Hosted by the Chesapeake Stormwater Network, the Best Urban BMP in the Bay Awards (BUBBAs) recognizes the best urban stormwater management practices (techniques, measures or structural controls used to manage the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff) that have been installed in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The reconstruction of the intersection at Plum and Walnut Streets was nominated for the BUBBA as an Ultra-urban BMP. Ultra-urban BMPs are stormwater practices built in infill or redevelopment projects in urban areas with more than 75% site impervious cover.

To put it simply, the old intersection was dangerous and uninspiring. Now, the same intersection is safer, with a 5 MPH reduction in average traffic speed, and features rain gardens, a new porous patio for the Lancaster Brewing Company, and a multi-tasking public art project. Best of all, this entire project manages 1.7 million gallons annually and keeps it out of the city’s over burdened combined sewer system.

All of the new elements of the intersection keep excess stormwater from reaching the sewer system. The rain gardens are full of native shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and new tree species, and the patio is made of permeable pavers. These components allow stormwater, which would otherwise flow into the Conestoga River and all the way to the Chesapeake Bay, to soak into the ground and be treated by the natural filtration and microbial action within the soils below the area. The public art installation, the Lancaster Gateway Bundle, includes a 700 gallon cistern that collects stormwater runoff from the roof of the Lancaster Brewing Company. This cistern serves both as public art and as irrigation for planters where the brewery grows some of their own produce.

After the project was named Best Ultra-Urban BMP, it went up against projects that placed first place in other categories, like Best Innovative BMP and Best Homeowner BMP. Online voting took place to name the “ultimate” first place winner, and 1851 votes were cast. The reconstruction of the intersection of Plum and Walnut Streets received over 800 of those votes, making the City of Lancaster the grand prize winner of $5,000!

Residential Demonstration

The Lancaster County Conservancy worked with the Wolf Museum, adjacent property owners, and neighborhood volunteers to develop multiple methods of addressing storm water runoff including the installation of rain barrels, rain garden, and dry creek to minimize the amount of runoff coming from and onto the Wolf Museum property.

For images and details click here

The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study of Lancaster, PA

This case study estimates the value of several of the co-benefits of Lancaster’s Green Infrastructure Plan. The case study highlights the importance of including the multiple benefits of green infrastructure in cost-benefit assessments, as well as the importance of adding green infrastructure into planned improvement projects.

A new cistern was installed in early November 2013, outside the Lancaster Brewing Company along E Walnut Street.  It becomes part of a green infrastructure site that also includes permeable paving and bio-retention / rain garden’s.

Known as ‘Lancaster’s Gateway Bundle’ the cistern, not only collects and holds 750 gallons from the Brewery roof, but is also a public art project meant to engage and educate patrons and people passing by.

(The image on the left was taken during installation; The image on the right is after installation with the permeable brick pavers on the left and rain gardens on the right)

Green Infrastructure is becoming, almost, common place in neighborhoods throughout Lancaster City, with dozens of projects slated to begin in the coming months.  Two projects of particular significance this fall include the construction taking place along private Alley 117 in NW Lancaster City and construction that has just begun at Two Dudes Painting Company located in the Cabbage Hill Neighborhood of the SW.  (Click the links above to learn more).

These earth moving machines will soon give way to permeable paving and other Green Infrastructure technologies that will capture close to 500,000 gallons annually between these two projects.
   

“Dancing Arches”, a Public Art sculpture, invites guests– with a burst of color and form– to enter the newly renovated Rodney Park.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tracybeyl/dancing-arches-at-rodney-park

Utilzing rain barrels, rain gardens, dry wells, native plants, and green roofs to capture rain water on your residential property.  Learn more by viewing this video

Drip goes the kitchen faucet. Plop goes the bathroom shower. Trickle goes the toilet tank.

It’s annoying, but you’ve learned to live with it.

Then the water bill arrives. Talk about sticker shock. It turns out those little drips, plops and trickles are costing you money. Which means you need to do something about it.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/839877_Slow-leaks-can-drain-your-wallet.html#ixzz2RPphzNe0

We’re Polluting our Water.

When it rains, water flows from rooftops, streets, sidewalks and parking lots into our sewer system.  Along the way, it picks up all kinds of pollutants.  Most of the time, the City can clean this polluted water at its treatment plant.  But during heavy storms, the amount of water is too much for the plant to handle, allowing about 750 million gallons of polluted water to flow into the Conestoga River each year.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Solve the Problem ?

Come to a meeting with Mayor Gray and city officials in your neighborhood.

March 28 – Hand Middle School
April 2 – Lancaster Rec Center – Senior Center off parking lot at Brandon Park
April 10 – Reynolds Middle School
April 16 – McCaskey East High School
May 2 – Community United Methodist Church – Tennyson Drive

All meetings start at 7pm