Center for Watershed Protection VACO/VML Meeting June 2, 2010 David J. Hirschman Program Director

Center for Watershed Protection Non-profit 501(c)3, non-advocacy organization founded in 1992 Work with watershed groups, local, state and federal governments Provide tools to communities to protect lakes, rivers, streams, and estuaries 20 staff in Ellicott City, MD; Field Offices in Charlottesville, VA & Ithaca, NY

Center for Watershed Protection

$20K per acre

Center for Watershed Protection

Stormwater Program Trade-Offs Lots of Land Covered Low CostUncertain Outcomes Moderate Land Covered Moderate CostFairly Certain Outcomes Small Areas Covered High CostExcellent Outcomes

Center for Watershed Protection Menu of Practices Green Roof* Impervious Disconnection* Raintanks & Cisterns* Permeable Pavement* Grass Channels Bioretention Water Quality Swale Infiltration Extended Detention Pond Soil Amendments* Filtering Devices Stormwater Wetland Wet Pond Sheet Flow/Open Space*

Center for Watershed Protection Hirschman’s Heroes 1.Watershed Forestry 2.Rainwater Harvesting 3.Bioretention 4.Turf/Nutrient Management 5.Nutrient Trading

Center for Watershed Protection 1. Watershed Forestry

Center for Watershed Protection  save energy  improve air quality  provide habitat  better quality of life  neighborhood stability  aesthetic values  increase property value  reduce noise  good for business Trees are the original “multi-taskers”

Center for Watershed Protection American Forests’ Urban Ecosystem Analysis The Washington, DC metropolitan area has 187,767 acres of tree canopy Stormwater retention capacity of the urban forest is 949 million cubic feet in avoided storage of water This storage capacity is valued at $4.7 billion (based on cost of $5/cubic foot to build equivalent retention facilities) Source: American Forests (2002)

Center for Watershed Protection Influence of Forests and Impervious Cover on the Health of Streams Impervious cover Watershed tree cover Riparian buffer tree cover Excellent good fair poor Stream health rating percent (Goetz, et.al, 2003) For 245 watersheds Recommendations: No more than 6% IC At least 65% riparian forest cover for Excellent score No more than 10% IC At least 60% riparian forest over for Good score

Center for Watershed Protection Identify forest conservation and reforestation priorities

Center for Watershed Protection Promote conservation of existing forests Photo courtesy of Harford County DPW Photo courtesy of Randall Arendt

Center for Watershed Protection Preserve/Restore aquatic buffers

Center for Watershed Protection Protect trees during construction

Center for Watershed Protection Require trees along new streets More shade means more time between repaving. 20% shade on a street improves pavement condition by 11%, which is a 60% savings for resurfacing over 30 years.

Center for Watershed Protection Plant trees in stormwater practices

Center for Watershed Protection Frederick County, MD Schools Since 2005, more than 4,500 trees have been planted. By spring 2010, we will have planted more than 15 acres of new trees. Slide Credit: Frederick Co, MD

Center for Watershed Protection 2. Rainwater Harvesting

Center for Watershed Protection Source: Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky

Center for Watershed Protection 3. Bioretention

Center for Watershed Protection Year 1 Year 3 Year 10 Improve with Age

Center for Watershed Protection 4. Turf/Nutrient Management

Center for Watershed Protection 5. Nutrient Trading – Watershed Based Program

Center for Watershed Protection Stormwater Accounting Real World Model World

Center for Watershed Protection The thatched roof for this building dripped rainwater into the stone carved channel in the foreground Source: Wright Paleohydrological Institute

Center for Watershed Protection During medieval times, vegetated roofs were used in Scandinavia to improve insulation Source:

Center for Watershed Protection Hotel Atlantic View was established in 1928 as Hatteras Island's first hotel. It was built to provide accommodations for wealthy businessmen and industrialists of the era who traveled to the island for its renowned game hunting and sport fishing. Notice the cistern to the right of the building with the downspouts feeding it rain water from the roof. Source: Hatteras Village – Then and Now ( Cistern

Center for Watershed Protection Conclusions Consider practices with multiple/local benefits Participate in process to advocate for preferred practices