Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.29
Liaison Kevin Kirsche
Submission Date Dec. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Georgia
IN-15: Stormwater Modeling

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 0.50 Kevin Kirsche
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

A brief description of the institution’s stormwater modeling program and/or practices, including the methodologies and tools used:

UGA falls within Athens-Clarke County's MS4 permit (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) and provides stormwater education and best practices in design, construction, and ongoing operations in partnership with the county. Athens-Clarke County has jurisdiction over UGA for stormwater, erosion and sediment control, and approves all land disturbance permits for campus construction activities. Requirements include pre-and post-development stormwater modeling to assess stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution associated with new development and redevelopment.

For the past 8 years in particular, UGA has had a significant focus on improving the watersheds that begin in Athens Clarke County and run through the UGA campus into the North Oconee River. This includes a Watershed Advisory Committee made up of faculty, staff, students, government agencies and community members and development of Nine Element Watershed Plans with funding from Georgia EPD. As a part of this effort, the advisory group has compiled existing data and models, conducted new modelling efforts, and identified specific areas for LID throughout campus watersheds. Watershed modelling includes a comprehensive assessment/model of Tanyard Creek by consulting firm Tetra Tech, as well as targeted modelling in specific watershed to identify locations for storm water control measures in the Lake Herrick and Trail Creek Watersheds by Dr. David Radcliffe and graduate students . (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTobN02vxVE&feature=youtu.be).

Current efforts include flow estimates, modelling, and site engineering to conduct bank stabilization and restoration in the Lilly Branch Watershed, with funding for construction in FY19. We are also in the process of creating a comprehensive water quality database for all information gathered by researchers, classes and consultants in our campus watersheds to share information and track the impacts of management practices.

UGA incorporates LID / stormwater control measures into all new and redevelopment projects. Section 018100 - Facilities Performance Requirements - of UGA's Supplemental Standards for Design and Construction states: Options for collection and reuse of storm water and condensate are required for all new construction projects with special attention given to uses other than irrigation. Storm water best management practices shall be incorporated to exceed the Project jurisdiction storm water quality standards, with a preference for visible and vegetative storm water controls. Design Professional shall evaluate feasibility of rain water and condensate water collection, distribution and reuse to serve non-consumptive uses including but not limited to cooling tower make-up, toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

Overall, UGA has installed more than 70 raingardens/bioretention areas, more than 15 rain and condensate water harvesting systems totalling over 530,000 gallons of storage capacity for continuous reuse, and converted more than 60 acres of previously paved areas into pedestrian-oriented and vegetated green spaces.


For which of the following percentile local or regional rainfall events does the institution retain runoff on-site using LID practices and green infrastructure? (95th, 90th, 85th, 80th, 75th, Other):
85th

The percentile local or regional rainfall event for which the institution retains runoff on-site using LID practices and green infrastructure (0-100):
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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