Virginia Tech
OP-23: Stormwater Management

The Virginia Tech Annual Standards and Specifications for ESC and SWM have been developed to provide information regarding VT’s implementation in accordance with the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law (§10.1-560 et. seq.), the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (4VAC50- 30 et. seq.), the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Certification Regulations (4VAC50-50 et. seq.), the Virginia Stormwater Management Act (§10.1-603 et. seq.), and the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permit Regulations (4VAC50-60 et. seq.) as related to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) and regulated construction activities. Virginia Tech Annual Standards and Specifications for ESC and SWM shall apply to all design, construction, and maintenance activities undertaken by Virginia Tech, either by its internal workforce or contracted to external entities where such activities are regulated by the Virginia ESC Law and Regulations or the Virginia SWM Act and VSMP Permit Regulations. During any inspections of Virginia Tech’s land disturbing activities by the Virginia Tech Site & Infrastructure Development or by DCR, EPA, and other such environmental agencies, compliance with the approved Virginia Tech Annual Standards and Specifications for ESC and SWM (and all parts thereof), the Virginia ESC Law and Regulations, the Virginia SWM Act and the VSMP Permit Regulations will be expected and enforced. Additionally, Virginia Tech's SWM Plan includes the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other control methods including: • Detention Ponds • Retention Ponds • Bioretention • Green Parking • Stone Swales • Native Meadows

Green roofs were first planted on Seitz Hall and Fralin Hall. The Life Sciences I building, constructed in 2007, is equipped with two green roofs. The recently opened Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute also features a green roof with two to three feet of soil, allowing for a wider variety of plants than traditional green roof designs. Green Roofs are an excellent means to reducing the amount of water and pollutants that are normally associated with runoff from roof surfaces. To view an article from The Roanoke Times about the green roof on Seitz Hall please see: http://ww2.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/173971/ To view an article about the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute's green features please see: http://www.vtc.vt.edu/education/campus/Green_Features.html For more information on green roofs and the green roofs present on Virginia Tech’s campus, please visit www.sid.vt.edu

There are multiple lots on campus that utilize porous paving such as the Architecture Research and Demonstration Building parking lot as well as the service vehicle parking lots at War Memorial Hall and Shanks Hall.

One of the newer designs for retention BMPs, the Smithfield pretreatment and bioretention pond serves the 15 acre Duck Pond parking lot. Water first enters the pretreatment pond, where it is distributed evenly into the bioretention pond. Once entering the bioretention pond, water infiltrates through filtration media. The filtration media removes sediment and pollutants from the water before flowing back into the stormwater system. The Henderson bioretention works similarly to the Smithfield pond but without the use of a pretreatment pond.

A stone swale was built for the Alumni Center to help prevent channel erosion. This particular swale conveys the water from the Alumni Pond to the Duck Pond.

A vegetated swale was built in the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion and Horticulture Garden which encompasses 5.75 acres, with 5.5 developed acres. Used as a learning resource for plant courses, landscaping concepts, and environmental awareness, the garden features perennial borders, water gardens, shade gardens, a meadow garden, and the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion.

Native Meadows - Native meadows play an important role in the stormwater master plan at Virginia Tech. Besides their ecological benefits, these native grasses enhance groundwater recharge and protect surrounding streams. There are nearly a dozen native meadow sites around campus.