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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWork Session- Native PlantingProposal for Native Plantings in Stormwater Basins By:Shantel Brundidge,Gregory Gauthier Jr., Kelly Hamilton,and Lindsay McClintock Summary We are proposing to add the following wording to the current zoning ordinance,“All new developments and redevelopments requiring stormwater basins shall use native plants.”This new stormwater requirement will be mandatory for all new development,large scale housing developments, and industrial and commercial buildings that meet the current standards for a traditional riprap basin.This use of native plantings will help the city to achieve its requirements for sediment removal and soon to be introduced phosphorus load limit that the Department of Natural Resources will be implementing in the future.It will also lessen stormwater runoff that causes flooding in the city due to impervious surfaces. There are several benefits to using native plants to better the community here in the City of Oshkosh. Background The City of Oshkosh experiences frequent flooding that is causing more business and residential property damage along with poor water quality in the Upper Fox Basin watershed.The flooding in Oshkosh is a result of several different issues,some are natural causes like the high water table and the nearby lake and river that flood each spring.Many of the causes are man-made.Before the area was developed it was a large wetland that would absorb and slowly release the excess water.With the increase of development in the area,the wetland has been replaced with impervious surfaces (Dr.Pillsbury).This leaves no way for the water to slowly soak into the soil and aquifer,instead,it ends up rushing down streets and sometimes backing up the sewer system causing sewage to enter people's basements.The flooding also affects business,as when the hospital was flooded.The fire department is located on a street that floods,possibly preventing the trucks from attending a call (Oshkosh Storm Water Management Presentation). The city has taken steps to lessen the flooding in Oshkosh.It has completed public works projects such as the James Road Area detention basin,dredged Sawyer Creek,and installed an underground detention basin at City Hall (Oshkosh Storm Water Management Presentation).All the stormwater projects completed have been undertaken by the city and paid for with tax money.There have been few incentives nor a real push for private industry to help with the stormwater problems.These problems are caused by the large amounts of impervious surfaces that businesses create:parking lots, large buildings,and driveways.Traditional businesses just put in a basin and line it with riprap,which is just medium sized rocks that are placed in stormwater basins,because it is the cheapest and easiest way to go.The riprap does very little to help with the sediment and nutrient problems in the runoff.Some of the basins filled with riprap end up causing flooding when they are not maintained properly,counteracting what they are intended to do.(Mr.Ferris). Our proposal requiring the use of native plants would clean the stormwater before it leaves the basin and enters Lake Winnebago resulting in better water quality.This would help to reduce the algae blooms and fish kills while making the lake more inviting for recreation.We would also put forth suggestions other than stormwater basins that the developer could do to reduce the amount of stormwater that leaves the property.These alternatives would be green roofs,rain collections systems that recycle the water as gray-water for building use,rain gardens,bioswales in the parking lots and using pervious surface pavers for sidewalks or green pavement. Alternatives A green roof can be either a flat roof or have a slight slope.On flat roofs,a series of membranes are laid down as shown in the picture.Then either container gardens are set on top or the entire roof can be “planted”.The rooftop could be transformed from wasted space into a green oasis for workers,a vegetable garden,or planted with utility plants just to soak up the rainfall before it reaches the pavement below.On sloped roofs a mat of vegetation is grown that will hold the water.The main purpose of the roof is to stop runoff,as an added bonus it provides food or a green space. Rain collection systems for homes and business can go from the very simple,a barrel at the bottom of a downspout and then use the water on plants or in gardens,to the complex.A complex system could include pumps and a filtration system so that water is used for building for cooling systems or flushing toilets (Bates).The system could also be hooked up to the properties irrigation system and used for watering the grass and plantings surrounding the building.There are different factors that need to be taken into consideration before putting in a collection system.The stormwater surcharge imposed by the city,the amount of rainfall received,and the indirect benefits to the environment.Wang and Zimmerman have run a cost analysis on collection systems across the US and found that unless the environment and the indirect costs are taken into consideration many of the systems are too expensive (1768). Another alternative or way to make stormwater basins smaller (Lawrence,Quigley 4)is to utilize bioswales and rain gardens throughout the property.Bioswales and rain gardens are easy and relatively inexpensive ways to slow runoff,filter sediment and nutrients while fulfilling the city requirement for trees and shrubs in parking areas. Bioswales are made lower than the pavement surrounding them and have no curb to detour water around them.Bioswales and rain gardens have direct access to the runoff,it pools in the small areas that are planted with plants that can handle the wet/dry cycle.These plants filter and clean the water before it enters the stormwater sewer and eventually the nearby lake or river. Another option is to replace an impervious surface,with a permeable one.There are many types of pervious pavers available to the homeowner and builder.Some allow grass to grow up between the permeable block and others rely on space between blocks to allow the rain and runoff to enter and soak into the ground beneath.These can be used in place of traditional solid concrete sidewalks,and can be made into decorative store entrances and driveways.Mr. John Ferris pointed out that the fewer detention basins there is leaves more prime business land available to be developed.This would increase jobs and tax revenue for the city.Many of the current basins are located in excellent locations for other businesses and that is costing the city money. When the amount of stormwater is reduced,the flooding will also be reduced which will be another financial gain for the city of Oshkosh and all the citizens that live in the city.There will be less damage done to the stormwater sewers,less sewage backing up into homes and businesses,and less property damage done to homes and businesses.Less flooding will also help improve the environment in the city.When areas floods,everything that is on the ground including antifreeze,oil drippings,garbage, plastic,animal feces and the gas and oil from the cars that get stuck in the floodwater gets washed into the lake causing poor water quality in the Upper Fox Basin watershed. One of the contributing factors towards flooding is the large amount of impervious spaces in Oshkosh.This map of Oshkosh, shows in red,all the impervious features of the city.This means when rainfall comes all the water that runs off the impervious spaces, such as parking lots,goes directly into the stormwater basins.All the pollutants on the ground run off with the rain water and into the stormwater basins.From there the water goes into Lake Winnebago,which is where the cities drinking water comes from. The city of Oshkosh and the surrounding water bodies,Lake Winnebago, and the Fox River are located in the Upper Fox River Basin.Covering an area of 2,090 mi2,the Upper Fox River Basin incorporates many bodies of water that drain into Lake Winnebago (“Upper Fox”). Multiple water bodies within this system have been listed on the WDNR’s Impaired Water List,including the section of the Fox River flowing through Oshkosh and into Lake Winnebago.These waters are impaired due to the presence of multiple pollutants like phosphorous,PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), total suspended solids and other sediments.These pollutants have caused eutrophication,excess algal growth,water quality use restrictions,turbidity,and contaminated fish tissues (“Impaired Water”).These are all problems that affect the recreational use of the lake and river and cause the increased cost to the treatment of the drinking water. Recommendations Influencing and enhancing stormwater management practices are key components to reducing a carbon footprint.By revising the Oshkosh zoning ordinance,we are requesting the use of native plants in newly developed or redeveloped stormwater basins.This idea came from doing extensive research on two areas of concern,water quality and flooding.Water quality,and flooding are areas of high priority,yet not many communities are proposing the idea of using native plants to combat these problems.Other areas that need to be taken into consideration are,is it aesthetically pleasing,and who can the city and other entities collaborate with. Benchmarks would also be considered,but as stated before there are few cities that have implemented an ordinance that requires the use of native plants.There are two cities that currently have zoning requiring native plants in stormwater basins,Farmington Hills Michigan,and Los Angeles California.The research that has been done for this report can help answer some of the issues that will arise as the proposal goes forward.Oshkosh can be a model for future communities by being one of the first communities to incorporate native plants into stormwater basins. Collaboration and community support are key to creating and making this vision come true. There are many non-profit organizations in the community and nearby communities to help with the planning and costs of our proposed project.For example,Wild Ones is an organization with local chapters that teach about the many benefits of growing native plants in people’s yards and is very excited about using natural plants in stormwater basins in the area instead of riprap.Developers that are required to put in basins can also utilize the local universities and colleges to help with implementing the basins.This partnership would give hands-on educational training for classes and internships while helping the community by reducing stormwater runoff. To envision this idea and make it a reality it will require and create a foundation of opportunities within Oshkosh.Building and promoting new relationships with different organizations creates a greater sense of community as well as maintaining and enhancing the water quality,urban environment,and increasing a greener aesthetically pleasing community for tourism. Stakeholders Adding the new wording that incorporates the use of native plantings to the current zoning ordinance in new or redeveloped stormwater basins requires the involvement of a variety of stakeholders. Those who will have the most impact on the implementation of the proposal are considered key stakeholders.One such stakeholder would be any developer seeking to build a new facility within the city of Oshkosh.Without the support of the developers implementing this shift toward a more sustainable stormwater management system,the ordinance could be met with resistance.After speaking with a realtor,Mr.Steve Hoopman,it became clear that developers and other businesses are more concerned about the expenses associated with implementing native plants in stormwater basins than the sustainability aspects. Another key set of stakeholders in this proposal are the members of the City Council who decide whether or not the changes to the current ordinance will be beneficial to the community.In order to assess the changes proposed,the city will have to determine if there will be any new development lost from the added care and cost of the native vegetation in stormwater basins as well as the benefits provided by the plants for stormwater management. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is also considered a key stakeholder.The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for municipal stormwater permits throughout the state. Their requirements affect the way stormwater is managed.Currently,the city of Oshkosh is required to reduce the total suspended solids in stormwater runoff that could enter into the surrounding bodies of water (“Stormwater Runoff”).The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is currently working on a regulation for the Upper Fox River called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)in order to clean the impaired water.The TDML assesses the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be present in a body of water while still meeting quality standards (“Upper Fox,”“Total Maximum”).The results of this assessment on Lake Winnebago and the Upper Fox River will affect Oshkosh’s stormwater management practices greatly. Another key stakeholder that we would like to introduce into this project is Wild Ones.Wild Ones is an organization that “promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to increase biodiversity through the preservation,restoration and establishment of native plant communities” (“Welcome to Wild Ones”).Wild Ones offers educational workshops on the site of a native planting project.If the city were to implement this ordinance,Wild Ones could assist with educating the caretakers of the native planted stormwater basin.By going on site to the new installation,Wild Ones could help educate all parties involved in the identification and maintenance of these plants.The possibility of annual workshops would allow caretakers of new stormwater basins and existing stormwater basins to ask questions and learn the techniques for caring for the native plants.Their organization has expressed interest in the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance.With help from Wild Ones to educate the public and private sectors on the benefits and proper care of native plants,we will be able to help in an easier transition to new stormwater management practice that many will benefit from.Incorporating native vegetation in stormwater basins will require the collaborative effort of a variety of stakeholders. Benchmarking Farmington Hills,Michigan The City of Farmington Hills,Michigan has incorporated the requirement of native plantings into their Storm Water Detention Basins.The design guidelines for Storm Water Detention Basins can be found listed in the Design Guidelines and Checklist under The Department of Planning and Community Development under the City Government (http://www.fhgov.com/Government/Departments- Divisions/Planning-Community-Development/Design-Guidelines-and-Checklists/Storm-Water- Detention-Basins.aspx).The Department of Planning and Community Development is responsible for the guidelines of how a stormwater detention basin should be built and what types of vegetation are permitted. On the Farmington Hills website under Design Guidelines and Checklist,there is a link for Storm Water Detention Basins.Listed under Storm Water Detention Basin are two main topics for guidelines that must be followed:Earth Sculpting and Planting.The Earth Sculpting section gives the guidelines on how to shape and develop the stormwater basins.A few exact guidelines are provided: ●“Water retention basins should be "free form,"following the natural landforms to the greatest extent possible.If such forms do not exist,the basin should be shaped to emulate a naturally formed depression”(Storm Water). ●“Side slopes must be varied to imitate natural condition”(Storm Water). ●“Forebays shall be constructed to emulate shallow naturalized emergent wetland basins. The basins shall not exceed two foot (2’)of water depth at full capacity and shall be of a natural shape (not square,rectangular or other geometric shape).Slopes of forebays shall conform to side slope requirements as required for detention basins and as specified in the City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services,Engineering Division, Engineering Design Standards for Site Development and Redevelopment”(Storm Water). The other section labeled Plants gives exact guidelines on what plants are allowed in a stormwater detention basin.Some of the guidelines for the permitted plants are as follows: ●“The City encourages naturalized planting themes for these retention basins.The applicant should consider the use of plant materials that naturally grow in the area.Trees and shrubs should be grouped in informal patterns to emulate the natural environment. The intent is to soften the views of these basins and not to totally screen them from view” (Storm Water). ●‘Plant materials used within the limits of the basin must meet the requirements as indicated in Appendix A.(a plant list for stormwater retention/detention facilities)All other plantings must meet the requirements outlined in the landscape section 34-5.14 of the City’s Zoning Chapter”(Storm Water). ●‘Planting within Forebays shall be composed of herbaceous plant material indicated in Zone 2 of Appendix A;woody plant material will not be permitted.Planting of a minimum of three (3)species shall be required”(Storm Water). Farmington Hills Michigan is one of very select few cities that created an ordinance for stormwater detention basins that incorporates the use of native plants.The use of native plants is a new idea,and to incorporate it into the city of Oshkosh’s ordinance’s for stormwater basin standards would be setting a standard of leadership for surrounding communities.A starting point would be to model Oshkosh's stormwater requirements on Farmington Hill’s ordinance.Farmington Hills is demographically comparable to Oshkosh,and if they can create an ordinance to incorporate native plantings in detention basins,then so can we. 2014 Stats (US Census)Oshkosh Farmington Hills Population 66,621 81,435 Median Income $42,860 $71,061 Poverty Level 18.9%7.9% High School Education or Higher 89.2%94.6% Median Home Value $115,300 $200,100 Number of Housing Units 28,131 36,773 Los Angeles,California The City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance in May 2012,its purpose was to ensure that development and redevelopment projects mitigate runoff in a manner that captures stormwater at its source while utilizing natural resources.With that ordinance,a master plan was enacted to help ensure proper education on why and how this benefits the area watershed.The Water Quality Compliance Master Plan (WQCMPUR),is a 20-year strategy for clean stormwater and urban runoff reduction.It will reduce the pollution flowing into the watershed surrounding Los Angeles.(City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program). The Ordinance was constructed by L.A.Sanitation in collaboration and coordination with environmental organizations,business groups,and the building industry community members.The ordinance states that project applicants are required to prepare and implement a stormwater mitigation plan when their projects fall into any of these categories: ●Single-family hillside residential developments ●Housing developments of 10 or more dwelling units (including single family tract developments) ●Industrial /Commercial developments with one acre or more of impervious surface area ●Automotive service facilities* ●Retail gasoline outlets* ●Restaurants* ●Parking lots of 5,000 square feet or more of surface area or with 25 or more parking spaces ●Projects with 2,500 square feet or more of impervious area that are located in,adjacent to,or draining directly to designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) (City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program) The ordinance can be found on their website (https://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/city/ca/LosAngeles/Municipal/chapter06.pdf),under Sections 64.70.01 and 64.72 of Article 4.4 of Chapter VI of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to expand the applicability of the existing Standard Urban Stormwater Mitigation Plan (SUSMP)(City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program).To make it even easier for businesses and residents,the LA Sanitation and city officials,compiled an easy educational tool to help with installing LIDs (low impact development)and other BMPs (best management practices).By providing a roadmap to help citizens,business owners and developers better understand why and how they need to do this resulted in less confusion,and chaos,and developed an area of interest. By implementing strategies similar to the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Program,Oshkosh can create a model of their own that will incorporate objectives similar to what Los Angeles did for their community.Water is a resource that needs protection,and Los Angeles is doing that by conserving water, reducing pollutants,and making a healthier community.Being in California,which is severely stricken by drought,the citizens of Los Angeles know how important protecting their rivers,streams,and groundwater is. Costs Bioretention basins and other low impact development (LID)mimic the natural water cycle of the landscape,this reduces pollution and the negative impacts from stormwater runoff into the Fox River Watershed.Communities that are learning how to construct LID’s question how much they will cost to construct and maintain for a period of time.Authors Bowman,Thompson,and Tyndall emphasize the lack of knowledge and misunderstanding about LIDs generates a reinforced idea to continuing using standard conventional designs.Where regulations do not encourage any type of LID,runoff is not the main priority for developers (53).By identifying those barriers that create the misunderstanding,they can be overcome,along with the resistance that government and communities have.The identification and education can have a positive influence that will encourage biodetention basins and other LID’s within the cities infrastructure.Research is a priority that is needed to characterize public policy and regulations. This research can influence innovative strategies for developers,planners,and municipal officials to address and increase awareness through education and government incentives.These actions will lead to the decrease in design and development costs for biodetention basins and other LIDs (Ahiablame,Engel, and Chaubey 53). Every LID development,design,construction,and site will have different costs and benefits that will serve to enhance the area where it is located.By assessing the economics of LID,North Carolina Cooperative Extension -Watershed Education for Communities and Officials,provided three methods that can be used:costs comparisons,life-cycle cost analysis,and benefit-cost analysis (3).All three methods can be used to highlight areas depending on the time frame of the project.Cost comparison just compares initial construction costs and does not include anything about improving stormwater management.This provides an incomplete but quick assessment for building the basin.Life-cycle cost analysis,which includes planning,design,installation,operation,maintenance and decommissioning, excludes economic benefits and ignores differences in effectiveness.The benefit-cost analysis considers the full range of costs and benefits,the economic benefits resulting from LID that includes the long-term life cycle of each project,but requires more data and time to produce (Kirk,Roseen,and Etnier 7).This practice needs to be done to highlight environmental goods and services that are not observed as an economic service. How will this benefit the local government,the community,and even business?Studies in North Carolina,Washington D.C,and California have all found that property values of homes went up by at least 25%with the addition of biodetention ponds and other LIDS practices that slow water runoff (North Carolina State University 4).Kloss and Calarusse’s article showed that reducing inflow and infiltration means less stormwater leaking into sanitary sewers,reduced filtrations costs with biodetention fields instead of piped stormwater saved an estimated $200,000 in Washington,DC (21).Not having to clean contaminated water and protecting the water supply through biodetention ponds,is usually cheaper than cleaning contaminated water,avoiding additional costs to the city.With research and implementation in Oshkosh,it could become a viable and economically prosperous area and be one of the first pioneers to implement native plant programs throughout the city. A study conducted by the Illinois Association for Floodplain Management,produces an environmental and economic cost/benefit analysis for conventional(riprap)and naturalized (natural vegetation)detention basins.Table 1 and 2 provides those costs and were provided by qualified engineering,ecological,and landscaping firms (Illinois Association for Floodplain Management 6).A comparison of both installations shows that conventional detention basins cost $20,225 more than natural vegetated,which primarily due to the high cost of riprap.Another variable to illustrate is the maintenance cost for slope treatment,which shows the naturalized basin 5-year period was $3,350 more than the conventional,but in a 10-year span was $1,400 less.Construction of a naturalized basin does not only provide water quality benefits,but the construction of a naturalized basin eliminates the restoration costs that are required for a conventional basin.With the utilization of native vegetation in detention basins provides better benefits rather economically and environmentally. Developers also see a change in the market when it comes to biodetention ponds.Studies done by Macmullan and Reich found that there is less money spent on infrastructure;replacing curbs,storm sewers,and gutters (321).One developer in the study saved $70,000 per mile and increased property values in LID neighborhoods more than $3,000 than non-LID neighborhoods (320).Many of these costs come from repaving roads,restoring conventional infrastructure,and not having enough research done on the site. Looking at opportunities that facilitate green infrastructure means that we need to look into grants that encourage projects such as using native vegetation in detention basins.One such grant in Wisconsin, The Urban Nonpoint Source &StormWater (UNPS&SW)Management Grant Program,offers competitive grants to local governments.The grant reimburses the costs of planning or construction projects controlling urban nonpoint source and stormwater runoff pollution.The grant reimburses local governments for 70%of the planning project costs with a maximum of $85,000.Construction costs are reimbursed differently.Fifty percent of construction costs for designing and implementing a best management practice project can be reimbursed with a $150,000 maximum.The grant can also reimburse 50%of the costs of property acquisition needed to complete a project with a maximum of $50,000 (“Urban Nonpoint”).This grant can help reduce the costs of implementing the stormwater basins.The city could apply for this grant and install stormwater basins for future developers which could act as an incentive to attract business to the area.With small incentives such as that,more businesses would be inclined to build in Oshkosh which would create more jobs in the area and boost the local economy. Incorporating native plants in detention ponds can save the city,community,and developers money in the long run.Many of the costs derive from how much research needs to be conducted on the site and also what plants should be used.It can be a burden at first,but in the long run,the city can establish itself as a pioneer for practices that will encourage new tourism,residents,and other means to increase Oshkosh revenue. In a paper,conducted by Coffman et al.,it indicated that low impact development such as biodetention basins,have economic benefits at the micro-scale approach for local governments (9).A medical office building in Maryland was able to reduce the amount of storm drain pipe that was needed from 800 to 230 feet with the use of bioretention basins,a cost savings of $24,000 (EPA 7).Implementing low impact development designs,can retrofit existing development and encourage new development that can save local governments and also residents from the effects of flood damage,remedial costs of current inefficient designs,and employ design models that work for future development. With the lack of private stormwater projects,which includes native vegetated detention ponds and other LIDs,the revision of the zoning ordinance to require the use of native vegetation in new and restored detention ponds will allow Oshkosh to mitigate costs in the future.Oshkosh can serve as a model city for introducing these innovation solutions to stormwater problems by putting LID’s and biodetention basins into its infrastructure. Barriers The biggest problem of implementing the proposed adding of the phrase,“All new developments and redevelopments requiring stormwater basins shall use native plants”to the zoning ordinance will be education and the unwillingness of developers that are required to put in stormwater basins to pay the upfront costs of putting in native plants.From the interviews done with some residents of Oshkosh,they would rather see native plants than riprap,so that may be influential on developers.Yet the biggest obstacle will be the money that it costs and the time that it takes to establish the native plantings. Education will need to play a large role in convincing the city council and business owners to accept the new changes that are being proposed.With the help of Wild Ones,a native prairie organization,and other organizations we hope to educate the council,business owners and the public on how native plants differ from Kentucky Bluegrass or other annual plants,how natives in a basin can be attractive,clean the water,and attract beneficial wildlife.They will also help to teach the care and maintenance of the new plantings. In the research that was done,education proved to be a very important key in changing how people thought about stormwater and how to deal with it.In “Integrating Extension,Teaching,and Research for Stormwater Management Education”the authors stated that “The strong integration of extension,teaching,and research,which is often a significant challenge,is a key to stormwater management programming successes”(76).With the help of Wild Ones,the UW Extension,Fox Valley Technical College and the Master Gardeners Program an outreach program could be set up to mimic the one that was used in the research.This program would reduce the concerns of time and money that native plants require and also educate on the importance of reducing impervious surfaces.If the training also incorporated alternative techniques,it would make it easier for businesses to choose the best solution for their property. Another barrier that this project faces is CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).This book,referred to the group by Officer Joe Nickels of the Oshkosh Police,lists maximum height requirements and setbacks for tall plants.The maximum height is thirty inches and there should be no tall plants within twenty feet of a sidewalk (CPTED 56).Many of the native plants are much taller than the maximum of thirty inches and most of the basins are located at the entrance to the business,making it closer than the allowed twenty feet.Using the alternative stormwater control methods would help with this problem.The detention basin would be able to be smaller.They could be set back further from the drive and walk areas,and need less vegetation,putting them in compliance with the CPTED.A developer may also be able to get a variance from the zoning office.This would allow them to plant closer to the road or use taller plants if it can be shown that no adverse effects will happen.For example,if the plants in the bioswale are taller than allowed,but being used on a side of the building that would not be a pedestrian path.A bioretention basin may be able to be closer to the drive or have taller plants as long as it does not interfere with the ability to see oncoming traffic. A minor obstacle to the project is the look of unkempt native plantings.Most people are very comfortable with the well-manicured lawn with a few round shrubs,but native plants do not follow the well-manicured look.Without a proper planting plan,the look of the basin could be overgrown and unruly,just the opposite of what the project is trying to achieve.A well constructed and planted basin will provide the needed stormwater control and native plants are excellent at holding soil in place and filtering the water of heavy metals (Bonilla-Warford,Zedler 387).The basin can also be aesthetically pleasing, native plants attract bees,butterflies,birds and other attractive wildlife to an area,giving a city parking area a more peaceful,natural look,which is part of the Oshkosh’s Sustainability Plan (23). Significance of Sustainability The proposal of adding native plants to the City of Oshkosh’s ordinance will help the city achieve a more sustainable future.In the introduction of the “City of Oshkosh Sustainability Plan”sustainability is defined.In the definition that is given for sustainability,the first step is that the city must decide what it wants to sustain into the future.There is a list of what the Steering Committee sees as worth sustaining or changing to become sustainable.Within this list,they include the city’s natural resources which is where our proposal fits in.The list that they give captures the two elements common to most definitions of sustainability which they say is balance and time.The Plan states that this balance is between three major elements of our world,especially in cities,the elements are:human population,the economic system and the environment (Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 8).Population,economy and environment are also called the three pillars of sustainability.In order to be sustainable,all three elements have to be met.The proposal incorporates all three elements which will help the city achieve a more sustainable future for itself. The Steering Committee has a section in the sustainability plan for their goals and objectives.One of their goals is environmental conservation.The goal for environmental conservation is to protect and enhance the city’s natural resources.Under their natural environmental section,they have listed that they would like a more natural look by using more native landscaping in the city of Oshkosh.The Plan states, “Strengthen existing development codes and promote policies that place a greater value on developing an aesthetically pleasing natural environment throughout the city”(Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 23).One goal for native landscaping is to “Develop an ordinance to guide native landscaping practices.Use native, perennial plantings instead of annual plants in city flower beds to reduce soil disturbance and decrease stormwater runoff “(Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 23). Another one of the Steering Committee's goals listed under environmental conservation is waterway protection.Located in the waterway protection section,are stormwater management and flood control.The Sustainability board would like to “Continue to implement the Stormwater Management Plan to meet goals such as reducing suspended solids,phosphorus,total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)and other substances of concern in our waterways.Continue to address flood control needs”(Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 21). Through the proposal,we are suggesting a more sustainable approach to take care of all three of these specific goals that the Steering Committee would like addressed.There are many sustainable benefits to using native plants in stormwater basins.The first benefit of native plants is what it does for water quality in stormwater basins.In an article written by JoAnn Gillespie on Storm Water Basins:Using Natural Landscaping For Water Quality &Esthetics she explains the many benefits of the use of native plants over non-native plants when used as landscaping for a stormwater basin.Gillespie says that “Landscaping these storm water basins with native plants can increase their value and improve their water treatment functions”(2).Native plants are increasing the value of the basins and they are improving the water quality which the community can benefit from.Native plants are helping the quality of stormwater by removing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus),improving water filtration through the diverse vertical structure of plantings and reduce the velocity of water flowing through the several layers of vegetation, which allows more water to infiltrate (Gillespie 4).One of the goals is to keep reducing suspended solids, phosphorus,total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)and other substances of concern that are in the waterway.By using native plants native plants in the city,Oshkosh will achieve a more natural looking city,at the same time achieving its three goals that are listed above. The use of native plants is a relatively new idea,so when it comes to deciding the best native plants to use some people may have a lot of questions.D.G.Ogle and J.C.Hoag wrote a resource guide that provides a tool for selecting plant materials for vegetated stormwater basins.This guide aids landscape architects,architects,engineers,or other design professionals with best management practices for stormwater design (7).The native plants that are listed in this resource guide are plants that“...can purify the water by removing suspended solids (sediment)and a wide variety of nutrients and minerals such as nitrate,phosphorus,heavy metals,and fecal coliform bacteria (Ogle 9).The plants will improve the water quality in the basins,and with the help from the guide book,stormwater managers can pick out the best plants for their geographic area and are aesthetically pleasing to the community.Another option is to utilize Wild Ones to help with picking out the plant species for the basins and to pick the most appealing and most beneficial native plants for a basin.It is a win-win for the developers who are creating the basins and for the community members who will enjoy the new native plantings in the basins. Another benefit of native plantings is the reduction of flooding.An article that gives information on how native plantings are a great alternative is written by Emma Monk and Lisa Chalmers titled Mimic Natural Drainage Processes:A practical approach for stormwater management in Western Australia. This article discusses how creating a natural drainage system protects life and properties from flooding, how it improves the aesthetics of urban areas,and how they maintain the water quality (1-15).Oshkosh has problems with flooding in the city,the use of native plants in stormwater basins will help the water penetrate into the ground quicker,this allows water less time to build up resulting in minimal flooding issues.Flooding can cause a significant amount of damage to a city which can be quite expensive,so by making native plants part of the ordinance the city will be saving money and time. Native plants are improving the stormwater quality and in addition,they are less expensive because “Landscaping a storm water basin with native species reduces maintenance costs because mature native plants require less management than traditional non-native plants”(Gillespie 4).We are adding value to the basins and surrounding property and we are improving water quality at the same time while providing something aesthetically nice for the community.By using native plants in stormwater basins the city addresses all three pillars of sustainability. All of the above articles support a more sustainable future when using native plants,specifically in stormwater basins.Some of the benefits towards the environment from the use of native plants are the creation of habitat for wildlife and the improvement of water quality.The benefits to society include a reduction of flooding,improved water quality,and increased recreational value of Lake Winnebago.The native plantings also give the city a natural,peaceful look.The economical benefits are reduced flooding, less water treatment cost,increased tourism through fishing and recreation on Lake Winnebago.Once native plants are established they cost less to maintain than riprap,saving businesses money.Native plants in basins will lead to a more sustainable future for the city of Oshkosh and this proposal addresses all three of the environmental conservation goals listed in the plan to promote a more sustainable city. Conclusion/Summary With the use of native plantings in stormwater basins in the city of Oshkosh,we will be able to improve its water quality and help with the flooding issues.Native plantings have several benefits and will lead to a more sustainable future for the city of Oshkosh.Through community collaboration,new stormwater basins will help the city to achieve its requirements for sediment removal and soon to be phosphorus loads and lessen stormwater runoff that causes flooding in the city due to impervious surfaces.While at the same time meeting the sustainability goals of Oshkosh’s sustainability plan to be a more aesthetically pleasing natural looking city. Definitions Bioswales:Landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water.They consist of a swaled drainage course with gently sloped sides (less than six percent)and filled with vegetation,compost,and/or riprap. Biodetention/bioretention:The process in which contaminants and sedimentation are removed from stormwater runoff.Stormwater is collected into the treatment area which consists of a grass buffer strip, sand bed,ponding area,organic layer or mulch layer,planting soil,and plants. Eutrophication:The enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients,typically compounds containing nitrogen,phosphorus,or both. Green infrastructure:An approach to water management that protects,restores,or mimics the natural water cycle.Green infrastructure generally includes ``better site design''or ``low impact development'' stormwater projects. Green pavement:Porous,meaning that it permits water to seep through to the ground. Green roofs:Sometimes called a living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium,planted over a waterproofing membrane.It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Heavy metals:Relatively dense metal or metalloid that is noted for its potential toxicity,especially in environmental contexts.The term has particular application to cadmium,mercury,lead and arsenic,all of which appear in the World Health Organisation's list of 10 chemicals of major public concern.Other examples include manganese,chromium,cobalt,nickel,copper,zinc,selenium,silver,antimony,and thallium. Impervious surfaces:An impervious surface is a surface which cannot be penetrated by water Infiltration:The downward movement of water into soil. LID Low-impact development is a term used in Canada and the United States to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to manage stormwater runoff.LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. Native plants:A native (indigenous)species is one that occurs in a particular region,ecosystem and habitat without direct or indirect human actions.Species native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the continent prior to European settlement. Nitrogen:Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution,also called nutrient pollution is a common impairment of lake quality,and is responsible for the slimy,green algae blooms on our lakes in the summer.Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are also responsible for the “dead zone”in the Gulf of Mexico,an area with little or no oxygen that cannot support marine life. Phosphorus:see Nitrogen Rain collections systems:The practice of capturing,infiltrating or utilizing rainfall from roofs, constructed catchment surfaces,and driveways,sidewalks,parking lots and streets. Rain gardens:A garden which takes advantage of rainfall and stormwater runoff in its design and plant selection.It is designed to withstand the extremes of moisture and concentrations of nutrients,particularly Nitrogen and Phosphorus,that are found in stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff:Runoff that is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces,such as paved streets,parking lots,and building rooftops,and does not soak into the ground Total Maximum Daily Load:(TMDL)is a regulatory term in the U.S.Clean Water Act,describing a value of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards. Total suspended solids:(TSS)are solids in water that can be trapped by a filter.TSS can include a wide variety of material,such as silt,decaying plant and animal matter,industrial wastes,and sewage.High concentrations of suspended solids can cause many problems for stream health and aquatic life. 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