University of California, Davis
OP-23: Stormwater Management

Since the early 1990’s the campus has employed various storm water controls to reduce pollutants from discharging into the campus storm water conveyance system. The campus Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) includes a number of construction and post-construction controls including permanent structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) for storm water runoff to prevent and minimize water quality impacts from new development and significant redevelopment projects. A significant redevelopment project is one where the impervious area after construction is larger than the pre-construction impervious area. The campus implements long-term post-construction BMPs using design measures and storm water controls to replicate the pre-project runoff water balance (defined as the amount of rainfall that ends up as runoff) for the smallest storm up to the 85th percentile storm event, or the smallest storm event that generates runoff, whichever is larger. Post-construction programs are most effective when they stress (i) low impact development (LID); (ii) source controls; and (iii) treatment controls. The UC Davis campus continues to evaluate post-construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) requirements to reduce storm water runoff from campus new development and redevelopment projects. These post –construction BMPs are now being incorporated into the design phase process of campus construction projects. To ensure continued compliance with regulatory agencies, the Office of Environmental Health & Safety routinely tracks new and emerging storm water regulations and incorporates these new requirements into various campus operations.

The Segundo Services Center and the Student Health and Wellness Center both have roof sections that are vegetated. These are visible from other floors to also provide an educational opportunity.

There is permeable paving in front of the Student Community Center, and there are vegetated open-cell paving blocks at King Hall School of Law.

The Arboretum Waterway serves as a nearly 2-mile long retention/detention pond for storm water and run off.

Stone swales are used in a number of places on the Davis campus. Some examples include: Along Hutchison Drive, between Highway 113 and La Rue Boulevard, along the eastern perimeter of the Aggie Stadium site, and along the Student Community Center.

The campus has numerous vegetated swales, including a very large swale at the Hopkins Service Center, which allowed the campus to avoid up-sizing the storm drain system.

The campus uses "rain gardens" or vegetated areas that slow and allow percolation of rain water. Examples of these can be found at King Hall School of Law and Valley Hall.