planning to water conservation, and now “Green Infrastructure” shows up in conversations about everything from building with recycled… Continue reading Green Infrastructure
Category: Stormwater Pollution Prevention
Stormwater Utility
Today I listened with interest to a presentation on efforts, by a broad coalition of local government entities, to make a modest change to California Proposition 218. The 1996 constitutional amendment requires a 2/3 popular vote to create or raise fees—the add-ons to property tax bills local government uses to pay for schools, parks, and… Continue reading Stormwater Utility
20 LID Lessons
I delivered this presentation today on “20 LID Lessons Learned” at the California Stormwater Quality Association’s (CASQA’s) quarterly meeting in Sacramento. The trip was just about perfect: I left the house at 6:28, BART at 6:30, Amtrak from Richmond at 6:47, beautiful views of the Carquinez Strait at dawn, a brilliant red sunrise over Suisun… Continue reading 20 LID Lessons
White Paper
I just received the final version of the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA) MRP 2.0 Provision C.3 White Paper, including some final edits from my coauthor Jill Bicknell. The “White Paper” provides technical data, analysis, and rationales to support some key changes to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (RWQCB’s) stormwater requirements… Continue reading White Paper
Quick Draw
Cycling through downtown Oakland on my way to a meeting this morning, I got caught at the stoplight at 17th and Webster. Looking to my right, I could see water entering a stormdrain, and just around the corner, a dumpster. A classic stormwater pollution image. But could I whip out my phone and capture it… Continue reading Quick Draw
Cool Calculator
Last year I completed the BASMAA Post-Construction Manual, which applicants for development project approvals will use to design site drainage and incorporate rain gardens (bioretention facilities) into their projects. The manual implements requirements in Provision E.12 of the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Phase II Small MS4 General Permit. The manual will be used… Continue reading Cool Calculator
On the Agenda
I’m on the agenda for the quarterly meeting of the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA). The meeting is scheduled for March 12 in Sacramento. The theme for the meeting is “Low Impact Development (LID): Lessons Learned” and the title I’ve been given is “Integrating LID into the Planning Process and LID Site Design.” I thought… Continue reading On the Agenda
Gurgle and gush
It’s been a great experience being part of the Ohlone Greenway Rain Garden from first concept to completion of construction. Today, as the rain started, I got up from my desk and walked around the corner to see it christened by its first stormwater flow. To get runoff from the previously existing storm drain into… Continue reading Gurgle and gush
Milestone
Seven years ago, I was involved in a long battle with the staff of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board over Low Impact Development (LID). Back then, we (Contra Costa County municipal stormwater NPDES permittees) were the LID advocates. We wanted to disperse runoff to landscaping, infiltrate runoff, and use bioretention to… Continue reading Milestone
January 28, in Corona
Here are the Powerpoint slides from my presentation to land development professionals in Corona, CA on January 28. I’ll be down there again February 13th for a repeat. Later: Here is a .pdf of the slides as well.