| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.49 |
| Liaison | Krista Bailey |
| Submission Date | Dec. 17, 2020 |
Pennsylvania State University
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Shelley
McKeague Environmental Compliance Specialist Engineering Services |
Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
The University has a comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan. This document presents the University’s objectives and methods that are used to correct existing problems and prevent future problems and covers issues related to new development, redevelopment, and where stormwater facilities will be required in their own right. This document also provides a summary of existing stormwater related policies. In specific areas, additional Water Resource Publications (WRPs) describe the area's goals in more detail. WRP's are also public documents provided to consultants working in specific areas.
The University overall is a net zero discharger of runoff in the Spring Creek Watershed. In other words, more runoff from University and non-University areas is recharged (infiltrated) on the University’s property than runoff from the University that is discharged off University areas to surface waters. This occurs because the community and other non-University lands discharge large quantities of off-site runoff to protected land holdings of the University.
The University has also instituted stormwater design requirements that exceed local, State and Federal requirements. The goals of these standards is to reduce runoff rates across the entire Campus as the University redevelops areas.
The University owns the following stormwater BMPs in the Centre Region as of the end of 2019:
Regulated Dams: 4
Surface Stormwater Ponds: 28
Subsurface Detention Facilities: 46
Green Roofs: 12 (113,000 sf area) - 2 roofs under construction
Bioswales and Rain Gardens: 34
Low Head Recharge Weirs: 9
Stormwater Reuse Cisterns: 3
Hydrodynamic Water Quality Structures: 11
Protected Water Resource Preservation Ares: 454 acres
The University promotes foremost the use of conservation design practices that preserve and use natural critical hydrologic areas to minimize impact to the environment. It also promotes the use and application of sound science in our stormwater management practices.
A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
While some storm drain conveyance systems are undersized, the University will not simply increase pipe sizes to solve the problem. Such actions are counterproductive to the goals of the University and result in pushing more flooding downstream (flood transference) to both University and non-University properties. All new development and redevelopment projects at the University will have the goal of reducing peak runoff rates downstream, which will also improve downstream water quality.
The University also has had a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit since 2003. Our MS4 program includes six minimum control measures: public education, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site runoff control, post-construction runoff management and pollution prevention/good housekeeping.
The MS4 program can be found at: http://opp.psu.edu/university-ms4-program
Website URL where information about the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Design and Construction Standards - https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/OPPDCS/33+40+00+STORM+DRAINAGE+UTILITIES
Design and Construction Standards - https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/OPPDCS/33+40+00+STORM+DRAINAGE+UTILITIES
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.