Week 5

By the fourth week...a little messy, but we're getting there!

Captured during the first week of the internship

As this internship comes to a close, the project is finally starting to take off. Melanie with French Reneker Engineering met with the new City Administrator on the 29th of June and was able to bring him up to speed on the project. She will be meeting with Tom and Dina in the next few days to go over cost estimates and the Memorandum of Understanding. Shortly thereafter, the Wastewater Superintendent will be contacting Tom with the sanitation report and a proposal containing the estimates for removing the large roots currently present in MUM's system.

The project still has a long way to go. Even after the MOU, sanitation report, and cost estimates are received and reviewed, there are many logistics that will have to be addressed, like scheduling and construction. We've made some good headway though. The work performed by MUM students over the last couple of semesters was a huge jumpstart and really set this project on the right track. Since their study involved surveying both campus and the surrounding community, their contributions will likely continue to benefit the school and city as a whole.

One of the most important things we've seen accomplished during the past month is the coming together of additional integral parts of the team. Tom and Dina have a wealth of knowledge that will ensure this project's success. They work well together and they've helped enliven, or perhaps re-enliven a passion in me for sustainable water management. We have a chance to give back to our university and the community in a deeply meaningful way. Having supportive teammates/team leaders makes a world of difference in morale and productivity. I feel like I learned the value of this in a new way. Along with the knowledge I gained about water mitigation, rain gardens, MOU's and Crow Creek in particular, experiencing working with a team in a professional environment on a really cool project is a great preparation for the career that I desire.

Looking ahead, with the return of students and start of classes in a matter of weeks, this project is about to gain a lot of momentum! Between the ideas presented by last year's students, the rain garden designs I've researched, and the creative minds that will be a part of Dina's MVS & SL Crow Creek Project forest academy in August, we should have some solid designs for our priority sites. I think the energy and enthusiasm for the project will grow and even more passionate minds will join. By the time October block rolls around for Dina's Sustainable Water Management course, designs, cost estimates, and likely even a construction schedule may be ready. Along with the other students in the course, I will be able to participate in turning a thought into action, and finally a beautiful reality. Being an intern first has taught me the basics, but more importantly it's taught me to love this project. As I move forward with these next two courses, I'll gain practical hands-on experience to go along with the theory and skills I've already gained or strengthened. I think being a part of something like this and somewhat immersing myself in concepts related to the Crow Creek project will ensure that my passion for sustainable water management lasts long after graduation and my level of understanding prepares me for my future career in sustainable design.     

Week 4

This week really illustrated what many projects look like at some point or another--the waiting game. From playing phone tag to being stuck in limbo while other tasks are completed, maneuvering through a project and actually meeting objectives on time can be a challenge. Fortunately we were able to hear back from at least one of the voices we were anticipating. Our contact at French Reneker Engineering has a meeting on the 29th with the new city administrator. She plans to discuss MUM's portion of the Crow Creek project with him and will then meet with us sometime in July. Ideally I'd like to meet on the 1st or 2nd so I can help as much as possible before the end of the internship. Tom is contacting her to see if this is possible. The good news is that she already has cost estimates for the designs we're looking to implement.

Unfortunately, the Wastewater Superintendent with the City of Fairfield Sewage Treatment is still performing the camera work necessary for the sanitation report we've been looking for. About 100 hours of work have been completed so far though. There's still at least another 50 to go. At this point it looks like there are a few connections that will need to be disconnected. The major problem is that there are still some 2 inch tree roots that could not be removed using the method employed by the company that was hired to remove them. Along with the sanitation report, a proposal with cost estimates for the removal of those remaining roots will be sent to us once the camera work is complete.

Though we're still waiting on a couple of things that prevent us from moving forward (at least as quickly as we'd hoped), there are always other things that can be done in the interim. I was fortunate enough to be given a few opportunities to observe rainwater flow in a couple of our priority sites this week. Several days of intermittent rain provided a valuable firsthand look at the current state of water mitigation in these areas.

In addition to field observation, we decided it would be beneficial for me to continue to focus on designs that have already been implemented. We are still in the process of locating the exact design for the rain gardens in front of Argiro, but sustainable water management isn't an idea that is unique to MUM. Countless homeowners, businesses, landscapers, and schools have started to introduce and implement these functional features into their properties. In looking at some of the designs that have already been successful, perhaps we will emulate a version of our own that will: feature plants native to Iowa, embody the principles representative of the MUM community, efficiently manage water, and all while being aesthetically pleasing.

[Washtenaw County, MI] The county's rain garden program began in 2005 with grant funding and has helped homeowners plan, design, and install over 105 rain gardens!

Rain garden in parking lot

Rain garden at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL

Week 3

This week Dina Chammas, Tom Brooks, and I met to further discuss the project. Though we've decided to first focus on Site 3, there are still six additional sites to potentially factor in. We've agreed that the highest locations should be addressed first if possible. It is necessary for us to refer back to the Master Plan in order to ensure that both projects flow seamlessly and don't interfere with one another.

Bridge between Men's dorms and Argiro lower lot

After reviewing the seven sites again, three have been chosen as top priorities. There is an area adjacent to the lower gravel parking lot beside Argiro along the path to the Men's dorms that is basically an open ditch. Water flows into this area from several different places. It isn't designed to handle the amount of water it's currently receiving. In the pictures below, you can see what happens after just a brief (but heavy) storm. 

Lots of water after a rain

Standing water

Water flowing from road into open ditch

A major portion of the Master Plan involves turning the current Argiro parking lot into a ped mall. No cars will be allowed, as it is strictly for walking--and perhaps some biking. The hill in front of Argiro will have a water feature as well as an amphitheater. Due to its location, it could be beneficial for us to tie in the Crow Creek Project. In the event that construction schedules and budgets allow for it, implementing some sort of green infrastructure to mitigate the water in this area may be something we tackle during this project.

In front of Argiro

Site 3: Between Verrill Hall and Hildenbrand

Site 3 will be modified in two phases. The first phase will involve bringing in top soil to replace the broken up asphalt. We're discussing the possibility of implementing a design similar to the one we see on either side of the entrance at Argiro. An MUM alumni created a rain garden design that handles the rainwater that flows off the building. A rain garden would efficiently and sustainably mitigate the water currently causing problems in this area between Verrill Hall and Hildenbrand.

Argiro Rain Garden

Argiro Rain Garden

Two additional sites may be addressed later down the line if additional funds are available. At the men's dorms, or high rises, spouts have been disconnected and water now flows directly on top of the land. A retention basin is needed in the courtyard. Likewise, there are still downspouts on campus that need to be disconnected and some sort of infiltration basin needs to be implanted at the Frats. Currently, water overflows onto sidewalks and into the parking lot.

Ideally, the next week will entail some number crunching. We need accurate cost estimates for all of the work we'd like to complete as well as a general idea of how long the work will take. We should also be receiving the necessary information and guidance to move forward with the Memorandum of Understanding. Once we have this, along with the official sanitation system report, we should have a much better overall picture of the project and the goals it will achieve. 

Week 2

As we continue to move forward on the project, I'm often amazed when I see the work that MUM students have already contributed. The seven sites that we are currently looking at are all areas researched and surveyed by students. Of all the "trouble sites" around campus, why these? How were these seven sites picked? 

MUM students from the Water Club and February's Water class performed a RASCAL study. They inventoried storm drains on campus and surrounding urban areas. The MUM Stormwater committee, with technical support from an independent consultant and a representative from NRCS, put together a preliminary plan to remedy the trouble sites they found around campus. This plan takes both future campus development and those areas with issues into consideration. 

Sites as far upstream as possible were targeted as areas of opportunity for this project. In a study performed by students during a course primarily targeting the Crow Creek project, students worked with topographic maps and rainfall data to subdivide the MUM campus into basins. A basin is a wide, flat area that intercepts rainfall. It was assumed that 10% of this rainfall is infiltrated while the remaining 90% was considered runoff. The basins give an idea of rainfall flow from  one basins to the next all the way down to the creek. Since the best areas to implement green infrastructure are areas that are flat and furthest upstream, the students used this criteria to prioritize the basins. They also calculated offsite and onsite runoff, and did a rough estimate of green infrastructure acreage needed within each basin to capture and infiltrate runoff.

The two images below of North Campus and South Campus are both created by students. The amount of detail and the information included is phenomenal. Both drawings show different elevations and how the basins are distinguished. Perhaps most importantly, they also show the direction of the flow of water. Now, as we meet to discuss which sites will be tackled first and what areas can benefit the most from the grant, we are able to see just how valuable these student contributions are. 

Site 3, as mentioned last week, is situated in a location that has a high elevation and therefore farther upstream than some of the other sites. It only makes sense that it would be chosen as one of our top priorities. The design that will eventually be implemented--perhaps one that makes use of a rain garden--will help filter and absorb excess water at the highest point before it even reaches the creek itself. The goal is to target sites like this in the other basins to have a system that is wholistic in its approach while maintaining efficiency and sustainability.

So what exactly is a rain garden? A rain garden is basically a shallow bowl dug out of the landscape to capture rain/runoff from driveways, rooftops, streets, yards, and--yes, even parking lots. This bowl is level throughout and temporarily holds or "ponds" the rainwater. The rain garden allows the water to efficiently infiltrate into the soil, ensuring that it never makes it to a storm drain. So not only are rain gardens a good choice for managing rainfall, but also for protecting the quality of our water. 

This week also presented the opportunity to learn more about documents commonly used in large projects. One of the most important documents included in a project like this is the Memorandum of Understanding.

An MOU is like one of the first steps in a formal contract. It outlines what each party agrees to "deliver" and is recognized in court should one party fail to meet his/her obligations. This is an incredibly important document for our project and is necessary in order for us to move forward. Additional clarification detailing what MUM's deliverables are should arrive in the coming days.

Crow Creek...let's get started!

Crow Creek

Water is one of our most important resources. Our bodies are more than 60% water. We need at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day in order to remain healthy. Water affects every aspect of our lives. Without it, our land suffers, our wildlife suffers, and we suffer. Effective and efficient management of our water resources is imperative as we live in a time of rapid depletion of natural resources.

Here in Jefferson county, 11,535 acres of land drain into a waterway known as Crow Creek. In fact, 60% of Fairfield drains into it. The old sewer and storm water infrastructure currently in place is obsolete and results in leaks and overflows. The wastewater treatment plant is already processing 1 million gallons a day and 5 million a day during the average rain event. With large rain events increasing in frequency, the treatment plant overflows several times a year. This along with the dumping of untreated water directly into Crow Creek, monocropping resulting in soil degradation and erosion, and the destruction of micro and macro habitats, a major system overhaul is needed in order to rectify the situation. 

It's no wonder that in a community like Fairfield where people are not afraid to act and jump in when change is needed, someone stepped up to the plate. The city is beginning a $40 million four-phase project to address the issue. The project involves expanding the waste-water treatment plant's processing and storage capacity, fixing leaky pipes in the system and adding two 60” mains running north to south on the eastern and western sides of town. In addition, the city received a $2.6 million state grant (SRF) to implement sustainable watershed management practices. $500,000 in grant money is going to Maharishi University of Management. Part of Crow Creek runs straight through campus. MUM students became aware of the situation and spent countless hours surveying Crow Creek and various sites around campus related to it. 

Seven "trouble" sites have been chosen as potential project sites. These sites were chosen due to their need for soil remediation, bioswales, infiltration basins, and other modifications to benefit the present state of water mitigation. As the current Intern/Student Liaison for the project, I will first be focusing on Site 3, an area in between Hildenbrand women's dorm and Verrill Hall. This area was formerly a part of the parking lot, but is basically a mud-pit right now. An infiltration basin and green space will be implemented here. Though we're still researching our best options, native plants will likely be used to assist with water absorption. While they will be functional, they will also be aesthetically pleasing. We've chosen to focus on this site first partially because of its practicality--the asphalt had already been removed--and partially because of its location at a higher elevation. 

Stay tuned for weekly updates on the project as we move through the next phases of planning, design, and implementation over the next year and a half!