Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.18
Liaison Ryan Todd
Submission Date May 9, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

California State University, Sacramento
OP-27: Rainwater Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Kevin Murphy
Engineering Manager
Office of Water Programs
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution use Low Impact Development (LID) practices as a matter of policy or standard practice to reduce rainwater/stormwater runoff volume and improve outgoing water quality for new construction, major renovation, and other projects?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:
Sacramento State has made a major commitment to implementing LID stormwater treatment devices on campus. At a minimum, LID stormwater capture and treatment devices are required for any construction projects with greater than 2,500 square feet of impervious surface. Current construction of new dormitories includes the installation of a series or infiltration trenches and planters. In addition, as part of a retrofit project, Sacramento State recently constructed over 25 LID stormwater capture and treatment devices on campus. Go to the following link for more information on the project: http://www.owp.csus.edu/csus-lid/ The devices include bioretention planters, bioswales, rain gardens, rooftop disconnects, porous pavement, and a green street. The devices are designed to capture and treat over 13 acre-feet of stormwater runoff every year. Sacramento State continues to look for opportunities to install additional LID devices.

Has the institution adopted a rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, or strategies that mitigate the rainwater runoff impacts of ongoing campus operations through the use of green infrastructure? :
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:
The LID devices discussed above were designed in accordance with the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (SSQP - see http://www.beriverfriendly.net/) LID design standards. The University plans to work closely with the SSQP in the future and will consider adoping guidance and policies as appropriate. The University is dedicated to implementing sustainable stormwater management practices and protecting the American River, which is located on the eastern side of the campus. The focus is on using LID devices to infiltratrate and/or treat stormwater before it reaches the American River. Sacramento State Facilities Management (FM) is dedicated to properly maintaining all LID devices. They will follow guidance provided in the recently prepared "Campus LID Operation and Maintenance Manual". The University also has a master plan dedicated to sustainability (including LID stormwater devices). See the following two links for more information: http://www.csus.edu/aba/facilities/Documents/SacState-MasterPlan-2015Report-Reduced%20072715.pdf AND http://www.csus.edu/news/articles/2015/5/20/sac-state-master-plan-is-given-green-light-by-csu-trustees.shtml

A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
The existing LID stormwater capture and treatment devices are designed to infiltrate over 11 acre-feet of water per year. The infiltrated water will replenish the groundwater which is used to irrigate the campus.

Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
3,600,000 Gallons

A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
There are currently seven bioretention devices that treat stormwater runoff from large parking lots. The devices include 12-24 inches of amended soils to filter stormwater runoff before it is either infiltrated (regular sized storms) or infiltrated/released (large storms).

A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
N/A

A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
Porous paving was installed on both sides of the green street (Jeb Smith Drive) where it is used for parallel parking. The green street also includes porous pavement walkways. At the campus Wellness Center, porous pavement directs rooftop runoff into the subsurface. Porous pavement walkways are currently being installed at a Library Green rain garden. Finally, a porous pavement patio was recently constructed next to the rain garden that takes rooftop runoff from Caleveras Hall.

A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
Downspouts at Caleveras Hall were disconnected and the rooftop runoff is now directed to two rain gardens. Rooftop runoff from portions of the campus Wellness Center are directed via porous paving to the subsurface. There are other areas throughout campus where rooftop runoff is directed to existing landscaped areas.

A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
There are a total of 14 rain gardens on campus. Four were recently constructed on the west side of campus and treat stormwater runoff from Campus Drive. Four are a part of the Green Street (Jeb Smith Drive) and treat stormwater runoff from Jeb Smith Drive and adjacent parking lots. Four were recently constructed near Library Grove and Campus Grove and treat stormwater runoff from walkways and grass areas. Two treat rooftop runoff from Caleveras Hall.

A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
All seven bioretention devices include at least a foot of storage below an underdrain placed beneath the filter materials (amended soil). Stormwater treated by the bioretention devices willl likely infiltrate or, in the case of large storms, be retained and then relased during the later part of the storm.

A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
A stone bioswale was recently constructed on campus at Capital Public Radio. In addition, another bioswale (amended soils with vegetation) was constructed in Parking Lot 7. There is also a large unlined canal that runs south/north through the campus that naturally acts as a bioswale in several areas.

A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
Ongoing construction of dormitories includes multiple infiltration trenches and planters to capture and treat stormwater runoff. Sacramento State is extremely involved in promoting LID throughout California. The campus hosted an LID conference in November 2015. See following link for more information: http://www.owp.csus.edu/upcoming-events/2015-sacramento-regional-lid-conference.php

The website URL where information about the institution’s rainwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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