URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND WATER QUALITY

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URBAN DEVELOPMENTANDWATER QUALITY

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• October, 2008

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Impacts of Urban Development

• Hydrologic Impacts
• Increased impervious surfaces yield increased
  storm water runoff
• Pollution Impacts
• Activities generate pollutants and storm water
  carries pollutants to the bay

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Hydrologic ImpactsRainfall / Runoff Relationship
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Hydrologic ImpactsStorm Hydrograph
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Pollution Impacts
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Storm Water Management Flood Control Objectives

• Minimize threat of flooding
• Comply with National Flood Insurance requirements
• Provide drainage facilities for 100-year event
• Maintain existing flood plain delineation

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What is the 100-year Event?
100-year event is about 13 inches
90th percentile event is about 4.2 inches
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Storm Water Management Water Quality Objectives
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Achieving Water Quality ObjectivesGreen
Infrastructure

• Definition
• Use natural processes to reduce and treat storm
  water runoff
• Natural Processes
• Infiltration, filtration, and biological
  treatment
• Benefits
• Reduced storm water runoff, pollutant
  reductions, enhanced recharge, reduced costs,
  increased recreation

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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Site Planning and Design
Minimize clearing, grading Save permeable soils
Limit lot disturbance Soil Amendments
Alternative Surfaces Reforestation Reduce
pipes, curb and gutters Reduce impervious
surfaces
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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Constructed Wetlands
Description - Constructed basins with a permanent
pool of water. Among the most effective
stormwater practices. Offer aesthetic
value. Natural Processes - Settling and
biological uptake. Applications Larger scale
storm water management facilities
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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Vegetated Swales
Description Drainage conveyance facilities
designed to slow storm water runoff and allow it
to infiltrate into the subsurface Natural
Process Slow runoff velocities, infiltration,
storage, filtration, biological
treatment Applications Drainage conveyance
network
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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Bioretention
Description - A conditioned planting soil bed and
planting materials Natural Processes
Filtration, adsorption, biological treatment of
runoff stored within a shallow depression
Applications Parking lots, streets,
residential and commercial landscaping
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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Pervious Paving
Description - A load-bearing, durable surface
with an underlying layered structure.
Unobtrusive Natural Processes - Temporarily
stores water prior to infiltration or drainage to
a controlled outlet. Application - Residential,
commercial and industrial applications are
possible. Light vehicle loading in parking
areas. . Spatially constrained areas.
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Green InfrastructureManagement Practices
Roof Runoff Controls
Description - Direct roof runoff away from paved
areas and direct it to rain barrels, infiltration
trenches, and planting areas. Natural Process
Storage, infiltration, filtration, biological
treatment Applications Residential and
commercial roofs
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Green InfrastructureMunicipal Programs
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rain Gardens - Install 60 rain gardens Greenways
Protect wetlands and other drainage features
through acquisition and conservation easements
BMP Pilot Projects 19 projects were monitored
over a 3-year period to evaluate environmental,
implementability, O M, and costs factors.
Goal Reduce the volume of storm water
runoff Disconnection Program Redirect building
downspouts to rain barrels and pervious areas
Rain Garden at Miller Brewing Company Headquarters
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Green InfrastructureMunicipal Programs
Lincoln, Nebraska Holmes Lake Watershed
Goal - Increase awareness about lawn care
Improve storm water quality by reducing the
amount of storm water runoff and the use of low
phosphorus fertilizer. Program - Three segments
of the program are Rain gardens 90 discount
for installation Rain barrels - Free No/low
phosphorus fertilizer One bag free
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Green InfrastructureMunicipal Programs
Ingleside, Texas Lake Whitney - Drainage
Improvements
Goal Watershed management approach to address
flooding, water quality and habitat Project
Area Ecologically important wetland
complex Integrated Approach Land use planning,
environmental analysis, engineering, public
involvement Multiple Funding Sources Local,
state, and federal Management Plan Structural
and non-structural BMPs
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Watershed Management Funding
Environmental Finance Center at Boise State
University
http//efc.boisestate.edu/efc/
Community Quilt concept of financing
The Watershed is a Mosaic of public, private and
nonprofit land ownership and a myriad land
uses. Using a broader collection of terms can
broaden the sources of funding for your watershed
management plan. Identify land owners and land
uses within a watershed to create a patchwork of
funding opportunities.
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Watershed Management Funding
State Funding Programs TCEQ Nonpoint Source
Grants TWDB State Revolving Fund, EDAP GLO
Coastal Impact Assistance Program, Coastal NPS
Grants TSSWCB Nonpoint Source Grants TPWD
Recreation Grant Program
Federal Funding Programs EPA - Catalog of
Federal Funding Sources for Watershed
Protection Housing and Urban Development-Communit
y Development Block Grants Dept. of Agriculture
- EQIP
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Watershed Management Funding
Local Funding Options Storm Water Utility
Fees Capital Improvements Impact Fees Special
Assessments General Appropriations
National Association of Counties
Programs Coastal Counties Restoration
Initiative Five Star Restoration Grants Water
Quality Technical Assistance
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Watershed Management Consultant Qualifications
Applies natural solutions (including biological
treatment concepts, soil sciences, and wetland
dynamics) to the design, operation and
maintenance of drainage infrastructure Engineerin
g and construction administration for
decentralized storm water management and
watershed restoration projects Utilize an
integrated design process including hydrology,
ecology, water quality, public participation, and
recreational criteria Recognized experts in
the field with publications, awards and
participation in peer review of technical works
and the development of public policies and
documents
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Contact Information

• Water Quality Planning Division
• Charles Maguire, Assistant Division Director,
  512/239-5308, cmaguire_at_tceq.state.tx.us
• Arthur Talley, TMDL Team, 512/239-4546,
  atalley_at_tceq.state.tx.us
• Bill Carter, NPS Team, 512/239-6771,
  wcarter_at_tceq.state.tx.us
• Gail Rothe, Coastal Coordinator, 512/239-4617,
  grothe_at_tceq.state.tx.us
• Jeff Foster, Coastal Bend Bays Estuary Program,
  361/825-3424, jfoster_at_tceq.state.tx.us