Modeling and Sizing Bioretention Using Flow Duration Control
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYThis article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 6
Abstract
Low-impact development (LID), such as bioretention, is increasingly used as a best management practice (BMP) to manage storm-water runoff. With LID becoming an integral part of storm-water management plans, it is critical to understand the hydrologic performance of these devices and their positive impacts on downstream hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology. This paper focuses on presenting a model evaluation of bioretention using calibrated and verified algorithms and describes the application of flow duration control (FDC) as a design strategy. The goal of bioretention, like many LID-based controls, is to replicate natural hydrologic processes. Storm-water controls designed to match preproject flow duration characteristics demonstrate that they come close to mimicking the natural hydrologic cycle, thereby protecting beneficial uses and promoting long-term sustainable solutions. This work presents the FDC approach for sizing bioretention and other similar flow control BMPs. This paper concludes with a summary of the sizing requirements to meet the flow duration criteria. Results from this evaluation suggest that typical water quality design criteria can be effective for individual sites with 20–30% imperviousness. For areas draining 100% imperviousness, typical of LID strategies, storage requirements should be 5–10 cm (2–4 in.) with areas of 12–25% the catchment draining to the bioretention facility. However, storage and land area requirements should be sized based on watershed and site-specific characteristics.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Bledsoe, B. P., and Watson, C. C. (2001). “Effects of urbanization on channel instability.” J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 37(2), 255–270.
Booth, D., and Jackson, R. (1997). “Urbanization of aquatic systems: Degradation thresholds, stormwater detection, and the limits of mitigation.” J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 33(5), 1077–1090.
Ermilio, J. F. (2005). “Characterization study of a bio-infiltration stormwater BMP.” Masters thesis, Villanova Univ., Villanova, Pa.
Fairfield-Suisun Urban Runoff Management Program (FSURMP). (2006). “Hydromodification management plan for the fairfield-suisun urban runoff management program.”
Geosyntec Consultants. (2002). “Hydromodification management plan literature review.” Prepared for the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program.
Geosyntec Consultants. (2007). “A technical study of hydrology, geomorphology and water quality in the Laguna Creek Watershed.” Upper Laguna Creek Watershed Council, Sacramento, Calif.
Geosyntec Consultants. (2008). “Draft Tejon Mountain Village specific plan water quality and hydromodification technical report.” Appendix I-1 to the Draft Environmental Impact Report, Kern County, Calif.
Hammer, T. (1972). “Stream and channel enlargement due to urbanization.” Water Resour. Res., 8, 1530–1540.
Isaac-Ricketts, K. (2008). “A soil profile characterization of a bioinfiltration BMP.” Masters thesis, Villanova Univ., Villanova, Pa.
MacRae, C. R. (1993). “An alternate design approach for the control of instream erosion potential in urbanizing watersheds.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Urban Storm Drainage.” H. C. Torno, ed., Vol. 2, 1086–1098.
MacRae, C. R. (1996). “Experience from morphological research on Canadian streams: Is control of the two-year frequency runoff event the best basis for stream channel protection. Effects of watershed development and management on aquatic ecosystems.” Proc., ASCE Engineering Foundation Conf., ASCE, Reston, Va., 144–162.
Marin County Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (MCSWPPP). (2008). Stormwater quality manual for development projects Marin County, guidance for applicants: A low impact development approach.
Palhegyi, G. (2010). “Designing stormwater controls to promote sustainable ecosystems: Science and application.” J. Hydrol. Eng., 15(6), 504–511.
Palhegyi, G., Mangarella, P., and Strecker, E. (2007). “A modeling methodology to assess and manage the effects of hydromodification in urban streams.” Urban runoff modeling: Intelligent modeling to improve stormwater management, Humboldt State Univ., Arcata, Calif.
Palhegyi, G., Potter, C., Dean, C., and Strecker, E. (2005). “Evaluating the effectiveness of flow controls at protecting streams from the effects of hydromodification in urbanizing watersheds.” Proc., AWRA Annual Water Resource Conf.
Prince George’s County. (1999). Low-impact development design strategies an integrated design approach, Department of Environmental Resources Programs and Planning Division, Prince George’s County, Md.
Prokop, M. J. (2003). “Determining the effectiveness of the villanova bio-infiltration traffic island in infiltrating annual runoff.” Masters thesis, Villanova Univ., Villanova, Pa.
Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP). (2005). “Hydromodification management plan.” Final Rep.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). (2000). Hydrologic modeling system HEC-HMS technical reference manual, USACE, Hydrologic Engineering Center, Davis, Calif.
U.S. EPA. (2002). Users guide to the USEPA stormwater management model, SWMM4, CHI, Guelph, Ont., Canada
U.S. EPA. (2007). “Reducing stormwater costs through low impact development (lid) strategies and practices.” Rep. No. EPA 841-F-07-006, Washington, D.C., ⟨www.epa.gov/nps/lid⟩, (November 2008).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 1, 2008
Accepted: Oct 12, 2009
Published online: Oct 22, 2009
Published in print: Jun 2010
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.