| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.82 |
| Liaison | Konrad Schlarbaum |
| Submission Date | Feb. 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-27: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jim
Muniz Physical Plant / Support Services Manager Facilities Services |
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:
UCCS implements Low Impact Development (LID) practices on major new construction and renovation projects. Practices that we encourage include:
1. Implemented a strategic long-term Master Plan for our University.
2. Thoughtful site-planning and design that reduces negative impact to project site.
3. Encourage student and staff education and participation through collaborative meetings throughout project planning, design and construction.
4. Reduce long-term maintenance costs with great emphasis on plant and landscape materials selection.
5. Reduce disturbed areas by constraining construction staging and laydown areas.
6. Encourage contractor car-pooling and offsite parking at developed lots to reduce negative impact on native and undisturbed land.
7. Introduce new concepts and technologies such as bio retention, rain garden, swales, and detention/conservation areas.
8. Maintain integrity of receiving streams and embankments.
9. Utilizing a staff member to frequent construction project sites to ensure compliance with storm water management and BMP controls.
10. Reduce site runoff and flow rate by construction of detention areas and rip rap.
11. Encourage Sustainability and Project Team members to debate on alternative design approaches.
12. Minimize irrigation footprint by placement of native planting materials that are not susceptible to Colorado drought.
13. Minimize clearing of native trees by incorporating those into the final landscape where possible.
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:
UCCS Stormwater Management Plan
UCCS has developed a SWMP based upon previous permit applications and implementations in many areas including:
1. Public Education
UCCS Facilities Services Department (FSD) has stormwater educational posters in the University Center. This is a high visibility area and will be seen by faculty, staff, and students alike.
While exposing faculty to the ongoing efforts in erosion control and runoff mitigation,FSD provides a schedule of meetings that may be forwarded to interested parties in classrooms. FSD records on the Graphic Information Systems (GIS)database maps all storm drains and physically marks the inlets with a” No Dumping and/or Drains to Stream” marker. Allowable discharges are included on the maps. Electronic links are provided for environmental websites related to storm-water issues. FSD submits stormwater information to the university newspaper for publishing and provides that same information to University’s four campus faculty and staff
newspapers.
UCCS will annually present a training session to kitchen staff. Proper disposal procedures will be discussed and modifications to procedures made, if deemed appropriate. Reference materials will be prepared for distribution at the training sessions.
Annual educational emails will be retained for future use and and modification, as appropriate. The focus of the emails will change annually.
2009- construction activities & exterior storage of materials
2010- illicit discharges & storm drain dumping
2011- highly erodible sediments, overwatering, & fertilizers
2012- trash-litter, and pet feces
2013- vehicle leaks and wash water
2. Public Participation/Involvement
FSD sponsors a Student Clean-up Day to be conducted once per semester utilizing students on volunteer groups for trash clean-up, sediment removal and identification of areas of concern. Information on stormwater pollution issues and potential solutions is made available at the Sustainability table at Earth Day events which are scheduled
each spring on the campus. Staff is also encouraged to set an example by picking up at least one piece of trash per day. Community involvement is solicited through affected homeowners associations meetings and enviroscape demonstrations at local schools. An annual agenda item regarding Stormwater pollution prevention will be presented to the Executive Team and be made available to the community as a Power Point presentation on the FSD website. A staff member will attend appropriate meetings to enhance the understanding of regulation and the efficient use of Best Management Practices (BMPs).
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Reporting procedures are being developed and will be posted on FSD website. As part of hazardous materials training, all plant personnel will be trained to identify potential illicit discharges and will be encouraged to report to the appropriate staff members. The University will make every effort to clean HVAC equipment without the use of any
solvent other than water and if necessary will dispose of all pollutants and/ or contaminants in an approved manor.
4. Construction
Contractors will be required to submit engineered plans to the CDPHE for Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction. Contractors will inspect and record the conditions within the boundaries of their respective construction projects every 14 days and meet with FSD staff regularly to assure compliance. Project management will review contractors’ plans to identify and avoid conflict and will recommend the BMPs that best suit the future needs of the campus.
5. Post Construction
All completed projects will be inspected every 14 days and after every precipitation event during the first year of ownership and monthly thereafter. DFS will include BMP maintenance in the established maintenance programs to provide long term sustainability and continuous operation.
6. Pollution Prevention and Housekeeping
All excess gravel and sand will be removed at the end of each winter season and sediment removed from affected areas to ensure proper drainage and mitigate pollution. Good housekeeping procedures will be followed by all employees and continuous training will be provided. DFS will prepare and implement a comprehensive SWMP in the near future.
A brief description of any rainwater harvesting employed by the institution:
We are unable to legally harvest rainwater in Colorado, however we have implemented rain gardens and bioswales to divert and slow water.
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:
Rain gardens.
A brief description of any living or vegetated roofs on campus:
A brief description of any porous (i.e. permeable) paving employed by the institution:
A brief description of any downspout disconnection employed by the institution:
A brief description of any rain gardens on campus:
We have deployed rainwater gardens at Eldora House, Copper House and Ulrich House. AS well, rainwater gardens have been implemented in the newly-opened Lane Center.
A brief description of any stormwater retention and/or detention ponds employed by the institution:
There are several stormwater retention ponds located on the campus.
A brief description of any bioswales on campus (vegetated, compost or stone):
There are vegetated swales in several campus locations.
A brief description of any other rainwater management technologies or strategies employed by the institution:
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:
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.