Stormwater May 2012 : Page 49
The program’s goal was simple: take control runoff and offer residents recre-enlarged the park’s 3-acre pond to 9 50% of the roof area out of the CS ational opportunities. The stormwater acres to hold overfl ow from the creek, area. After an intensive public educa-park includes a constructed fl oodplain, built dry detention basins, and added tion campaign, more than 240 roofs river bank stabilization, bioretention a box culvert and diversion pipe. Na-and 985 downspouts were discon-areas, and restored prairie and wood-tive plants on the pond’s embank-nected. That equivalent of 11 acres of lands. This community park contains a ments, wooded fl oodplain areas, and impervious surface removed more than portion of the Hank Aaron State Trail. grassy swales both add to the park’s met the program’s goal. beauty and help manage Rain gardens and rain bar-stormwater by nature. For rels were also installed. their patience, Elm Grove Shorewood residents, re-residents have far less lieved that their basements stormwater and more rec-stopped fl ooding and they reational opportunities, didn’t have to pay a massive including a walking path, increase in taxes to make more soccer fi elds, and a that so, have championed naturalized pond. more green infrastructure These projects in Mil-in their community, includ-waukee demonstrate that ing beach bluff restoration stormwater management to manage erosion, a green isn’t a matter of grey ver-alley project, and a new sus green infrastructure, high school athletic fi eld or of a one-site versus a with zero discharge. watershed-wide approach. In March 2011, MMSD Each strategy has a role to began the Private Prop-play. When selected and erty Infl ow and Infi ltra-employed wisely, as seen Hundreds of roofs and downspouts were disconnected from the combined tion Reduction Program. sewer system in Shorewood. in these examples, then This $138 million program the city and the region are helps district homeown-better off. ers pay for downspout and foundation What was once a contaminated indus-“Rain gardens, rain barrels and other drain disconnection, lateral repair and trial area has been reclaimed. Residents BMPs are an important part of urban rehabilitation, and improved surface have access to bike and walking/run-stormwater management, but there ning paths and the Menomonee River. needs to be a larger watershed ap-water drainage. Another location that combines proach where large wetland complexes Green infrastructure is also growing at the Milwaukee County Zoo, which recreation and environmental educa-and stream corridors in the urbanizing repaved many of its walking paths tion for residents, wildlife habitat, and areas are protected from development with permeable paving brick. Runoff stormwater management is the beauti-pressures,” says Grusznski. “These un-that doesn’t infi ltrate is piped to a rain ful Mequon Nature Preserve. Located developed corridors are a vital tool to garden area. A bioswale was installed on the border of Ozaukee and Milwau-managing upstream nutrient runoff and along the northern border of the zoo’s kee counties, the preserve has 3 miles will slow the amount of runoff entering main parking lot to capture and treat of winding hiking trails that connect local waterways by retaining the water runoff. Swales and buffers were add-with two other area trails. on site like nature intended it to.” More than 550 acres of farmland ed at various exhibits. The Education As for grey infrastructure, he says, have been restored to presettlement “Engineered stormwater solutions are Center has a green roof. Rainwater from the roofs of the pri-beech and maple forests, ponds, and a critical part of stormwater manage-mate house and the Australian building wetlands. The preserve’s natural set-ment; however, when combined with is captured and stored to wash walks ting allows less runoff and cleaner wa-a natural approach, such as wetland and other areas. The zoo’s used animal ter to fl ow into Trinity Creek, a tribu-preservation, they can complement the bedding and food waste no longer fi lls tary of the Milwaukee River. downstream engineered solutions.” Elm Grove is another Milwaukee up the landfi ll. Growing Power, an ur-ban farm organization, turns it, along community that suffered extensive Margaret Buranen writes from Lexing-fl ooding. Underwood Creek, which ton, KY, on the environment and busi-with plant trimmings, into compost. The Menomonee River Valley has fl ows beside the city’s park, became ness, for several national publications. both development and stormwater the solution instead of the problem. Scan here to share management happening at the same For this to happen, residents had to this article or read time. A collective approach to the give up their park for a year and a later. Get the app at stormwater control centers on a 70-half, so it could be rebuilt with storm-http://gettag.mobi acre stormwater park, a natural way to water management in mind. Workers MMSD/Milwaukee Public Information May 2012 www.stormh2o.com 49
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