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Looking for more information? Tel: (253) 435-3606 www.cityofpuyallup.org 8th Ave NW Low Impact Development Retrofit Project Preventing Stormwater Pollution by Eliminating Runoff Seattle Street Edge Alternative (SEA Street) shows the curved roadway and adjacent rain gardens proposed for the 8th Ave NW project 8th Ave NW LID Retrofit Project Quick Facts City of Puyallup Stormwater catch basin marker displays the Puget Sound Starts Here logo. These markers will be installed on all catch basins within the City to let you know that whatever goes into these drains...ends up in Puget Sound! What is Low Impact Development (LID)? Low Impact Development, or LID, is an integrating design method used in new construction, retrofits, remodels and upgrades. LID integrates protection of the environment and water resources (like rivers, streams, lakes and water supplies) with site planning and design. LID techniques aim to replicate a site’s original, pre- existing hydrologic (water quality & flow) conditions. The diagram below shows how land development and building without regard to LID can leave stormwater and surface water with no place to go! Diagram courtesy of EPA publication: Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff CITY OF PUYALLUP Phone:[PHONE REDACTED] Fax:[PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] 1100 39th Avenue SE Puyallup, WA 98374 Mark Palmer, P.E., LEEP AP WSU LID Certified Stormwater Engineer Public Works Why is Puyallup Involved? These efforts not only work to save our streams, rivers, lakes and Puget Sound, LID techniques also help to beautify neighborhoods, minimize localized flooding, promote traffic calming and may save the City of Puyallup thousands of dollars in building and maintaining traditional stormwater infrastructure and roads. Project Funding Funding for this project is shared jointly by the City of Puyallup and a Stormwater Retrofit and Low Impact Development Grant from the WA Department of Ecology. Ecology’s share of the project costs will be $324,080 while the City’s match requirement will be $108,027. Use of porous-pavements for the street roadway will allow complete infiltration of all rain water that falls on the surface of the street. Rain gardens planted between the sidewalks and roadway will absorb rain falling on it and any potential overflow from pavements. Roadside rain gardens in the right of way will provide a physical barrier between pedestrians and vehicles. Replacing a “stick-straight,” wide roadway with a gently curving, narrower road will slow down traffic — increasing pedestrian safety. Groundbreaking projected to begin in Spring 2011. City of Puyallup Puget Sound Starts Here Pre-Development Post Development ---PAGE BREAK--- Porous Pavement What is porous pavement anyway? Three types of porous pavement will potentially be used in the 8th Ave NW LID Retrofit Project — pervious concrete, porous asphalt, and permeable pavers. Porous pavements look like traditional pavements, except that there are voids – or, open spaces– on the surface and throughout the material. What are the benefits of porous pavements? Provides filtration benefits to stormwater so the water returning underground, to our natural water systems, is cleaner. Eliminates stormwater runoff from the roadway into catch basins (that would send the stormwater to our waterways — pollutants & all). By reducing surface runoff, we decrease stream erosion in urban areas. Eliminates standing water and puddles on the roadway, increasing safety during heavy rainfalls. Mimics the stormwater system prior to urbanization — provides base flow to streams. drainage education landscaping safety water quality Left: Roadway made of porous asphalt in Rainier, Washington Far left: Sprinker Rec Center porous pavement parking lot during storm Seattle SEA Street example of rain gardens installed between the roadway and sidewalk 8th Ave NW LID Retrofit Roadway Layout The alignment of the roadway for the 8th Ave NW LID Retrofit Project will be changed from its current straight alignment to a narrower, curved layout. Some of the benefits of this roadway layout are: Traffic calming — the gently curved roadway creates a need for vehicles to slow down, increasing safety. Narrowed roadway will provide a more visually-- pleasing environment as well as slow traffic. Reduces the roadway surface, leaving more “green space” for plantings in the right-of-way. Proposed 8th Ave NW roadway layout 8th Ave NW Roadside Rain Gardens While the rain gardens will provide yet another visually pleasing element to the 8th Ave NW LID Retrofit Project, they are also an integral part of the LID design. The rain gardens will offer benefits such as: Providing a filtering medium for stormwater pollutants such as automotive oil, gasoline, soap, and lawn chemicals. Providing a physical barrier between vehicles and pedestrians, increasing safety. Working to “Green the Grid”— the plantings chosen for the rain gardens are tried-and-true to flourish in this setting. In Summer 2009, seven homeowners along 8th Ave NW agreed to build rain gardens in their yards. The retrofit project will expand additional rain gardens into the right-of-way. This will create an educational demonstration area for LID design, community involvement, and water quality conservation.