Stormwater Features Completed at Beverly Cleary School

As a Landscape Architect at GreenWorks, I get the chance to work on projects for many local public schools. I am often amazed at how much Portland area students know about rainwater. To some of them the terms rain garden, infiltration, and combined sewer are household words. A few years ago, in a 5^th grade class, I lead a discussion on the effects of urban development on stormwater and how increased impervious surfaces speed up and pollute our water . I was barraged with questions about why we continue to let this happen and why someone is not doing more about it. It seems the work of local designers, environmentalists and agencies was not enough for them. It’s refreshing to see this type of concern and curiosity in young people. It inspires me to continue to work with schools. The school community at Beverly Cleary School in NE Portland was inspired to develop a project that improved their schools effects on urban stormwater.  It took some determination.  They built and planted a swale at their school in the spring of 2006, but the downspouts were never disconnected to feed into the swale.

Recently, a dedicated parent with the support of the school community fostered the project through to completion. GreenWorks donated design and consulting services for the swale and most recently for design of the downspout disconnects. In addition to the downspout design, GreenWorks collaborated with students to measure the soil’s infiltration rate, and helped with contractor coordination during construction. The highlight of the project is the pouring downspout bucket. See it in action below. This living science lab is now open for exploration and learning by the school’s students!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj-tXCxpzsE&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Michelle Mathis is a Landscape Architect at GreenWorks with 8 years of experience.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture, and has a Master’s in Education from Portland State University.

Green Streets in Tucson, AZ

The Watershed Management Group (WMG) out of Tucson, AZ has been promoting the installation of green street facilities in the SW region for rainwater harvesting.  In August of 2010, WMG put together a comprehensive document called Green Infrastructure for Southwestern Neighborhoods that describes and illustrates the benefits and installation techniques for green street projects.  Recently they produced a video showing the real world application of their green street designs.  WMG describes the video as...

This short (5 minute) video explains the benefits of using green infrastructure and how WMG advocates and implements these practices through educational workshops.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyGC6KSi74&feature=playerembedded]

Kudos to WMG for implementing these projects and teaching neighbors about the benefits of green street facilities.

GreenWorks Presents "137 Green Street Facilities in 4 Days" at Fall 2010 APWA Conference

Dave Elkin and Tim Strand recently presented their work with the City of Portland's Columbia Slough Watershed group that produced an inventory of stormwater treatment facilities in four high priority stormwater outfall target areas within industrialized areas of the Columbia Slough Watershed. During a four day process, the project team evaluated 109 acres of public right-of-way and identified over 130 green street facilities that would potentially treat stormwater runoff from 39 acres of impermeable surfaces. The results of the inventory were cataloged in a Stormwater Inventory & Prioritization GIS database, which was used to evaluate facility performance, design & construction feasibility, cost information, and supplemental benefits for each facility.

 

       

Oregon City Green Street Construction Nearing Completion

As part of the realignment of Warner-Milne Road at the Molalla Avenue intersection, the City of Oregon City hired a team with GreenWorks to design a rain garden in a vacated portion of the right-of-way that will treat stormwater runoff from the adjacent heavily-travelled roadways. A series of large serpentine Corten steel fins meander through the site, articulating the stormwater channel and creating a striking contrast to the lush rain garden plantings. The first of its kind in Oregon, this rain garden incorporates prominent sculptural elements that highlight the City's committment to sustainability.

The project also consists of various streetscape improvements including new street trees, decorative tree and trench grating, and permeable concrete sidewalks.

Green Schools Trend Building Movement

Sustainability in educational facilities has been building movement in schools across the Pacific Northwest over the past decade.  Several design firms including GreenWorks have been working toward integrating sustainability in schools not only to set an example of high environmental standards but to serve as a teaching tool for students to learn the value of sustainable thinking.  A recent DJC article highlights this trend with several schools in Oregon and Washington, including Da Vinci Arts Middle School, for which GreenWorks designed  the site work for a modular 21st century classroom that serves as a study model for the school district. GreenWorks continues to work with Science teacher Jason Hieggeokein creating a tree sink project on site. The project will demonstrate the carbon sinking effects of trees in an artistic and inviting way. Inviting the students to explore nature further.

“Unless you can see it and touch it, you don’t understand how it works,” Weekes said. “Seventy percent of students are visual. Having these systems exposed shows there is more to a building than the rooms they happen to occupy. Then you can apply those lessons to math, science and physics in their curriculum.”

Science teacher Jason Hieggeoke uses Da Vinci Arts Middle School’s stormwater treatment garden as a learning tool for his science classes. (Photo by Dan Carter/DJC)

That is what science teacher Jason Hieggeoke has been doing at Da Vinci Arts Middle School. He has used a water garden, which drains storm water, as a living laboratory.

“There aren’t many special places for kids in schools, and this is one of them,” Hieggeoke said. “We do water quality testing and look for invertebrates. We care for the garden so they learn about conservation. Sometimes they will see the pipes and ask where they are coming from, which gives me the opportunity to explain the storm-water system to them.”

See the full article on the DJC website at:  http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/03/30/green-schools-designed-to-catch-students-eyes/

GreenWorks has worked with a number of teachers and classrooms across Oregon to help incorporate learning landscapes into their schools. Projects include stormwater,  gardens,  native restoration, outdoor classrooms and natural play areas. If your school is heading in this direction and looking for a little design guidance we would love to hear from you.

Low Impact Development Approaches Handbook

To view the complete handbook visit the link below.

http://www.cleanwaterservices.org/LIDA

Green From the Ground Up

NEW GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP SEMINAR: SWALES, RAIN GARDENS AND THE NEW LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES HANDBOOK

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 8:30 to 11 a.m. Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus Event Center 17705 NW Springville Road, Portland $10 registration fee

The Home Builders Association (HBA) Green Building Council, Clean Water Services and Metro have brought together speakers to present a balanced perspective and complete spectrum of information on swales and rain gardens.

estacada library rain garden

Carrie Pak, engineering division manger from Clean Water Services will be introducing their new Low Impact Development Approaches (LIDA) Handbook for the Tualatin Basin. Other presenters include Paul Dedyo, PE, KPFF Engineering, Mike Faha, Landscape Architect, Green Works and Alan Hipolito, Executive Director and business manager, Verde. The presenters will share experience-based insights and lessons learned about swale and rain garden design, installation – from sizing to plant selection – and operations, maintenance, project examples and case studies.

Register online now! Find out more about this seminar Find out more about nature-friendly – or low impact – development

GreenWorks = Green Streets

From our recent emailer:  "Green streets provide many benefits such as creating a more pedestrian friendly street, addressing stormwater in a more environmental and economical way, and improving water quality.

GreenWorks has designed over 30 green street projects in Oregon, Washington and California.

Beavercreek Green Street recently received an American Public Works Association 2009 National Project of the Year Award."

Green Streets in American Nurseryman

The article 'Green Streets for Green Cities', was recently published in the August 2009 issue of American Nurseryman magazine.  The article outlines GreenWorks' work with the City of Portland - taken up the challenge of converting gray pavement to green oases, protecting the region’s ecosystem through more efficient — and more aesthetic — management of stormwater.

An excerpt from the article.  Check out the AN website for online version of the article (by subscription):

"Using soil and vegetation, Green Streets mimic natural conditions to manage runoff on the surface, at the source. The plants absorb water, and their roots help water soak into the ground. Plant roots and soil bacteria help break down stormwater pollutants. Roots, insects and worms increase the space between soil particles and increase stormwater storage. Green Streets can be attractive neighborhood amenities, and a variety of plants can provide a range of looks."

Russellville Gets More Ink

A short blurb from the DJC on Sept. 3rd on the Russellville Phase III project. See here for more on the project grand opening.

"Phase III of the Russellville Commons residential and assisted-living project in Southeast Portland is completed. The Russellville Park West assisted-living and Alzheimer’s facility has 140 units in the four-story building at the corner of East Burnside and 103rd Avenue. One of the building’s prominent features is the interior courtyard with its tree-covered dining space, sculptural walls and small private meeting spaces for families and friends. The central element of the courtyard is a circular vegetated swale that handles rainwater runoff. The project was built by general contractor Yorke & Curtis Inc. from a design by MCM Architects. The courtyard and streetscape improvements were designed by GreenWorks PC and constructed by Landscape Management."