[Scpg] Mission Creek Watershed Workshop/SAT June 12/SB

[Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

Mission Creek Restoration Workshop
Santa Barbara, CA
Saturday, June 12
Guest Speaker, Owen Dell

10 am to 3pm
Cost: $10, includes lunch
SB Museum of Natural History, Farrand Room
RSVP by June 7, (805) 963-0583, ext.111, or jillkomoto at cecmail.org
Organized by Community Environmental Council
(www.CommunityEnvironmentalCouncil.org/WaterPrograms)
Sponsored by Mission Creek Restoration Partnership, SB Museum of Natural
History, SB Botanic Garden, & Wendy P. McCaw Fdn

Restore your creekside property along Mission Creek

Learn how you can: 
    * Convert non-native plants to natives 
    * Use natural techniques to stabilize your strambank 
    * Eliminate water runoff form your property 


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BELOW:

Today's Watershed
* The New Watershed Movement
* The New Streets Movement
* Santa Barbara: Watershed Capital of the World
The New Watershed Movement
"Urban hydrologyŠis launching a porous-surface watershed restoration 
movement that helps land absorb rainwater quickly and release it 
slowlyŠThis hydrological reform is part of a broader design movement 
that takes unnecessary infrastructure dollars out of the ground and 
invests them in houses, neighborhood support systems, and landscapes."
Paul Hawken, L. Hunter Lovins, Amory Lovins
"Natural Capitalism"
The New Streets Movement
* Make Streets Watershed-Friendly
* Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect
* Improve Habitat for Street Trees
* LEED Credits
* STRATEGIES:
- Permeable streets, sidewalks & parking lots
- Drainage into natural bioswales
- Cut, pervious or no curbing
- Internal drainage for parking lots
- Root-friendly paving
- Non-toxic seal coatings
- Routine or seasonal sweeping
- Stormdrain filtration
- Public awareness & involvement
* M&S #1:       ADEQUATE LANDSCAPED AREA
* Vegetated areas make it easier for water to percolate into the 
soil, keeping rainwater on site and out of waterways.
* Vegetation and soil percolation zones can absorb and break down 
pollutants by the process of natural bioremediation.
* Vegetated areas provide a healthy root environment for trees.

#2:     ECOROOFS
 ecoroof: An engineered system of impermeable membranes or soil 
bins, low-density growing medium and low-maintenance plantings that 
covers most or all of the roof of a building.
 An ecoroof provides absorption of rainwater, biofilters pollutants, 
reduces urban flooding problems, creates oxygen and sequesters carbon.
 Living, green ecoroofs are commonplace in Europe and are becoming 
popular in North America as well.
 An ecoroof can absorb and retain an inch or more of rainfall 
depending on the type of roof system used.
 Ecoroofs also mitigate the urban heat island effect by reducing 
summertime roof surface temperatures from as high as 140 degrees to a 
maximum of 77 degrees, resulting in a 20-30% reduction in heating and 
cooling costs and, if implemented on a city-wide basis, a projected 
3-7 degree F. drop in air temperature.
 The City of Chicago has estimated that if ecoroofs were implemented 
on all the city's roofs, the city would save $100 million per year in 
energy.
 Tax credits are presently offered for ecoroofs in New York City, 
Portland, Chicago, Seattle and elsewhere.
 Ecoroofs are now required on certain types of new construction in 
parts of Germany.

 #3:    PERMEABLE PAVING
 permeable paving: Any traffic-bearing surface that also allows 
water to penetrate into the subsoil, either through cracks in 
otherwise impermeable material or directly through the material 
itself.
Urban runoff contains numerous pollutants, including petroleum 
products, asbestos, animal waste, and the mixed particulate matter 
that settles on roofs and paved areas.
 Paved streets, sidewalks and parking lots channel this runoff into 
storm drains and then into creeks, lakes, and the ocean.
 Pavement also increases the likelihood of urban flooding.
 Paved areas in the City of Los Angeles amount to 78% of the total city area.
 By making paved areas pervious to water, they can absorb rainwater 
and pollutants instead of causing it to run off into waterways.
 Examples of permeable paving are pervious concrete and pervious 
asphalt, decomposed granite, crushed rock, Turf Block and similar 
systems, soil paving, mulch.
 Many of these are less costly than conventional concrete paving but 
just as functional.
 Permeable paving can be used for driveways, sidewalks, paths, 
patios and other flatwork.

#4:     WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS
 water harvesting: The practice of catching and storing rainwater 
for landscape irrigation or potable use.
 Rainwater can be captured and held on site in a number of ways.
 A simple, attractive dry streambed running through a landscaped 
area can slow down runoff and allow it to percolate into the rootzone 
of the adjacent plantings.
 Underground gravel-filled percolation chambers can direct water 
downward into the water table, recharging the aquifer.
 percolation chamber: An underground pit of varying dimensions, 
filled with a highly pervious material such as crushed rock, which 
catches runoff water and allows it to percolate into the soil.
 cistern: a water storage tank made of concrete, brick, plastic or 
other materials - can be placed above or underground and can store 
rainwater from rooftops for use during the dry season.
 Graywater systems and constructed wetlands can bio-filter water 
from laundry facilities, sinks, showers and other sources in the 
residence or building.
 graywater: All previously-used household water except for toilet 
water, which is referred to as "blackwater."
 constructed wetland: a low area of ground into which runoff or 
graywater collect and are treated by a natural system of plants and 
soil microorganisms, resulting in the purification of the water 
without the use of chemicals or mechanical systems.

 #5:    RETENTION GRADING
 retention grading: Directing runoff to specific locations on the 
site, where it can be treated in bioswales, directed into the soil 
via ponding areas or percolation zones, or otherwise held on the 
site. This is the opposite of the conventional approach of directing 
water off the site as quickly as possible.
 By making minor changes in runoff patterns on the site, water can 
be held in place and used for irrigation purposes.
 A system of berms to retain water and swales to let it soak in can 
keep most of the rainwater in place.
 By placing site drains slightly higher than the surrounding grade, 
rainwater can pool, and the excess that occurs in heavy storms will 
still be safely drained away.
 On-site ponding zones can hold water and provide seasonal habitat 
for local wildlife.

 #6:    BIOSWALES
 bioswale: A vegetated drainage channel which accepts, absorbs and 
treats runoff water, graywater or effluent water, using natural 
biological systems and processes.
 A bioswale can effectively absorb and bioremediate most site runoff.
 Bioswales can serve multiple functions: slow stormwater runoff into 
waterways, filter pollution, reduce the need for street sweeping, 
save the cost of expensive pave-and-pipe infrastructure in new 
developments, maintain or restore a pleasant rural atmosphere in 
neighborhoods, sequester carbon, produce oxygen, recharge 
groundwater, provide habitat for native plants and wildlife, act as 
small local mini-green spaces.
 Bioswales placed adjacent to public roadways can significantly 
reduce the quantity of polluted water that enters stormdrains.
 Combined with pervious paving surfaces, the impact of polluted 
runoff on stormdrains and waterways becomes minimal.
 Bioswales can also be used effectively, and attractively, on 
private property.
 Even on a small scale, a bioswale can be a desirable habitat for 
native animals, insects and plants.

 #7:    DRAIN INLET FILTERS
 drain inlet filter:a filtration device inserted into a stormdrain 
inlet, catchbasin, or drainpipe to remove particulate matter, oils 
and other pollutants from stormwater.
 Filtration systems on municipal and other large drain inlets can 
significantly reduce end-of-pipe pollution.
 In smaller systems, rely on vegetation surrounding the inlet to 
pre-filter water.

 #8:    MULCHING
 mulch: Any loose, non-living material, usually vegetative in 
origin, used to cover the soil in a planted area.
 Mulch improves water absorption, reduces runoff, improves the soil 
foodweb, prevents surface erosion, reduces water loss by evaporation, 
improves the root environment for plants and improves the appearance 
of planting beds.
 A mulch layer mimics the natural duff in a forest.
 Mulches such as tree chips, processed greenwaste and ground bark 
are usually applied 3-5 inches thick.
 Inorganic materials such as crushed rock, gravel or decomposed 
granite can also be used as mulch but lack the important biological 
advantages of organic mulch.
 Allowing leaf litter to decompose in place recycles nutrients and 
reduces the need for imported fertilizers.
 Maintain a minimum 3 inch deep layer of mulch or leaf litter in all 
planted areas.
 Keep mulch away from the base of trees and shrubs and be aware of 
potential hazard in high fire areas.

 #9:    APPROPRIATE PLANT SELECTION
 Use plants that are suited to local conditions.
 Species that are drought tolerant, pest resistant and have low 
nutrient requirements minimize the amount of water, pesticides and 
fertilizers that can add to the effluent stream.

 #10: COMPOST
 compost: Organic matter that is broken down by natural processes of 
decomposition into a humus-rich soil amendment.
 Compost all greenwaste from your site and return it to the system 
by spreading it in planted areas, working it into the soil at the 
time of planting or applying it as compost tea.
 Use compost made on site instead of importing fertilizers. It's 
better for plants and the watershed.

 #11: ET-BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS
 evapotranspiration ("ET"): The combination of evaporation of water 
from the soil and transpiration of water through plants.
 Data on evapotranspiration, usually measured in inches per day or 
per week, is used to monitor and regulate the application of 
irrigation water.
 Evapotranspiration is measured at regional weather stations (such 
as those of California's "CIMIS" system).
 ET data is transmitted to irrigation managers or directly to 
automated irrigation controllers, which then adjust water 
applications to replace the amount of water used in the previous 
measuring period.
 ET-based controllers operate automatically to schedule irrigations 
using data transmitted from remote weather stations.
 They ensure that excess water is not applied to the landscape, 
preventing leaching of nutrients and pesticides.

IMPORTANT NOTE
 Always consult with an engineer or geotechnical consultant prior to 
using any practices such as water harvesting, percolation or 
irrigation management that might destabilize the underlying soil.
 The consequences of allowing water to build up in unstable soils 
can be catastrophic.
 Not all the practices mentioned in this handout are applicable to 
all situations.
 If you are not absolutely certain about what to do, consult a professional.

 #1: EFFICIENT WATER MANAGEMENT
 Re-program controllers seasonally to adjust for changes in the 
evapotranspiration rate.
 Maintain irrigation system to eliminate leaks, overspray and other problems.
 Perform a water audit periodically, and use the data to determine 
watering schedules.
 Educate clients and others about the effects on the watershed of 
poor watering practices.

#2: FERTILIZER REDUCTION
 Maintain an organic mulch cover in all planting areas.
 Where feasible, allow leaf litter to remain in place.
 Use organic or slow release fertilizers instead of chemical 
fertilizers, which are much more water soluble.
 Use less fertilizer.

#3: PESTICIDE REDUCTION
 Practice integrated pest management.
 Eliminate or minimize the use of pesticides.
 Follow label instructions when applying pesticides.
 Never empty pesticide solutions into or near waterways.

#4: ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
 Reduce vehicle use to a minimum.
 Seek alternative forms of transportation.
 Follow the lead of Terra Nova Ecological Landscaping of Santa Cruz, 
CA; they operate a successful landscaping and garden maintenance 
business using bicycles for most of their transportation.

#5: TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Whenever possible, use hand tools or electric tools rather than 
gas-powered tools.
 Do not refuel equipment near streams or drainage areas.