Native Landscape and Green Infrastructure Design for Stormwater
Gain an understanding of how to analyze, design, implement and manage effective and innovative stormwater management systems using native landscape for a variety of sites – large, small, rural and urban.
Learn about how a thorough site analysis of soils, terrain and hydrology can influence the design approach using native and naturalized plant selections. Several case studies of built projects are presented – giving you firsthand knowledge of how to approach site design, plant selection, construction and maintenance.
This course can be applied to the Water Technology Certificate.
Who Should Attend
- Landscape architects, designers, planners, engineers, scientists, architects and contractors involved in the design of stormwater management systems.
- Government agency and municipal employees responsible for overseeing and reviewing these types of systems.
- NGOs involved in helping to educate landowners about rain gardens and native plantings.
- Traditional landscape contractors who would like to incorporate the use of more native landscape in their projects.
- Nonlandscapers who would like to learn more about plant selection and identification for constructed wetlands, buffers and stormwater ponds.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
- Incorporate native and naturalized plants into the stormwater design for ecological benefit and potential cost savings.
- Evaluate plans and specifications and understand both pitfalls and successes of projects.
- Understand how to use native plants in a realistic way to maximize benefits.
Course Outline/Topics
This one-day course covers:
• When and why a native landscape approach is the right choice.
• Stormwater regulatory background and updates.
• How to plan for a naturalized green infrastructure project.
• Some techniques to reduce and slow runoff – preserving natural areas, reducing land disturbance, slowing down runoff and minimizing impervious surfaces, where practical.
• The basics of plant selection for bio-infiltration (rain gardens and bio-swales) to help reduce flooding, improve water quality, stabilize flow rates and prevent erosion.
• The use of buffers, filter strips and/or level spreaders and how to enhance their performance.
• Proper design and installation techniques using native and naturalized landscape and green infrastructure.
• GI inspection and maintenance, including staffing and training considerations.
• The “whys and hows” of public outreach and education for naturalized stormwater systems.
Dates and locations to be announced.
