[permaculture] Bioswales, Open Space, Recreation - all in one place?

David Glober david.glober at yahoo.com
Wed Nov 5 20:40:41 EST 2008


Kevin:

I'm learning what the potential toxins may be. This is a residential and office area, but there may also be light industrial use, so I'll find out more. Thanks.

I'm wondering if this may be an opportunity for a "rain gardens" approach to be incorporated.

I'm also trying to imagine picnics, kids, families, people coming for peace and quiet ... overlaying turf being used for bioswales - and I've asked for an artist's rendering on that from the landscapers.

We're wondering if bioswales backfill from storm events and if so for how long and under what circumstances ... I have learned so far mostly about permi swales that soak and spread water, but these are specifically to pump stormwater - into the bioswales - then to filtration - then the Bay (and unfortunately not storage or irrigation).

I'm also wondering if a historical building on the site that also overlays the bioswale area ... might end up being part of the solution by sending rainwater from its roof if we get funds to fix it up.

The neighborhood group is very anxious that these are competing interests, and I'm hoping to find mutually beneficial and supportive solutions. It's land that was once salt marsh years and years ago ... and has gradually become paved over ... and the architecture is not especially appealing to most of us ... the group doesn't want to, in effect, lose this precious little last bit of recreational shoreline area for a municipality's repurposing it for stormwater management. I'm hoping for all three in one little area.

Any additional thoughts or questions or comments much appreciated. Also, is there anything related to my questions in your wonderful design work at http://www.permaculturedesign.net/design.htm ... ? ... thanks much.

David Glober ~ San Francisco

Recent Permaculture Design Cert Grad

david.glober at yahoo.com



---

--- On Mon, 11/3/08, Kevin Topek <ktopek at att.net> wrote:
From: Kevin Topek <ktopek at att.net>
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Bioswales, Open Space, Recreation - all in one place?
To: "permaculture" <permaculture at lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Monday, November 3, 2008, 1:24 AM

Lawrence & David,

I'm flattered, but know that I know little. A bioswale can contain  
decomposing and living material to remediate several kinds of toxins.  
The biodegradation system needs to be designed with regard to flow  
rates, flow volumes, ambient temperatures and potential toxins  
involved. As with all systems, the prevailing conditions dictate the  
path to solving the problem issues. Some toxins are best remediated by  
bacteria, some by slime molds and some by fungi. I have also observed  
that some systems that adsorb toxins on hard surfaces, such as rocks,  
degrade those toxins very rapidly and efficiently by biodegrading  
organisms, such as bacteria, in the absence of organic substrates,  
such as compost. Each system needs a specially designed solution!

Kevin Topek
Permaculture Design LLC
www.permaculturedesign.net
713.206.2400
ktopek at att.net

On Oct 31, 2008, at 9:34 PM, Lawrence F. London, Jr. wrote:

> David Glober wrote:
>> Greetings,
>>
>> I'm part of a local community group reviewing a design that's
been
>> proposed that would include bioswales for stormwater filtration - not
>
> This implies bioremediation capability. Have you planned for that  
> with the necessary
> detoxification features?
>
> Stormwater is lots of different types of runoff; if from airports it  
> could contain
> deicing chemicals and solvents used to clean runways and also  
> chemical and petroleum spills.
> A complete, well-designed system would be needed if you were going  
> to use a bioswale for this sort of application.
>
> Kevin Topek, listmember, should know something about this.
>
>> exactly the same thing as swales we put in for rainwater capture and
>> growing trees - in an area that's already been designated for open
 
>> space,
>> shoreline preservation and recreation.
>>
>> Would any one know if this could prove to be an example of stacking
>> functions and multiple use, or is this something that is mutually
>> exclusive?
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