| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.92 |
| Liaison | Katie Maynard |
| Submission Date | Aug. 19, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Matthew
O'Carroll Refuse, Recycling, & Water Conservation Manager Facilities Management |
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?:
A brief description of the institution’s Low Impact Development (LID) practices:
The Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) has been prepared by UC Santa Barbara pursuant to the General Permit, and the associated program has been drafted to comply with the General Permit. More importantly, this SWMP will serve as a framework for identifying, assigning, and implementing control measures and Best Management Practices (BMPs) intended to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the MS4 and to protect downstream water quality. In addition, this plan serves as a planning and guidance document that is used by UC Santa Barbara's regulatory body and all University departments, contractors, and members of the general public throughout the UC Santa Barbara community, which includes students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
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? :
A brief description of the institution’s rainwater/stormwater management policy, plan, and/or strategies for ongoing campus operations:
UCSB's stormwater management policy is addressed in the UCSB Water Action Plan. In summary, the Plan covers the regional physiogeography and hydrology on and adjacent to the UCSB campus, as well as the local climate conditions that influence stormwater management. The stormwater policy also covers environmental protection and regulatory context as it relates to stormwater management. Importantly, it also addresses historical, current, and planned management efforts in environmentally sensitive habitat areas, natural areas, and construction sites, including best management practices and education and outreach efforts to the UCSB and greater Santa Barbara community.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
UCSB does not actively harvest rainwater on-campus due to local climate conditions and the lack of rainfall.
Rainwater harvested directly and stored/used by the institution, performance year:
A brief description of any rainwater filtering systems employed by the institution to treat water prior to release:
UCSB actively uses swales, detetion ponds, natural wetlands, rain gardens, and bioswales to filter rainwater and surface runoff prior to release. A primary example is UCSB's Library Corridor which is paved with permeable pavers that allows water to filter through to the underlying gravel basins and into the adjacent rain gardens where it can percolate into the soil or discharge to a continuous deflective separation unit (CDS) and, finally, into the San Nicolas Bioswale. The San Nicolas Bioswale is a native freshwater wetland and includes a filtration marsh, rock energy dissipaters at outfalls, berms for water cleansing, and stone check dams for water aeration and pooling. UCSB also has similar projects at the San Clemente and Manzanita Village residence halls, as well as in numerous parking lots throughout campus.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
UCSB does not have any living or vegetated roofs on campus.
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
In 2010, UCSB installed a porous pavement walkway that runs through the center of campus. UCSB worked with a local landscape architect, True Nature, and Hydro-Flo Permeable Pavers to install a permeable walkway that allows runoff to percolate through the material to the layer below. The base of the permeable pavement consists of gravel that both stores and directs the water to the adjacent stone swale.
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
It is a stormwater best management practice at UCSB to disconnect roof drains. At Manzanita Village, a student residence hall, all downspouts are disconnected.
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
UCSB utilizes rain gardens throughout campus, primarily at the library corridor where where the permeable pavers direct flow to the adjacent rain garden. Rain gardens can also be found at the San Clemente Village residence halls.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
The University of California installed a retention pond adjacent to the San Nicholas dormitory and its respective parking lot. The San Nicholas Stormwater Filtration Marsh receives stormwater and surface runoff that drains the adjacent landscape. The marsh is comprised of various aquatic plants and stormwater screens that serve to slow the water down and filter/ screen the water and debris. The marsh drains to the Campus Lagoon via a vegetative/ stone bioswale.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
UCSB's Cheadle Center for Biological and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) has created several vegetated bioswales in various locations throughout campus. Vegetated bioswales are located adjacent to the University's Manzanita Village dormitories, parking lots, and roads. Together, UCSB's vegetated bioswales encompass roughly seven acres of the University's land and convey and filter stormwater.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
The University of California, Santa Barbara has a 94 acre Campus Lagoon that receives water inputs from eight storm drains and surface flows and seawater from the marine science laboratories and aquaria. The Cheadle Center for Biological and Ecological Restoration (CCBER) manages the Campus Lagoon and oversees restoration projects and water quality monitoring. The Campus Lagoon's aquatic and terrestrial vegetation serve as biofilters which cleanse the surface runoff before it enters the ocean via the lagoon's overflow weirs.
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:
Map of the UCSB Stormwater Drainage Features
http://ehs.ucsb.edu/units/stormwater/swresources/UCSB_B-2_Storm_Drain_Features.pdf
Map of the UCSB Stormwater Drainage Features
http://ehs.ucsb.edu/units/stormwater/swresources/UCSB_B-2_Storm_Drain_Features.pdf
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.