Field Visit
- Accompanied Shereen Hughes of Wetlands Watch on a tour of various stormwater BMP sites around the city of Norfolk
- Sites that were analyzed as part of the tour included Myrtle Park, Jeff Robertson Park, and Colonial Place Greenway.
- These visits helped highlight the benefits of constructed wetlands, rock-lined swales, and multifunctional green spaces in improving water quality and local biodiversity
- Conducted a site visit of the Newton Creek redevelopment area
- Analyzed existing stormwater management devices and potential obstacles, such as transportation infrastructure (bridges, railroads, etc.), stormwater pipage, and buildings
- Briefly surveyed local aquatic and riparian biota
Technology Review
- First major team deliverable
- Discusses ongoing sea level rise as a threat to the city of Norfolk
- Investigates a range of potential solutions, including bioretention ponds, constructed wetlands, and grassed detention areas
- Contains detailed appendices outlining anticipated challenges, team roles and brainstorming sessions
- Incorporated what was learned from the recent Norfolk field visit
Analysis of Potential Solutions
- Second major team deliverable, builds off of what was learned during the technology review
- Proposes a four-step treatment train
- Design choices were guided by a predetermined set of criteria and weighted decision matrices for each respective step
- Selected river rock channels, lined retention ponds, constructed wetland, and surface channels for conveyance, storage, treatment, and release, respectively
- Listed team continuing team responsibilities for the upcoming semester
Next Steps
- Work with GIS, flood modeling, and SWMM in the Newton Creek site
- Narrowing down our design based on the analysis of potential solution
- Prepare final design deliverables listed under “Project Deliverables”
