Soil Quality Restoration
Urban soils often have a thin layer of topsoil, little organic matter and are severely compacted because of site grading and the development process. The key to restoring soil quality is reducing soil compaction and increasing organic matter content through the addition of compost. |
Environmental Protection
Natural features, such as wetlands, woodlands and stream buffers are protected. By preserving these features, natural drainage patterns can be identified and used, biodiversity is retained and wildlife habitat is protected. |
Stormwater Management
Rather than flowing through storm drains to surface waters, runoff is conveyed to natural areas and infiltrated. This reduces pollutant loads, stream flow rates and runoff volume. |
Community Character
In residential settings, homes typically open up to large areas of open space with recreational trails. Native landscaping provides aesthetic value, adequate stormwater conveyance, distribution of the water flow and filtration of pollutants. |
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1. Bioswales
Bioswales, or vegetated ditches, convey water to storm sewer inlets or surface waters and filter the "first flush" of runoff. |
2. Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are native, perennial gardens strategically located to capture runoff from impervious surfaces. Rain gardens increase aesthetic value, adsorb water, reduce runoff, protect water quality and prevent flooding. |
3. Bioretention Cells
Biorentention cells are shallow, landscaped depressions that can handle large volumes of water. They are well suited for commercial, institutional, industrial or residential settings. Bioretention cells usually have an engineered substratum to offset compacted soil conditions. |
4. Level Spreader
Level spreaders dissipate water velocity and prevent erosion by spreading water flow over a wide area rather than releasing it from a pipe or other point source of discharge. |
5. Native Landscaping
Native plants have tremendous root structure that build soil quality and increase organic matter content. Organic matter helps soil hold water and infiltrate rain. Native landscaping is a key component of infiltration-based stormwater management practices. |
6. Permeable Paving
Permeable paving surfaces include paver blocks, porous concrete and grassed surfaces. They provide the support of traditional parking surfaces, but they allow water to infiltrate. Subdrains can be used to move water through these systems. |
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