The first two talks in this series were to ground the work that follows today. This presentation builds on the concept of regenerative design within the framework of a changing climate. In terms of stormwater management this means water harvesting for reuses to be determined by the project, scope, and area. We will discuss options and mandates for sediment sequestration, amelioration of pollution in runoff, and various recharge, reuse, and adaptations for those destinations for the captured and improved water resource.
We will illustrate the mechanical and organic opportunities for accomplishing the improvement and reuse of water from storms. Phytoremediation is a topic that will range from general planting options to the creation of floating islands. Projects will be used to illustrate the mechanisms that work in my practice. The management of sediment loading is also done with plants and various manipulations of discontinuous surfaces within the treatment train of Best Management Practices.
The sequential management schemes of water harvesting are central to the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the systems you will design in this train of design thinking. We will cover some options for simple, yet effective uses of appropriate technology to achieve a better quality of runoff at the toe of your particular watershed. The scale and range of opportunities varies widely, and some time will be given to a series of systematic approaches to this strategy for a more sustainable water management system.
Reviewing the concepts of retention and detention with an eye to maintenance and only as part of the system. The idea of holding water in the lower one third of any watershed is likely to fail, and have catastrophic results. This was proven in the early 1960’s in the eastern United States. We seem to have forgotten that lesson, and this will be discussed in the topic. We must also consider, when was the last time you saw a retention or detention basin being excavated/cleaned of debris? Management is critical to the efficiency of any retention or detention device.
Learning objectives:
- Stormwater is best managed from the absolute top of the watershed in which your project exists. Given that the macro watershed is beyond your property, you must begin as soon as possible within your micro watershed for best return on the investment, efficiency, and benefit.
- Stormwater management design is best done as both art and science. Much of what you will do is below grade, and that can be rewarding when the return is less damage and greater plant health.
- For capture and reuse to be effective, water quality must be considered and addressed. Sediment accumulation causes the best of projects to fail if it is ignored.
- You can do this work. The algorithms that many trust to do the work are all based on assumptions. Do you know what those assumptions cover, and their specific values?
- This work is critical to our best use of the waning resource of potable water in our aquifers.
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Shawn T. Kelly, PLA, FASLA | Having been described as “a landscape architect’s landscape architect”, Shawn shares his passion for his profession on many levels. Along with his practice, he teaches at the University of Wisconsin. Shawn is founder and Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Design at UW-Madison and founder of The Center for Sustainable Education for Wisconsin ASLA (WIASLA). For over 30 years, Shawn has served his profession as an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). At the national level, he has served on the Ethics Committee, Council of Educators, Nominating Committee, and Audit Committee. He was WIASLA President and served two terms as Trustee. In 2012, Shawn was honored to be elected ASLA Vice President. In 2015 he was awarded the ASLA National Advocacy Leadership Award. In 2017, he was elected ASLA President. In 2009, after being nominated by his professional peers, Shawn was invested as Fellow of the ASLA.
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ON-DEMAND LA CES™ EDUCATION SESSIONS
We are pleased to bring you these virtual learning opportunities in an on-demand format so you may join when it is most convenient for you. These sessions were recorded from an originally live presentation by Shawn T. Kelly, PLA, FASLA.
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Credits: 1.0 PDH-HSW
The world is running out of potable water. Our planet is faced with unprecedented changes that are drastically affecting our potable water supplies while inundating the surface of the earth with severe runoff, flooding, and damage from storm events. We will examine the three stormwater cycle diagrams that describe the water cycle. The first diagram illustrates the least impacted natural cycle of rainfall and recharge. The second diagram shows the acceleration and changes to the water cycle from typical human occupation and the built environment. The final diagram examines the middle diagram with the impacts of greater stormwater episodes, occurring with greater frequency, and disastrous results.
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Credits: 1.0 PDH-HSW
The session prior was focused on aquifers and the current and escalating condition of water insecurity. Given that as a beginning, this session will address one of the base principles of design: all design is dealing with opportunities and constraints. In regards to stormwater management as Landscape Architects we must consider how to turn the constraint of accelerating stormwater challenges into opportunities in design. This presentation is a distilled version on the stormwater course I teach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and as such, will connect some elements quickly which deserve greater time in class.
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