A Stormwater Partnership: Combining Learning with the Community

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

Stormwater runoff, and its associated pollutants, is a major environmental problem in urban watersheds where the runoff is either channeled into surface water bodies or directed through wastewater treatment plants prior to discharge. However, implementation of stormwater management practices requires technical expertise for evaluation and design, a factor that challenges the budgets available. To address this funding challenge and to promote learning, the Millersville Master of Science in Integrated Science Applications (MSISA) Program and the Lancaster County Conservancy (LCC) developed a partnership. Site stormwater evaluations and designs were performed for three sites as part of the Lancaster City Urban Greening Initiative. Student groups in the MSISA Spring 2015 Stormwater Management course conducted site visits, met with stakeholders, and performed hydrologic evaluation for multiple BMP design options. The projects simultaneously provided real-world learning opportunities for students while benefiting the community and regional water quality. Students were able to interact with stakeholders in addition to acquiring design experience. Meanwhile, the LCC and property owner receive technical assistance for sites that may otherwise be cost prohibitive. The presentation will focus on management options at a Lancaster City residential property. A raingarden and an underground infiltration basin based on recommendations and designs from the students’ report were installed during summer 2015 and have been operating successfully. Additionally, funding is being sought to install a second student design involving a constructed wetland to treat roof runoff from the education center at the LCC Climbers Run Nature Preserve. Additional projects are planned for spring 2016 to build on these initial successes.