A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, Urban Water Quality, and Environmental Benefits
The City of Seattle is committed to preserving and protecting the natural environment that surrounds its neighborhoods including the creeks and streams that support wildlife and fish habitat. Through the Seattle Public Utilities' (SPU) Comprehensive Drainage Plan, SPU created the Thornton Creek Watershed Action Agenda to improve water quality and to provide an environmental benefit for Thornton Creek. Thornton Creek, located in the Seattle neighborhood of Northgate, is an urban creek system that meanders through surrounding commercial and residential developments. In conjunction with evolving development plans in the Northgate area of Seattle, SPU assembled a design team to prepare plans for an off-line water quality treatment channel at the headwaters of Thornton Creek. The team includes Gaynor and Associates, concept design; SvR Design Company, civil engineering and landscape architecture; Herrera Environmental, hydraulic modeling and monitoring services; HDR Inc, structural and electrical engineering; and Associated Earth Sciences Inc., geotechnical engineering. Through a community process SPU identified several goals for the Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel (TCWQC) project. These include: 1) Enhancement of stormwater quality entering Thornton Creek by treating flows through an open vegetated channel and accommodation of creek base flow. 2) Provide a public open space that connects the Northgate urban village pedestrian streetscape. 3) Increase wildlife habitat through planting of native species. The water quality goal of the project was achieved by diverting a portion of the water from the creek headwaters, maintaining the existing piped storm drainage system for high flow bypass and designing a treatment channel based on wet bioswale design method. The open space goal was achieved by developing a pedestrian system of pathways, plazas and bridges which allow public access into and along the channel. This was accomplished by coordinating the channel design with new mixed-use development adjacent to the site, and negotiating the construction sequencing. The technical challenges were significant; developing a new strategy for water quality treatment design, reducing flooding risks to the upstream drain system caused by diverting flows, and managing site and channel grading within a narrow and steep project space.
Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, Urban Water Quality, and Environmental Benefits
The City of Seattle is committed to preserving and protecting the natural environment that surrounds its neighborhoods including the creeks and streams that support wildlife and fish habitat. Through the Seattle Public Utilities' (SPU) Comprehensive Drainage Plan, SPU created the Thornton Creek Watershed Action Agenda to improve water quality and to provide an environmental benefit for Thornton Creek. Thornton Creek, located in the Seattle neighborhood of Northgate, is an urban creek system that meanders through surrounding commercial and residential developments. In conjunction with evolving development plans in the Northgate area of Seattle, SPU assembled a design team to prepare plans for an off-line water quality treatment channel at the headwaters of Thornton Creek. The team includes Gaynor and Associates, concept design; SvR Design Company, civil engineering and landscape architecture; Herrera Environmental, hydraulic modeling and monitoring services; HDR Inc, structural and electrical engineering; and Associated Earth Sciences Inc., geotechnical engineering. Through a community process SPU identified several goals for the Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel (TCWQC) project. These include: 1) Enhancement of stormwater quality entering Thornton Creek by treating flows through an open vegetated channel and accommodation of creek base flow. 2) Provide a public open space that connects the Northgate urban village pedestrian streetscape. 3) Increase wildlife habitat through planting of native species. The water quality goal of the project was achieved by diverting a portion of the water from the creek headwaters, maintaining the existing piped storm drainage system for high flow bypass and designing a treatment channel based on wet bioswale design method. The open space goal was achieved by developing a pedestrian system of pathways, plazas and bridges which allow public access into and along the channel. This was accomplished by coordinating the channel design with new mixed-use development adjacent to the site, and negotiating the construction sequencing. The technical challenges were significant; developing a new strategy for water quality treatment design, reducing flooding risks to the upstream drain system caused by diverting flows, and managing site and channel grading within a narrow and steep project space.
Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, Urban Water Quality, and Environmental Benefits
Giraldo, Greg (author) / Lo, Masako (author) / Davies, Melanie (author) / Ellis, Erich (author)
Second National Low Impact Development Conference ; 2007 ; Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Low Impact Development ; 220-225
2008-11-07
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
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