Changes

==Overview==

==Overview==

Designing LID practices and treatment trains with ease and cost of inspection and maintenance in mind is critical to the affordability of municipal stormwater infrastructure asset management programs and must be considered early on in planning and design processes. The following sections provide strategies to help limit the frequency of rehabilitation or repair work, make routine inspection and maintenance tasks easier to perform, and ensure they are constructed properly, and with adequate protection and oversight.

Designing LID practices and treatment trains with ease and cost of inspection and maintenance in mind is critical to the affordability of municipal stormwater infrastructure asset management programs and must be considered early on in stormwater management system planning and design processes. The following sections provide strategies to help limit the frequency of rehabilitation or repair work, make routine inspection and maintenance tasks easier to perform, and ensure they are functioning adequately over their operating life cycle.

==Provide Runoff Pretreatment==

==Provide Runoff Pretreatment==

*When designing stormwater infiltration BMPs, consideration should be given to where the majority of trash, sediment and debris will accumulate in the BMP and where snow storage will occur (a significant source area for sediment and debris).  

*When designing stormwater infiltration BMPs, consideration should be given to where the majority of trash, sediment and debris will accumulate in the BMP and where snow storage will occur (a significant source area for sediment and debris).  

*Infiltration BMPs should include [[pretreatment]] devices, inlet designs or forebays that allow accumulation to occur without blocking inflow (e.g., 5 cm change in grade between pavement surface and BMP surface) and that isolate sedimentation areas from the main portions of the filter bed so that the area disturbed through routine sediment removal maintenance is minimized.

*Infiltration BMPs should include [[pretreatment]] devices, inlet designs or forebays that allow accumulation to occur without blocking inflow (e.g., 5 cm change in grade between pavement surface and BMP surface) and that isolate sedimentation areas from the main portions of the filter bed so that the area disturbed through routine sediment removal maintenance is minimized.

==Inspection & Maintenance Features==

==Inspection & Maintenance Features==

During planning and design phases of an LID management plan, consideration for how they will be maintained (what equipment is needed, who is responsible for conducting maintenance, how often should said maintenance occur for a given LID BMP? etc.) and what features are needed to perform necessary inspection and maintenance tasks are all required questions to be answered by the municipality.  

All stormwater facilities and practices share a common design requirement for accessibility by personnel and equipment needed to perform inspection and maintenance tasks.<ref>Blecken, G.T., Hunt, W.F., Al-Rubaei, A.M. Viklander, M., Lord, W.G. 2017. Stormwater control measure (SCM) maintenance considerations to ensure designed functionality. Urban Water Journal. Vol.14, No.3, 278-290. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1573062X.2015.1111913 </ref>  Planning and design of LID practices and treatment trains should consider how they will be maintained (e.g., what equipment is needed?) and what features are needed to perform necessary inspection and maintenance tasks. For example, to understand whether or not an underground infiltration trench is draining at an adequate rate, features such as monitoring wells that extend to the bottom of the practice will be needed. Input on designs from staff who will be responsible for performing inspection and maintenance tasks should be sought to identify features that would make tasks easier to perform, and identify situations where the property owner does not have the necessary capacity or resources (e.g., special equipment, skill set or budget).  

The following table provides some examples of inspection and maintenance features that should be considered in the BMP process:

The following table provides some examples of inspection and maintenance features that should be considered in the BMP process:

==Inclusion of Planting Plans==

==Inclusion of Planting Plans==

[[File:Kortright Planting Plan.PNG|700px|thumb|An example of a [https://wikidev.sustainabletechnologies.ca/images/a/ac/Bio-Retention_Cell-Cell_A_planting_plan_20130415.pdf TRCA project Planting Plan] for a [[Bioretention]]/[[Bioswale]] BMP located at the Kortright Centre, in Vaughan, ON. listed with appropriate [[plants]], [[grasses]], [[trees]] and [[shrubs]] species for the area with their scientific and common names listed along with the quantity to be planted, plant type, site and condition characteristics, flowering assemblages and colours and mature height (Source: TRCA, 2013.)|link=https://wikidev.sustainabletechnologies.ca/images/a/ac/Bio-Retention_Cell-Cell_A_planting_plan_20130415.pdf]]

[[File:Kortright Planting Plan.PNG|700px|thumb|An example of a [https://wikidev.sustainabletechnologies.ca/images/a/ac/Bio-Retention_Cell-Cell_A_planting_plan_20130415.pdf planting plan] for a [[Bioretention]]/[[Bioswale]] located at the Kortright Centre, in Vaughan, ON. listed with appropriate [[plants]], [[grasses]], [[trees]] and [[shrubs]] species for the area with their scientific and common names listed along with the quantity to be planted, plant type, site and condition characteristics, flowering assemblages and colours and mature height (Source: TRCA, 2013.)|link=https://wikidev.sustainabletechnologies.ca/images/a/ac/Bio-Retention_Cell-Cell_A_planting_plan_20130415.pdf]]

All vegetated BMP designs should include planting plans that specify [[Plant selection|species]] that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions and, for BMPs that will receive de-icing salt laden runoff during winter, species

All vegetated BMP designs should include planting plans that specify [[Plant selection|species]] that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions and, for BMPs that will receive de-icing salt laden runoff during winter, species

that are salt tolerant. Further consideration should be given to species that are both pollution and soil compaction tolerant given the location of many BMPs along roadways and near public spaces. Where possible, planting should done during the wettest seasons/months of the year (e.g., early spring and mid-to-late fall) to help minimize the need for irrigation (and staff time and equipment) during the establishment/warranty period. Use of drought-tolerant and native species will help minimize or eliminate the need for irrigation during the operating phase of the BMP life cycle. Good vegetation cover on the surface and side slopes of BMPs helps to maintain infiltration function, contributes to runoff volume reduction function through evapotranspiration, and helps prevent erosion of soil and/or mulch cover from flowing overland water.

that are salt tolerant. Further consideration should be given to species that are both pollution and soil compaction tolerant given the location of many BMPs along roadways and near public spaces. Where possible, planting should done during the wettest seasons/months of the year (e.g., early spring and mid-to-late fall) to help minimize the need for irrigation (and staff time and equipment) during the establishment/warranty period. Use of deeply-rooting, drought-tolerant and native species will help minimize or eliminate the need for irrigation during the operating phase of the BMP life cycle. Planting with plugs, pots, caliper tree or shrub stock or sod is preferable over broadcast seeding approaches. Seeding requires stormwater practices to be kept off-line for a period of time following planting to allow germination and plant establishment to occur, and to be irrigated in the absence of adequate rainfall to ensure success. Good vegetation cover on the surface and side slopes of BMPs helps to maintain infiltration function, contributes to runoff volume reduction function through evapotranspiration, and helps prevent erosion of soil and/or mulch cover from flowing overland water.

 

Where a naturalized aesthetic is suitable, vegetated practices that feature native or perennial plants may be preferable as they require less maintenance than traditional, more manicured urban landscapes featuring turf grasses or annual-dominated decorative garden beds. <ref>DelGrosso, Z.L., Hodges, C.C., Dymond, R.L. 2019. Identifying Key Factors for Implementation and Maintenance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. 5(3): 05019002. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000878 </ref>  A cost-efficient strategy for planting plan design is to focus on landscape types, aesthetics and plants that the municipality or property owner already has the resources to establish, inspect and maintain.

Both common and botanical (i.e., species Latin name) names should be used on [[Planting design#Planting plans and specifications|planting plans]] so that inspectors and maintainers of the vegetation are better able to recognize or develop the means of recognizing the plants in the field and distinguishing them from pervasive weeds. Planting plans should also specify the planting method (e.g., seed vs. sod) and plant or container size (e.g., saplings vs. caliper tree; plugs vs. pots; bare root vs. root ball). Any deviations from the planting plan or species substitutions should be noted on as-built drawings/planting plans.

Both common and botanical (i.e., species Latin name) names should be used on [[Planting design#Planting plans and specifications|planting plans]] so that inspectors and maintainers of the vegetation are better able to recognize or develop the means of recognizing the plants in the field and distinguishing them from pervasive weeds. Planting plans should also specify the planting method (e.g., seed vs. sod) and plant or container size (e.g., saplings vs. caliper tree; plugs vs. pots; bare root vs. root ball). Any deviations from the planting plan or species substitutions should be noted on as-built drawings/planting plans.