the blackstone
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The Blackstone. Clean by 2015!!! The Blackstone River Coalition. Waste Water Treatment Upper Blackstone upgrade 2001/2008 Woonsocket Narragansett Bay Commission. Stormwater Impacts. Impervious Surfaces - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Blackstone
Clean by 2015!!! The Blackstone River Coalition
Waste Water Treatment
• Upper Blackstone upgrade 2001/2008
• Woonsocket
• Narragansett Bay Commission
Stormwater Impacts
Impervious SurfacesEPA, MA DEP and RI DEM, and NBEP are all focusing on impervious cover as an environmental indicator:• Impervious cover (IC) of greater than 10% results in measurable loss in water quality.• IC of greater than 4% results in decline of native brook trout.
Impervious Cover Influences Wet Impervious Cover Influences Wet Weather Stream FlowWeather Stream Flow
When it rains, a large amount of water . . .When it rains, a large amount of water . . .
Enters the Enters the stormdrain stormdrain
systemsystem
Is directed straight to Is directed straight to the nearest waterwaythe nearest waterway
Runs off of Runs off of impervious impervious surfaces surfaces
Center for Watershed ProtectionCenter for Watershed Protection
Impervious Cover Influences Dry Impervious Cover Influences Dry Weather Stream FlowWeather Stream Flow
• Impervious surfaces can block Impervious surfaces can block water from contributing to water from contributing to groundwater supplygroundwater supply
• Many streams draw from Many streams draw from groundwatergroundwater
• This can result in lower stream This can result in lower stream flows during dry weather flows during dry weather
• Magnification of flow alterations Magnification of flow alterations and water withdrawalsand water withdrawals
Quinsigamond River at Wheeler Rd., Grafton isolated pool, no flow, September, 2007
Tackling Stormwater in the Blackstone River Watershed
• Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
• Stakeholder Outreach– Local decision makers
• By-laws, regulations, projects– Home owners
• Outreach materials– Builders, developers
• Low-impact development– Small-medium sized companies and municipalities
• In Business for the Blackstone
Encourage Low Impact Development Practices to increase infiltration and reduce stormwater volume
• Site planning techniques• Impervious surface
reduction• Rain gardens and
bioretention• Rooftop gardens• Vegetated swales, buffers
and strips• Roof leader disconnection• Rain barrels and cisterns• Permeable pavers
Local Decision Makers and Developers:
Grafton, MA EPA Grant $671,000Innovative Stormwater Treatment
Homeowners:
Homeowner Tips for reducing stormwater impacts from your yard: • Lawns/Gardens• Car Care• Pet Waste• Clean Dishes/Clean Streams• Rooftop Runoff• Household Hazardous Waste• Pervious Surfaces• Stream Buffers
Angle downspout away from pavement to vegetated area.
Create a rain garden.Install a rain barrel.
Inventory rooftop runoff downspouts that drain to driveways
Send info on downspout diversion strategies and invite to workshops
Offer technical assistance
Homeowner Outreach
“In Business for the Blackstone”celebrates wise water use
Roots & Shoots, Burrillville
Business Owners and Municipalities
BRCStormwater Outreach Target Areas:
Broad Meadow Brook watershed Whitinsville Hopedale Slatersville Ashton
Technical Assistance for Decision Makers• Narrower streets
• Vegetated swales
• No curbing
• Alternative cul-de sacs
• Shared driveways
Source: CWP Source: R. Claytor
www.zaptheblackstone.org
The Blackstone River
Clean by 2015!
We Can Do It!
You Can Help!