| Watershed Management Group, Inc | Tucson, AZ | USA |
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Programs Greening Urban Watersheds Neighborhood Model for Addressing Urban Stormwater
Programs Greening Urban Watersheds Neighborhood Model for Addressing Urban Stormwater 
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A Neighborhood Model to Address Urban Stormwater PollutantsProject Manager: James MacAdam
Urban washes in Arizona often become neglected ecosystems where non-point source (NPS) pollutants such as trash, pet waste, automobile oil from street runoff, fertilizers from yards, and sediment are transported into washes through storm water runoff. Such washes lose their ecological and aesthetic value, and often cause water quality problems downstream. High School Wash in Tucson’s Rincon Heights neighborhood is a classic example of just such a wash. Thankfully, the neighborhood is also home to the Rincon Heights Neighborhood Association (RHNA), which hosts a group of organized and active volunteers ready to address water quality issues, and which has procured several grants for revegetation and flood reduction in the area. Over two years (Summer 2008-Summer 2010), WMG is working with RHNA and other community partners to improve water quality in the neighborhood and in High School Wash, focusing on three areas: Assess NPS pollution and plan Best Management Practices for High School Wash watershed (Fall 2008) We’ll work with neighborhood residents, community experts and City officials to assess sources of non-point source pollutants in the neighborhood, and identify priority areas for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce pollution. This step will include an educational volunteer cleanup of High School Wash. The result will be a site plan to implement BMPs on 10 blocks in the Rincon Heights neighborhood. Hold community workshops (Fall 2008-early Summer 2009) WMG will hold a series of hands-on workshops with neighborhood residents and community volunteers to increase awareness of NPS pollution and to implement MPs in Rincon Heights neighborhood. Best Management Practices will include bioretention basins, berms, vegetated buffer strips, mulch, curb cuts, and vegetated chicanes. Take lessons learned to the larger community (Spring 2009-Summer 2010) With the monsoon of 2009, we’ll evaluate the effectiveness of the BMPs we installed in the workshops. Taking what we’ve learned from the practices and the project, WMG will use the “lessons learned” from the process to conduct training and outreach workshops in Tucson with other Neighborhood Associations, community groups, and city officials. We’ll also train community leaders from other watersheds in BMP design and implementation, and produce a summary publication for use by other citizens and neighborhood groups.
Workshops, presentations and cleanups for this project will be posted on WMG’s events calendar. Volunteers for all phases of the project are needed and welcome—if you’d like to get involved, contact James MacAdam. |
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Events Calendar
- Ward I Water Harvesting Workshops
December 06, 2008 (1:00 pm)
- Greywater workshop with SAAF
December 12, 2008 (8:00 am)
- Neighborhood Water Harvesting Workshop
December 13, 2008 (8:00 am)
- Ward I Water Harvesting Workshops
January 10, 2009 (1:00 pm)
- Neighborhood Water Harvesting Workshop
January 10, 2009 (1:00 pm)
