Stormwater Treatment and Flow Control Dan Cloak, P.E. Presentation to the San Diego Region Co-permittees Hydromodification Workgroup December 6, 2006 Contra Costa’s Low Impact Development Approach for

Outline Some key insights into the permit HMP requirements How Contra Costa co-permittees are implementing the HMP Low Impact Development (LID) ●Philosophy and practice Possible adaptation to San Diego County

What the permit requires … post-project runoff discharge rates and durations shall not exceed estimated pre-project discharge rates and durations where the increased discharge rates and durations will result in increased potential for erosion or other significant adverse impacts to beneficial uses...”

Insights from watershed analysis Most streams are incised and/or are already experiencing accelerated erosion. Geomorphic assessment is an art as well as a science; methods and conclusions differ. Local government lacks the resources to conduct a comprehensive analysis of all stream reaches in the County. Predicting how flows from one development site may affect flows from a whole watershed is complex and uncertain.

Contra Costa HMP Strategy Accept a presumptive standard that development sites must match pre-project flows Assist developers with the technical means to comply with that standard Promote Low Impact Development Provide developers with options

Options for HMP Compliance 1.Show no increase in directly connected impervious area 2.Use Low Impact Development Integrated Management Practices 3.Use a continuous-simulation model to show runoff does not exceed pre- project flow peaks and durations 4.Show projected increases in runoff peaks and durations will not accelerate erosion of receiving stream

Option 1: No increase in impervious area Design site to minimize impervious area and maximize time of concentration Inventory existing vs proposed impervious area Qualitatively compare pre- to post-project drainage efficiency.

Option 2: Low Impact Development IMPs Follow the design procedure in the Stormwater C.3 Guidebook Disperse runoff to impervious areas where possible Select from a menu of Integrated Management Practices and size according to formulas provided

Option 3: Model Pre- and Post-Project Flows Continuous simulation using at least 30 years of hourly data Compare peaks and durations Instructions for HSPF modeling are in the Stormwater C.3 Guidebook

Option 4: Increased runoff but not erosion Low Risk: Reaches downstream of project are piped, hardened, tidal, or aggrading; no controls are necessary Medium Risk: Stream reaches are stable; mitigate additional flows by localized restoration projects High Risk: Some reaches unstable; plan a comprehensive stream restoration

Option 2: Low Impact Development Design the site to mimic natural drainage. Disperse runoff to landscape where possible. Use Integrated Management Practices distributed around the site.

Example of an engineered LID Integrated Management Practice “Dry” swale detains and filters runoff

Fitting IMPs into landscaping Portland, OregonAlbany, California

Fitting IMPs into landscaping Seattle, Washington Spokane, Washington

Planter Box

Common IMP Locations Swales in the setback area between parking and lot line In-ground Planters in parking lot medians and perimeters Flow-through Planters next to buildings Bioretention areas receiving piped discharge from upgradient areas 6' to 10' width fits into setback Underdrain/ overflow to storm drain below

Integrated Management Practices Detain and treat runoff Typically fit into setbacks and landscaped areas Accommodate diverse plant palettes Low-maintenance Don’t breed mosquitoes Can be attractive Soil surface must be 6-12" lower than surrounding pavement Require 3-4 feet of vertical “head” Can affect decisions about placement of buildings, roadways, and parking AdvantagesChallenges

Implementing “LID” IMPs can be effective, attractive, and accepted by developers Incorporate IMPs in preliminary site, landscaping and drainage design drawings In-ground planter boxes under construction Residential subdivision Clayton, May 2006

How do we know LID works?

Continuous Hydrologic Modeling  Sizing to one ‘design storm’ is not enough

Peak Flow Frequency  Identify all HSPF storms in record and rank

Flow Durations  Rank hourly outputs from HSPF model

Example IMP: In-Ground Planter 18-in sandy loam

Peak Flow Matching Example

Duration Matching Example

IMP Sizing Factors IMPSizing Factors In-Ground Planter Group A: 0.08 Group B: 0.11 Group C: 0.06 Group D: 0.05 Flow-Through Planter Group C: 0.06 Group D: 0.05 Vegetated/ Grassy Swale Group A: 0.10 to 0.14 Group B: 0.14 to 0.21 Group C: 0.10 to 0.15 Group D: 0.07 to 0.12 Bioretention Basin Group A: 0.13 Group B: 0.15 Group C: 0.08 Group D: 0.06 IMPSizing Factors Dry WellGroup A: 0.05 to 0.06 Group B: 0.06 to 0.09 Infiltration Trench Group A: 0.05 to 0.06 Group B: 0.07 to 0.10 Infiltration Basin Group A: 0.05 to 0.10 Group B: 0.06 to 0.16 Infiltration Only: Under-Drain or Infiltration:

Rainfall Variability Adjustment

Example Design Using the Sizing Calculator

DMA LS-1 6,205 SF DMA ROOF-1 4,681 SF DMA PAVE-1 7,651 SF DMA PAVE-2 2,737 SF DMA LS-2 1,112 SF IMP PL SF IMP PL SF IMP PL SF DMA PAVE-3 4,826 SF DMA LS- 3 1,207 SF

Adapting to Other Regions Most aspects are the same: ●Regulations are similar ●Can use same suite of IMPs ●Model stage-storage-discharge relationships are the same ●Stormwater C.3 Guidebook format and “Stormwater Control Plan” submittal concept has already been reused in Sonoma and Alameda counties Would need to customize by: ●Using local rainfall record to calculate sizing factors and adjustments