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Green Roofs - My Ah-Ha Moment

Posted on May 9, 2008 | Filed Under Green Infrastructure, Healthy Waters, Mid-Atlantic, Sewage

Katherine Baer, Director
Healthy Waters Campaign

Standing with Barbara Deutsch on the green roof at Casey Trees here in Washington, DC, I had my ah-ha moment. Now, Gary has done a great job of explaining what a green roof is and how it works, but I needed to experience one for myself. So we went on a green roof mini-tour visiting Casey Trees as well as the green roof at the American Society for Landscape Architects (ASLA). At Casey Trees, the roof was green, or at least brown-green, covered with sedum plants that cool the building, extend the life of the roof and reduce polluted stormwater runoff.

“Just look at all these other roofs,” said Barbara pointing out toward the buildings surrounding McPherson Square. “All of that prime rooftop real estate is just wasted space.”

Wow. A whole new perspective, the bird’s-eye view of real estate. We’re wasting a whole dimension of our cities by leaving rooftops flat and devoid of life. If every building had a green roof, cities would be greener, more attractive, and cooler. In fact, Casey Trees and Limno Tech (pdf) found that if 80% of eligible rooftops in DC had green roofs combined sewer overflows to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers would be reduced by 15% and air pollutants reduced by almost 17 tons.

So with all these benefits the real question is - why aren’t we doing this all the time to increase the effective green infrastructure of our communities? The usual barriers exist, like lack of familiarity, although that’s waning and there is now quite a green roof industry in the U.S.

But what are the best ways to institutionalize green roof techniques so they are the norm for all new construction and roof replacement. Ideas, anyone?

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for River Restoration Services

Posted on April 30, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Southeast

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for River Restoration Services
Proposals due May 30, 2008

American Rivers seeks qualified vendors to provide services on projects within the eastern U.S. that restore rivers and streams. Our primary interest is in ecosystem-based riverine restoration, mainly using dam removal as a restoration tool. We may also pursue river and floodplain restoration through bypass channel fishways, rock ramp fishways, culvert replacement/retrofits, stream daylighting, natural channel design or other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity and dynamic functions of rivers and enhance movement of fish, wildlife and other aquatic life.

River restoration services may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

Site reconnaissance/conceptual design
Feasibility studies
Engineering analysis/modeling
Engineering design
Permitting and regulatory coordination
Public education and outreach
Bid document preparation
Construction oversight
Restoration of riparian corridors
Pre- and post-project monitoring

This RFQ will result in Master Service Agreements (MSA) with up to ten (10) vendors or vendor teams. American Rivers will enter into MSAs with the selected vendors for a term of three (3) years. Projects will be allocated to the selected vendors based on a rotation with adjustments made for location, specific skills needed and quality of past work. In some cases, projects will be allocated based upon a Request for Proposals to be solicited from all or a subset of the vendors with MSAs established under this RFQ.

Download Complete Request for Qualifications

Important Dates

April 30, 2008 — RFQ Release

May 9, 2008 — Deadline for submittal of questions on RFQ (5:00pm ET)

May 14, 2008 — Deadline for subscribing to Q&A Digest (5:00pm ET)

May 16, 2008 — Q&A Digest emailed to respondents that have requested a copy. Q&A Digest posted on this website.

May 30, 2008 — Deadline for receipt of proposals to RFQ (5:00pm ET)

July 2, 2008 — Final selection. Begin development of MSAs

Questions?

American Rivers staff will not respond to telephone questions about the RFQ. Questions concerning this RFQ must be received in writing via email by 5:00pm ET on May 9, 2008 to slindloff@americanrivers.org. See complete RFQ for more detail. Questions via email should have the Subject Line: “RFQ Question.�? Respondents wishing to obtain a digest version of all questions and answers should send their email address to slindloff@americanrivers.org (Subject: “RFQ Digest Request�?) by May 14, 2008. American Rivers shall distribute the Q&A Digest via email and post it on this website by May 16, 2008.

Contemplating Global Warming on the Chesapeake Bay

Posted on April 22, 2008 | Filed Under Global Warming, Healthy Waters, Mid-Atlantic

Betsy Otto, Senior Director of Healthy Waters Campaign
Water Efficiency & Policy

I spent this past weekend on Maryland’s Eastern Shore near the historic town of St. Michaels, in a lovely place called Tilghman Island. It’s an old-fashioned place, where older fellows hang out in rockers at the combination gas pump and general store. They greeted me genially, never batting an eye at my city slicker bike shorts and fluorescent shirt.

The history of this entire area of the Eastern Shore is inextricably linked to the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Sitting on Adirondack chairs overlooking the channel from the Tilghman Island marina, I saw osprey building nests, a loon diving over and over again for dinner, and so many species of ducks I lost count. There was also a steady stream of boats, kayakers paddling through the marsh grass, fancy new fishing boats, and hard-working watermen’s craft heading through the channel out to the bay.

Saturday night, I ate three of the best oysters on the half shell I’ve even had. They were cultured nearby in the Choptank River. Oyster harvests are a proud tradition and were a mainstay of the local economy, along with the Chesapeake’s famous blue crabs, for hundreds of years. But pollution and development pressures have hurt the natural oyster production and the blue crab harvest is in real trouble this year.

The struggles to Saving a National Treasure and make it cleaner are well-known. But you get a different picture of that when you actually visit a place whose people have directly depended on this ecosystem for many hundreds of years. I saw a whole lot of second home development around St. Michael’s and on Tilghman Island. While that brings in new property tax revenue and customers for shops and restaurants, it can also cause damage unless that new development is carefully managed.

American Rivers has talked with local leaders in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and we’ve been working around the country, especially in the Great Lakes region, to help leaders understand the impacts of development and to take steps to reduce the harm from stormwater runoff (read about the Rain Barrel distribution event last month).

At the Maritime Museum in St. Michaels a plaque at the water’s edge noted that the Bay’s waters had risen one foot over the past 100 years due to a warming climate and natural land subsidence since the last ice age. This land is flat, dead flat. I started to think about what would happen to this place if sea levels continue to rise as scientists predict they will over the next century from global warming. What will happen to the marshes and countless small creeks and inlets on the Chesapeake that are the oyster and crab and rockfish nurseries, that feed and shelter the ducks and other birds, and what will happen to the way of life that depends on all that?

Community Tree Planting Event is Great Success

Posted on April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Events, Mid-Atlantic, River Renewal

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

I think most will agree, one of the more exciting aspects of river conservation work is simply getting your hands dirty.

Grant it, it’s not for all, but for many picking up trash alongside a favorite river ensures measurable results (insert shameless plug for National River Cleanup). And, that kind of immediate satisfaction does indeed help to sustain those longer, and equally important, legislative battles.

As you know, a lot of our work is grounded – and enabled – by your participation. For example, some of those longer legislative battles are powered by our activists who travel to DC (insert second shameless plug for River Action Day).

But for greater localized action, we are fortunate to have many inspired field staff committed to community projects.

For example, last month Sara Deuling from our Pennsylvania Field office coordinated a “Mohnton Tree Planting Event�?. Sara recaps the successful effort (and slide show below):

When we arrived at the site before 10am, Larry Lloyd had already planted about 20 trees and had laid out a planting pattern with stakes for the trees. I provided an informational packet with photos of the evolution of the dam removal site.

The work started by planting the trees, which were segregated by the wetness desires: streamside, mid-bank, and upland. Once the trees were planted, about 20 feet on center, Larry identified all of the shrubs and directed the volunteers where to distribute them. Particular care was given to their wetness desires, shade preferences, mature heights and distribution across the site.

The shrubs were filled in between the tree species, with a final planting density of approximately 5’ on center. The group planted 365 trees and shrubs in total.

Once the site was cleaned up, the volunteers agreed that the site had undergone a major improvement and everyone headed home after a long day of hard work.

The site looks very natural and will provide substantial habitat benefits to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms. Some of the species planted included, Swamp white oak, Pin oak, Silver maple, Tulip poplar American sycamore, and 10 others.

A great deal of thanks and appreciation go out to Larry Lloyd, Berks Conservancy, Andrew Strassman, PA Natural Heritage Program, John Buzzar, PA Fish & Boat Commission, Fay & Molly, friends of John Buzzar, Jeremy Trexel, URS Corp., John Pittenger, URS Corp., and Chase Kelch, friend of John Pittenger.

A $1.2 million week

Posted on March 20, 2008 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Northwest, River Renewal

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

Did you ever have a really good week and just want to share it with others?

On Tuesday of last week we learned that we were awarded $700,000 to continue our NOAA Rivergrants program in FY09. Since 2001, we’ve provided both financial and technical assistance to more than 100 restoration projects across the country, and have reunited many communities with healthier rivers and streams.

Then, just three days later, we were awarded $500,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Grant Program to continue our work removing dams and restoring rivers statewide. In close partnership with PA DEP and the PA Fish and Boat Commission, our Free-Flowing Pennsylvania program has assisted in the design and construction of more than 60 dam removals since 2003.

The wonderful thing about having a week this good is that we really will be literally sharing it with others. There are just 11 days left to apply for the latest round of American Rivers Rivergrants funding! Check out our guidelines to figure out if your project might be eligible and download the application without delay!

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Available

Posted on February 27, 2008 | Filed Under Blue Trails, Mid-Atlantic, River Heritage

Jamie Mierau, Director
River Heritage, Blue Trails

The National Park Service recently announced the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network 2008 Grant Program. Priorities for the program this year are projects to implement the Captain John Smith Water Trail and enhance other water trails.

Grants may be used for a variety of Gateway projects that help people: understand the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed through its special places and stories; gain access to those places and resources; and experience conservation stewardship and be motivated to get involved.

Applicants must be non-profit organizations or local or state governments. Non-federal partners may submit grant applications for projects at any designated Gateway including those which are federally managed. Application packages must be received by noon, Monday, April 28, 2008.

New Washington Redskins Coach is a Whitewater Kayaker

Posted on February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Mid-Atlantic, Technology

Chas Offutt, Director of Internet Strategy
Technology & Rivers

First and foremost, I’m a Ravens fan. And, unfortunately, an Orioles fan too.

I can’t help it, but I like hard crabs on a summer evening, old bay seasoning underneath my fingernails and cheap beer (preferably Natty Boh). By all means, there’s a reason why Baltimore is the charm city.

Despite my hometown affection toward the city that reads, I came across a Washington Post article that will inevitably pull me a bit closer to the nation’s professional football team, the Washington Redskins. (Btw, having Joe Gibbs back has kind of helped too)

As an ~~avid~~ ~~weekend warrior~~…okay, when work is light paddler on the Potomac River, I read this morning Dan Steinberg’s piece, Jim Zorn Whitewater Kayaks, with great interest.

Wow, a NFL head football coach who is also whitewater kayaker? If true (and who would doubt Joe Jacobi), that’s pretty cool and I couldn’t think of a better off season sport in the District than paddling.

So, Coach Zorn, when you move to the area, I’d like to offer some quick tips to help you adjust to one of the greatest park-n-plays areas in the region -

Center chute is best at 5′ and above

Paddle at sun rise to beat the crowds

During July & August it’s best to travel to higher water (or maybe focus on the upcoming season, your call)

Avoid Maryland chute’s long line by paddling over to Virginia chute

Offutt island offers no relation to my family, shucks.

Feel free to store your boat with an American Rivers staff member who lives on the river (John, you don’t mind do you?).

And, last but not least…

Paddling after a major rain storm may be some of the better water, but use caution as it’s also a time when raw sewage is dumped into the river. Yuck! To learn more about sewage pollution in the area as well as across the country, check out Act for Healthy Rivers and Katherine Baer’s blog posts on Right-to-Know legislation.

Coach Zorn, look forward to seeing the burgundy and red out on the river this spring!

Chesapeake Bay Sinks Again

Posted on December 4, 2007 | Filed Under Green Infrastructure, Healthy Waters, Mid-Atlantic

Katherine Baer, Director
Healthy Waters Campaign

In its annual report, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation rated the health of the Chesapeake Bay a D, for the 10th year in a row, with health slipping slightly from last year. And just last week the Potomac Conservancy graded the Potomac River, a major Chesapeake tributary as a D+, for much the same reasons we listed the Shenandoah as one of the Most Endangered Rivers in 2006 - for unchecked development.

In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency recently found that all of the costly efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay are being undone by the rapid development and associated polluted runoff into streams and rivers. Amazingly, while the population of the Bay watershed grew by 8% in the 1990s, impervious or hardened surfaces grew by 41% over the same time period. How many parking lots do we really need?

The problem we face here is the Chesapeake is one we see all over the country - rapid and poorly planned growth paving our green spaces leading us to treat rain as the enemy as it floods our streets and causes sewer spills, instead of the resource it truly is to recharge our drinking water supply and grow healthy communities.

Amongst this dire news are bright spots that indicate that we can change the way we develop and move towards low impact development and green infrastructure techniques that use the natural and designed landscape to slow rain and have it infiltrate into the ground instead of changing it into a pollution source. I’ve started working with the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance and the Valley Conservation Council in their efforts to move towards better solutions for stormwater. Already groups in Maryland have succeeded in getting a new state law passed to require environmentally sensitive design as part of the permitting process and Washington DC has become a leader in using green roofs.

It’s a slow process to turn this ship around as we’re talking about the way people develop and live on the land, but if we want our streams and rivers to get passing grades we need to keep learning pretty quick.

It’s not too late for your river!

Posted on November 28, 2007 | Filed Under California, Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Northwest, River Renewal

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

As the deadline approaches (December 3rd) for our stream barrier removal grants, don’t you think it’s time you took our short quiz to see if your project might be eligible* for funding?

Should you apply for a Stream Barrier Removal grant?

*In order to truly determine whether your project is eligible, please call me at (202) 347-7550.

Thankful

Posted on November 20, 2007 | Filed Under Dam Removal, Mid-Atlantic, River Renewal, Stories

Serena McClain, Associate Director of River Renewal
River Renewal, Restoring Rivers

I was barreling up I-95 this past weekend, a passenger in a blue Camry headed north to a neighborhood in Baltimore. The hypnotic road noise lulled me into a zombie-like state broken up only by the occasional song that needed my background vocals and the rivers we passed on the way.

The Patapsco, the Patuxent, the Little Patuxent…as we would hit each bridge, my head would whip around, and I would peer out the window, craning my neck like a little kid to catch a glimpse of the sweet water below. I’m not sure if my friends and family even notice that I do this, but it is instinctual and ever present. I have even managed to convince them to stop sometimes, find that back road and come with me to search out this little bit of life.

This Thanksgiving one of the things I am truly thankful for is the water that still flows and the fact that there are those magical spots we can all discover where the water gurgles freely over a cobble bed. I’m also thankful that I have the ability to help others restore their favorite spots. Get the gurgle back.

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