Citation:

MORRISON, M. A., W. D. SHUSTER, AND R. Webb. A Streamlined Monitoring Framework for Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Practices - Albuquerque. Presented at American Water Resources Association Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, November 11 - 15, 2007.

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Presentation/Abstract

Description:

In many respects, the collection, of monitoring data has become standard "boilerplate" in grant proposals that fund non point source management projects. This approach typically calls for a full suite of parameters to be measured, even if the grant objectives are such that hydrology and a few water quality parameters (for example, relating to a local TMDL) will adequately address the actual question of best management practice (BMP) performance. Monitoring of all possible parameters leads many grantees, which are usually strapped for resources and funding, to do a poor job of monitoring any single parameter. In addition, large volumes of unnecessary data may be generated. The objective of our research is to develop a streamlined monitoring framework that aids in the selection of monitoring strategies to assess the performance and effectiveness of dispersed, low-impact development (LID) stormwater management projects. The monitoring framework and core principles will be introduced via a discussion of the Shepherd Creek Watershed project in Southwestern Ohio. The Shepherd Creek project provides economic incentives to urban residential landowners to adopt LID stormwater management approaches - rain barrels and rain gardens - at the parcel level. Monitoring of Shepherd Creek began in 2004, and follows a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design. Four project sites were recently funded through the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. by a U.S. EPA National Community Decentralized Demonstration Project grant. The four projects are distributed throughout the Chagrin River Watershed in Northeast Ohio and consist of rain gardens, roadside bioswales, porous pavers and a combination treatment train approach at one of the four locations. The four demonstration project sites are on small parcels of land in headwaters areas of the watershed. Because of the limited scope and spatial scale of these demonstration projects, monitoring will mostly involve on-site stormwater collection designed to provide proof-of-concept water quantity and quality data (i.e., performance ). We will discuss the genesis of the monitoring framework, how it was informed by the watershed--scale research in the Shepherd Creek project, and then walk through site-specific examples of BMP performance monitoring for the Chagrin River Watershed demonstration project.

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