Changes To Stormwater Regulations And Pond Opportunity On .

Changes to StormwaterRegulations and PondOpportunity on Eisenhower EastBlock 19Joint meeting betweenEnvironmental Policy CommissionPark and Recreation CommissionApril 2, 2013

Stormwater: Issues & Challenges Stormwater Primer Regulatory Background and Existing Program New Stormwater Regulatory Changes Possible Alternatives to meet Chesapeake BayTotal Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Reductions Current Process to Evaluate Impacts andCostsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20132

What is a Watershed?Area of land that drains to a stream, marsh, or otherbody of water.Watershed BoundaryJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20133

Chesapeake Bay Watershed 64,000 sq. miles Six states and DC 15 million people 3,600 species of plantsand animals Shallow, productiveestuaryJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20134

Alexandria WatershedsBlock 19 LocationJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20135

Stormwater Runoff & Conveyance Inlets and stormsewer pipeinfrastructureJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20136

Regulatory Background 1972 – Clean Water Act 1988 – Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act 1992 – Local ChesBay Ordinancerequired stormwater quality BMPs 2003 – First MS4 Permit 2006 – Environmental ManagementOrdinance updates 2010 – Chesapeake Bay TMDL 2011 – State Stormwater Regulations– Implement July 1, 2014Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20137

Framework of CityEnvironmental Ordinance Entire City is designated asChesapeake Bay Preservation Area Divided into Resource ProtectionAreas (RPAs) and ResourceManagement Areas (RMAs)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20138

RPAs 100’ natural buffer on perennial streams Functions to protect water quality Permitted Uses Include:– Passive recreation– Boardwalk, trails, repair of existing floodcontrol, regional stormwater managementfacilities, utilities and public roads– Stormwater management facilities thatdrain or treat multiple projects– Redevelopment, but with No increase of impervious surface No further encroachmentJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20139

RMAs Covers all areas not designated as a RPA Existing ordinance requires stormwaterquality BMP’s for development andredevelopment projects Existing ordinance is more stringentthan State requirements;– Protects natural intermittent streams– Requires water quality volume to be treated(first ½ inch)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201310

BMP’s Installed to Date Approximately 400 BMPs constructedtreating approximately 1200 ac.(65% impervious)Bioretention (Alexandria Toyota, 3750 Jefferson Davis Hwy.)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRCTD Bank (557 S. Van Dorn St.)4.2.201311

Green Roof / Rain Barrel(Alexandria City Hall)StormFilter (Lindsay Lexus, 1525 Kenwood Ave.)Flexi-Pave Permeable Pavement (Taft Ave.)D.C. Sand Filter (Fairchild Property, 1001 Bernard St.)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201312

New Stormwater RegulatoryChanges New State Stormwater ManagementRegulations Chesapeake Bay Total MaximumDaily Load (TMDL) Municipal Separate Storm SewerSystem (MS4) PermitJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201313

New Stormwater ManagementRegulations Delegates authority for regulatoryLocal Stormwater Program Water Quality Criteria– Capture 1” vs. previous 0.5”– New: 0.41 lbs./ac/yr.– Redevelopment: 10% or 20% ( 1 ac.) Water Quantity CriteriaJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201314

New Stormwater Regulations:Impact on Development Bigger, more expensive BMPs Retain more stormwater onsite Use of Low Impact Development (LID)techniques– green roofs, infiltration, cisterns,permeable surfaces, reuse Possible fee increaseJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201315

Chesapeake BayTotal Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) TMDL maximum amount of apollutant that a waterbody can receiveand still meet water quality standards– Pollution ‘budget’ or ‘diet’ Based on modeling and monitoring Assigns wasteload allocations (WLAs)for watersheds and localitiesJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201316

Chesapeake Bay TMDL EPA developed for Six States and DC inDecember 2010 Reductions and budgets for Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Sediment State Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) State will use MS4 Permit to enforce targetreductionsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201317

MS4 Phased ReductionsMS4 Regulates separate storm sewerdischarges to surface watersThree 5-year MS4 permits to meetChesapeake Bay TMDL reductions:Phase I 5% by end of next permit (2013 – 2018)Phase II 40% by end of 2nd permit (2018 – 2023)Phase III 100% by end of 3rd permit (2023 – 2028)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201318

MS4 Phased Reductions: PoundsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201319

MS4 Phased Reductions: AcresRequired ReductionsPhase I: 2013-2018(5%)Phase II: 2018-2023(40%)Phase III: 2023-2028(100% - Total toComply)Acres RequiringTreatmentJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC120 - 300 950 (?) 2400 (?)4.2.201320

Possible Alternatives to meetChesapeake Bay TMDL Reductions Development & RedevelopmentPost 2009 Regional Stormwater ManagementRetrofits and New Facilities Retrofits on City Property Retrofits of City Rights-of-Way OffsetsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201321

Development and RedevelopmentPost 2009 Developers are required to installbest management practice (BMP)facilities to meet stormwaterregulationsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201322

Regional Stormwater ManagementRetrofits and New Facilities Retrofit of existingregional wet ponds Retrofit regional“fishing pond” Aestheticsconsideration Consider currentand planned usesJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201323

Retrofits on City Property Advanced ultraurban BMPs High removal efficiencies Serves small drainage areas Untreated City properties within the MS4area Not all appropriate High unit costJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201324

Retrofits on City Property Preliminary analysis indicated thateven if all City facilities wereretrofitted with BMPs the City wouldfall 600 acres short of 2028 targetJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201325

Retrofits of City Rights-of-Way Bioretention practicesbetween road andsidewalk Public streets to consider––––Route 1 along Potomac YardMount Vernon AvenueRoute 7 bordering ArlingtonVan Dorn Street City Design Guidelinesnear completionJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRCCourtesy: City of Richmond4.2.201326

Costs of Possible AlternativesUnit Cost PerTotal Goal StrategyReduction Strategy Impervious Acre Acres AcreageTotal CostProjected UrbanDeveloperRedevelopmentDeveloper Pays676 28.10% PaysPond Retrofits andNew Ponds 15,000 *749 31.10% 7.8MRetrofits on CityProperty 164,00087 3.60% 14.2MRetrofits of CityRights-of-Way 113,00034 1.40% 4.2M"Gap" Bioretention( 87,000 / Filtration164,000)660 28.00% 108.2MTotal 134.5M**Approx. median between two higher unit costsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201327

Process to Develop City-wideStrategy Stormwater Steering Committee––––Key Department Heads and CMOSets priorities and directionProvides guidanceReviews Stormwater Work Group––––Impacted City DepartmentsDevelops alternatives and strategiesImmediate: FY2014-15 Work ProgramOrdinance revisions and proceduresJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201328

Process to Evaluate Impacts ofAlternatives and Costs FY2014-15 Stormwater WorkProgram– Chesapeake Bay TMDL Compliance Focus on first permit cycle of 5%– Internal and External Stakeholders Including commissions and public input– Final ordinance revisions– Identify Long-Term Alternatives andOptionsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201329

Questions and CommentsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201330

Eisenhower East Small Area PlanJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201331

Parks and Open Space ofEisenhower EastJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201332

Parks and Open Space ofEisenhower EastJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201333

Parks and Open Space ofEisenhower East “A comprehensive system of integratedconservation areas and passive and activeparks and urban square to meet the needs ofthe residents and visitors to the area.” Restoration of the RPA lands is key toEisenhower Park and the open space program The park offers large expanses of open spacefor formal and informal recreational activities The park includes community amenities such asnature trails, bike trails and recreational fitnesstrailsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201334

Block 19: BackgroundJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201335

Block 19: BackgroundMJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201336

Block 19: BackgroundHoffmanCity1219Paradigm1120Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201337

Block 19: BackgroundJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201338

Block 19: BackgroundJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201339

MILL RDPORT STBlock 19: BackgroundDOCK LNJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201340

PORT STMILL RDBlock 19: Current ProposalDOCK LNJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201341

Block 19: Current ProposalJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201342

Block 19: Current ProposalJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201343

Block 19: Current ProposalJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201344

Drainage AreaJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20134545

Regulatory Discussion VA Chesapeake Bay Act regulations specifically allowflood control or regional stormwater managementfacilities within the RPA City’s Environmental Management Ordinance allowspublic flood and regional stormwater managementfacilities in the RPA An RPA is not required around the Pond because it isbound by culverts at both ends (no inflow from aperennial stream and no outflow to a perennial stream))Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20134646

Comparison of Wet Ponds vs.Other Stormwater BMPsTable 1: Existing City-Owned Non-Wet Pond BMPsJoint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201347

Comparison of Wet Ponds vs.Other Stormwater BMPsTable 2: Summary of Existing City-Owned Non-Wet Pond BMPsTable 3: Existing City-Owned Wet Pond BMPsTable 4: Proposed Paradigm Pond-19Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.201348

Cost Comparison of Strategies:Pond vs. AlternativesUnit Cost per Operation &Estimated 20-Year Life-TimeCosts (inImpervious2012 Dollars)ImperviousMaintenance Total CostStrategyAcres TreatedAcre(O&M) Cost1 (Capital O&M)Paradigm Pond70 21,000 600,000 1.5 – 2.1M2(Costs borne by developer)(49 effective)Cost Comparison of Alternatives for Similar Treatment:(Costs borne by City)Urban Bioretention /Filtration Retrofits49 164,000 1,600,0003 9.6M4New City- Constructed &Maintained Wet Pond49 24,000 600,000 1.8M41. Calculated over 20 years for both routine and major maintenance2. About 70 ac. at 35% efficiency 49 ac. at 50% (effective treatment)3. Assumes 49 one-acre Urban Bioretention / Filtration Retrofits4. Cost does not include land acquisition costs or site access costs ( 38/sq. ft. or 1.7M per acre)Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20134949

Pond Option isConsistent with: City Strategic Plan–Enhance the ecological integrity of waterways by maintaining and improving storm water and sanitaryinfrastructure and stream system health to minimize environmental impacts Water Quality Supplement to the City’s Master Plan–Targets of Opportunity – regional stormwater ponds for offsite water, particularly with Private/Public Partnerships Chesapeake Bay TMDL–Requires load reductions in Phosphorous, Nitrogen and Sediment Article XIII, Environmental Management Ordinance–Allows regional public stormwater ponds within RPA Zoning Ordinance Definition of Open Space–The purpose of open and usable space is to provide areas of trees, shrubs, lawns, pathways and other natural andman-made amenities which function for the use and enjoyment of residents, visitors and other persons. Eisenhower East Small Area Plan–Parks and Resource Protection Areas offer large expanses of open space for formal and informal recreationactivities and should include community amenities such as nature, bike, and recreational fitness trails.Joint Meeting Between EPC & PRC4.2.20135050