HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Sustainable City Year (SCY) Student Presentation - Rain Garden ProjectM E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield, Oregon
To: Gino Grimaldi
From: Meghan Murphy, Environmental Services Technician II
Len Goodwin, Assistant Public Works Director
Date: March 9th, 2012
Subject: Sustainable Cities Year Demonstration Stormwater Area Project
The City of Springfield has partnered with the University of Oregon as part of the Sustainable
Cities Year initiative (SCY) to design and build a demonstration stormwater area at the Brattain
House and Two Rivers/Dos Rios Elementary School site. The project is an extension of the
City’s Clean Water Gardens Program. This memo provides information about the upcoming
Sustainable Cities Initiative Demonstration Stormwater Area Project.
Sustainable stormwater management practices have matured considerably over the past two
decades. The City of Springfield has had some success in encouraging property owners to
consider alternatives to traditional stormwater infrastructure, such as rain gardens. However,
greater public awareness and acceptance of innovative stormwater treatment designs is still
important. Welcoming and attractive demonstration sites serve as valuable public education tools
as well as opportunities for planners and technicians to experiment with new techniques.
In addition, there is a need for stormwater treatment designs to simultaneously promote
infiltration and groundwater protection because Springfield relies on precipitation and stormwater
to recharge its drinking water aquifer. Springfield Utility Board (SUB) favors infiltration of
stormwater runoff (rather than piping it directly to the river) in order to promote recharge of the
aquifer. It is vital that the infiltrated water be clean and uncontaminated by chemicals.
Through SCY, the City of Springfield, SUB and the University of Oregon have partnered on a
demonstration stormwater area project to promote the protection of both stormwater and
groundwater resources. A University of Oregon architecture class is designing and building
Springfield’s first demonstration stormwater area. The demonstration site is located in a
groundwater protection area on Springfield School District 19 property between the Brattain
House and the future Two Rivers/Dos Rios Elementary School.
The location of the demonstration next to the new Two Rivers/Dos Rios Elementary School
makes it an excellent site for public visibility and for educational opportunities with the
elementary school. Educational concepts will include the link between stormwater and
groundwater and ways to prevent the contamination of these resources. The demonstration area
will provide the public with practical ideas for applying similar stormwater management
techniques around the home.
To date, the students have developed concepts and operational designs specific to the site. The
design includes a rain garden, pervious pavers, educational signs, and a covered area. The project
is expected to be completed by summer of 2012. For additional information, please contact
Meghan Murphy at 541-744-3385.