The Impacts of Traditional Stormwater Management vs. Green Infrastructure on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Presentation by Ashley Anne Strobridge

For GGS 307 – Sustainable Development

George Mason University

The WatershedThe Chesapeake Bay Watershed covers parts of 6 states & Washington DC:

VirginiaMarylandWest VirginiaDelawarePennsylvaniaNew YorkWashington DC

Quick Facts about the Chesapeake

Bay Largest Coastal Estuary in the

World (CBF). Supports 3,600 species of plant

and animal life, including over 300 fish species (NWF).

The Bay produces about 500 million pounds of seafood per year.

Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers are on the Clean Water Act's list of impaired waters.

Holds about 18 trillion gallons of water (CBF).

Quick Facts Continued… Only half of the water in the

Bay comes from the ocean. The rest comes from the 64,000 square mile watershed.

Every four years in the CBW, an area of land the size of Washington, D.C. is converted from green filter to grey funnel.

Most sewer drains don’t go to the sewage plant – polluted runoff from your street runs into local waters and ultimately to the Bay.

Current Development Issues Facing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Dead Zones Over-development of land

(building out, not up) Loss of Habitat (for land

and sea-creatures) Polluted Stormwater run-

off

Stormwater Management

Quick Facts about Stormwater Management in the CBW

Impervious surfaces create land area where water cannot be naturally filtered of pollutants, and that water becomes run-off that is full of pollutants such as motor oil from roadways, and pesticides and fertilizers from lawn care.

Just 1 Inch of Rain Falling on 1 Acre of Paved Surface Equals 27,000 Gallons of Polluted Runoff

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urban and suburban stormwater is the source of about 15 percent of the total nitrogen entering the Bay, and is the only source that is still increasing. (CBF)

Stormwater run-off is also responsible for other pollution entering the Bay such as e-coli from pet waste, litter such as cigarette butts, and nutrients which cause algae blooms, suffocating life in the Bay.

The Effects of Stormwater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UnaksjCobWY

“Unsavory Characters”

The first 5 min of the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ98lim

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Typical Stormwater Management

A Growing Problem

Despite making headway with other kinds of pollution to the Bay, pollution from untreated suburban and urban stormwater runoff from blacktop, roofs, and other hardened surfaces continues to grow.

40 million lbs. of polluted runoff in 2011.

But by 2025, there is hope to reduce that number.

Detach downspouts to prevent them from flowing into municipal storm drain systems. Install rain barrels to collect the flow instead. 

Create "pervious" walkways and driveways (of crushed stone, mulch, or other materials) that return rainwater to the ground. 

Reconfigure yard space to create rain gardens in low-lying areas, and replace grass turf with native plants. (CBF)

What citizens and communities can do to save the Bay….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvZW0JOddhU&list=PLeubfrCJrfk3l1ozr_d-uY2l88zEQpfdg

Green Infrastructure Solutions

A 2006 study compared the 1996 water quality of the Bay with what it would have been without the Clean Water Act, and with the Act there were benefits of $357.9 million to $1.8 billion in recreation and tourist income to just Virginia.

VIMS estimated that in 2004 recreational and commercial fishing in the Bay contributed $1.23 billion in sales, $717 million in income, and more than 13,000 jobs in Virginia alone.

Other benefits such as increased property value from cleaner waterways.

Financial Benefits of a Healthy Chesapeake Bay

Traditional Stormwater Management affects the Bay negatively by washing pollutants into the waterways

Green Infrastructure can improve that problem by slowing water-flow, and decreasing the amount of pollution that flows into the waterways by relieving the pressure on wastewater management facilities.

Communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed can implement these plans to create a cleaner Bay!

Summary

According to the EPA, as of Nov. 2013, the government was still looking for a database that would bring together information on the effects of green infrastructure and stormwater management on watershed health in specific regions. There is very little hard data with numbers like that.

EPA suggested enlisting help from colleges and watershed societies to do this research and compile these numbers.

Where the research can continue:

ReferencesChesapeake Bay Foundation. CBF, 2014. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Polluted Runoff: How Investing in Runoff Pollution Control Systems Improves theChesapeake Bay Region’s Ecology, Economy, and Health.” CBF. Jan 2014. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “What is the “Value” of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s Waterways?” CBF. 10 Apr 2014. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

“Chesapeake Bay Watershed Map of Impervious Surfaces.” Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Map. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

EPA. “Using Smart Growth Strategies to Create More Resilient Communities in the Washington, D.C. Region.” Nov 2013. Web. Apr 29 2014. http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/mwcog-guidebook-final-508-111313.pdf

Field Sports Concepts. “Chesapeake Bay Environmental Groups Clash Over Nutrient Trading.” Photograph. 29 May 2012. Web. 29 Apr 2014.http://fieldsportconcepts.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/chesapeake-bay-environmental-groups-clash-over-nutrient-trading/

Green City Clean Waters. Philadelphia Water Department. Film. Web. 18 Apr 2014. www.phillywatersheds.org

Green City Clean Waters (3 min Promo). Philadelphia Water Department. Film. Web. 29 Apr 2014. www.phillywatersheds.org

National Wildlife Federation. “Chesapeake Bay,” 2014. NWF. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

Nikki Davis. Sprawl Development. 2014. Chesapeake Bay Foundation website. Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

“Polluted Runoff Is Increasing in the Chesapeake Day Watershed.” Chesapeake Bay Program 2011 Model. Chart. Web. 29 Apr 2014.

Unsavory Characters. Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Film. Web. 29 Apr 2014.