Runoff Catch Basins + Plantings = Filtered Waters

Seemingly, they could have built a damn or bridge for the time it took to build 16 catch basins (Watersheds and Stormwater Basins/Planters) on my neighborhood street. But, I gave the City of Portland the benefit of the doubt re the projects. This past early Spring the construction was finished with signage that promised plantings (Columbia River Habitat: Portland Green Streets Project). This morning, I noticed the plantings were staged for planting.

Catch Basin full after heavy rains with plantings standing on edge ready for plantings.

Upper, smaller basin full and ready to spill over into larger basin with plantings.

Here, a few miles away are catch basins that are still awaiting their plantings. These catch basins drain off a much steeper gradient. These basins seem to draw much more water at a faster rate and drain sooner into the nearby sloughs.

Columbia River Habitat: Portland Green Streets Project

I mentioned several months ago that the streets were torn up and a sizable project had commenced in the neighborhood. Eventually, it was obvious the various corners and intersections were being altered and it became obvious that catch basins were being built on a grand scale. I made some enquiries of the City of Portland and soon some information flowed my way re the project’s purpose and costs. 

Kate Goudschaal (C of P, Bureau of Environmental Services) wrote to me: ”You are correct that the major construction on the 16 stormwater facilities is nearly complete. There are a few small final restoration items that still need to take place to close-out the project but the facilities themselves are ready for planting this coming spring.”

The 16 Green Basins stretched down the street, on both sides. The heavy equipment and traffic disruption were evident, but not too intrusive. Of course, this activity was not directly in front of my house. Some homes lost parking directly in front of their home. In the quiet back neighborhood streets this is personally felt. In the inner city, one often can't park in front of your home.

 ”This project was designed in response to the retrofitting of 26 Underground Injection Control (UIC) sites in the area. UIC sites, also known as sumps, are large, vertical, perforated pipes that are installed underground to collect stormwater and allow it to infiltrate into the ground while pollutants and other sediments are slowly filtered out.  Retrofitting the sumps reduced the amount of stormwater they could collect which resulted in the need to create additional stormwater management options in the area.”  

 “The solution was to build a certain number of above ground stormwater facilities to adequately manage the stormwater runoff in the area.  Green streets function in the same way as sumps but on the surface of the street – horizontally as apposed to vertical and underground. The substrate and plants selected for the facilities are specifically chosen for their ability to filter pollutants and clean the stormwater before it infiltrates the groundwater system and/or is discharged to local waterways.”  

Right now, as I write, it is pouring out. The green basins are without any plantings. The run off, in our neighborhood, comes off a steep residential hillside toward the basins. They have been filling up with water at a fast pace. When the plantings come in the next month or so, the run off/drainage into the below ground sump basins should slow down.

“The facilities along (your street) are a little different however. Structurally, they are similar to other facilities around town, but they all have a lining installed in the bottom to prevent the water from immediately filtering into the ground water.  Instead, the water filters through the plants and substrate, is cleaned and then collected in a perforated pipe in the bottom of the facility that conveys the water to the local stormwater pipe system in the area. The stormwater pipes then carry the cleaned stormwater to discharge in the Columbia Slough.” 

An almost finished green basin. The structural part is done, and the plantings are coming this Spring.

“This project lies within the City Council’s adopted Columbia South Shore Wet Field Wellhead Protection Area which is the designated ground water source for Portland if/when the reservoir drinking water system fails. So, protecting the ground water and managing stormwater in this area is particularly crucial.  Stormwater management in this area helps maintain the integrity of the aquifer as well as cleans street runoff before it reaches the sensitive Columbia Slough waterway.”

 Ms. Goudschaal offered the following information when I enquired about the cost of the project to build 16 Green Basins: “The project was awarded to Brant Construction out of Vancouver, Washington for a winning bid value of $605,628.00. The 16 stormwater facilities made up roughly 40% of the overall project budget and came in at about $242,000.00. So, with 16 facilities included in the portion of the project, the total construction cost (start to finish) per facility came to approximately $15,125.00. This project is funded….through water and sewer utility rates.”

The following links from Ms.Goudschaal provide a wealth of information about this project and the greater picture involved in the handling of storm water:

There is a wealth of knowledge on this topic (and much more) on our website. I encourage you to do more research here:    Columbia South Shore Well Field Ground Water Aquifer: http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=29785

 Sustainable Stormwater Management: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=34598

 Green Street Program overview: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=44407&

 Watershed Management: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=32184

If you have an interest in such a project for your area, check out the information to become informed.

 

 

Rivers, Dams & Who Owns the Bottom

RIVER BEDS,  DAMS & OWNERSHIP AT STAKE 

 

Great Falls Dam (Montana)

Watersheds and Stormwater Basins/Planters

Neighborhood under storm water planter box construction. Columbia Slough and Columbia R. benefit.

A typical urban enviro project for Portland. Supposed habitat enhancement, storm water runoff screening/filtering and reduced parking in front of homes. Trade offs/potentially significant for the watersheds. Where I have seen these types, jutting into the street, there are several gouge marks on the front end of the planter boxes from cars failing to see the reflectors and hazard yellow paint and becoming a temporary planter box ornament. A reasonable expectation, I mean people drive into power poles too.

Here the entire corner will be occupied by a storm water catch basin with foot paths cut through for pedestrian passage.

All this construction is on the downhill side of roads that run perpendicular to the Columbia Slough. In addition to the runoff, several springs run down off the hillside and enter the slough. I have such a spring running behind my property. I have left my property unaltered along the spring’s edges…neighbors along the way have not and I have seen the silt build up over the years, despite inspections, surveys and reviews. Anyway, below is how the storm drain basins are suppose to look upon completion…

We shall see how they function with run off; or, when under a foot of drifting snow and folks inadvertently drive into them. A reasonable attempt to I spose to control runoff of the waters moving South to North into the Columbia River Slough and Columbia River.

The Columbia River Watershed, where the I-205/I-84 meet and East, the terrain slopes toward the slough and the Columbia River.

Sandy River Flooding: Land Use vs. The Reg’s Sloth

The substantial flooding on the Sandy River last January rattled many of home owner’s nerves if that watched their yard crumble away. Now after three quarters of a year, the bureaucracy has squandered the Spring/Summer months for construction efforts. No permits. Your Watch Dog at work. Pathetic. Yes, questions abound about the where/whether homes should be built near rivers. That said, they were built and the ass dragging system of reg’s (the one that many seem hell bent on tripling in size in all directions) has failed this time around, in my humble estimation, to make some decision, any decision, in a timely manner.

OREGON LIVE RE SANDY RIVER REHAB OR LACK OF REHAB 

Vermont Covered Bridge Washed Away

Historic Bridge Washed Away

Climate Models & Cutt’s

I glaze over any more with the mish mash of models, ‘mights’, ‘maybe’s', ‘could’s’ and I am skeptic, yes I use that word..skeptic, over the agenda’s of a few climate change advocates or the pre-conceived outcomes many studies show. This Western study has some typical model suggestions and vagueness, but it  ultimately leans heavy upon habitat enhancements as the only probable salvation for Western trout. The in your face man made infringements upon the water and edges of the waters is most critical at all times. Floods, volcanoes, run off, droughts….’maybe’. Improved models? Really? 

WESTERN TROUT WELLNESS STUDIES AND HABITAT NEEDS   

Cutthroat Trout fishindex.blogspot.com

Manhole Art, Eugene, Oregon

I stepped from my rig on E. 13th Street in Eugene, Oregon. I looked down and found a pretty nice discovery. I found it to be creative by whomever envisioned or designed it. I wonder if there are a variety of these beautiful manhole covers by East Jordan Iron Works in Eugene and elsewhere?

Eugene, Oregon on E. 13th Street

“East Jordan Iron Works, Inc. has been a part of the East Jordan, Michigan, community for over 125 years.  William E. Malpass and his father-in-law, Richard W. Round, established the foundry November 8, 1883, to service the area’s booming lumber industry.  At the time, the foundry produced castings for machine parts, ship parts, agricultural uses, and eventually railroads.  Soon after the company was founded, W.E. Malpass called upon his brother James, a journeyman machinist in England, to join the firm.”

Fly Fishing: Streamer Presentations

Streamer Presentation Techniques

The reality on many streams and lakes is that ‘baitfish’ imitations account for many large fish. Probably, in many instances, streamers account for more trophy fish than the traditional fly  patterns. That said, many anglers don’t have a streamer pattern in their boxes or forget where they are. So, a good over view of how to fish a streamer, particularly on a river is in order. There is more to it than the wet fly swing/strip it back presentation. I have an assortment of Muddler’s, Spruce Flies and, of course, Woolly Buggers in my streamer box. Do I fish them enough…nope.

Fly Fishing: Mending a fly line…what’s the big deal?

“One of the difficulties in mending for most anglers is that their technique eliminates slack in the line and leader, rather than creating slack or moving it to a new position. If the angler starts with no slack, and starts yanking on the line at the rod tip, the fly will move. At worst, the mend will negate casting accuracy by pulling the fly out of the fish’s feeding lane or cause enough drag to spook the target fish. “Mending Your Ways” by Brant Oswald

Middle Fork Willy: To mend now will move the fly as it moves along that far seam. An earlier, bigger mend would have kept the fly in the zone longer. The fish were rising along a 10' stretch of the seam. I was maybe presenting to half that distance without drag ensuing. Notice the competing current speeds on the fly line. (SwittersB) PP

Oswald writes a nice beginner’s tutorial (intermediate’s reminder) on mending the fly line. The effort is to develop a balance in feeding line up trough the guides and/or adjusting the speed of the fly, via mends, without disturbing the fly and alarming the fish. The correct tension upon the fly line that maintains natural speed (moving at the speed of the current, not speeding up because of drag on the flyline/fly) is a skill that is much more important than how long a cast you can make. It is an important act that is often performed too hard.