Green infrastructure (GI) practices across the Great Lakes are being assessed to better understand how soils, vegetation, land use, maintenance practices and other design parameters influence their ability to infiltrate stormwater runoff. Statistical evaluation of aggregated site assessments will provide useful information on which factors hold high importance when designing and locating future GI.
Study Background
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 2015 to quantify stormwater volume reductions from stormwater control measures through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The primary focus has been on quantifying the volume of water reallocated through different parts of the water cycle by green infrastructure (GI). This has primarily been done by comparing data collected through field-based monitoring campaigns during pre vs post GI construction. While this information has been valuable to quantify performance metrics for select GI practices, it represents only a small subset of the many practices implemented under a wide variety of soils, vegetation, land use, and variations in engineering design found throughout the Great Lakes states.
Study Objectives
In 2022, the USGS developed a rapid assessment protocol to aggregate quantitative and qualitative characteristics for GI
practices in the Great Lakes drainage basin. The intent of the project is to inform future implementation of GI by assessing practices across a gradient of site characteristics and geographic locations. When aggregated, this data can be statistically evaluated to determine how design, land use, soils, vegetation, maintenance, and other parameters influence performance (photo at right).
Study Description
The initial field campaign began in 2022 with over 95 assessments covering seven of the eight Great Lakes states (2022 completed assessments in map shown at right). Initially, assessments are being limited to rain gardens, vegetated swales, and biofilters. Additional GI practices may be added in future years. Assessments will be done annually to increase the size of the dataset, thereby improving statistical interpretations.
Benefits
Information gathered through that assessment of multiple GI practices will help stormwater managers understand which characteristics have the most relevance on long-term success while also provide a framework by which future GI can be quickly and repeatably evaluated. An interactive web-based dashboard will be created to highlight:
- Summary statistics of soils, vegetation, and land use.
- Other features like ponding depth and composition of engineered soils can also be displayed to better understand trends in engineering design.
- Geospatial overlays and links will be included to provide additional layers of information including congressional districts and other political boundaries as well as site-specific information such as owner, images, and a short description of the site.
Below is science associated with this project.
GLRI Urban Stormwater Monitoring
Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)
Assessing stormwater reduction through green infrastructure: RecoveryPark (Detroit, Mich.)
Monitoring and predicting the impacts of trees on urban stormwater volume reduction
Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Niagara River Greenway Project (Buffalo, NY)
- Overview
Green infrastructure (GI) practices across the Great Lakes are being assessed to better understand how soils, vegetation, land use, maintenance practices and other design parameters influence their ability to infiltrate stormwater runoff. Statistical evaluation of aggregated site assessments will provide useful information on which factors hold high importance when designing and locating future GI.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Measuring the infiltration rate of a biofilter using a double-ring infiltrometer. This was one of many quantitative and qualitative values assigned to each green infrastructure practice. The monitoring equipment are shown next to greenery planted in a sidewalk in an urban environment in Oakland County, Michigan. Study Background
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 2015 to quantify stormwater volume reductions from stormwater control measures through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The primary focus has been on quantifying the volume of water reallocated through different parts of the water cycle by green infrastructure (GI). This has primarily been done by comparing data collected through field-based monitoring campaigns during pre vs post GI construction. While this information has been valuable to quantify performance metrics for select GI practices, it represents only a small subset of the many practices implemented under a wide variety of soils, vegetation, land use, and variations in engineering design found throughout the Great Lakes states.
Study Objectives
In 2022, the USGS developed a rapid assessment protocol to aggregate quantitative and qualitative characteristics for GI
practices in the Great Lakes drainage basin. The intent of the project is to inform future implementation of GI by assessing practices across a gradient of site characteristics and geographic locations. When aggregated, this data can be statistically evaluated to determine how design, land use, soils, vegetation, maintenance, and other parameters influence performance (photo at right).
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map showing number of green infrastructure assessments completed in 2022. Study Description
The initial field campaign began in 2022 with over 95 assessments covering seven of the eight Great Lakes states (2022 completed assessments in map shown at right). Initially, assessments are being limited to rain gardens, vegetated swales, and biofilters. Additional GI practices may be added in future years. Assessments will be done annually to increase the size of the dataset, thereby improving statistical interpretations.
Benefits
Information gathered through that assessment of multiple GI practices will help stormwater managers understand which characteristics have the most relevance on long-term success while also provide a framework by which future GI can be quickly and repeatably evaluated. An interactive web-based dashboard will be created to highlight:
- Summary statistics of soils, vegetation, and land use.
- Other features like ponding depth and composition of engineered soils can also be displayed to better understand trends in engineering design.
- Geospatial overlays and links will be included to provide additional layers of information including congressional districts and other political boundaries as well as site-specific information such as owner, images, and a short description of the site.
- Science
Below is science associated with this project.
GLRI Urban Stormwater Monitoring
The GLRI Urban Stormwater Monitoring effort brings together the expertise of the USGS with local and national partners to assess the ability of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff in Great Lakes urban areas.Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)
The effectiveness of green infrastructure (rain gardens and decreased impervious surface) at reducing stormwater runoff and capturing dissolved chloride is being assessed at a redevelopment project at Gary City Hall (Gary, Indiana). This study will evaluate pre- and post-construction hydrologic conditions using data collected by monitoring storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and...Assessing stormwater reduction through green infrastructure: RecoveryPark (Detroit, Mich.)
The effectiveness of green infrastructure (including urban land conversion and bioswales) at reducing stormwater runoff is being assessed at RecoveryPark, a redeveloped urban farm in Detroit, Michigan. This study will monitor pre- and post-construction storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (ET) to evaluate stormwater-volume reduction in response to...Monitoring and predicting the impacts of trees on urban stormwater volume reduction
Much has been learned about how effectively individual green infrastructure practices can reduce stormwater volume, however, the role of urban trees in stormwater detention is poorly understood. This study quantified the impact that trees have on stormwater runoff volume.Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Niagara River Greenway Project (Buffalo, NY)
The U.S. Geological Survey is assessing the effectiveness of green infrastructure at attenuating and reducing stormflow along a 2.26 mile corridor of Niagara Street in Buffalo, NY. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Buffalo Sewer Authority and University at Buffalo.