Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Community-based soil quality assessment as a tool for designing an urban green infrastructure network to manage runoff
EPA Grant Number: SU835494Title: Community-based soil quality assessment as a tool for designing an urban green infrastructure network to manage runoff
Investigators: Montgomery, James , Klimas, Christie A. , Williams, Allison , Kennedy, Ann , DeKnock, Christian , Webb, Ellen , Costenbader, Jan , Arcus, Joseph , Vollrath, Katherine , Rico, Kathryn , Rodriguez, Yarency
Institution: Depaul University , Washington State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2013 through August 14, 2014
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Stormwater runoff from urban areas is often loaded with toxic metals, including lead and arsenic, as well as nutrients and sediment detached from areas of exposed soils. Excessive runoff is expensive to treat at wastewater treatment plants. In heavily urbanized areas, small-scale green infrastructure (GI) such as rain gardens and green roofs may be the most practical approach for reducing contaminated runoff, providing ecosystem services and creating community open spaces (Chicago Wilderness 2011; Mayer et al. 2011). GI is often most critical in low income areas as it can improve urban water quality, reduce urban air pollution, improve public health, and enhance urban aesthetics and safety (Barnhill and Smardon 2012). When the community is involved in the design and implementation, GI development and implementation can have social benefits. Additionally, GI installation provides multiple opportunities for science education in the K-12 curriculum. Our project was implemented via a partnership between a team of DePaul University undergraduates (the P3 team) and high school interns (Green Teens, or “GTs”) and staff from the Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC), located in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood in Chicago, a low-income African-American community. The GTs program is a stipend-based green career exploration program for youth between the ages 14–18. Our project goal is to develop a network of GTs and interested community members from the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood in Chicago, qualified to conduct assessments of soil quality that will assist them in developing GI plans to minimize runoff of contaminants and nutrients, to ultimately improve community and environmental health, and to provide more equitable access to green space. Objectives of this project include: (i) teaching the P3 team and GTs how to conduct soil quality assessment on several degraded vacant lots owned by GCYC, following the principles of soil quality assessment developed by Karlen et al (1997, 2001) and using the USDA-NRCS Soil Quality Test Kit Guide (2001); (ii) using the results of soil quality assessment to determine the appropriate type of GI to miminize stormwater runoff and pollutant loadings from these lots; (iii) addressing STEM education goals, including encouraging careers in science to minority/underserved populations; giving college students (e.g. the P3 team) experience in community engagement to encourage their future participation as professionals; expanding the legions of citizen scientists; and involving colleges and universities in their local communities.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Outputs:
The P3 team:
- Constructed a demonstration soil quality test kit following the NRCS “Soil Quality Test Kit”.
- Worked with GCYC staff to identify four candidate vacant lots owned by the Gary Comer Foundation, preferrably located adajacent to the GCYC, on which to conduct soil quality assessment.
- Conducted field and laboratory soil quality assessment on over 100 soil samples collected from the four vacant lots.
- Prepared a series of GIS maps showing spatial distribution of soil indicators. These maps were used to help develop GI designs for the lots.
- Constructed three-dimensional models demonstrating various GI vegetation and placemaking concept designs for one of the four vacant lots.
- Prepared a documentary video, “Soil in the City: Growing Green Infrastructure and Community” to explain the overarching goal and objectives of our project.
Outcomes:
The P3 team and Dr. Ann Kennedy conducted a train-the-trainers workshop on soil quality assessment with the GTs at the GCYC on December 10, 2013. The P3 team instructed small groups of GTs and other interested students on how to conduct soil quality assessment by demonstrating some of the different soil quality indicator tests (e.g. texture and aggregate stability). Then, the GTs were responsible for showing the P3 team and GCYC what they learned by becoming the instructors and demonstrating the soil tests.
Conclusions:
Several conclusions can be made concerning this experience and its impact on all participants.
- The P3 team has grown as science scholars through their participation in this project. Most members did not have extensive field and laboratory experience involving soil samples. The 2 experienced members of the P3 team (e.g the environmental science majors) were paired with the less experienced members to teach them the fundamentals of field sampling, laboratory safety, and the techniques required to conduct the various analytical tests. During one of our regular Friday P3 team meetings in December 2014, the students who possessed minimal field and laboratory skills indicated that they had gained confidence in these skills, while the experienced students said that they had gained confidence in their ability to teach these skills.
- The P3 team learned that conducting scientific research does not always conform to a normal “8-5” work schedule. They spent December 2-21, including some Saturdays, in the laboratory analyzing their soil samples. This project gave them the opportunity to “wear the lab coat” of a professional scientist in a collaborative setting.
- Two P3 team members, Kate Vollrath and Allison Williams, who are double majors in geography and environmental studies, have extensive GIS training. They prepared GIS maps of the soil quality indicators (cf. Figure 1 below) for a GIS class project and will be attending the Association of American Geographers annual meeting in Tampa, FL, April 8-12.
- Our project successfully applied the soil quality assessment framework to the arena of GI and placemaking planning, design and implementation. The vacant lots all have generally poor soil quality. The lots all have an average soil pH > 8.0, are low in organic matter, have little microbial respiration activity, are enriched in available phosphorus, and have average total lead values ranging from 24-2,700 mg/kg. These soils will need to be remediated by adding carbon-rich materials prior to GI installation.
- Based on the P3 team’s assessment of soil quality of the four vacant lots, and in consultation with GCYC staff, we selected one of the lots (hereafter known as “72nd &Dobson”) on which to develop a more detailed GI design plan. Students enrolled in a landscape design course at DePaul have developed three 3-D models representing potential GI designs for this site that include strategies for immobilizing heavy metals, reducing runoff, and which are tied into an educational module for neighborhood students.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 3 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Green infrastructure; soil quality, sustainable placemaking urban planning, STEM, place-based community planningRelevant Websites:
Facebook: DePaul EPA P3 Team Exit
Twitter: @DePaulP3 Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.