Download - Multi-tasking Landscapes
Kelly Gutshall, RLA. March 10, 2016
HOA Forum: Common Space for the Greater GoodLoudoun County | Algonkian Regional Park Woodlands Conference Center | Sterling, VA
Multi-tasking Landscapes
Why is Protecting Water Resources Important?
We all live downstream…..
Why is Protecting Water Resources Important?
Water is the basis of land use
Why is Protecting Water Resources Important?
Water as the basis of vegetation and diversity
Water is vital for basic health, safety and welfare……
Why is Protecting Water Resources Important?
What happened to our natural landscapes?
Loudoun County
Loudoun County - 1957
Loudoun County - 2015
How do we protect and improve Water Resources
…. Functional Natural Landscapes
Single Function Multiple Function
Multi-tasking Landscape
Multi-tasking Landscape
Multi-tasking Landscape
Lititz Run Watershed
How can a community improve water quality?
Lititz
Loudoun
1953 Image of Lititz Lititz, Lancaster County - 1950
Butterfly Acres
Rock Lititz
New Street Park
Banta Farm
Lititz, Lancaster County - 2015
Butterfly Acres
Butterfly Acres
Butterfly Acres - Before
Butterfly Acres - After
Butterfly Acres
Rock Lititz
New Street Park
Banta Farm
Lititz, Lancaster County - 2015
New Street Park
New Street Park - Before
New Street Park - After
Butterfly Acres
Rock Lititz
New Street Park
Banta Farm
Lititz, Lancaster County - 2015
Banta Farm
Banta Farm
Banta Farm - Before
Banta Farm - After
Butterfly Acres
Rock Lititz
New Street Park
Banta Farm
Lititz, Lancaster County - 2015
Rock Lititz
Rock Lititz
Rock Lititz
Rock Lititz
How it all began....”A Community Improving It’s Water Quality”
Over 30 projects implemented and continuing
• Re-designated a Cold Water Fishery (CWF), upgraded from its previous designation as a Warm Water Fishery (WWF) in 2008.
• Over 7 miles of stream and riparian corridor restored.
• Over 20 acres of wetlands have been created to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
• Hundreds of community residents have volunteered their time and contributed money to help in the restoration effort.
• Warwick School District and Millersville University integrated education curriculum related to the watershed.
• MS4 Permit Compliance already achieved
• First Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) restoration in Pennsylvania.
• First regional water quality facility in Pennsylvania
Measurable Results – 15 years
Where it all began….$5,000 investment
Lititz Run Riparian Park
Little Conestoga Watershed
Watershed Action Plan
Community Engagement
Prioritization of Opportunities
Concept Plans
Functional Natural Landscapes
Industry Standard - Landscaping for aesthetics not function
• Water Quality Regulations – NPDES
• Native Plant Availability
• Chesapeake Bay Initiatives
• Stormwater Management & Infiltration
The Catalysts for Change
• Education • Involvement• Expectations• Incremental Approach• Design • Engage the Lawn Care or Landscape
Contractor
What can homeowners do?
Education
Involvement
Higher Cost– mulched bed with container planting
Lower Cost - seeded meadow with container planting
Expectations
Expectations
Before
Incremental Approach
After
Incremental Approach
Design Involvement
Engaging the Lawn Care or Landscape Contractor
The Homes at Wyncote – golf course community
Grandview Chase – common open space
Hillrise – urban lower income housing development
Creekside – conventional 1980’s Planned Unit Development
Oakmont –5 HOA’s within one hillside community experiencing severe drainage issues
Landis Homes – retirement community with a sustainable living environment
Examples:
The Homes at Wyncote
The Challenge: Blending a conventional 1 acre lot development into an existing golf course.
The Homes at Wyncote
• Implementing lot by lot caused consistency issues in maturity of the meadows
• Enforcement of the guidelines and original intent
• Consistent maintenance by the Golf Course worked well
Lessons Learned:
Creekside
The Challenge: The serial mowers ….. How to encourage Community support and provide
flexibility.
• On-going Technical Support – for community representative is critical
• Flexibility of Implementation – it was crucial to the success of this project
• Maintenance – long term maintenance has been transferred back to the lawn care company
Lessons Learned:
OakmontThe Challenge: One Community and 5 HOA’s …..
one common issue, drainage and erosion.
• Engineering - to size drainage facilities properly was critical
• Slow and Steady Progress – for long term solutions as alternative to short term fixes.
• Showcase Areas - one of the HOA’s has leadership that understood the investment for long term and implemented projects which provide examples for the rest of the community.
Lessons Learned:
Lancaster Residence
The Challenge: Residential Stormwater Management
Lancaster Residence Lancaster Residence PA Stormwater Manual BMP 6.7.4
Lancaster Residence Lancaster Residence Post Construction – September 2011
Lancaster Residence Lancaster Residence September 2011 Storms – 18” + in 2 week period
Lancaster Residence Lancaster Residence Early October 2011
Lancaster Residence Lancaster Residence June 2014
Lessons learned:
• Client - understood regional value of the proposed restoration.
• First Floodplain and Stream Restoration used for Stormwater Management in PA
• Aesthetics is as important at function – the top of slope delineates the transition between naturalized and manicured landscape
Lessons Learned:
Landis Homes
The Challenge: restoring a floodplain as an alternative to conventional stormwater
management
Landis Homes Floodplain Restoration
Landis Homes Floodplain Restoration (SWM) Facility
Landis Homes Floodplain Restoration
Economic Ecology Economic Ecology
Landis Homes Floodplain Restoration
Landis Homes Floodplain Restoration
Kelly Gutshall, RLA. March 10, 2016
HOA Forum: Common Space for the Greater GoodLoudoun County | Algonkian Regional Park Woodlands Conference Center | Sterling, VA
Questions