5. Maintenance a. Use the least toxic snow melt materials and cut 50% with recycled sand. b. Charge electric vehicles after 8PM following peak power demand. c. Use non-VOC paints. d. Collect rainwater in bioswales and permeable pavements to recharge ground water and slow the rate of runoff, (see the following storm water section.) e. Use non-treated, sustainably harvested lumber. f. Expand and promote the campus recycling program. 6. Programming a. Through programs and example, teach students and members of the community sustainable practices. 7. New Projects: consider requiring compliance with the ASLA’s Sustainable Sites Initiative guidelines. 8. Stormwater Management Planning: consider application of the following quide- lines. Stormwater Management Planning Stormwater management planning is a vital component of the overall landscape guidance and recommendations of this plan. Stormwater management can pro- vide several benefits to the existing campus stormwater infrastructure. The goal for each new project will be to identify opportunities for stormwater management practices within the campus environment and apply the following principles and guidelines for these practices. Background The stormwater drainage generally flows over the campus surfaces and collects into existing storm sewer located within and adjacent to the University. Refer to the Existing Elevations exhibit for the general drainage patterns through campus. The major drainage feature on campus is the tailrace below the Kearney Reservoir dam. The tailrace is a major canal, which bisects the campus into west and east drainage areas. A majority of the campus drainage collects within the campus storm sewer and public storm sewer systems and discharges directly into the tail- race. Currently, the campus does not have existing stormwater detention areas to help reduce the rate or volume of stormwater flows from rainfall events. There are locations on the campus, which have a high percentage of impervious areas (park- ing lots and buildings), which drain directly into storm sewer systems and contrib- ute to increased peak stormwater runoff. These areas include: parking lot north of the College of Education, parking lot between Otto Olsen and Fine Arts Building, Cushing Coliseum, parking lot west of Cope Stadium and parking lot north of Ran- dall Hall, and the parking lot east of the Student Union. These are target areas for the application of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs). Benefits of Stormwater Best Management Practices Implementing stormwater BMPs into the campus environment can provide several benefits including: • Reduction of the peak stormwater runoff which discharges into the storm sewer system • Increase the infiltration of water into soil subgrades, thereby reducing pollutants from parking areas • Provide additional greenspace areas within existing impervious surfaces • Mitigate localized on-campus drainage issues • Promotes the sustainable use of resources • Provides learning opportunities which can be partnered with students and faculty
Guidelines for Stormwater Best Management Practices There are a variety of stormwater BMPs available that could be implemented across campus. This section identifies a number of these practices that may be suitable for UNK to implement on future development or retrofit projects. These practices may include bioretention gardens, underground detention, capture and re-use of storm- water, green roofs and porous pavements. The BMPs guidelines should be consid- ered when evaluating these practices for upcoming projects. Careful consideration of the existing infrastructure and campus features should be given during design to ensure that the BMPs are installed in locations that promote their intended func- tion. Bioretention (Rain) Gardens
Bioretention gardens are depressed areas of nearly any size, which allow for the collection and infiltration of stormwater runoff. These gardens are combined with carefully selected plant materi- als, which are adaptable to the varied moisture conditions that are encountered. Bioreten- tion gardens can also assist with the removal of pollutants from surface stormwater. Bioretention areas can be lo- cated at almost any location on campus that currently serves as a stormwater collection area including: parking lots and islands, greenspace areas or natural drainage ways. Con- sideration should be given to
Bioretention Garden
Proposed Bioswales
1. Parking and vehicular transportation: reducing the ratio of cars to students on cam- pus, the speed at which vehicles are driven in and around campus, and the length of daily vehicular travel for campus residents and visitors are goals of this plan. These can be accomplished by adding more close-in housing options for students, faculty, and staff such as the proposed “South Campus” development; moving parking lots out of the interior of campus; adding convenient multi-use trails and bicycle parking; incorporating a convenient shuttle service; and creating interest- ing and convenient pathways that connect key campus destinations. 2. Clean energy generation: continuing to expand the generation and use of hydro, wind, and solar energy with each new building on campus to reduce emissions and enhance energy independence. 3. LED Lighting: changing out campus lighting from High Intensity Discharge (HID) sources to Light Emitting Diode (LED) sources has the potential to reduce energy use and maintenance requirements. LED options should be evaluated with these savings in mind. 4. Horticulture a. Manage plant waste, vegetables, fruit, coffee grounds, and Christmas trees to make compost on campus. Amend soils on proposed projects with UNK compost and add compost to planting beds each fall to improve soil quality and moisture retention. b. Whenever possible, use non-toxic pest and disease control and the use of ben- eficial insects instead of chemical pesticides. c. Prune trees and shrubs to follow natural growth patterns to prevent disease and breakage that weakens the overall health of the plant. d. Select plants from the approved Plant List to reduce pest and disease problems. e. Mow lawn grass to 3” height to protect plant crowns, reduce irrigation demand, and control weeds. f. Manage irrigation to ensure deep watering to promote deep root growth, protect plants from drought, and conserve water.
Bioretention in Parking Lot
the vegetative, topographic and soil conditions at the location of a garden. Proxim- ity to an existing storm sewer system is critical so that there is a collection point for infiltrated stormwater and an overflow outlet for excess stormwater.
Porous Pavements Porous pavements broadly define pavements that allow for the infiltration of storm- water through voids within their structure. Porous pavements can include brick pavers, asphalt, or even concrete materials. These pavements can reduce storm- water runoff and increase water recharge to local aquifers. They are recommended for pedestrian areas that experience only minor vehicular traffic. Modular porous pavers can provide a sustainable alternative to conventional non-porous pavements in the campus environment. Specific areas on campus which could benefit from porous pavers include: pedestrian areas surrounding the UNK Fountain, in front of the Nebraska Student Union and other pedestrian locations which are located near a natural drainage collection point.
Typical Pourous Pavement Cross section
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University of Nebraska - Kearney Campus Landscape Master Plan
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