(Re)SEARCHING FOR A SPOT A Parking Lot Laboratory for Desert Stormwater Management, Research, and Education Demonstration Category D7 The University of Arizona Design Team Jack Anderson, Master of Science Hydrology Aaron Johnson, Master of Landscape Architecture Matthew Lutheran, Master of Landscape Architecture Samantha Swartz, Master of Science Hydrology Zhiyuan Song, Master of Landscape Architecture Faculty Advisors Dr. Bo Yang, PLA, ASLA, APA Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture Dr. Margaret Livingston, Professor, Landscape Architecture Dr. Vanessa Buzzard, Senior Research Specialist, School of Natural Resources and the Environment Dr. Laura Meredith, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and the Environment Dr. Thomas Meixner, Professor, Associate Department Head, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Dr. Tanya Quist, Associate Professor, Director UA Campus Arboretum Advising Team Dr. Alejandro Angel, Vice President/Principal, Psomas Civil Engineering Eric Bell, Program Coordinator, Physical Access, University of Arizona Disability Resource Center Grant McCormick, Campus Planner and GIS Coordinator, Adjunct Professor, University of Arizona Mark Novak, Landscape Architect, University of Arizona Woody Remencus, Landscape Manager, UA Facilities Management ABSTRACT The University of Arizona (U of A) located within the Sonoran Desert, is known for high temperatures and lack of rainfall. Seasonal rain events are often brief and violent, and the 269 campus parking lots are prime examples of a lack of planning for stormwater retention and water quality services. The parking lot south of the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) serves six colleges without addressing stormwater management or pedestrian safety. This single-function parking lot has the potential to improve public safety by improving pedestrian networks and remediating environmental health using increased water quality, infiltration capacity, and a holistic approach to stormwater management. The U of A is committed to research and this project will provide infrastructure to assess stormwater basin performance through the presence of microbial communities and investigate the capacity of arid-adapted plants as phytoremediators. (Re)Searching for a Spot will function as a demonstration project, highlighting the collaborative research and design effort among the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. This project will highlight green infrastructure (GI) benefits and performance. The quantitative performance data of GI- critically lacking in the arid environment currently, will provide evidence and confidence for future parking lot retrofits on campus and across the surrounding communities. 1 ------- INTRODUCTION + SITE SELECTION The University of Arizona (U of A) as a Research I Institution, is located in Tucson, Arizona, within the Sonoran Desert. The U of A has 130 year legacy of seeking innovative solutions and it is perhaps the first institution in the nation to include the "built environment" as part of the University's Strategic Plan (effective 2019). The built environment is an asset to all university campuses, and by highlighting the health and environmental benefits provided by built surroundings, the U of A is positioned to become a leader in campus development. Specifically, U of A is committed to sustainable practices and expects to implement green stormwater infrastructure to manage runoff in the changing climate. Through integrating active and passive systems, new construction benefits from rainwater harvesting basins and underground detention cisterns to reduce peak flows while addressing the presence of the campus' 100-year flood plain. Interdisciplinary studies 011 the built environment area at the core of green infrastructure adoption. Hie College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) is positioned as a campus facilitator, providing its students with the skill set to working with a wide variety of departments and entities on campus to integrate innovative green infrastructure (GI) into future campus development. Campus parking lot development has been focusing on creating the highest number of parking stalls, sacrificing its overall performance in the environment and social aspects of sustainability; particularly educational benefits are least emphasized. j SPEEDWAY BLVD. i Private student ^ housing 2000+ PARK AVE. / \ University of Arizona Arts Complex V rt / —i: CABLA- — _ CAPLA | " ^EAST N M WES^ it ' O ^ — — — Department of U / | 1 Etectrfcalw UJ Compute > Center for 1 ' 1! \ 6>siiie«rinu -J /Creative 1 O photography ft 6000 + students 1 use 7 surrounding V H,M„ bUi'din9S Vsbid" 1 . \ j f ' \ > ^ 1 Student residential S core 1000+ z => 1 -—' balding ' r ^ . University of Arizona v, Speech and 2ND ST. A r ¦fr* f / Students Union (dinner, lectures / study area) Figure 2 - Campus context INVENTORY + ANALYSIS Parking lot development has resulted in a total of 269 parking areas (Figure 1) and parking lot vegetative cover shows that more than 95% of the surface lots contained negligible canopy cover. The parking lot south of CAPLA was selected as a demonstration project because it (1) critically lacks vegetative cover, (2) is a highly used, yet unsafe traffic hub for six major colleges surrounding it, (3) is in close proximity to nearby campus amenities, and (4) is situated in an upstream location, and contributor, feeding into the 100-year flood plain (Figure 2). This project will showcase the performance benefits of adopting GI strategies, and how the U of A can retrofit other parking lots to better serve campus. Expected benefits from a parking — Flood Plain Boundary —>¦ 100-yr Flood Drainage Surface Parking Lois ¦I Project Site Figure 1 - Context map & watershed 2 ------- lot retrofit include: (1) entirely eliminate runoff from the site during 2-year storms, (2) reduce the parking lot's contribution to the adjacent 100-year floodplain by 22,929 gallons of runoff, (3) improve water quality through reductions in sediment and pollutant loads, and (4) increase the Time of Concentration (Tc) of the sub watershed by approximately 600%. To establish a baseline for GI performance assessment and subsequent research work, the team collected water quality samples at two drainage points on site and tested for contaminants commonly associated with vehicles. Results are presented in Table 1 below. Constituent Concentration (ug/l) Water Sample (UA project) Pb Zn Cd Cu 1 0.16 16.88 0.04 6.95 2 0.09 29.16 0.04 4.06 National Standards (Kadlec and Knight, 1996) 180 200 1.5 50 iable 1 - Water quality samples compared with national standards. When compared to the national standards on stormwater pollutant levels (Table 1), the water quality constituent levels sampled on site are lower than typical urban runoff (Kadlec and Knight, 1996). Nonetheless, these samples show the existing quality of stormwater runoff without treatment from vegetation or bioswales, which provide a baseline for water quality improvements. GIS information was combined with on-site observations to understand the current drainage pattern on site (Figure 3). The site's high point is centrally located and divides the parking lot into a northern and southern sub-watershed. The grading plan benefits the site because water can be managed in smaller quantities which provides options for effectively infiltrating stormwater through the use of smaller, low impact interventions. The parking lot is shared by CAPLA and five other colleges, but it provides little university context, or accommodation for pedestrian movement, or stormwater management. Personal Figure 3 - Drainage Diagram Current Flooding 100-Yr Storm Event Water Flow — M Site Boundary Hgure 4 - Circulation Diagram Vehicle Paths ~ - Pedestrian & Bicycle Paths A High Traffic Area Building Entry Site Boundary 3 ------- observations of the site recorded the interactions that occurred between pedestrians and vehicles, and what routes were necessary for maintaining the necessary functions of access and parking. (Figure 4) The following diagram shows the dangerous context occurring through the center of the parking lot along the unofficial pedestrian corridor. The U of A is a Research I Institution and a new Strategic Plan highlights the role of research in the built environment to support campus growth. The CAPLA Dean and Strategic Plan board member stated, "It is clear that a pan-university effort around the built environment is a differentiator...It is an initiative that will bring a multiplicity of researchers together to take on the grand challenges of the built environment." This parking lot design will provide an opportunity to assemble a multidisciplinary team to collaborate on research that benefits the community as a land grant institution committed to community outreach. The drainage and circulation analysis revealed opportunities and challenges that currently exist on site. Project goals were developed to address water quality and management, and pedestrian safety. These goals seek to improve the impact the U of A has on the environment and surrounding community as well as the health and well-being of the student body. As a third goal, the team defined research as an opportunity to reach out to the community and capitalize on the university's resources to provide quantifiable GI data and its impact on stormwater management in arid environments. Goals Objectives Relevance Treat 100% of a 25- year storm event break up impervious surfaces provide areas for infiltration slow water using weirs and linked basins increase phytoremediating vegetation Reduce pollutant loads delivered to surrounding watersheds and enhance the quality of 100-year flood plain Enhance multi-modal safety and circulation alert vehicles to pedestrian crossing provide protected circulation routes promote universal access enhance campus way-finding Increase safety and efficiency of transportation campus environment Provide infrastructure for collaborative research and education on campus re-create real world infrastructure for research provide areas for self and guided learning form relationships between colleges Collect crucial GI data to improve public health and environmental quality related to arid environments Table 2 - Goals and objectives RESEARCH To enhance the design concept within the campus environment, the team relied on research to create defensible design choices. This provided the design with innovative options for retrofitting a parking lot and allowed the design to appeal to a wider user group. Research was conducted in psychology, water quality/management, ecohydology, education, and the urban heat island effect. Psychology Improving parking lots on campus will benefit the psychological health of student population, the population majority on campus. Students are focused on their academic performance and often 4 ------- experience stress related to their studies. The installation of vegetation on campus provides the following: • Student health and access to green space showed positive relationships between nature exposure and student performance. Specifically, views with greater quantities of trees and shrubs from windows are positively associated with standardized test scores, graduation rates, percentages of students planning to attend a four- year college, and fewer occurrences of criminal behavior (Matsuoka, 2010). • Students with higher perceived campus greenness report greater quality of life, a pathway significantly and partially mediated by perceived campus restorativeness (Hip et al., 2016). • Sustainable campus landscape design is valuable for college students and highlights the healing power of natural space on campus (Lau and Yang, 2009). Water Quality/Management Efficiently managing stormwater on campus will improve the campus's environmental impact and enhance safety by reducing the amount of water released onto streets and sidewalks. The addressing these factors in the context of the arid desert environment will provide the following. • Basin volumes and impervious surfaces were compared to model the amount of runoff that could be captured on-site. 100% of 2-year storm events can be retained through the use of infiltration basins, weirs, and bioswales. • Tc (Time of Concentration) will increase by 600% by breaking up impervious surfaces and including vegetative swales and basins to direct water through longer pervious channels that facilitate infiltration. • Water quality can be improved by slowing stormwater runoff, allowing heavy metals and suspended solids to drop out of the flow. (Davis, 2003) Phytoremeditaion plants can also uptake and bind pollutants neutralizing their presence in the soil (Marquez et al. 2009). Ecohydrology Stormwater basins are common in the Tucson Area, and support ecological functions and stormwater management. Research can be conducted to determine how basins in this environment could increase performance to benefit ecology stormwater quality and infiltration. • Few studies have explored the impact water harvesting techniques have on greenhouse gas emissions and soil chemistry (Pataki et al. 2011). • Studies have shown an increase in soil microbial diversity and richness in bioretention swales when compared to non-swale areas in the same region (Kazemi, Beecham, and Gibbs 2011) • Vegetated bioswale first flush samples show 92% fewer suspended solids, 87% less Total Nitrogen, 92% less Total Phosphorus, 96% less Zinc and Lead, and 82% less Copper than the samples from the traditional stormwater system (Yang et. al. 2015). Education The U of A seeks to produce innovative research opportunities and synthesize new ideas by promoting collaborative research from experts in unrelated fields. By approaching problems from different viewpoints, professors can arrive at results in unexpected ways. • Research of the built environment and collaborative research has been identified in the UA Strategic Plan (released 2019), and the site interacts with 6 college institutions. • Sustained research of stormwater strategies over time can improve and refocus stormwater management plans through collaboration of different groups (Brown et al. 2013). • Surface temperature, hydrology, carbon storage and sequestration, and biodiversity must be quantified to understand the level of improvement landscapes can provide (Whitford, 2001). 5 ------- Urban Heat Island Effect Figure 5 & 6 illustrate Tucson's vulnerability to extreme temperatures and the negative effects impervious surfaces like mall parking lots and airplane runways have on the surroundings. This issue must be addressed to protect the surrounding community Parks and campuses have substantially lower temperatures, but even parking lots 011 campus retain heat more readily than green spaces. ® Climate related exposure can be a direct cause of illness or death (Luber, 2008). ® The effects of extreme heat disproportionately affect populations of lower socioeconomic classes (Jenerette, 2011). • Summer exposed asphalt temperatures reach an average of 148°F in Arizona Parking lots (Celestian and Martin, 2004). Tucson Mall University of Arizona El Con Mall Reid Park Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Hi Temps Mid Temps Low Temps CAP LA Parking Greek Life Parking U of A Lawn Museum Parking nttpswg!smaps^agn5^D^ro^£lMap7aerault!aspx^^ Figure 6 - LJ of A Heat Map Hi Temps Mid Temps Low Temps _ _ UA Campus Selected Interviews Interviews were conducted across campus, seeking input from experts in numerous backgrounds to gain input from additional experts with experience on the U of A campus. Eric Bell, the Program Coordinator of Physical Access at the Disability Resource Center (DRC) provided feedback on the design proposal, and existing limitations that could be addressed on site. Hie mission of the DRC seeks to create a "seamlessly accessible" campus regardless of physical limitation (DRC About Us, 2018) Mr. Bell identified several ramps as non- compliant ADA accessible and suggested improvements for accessibility of pedestrian corridors. His knowledge of campus was invaluable because he knew where universally accessible building entrances were located and what routes would be most convenient for building access. Dr. Tanya Quist, U of A Arboretum Director, was interviewed regarding the Arboretum's vision for campus. Director Quist highlighted the campus arboretum's desire to promote sustainability research through the inclusion of native and arid adapted species appropriate to desert climates, and expanding the diversity of the collection. Both goals coincide with the Campus Arboretum. 2021 Strategic Plan and promote sustainable low impact development to campus. President Shawn Kelly ASLA President was interviewed regarding his experience in planting design to improve water quality vising phytoremediation. He stressed the use of plants that can perform rhizodegradation, and photodegradation, rather than accumulation, performing services that breakdown or bind pollutants rather than collecting pollutants into plant tissues that contain concentrated pollutants at toxic levels. 6 ------- PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Re)Searching for a Spot ( Figure 7) provides an innovative solution for an under performing public space by addressing the needs of a diverse community. Safety, research, and stormwater management are all paramount for a healthy and successful campus retrofit design. (Re)Searching for a Spot will incorporate these aspects to benefit the surrounding community, and will provide green infrastructure research for the future, addressing environmental problems within the community's built environment in the context of arid climates. College of Architecture, Planning, & Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) East r~~ 1 UofAMaterials Lab -I digital display signage Vegetated research swale - Cut from existing asphalt Research basin area - 8 separate 5'x8' plots Corten steel bridge - allow access across swales Seating walls - poured on site concrete ^ Eating area - movable tables and chairs e Food truck area - space for 2 trucks Motorcycle parking - same as existing Bike racks - provided 6 new bike racks Q Permeable pavement - asphalt testing & pavers © Landmark space - public art & educational signage Figure 7 - Final Design 0' 25' 50' 100' Stormwater Management The current U of A Campus Stormwater Management Plan utilizes street surfaces to transport water off campus, interfering with vehicle and pedestrian transportation and prohibiting infiltration on site. Asphalt prevents toxins from being treated by soils and plants near the site at safer, lower concentrations, and quickly transports vehicular pollutants into ecologically sensitive watersheds. To improve water quality leaving the 2.48 AC site, the infiltration capacity was studied with team members from the Department of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences. Due to the urban context of the site the infiltration rate will determine if the site exhibits excessive compaction or contains caliche, (calcium carbonate deposits common in arid regions). Hie infiltration rates can be found in Table 3 and locations (Figure 8). 7 ------- Average U of A Infiltration Rate mm/min Site 1 2 3 4 Rate Table 3 - 0.22 Infiltration R 0.11 ates 0.12 0.32 l-igure 8 - Drainage Plan & Infiltration Test Sites The site's average infiltration rate is 2 mm per minute, which shows infiltration readily occurs on the site. These numbers prove basins and swales in the design will be able to absorb the 12" of water held by check dams and weirs within the 12-hour limit defined by the City of Tucson's stormwater management code. Soil ripping during construction will continue to improve the infiltration rates and further reduce stormwater runoff. (Re)searching for a Spot uses stormwater infiltration to improve groundwater recharge, reduce surface flooding, and improve stormwater quality. A network of stormwater basins, connected by weirs (Figure 9) and check dams allows for the capture of 22,929 gallons of stormwater (3,065ft3) and associated pollutants on site. Installing check dams and weirs is important to the design because they hold water within swales and basins, which provides additional time for water to infiltrate into the soil and recharge groundwater sources. Pooling water also allows vehicle-deposited contaminants to seep into the soil where they can be immobilized at low concentrations. To reduce the site's impact to the 100-yr flood plain, the Time of Concentration (Tc) was analyzed and modified to increase the sheet flow and shallow concentrated flow distances. Previously, stormwater took only 22 minutes to travel across an expansive asphalt surface before draining off EQ. 8-0* EQ. 2-6" . 3-0" . 2-6* Lr J—FLOW LEVEL 2% MAX / 1 L..... y SUMS \ \ 'CO - \ V • \ \ ELEVATION A Figure 9 - Weir Construction Detail site. To increase the Tc, the team designed a solution that increased watershed distances while breaking up impervious surface types (Figure 10). Changing surfaces from asphalt to vegetated basins and rock-lined permeable swales increased the Tr to 2 hours and 18 minutes. These design interventions also increased the percentage of perviousness in the watersheds, and allowed suspended solids and pollutants to drop out of stormwater before joining ecologically sensitive watersheds. - visual cues & raised crosswalks slow traffic for pedestrian safety 90 degree parking Water Flow on Site Non-vegetated research basins - with public viewing access & data collection Educational signage - physical & digital Vegetated research swale - check dams & weirs slow water flow - plant groupings used to assess speciesinfiltrationperformance j raff j c ca I m i n g Retrofit existing vegetation - incorporate plants identified for research with existing plants —> Figure 10 - Infiltration Section Infiltration & Percolation to recharge groundwater 8 ------- Adopting green stormwater infrastructure will also improve the quality of life on campus, reducing flooding within the parking lot and its contributing watersheds, and improving safety and efficiency of pedestrian and vehicular transportation. These overlaying benefits maximize the impact of the design. The following assessment on hydrologic performance was conducted with input from Dr. Thomas Meixner, professor and associate department head of the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. (Re)Searching for a Spot seeks to improve stormwater management within the context of a functioning parking lot to highlight the opportunities available for green infrastructure retrofits. Expertise from faculty members and student collaborators came together to provide a cohesive design to enhance stormwater capacity through bioswales and basins, break up the extensive impervious surfaces, and provide opportunities to infiltrate pollutants at the source. Storm surge effects have been reduced by increasing the Tc and lengthening the distance stormwater travels before exiting the site. These improvements are invaluable in arid-environment contexts where water is limited, and as urban populations expand, these solutions will become even more critical. Pedestrian Use This site was selected due to its central location jffjr on campus, and the safety hazards present between pedestrians and vehicles. Its central location links student housing, with the arts district and Student Union, maximizing the parking lot's visibility. Increased safety measures and defined pathways will encourage pedestrian use and enhance community interactions. (Re)Searching for a Spot highlights pedestrian presence and encourages student use (Figure 11), by improving on the corridor pedestrians have identified through the parking lot. Campus circulation is important for the health and safety of all campus users, and the U of A is particularly concerned about the pedestrian campus experience. The design team reached out to the UA's Disabilty Resource Center (DRC), which seeks to ensure all users on campus regardless of physical limitation, have the same University experience. Eric Bell, Program Coordinator of Physical Access provided input on incorporating universal access into the design. Mr. Bell provided critical feedback on the function and location of access ramps. His expertise highlighted inaccessible ramps in the area, and the most convenient ramp locations. Pedestrian pathways are designed to aid stormwater infiltration, while improving user experience. Most paths are defined by color, using a combination of permeable pavers and stained concrete to aid wayfinding while eliminating pooling on walkways (Figure 12). The pathway to the east uses a daylighted swale to direct users through the site and provide opportunities to sit, meet classmates and provide bike parking while interacting with green infrastructure. The north pathway uses several types of permeable pavers, installed in a successive pattern to investigate the performance and longevity of infiltrating paving products. Finally, the pathway to the south uses a bar-grate catwalk, leading pedestrian over a swale to a defined crosswalk. Performance audits are scheduled in the maintenance schedule to track the success or failure of these materials, and Handicap parking areas - near pedestrian corridor Raised Crosswalks Pedestrian Node %m+ Universal Access Figure 11 - Pedestrian Circulation 9 ------- Weirs slow water & allow greater for infiltration Figure 13 Infiltration section 15' multi-modal path - primary route to & from site Plant groupings Green infrastructure highlighted - corten steel bridge provides views I : - researched for infiltration performance Figure 12 Sidewalk drainage detail Diamond plate steel aid in selecting materials appropriate for arid environments. All pathways link to surrounding sidewalks within the pedestrian plan and provides signage and tactile cues to enhance wayfinding through the 380-acre campus. Project feasibility including cost estimates were reviewed by Dr. Alejandro Angel, Vice President and Principal at Psomas engineering company. Social components are integrated into the design to aid the community and teach users about the benefits of green infrastructure. Entrances to CAPLA and Engineering are highlighted as thresholds. These areas provide chances to interact with users and include educational signage to explain specific GI strategies used. The center area is defined as a landmark, providing a wayfinding opportunity and meeting location users can easily identify and communicate to new visitors. To the west, the function of the bioswale is revealed, allowing students to interact with unlined bioswales and weir systems (Figure 13). The node to the west includes movable seating and food truck parking to activate the parking lot and engage students to interact with one another. Educational signage is provided throughout the site and explains on-going research to the public. Research Infrastructure The U of A is a Research I institution, and incorporating collaborative research into the built environment aligns directly with the university's Strategic Plan. Research infrastructure will be included within the site design (Figure 14), providing opportunities not limited architecture, sustainable development, plant sciences, microbial sciences, hydrology, ecology and outreach. These topics will provide valuable research about GI in arid environments, where information specific to this climate is not readily available. Figure14 - Research Infrastructure Figure15 - Research Infrastructure Permeable pavement - testing maintenance & longevity in an arid environment asphalt - testing maintenance & longevity in an arid environment Concrete pathway - allows direct views into research plots and presentation gatherings Research Plots - 8 (5'x8') basins - overflow to swale - varying basin treatments (organic, barren soil, & rock mulch) Data Loggers - 2 machines used for data collection & providing info to digital display signage 10 ------- Figure 16 Sidewalk drainage detail Figure 17 - Sidewalk drainage detail ALLOW MINIMUM OF 7.5" CLEARANCE BEHIND ENCLO- SURE FOR FULLY OPENED LID EXISTING - ASPHALT CONCRETE -s HEADER 5' 1 § 1 0 I 1 1 S^jfgg: -DATA CONDUIT _BASIN OVERFLOW PIPE END OF 3» /C SENSOR igfiltoreii -END OF SENSOR -CRUSHED MET ERG ROUP STONE DATA LOGGER AGGREGATE One partnership (Figure 15) created for the design with Dr. Laura Meredith from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment will study microbial presence in basins, and treatment impact on basin infiltration. The design will provide 8 study basins to repeat study treatments exposed to parking lot runoff. This experiment will provide educational opportunities through signage (Figure 16) and tours of the site. Metergroup data loggers will be installed on site (Figure 17) and connected to electronic signage that will provide real-time data updates to engage the public and encourage research support. The design provides infrastructure for studying the effectiveness of phytoremediation in arid environments (Figure 18).. Current research provides little information related to arid climates, but this topic is crucial due to the concentration pollutants reach after months without rain. Vehicles deposit Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, which collect on parking lot surfaces and concentrate in riparian areas after rain events. If left untreated, these pollutants can reach toxic levels, and infrastructure devoted to this study can be used in arid environments experiencing dangerous pollution levels. Experts in the field of planting d esign were consulted, Shawn Kelly, President of ASLA, and Margaret Livingston, Professor at CAPLA for input on plants selected for the design. Based on existing research and gaps in research, they agreed that this experiment would provide valuable research throughout the site. Each water harvesting basin will become a study area, with defined planting groupings that will be periodically harvested and tested for pollution concentrations. Other provided infrastructure will relate to material longevity and performance. Permeable paving options have become increasingly popular over the years, but their performance in this environment has yet to be quantified. Small permeable paving projects have been installed on campus, but without proper research, the U of A cannot invest in these new materials. A series of permeable pavers will be installed along with permeable asphalt to Figure18 Research infrastructure and pedestrian interaction 11 ------- determine the maintenance regime required for optimal performance and the longevity of the product in the hot dry environment of the desert. This information is incredibly important to the landscaping industry as a whole and this information will determine if permeable materials have been successfully developed for arid environments. Existing research for phytoremediation currently focuses on aquatic plant species capable of filtering toxins. In arid environments, this information is not applicable due to the limited presence of surface water. This design looked at research completed in nearby western environments (Yang, 2015). This data allowed the team to extrapolate on plant families, and use relatives of plant species which have been identified as phytoremediators (Table 4). Basins throughout the site will become study areas, using repeatable plant combinations to create phytoremediating test plots to isolate and identify which arid adapted plants are best suited for environmental remediation. CAPLA faculty, and Shawn Kelly, President of ASLA were consulted in the concept and selection of plant materials. Table 4 - Phytoremediating plant palette Trees Shrubs Grasses/Accents Celtis reticulata Netleaf Hackberry Asclepias subulata Desert Milkweed Ericameria nauseosus Rabbitbush Aristida purpurea Purple Three- Awn Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow Atripiex canescens Fourwing Saltbush Eriognum fasciculatum Flattop Buckwheat Hesperaloe parvifolia Red Yucca Dalea spinesa Smoketree Gutierrezia seortina Late Snakeweed Euphorbia antisyphiliticia Candellia Muhlenbergia porteri Bush Muhly Prosopis velutina Velvet Mesquite Datura wrightii Sacred Datura Hymenoclea salsola Burrowweed Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass Quercus Virginian a Live Oak Ephedra nevadensis Mormon Tea Kraschenin- nikovia lantana Winterfat Nolina Macrocarpa Beargrass Ericamerica larcifolia Turpentine Bush Larrea tridentada Creosote Yucca Pallida Pale-leaf Yucca Ericameria paniculata Mohave Rab- bitbush Pluchea sericea Arrowweed Yucca rostrata Beaked Yucca Finances The team created a budget to identify the funding required for a project of this size. The team reached out to Dr. Alejandro Angel, Vice President and Principal at Psomas Engineering Firm for examples of parking lot renovation budgets. His advice addressed the feasibility of expensive components and assisted the team in reconsidering a 75,000 ft3 underground cistern to retain 100% of a 25-year storm event due to cost constraints. His advice was crucial for an effective proposal and timely implementation if the design is constructed on the U of A campus. A funding strategy was developed for local sources, focusing on the University and six surrounding colleges and museums bordering the site. In particular, support could come from the Dean of CAPLA, who serves on the U of As Strategic Plan Board, and defined the built environment as an asset to be enhanced across campus. Financial support from CAPLA could influence surrounding leaders to initiate funding for the project. The UA provides grants through the Green Fund, supporting sustainability projects on campus. Green Fund Annual Grants have no budget limit, and project that are allocated the 12 ------- $10,000 award can be accomplished over 1-3 years. The Office for Research, Discovery, and Innovation provides funding and support for new projects. Grants for new projects and faculty like Dr. Meredith, are supported Category I Grants. Faculty Seed Grants of $10,000 can "jump start" projects and aid in further funding development. National and State awards can be found in Table 5. Table 5 - Funding opportunities Entity Grant Title Grant Description Amount Awarded USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Drojects that drive public and private center innovation while conserving resources Max$1 Million Why is it Applicable? The value of parking lots increase as the services they provide are enhanced. This project improves water quality and temperatures associated with parking lots USDT Transportation Alternative Program Drojects that address enhanced mobility options, and environmental mitigation related to stormwater Max 80% of project cost Why is it Applicable? This project focuses on pedestrian, bicycle, and other multi-modal users integrating into the site's pedestrian networks NSF Rapid Response Research Projects related to gathering research based on anthropogenic disasters Max $200,000 Why is it Applicable? Vlitigating the urban heat island effect will reduce high temperatures which can lead to medical complications and cause heat related deaths Landscape Case Study Investigation Grant Drojects that examine the services the landscape provides through fieldwork and data collection. $10,000 Foundation Why is it Applicable? This project will provide research on landscape performance related to stormwater infiltration and pollution sequestration AZ Dept of Forestry and Fire Management Community Challenge Grant Drograms that support sustainable urban and community forestry programs at the ocal level $5,000- $20,000 Why is it Applicable? This project will supplement urban forestry on campus using native low water use species National State Garden Club Scholarship -or student training and environmental education $4,000 Garden Club Why is it Applicable? Droject research conducted by graduate students will improve knowledge of the landscape's impact on arid environments ... _ , For entities providing pollution prevention outreach Pollution Prevention Grant , .. . . education to local businesses. $40,000-$500,000 for up to 2 years Why is it Parking lot retrofits demonstrate how businesses can improve water quality & reduce cooling costs associated Applicable? with parking lot temperatures. Environmental Education Education projects that promote environmental Grant awareness and provide skills to protect the environment. $50,000- $100,00 for up to 2 years Why is it Signage & tours of research on the parking lot will educate the community about the impact of Applicable? vehicles & parking lots on our environment Environmental Justice Projects that address local environmental and public health issues in the Grants community. $30,000 EPA Why is it Improving water quality and reducing heat island effects in desert communities is important for reducing heat Applicable? related illnesses and deaths. Community Development Projects aimed at lonq term community needs and repair community infrastructure. Block Grant $200,000- $1 million Why is it The U of A is a public campus, and improving infrastructure like parking lots will benefit the community's tem- Applicable? peratures, water quality, and pedestrian safety. Section 319 Grant Projects related to water pollution prevention programs education and demonstration 60% of the approved cost Why is it This site highlights reductions in stormwater runoff and reduces the amount of pollution coming off-site and into Applicable? surrounding watersheds. Science to Achieve Results _ . , . , ,. , ... , , . ..... q j Projects related to water quality and sustainability $44,000 per year, max 2 years Why is it By utilizing bioswales and phytoremediators, the design seeks to maintain parking spaces while Applicable? improving water quality coming off-site 13 ------- Operation and Maintenance Project maintenance is crucial for the sustained function and benefit of the site's design. To optimize operation and maintenance of (Re)Searching for a Spot, the team contacted Woody Remenicus, Project Manager and Stormwater Management Supervisor for Facilities Management (FM) to develop the following maintenance plan for the project (Table 6). Vegetation Plant Replacement Dead Heading Tree Trimming Shrub Thinning Pest/Weed Control*•• Mulchinj^ Tree Stake Removal ••• Irrigation Leak Tes^J Schedule Adjustment Tree Emitter Adjustment Grading Fine Contouring Debris Removal Sediment Removal Permeable Paving Sediment Removal •••• Performance Audit-•••« Condition Audit - I 1 1 * 1 1 1 Initial 6 Months 1 Year lYear 2 Years 2 Years 3 Years Construction 6 Months 6 Months Table 6 - Maintenance schedule Community Impact This project demonstrates the benefits an enhanced parking lot can provide, and how the concept can be replicated across the campus and surrounding communities. This project expects to bolster educational offerings on U of A campus and the surrounding communities on green infrastructure, stormwater management, environmental education, and art, for faculty, students (K-graduate), and the general public. Through courses offered by the collaborating departments on this project, the research spot located on the project site would offer students practical skills by learning in authentic environments to design for sustainability. In addition, tours will assist the publics' visibility of the project site. Tucson groups such as Watershed Management Group, a local non-profit, and Brad Lancaster, a Tucson water harvesting expert frequently use U of A's water harvesting projects as institutional GI examples. The site will impact the urban heat island (UHI) effect which typically affects underserved populations at risk from heat related illness and death. (Re)Searching for a Spot can provide an example of a parking lot retrofit through GI strategies could alleviate UHI and improve the health and environment in underserved communities. This study will provide empirical findings that support decision-making on U of A campus, and city/state level "million-dollar" stormwater infrastructure. Agencies need GI performance data (in particular, arid environments) prior to adopting alternative environmental policies for cost-effective stormwater management solutions. In summary, (Re)Searching for a Spot expects to leave a lasting impact on the U of A campus and the Tucson community in providing resilience design solutions to enhance the built environment. 14 ------- BUDGET & CALCULATIONS Table 7 - Budget Units Walkways Quantity Price Total SF Permeable Pavers 8,681.00 $4 $34,000 Ton Base aggregate 215(1" depth) $17.50 $3,800.00 Ton DecomDosed Granite 32 (3" deDthl $5 $160 EA Corten Steel Bridaes 53 (4x8 1 /2"sheet1 $980 $52,000 EA Concrete Scupper 2 $600 $1,200 LF Concrete Header (landscape) 4"x6") 1,979 $20 $39,500 SF Concrete Sidewalk 1,533 $4 $6,000 EA Curb Access Ramo 6 $2,500 $15,000 SF Pavement Stainina 12,685 $5 $63,500 LF Hand Rail 313 $40 $1,500 $216,660 Units Landscape Quantity Price Total SY 1/2" Screened 1,666 $4.29 $7,147 SY 4"-8" Rock Mulch 1,666 $23.01 $38,334 EA Trees 24" Box 14 $185 $2,590 EA Trees 15 qal 38 $137 $5,222 EA Shrubs 5 qal 130 $25 $3,250 EA Shrubs 1 qal 100 $10 $1.000 Ton Boulders 9 (30 18" rocks') $300 $9,000 LF PVC 1" sch 40 1522 /100=15 $109.71 oer 100ft $1.669 LF 1/4" oolv tubinq 500 4.16 oer 25' roll $83 LS Valve Assembly 1 $15,000 $15,000 CY Landscaoe Excavation 267 $34.50 $9,200 SY Landscape Fine qradinq 803 $2.45 $2,000 HOUR Landscaoe Prunina 20 $250.00 $5,000 EA Tree Grate and Frame 5 $2,800.00 $14,000 LF Concrete Weir 25 $45.00 $2,250 LF Rock Check Dam 25 $25.00 $1,250 EA PVC sleevina 5 $136 (oer 5" x 20'1 $680 LS LandscaDe Establishment 1 $25,000 $25,000 LS Miscellaneous work (basin outlet) 1 $5,000 $5,000 LS Mobilization 1 $10,000 $10,000 $157,675 Units Seatinq Quantity Price Total CY Cast in olace seat walls 20 $90 $1,800 CY Concrete Base 100 $90 $9,000 EA Benches 8 $3,000 $24,000 $34,800 Units Siqnaqe Quantity Price Total EA Educational sianaae 5 1x steel $980 + .5 cv concrete $50 $5,150 EA Wavfindina sianaae 10 1x steel $200 + .2 cv concrete $25 $2,250 EA Bench siqnaqe 3 Acrvlic Sheets 24x48 $20 $60 CY Concrete Base 4 $90 $360 SF Concrete Enaravina 600 $20 $12,000 $19,820 Units Parkinq lot Quantity Price Total SF Permeable asohalt 4197 $6 $25,180 TON Aqqreqate 257 (6" deDthl $156.00 $40,000 TON New asohalt 213(4" deoth $171 $35,000 EA Wheel Stoos 138 $70 $9,660 LF Header Curb 2,224 $15 33.360 LF Pavement Markina 2,502 $0.25 $625 SY Foq Coat 2,120 $25 $53,000 $196,825 Units Demolition Quantity Price Total $40,000 Units Extra Quantity Price Total LS Continaencv $93,000 LS TemDorarv Traffic control devices $20,000 LS Contractor Qualitv Control $20,000 LS Art Work $20,000 LS Labor $93,000 $246,000 Units Walkways Quantity Price Total EA Data Loaaer 2 $800 $1,600 YEARS Cloud Storage 5 Annual subscriotion $185 $925 $2,525 TOTAL $915,000 15 ------- Table 8 - Time of Concentration Subwatershed 1 (min) Subwatershed 2 (min) Total (min) Existing 13.19 8.7 22 Proposed 72 66.84 138.84 Table 9 - Total Runoff Table 10 - Basin Capacity REFERENCES Area Area Sq. 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