News
New Website Launched: “Stormwater Management: Using Trees and Structural Soils to Improve Water Quality”
A new suite of technology transfer tools, detailing how structural soils and urban trees can be used for stormwater management has recently been made available, and can be accessed via the web at http://www.cnr.vt.edu/urbanforestry/stormwater.
Research topics related to developing innovative technologies, are discussed and a series of innovative solutions are outlined, including the root distribution and tree physiological responses growing in structural soils being used as a stormwater reservoir, the effect of structural soils on water quality, the physical properties of structural soils for stormwater management, the effect of tree root penetration on subsoil infiltration rates, and the use of porous pavements and turf as alternatives to traditional pavement in this system.
The site includes:
A 55-page downloadable how-to manual designed for stormwater engineers, urban foresters, public works departments, low-impact development practitioners, grass-roots organizations, and others.
A 10-minute visual presentation with accompanying notes for presenters to introduce the concept of trees as stormwater management tools and the structural soil system to developers, city councils, tree boards, landscape architects, stormwater managers, and other practitioners.
Highlights from the construction of each of four demonstration sites around the country.?· Technical resources related to this project, including citations of published research resulting from these studies.
