26April2009
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
I love Lewisia. Or Bitteroot as it is known commonly. A native wildflower named after Meriwether Lewis (of the Lewis and Clark expedition) that grows in rock outcroppings up and down the Columbia River Gorge. Since it is adapted to this hot and rocky habitat, Lewisia is suited perfectly for ecoroofs.
The other great thing, is the Lewisia is one of the first plants to begin blooming on my roof. It has been blooming since the third week in April. Here are some pictures I have taken recently of their blooms. You can judge for yourself if this would be a good addition to your ecoroof…
18September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
Here is another couple pole photos of a green street project at SE 12th and Clay St. the City of Portland completed this last winter. These stormwater facilities are specifically called curb extensions. Typical details for these types of green street facilities can be found here, on the City of Portland’s website.
16September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
The City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services announced that it will begin an Ecoroof Grant Program which will pay approved applicants $5 per square foot of ecoroof. The City’s Ecoroof Grant Website states that the program will begin receiving applications on October 28th, 2008. You can read more about it here.
16September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Design.
Portland State Univ. Epler Hall Stormwater Planter
I just can’t get enough of these pole photos! This one was shot in the late afternoon when the courtyard was picking up some orange light from the setting sun. Check out PSU’s Epler Hall Webpage if you want more information on the project.
14September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Green Roofs.
I have finally finished the green roof on my new garden shed. I have updated the Green Shed Project page to include links to resources I used during the project, and some basic calculations of soil volumes etc. I am very happy with the results.
There will be a plant list forthcoming, but just wanted to give some major kudos to the owners of Wild Ginger Farms for their enthusiasm and vast knowledge of alpine plants suitable for a green roof.
During the construction of the green shed project, I did time-lapse photography during three different stages of the project. I have posted videos of the construction and soil installation, but will post a video of the plant installation soon.
If you have any questions about the process, just email me… info at sustainable stormwater dot com
12September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Green Roofs.
Trying to find good information on green roof plant performance specific to the Pacific Northwest?
Look no further…
The City of Portland just published their 2008 Ecoroof Plant Report. Put together by Angela Jones and Tom Liptan (both with the Sustainable Stormwater Group), this 29 page report provides comprehensive information on the performance of 18 different plant species for ecoroofs.
The report states:
This report compiles field observations performed in April, May and June 2008 on 16 Portland ecoroofs and is supplemented with information from the ecoroof designers, maintenance personnel and experienced sources.
The 16 ecoroofs assessed differ in size, age, soil type and depth, planting technique, vegetation, exposure, slope, aspect, and maintenance and irrigation. The ecoroofs range from homeowner installations to large commercial projects.
For more information on the City of Portland’s Ecoroof Website, click here.
12September2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
Most photos I’ve taken of stormwater facilities are from eye level. The problem has been using these “eye-level” photos during presentations to describe specific elements of a design and how stormwater flows through a facility.
They just haven’t worked. Vegetation always seems to block critical views of inlets and it is generally difficult for the viewer to understand how the facility fits into the surrounding context.
There was a need for an elevated photo to provide a different perspective on things. So, late on a rainy Thursday night I rigged some old aluminum poles with a small tripod I had laying around to create…
… the Pole Photo.
23April2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
The City of Portland is a leader in sustainable stormwater management. Green streets and green roofs have proved to have multiple benefits for watershed health. Knowing this, Commissioner Adams has developed a comprehensive approach called the Gray to Green: Plan of Action to restore watershed health throughout the City.
Here’s the announcement, and here’s the document.
The Plan of Action is as follows…
The Next Five Years
To do that, we need to increase our investment in healthy
watersheds and clean rivers. Investing an additional $50 million
over the next five years will ensure that Portland continues to
grow in a way that protects and enhances watershed health.
Here are the steps we need to take in the next five years:
- Add 43 acres of ecoroofs
- Construct 920 Green Street facilities
- Plant 33,000 yard trees and 50,000 street trees
- Step up the fight against invasive weeds
- Replace 8 culverts that block fish passage
- Purchase 419 acres of high priority natural areas
This is an exciting time for sustainable stormwater projects. Implementing sustainable stormwater projects on a watershed scale will continue to push Portland to the forefront of the green infrastructure movement. Way to go Sam.
22April2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Uncategorized.
The City of Portland is hosting a free ecoroof (green roof) seminar series beginning in April 29th. The seminars will cover ecoroof structure, design, construction and permitting. The size is limited, so if you don’t get in to this one, word is there will be another one this fall. I will keep you posted when the fall dates are announced.
Here’s the link.
9April2008
Posted by dave_elkin under: Design.
Think cheap.
North Willamette and Denver Ave (google maps) was the first installation of a Simple Green Street design here in Portland. The facility is 11.5′ in width and 80′ in length. The facility was created by excavating the sod and soil in the existing planter strip to create a swale with a flat bottom and 3:1 side slopes. Short sections of the existing curb were removed, and new curb cuts were poured.
There are two check dams that divide the facility into thirds. The check dams help pond water and promote infiltration of the stormwater. The check dams are constructed of bentonite clay as a base, and then covered with 1 1/2″ round river rock.
The plant material includes Elk Blue Juncus (Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’) down the center of the swale, and New Zealand Orange Sedge (Carex testacea) along the sides. We are trying Creeping Raspberry (Rubus calycinoides) as a groundcover. It is a vigorous groundcover, but we aren’t sure it will survive under the foot traffic adjacent to the parked cars.
The facility manages approximately 12,500 sq. ft. of street runoff. On average, our green street facilities infiltrate 90% of the stormwater that enters them on an annual basis. Since we get 37 inches of rain a year, this Simple Green Street facility manages about 260,000 gallons of stormwater that is removed from the piped infrastructure system.
Many residential neighborhoods in cities across the country have these wide planter strips that could be easily retrofitted to include simple green street facilities. Sure seems simple doesn’t it?
Before and After Photos.
