Stormwater Management Tools: Real-Life Solutions for a Resilient Community Riparian Corridor Protection

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Stormwater Management Tools: Real-Life Solutions for a Resilient Community Riparian Corridor Protection"

Transcription

1 Stormwater Management Tools: Real-Life Solutions for a Resilient Community Riparian Corridor Protection Montgomery County Planning Commission October 24, 2013 Eric Jarrell, Assistant Section Chief, Community Planning

2 Riparian Corridor Protection in Montgomery County Guidebook for Riparian Corridor Conservation Published 16 years ago A best-seller Adopted by 8 municipalities Others adopted a variety of corridor protection strategies based upon model No court challenges to date Recent case involved application of ordinance, effectively accepting the power to regulate

3 Principles of Riparian Corridor Preservation Forested corridors should be retained Corridor should be uninterrupted Corridor should be a minimum of 75 (state guidance is 100 ) Balance recreation with potential impacts Limit development within corridor Provide corridor maintenance as needed

4 Riparian Corridors Natural Resource Benefits of Protection The Benefits of Protection 101 Natural Floodplains Habitat Protection Water Quality More Water Quality And More Water Quality

5 Natural Floodplains Functions and Benefits Provides storage for floodwaters Reducing the height and velocity of floodwaters Serves as a natural reservoir Helping maintain stream baseflow

6 Habitat Protection Functions and Benefits Serves as a greenway Providing wildlife highways Maintaining biodiversity Trees contribute large stable debris Varying stream depth, flow and texture Increasing surface area of the stream

7 Water Quality Functions and Benefits Reduces velocity of runoff Filtering out sediment Increasing infiltration Reduces sediment loading to stream Maintaining stream width Decreasing suspended sediment

8 A Stroud Water Research Center study of the White Clay Creek found that forested streams are likely to be 2.5 times wider than meadow streams.

9 Water Quality Functions and Benefits Reduces phosphorus loading to stream Restricting eutrophication Maintaining dissolved oxygen levels Reduces nitrogen loading to stream Maintaining stream width Decreasing suspended sediment

10 Water Quality Functions and Benefits Trees provide shade and contribute leaves and limbs to the stream Keeping the stream cool Providing food for aquatic organisms

11

12 Riparian Corridors Municipal Benefits of Protection A resource worthy of protection Every Montgomery County municipality is an MS4 Community Post-construction BMPs Many need to implement a TMDL Plan as well Primary pollutant is suspended sediment caused by scouring

13 Riparian Corridors Municipal Benefits of Protection A primary technique in the Pennsylvania BMP Manual Limits future degradation Part of site s overall SWM

14 Buffer Status Percent Riparian Corridors Municipal Benefits of Protection TMDL Plan - Control Measure #1 Adopt buffer ordinance Restoration opportunities exist Buffer Status by Land Use - Montgomery County (2005) 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% None One Side Both Sides Culverts 20% 10% 0% Agriculture Developed Recreation Utility Vacant Wooded

15 COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION STRATEGY THREE-PRONGED APPROACH Acquisition Land Use Controls Stewardship

16 COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION STRATEGY ACQUISITION Highest level of protection Fee-simple Easement Land serving multiple purposes Completes a greenway corridor

17 COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION STRATEGY LAND USE CONTROLS Overly zoning MCPC Model Ordinance Tailored for rural and urban areas Effectiveness relies upon application to all streams Smaller streams most important

18 COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION STRATEGY LAND USE CONTROLS Complementary Zoning techniques Transfer of Development Rights Conservation Subdivision Complementary Subdivision requirements Landscape regulations Stormwater regulations (BMPs)

19 COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION STRATEGY STEWARDSHIP Consider existing developed lands Residential Institutional Create a land ethic Municipal education Watershed Organizations Restoration during development process

20 Stormwater Management Tools: Real-Life Solutions for a Resilient Community Riparian Corridor Protection QUESTIONS? Montgomery County Planning Commission October 24, 2013 Eric Jarrell, Assistant Section Chief, Community Planning