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SECTION
3. PRIVATE PROPERTY
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PERCENT LANDSCAPED AREA
1. ADEQUATE LANDSCAPED AREA: Review
and if necessary modify existing requirements for adequate
landscaped area on private properties to provide absorption
of stormwater and groundwater
recharge, as well as healthy root environment for trees
and other landscape plantings.
ROOFS
1. ECOROOFS: Allow , encourage and
subsidize water-absorbent living ecoroofs
for new construction and remodeling. (Germany, Belgium, elsewhere.
Tax credits in NYC, Seattle, Chicago, Portland, elsewhere)
(http://www.barrettroofs.com,
http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2000/12/12312000/rooftops_40979.asp,
http://www.greengridroofs.com)
PAVING
1. ELIMINATE REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPERMEABLE
DRIVEWAYS: Some local municipalities require impermeable
paving of driveways. The additive effect of these driveways
on urban runoff is significant.
Change ordinances to prohibit impermeable driveways and require
permeable ones. Permit and encourage safe loose paving materials
such as decomposed granite,
mulch, turfblock and other
vegetated parking surfaces, as well as other permeable approaches
to driveways, turnarounds and parking areas.
(http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/PerviousMaterials.html)
(Florida Concrete & Products Association Inc., 3030 Dade
Ave., Orlando, Fla. 32804, 800-342-0080, http://www.fcpa.org)
(Cool Communities, Rome, GA. http://www.coolcommunities.org/cool_pavements.htm)
2. ROOT-FRIENDLY PAVING: Encourage paving
systems (including a no-paving option where applicable) that
respect and protect the root systems of adjacent vegetation.
Excavation deeper than 2-3 inches destroys the feeder roots
of trees and shrubs.
3. REDUCE OVERALL PAVED AREA: Limit the
percentage of land that can be covered with impermeable materials.
Allow buildings equipped with ecoroofs
to count as open space. Review each remodeling project for
excess existing paving and require removal of paving where
appropriate.
4. NON-TOXIC SEAL COATING: Develop and mandate
the use of pavement maintenance materials that do not leach
toxic waste.
PARKING LOTS
1. PERMEABLE PAVING: Mandate permeable
paving in all parking lots (Pervious
concrete, turf block, gravel, decomposed
granite, etc.). (http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/PerviousMaterials.html)
(Florida Concrete & Products Association Inc., 3030 Dade
Ave., Orlando, Fla. 32804, 800-342-0080, http://www.fcpa.org)
(Cool Communities, Rome, GA. http://www.coolcommunities.org/cool_pavements.htm)
2. INTERNAL DRAINAGE: Grade paved surfaces
to drain to central percolation
beds or planter islands that are also designed as bioswales.
3. SUBSURFACE STORMWATER
STORAGE CHAMBERS: Use the area beneath paved parking lots
to temporarily store storm runoff
by developing subsurface
filter beds and other water-holding structures.
(T.R.E.E.S. Project: http://www.treepeople.org/trees)
4. PONDING
ZONES: Direct runoff
from paved areas to on-site ponding or recharge areas.
5. PARKING STALL SIZE REDUCTION: Reduce
overall parking lot size by downsizing individual stalls.
6. ENCOURAGE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION:
In all efforts to promote alternative forms of transportation,
include information on the effect of motor vehicles and their
support systems on the watershed.
7. NON-TOXIC SEAL COATING: Develop and mandate
the use of pavement maintenance materials that do not leach
toxic waste.
STORMWATER SYSTEMS
1. DRAINAGE SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS: Educate
property owners about methods of modifying drainage inlets
to provide ponding areas for slowing the discharge of stormwater
into drainage systems. Where appropriate, require that ponding
zones be a part of all newly constructed drainage systems.
Educate the public about the wastefulness of conventional
piped drainage systems and the benefits of the alternatives.
2. RETENTION
GRADING: Where geologically and hydrologically appropriate,
include bermed ponding
areas and swales to hold
water on site.
WATER
HARVESTING & GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
1. PROGRESSIVE GRADING ORDINANCES: Where appropriate, permit,
encourage and require grading practices that permit rainwater
to remain on site rather than running off. This would include
the use of berming, ponding,
dry streambeds, percolation
zones, driveway drywells, percolation chimneys, elevated drain
inlets, bioswales, filter
beds, constructed wetlands, pervious paving, gravel or decomposed
granite driveways and walks, ripraps and other methods
and structures.
2. GRAYWATER SYSTEMS: Encourage the installation
of graywater systems
on private commercial and residential properties. Develop
educational programs on the implementation of graywater harvesting.
Subsidize graywater systems where possible. (http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid287.php)(http://oasisdesign.net/index.htm)
3. CISTERNS & RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS:
Encourage and subsidize the installation of cisterns,
water walls, rain barrels and other water catchment and storage
devices.
(http://www.cityfarmer.org/rainbarrel72.html,
http://www.greenbuilder.com/Sourcebook/rainwater.html)
(http://dmoz.org/Science/Environment/Water_Resources/Rainwater_Harvesting)
(http://www.edgewaterenviro.com/rainwater.htm)
(http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid287.php)
4. DRY STREAMBEDS: Install natural dry
streambeds in runoff
areas. Where appropriate, include percolation
chambers to direct storm water into the ground.
BIOFILTRATION
1. BIOSWALES: Encourage the development of vegetated bioswales
on private property. Require bioswales on new projects where
it is geologically safe to do so. Educate property owners
about the advantages of vegetated runoff
zones and the techniques for creating them. Subsidize the
development of bioswales as a less-expensive alternative to
engineering approaches to stormwater management.
IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT
1. PUBLIC EDUCATION: In all public
water awareness and irrigation management programs, include
information on the effects of careless water management on
the watershed.
2. ET-BASED WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: As
technological advances permit, investigate the possibility
of automatic ET-based irrigation controllers. Subsidize installation
where possible.
FERTILIZER USE REDUCTION
1. FERTILIZER APPLICATION MANAGEMENT:
Develop and follow stringent guidelines for fertilizer application
on all private properties.
2. TRAINING PROGRAMS: Train private grounds
maintenance employees and home gardeners in proper fertilizer
use.
3. MUNICIPAL COMPOSTING AND DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM: Develop and implement a municipal greenwaste
composting system. Educate the public about the advantages
of using compost instead of fertilizer.
4. USE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS: Encourage
the use of organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers.
Organics are more resistant to leaching and are also better
for plants, and the soil
foodweb.
5. LEAF LITTER RETENTION: Encourage the
practice of allowing leaf litter to remain in place where
appropriate. Removal of leaf litter disrupts the nutrient
loop and makes it necessary to import lost nutrients in the
form of fertilizers. It also exposes the soil to drying and
erosion, leading to excess silt flows.
6. LOW NUTRIENT-REQUIRING PLANT SPECIES:
Encourage the use of plants that require little or no supplemental
fertilization.
PESTICIDE USE REDUCTION
1. PESTICIDE USE EDUCATION: Public
education program to reduce agricultural, residential and
commercial pesticide and herbicide use and misuse.
2. PESTICIDE BAN FOR ORNAMENTALS: Follow
the lead of Halifax, Nova Scotia in banning the use of pesticides
for ornamental plants.
(http://www.region.halifax.ns.ca/pesticides/suppl_report4.html)
3. PEST-SUSCEPTIBLE PLANT REDUCTION: Remove
species that are known to be especially susceptible to pest
and disease infestations and replace them with durable, low-maintenance
species.
ORGANIC MULCHES
1. MULCHING PROGRAM: Encourage the use of organic mulches
in private landscaping. Mulch improves water absorption, reduces
runoff, improves the
soil foodweb, prevents
surface erosion, reduces water loss by evaporation, improves
the root environment for plants and improves the appearance
of planting beds.
2. PUBLIC EDUCATION: Educate the public
about the advantages of mulch.
CONSTRUCTION SITE EROSION
& SILTATION CONTROLS
1. REGULATION: Develop and enforce strong, effective regulations
for management of construction sites to prevent erosion, loss
of topsoil and siltation.
The regulations of many states are apparently much more stringent
than California’s.
2. BUILDING TRADES EDUCATION: Develop and
implement educational programs for building and other contractors,
subcontractors in all trades and others in related fields.
Provide programs for management and laborers, in Spanish and
English.
MISCELLANEOUS STRATEGIES
1. RUNOFF
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR STABLES, KENNELS, ETC.: Develop strategies
for keeping and treating animal effluent on site at public
and private animal holding and training facilities. Regularly
inspect these sites for compliance. Develop a system of sanctions
for violators.
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