Low Impact Development Technical Workshop Series

The interest and use of the low impact development (LID) stormwater management approach is rapidly increasing in the Puget Sound region.  Over the past several years many education workshops have examined the need for and general application of LID practices.

As part of the Puget Sound Initiative, Washington State University will present a series of four new LID technical workshops in four locations around Puget Sound.  Funding for the workshops is provided by the Puget Sound Partnership.  These two-day workshops, with instruction by regional and national experts in the field, will provide the technical details necessary to properly design, build and maintain LID practices.  For example, the two-day workshop on bioretention will provide the designer with the current state of knowledge on siting, sizing and modeling techniques, designing surface and subsurface drainage components, soil mixes, and more.  The permeable paving workshop will provide current specifications for permeable asphalt, concrete, concrete interlocking pavers and other paving systems, as well as subgrade preparation, base material specifications, modeling, and maintenance.


Where and When:

Sequim (Jamestown Tribal Center)

May 6-7 2008:            Permeable Paving

May 28-29 2008:        Bioretention

June 4-5 2008:          Green roofs, Low Impact Foundations and Rain Water Collection

June 25-26 2008:      Site Planning, Clearing and Grading, Plan Review, and Inspection


The same series of workshops will be provided in:

·   Bellingham (September and October 2008)

·   Seattle (February and March 2009) 

·   Olympia (Spring 2009)  

Specific dates and locations are to be determined.

Cost:                                        $50.00

Pre-registration is required. Details on how to register, specific course locations, course agendas, and other details will be provided soon, so stay tuned for further announcements.

A wonderful opportunity to learn how to install large cisterns for reducing stormwater runoff and increasing water supply for your landscaping! Please see details and registration information below.




Workshop/Demonstration on Rainwater Catchment for “Guilt-Free” garden watering all summer!


Bainbridge Islanders interested in a “guilt-free” supply of irrigation water in the dry summer months are invited to a workshop Saturday, April 5, on how to design and install a large water catchment system.  

PROBLEM:   As natural areas are replaced by impervious paved surfaces, rainfall can’t soak into the ground to recharge our drinking water supply.  Stormwater too often ends up running off roads into Puget Sound instead of being absorbed by soil to slowly trickle into groundwater aquifers.  Large amounts of pollutants are washed with it into open water bodies.

Watering of lawns and gardens accounts for a large increase in City water usage every dry season.   Pumping precious drinking water for watering our gardens can be expensive, particularly for residents using limited City water supplies.  

ONE SOLUTION:  Why not capture excess rainwater off the roof of your house to water your plants in the dry season,  and reduce stormwater runoff from your property?

The hands-on workshop is being sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council, the Bainbridge Island Permaculture Guild, and an ad-hoc group called DRIP (Demonstrating Rainwater Irrigation Possibilities). The workshop is scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. at a home on New Sweden Road. Details will be provided upon pre-registration by emailing info@biwatershedcouncil.org. (Suggested donation $25).

Two 3,000-gallon cisterns are being installed on the site. They will be at different stages of installation that day, so participants will get to help with many aspects of the process. Participants will also learn about options for locating cisterns, and using gravity to deliver the water. Designed for above-ground installation, the tanks don’t need to be located next to a house,even though they are linked by pipes to gutters. Instead, the tanks can be tucked into out-of-the-way places in a landscape.

For several weeks after the workshop, the sponsoring organizations will take orders for this type of cistern, which cost a little more than $1,000 when ordered in bulk. People who want professional assistance will be able to make appointments for site visits.

I wanted to pass along some really nice actions and acknowledgements of your hard work that came from Debbie Vancil and Barry Peters regarding our recent activities:

At a recent City Council meeting, Debbie Vancil expressed her support for maintaining a budget for the Knotweed Eradication program, a program that watershed council members have worked on jointly with the BI Weed Warriors, the City, the County Noxious Weed Board, and the Kitsap Conservation District. As Debbie emphasized, we must maintain funding for this program to maintain its effectiveness.

Barry Peters wrote, to follow up on this same meeting:

Last night, at our Council meeting, the agenda included acceptance of the Watershed Council's annual report. I took that opportunity to make an on-the-record comment, appreciating the many elements of your 2007 successes -- among them, your work on knotweed mapping.  That's where the subject of knotweed funding came up.

I also took the opportunity to express appreciation to the Watershed Council for your voluntary work on the advisory committee for the Winslow Way street and utility project, and the support your organization has provided for the bioswale and natural stormwater management features of that project.

Hopefully, the folks attending our meeting last night, and those at home watching on BITV, have a better appreciation of the work of the Watershed Council.

-Barry

Good work all!