Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.13
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 15, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Auburn University
OP-23: Stormwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Tom McCauley
Environmental Programs Manager
Risk Management & Safety
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from new development projects? :
Yes

Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from ongoing campus operations? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution's stormwater management initiatives:

Through the continual implementation of minimum control measures, the Auburn University Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) strives to implement measures on campus to address both water quantity and quality on campus.

Through Public Education & Outreach and Public Involvement & Participation measures, facilitators of the SWMP and the Parkerson Mill Creek Watershed Management Plan recognize the importance of communicating with and engaging the campus community to create better understanding of stormwater management principles. These efforts include the development of informational fact sheets, workshops, and creek clean up events.

Through Illicit Discharge and Detection control measures, the SWMP commits to modeling stormwater outfalls and a comprehensive structural assessment of stormwater conveyance systems to identify opportunities for improvement. Additionally, since Auburn University's Parkerson Mill Creek is impaired for pathogen bacteria, bacteriological monitoring is performed to identify potential sources of bacteria.

Through the Construction Site Stormwater Management control measures AU has revised the design standards and construction specifications to ensure the most effective strategies and techniques are implemented on all university construction projects.

Through Post Construction & Redevelopment stormwater management control measures, AU has developed a Post Construction Runoff Control Plan which will establish controls to prevent or minimize post-construction water quality impacts. AU has also developed a long-term maintenance plan for such controls to ensure that both structural and non-structural devices are working as designed.

Finally, through the implementation of Pollution Prevention and & Good Housekeeping control measures, AU performs a variety of routine operational inspection and maintenance efforts to reduce stormwater pollutant loads. These efforts include such activities as a parking lot and street cleaning program, a stormwater conveyance cleaning program, a fleet maintenance program, maintenance of waste & recycling collection areas, oil and fuel center inspection and maintenance programs, and pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer storage, use and disposal programs.

The Parkerson Mill Creek Watershed Management Plan goals are to:
1. Meet the water quality standards assigned to Parkerson Mill Creek.
2. Aid the City of Auburn, Auburn University and Lee County not only to meet their compliance goals as a MS IV Phase II community but also to serve as an example to other municipalities facing similar challenges and responsibilities.
3. Restore aquatic habitat and function in Parkerson Mill Creek to support its designated fish and wildlife use.
4. Protect green space in planning for the future.


The website URL where information about the institution's stormwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
Does the institution have a living or vegetated roof?:
No

A brief description of the institution's living or vegetated roof:
---

Does the institution have porous paving?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's porous paving:

Porous pavement is used on sidewalks within the University’s arboretum property and around dormitory parking areas.


Does the institution have retention ponds?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's retention ponds:

A retention pond in Agricultural Heritage Park receives stormwater runoff from nearby campus lands and roads.


Does the institution have stone swales?:
No

A brief description of the institution's stone swales:
---

Does the institution have vegetated swales?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution's vegetated swales:

AU has installed vegetated rain gardens in and around parking areas and around buildings on campus. These vegetated swales have provided an aesthetically pleasing landscape as well as sound water quality and quantity benefits.


Does the institution employ any other technologies or strategies for stormwater management?:
Yes

A brief description of other technologies or strategies for stormwater management employed:

Auburn University is utilizing cisterns to capture rainwater in several locations as prototype projects to study the feasibility of large scale cistern use. The university is looking for an appropriate location to install a green roof to cistern to rain garden water management chain.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Two new buildings on campus,The CASIC research building and the student Wellness Center, scheduled to open this year with have two green roof sections each.


Two new buildings on campus,The CASIC research building and the student Wellness Center, scheduled to open this year with have two green roof sections each.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.