| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.12 |
| Liaison | Daryl Pierson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 21, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Portland State University
OP-23: Stormwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jenny
McNamara Sustainability Manager Campus Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from new development projects? :
Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from ongoing campus operations? :
A brief description of the institution's stormwater management initiatives:
Stormwater management policy from 2005
IPM plan adopted 2012
Sustainable stormwater management principles are adopted as Portland State University’s (PSU) preferred approach for the management of stormwater. These principles have and will be demonstrated in the planning and retrofitting of current and future campus development with the intent of managing all stormwater on site within a 50-100 year time period.
Includes such initiatives as:
Eco-roofs, rainwater harvesting, bioswales, porous pavers, better irrigation practices, and more.
Goals:
•Decrease impervious surfaces and/or increase stormwater surfaces which allow for water reuse on the Portland State University campus, especially through methods which continue to allow urban density.
•Improve water quality, decrease water runoff peak rate, increase and improve natural habitat systems.
•Decrease resource usage including pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation water.
•Implement designs which allow for stormwater to be reused on-site.
•Decrease sediment losses through sustainable erosion control.
•Implement consistent monitoring and auditing of systems.
•Implement all levels of the Stormwater Management Plan and Integrated Pest Management Plan.
•Become a leader in the research, development and successful implementation of sustainable stormwater management in the Pacific Northwest.
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?:
A brief description of the institution's living or vegetated roof:
Ecoroofs are an aesthetically pleasing way to enhance the lifespan of a roof, reduce the building’s stormwater runoff, and reduce energy consumption by mitigating rooftop heat loss in cold weather and maintaining cooler indoor temperatures during warmer months. PSU has Ecoroofs on:
Broadway Building
Engineering Building
Native American Student & Community Center
Blumel Hall Bike Shelter
Ecoroof Research:
Ecoroof & solar panel research project, SRTC
Shattuck Hall Ecological Learning Plaza
The Broadway Housing Building sports an 18,000 sq. ft. ecoroof (the largest in Portland!), the Native American Student Center features a native plants rooftop garden, and three small ecoroofs are located between Smith Center and Neuberger Hall atop a community gathering space, cob oven, and informational kiosk, respectively. PSU was awarded a 2005 BEST Award for the Broadway Housing Building's ecoroof.
http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/water
Does the institution have porous paving?:
A brief description of the institution's porous paving:
Pervious pavers replace conventional asphalt or concrete paving, allowing stormwater to percolate through areas that would otherwise be impervious to the soil below. They reduce erosion, help filter pollutants, and help recharge groundwater.
Locations:
Native American Student & Community Center
Biology Research Greenhouses
ASRC 5th floor patio
Shattuck Hall Ecological Learning Plaza
Does the institution have retention ponds?:
A brief description of the institution's retention ponds:
Does the institution have stone swales?:
A brief description of the institution's stone swales:
Stephen Epler Hall has stone swales that infiltrate water and lead to a tank that collects rain water for flushing toilets.
Does the institution have vegetated swales?:
A brief description of the institution's vegetated swales:
Stormwater planters slow and filter runoff reducing the rate, quantity and pollutants before water flows back to the river/watershed. Planter locations:
12th & 4th Avenues
Montgomery Green Street
Urban Plaza
Science Research & Teaching Center (SRTC)
Walk of the Heroines
Bioswales contain plants that filter stormwater runoff, helping to remove oil, sediment, exhaust, dirt, and chemicals. Locations:
Helen Gordon
Stephen Epler Courtyard
Does the institution employ any other technologies or strategies for stormwater management?:
A brief description of other technologies or strategies for stormwater management employed:
From PSU's Stormwater Management Policy
...
h. Use of slow release fertilizers and/or carefully managed fertilizer applications timed to ensure maximum root uptake and minimal surface water runoff or leaching to groundwater.
i. Avoid the widespread application of broad spectrum pesticides by involving only purposeful and minimal application of pesticides, aimed at identified targeted species.
j. Coordinating pesticide application with irrigation practices to reduce runoff and leaching to groundwater.
k. Incorporating features into the design of fertilizer and pesticide storage, mixing and loading areas that are designed to prevent/minimize spillage.
l. Continually looking for alternatives to traditional pesticide use and stormwater practices, by seeking out natural methods that are also socially and economically acceptable.
m. Educating maintenance personnel about the need to maintain motor vehicles to prevent the accumulation of oil, grease and other fluids on impervious surfaces, where they might be conveyed to surface and ground waters by runoff, and the need to regularly collect and properly dispose of yard debris.
...
o. Vehicles may not be washed onsite. All vehicle washing must be done at a car wash connected to the City sanitary system.
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.