Urban Hydrology: theory and new

approaches for stormwater

management

Jack Ahern, Professor

Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Regional
Planning
UMass Amherst

The site is to the watershed as the cell is to the body

Patrick Condon, 2000

Hydrograph

Subtitle

Urban Conditions: Impervious Surface Cover

Subtitle

Percentage of Impervious Surfaces

Increased impervious surface increases runoff, decreases

evapotranspiration, and decreases infiltration

Urban Hydrology

Non-point source pollutants

Subtitle

Increased Impervious Cover Affects the Number

and Quality of Aquatic Lifee

Stormwater: The Conveyance

Approach
Stormwater conveyance is the rapid removal
of stormwater from impervious surfaces to
receiving streams by way of engineered
drainage systems (e.g. culverts, stormdrains,
and channelized streams and rivers).

water is a problem. Its the enemy. Get it

away from here.
NOW!

Stormwater: The
Infiltration Approach
Infiltration is the the retention of
stormwater as close as possible to its
originating source(s), and infiltrating as
much as possible into the soil through
the implementation of best
management practices and strategies.
water is a precious resource, keep it
here, clean it, save it for later - we need
it, and our local our ecosystems need it
too!

Guidelines:
1. Start at the source
2. Integrate the solutions
3. Maximize permeability
4. Minimize directly
connected impervious areas
5. Use drainage as a design
element

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Greenroofs

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Rainbarrels

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Raingardens

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Raingarden with overflow

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Raingarden Interpretive Sign

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Streetside Raingarden

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Porous paving

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Porous paving

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Biofilter, created wetland

Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Greenwalls

Integrated Solutions: Sustainable Community Design,

Condon and Proft, Vancouver BC

Integrated Solutions: Green parking, Wild Center, NY

Integrated Solutions: SEA Street Seattle

Integrated Solutions: Green Corridors, Toronto

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Potsdammer Platz, Berlin, Atelier Dreisitl

Integrated Solutions: Kronsberg New Town, Hannover, Germany

Integrated Solutions: Kronsberg New Town, Hannover, Germany

Hammarby Sjostad, Stockholm

150HA, mixed use brownfield development,
11,000 units, 25,000 population

Title
The Hammarby Model: integrated, renewable, circular

Title

Title
Subtitle

Title

Stormwater Biofilter

Title

Title

UMass first raingarden/bioswale

Location: North of Studio Arts Building
Design: Max Cohen, Michael Davidsohn, Jack Ahern
Construction: Michael Davidsohns Stockbridge construction class + UMass Physical
Plant

Title

UMass first raingarden/bioswale: Under construction

Summing up:
Start at the source
Integrate Solutions
Ubiquitous Infiltration
Landscapes for Learning