Gutters to Gardens Capturing Urban Storm Water

Diverting water from your downspout into rainwater catchment systems has several advantages

~Reduces the volume of water flowing to the sewer treatment facility

~Lowers the percentage of roof top rainfall as a component of urban runoff

~Backup source of water during times of drought or between rain showers

~Helps to keep our creeks and beaches clean

•Naturally softened water - great for delicate houseplants, auto cleaning and window washing

•Saves money by lowering your water bill

•Reduces the need for additional tax dollars earmarked for sewer expansion

•Chlorine-free water helps maintain a healthy biotic community in the soil

•Educational tool for teaching residents about water conservation

Gutters to Gardens Capturing Urban Storm Water

•Local Vendor•Recycled Materials•Low VOC paints•Local Labor

Modeling the Value of the Urban Tree Canopy

An Ecological Services Assessment

April 2009 Project Partners: Grand Rapids Planning Department and JJR, Inc.

April 2008

• Presentation by:– Rod Denning, Research Associate - GISP– Grand Valley State University – Annis Water Resources Institute,

740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441– Contact: denningr@gvsu.edu or 616-331-3793

Modeling the Value of the Urban Tree Canopy

An Ecological Services Assessment

What are we trying to do?

• TWO GOALS…..– Quantify the presence of the urban tree canopy

• How much land area in the city has tree canopy?

– Place a monetary value on the ecological services being provided by urban trees

• Can we calculate this for the entire city?

Urban Forest Assessment - ResultsAIR POLLUTION REMOVAL

Air Pollutant

Pounds Removed per year**

Money Saved from Removal*

Carbon Monoxide 17,880 $7,631

Ozone 295,023 $906,375

Nitrogen Dioxide 107,281 $329,591

Particulate Matter: Less then 10 microns 196,682 $403,428

Sulfur Dioxide 44,700 $33,546

Total 661,566 $1,680,570

** Based on Air Pollution conditions for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

* Dollars are “externality” costs borne by society due to rising health care expenditures and reduced tourism revenue.

Urban Forest Assessment - ResultsSTORMWATER RUNOFF

2-year, 24-hour Rainfall event: 2.37 inches

Curve Number of existing conditions: 78

Curve Number if the trees were replace with buildings: 89

Additional Stormwater storage volume needed if the trees were replaced with buildings: 67,075,658 ft3

Construction cost per ft3* $5.50

Total Stormwater Savings: $368,916,122

Annual costs based on payments over 20 years at 6% interest $32,163,789 per year

   

* Construction costs based on the cost to build just an ADS Storm Tech System to handle the additional stormwater

April 2008

Urban Forest AssessmentFINAL RESULTS SUMMARY

• Air Pollution Removal: $1,680,570 annually• Stormwater Runoff: $368,916,122 or $32,163,789

annually• Carbon Storage: $1,578,578 (presently stored in the

trees) or $12,290 worth of storage per year• Water Quality Benefits: $????

• THE CITY’S 35 PERCENT TREE CANOPY PROVIDES TOTAL DOLLAR BENEFITS OF: $372,175,270