Hello,

We have curated several informative and entertaining news stories from the stormwater industry, as well as a few other items of interest. We appreciate you taking the time to read our ezine and hope that you find this stormwater related information as interesting and informative as we do.

Until next month, please work safe and stay well.

Sincerely,
The Construction EcoServices Staff

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Planning Approach
wef.org

Intending to create greater regulatory flexibility and to make capital-intensive infrastructure projects more viable for municipalities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promoted an approach called integrated planning since 2012. Using an integrated plan, municipalities can fast-track solutions to the most pressing water quality problems facing their community while minimizing costs and maximizing cooperation.

City of Houston Launches Pilot Program to Promote Stormwater Infrastructure Growth
houston.innovationmap.com

The City of Houston has launched a pilot project that will speed up the permitting process for environmentally friendly stormwater projects. The Green Stormwater Infrastructure Expedited Permitting Pilot Program, announced August 4, will approve at least 10 projects in the Houston area by August 2022. In conjunction with the Resilient Houston initiative, the city is targeting 100 green stormwater infrastructure projects by 2025. The city is working on rules and regulations that will govern development of green stormwater infrastructure. Mayor Sylvester Turner rolled out a tax abatement program for green stormwater infrastructure projects last December.

U.S. Senate Passes Long-Awaited Infrastructure Package
wef.org

On August 10, the U.S. Senate passed its version of a long-awaited infrastructure package that proposes to allocate approximately $1.2 trillion toward new research, grant programs, and modernization projects for a range of U.S. infrastructure segments. The bill, which contains similar provisions to a $715 billion package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 1, prescribes an extensive set of investments in U.S. stormwater programs over the next five years.

Stormwater Runoff Carries Toxins and Raw Sewage into Our Waterways
CBS News

VIDEO – The Hudson is now clean enough for many locals to get out and enjoy it — but even if it doesn’t make you sick, finding out that 20 billion gallons of sewage still gets released into it every year could make anyone think twice. The city is also redirecting stormwater into thousands of tiny new “rain gardens” designed to soak up runoff. The local government has built massive tanks that can hold tens of millions of gallons of sewage that would otherwise spill into the water, spending billions of dollars on these projects. There have been some results. According to data from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the amount of combined sewage overflow has dropped 26% since 2008, and more than 80% since the 1980s. “There’s been a tremendous improvement. Now it’s finishing the job,” Lipscomb said.

Effective Stormwater Infiltration
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 8:30amCDT – 4:45pmCDT

This webinar offers 7.0 PDHs to professional engineers and 7.0 HSW continuing education hours to architects in all states. It offers 7.0 HSW continuing education hours to landscape architects in most states.

• Introduction to Stormwater Management
• Hydrologic Principles
• Infiltration with Low Impact Development Techniques
• Protecting Infiltration System during and after Construction
• Stormwater Infiltration Case Studies

Myth: The pollutants in stormwater are not typically harmful.

As stormwater flows down roads and lawns, it picks up sediment loaded with nutrients, spilled oil and paint, herbicides and pesticides, grass clippings and leaves. All these end up directly deposited into a body of water. Extra nutrients from plant debris and soil overload streams and lakes, feeding algae which in turn depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water when it decomposes. Due to low oxygen levels fish die, the surface water is covered with green algal goop and the smell of dead fish hits you fifty feet before seeing the water.

Myth: The state should take care of all stormwater pollution.

The state only manages a portion of land. While the state often sets guidelines and policies to improve stormwater quality, it is up to individuals, home-owners, businesses, farmers and commercial operations to step up and become local leaders in water quality.

Memorial Park Land Bridge Project

Past project updates talked about the Soil Development Trials started back in 2019. Those trials allowed the project team to test a wide variety of soil solutions, testing everything from mulch made from park trees that died as a result of Hurricane Harvey, to scientifically developed soil. These tests resulted in Profile Products’ ProGanics Biotic Soil Media and Flexterra Flexible Growth Medium being specified by the Memorial Park Conservancy.

Today, with a good amount of construction completed on the tunnels and a healthy amount of the new soil in place, the process of seeding the Land Bridge Project has begun. Construction EcoServices (CES) has partnered with hydroseeding company K4E to provide a majority of the project’s seeding requirements. CES also provided consulting for many aspects of this part of the project, including the selection of over 30+ seeds, the seasonal overseeding schedule, the spray rate, and more.

One interesting and complicated aspect of the project recently crept up of the project team. The areas around the tunnel headwalls needed special attention, given the slope and the inconveniently located areas right above the middle of the tunnels. Not only would the slopes require a more robust erosion control solution, but whatever solution was chosen will need to be applied while above an 80+ foot tall tunnel – thus, applying any solution was going to be a safety concern. Very similar to the 2019 soil tests, the project team has set up a test area for the desired solution, Profile’s Green Armor, which consists of a combination of Futerra Permanent Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM) and Flexterra Flexible Growth Medium. If the test is successful, the next hurdle will be to determine how to apply this solution around the headwalls in a safe and secure way.

Still, the project is taking shape nicely. Take a drive through Memorial Park and have a look! More to come.

IECA Texas Regional Conference
October 19 & 20, 2021

Join us for the 2021 Texas Regional Conference, October 2021 on the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk. Hosted at the beautiful Hilton Holiday Inn San Antonio Riverwalk. The conference will kick off with a great keynote from the Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of San Antonio followed by a full schedule of education, vendor showcases, and a Vendor Reception. On Wednesday morning, we will have more education opportunities, vendor showcases, and an optional field tour in the afternoon. The exciting field tour is a boat ride on the lazy river to see the new flood gates. Hosted by the South Central Chapter IECA (SCIECA) and IECA, the conference is a key industry event in the region!

Conference Highlights

Peer-to-Peer Learning | Regional Networking | Technical Skills Building Dynamic Speakers | Product Showcase | Professional Development Knowledge Sharing | Regional/Chapter Connection | Professional Inspiration

Let’s Talk

We offer stormwater consulting and value-engineering services, turnkey SWPPP compliance services during construction activity, erosion control solutions for slopes and channels, and post-construction compliance services for stormwater management systems for detention and stormwater quality treatment. Need help? Contact us today.