Soil, Plants, and Stormwater - Designing and Managing Resources for Optimal Performance*

*Ticketed Event
Managing the movement of water over, into, and through soil seems like it should be easy. It's not. Soil is a living and dynamic system, evolving to be in balance with nature and its surrounding environment. Standard design and construction involves grading landscapes, inadvertent compaction of soil, removal of critical soil chemistry and biology, and then replacement with soils and vegetation that don't quite fit intended landscapes or stormwater management programs. Common landscape practices and stormwater systems depend largely on sand. Sand can be good if it is used in the right circumstances but you have to be aware of possible failures. Silt and clay are needed for healthy plants, but they can "gum" up a drainage system and result in failure of the system. Developing the right soils intended to enhance drainage, support vegetation, or stabilize soils requires care.

This workshop will cover the A, B, C, D's (and the 'M') of soils for stormwater systems and erosion control:

• 'A' addresses effective Architecture for soil systems in varying environments, including the physical nature of soil that affects soil drainage.


• 'B' is the critical soil Biology that is absolutely necessary for successful, stable stormwater and erosion control


• 'C' is the Chemistry of a balanced stormwater system and healthy soils needed to cleanse stormwater, and support healthy vegetation
  
• 'D' is the Design (and construction) of stormwater control systems. One design does not fit all applications, but we will give you ideas and knowledge to design the most applicable system for differing environments and stormwater management and erosion control goals.


• We will also add the 'M' for Management of soils and stormwater systems to keep them functional, attractive, and effective.

This workshop will provide basic yet important information to design, construct, and manage stormwater management systems.

Download a copy of this workshop outline: here.