PANTHER HOLLOW WATERSHED RESTORATION Co mmunit y H i k e June 30, 2 0 11
A WALK IN THE PARK
A community hiking tour to discuss potential demonstration projects
Stop 2: 6:20 pm Westinghouse Pond
Stop 1: 6:00 pm Schenley Park Visitor Center
2
1
3
Stop 3: 6:35 pm Schenley Drive
4
7
Stop 7: 8:00 pm Overlooking the Lake 5
Stop 4: 7:00 pm Schenley Drive
6
Stop 6: 7:40 pm
Bartlett Street
Stop 5: 7:30 pm Bartlett Street
WHAT WE HEARD May 23, 2011 Community Meeting, Schenley Plaza
What are your favorite water, land, and people places in the Panther Hollow Watershed?
AR E AS FOR I M PR OV EMENT
FAVO RI TES PLACES
WAT E R P L A C E S
• The relaxing sound of water and walking through and around the streams
• Looking for wildlife including watching the birds
bathing in the stream and looking for turtles in the water
L A N D P LACES
• Lawn areas that invite use • The trees make the park! Enjoy looking at the fall foliage and spring wild flowers,
• The topography of the park connects people to each other and other destinations in town
PEOPLE PLACES
• Vibrant neighborhood business district with it’s pedestrian scale, shops, and restaurants
• Variety of recreation amenities including the
Anderson Playground, swimming pool, Panther Hollow and Phipps trails, and areas to run, walk, bike, meditate, and fly kites
• Soften the hard edges around the lake
• Phipps Run trail is eroded
• More water play areas
• Improve access and visibility of the lake from Panther
• Improve maps and signage of the trials in the park so
• Make lake more friendly to skating and hockey
Hollow and Oakland
users know where they are
• Create a pond behind the Bartlett Playground
• Slow traffic
• Improve water quality as a primary asset in the City
• Convert lawn to flowers or a meadow
• Expose water along the edge of the golf course • Create permeable streets through the park
• Improve pedestrian access and safety along sidewalks • Bring Saline Street connection back
A DVISORY FEEDBACK
PHIPPS RUN BASIN
May 23, 2011 Advisory Committee Meeting
• Priority demonstration projects to find the balance between economic, social, and environmental benefits • Create projects that are replicable at many scales including parcel, park, and municipal
ECONOMIC Replicability
SOCIAL Visibility
ENVIRONMENTAL Ecological Impact
Potential projects • Porous pavement demonstration • Infiltration along Schenley Drive • Landcover conversion at lawn areas
PANTHER HOLLOW STREAM
Potential projects • Storage and slow release • Landcover conversion at lawn areas
MOMENT OF CLARITY Best Management Practice (BMP): Activities, facilities, measures, or procedures used to manage the volume, rate and water quality of stormwater runoff.
Storage & Slow Release: A storage reservoir used to temporarily store runoff with a control structure designed to slowly release the stormwater at a controlled rate.
Intervention: A disturbance to an ecosystem under manipulation, requiring external assistance to ensure future health and integrity.
Check Dam: A small dam built across a channel designed to reduce erosion and allow sediments and pollutants to settle. Check dams are typically built with logs or stone.
Infiltration: The downward movement of water through soil.
Meadow: Typically consists of native grasses and flowers, which reduce runoff, capture pollutants and requires very little maintenance, as they do not require frequent mowing.
Vegetated Swale: A channel densely planted with a variety of trees, shrubs, and/or grasses designed to ease and in some cases infiltrate runoff volume from adjacent impervious surfaces, allowing some pollutants to settle out in the process. Rain Garden: An excavated shallow surface depression planted with specially selected native vegetation to treat and capture runoff (also called Bioretention). Pervious/Porous Pavement: Pervious pavement consists of a permeable surface course underlain by a stone bed which provides temporary stormwater storage and promotes infiltration. The surface course may consist of porous asphalt, porous concrete, or porous pavers. Infiltration Berm: A mound of compacted earth with sloping sides that is usually located along a contour to retain runoff and allow for infiltration.
Pocket Wetland: Shallow marsh systems planted with vegetation that are designed to treat stormwater runoff. Riparian Buffer: A permanent area of trees and shrubs bordering streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Riparian forests are the most beneficial type of buffer for they provide ecological and water quality benefits. Woodland Restoration: An activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of a land covered in trees with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability. Stream/Lake Restoration: A set of activities that help improve the environment health of a river or stream.
POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS
All possible interventions were identified throughout the watershed to create a long term “Master Plan” for Panther Hollow.
Direct Drainage to Lake
existing
Panther Hollow Sub-Basin Intervention Types Non-Structural
9 12
Pocket Wetland
25 3
Structural
10 12
25
11 10 24
12
14
11
2
10
5
8
7
existing
26 29
22
30 30
1 1
19
11
6 1
Rain Garden
11 16
28
28
11
11 28
28
11
11 28
19
28
23 28
19
18
22
18
20
22
27
existing
23 15 21
17 21
14 13
Porous Pavement
Phipps Run Structural BMPs
Phipps Run Structural BMPs 1
Vegetated Swale along north and south side of Schenley Drive
Porous Pavement with Infiltration Bed at Clubhouse
12 Riparian Buffer/Stream Restoration
7
Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Circuit Drive south of Westinghouse Pond
Panther Hollow Structural BMPs
Structural Qualifiers BMPs
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow intersection of Circuit Drive & Serpentine
Ran
Incr of p
Ease Coo Part
Visib
Ran
Ease Mai
Mai (hig
Intiti (hig
Repli
Infiltration Better Berm and Trench along downhill
Good along Schenley Drive south of Westinghouse Storage / Slow Release and Porous Pond Sidewalk/Parking Demonstration along Rain Garden/ Bioretention along Schenley Bartlett Street at Park entrance 4 Drive/Golf Course Repair/Restore Check Dam along Circuit 16 Constructed Drive (retrofit)Pocket Wetland at Wet Area 5 along Schenley Drive/ Golf Course Non-Structural BMPs with Infiltration Bed at Porous Pavement
Landcover Conversion- lawn to woodland3 restoration within golf course and at existing 10 forest edge (preserving WWII memorial) 15
Porous Pavement Demonstration along 13 Beacon Street (within park)
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Bartlett 6 Clubhouse 17 Street Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Circuit Drive south ofNarrow Westinghouse Reduce Impervious Areas7 Pond intersection of Circuit Drive & Serpentine 18 Drive- change to meadow Non-Structural BMPs Reduce Impervious Impervious AreasAreas- narrow Narrow Schenley Circuit Reduce 19 Drive Drive (from Tech St to Darlington Rd) 8
Infiltration Berm and Trench along downhill side of Beacon Street (remove sidewalk w/in Landcover Reduce Impervious AreasNarrow Pantheron Conversionlawn to meadow 20 hill Hollow Road to two lanesPond 14 Park) and add in path along the BMP 9 above Westinghouse Storage / Slow Release and Porous Sidewalk/Parking Demonstration along 15 Bartlett Street at Park entrance
Landcover to woodland Landcover ConversionConversion &lawn Retentive Grading restoration within golf course and at existing lawn to meadow around playground and 10 forest edge (preserving WWII memorial) 21 between Bartlett & Beacon Streets Landcover Landcover ConversionConversion -lawn lawnto to woodland
Repair/Restore Check Dam along Circuit 11 rough in golf course 22 rough/expand restoration at the existing forest edge 16 Drive (retrofit) 12 Riparian Buffer/Stream Buffer/Stream Restoration Restoration 23 Riparian
Porous Pavement Demonstration along
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow 13 Beacon Street (within park) intersection of Circuit Drive & Serpentine Infiltration Berm and Trench along downhill 18 Drive- change to meadow
Non-Structural: Natural measures and design practices which are designed to mitigate any number of stormwater impacts and typically prevent Storage / Slow Release and Porous stormwater generation (i.e. convert lawn to meadow). Sidewalk/Parking Demonstration along
side of Beacon Street (remove sidewalk w/in Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Circuit 14 Park) and add in path along the BMP
19 Drive
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Panther 15 Bartlett Street at Park entrance 20 Hollow Road to two lanes
Repair/Restore Check Dam along Circuit
Landcover Conversion & Retentive Grading 16 -Drive (retrofit) lawn to meadow around playground and Non-Structural BMPs 21 between Bartlett & Beacon Streets
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Bartlett
Landcover Conversion - lawn to woodland17 Street 22 restoration at the existing forest edge
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow intersection of Circuit Drive & Serpentine
Ranking
Increased usability of park
Ease of Coordination w/ Partners
Visibility
Social Benefit
Ranking
Ease of Maintenance
Maintenance Cost (high=affordable)
Intitial Cost (high=affordable)
Replicability
Ranking
Habitat Value
Colors
locationStreet TBD). (remove sidewalk w/in 2 (actual side of Beacon Landcover Conversion- lawn to meadow on 14 Porous Park) and add in path along the BMP Pavement Parking Demonstration hill above Westinghouse Pond
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Bartlett Panther Hollow Structural BMPs 17 Street
Reduce Impervious Areas- Narrow Bartlett 17 Street
Economic Implication
Vegetated Swale along north andalong south side Porous Pavement Demonstration Best
Non-Structural BMPs
Non-Structural BMPs
Water Quality Benefit
Landcover Conversion- lawn to
# Interventions 11 Potential rough/expand rough in golf course
Panther Hollow Structural BMPs
Repair/Restore Check Dam along Circuit 16 Drive (retrofit)
Environmental Benefit
Landcover Conversion- lawn to woodland
12 Riparian Buffer/Stream Restoration
15 Bartlett Street at Park entrance
Good
Reduce Impervious Areas- narrow Schenley 1 Schenley Drive 13 of Beacon Street (within park) Drive (from Tech St to Darlington Rd) Porous Pavement bike and pedestrian path
6
Structural: Includes natural system-based, which include vegetation and soils mechanisms as part of their functioning and more conventional “bricks and Storage / Slow Release and Porous mortar� structures. These BMPs are site-specific. Sidewalk/Parking Demonstration along
Better
Landcover Conversion- lawn to meadow on hill above Westinghouse Pond
Ranking
Non-Structural BMPs
9
Best
Volume Infiltration/ Recharge
7
Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Circuit Drive south of Westinghouse 12 Riparian Buffer/Stream Restoration Ranking System Pond Panther Run Hollow Phipps
Landcover Conversion- lawn to 11 rough/expand rough in golf course
Infiltration Berm and Trench along downhill side of Beacon Street (remove sidewalk w/in 14 Park) and add in path along the BMP
Ran
Porous Pavement with Infiltration Bed at Overall Clubhouse Ranking
Constructed Pocket Wetland at Wet Area along Schenley Drive/ Golf Course
Porous Pavement Demonstration along 13 Beacon Street (within park)
Habi
6
5
Landcover Conversion- lawn to 11 rough/expand rough in golf course
Wat Ben
5
restoration within golf course and at existing Constructed Pocket Wetland at Wet Area 10 forest edge (preserving WWII memorial) along Schenley Drive/ Golf Course
Rain Garden/ Bioretention along Schenley Drive/Golf Course
Landcover Conversion- lawn to woodland restoration within golf course and at existing 10 forest edge (preserving WWII memorial)
Volu Rec
Rain Garden/ Bioretention along Schenley9 Drive/Golf Course Social Benefit Increased usability of park
4
Ease of Coordination w/ Partners
3
Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration Reduce Impervious Areas- narrow Schenley along Schenley Drive south of Westinghouse 8 Drive (from Tech St to Darlington Rd) Pond
8
Qualifiers Colors
Non-Structural BMPs
4
9
Volu Red
(actual location TBD).
3
Landcover Conversion- lawn to meadow on hill above Westinghouse Pond
Porous Pavement with Infiltration Bed at Clubhouse
2
Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration along Schenley Drive south of Westinghouse Pond
Reduce Impervious Areas- narrow Schenley Drive (from Tech St to Darlington Rd)
6
Ranking System
along Circuit Drive south of Westinghouse Porous Pavement bike and pedestrian path 7 Pond
Porous Pavement bike and pedestrian path (actual location TBD).
8
Constructed Pocket Wetland at Wet Area along Schenley Drive/ Golf Course
1
2
Non-Structural BMPs
5
Vegetated Swale along north and south side Porous Pavement Parking Demonstration of Schenley Drive
Visibility
Ranking
Ease of Maintenance
Maintenance Cost (high=affordable)
Intitial Cost (high=affordable)
Replicability
Economic Implication
Ranking
Habitat Value
Water Quality Benefit
Volume Infiltration/ Recharge
# Potential Interventions
Volume Rate Reduction
Environmental Benefit
Drive/Golf Course
Volume Rate Reduction
ASSESSING IMPACT
4
Overall Ranking
Rank
Quali
Bes
Bett
Goo
STARTING AT THE TOP
Potential pilot projects were identified which manage runoff where it is generated. Strategies at the top of the hill provide best opportunity for infiltration. DR IT CU R CI Direct Drainage to Lake
Direct Drainage to Lake
Panther Hollow Sub-Basin
Panther Hollow Sub-Basin
Priority Interventions
Priority Interventions
Non-Structural
- PHIP PS R U
Non-Structural
Structural
N SU
B BASIN
Structural
-
SCHENLEY D
R
1. Vegetated Swale
R HOLL OW
HOLL OW
SUBBA SIN -
HOLLO W
RD
STREA M
ST
- PANTHE
PANTHE R
LET T
RUN
PANTH ER
BA RT
S IPP PH
21. Landcover Conversion & Retentive Grading
O AC BE
2. Porous Bike & Pedestrian Path ( Future Project)
N
ST
14. Infiltration Berm & Trench
CIRCUIT DR
PHIPPS RUN - SCHENLEY DRIVE
PANTHER HOLLOW - BEACON & BARTLETT
W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G N O W | upper schenley dr. Schenley Drive does not offer a separate and safe path system for cyclists and pedestrians and all stormwater goes to the stormwater pipes. Environmental Benefits
Economic Benefits
Social Benefits
$ Stormwater is piped and catapulted to Phipps Run; causing erosion, sedimentation and flashy storm events.
Conventional street and lawn maintenance.
Unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists. 8’
40’ ROW
Curvy and wide road
Lawn with minimal potential for infiltration
24’
Runoff to catch basins, then to Phipps Run
No barrier between pedestrians/ cyclists and cars
8’
WHERE THE WATER HITS THE ROAD | upper schenley dr. Create a signature boulevard that welcomes people, slows stormwater and improves water quality through the development of a vegetated swale.
To Oakland, CMU, Park
Upper Schenley Dr. Lower Schenley Dr.
Potential Crossing for Water and People To Squirrel Hill
Inlets Proposed Vegetated Swale Proposed Pedestrian + Cyclist Circulation Proposed Rain Garden + Wetlands Gateway or Crossing Possible Future Stormwater Intervention
0
25
50
100
150
Feet 200
F or the W ater | vegetated swale only option A vegetated swale along the north and south hills of Schenley Dr. can enhance the ecological and hydrological health of Phipps Run. The intervention occurs outside the right-of-way and the road profile does not change.
8’
24’
8’
40’ ROW
Swale close to street maximizes visibility, but far enough to minimize impact of road salt
Swale aligned to not disrupt the golf game
P l anning for the F uture | “green street” The swales can be positioned to allow for future plans of a path system. This option uses one swale for two jobs: to separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles and to convey and infiltrate stormwater from the road.
8 - 10’
6 - 8’
24’
40’
40’ ROW
Crossings needed for golf course users
W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G N O W | lower schenley dr. Above the headwater of Phipps Run, a shallow grass lined swale exists along with a small wet area, where groundwater seeps. This is also an area where golfers cross the road. Environmental Benefits
Grass-lined swales along with intense maintenance regimes offer little ecological and hydrological value.
Economic Benefits
$$
Turf areas on golf courses traditionally require high inputs such as intense mowing regimes, fertilizers and herbicides.
Social Benefits
Pedestrians and golfers do not have safe means for crossing the road or walking along the road.
Existing Wet Area Existing Swale Existing Crossing
P l anning for the F uture | rain gardens + a wetland The vegetated swale can be designed with future rain gardens and wetlands in mind. The swale can also be positioned to accommodate the alignment of a future path system and road crossing, whether it be within the existing road bed or meander throughout the floriferous rain gardens and pocket wetland.
P l anning for the F uture | rain gardens + a wetland The vegetated swale can be designed with future rain gardens and wetlands in mind. The swale can also be positioned to accommodate the alignment of a future path system and road crossing, whether it be within the existing road bed or meander throughout the floriferous rain gardens and pocket wetland.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW | between bartlett + beacon Runoff from the hillside starting above Beacon St., spills onto Bartlett St. then to the road catch basins. The sidewalk ends on Beacon St. once it leaves the neighborhood. Environmental Benefits
Grass-lined swales along with intense maintenance regimes offer little ecological and hydrological value.
Economic Benefits
$
Turf areas traditionally require high inputs such as intense mowing regimes, fertilizers and herbicides.
Social Benefits
Pedestrians from the surrounding neighborhoods do not have a continuous connection to the park from Beacon St.
INFILTRATION TRENCHES + BERMS | bartlett + beacon Infiltration berms and trenches can help slow down and infiltrate water on the hillside and also be sculptural elements in the landscape that adorn the hillside. A meadow can also enhance the infiltration capacity of the area, provide rich habitat and decrease mowing. The meadow mowing schedule can coincide with the Grand Prix event.
To Oakland
To Squirrel Hill
Inlets Proposed Infiltration Berm + Trench (exact shape + location TBD) Proposed Meadow Proposed Pedestrian + Cyclist Circulation Gateway or Crossing Possible Future Stormwater Intervention 0
0
25
50
100
150
Feet 200
25
50
100
150
Feet 200
L ANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | bartlett + beacon
Shallow trench to infiltrate water
Mown path through wildflower meadow
Utility pole
Infiltration berm, fiber log and vegetation to slow down water
Potential future sidewalk extension
Potential future vegetated swale
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW | the playground, bartlett + beacon Runoff from the playground and roads is eroding the steep slopes of Panther Hollow Run. Environmental Benefits
Turf areas offer little ecological and hydrological value. Stormwater is rapidly eroding the hillside behind the playground.
Economic Benefits
$
Turf areas traditionally require high inputs such as intense mowing regimes, fertilizers and herbicides.
Social Benefits
The playground is a great amenity for families. Access to the playground could be improved from the surrounding neighborhoods.
L ANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | the playground, bartlett + beacon Converting lawn to meadow and grading shallow lenses in the land can enhance the infiltration capacity of the area, provide rich habitat and decrease mowing.
To Oakland
To Squirrel Hill
Inlets Proposed Meadow + Retentive Grading Proposed Pedestrian + Cyclist Circulation Gateway or Crossing Possible Future Stormwater Intervention 0
0
25
50
100
150
Feet 200
25
50
100
150
Feet 200
L ANDCOVER CONVERSION + RETENTIVE GRADING | between bartlett + beacon
WHAT’S AN INTERVENTION WORTH? Value of Intervention Types Value Intervention Typesconversion) (inches per yearofper square foot
Value of Pilot Projects
(inches per year per square foot conversion) Reduced Runoff (in)
Increased ET (in)
Increased Baseflow (in)
Lawn to Meadow
4
2
2
Improved Woods
3
2
1
Removed Impervious
34
20
14
Impervious to Bioretention
11
5.5
5.5
Impervious to Infiltration
34
0
34
Intervention Type
Note: Impervious to Bioretention assumes 30% capture of the annual runoff from the road.
H EARING FROM YOU I N T E RV E N T I ONS S c h e n l e y D r i ve Swale
B e a c o n t o B artlett Land Conversion
B e a c o n S t r e et Infiltration Berms
Is this innovative to Pittsburgh
Do you find this aesthetically pleasing
Would you consider a smaller version of this on your property
Where else in the watershed would you like to see this happen