| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.21 |
| Liaison | Lisa Noriega |
| Submission Date | June 29, 2022 |
Yale University
OP-22: Rainwater Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Lisa
Noriega Sustainability Data Analyst Yale Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Which of the following best describes the institution’s approach to rainwater management?:
Less comprehensive policies, plans or guidelines that incorporate green infrastructure
A brief description of the institution’s green infrastructure and LID practices:
Yale University envisions a campus where stormwater is managed through green infrastructure and low impact development. In 2018, Yale created an update to its 2013 Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan aligning with local priorities and setting goals through 2020 to decrease local water body pollution and flooding. Future efforts in stormwater management planning shall be guided by a set of shared principles: recognize stormwater as a resource, prioritize restoration of watershed function, promote stormwater research, and incorporate adaptive management.
Four strategies address Yale’s immediate stormwater management goals and longer-term vision for active and adaptive stormwater stewardship.
• Improve data quality related to campus stormwater management by indexing stormwater management practices and impacts on both capital and operational projects completed at Yale beginning in 2012 through 2020, consolidating existing information within operations about priority flooding locations on campus, creating and implementing a stormwater quality testing program for campus, and creating a comprehensive master plan that provides a detailed view of stormwater management challenges and opportunities on campus.
• Align design standards and planning documents by update existing design standards and planning documents specifying preference for low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure.
• Implement stormwater management techniques on campus with a preference for LID and green infrastructure projects to reduce impervious surface on campus. Beyond meeting retention requirements, major capital projects shall explicitly consider and assess opportunities for innovative stormwater management. Yale shall implement green infrastructure projects outside of capital projects that reduce impervious surface on campus by 45,000 square feet by fiscal year 2020.
• Identify progressive stormwater management goals by 2020 in alignment with municipal, regional, and state priorities and share lessons learned.
Upholding these standards, the Yale West Campus Landscape Improvement Project transformed 10 acres (435,600 square feet) of expansive pavement into a sustainable, connective space using several low-impact development measures. In addition to new LED light fixtures, newly implemented rain gardens collect and clean up to 6,500 cubic feet of stormwater within an on-site bioretention basin; once released, the water helps decrease pollutants in the collective drainage system. Plants were strategically placed both on the ground and on green roofs to increase tree and foliage cover. 243 trees, 1,000 native shrubs, 14,000 perennials, 5,000 ground cover plants, 22,000 green roof perennials, and a 1-acre native wildflower meadow contribute to increased biodiversity in the area and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Four strategies address Yale’s immediate stormwater management goals and longer-term vision for active and adaptive stormwater stewardship.
• Improve data quality related to campus stormwater management by indexing stormwater management practices and impacts on both capital and operational projects completed at Yale beginning in 2012 through 2020, consolidating existing information within operations about priority flooding locations on campus, creating and implementing a stormwater quality testing program for campus, and creating a comprehensive master plan that provides a detailed view of stormwater management challenges and opportunities on campus.
• Align design standards and planning documents by update existing design standards and planning documents specifying preference for low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure.
• Implement stormwater management techniques on campus with a preference for LID and green infrastructure projects to reduce impervious surface on campus. Beyond meeting retention requirements, major capital projects shall explicitly consider and assess opportunities for innovative stormwater management. Yale shall implement green infrastructure projects outside of capital projects that reduce impervious surface on campus by 45,000 square feet by fiscal year 2020.
• Identify progressive stormwater management goals by 2020 in alignment with municipal, regional, and state priorities and share lessons learned.
Upholding these standards, the Yale West Campus Landscape Improvement Project transformed 10 acres (435,600 square feet) of expansive pavement into a sustainable, connective space using several low-impact development measures. In addition to new LED light fixtures, newly implemented rain gardens collect and clean up to 6,500 cubic feet of stormwater within an on-site bioretention basin; once released, the water helps decrease pollutants in the collective drainage system. Plants were strategically placed both on the ground and on green roofs to increase tree and foliage cover. 243 trees, 1,000 native shrubs, 14,000 perennials, 5,000 ground cover plants, 22,000 green roof perennials, and a 1-acre native wildflower meadow contribute to increased biodiversity in the area and reduce the urban heat island effect.
A copy of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines:
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A brief description of the institution’s rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines that supports the responses above:
Please review the plan here: https://facilities.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Sustainable%20Stormwater%20Mangement%20Plan%20%2B%202018%20Update.pdf
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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