Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
Stormwater runoff is a primary carrier of pollutants to the nearby streams and lakes. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is built to intercept stormwater runoff to mitigate peak flows and stormwater pollutants before reaching surface waters. A rain garden is a type of GSI comprising a plant-soil system where water retention is maximized through infiltration and storage. Proper placement of rain gardens within the watershed is crucial to maximizing their cost-effectiveness. The Lower Puyallup River Watershed, situated in South Puget Sound, consists of primarily residential areas of the cities of Puyallup and Tacoma. Preservation of water quality is essential as the streams and rivers in the watershed are critical aquatic habitats for Chinook and Coho salmon return for spawning. The study's objective is to develop a framework to identify suitable sites for rain gardens in an urbanizing watershed. An indexing approach to identify Hydrological Sensitive Areas (HSA) was adopted, in which we consider the topography, runoff contributing area, soil depth, and hydraulic conductivity. The Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) and Soil Water Storage Capacity (SWSC) were computed to obtain the Hydrologic Sensitivity Index (HSI). Areas considered infeasible per criteria specified by state and county regulations were removed, and HSI was classified based on suitability for the construction of rain gardens. This study provides a practical, scalable, and portable tool for prioritizing the placement of GSI for stormwater runoff management.
Session Title
Poster Session 1: Applied Research & Climate Change
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-134
Start Date
26-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Rain gardens--Washington (State)--Puyallup River Watershed; Runoff--Washington (State)--Puyallup River Watershed; Rainwater--Washington (State)--Puyallup River Watershed;Water conservation--Washington (State)--Puyallup River Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puyallup River Watershed (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Identifying Priority Sites for Rain Gardens in Lower Puyallup River Watershed
Stormwater runoff is a primary carrier of pollutants to the nearby streams and lakes. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is built to intercept stormwater runoff to mitigate peak flows and stormwater pollutants before reaching surface waters. A rain garden is a type of GSI comprising a plant-soil system where water retention is maximized through infiltration and storage. Proper placement of rain gardens within the watershed is crucial to maximizing their cost-effectiveness. The Lower Puyallup River Watershed, situated in South Puget Sound, consists of primarily residential areas of the cities of Puyallup and Tacoma. Preservation of water quality is essential as the streams and rivers in the watershed are critical aquatic habitats for Chinook and Coho salmon return for spawning. The study's objective is to develop a framework to identify suitable sites for rain gardens in an urbanizing watershed. An indexing approach to identify Hydrological Sensitive Areas (HSA) was adopted, in which we consider the topography, runoff contributing area, soil depth, and hydraulic conductivity. The Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) and Soil Water Storage Capacity (SWSC) were computed to obtain the Hydrologic Sensitivity Index (HSI). Areas considered infeasible per criteria specified by state and county regulations were removed, and HSI was classified based on suitability for the construction of rain gardens. This study provides a practical, scalable, and portable tool for prioritizing the placement of GSI for stormwater runoff management.
