& Community Design LSU Green Laws Research Project Green Laws Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry EBR Parish Tree And Landscape Commission Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry EBR Parish Tree And Landscape Commission Photographs: Live Oak Gardens Ltd. Abbey Associates Landscape Architects ti tl e Chris Hall, ASLA cover

Community Landscape Codes Landscape codes or green laws are special parts of a community’s zoning ordinance. Certain provisions are written to influence the design of ‘storm water facilities’ and make improvements to the environment of urban areas Notable codes include; Austin, Texas Seattle, Washington Prince Georges County, Maryland

Stormwater Management The purpose of stormwater management regulations with community landscape codes is to protect, maintain and enhance the public health, safety, and general welfare by establishing minimum requirements and procedures to control the adverse impacts associated with increased stormwater runoff. Proper management of stormwater runoff will minimize damage to public and private property, reduce the effects of development on land, control stream channel erosion, reduce local flooding, and maintain after development, as nearly as possible, the pre-development runoff characteristics.

The ProblemThe Opportunity Photographs: Chris Hall

The ProblemThe Opportunity Photographs: Chris Hall

The ProblemThe Opportunity Photographs: Chris Hall

The ProblemThe Opportunity Photographs: Chris Hall

The ProblemThe Opportunity Photographs: Chris Hall

Purpose of Stormwater Mgmt. to protect the waters of the State from adverse impacts of urban stormwater runoff to provide design guidance on the most effective structural and non-structural BMPs for development sites to improve the quality of BMPs that are constructed in the State, specifically with regard to performance, longevity, safety, ease of maintenance, community acceptance and environmental benefit.

Accepted Types of BMP’s Best Management Practices 1. Stormwater Ponds micropool extended detention pond wet pond wet extended detention pond multiple pond system pocket pond 2. Stormwater Wetlands shallow wetland pond/wetland system pocket wetland 3. Infiltration Practices infiltration trench infiltration basin 4. Open Channel Practices dry swale wet swale 5. Filtering Practices surface sand filter underground sand filter perimeter sand filter organic filter pocket sand filter bioretention 6. Non-Structural Practices natural area conservation disconnection of rooftop runoff disconnection of non-rooftop impervious area sheet flow to buffers open channel use eco-sensitive development impervious cover reduction

Insufficient Types of BMP’s Best Management Practices catch basin inserts dry extended detention ponds water quality inlets and oil/grit separators hydro-dynamic structures filter strips grass channels street sweeping Some structures do not meet the performance criteria to qualify to be used as “stand-alone” practices. These include:

Code Writing Essentials Purpose Selection and Location Watershed, terrain, stormwater treatment suitability, physical feasibility, community and environmental factors, location and permitting Design Composition Plant Specifications native, deciduous, evergreen, spacing, growth rate Related Elements irrigation, drainage, walkways, amenities

A Visual Gallery of BMP’s Best Management Practices

Visual Gallery 1. Constructed Weir Pond - Lexington, Kentucky

Visual Gallery 2. Riparian Wetland Lexington, Kentucky

Visual Gallery 3. Constructed Detention Basin - Lexington, Kentucky

Visual Gallery 4. Porous Pavement - Lexington, Kentucky

Visual Gallery 5. Bioretention Swale – Ft. Knox, Kentucky

Visual Gallery 6. Riparian Buffer – Lexington, Kentucky

Submittal of stormwater management plans prepared by either a professional engineer, professional land surveyor, or landscape architect licensed in the State, as necessary to protect the public or the environment. Reports Construction Drawings Permit Permit Fee Performance Bond Inspection Development Procedure

Typical Code Specs Prince George County, Maryland T o be considered an effective BMP for stand-alone treatment, a design shall be capable of: 1. capturing and treating the required water quality volume 2. removing 80% of the total suspended solids 3. removing 40% of the total phosphorous 4. having an acceptable longevity rate in the field T hese standards apply to the following: 1. additions or modifications to existing single family structures 2. developments that do not disturb more than 5000sq. feet of land 3. agricultural land management activities

Typical Code Specs City of Seattle, Washington A ll projects must preserve the natural drainage patterns, with a peak drainage water discharge rate from the portion of the site being developed not to exceed 0.2 cubic feet per second for a 25 year storm. Projects with more than 2000 sq ft of new impervious surface are required to install and maintain a flow control facility, as well as control any erosion or pollution during the construction phases. L arge projects over 5000 sq ft the discharge rates shall not exceed.5 cubic feet per second for a 100 year storm, or when portions of the site drain into Class A or Class B riparian corridors.

Typical Code Specs City of Austin, Texas N o development shall be conducted within the 100 year flood plain until at least one of the required exceptions for development are met. A ll proposed development shall dedicate to the public an easement or right-of-way for a drainage facility. A minimum of 25 feet in width for a open drainage system or a minimum of 15 feet in width for an enclosed system. Proposed development will include on-site control of the two year peak flow as determined under the Drainage Criteria Manual and Environmental Criteria Manual.

References Prince George, Maryland Code of Maryland Regulations, Section Model Stormwater Management Ordinance. City of Austin, Texas Land Development Code, Title 25 Chapter 7 Drainage Article 3 Requirements for Approval. City of Austin, Texas Land Development Code, Title 25 Chapter 8 Environment. Seattle, Washington Building and Construction Codes, Chapter 22 Section Drainage, Erosion Control, and Source Control Requirements Maryland Stormwater Design Manual Volumes I & II, prepared by the Center for Watershed Protection and the Maryland Department of the Environment