University of Richmond
OP-22: Rainwater Management

The Little Westham Creek stream restoration in the Eco-Corridor includes Little Westham Creek and five of its tributaries. The restoration realigned and raised the mainstem channel and cut a new floodplain with a small baseflow channel to increase overbank flow frequency. The main restoration reach has a drainage area of approximately three square miles. The site was completed in March 2020. Restoration activities included the following:

• Construction of a small, main channel through a wide, well-vegetated floodplain
• Installation of riffles, pools and wood habitat structures along the main channel
• Installation of stone steps and pools along the tributaries
• Seeding and planting of native species throughout the stream banks, floodplain and uplands
• Installation of a rain garden that captures runoff from three tributaries. 

Westhampton Lake is used as a BMP (Best Management Practice) for the majority of campus that contribute to storm water runoff. Multiple areas not draining to the lake have been addressed using bioswales. It should The 13-acre Westhampton Lake is cleaned of debris and the inlet is dredged of sediment annually. In 2024, 62 truckloads of sediment were removed from the lake, reducing the amount of sediment flowing into the James River.

All new construction projects on campus are governed by the Chesapeake Bay Act which requires all land disturbance to provide erosion control measures which exceed the EPA standards. These measures include erosion fencing trenched/staked around the land disturbed, construction entrances where mud is washed off vehicles prior to leaving the construction site, and temporary storm water retention ponds (when required). 

The University has successfully met the regulatory requirements for stormwater quality and quantity through underground detention systems associated with new projects and the acknowledgement that Westhampton Lake improved downstream water quality.

Retention basins and underground pipe structures have metered outflows to keep flooding to a minimum.

Folllowing restoration, the main stream channel of Little Westham Creek has a 3.0 square mile urban watershed that has flash flood events during storms. When more than 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain falls on the watershed, the flash flows breach out onto Little Westham Creek's floodplain where the vegetation helps to slow the velocity and capture pollutants. This approach of managing urban runoff in the floodplain (instead of by building streams with heavy stone structures) is much more ecologically beneficial and supports wetland formation in the floodplain, which improves both wildlife habitat and water quality.

Law School Green Roof: The first-of-its-kind on campus, a green roof was installed on the top of the Law School building. It is made up of about 700 square feet of sedum, a drought-resistant succulent. The green roof, which is visible from several faculty offices, will reduce the need for air conditioning in the summer, provide insulation in the winter, and reduce the surface runoff of rainwater.