A Green Infrastructure Tour
- The Washington Metropolitan Area -
Developed under a grant from the National
Park Service, National Capital Region through
the Metropolitan Washington Green
Infrastructure Demonstration Project
Tour Introduction
• Purpose – To Provide Visitors and Residents of
the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA)
(click to see map) with various examples of
existing Best Management Practices (BMP’s)
that are helping to sustain our local green
infrastructure (e.g., agricultural and forested
areas, stream valley parks, green roofs, low
impact development techniques, stream valley
restoration projects, etc.) and protect and
restore our natural resources.
Tour Introduction – cont.
• The Anacostia was selected as the featured watershed
because the breadth of related and representative
practices present. We have also included two recently
completed projects outside this watershed in the
District of Columbia and Arlington County, Virginia.
• In addition to provide greater regional context and
representation, we invite other submissions for green
infrastructure sites to broaden the scope of this
dynamic virtual tour.
Tour Logistics
• This tour has been intentionally designed so that
all sites (click to see map) may be physically
visited via automobile in one day. The sites in
the Anacostia watershed are numbered in a
logical line of travel via automobile.
Alternatively, this presentation provides
representative site information for those that
may only have time for a virtual regional tour.
• There are also two other sites that lie outside the
Anacostia watershed. These sites may be
combined to modify the Anacostia Tour with
those sites in the lower Anacostia Watershed in
order to maintain a one-day tour.
Tour Logistics – Cont.
• Many sites are only accessible via automobile
due to their remote locations. However, a few
sites are accessible via Metro-Rail. Site
accessibility is noted with each destination.
• When planning to conduct a tour of the sites in
this presentation, please be sure to contact the
landowners prior to your visit.
Anacostia Watershed Geographic Scope
• The 176 sq-mi. Anacostia River watershed,
which encompasses portions of suburban
Maryland and the District of Columbia (click
to see map) is a green infrastructure
microcosm of the larger 3,020 sq-mi
Washington Metro Area.
The Metropolitan Washington Green
Infrastructure Demonstration Project
• The Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project is a partnership
between the National Park Service and the Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments to move parks, open space
and recreation areas to the forefront -- these areas are the green
infrastructure of the Metropolitan Washington.
• Through the use of geographical information; technical forums
and workshops; improved communication; and targeted
technical assistance, this project has worked to build a lasting
public constituency and create a model public and private
partnership for parks and open space.
• The Project’s ultimate goal is to impart a metropolitan region
that continually strives to achieve a balance between the built
environment and green space, sustained by natural processes and
able to support and enhance the quality of life for its people and
communities.
What is Green Infrastructure?
• Green Infrastructure is “Green Infrastructure
is a network of open space, airsheds,
watersheds, woodlands, wildlife habitat, parks,
and other natural areas, which provide many
vital services that sustain life and enrich
quality of life”.
President’s Council on Sustainable Development Report - 1999
Green Infrastructure / Gray Infrastructure
“I think there’s an opportunity to look at how we
regenerate communities and ecologies by looking at green
space as a form of infrastructure like roads, water lines,
and sewers. When we talk about green infrastructure in
the Washington [D.C.] area, we talk about everything from
window boxes, to Rock Creek Park and in between: it’s
urban gardens, residential landscaping, pocket parks,
landscaped portions of a development parcel, linear parks,
riparian buffers, street trees, parkways, farms and large
parks and reserves.”
J. Glenn Eugster, National Park Service - OMG Open Space Roundtable
-Philadelphia, 2001
Green Infrastructure Tour
Sites:
• Visit The Anacostia Watershed (next slide)
• Visit The Arlington County Government Center
• Visit The National Park Service Center for
Urban Ecology
Tour Stop No. 1
Earth Conservation Corps
Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center
Address:
2000 Half Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 202-479-6710
Fax:
202-479-9509
Email: info@ecc1
Ground Transportation Recommended
Metro Rail Stop: Navy Yard (8 block walk)
Green Roofs
• Green roofs are an alternative to traditional
asphalt-based roofs constructed of
waterproofing, soil and plants. They are an
innovative stormwater management solution
especially in intensely developed urban areas
where open land is scarce. Green roofs have
been used extensively in Europe for many
years to improve water and air quality, mitigate
the urban heat island effect, and improve the
energy performance of buildings.
Site Features
• Green Roof
• Green Kiosk
• Rain Garden
Green Roof
Looking north toward the Anacostia River and the Whitney Young Bridge
Green Roof
Looking south toward the Matthew Henson second floor meeting room
Green Roof
Multi-level green roof area
Green Roof
Close up view of Sedum sp. and other plant materials
Green Roofed Kiosk
View of Kiosk at ECC with miniature green roof
Rain Garden
Recently
constructed
rain garden
immediately
following a 0.5
inch rain fall
event
Tour Stop No. 2
National Park Service
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic
Gardens/Marsh
Address:
Anacostia Ave. & Douglas St., N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20019
Phone: 202-426-6905
Ground Transportation Recommended
Metro Rail Stop: Closest is Minnesota Ave (several blocks)
Site Features
• Historic Aquatic Gardens (dating from the 1860’s)
• 32-acre freshwater tidal river marsh restoration
project (constructed 1993)
• River trail and boardwalk (constructed 2002)
• Interpretative signage
Trailhead
Aquatic Gardens
Looking west from visitor’s center
Lotus Blossoms
Kenilworth Marsh Restoration 1993
At the time of its completion,
this 32 acre tidal-fresh water
restoration project was the
largest of its kind in the U.S. It
involved the raising of the
marsh bed elevations through
the addition of approximately
130,000 cubic yards of clean
Anacostia River dredge spoil
material and the planting of
300,000 native emergent
aquatic plants
Project partners included: National Park Service,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the District of
Columbia and COG
Kenilworth Marsh – Before Restoration
Kenilworth
Marsh mud flats
pre-restoration
(circa 1989)
Anacostia River in foreground
Kenilworth Marsh – Before Restoration
Marsh at
low tide
Close up of extensive mud flat area where pre-restoration water
depths were generally too deep to support emergent aquatic plants
Kenilworth Marsh - After Restoration
Tidal gut at low tide
Kenilworth Marsh - After Restoration
Tidal gut at high tide
Boardwalk Over Marsh
Interpretative Signage
Tour Stop No. 3
City of Greenbelt /
Buddy Attick Lake Park
Address:
555 Crescent Road
Greenbelt, Md. 20770
Phone: City of Greenbelt: 301-474-8000
Buddy Attick Lake Park: 301- 397-2200
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features
• Historic Green Town with planned wooded open space
areas and trail systems
• Greenbelt Museum (fully restored and furnished 1930’s
house)
• 23-acre Greenbelt Lake and recreation area
Background/History of
City of Greenbelt
• Greenbelt is one of three "green towns" built during President Franklin D.
Roosevelt's Administration (The other two being Greenhills, OH and Greendale,
WI). The primary purpose of these projects was to provide employment during
the Great Depression, the green towns were innovative planned communities,
designed to provide economical housing in a pleasant, healthy surrounding.
• In 1935, the U.S. Government assembled parcels of overworked farmland to
become the site of a new community to be called Greenbelt. Groundbreaking
was in October 1935 and the first residents arrived two years later. The
government created a community of mixed housing types, a school, town center
with shops and theater, underpasses, walkways, parks, playgrounds, swimming
pool, and a 23 acre lake.
• For additional information see:
http://www.ci.greenbelt.md.us/About_Greenbelt/history.htm
Historic Frame Homes
Planned Green Space
Typical community open space area
Buddy Attick Lake Park
23-Acre Greenbelt Lake Recreation Area
Tour Stop No. 4
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)
Address:
National Visitor Center
Building 302 (Log Lodge)
Powder Mill Road
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
Phone: 301-504-9403
Scheduled Tours Available (301-504-8483)
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features
• Largest remaining green space in the Anacostia Watershed
(7,200 acres)
• Working research farm
• National Visitor Center
Background
• The 7,200-acre Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is the
largest and most prominent of USDA’s Agricultural Research
Services 100-plus sites. It is a dynamic, highly diversified
research facility featuring large expanses of forest and farm
fields. The facility’s origins date back to livestock experiments
in 1910. At its maximum size during the 1940’s, the facility
encompassed over 14,000 acres of land.
• A trip to the ARS Visitor Center will provide guests a broad
picture of agricultural research in America, as well as a
glimpse back at the Washington Metro Area’s agricultural
roots.
Aerial Photo of BARC, 2000
Visitor Center
(Log Lodge)
BARC property is outlined in red
BARC Welcome Sign
USDA National
Visitor’s Center
National Visitor’s Center
1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Log Cabin Building
Grain Fields
Historic Farm Buildings
Tour Stop No. 5
M-NCPPC Fairland Regional Park- Fairland
Sports and Aquatics Complex
Address:
13950 Old Gunpowder Rd
Laurel, Maryland 20707
Phone: 301-504-9595
www.pgparks.com/places/parks/fairland.html
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features
• Stormwater management demonstration area featuring parking
lot sand filter, artificial wetlands, infiltration trench, grass
swale and check dam system, and stormwater management wet
pond
• Stormwater management pavilion and self-guided walking
tour with interpretive signage
• Multi-recreational facilities including aquatic swim center,
open and covered tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields and
a hiker-biker trail system
Background
• 150 acre regional park (Prince George’s County, Maryland
portion)
• Stormwater management pavilion and best management
practices (BMP’s) demonstration area. Constructed in 1994 in
partnership with Maryland Department of the Environment as
a BMP demonstration site for both the public and building
industry
• BMP demonstration area features parking lot sand filter,
artificial wetlands, infiltration trench, grass swale and check
dam system, and stormwater management wet pond
Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex
Facilities Map
Aquatics Center
Parking Lot Sand Filter
Provides water quality control for the first 0.5 inches of runoff.
Infiltration Trench
and Interpretive Signage
Gravel-lined infiltration trench in background.
Chesapeake Bay Information Signage
and Artificial Wetland
Stormwater management wetland in background.
Grass Swale with Check Dams
Provides first-flush water quality control.
Tour Stop No. 6
M-NCPPC Paint Branch Stream
Valley Park/Hobbs Drive
Site Address:
10011 Hobbs Drive
Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Contact Address:
Maryland- National Capital Park and Planning
Commission
Department of Park and Planning
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: (301) 495-2500
E-mail: mcp-parks@mncppc-mc.org
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features:
• Wooded stream valley park area and trout
stream in designated Montgomery County
Special Protection Area (SPA).
• Large lot (1-2 acres) of single family
residential development
• Open section road drainage
Background
• The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
Commission is a bi-county agency empowered by the State of
Maryland in 1927 to acquire, develop, maintain and administer
a regional system of parks within Montgomery and Prince
George's Counties, and to prepare and administer a general
plan for the physical development of the two counties. In
addition, the Commission gained responsibility for the public
recreation program in Prince George's County in 1970.
• The Upper Paint Branch stream valley park system includes
large conservation park designation areas intended for natural
resource protection and non-developed recreational uses such
as hiking, bird watching and fishing. The Paint Branch is
unique in that it supports one of the WMA’s last self-sustaining
trout fisheries.
Background – Cont.
• Since 1996, M-NCPPC and the state of Maryland have
acquired over 400 acres in the Upper Paint Branch at a cost of
over $20 million dollars to protect the trout resource.
• In 1997, Montgomery County created an SPA program to:
establish coordinated procedures, performance goals, criteria
and requirements for development that will mitigate adverse
development-related impacts on water resources. To date,
three areas in the County have been designated as SPA’s
(Upper Paint Branch, Clarksburg and Piney Branch).
Hobbs Drive/Park Entrance
Park Entrance Signage
Hobbs Drive - Open
Road Section
The grass
swale drainage
system
promotes
infiltration
and filtration
of road runoff
and increases
flow-path and
time of
concentration.
Tour Stop No. 7
Wheaton Branch/Dennis Avenue Stormwater
Management Facility
Address: 1700 Block of Dennis Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20902
Contact Address:
Montgomery County Government
Department of Environmental Protection
255 Rockville Pike, Suite 120
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Phone: 240-777-7700
Ground Transportation Recommended
Metro Rail Stop: Forest Glen or Wheaton
Background
• Keystone stormwater management retrofit facility constructed by
Montgomery County Department of the Environment which is
instrumental in the restoration of the highly urbanized Sligo Creek
sub-watershed
• The 11 square mile Sligo Creek subwatershed is typical of the many
older drainage basins in the WMA which were developed prior to the
advent of stormwater management control requirements
• Land uses in the Sligo Creek subwatershed are predominantly
residential with a commercial corridor located along MD Route 97
(Georgia Ave.). Most of the development in this subwatershed
occurred between the 1930’s and the 1950’s
• The success of this stormwater retrofit facility has enabled the
restoration of downstream degraded aquatic habitat in both the
Wheaton Branch tributary and Sligo Creek mainstem
Site Features
• 3-celled extended detention stormwater management
wet pond/marsh system constructed in 1989-90
• Provides water quantity and quality control for a 55%
impervious, 805 acre drainage area draining the
Wheaton Branch headwaters
• 6-acre wet pool surface area with both aquatic and
terrestrial plantings
• Cell No. 1 (closest to road) dredged in 1997. Note:
over 3,000 yd3 of sediment removed
Site Map
SWM
Pond
Cell No. 2 - Winter
Control
structure
Winter scene looking south toward concrete control structure
Cell No. 2 - Summer
Summertime scene with creeping primrose willow (aquatic plant) in foreground
Site No. 8
M-NCPPC Sligo Creek Park
/Forest Glen Road
Address: 1400 Block of Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Contact Address:
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Department of Park and Planning
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 495-2500
E-mail: mcp-parks@mncppc-mc.org
Ground Transportation Recommended
Metro Stop: Closest is Forest Glen
Site Features:
• Representative stream restoration and stormwater
management control area for the larger multi-agency
Sligo Creek restoration effort
• Two off-line artificial marshes
• Stream habitat enhancement – (boulder placement
and stone wing deflector)
• Understory reforestation
• Riparian buffers
• Hiker – Biker trail system
• Bio-filtration swale system (~200 feet long with pretreatment sediment basin)
Background
• This portion of the Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park
System is the site of stream restoration work
completed between 1994-2002
• It also includes various stormwater management
BMP’s including artificial marshes and a biofiltration swale system
• The Forest Glen Road marsh was constructed in 1994
and serves as both a stormwater management facility
and wildlife habitat feature
• The Godwin Drive marsh was constructed in 1999
and provides stormwater management control for a
30 - acre residential neighborhood area
Site Map
Wetland, bio-filtration,
stream restoration area
Godwin Drive Marsh
Off-line marsh treating 30-acres of residential stormwater runoff
Storm Flow Splitting Weir
Godwin Drive weir design diverts first inch of runoff into marsh
Stone Wing Deflector and
Boulder Placement
Stone Wing
Deflector
Boulder Placement
Looking upstream from Sligo Creek footbridge
The techniques
in this
photograph
were designed
to enhance
aquatic habitat
for this
degraded urban
stream.
Sligo Creek Hiker-Biker Trail Signage
This ten mile-long Hiker-Biker trail connects Wheaton Regional Park
with the lower Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park
Bio-filtration Swale
Bio-filtration swale
Pre-treatment
sediment basin
8-foot wide, 200-foot long bio-filtration swale (looking north
toward Forest Glen Road)
This BMP
provides water
quality control
for an
approximately
0.5 mile
portion of
Interstate 495
Bio-filtration Swale
View of pre-treatment sediment basin and I-495 over pass
Forest Glen Road/Sligo Creek Parkway Intersection
Concrete Flume Storm Drain
Concrete flume
Stormwater runoff from storm drain system treated in Forest Glen Road marsh
Forest Glen Road Marsh
Buttonbush
plantings
Off-line marsh treating 14-acres of residential stormwater runoff
Tour Stop No. 9
M-NCPPC Sligo Creek Park/
Park Valley Road
Address:
800 Block of Park Valley Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Contact Address:
Maryland- National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Department of Park and Planning
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: (301) 495-2500
E-mail: mcp-parks@mncppc-mc.org
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features:
• Stream Habitat Enhancement (rootwads, j-hook, log
spurs, boulder placement and rock spur). These are
commonly employed techniques for both enhancing
stream channel stability and fish habitat
• Understory Riparian Reforestation Plantings (both
upstream and downstream of Park Valley Road)
• Narrow, Urban Stream Riparian Buffer
• Hiker – Biker Trail System
Background
• As part of the larger Sligo Creek restoration effort, this site
features various 1999 vintage stream restoration project site
areas, as well as riparian understory plantings
• This park area was acquired via Capper-Cramton Act funds
which were used regionally to purchase open space areas (In
1930 this Act authorized funding for the acquisition of lands in the
District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia for the park and
parkway system of the national capital. Property acquisition
included lands for George Washington Memorial Parkway; stream
valley parks in Maryland and Virginia; and the park, parkway, and
playground system of the District of Columbia)
• The Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park area featured herein, is one
of the oldest park areas in the WMA and dates from the mid1930’s
Site Map
Riparian reforestation
and stream restoration
area
J-Hook and Rootwad - Fish Habitat Enhancement
Techniques
J-Hook
Rootwad
View of J-Hook and Rootwad installed in 1999 to improve pool habitat
J-Hook and Rootwad
Flow
Looking downstream at J-Hook (right side) and Rootwad
Understory Plantings
Planting area
View of 1999 riparian reforestation planting area featuring 17
native tree and shrub species
Log Spur
Log Spur employed both for deflecting storm flows away
from bank areas and for fish habitat enhancement
Tour Stop No. 10
Mount Rainier
Address: Bunker Hill Fire Station
3716 Rhode Island Avenue
Mount Rainier, Maryland, 20712
Contact Address:
Prince George’s County Department of
Environmental Resources
9400 Peppercorn Place
Largo, Maryland 20774
Phone: 301-883-5834
E-mail: DERcares@co.pg.md.us
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features:
• A municipal application of a Bio-retention
stormwater management system
• Incorporates use of Low Impact Development (LID)
techniques in construction.
• Reduces stormwater runoff to the Bay
Background - LID
• Low Impact Development (LID) is an innovative stormwater
management approach with a basic principle that is modeled after
nature: manage rainfall at the source using uniformly distributed
decentralized micro-scale controls. LID's goal is to mimic a site's
predevelopment hydrology by using design techniques that infiltrate,
filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to its source.
• LID addresses stormwater management through small, cost-effective
landscape features located at the lot level. These landscape features,
known as Integrated Management Practices (IMPs), are the building
blocks of LID. Almost all components of the urban environment
have the potential to serve as an IMP. This includes not only open
space, but also rooftops, streetscapes, parking lots, sidewalks, and
medians. LID is a versatile approach that can be applied equally
well to new development, urban retrofits, and redevelopment /
revitalization projects.
Background – LID Continued
Bioretention
•
Bioretention is a best management practice (BMP) developed in the
early 1990's by the Prince George's County, MD, Department of
Environmental Resources (PGDER). Bioretention utilizes soils and
both woody and herbaceous plants to remove pollutants from storm
water runoff. Stormwater runoff is conveyed as sheet flow to the
treatment area, which consists of a grass buffer strip, sand bed,
ponding area, organic layer or mulch layer, topsoil, and plants
•
In bioretention systems, runoff passes over a grassed pre-treatment
strip, which slows the runoff's velocity, distributes it evenly along
the length of the ponding area (which consists of a surface mulch
layer with plantings and the underlying topsoil). The ponding area is
graded, its center depressed and water is ponded to a depth of 6
inches. Runoff gradually infiltrates into the underlying bioretention
area and is evapo-transpired
Bunker Hill Fire Station
Recently constructed fire station with bioretention system
Bioretention System
Recently constructed bioretention system at Bunker Hill fire station
Bioretention
Example of parking lot bioretention system treating stormwater runoff
Tour Stop No. 11
Bertie Backus Middle School
District of Columbia Public Schools
Bio-retention Area
Site Address:
Phone:
Principle:
5707 South Dakota Ave, N.E.
Washington, DC 20011
202 596-6110
Alfonzo Powell
Site Contact: Ms. Gloria Thompson 7th Grade Science Teacher
Project Installation Contact: Jim Shell – Metro-Wash. COG
Phone: 202 962-3342
E-mail: jshell@mwcog.org
Metro Rail Stop: Fort Totten
Site Features:
• Bio-retention cell retrofits in a large paved
playground / parking area
• Three 64 square foot cells planted with native
vegetation
• Metro accessible from the Fort Totten Metro (Red or
Green Line)
• Accessible without a prior appointment or guide
Background
• The project described herein involved two DC Public
Schools in the Anacostia watershed and featured the
installation of bioretention cells, the planting of trees and
shrubs, mulching of eroded areas, and cleaning of clogged
storm drain inlets and installation of porous pavement in
parking areas.
• The Pollution Prevention Program in the public schools
has been an ongoing environmental education effort for
both DC-DOH/EHA and COG. COG staff has worked
within the WMA students to teach product substitution to
reduce chemical usage, recycling and product reuse to
reduce waste in concert with the national recycling motto,
of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”.
Background – Cont.
• Through various programs, COG and DC-DOH/EHA
have installed water-saving devices on faucets and toilets,
instituted recycling programs, influenced a reduction in
chemical use, addressed erosion problems, planted trees
and cleaned out storm drains.
• This work was grant funded from the DC Department of
Health Environmental Health Administration (DCDOH/EHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council
of Governments.
Bio-Retention Cell Installation
Cutting through asphalt adjacent to the storm drains.
Bio-Retention Cell Installation
Excavating holes through asphalt
Bio-Retention Cell Installation
Backfilling
with a
compost,
topsoil and
sand mix
Breaking through storm
drain inlet and checking fit
of drain pipe coupling
Installing
gravel and
perforated
underdrain
pipe
Project at Completion
Project Completed
in June 2004
Tour Stop No. 12
Casey Trees Endowment – Green Roof
Downtown Washington, DC
Address: Casey Trees Endowment
1425 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-833-4010
E-mail: friends @caseytrees.org
Metro Rail Stop: Farragut North
Site Features:
• A partnership between the business and
nonprofit sectors
• Tallest green roof in DC (12 stories high)
• 3500 square feet in size
• Planted in Spring of 2005
• Monitoring equipment installed to measure
temperature modification, moisture retention
and effluent quality and quality to the
stormwater system
Background
• This project is collaboration between DC Greenworks, Casey
Trees and Blake Real Estate through a grant with the
Chesapeake Bay Program’s Small Watershed Grants program
through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the
Watershed Protection Division of the DC Department of
Health.
• Installation was completed with the help of at-risk youth of
Covenant House as well as Casey Trees volunteers
• Local roofing contractors and other businesses contributed
their time at a reduced rate
Roof Planting Stock
Flats of Sedum and other plant plugs are ready for transplanting.
Completed Installation
Plants are
installed with
a jute mat
for soil
stabilization
until plants
are
established.
Casey Trees Green Roof
Fall of 2005
Sites Outside the Anacostia
• Arlington County Governmental Center
• National Park Service – Center for Urban Ecology
Tour Stop No. 13
Arlington County Governmental Center
Green Roof
Site Address: 2100 Clarendon Boulevard
Suite 801
Arlington, VA 22201
Project Contact: Joan Kelsch
Phone: 703 228-3599
E-mail: jkelsch@arlingtonva.us
Metro Stop: Courthouse – Orange Line
Site Features:
• Limited temperature monitoring
• 3,285 square feet in size
• Metro accessible from the Courthouse Metro
Orange Line
• Accessible without a prior appointment or
guide
Background
• Arlington County local government officials are encouraging developers to
make projects more environmentally friendly, by practicing what they
preach through the installation of a 3,285 square foot green roof that is
viewable from the county’s third floor conference room at Courthouse
Plaza. The new roof garden improves looks, energy-efficiency, and reduces
stormwater runoff.
• The Barrett Green Roof Roofscapes system was installed on the building in
September 2003. The project team consisted of the building owner, Charles
E. Smith Company; the architect, Page Southerland Page; and Arlington
County’s Department of Environmental Services and Office of Support
Services. Barrett Roofs, Commercial Roofing, and Chapel Valley
Landscaping were instrumental in completing the roof. Total installation
costs for the green roof that has a life expectancy of approximately 40
years, was under $65,000.
Arlington County Governmental
Center – Green Roof
Post-Installation
in late summer of
2003
Arlington County Governmental
Center – Green Roof
One Year’s
Growth Summer 2004
Go Back – Click Here
Tour Stop No. 14
National Park Service
Green Roof at the Center for Urban Ecology
(CUE)
Site Address: Center for Urban Ecology
4598 MacArthur Blvd. NW
Washington, DC 20007-4227
Project Contact: Jim Sherald and Doug Curtis
Phone: (202) 342-1443
E-mail:
jim_sherald@nps.gov
Doug_Curtis@nps.gov
Ground Transportation Recommended
Site Features: CUE
•
•
•
•
Limited temperature monitoring
7,000 square feet in size
90 % roof area planted
An example of an ‘extensive’ green roof
Background CUE
• The Center for Urban Ecology (CUE), in Washington, DC, staffs the
Natural Resources and Science Division for the National Park Service,
National Capital Region. It is appropriate that this unit of the National Park
Service be the first to install a green roof because of their vested interest in
utilizing sustainable technology that reduces and/or mitigates the adverse
impacts created by impervious surfaces in an ultra urban area.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Architect?
Contractor?
Cost?
Installation Date?
Temperature Monitoring
SWM Runoff calculations from the average storm event
Background CUE
• The roof construction under the green roof at CUE consists of
a wood deck overlying steel web joists. A tapered rigid
insulation board provides positive drainage to the gutters over
an 80 mil. PVC roofing membrane.
• The soil media and plants are placed in sections that contain 2
foot by 2 foot plastic flats that are filled with 3 inches of
planting media. The flats are placed right on top of the roofing
membrane.
• A durable lightweight planting medium is used to prevent
compaction and maintain the necessary pore space for water
and oxygen retention. The planting medium consists of 75 to
85 percent inert expanded slate, with 15 to 25 percent organic
material.
Green Roof at the
Center for Urban Ecology
Green Roof
Under
Construction
Green Roof at the
Center for Urban Ecology
The Completed
Green Roof
Go Back – Click Here
Washington Metropolitan Green
Infrastructure Tour
Contacts:
Glenn Eugster
Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office
National Park Service,
National Capital Region
John Galli
1100 Ohio Drive, SW,
Anacostia Program Manager
Room 350,
Department of Environmental Programs
Washington, D.C. 20242
Metropolitan Washington Council of
202 619-7492
Governments
Glenn_Eugster@nps.gov
777 North Capitol St. NE. Suite 300,
Washington, D.C. 20002
202 962-3348
jgalli@mwcog.org
Brian M. LeCouteur
Senior Environmental Planner / Urban Forester
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol St. N.E.
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002
202 962-3393
blecouteur@mwcog.org