Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Water Quality and Hydrologic Performance of Stormwater Control Berms. Part of the Indiana University RAIN (Restorative Adaptations for Infrastructure) Initiative
EPA Grant Number: SU835714Title: Water Quality and Hydrologic Performance of Stormwater Control Berms. Part of the Indiana University RAIN (Restorative Adaptations for Infrastructure) Initiative
Investigators: Clark, Melissa , Hodge, Alexandra , Lovell, Lori , Saywitz, Robin , Powers, Sarah , Drews, Willem
Institution: Indiana University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2014 through August 14, 2015
Project Amount: $14,396
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The main objective of this research project is to analyze the performance of two berm types on a suburban landscape in terms of discharge, sediment loads, and alkalinity. Our secondary objectives are to improve the water quality of the Bean Blossom Creek watershed by implementing a treatment train of green infrastructure features throughout IU's Golf Course and to improve access to site-specific stormwater management Best Management Practices in Bloomington, IN. To reach these objectives we regularly measure discharge, nutrient and sediment loads, and alkalinity at control and the two different types of treatment sites throughout the golf course. Currently we are waiting on the construction of some of our green infrastructure features so we are in the process of collecting pre-treatment samples at all of these sites. We have also developed a long-term maintenance plan for the IU golf Course based on BMPs and educated golf course management, IU's Architect's Office, and Campus Division through the installation and maintenance of these two types of berms.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The WEEP installation was completed in early November 2014 due to weather and logistical delays with the IU Championship Golf Course instead of March 2014. Since completion, we have been able to collect two samples for laboratory analysis. Because this sample size is so small (n=2), it is difficult to compare these samples to our control (or preWEEP measurements for Beautiful Morning Ravine) with much statistical power. Sample size was too small to make any assumption about the shape of the data distribution. Therefore, we used sign tests to compare the new TSS, TP, and Alkalinity readings to the mean of all control sites as the test median (α=0.05). The post-weep berm readings were not significantly less than the control mean. We did generate 95% confidence intervals with which to compare our two post-samples more casually and both of our samples fall within the 95% CI for TP. One value falls within and one value falls below for Alkalinity and TSS.
These findings will be built upon during the second year of our project and expanded upon as the second and third weep berms are built and the compost filter berms are installed. Although our data does not currently indicate a statistically significant relationship between water quality parameters and weep berm presence we are optimistic about future findings. A comparison between two rain events, one before and one after weep berm installation, with a Total Rainfall of 4.14 - 4.52 (cm) there was a 74.5% reduction in TSS. We expect similar results as we continue to collect samples as the pilot weep berm will be vegetated in the spring and this should further aid in the reduction of TSS and the other water quality parameters.
Conclusions:
The RAIN Initiative has asked for and been granted a one-time no-cost extension in accordance with Section 25(c)(2) of the Research Terms and Conditions implementing Part 215 due to weather and logistical delays in constructing the compost filter berms and weep berms on IU's Championship Golf Course. Therefore, at this point in time we do not have any final conclusions to share on our ongoing research. However, we believe we have promising results so far as we have documented a 74.5% reduction in Total Suspended Solids when two rain events with similar total rainfall before and after berm construction are compared. Over the next year we will finish construction and collect data sufficient for more robust statistical analyses.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Weep Berms,WASCOBs, Water and Sediment Control Basins, Compost Filter Berms, CFBs, Best Management Practices, BMPs.Relevant Websites:
Office of Sustainability Sustain IU 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.