University of Georgia
IN-36: Stormwater Modeling

UGA falls within Athens-Clarke County's MS4 permit (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) and provides stormwater education and best practices in design, construction, and ongoing operations in partnership with the county. Athens-Clarke County has jurisdiction over UGA for stormwater, erosion and sediment control, and approves all land disturbance permits for campus construction activities. Requirements include pre-and post-development stormwater modeling to assess stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution associated with new development and redevelopment.

UGA focuses on improving the watersheds that begin in Athens Clarke County and run through the UGA campus into the North Oconee River. A Watershed Advisory Committee made up of faculty, staff, students, government agencies and community members developed a Nine Element Watershed Plans with funding from Georgia EPD. As a part of this effort, the advisory group compiled existing data and models, conducted new modelling efforts, and identified specific areas for LID throughout campus watersheds. Watershed modelling includes a comprehensive assessment/model of Tanyard Creek by consulting firm Tetra Tech, as well as targeted modelling in specific watershed to identify locations for storm water control measures in the Lake Herrick and Trail Creek Watersheds by Dr. David Radcliffe and graduate students . (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTobN02vxVE&feature=youtu.be).

Current efforts include flow estimates, modeling, and site engineering to conduct bank stabilization and restoration in the Lilly Branch Watershed. A comprehensive water quality database for all information gathered by researchers, classes and consultants in our campus watersheds to share information and track the impacts of management practices was developed by the UGA River Basin Center.

UGA incorporates LID / stormwater control measures into all new and redevelopment projects. Section 018100 - Facilities Performance Requirements - of UGA's Supplemental Standards for Design and Construction states: Options for collection and reuse of storm water and condensate are required for all new construction projects with special attention given to uses other than irrigation. Storm water best management practices shall be incorporated to exceed the Project jurisdiction storm water quality standards, with a preference for visible and vegetative storm water controls. Design Professional shall evaluate feasibility of rain water and condensate water collection, distribution and reuse to serve non-consumptive uses including but not limited to cooling tower make-up, toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

Overall, UGA has installed more than 70 raingardens/bioretention areas, more than 15 rain and condensate water harvesting systems totalling over 530,000 gallons of storage capacity for continuous reuse, and converted more than 60 acres of previously paved areas into pedestrian-oriented and vegetated green spaces.

https://www.athensclarkecounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/3808

http://www.hydrology.uga.edu/watershed/

https://sustainability.uga.edu/campus-operations/water/