| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.76 |
| Liaison | Krista Bailey |
| Submission Date | July 29, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Pennsylvania State University
OP-23: Stormwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Shelley
McKeague Environmental Compliance Specialist Engineering Services |
Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from new development projects? :
Does the institution have a policy, plan, and/or strategies to reduce stormwater runoff from ongoing campus operations? :
A brief description of the institution's stormwater management initiatives:
The University monitors over two dozen stormwater facilities continuously and makes changes or improvements to them as required. Additionally, the University is always installing new and innovative facilities to reduce the quantity of runoff and improve the quality of runoff from its campuses. Example recent projects can be found on the web at:
http://www.opp.psu.edu/about-opp/divisions/ee/engineering/eng-resources/new-stormwater-projects-at-up
Additionally, the University has created a Stormwater Management magazine describing its initiatives and facilities. This magazine is also located on the web at:
http://www.opp.psu.edu/about-opp/divisions/ee/engineering/eng-resources/Stormwater Magazine.pdf
The website URL where information about the institution's stormwater management initiatives, plan or policy is available:
Does the institution have a living or vegetated roof?:
A brief description of the institution's living or vegetated roof:
The University currently has four buildings with green roofs: the Forestry Building, the vegetable
cellar, the Dickinson School of Law, the Health Services Building, and a fifth green roof for the new Millennium Science Complex building.
The Penn State Center for Green Roof Research is located at the University Park Campus in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Does the institution have porous paving?:
A brief description of the institution's porous paving:
The University has had two porous "asphalt" pavement parking lots, both of which did not meet expectations. Porous "asphalt" pavement is now prohibited. The University has several other examples of porous pavement, which are structural soils.
Does the institution have retention ponds?:
A brief description of the institution's retention ponds:
The University uses Bioretention as a method of treating
stormwater by pooling water on the surface and allowing
filtering and settling of suspended solids and sediment at the mulch layer, prior to entering the plant/soil/microbe complex media for infiltration and pollutant removal. Rain gardens or bioretention techniques are used to accomplish water quality improvement and water quantity reduction.
Many of these systems at University Park are structurally lined so that they do not infiltrate water into the subsoil.
Does the institution have stone swales?:
A brief description of the institution's stone swales:
At University Park, numerous hard armored conveyance swale types have been used around campus. Interlocking concrete block swales, concrete swales, fabri-form concrete mates, gabion basket, reno mattresses, and the more common rip rap stone are some examples of the stone swale styles used.
Does the institution have vegetated swales?:
A brief description of the institution's vegetated swales:
The University owns numerous grass lined swales, however, these swales cannot adequately provide long term stability for high flow or slope channels so stone swales are also used on campus.
Does the institution employ any other technologies or strategies for stormwater management?:
A brief description of other technologies or strategies for stormwater management employed:
The University also uses the following as other methods of stormwater management on campus:
-dams
-surface ponds
-subsurface and detention facilities
-infiltration facilities
-wetlands
-storm drains
-water quality inlets
-oil/water separators
-energy dissipators and level spreaders
For details about these other strategies, please see the stormwater magazine: http://www.opp.psu.edu/about-opp/divisions/ee/engineering/eng-resources/Stormwater%20Magazine.pdf
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.