Stormwater Summit Day Two Presentations: Part 2

Session 1: Using Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Bolster Economic Development

The City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is creating a transit-oriented development (TOD) district on two million square feet of underutilized mill space. They are using Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) approaches to improve overall living conditions, create placemaking, and multi-modal access opportunities. The project also features a credit trading program that would allow credits for constructed GSI in a right-of-way (ROW) that can be banked and applied to satisfy regulatory requirements for redevelopment projects.

Learning Objectives:

1. Assess the potential to creatively use GSI to improve both traditional stormwater and economic development opportunities.

2. Explore the use of a stormwater credit program to promote economic development.

3. Conceptualize how to use of GSI programs in your community to provide value beyond managing stormwater.

Speakers: Andrew Silvia, Chief of Project Development, City of Pawtucket and Dean Audet, Water Resources Practice Leader, Fuss & O’Neill

Session 2: Evaluating Maintenance Requirements and Performance of Emerging Stormwater Control Measures

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is currently working collaboratively with numerous public stakeholders in Oregon and Washington to operate the Stormwater Technology Testing Center (STTC), a dedicated testing facility for evaluating the maintenance requirements and treatment performance of emerging stormwater treatment technologies. In 2017, construction of the STTC was completed at the ODOT East Portland Maintenance Yard at 5315 Northeast 101st Avenue near Interstate 205 and the Columbia Slough in Portland, Oregon. This area was strategically selected because of its secure location on ODOT property and proximity to an 84-inch storm drain that will provide stormwater needed for testing at the STTC. This large storm drain conveys water from an approximately 1,000-acre drainage basin containing high traffic highway and mixed urban land uses. Currently, up to three stormwater treatment technologies may be tested simultaneously at the site which has room for expansion. Stormwater can be delivered to these treatment technologies using installed pumps at the STTC or by gravity flow. The primary goal of testing at the STTC is to evaluate maintenance requirements for these technologies based on an established protocol. A secondary goal is to evaluate their treatment performance in accordance with the Technology Assessment Protocol (TAPE) program that is implemented by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Learning Objectives:

1. Evaluate the maintenance requirements of stormwater treatment technologies.

2. Compare and select stormwater treatment technologies for specific applications based on their lifecycle costs.

3. Asses the treatment performance of stormwater treatment testing based on results from controlled testing.

Speakers: John Lenth, Water Practice Director, Herrera Environmental Consultants and Paul Wirfs, PE, Deputy Geo-Environmental Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation